The Price of Pollution by Susan Berfield MCQs With answers

MCQS

1. Why did Wong Ka Nang miss the opening day of school? 

A. He went on vacation

B. He had an accident

C. The air was unhealthy and he had asthma

D. There was a strike

Answer: C

2. When did Hong Kong officials first advise vulnerable people to stay indoors? 

A. January 1995

B. January 3 last year

C. July last year

D. December 1996

Answer: B

3. How old is Wong Ka Nang? 

A. Seven

B. Eight

C. Nine

D. Ten

Answer: C

4. What is the main cause of foul air in Hong Kong? 

A. Industries

B. Construction work

C. Motor vehicles

D. Power plants

Answer: C

5. Diesel vehicles account for about what percentage of respirable suspended particulates in Hong Kong? A. 50%

B. 75%

C. 90%

D. 98%

Answer: D

6. Which vehicles are the worst offenders in Hong Kong?

 A. Private cars

B. Buses

C. Taxis, mini-buses and trucks

D. Trams

Answer: C

7. What proposal did the transport lobby oppose? 

A. Increase in bus fares

B. Replacement of diesel vehicles with petrol vehicles

C. Ban on private cars

D. Road tax increase

Answer: B

8. Who criticized Hong Kong’s leaders for ignoring environmental consequences? 

A. Dr. Ranjan Bose

B. Anil Agrawal

C. Harry Dimitriou

D. Dr. Chan Chang-Chuan

Answer: C

9. Which Asian cities are bright exceptions in controlling pollution?

 A. Beijing and Delhi

B. Tokyo and Singapore

C. Mumbai and Calcutta

D. Bangkok and Seoul

Answer: B

10. Which city is described as the world’s fourth most polluted?

 A. Beijing

B. Hong Kong

C. New Delhi

D. Mumbai

Answer: C

11. Vehicular pollution in Delhi was expected to increase by what percentage by 2000? 

A. 10%

B. 15%

C. 20%

D. 25%

Answer: C

12. Why is Delhi’s air worse in winter? 

A. More vehicles

B. Cold air traps pollutants

C. Less rainfall

D. More industries

Answer: B

13. What happens to pollutants in winter? 

A. They disperse quickly

B. They dissolve in rain

C. They are trapped near the ground

D. They disappear

Answer: C

14. Why are pollution regulations ineffective in many cities? 

A. They are too strict

B. They are not enforced

C. People are unaware

D. Vehicles are few

Answer: B

15. What are the most common illnesses in urban areas? 

A. Skin diseases

B. Eye problems

C. Acute respiratory diseases

D. Digestive disorders

Answer: C

16. Road transport accounts for what percentage of pollution in Beijing?

 A. 52%

B. 64%

C. 75%

D. 80%

Answer: C

17. Road transport accounts for what percentage of pollution in Delhi?

 A. 52%

B. 64%

C. 75%

D. 69%

Answer: B

18. Which Indian city has 52% pollution from road transport? 

A. Delhi

B. Mumbai

C. Calcutta

D. Chennai

Answer: B

19. By how much did cars and jeeps increase in Delhi in 1994–95? 

A. 10%

B. 15%

C. 20%

D. 25%

Answer: C

20. This increase was how many times the Asian average? 

A. Same

B. One and a half times

C. Double

D. Triple

Answer: C

21. Which vehicles are the biggest offenders in Indian cities? 

A. Trucks

B. Cars

C. Buses

D. Two- and three-wheelers

Answer: D

22. Why are two-stroke engines harmful? 

A. They consume more fuel

B. They burn fuel incompletely

C. They are old

D. They overheat

Answer: B

23. Two-wheelers make up what percentage of traffic in Delhi? 

A. 44%

B. 52%

C. 64%

D. 69%

Answer: D

24. Two-wheelers form 44% of traffic in which city? 

A. Delhi

B. Mumbai

C. Calcutta

D. Chennai

Answer: C

25. Over the last decade, the number of two-wheelers has increased by: 

A. Three times

B. Four times

C. Five times

D. Five-and-a-half times

Answer: D

26. Who said pollution is due to poor technology and planning? 

A. Harry Dimitriou

B. Anil Agrawal

C. Ranjan Bose

D. Iqbal Malik

Answer: B

27. Which toxic substance is found in “eco-friendly” petrol? 

A. Lead

B. Mercury

C. Benzene

D. Sulphur

Answer: C

28. Benzene is: 

A. Less toxic than lead

B. Harmless

C. A carcinogen

D. A metal

Answer: C

29. Proper engine maintenance can reduce emissions by about: 

A. 10%

B. 15%

C. 20%

D. 30%

Answer: C

30. Which is the best pollution-free transport alternative? 

A. Cars

B. Motorbikes

C. Electric trams

D. Diesel buses

Answer: C

31. Buses emit how many times less pollutants than cars? 

A. 50 times

B. 70 times

C. 90 times

D. 100 times

Answer: C

32. Which activity also pollutes air besides vehicles? 

A. Farming

B. Construction and roadwork

C. Fishing

D. Tourism

Answer: B

33. Doctors in Bangkok found how many species of pathogenic fungi? 

A. 10

B. 15

C. 18

D. 20

Answer: C

34. Illegal stone crushing still occurs in: A. Mumbai

B. Delhi

C. Calcutta

D. Chennai

Answer: B

35. Dust levels near coal power stations can exceed normal levels by:

 A. 2 times

B. 5 times

C. 8 times

D. 10 times

Answer: D

36. Which industry damages air quality the most? 

A. Textile

B. Cement

C. Power plants burning coal

D. Automobile

Answer: C

37. Who are particularly vulnerable to air pollution? 

A. Athletes

B. Adults

C. Children and elderly

D. Office workers

Answer: C

38. Sulphur dioxide causes:

 A. Skin diseases

B. Digestive problems

C. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

D. Eye infections

Answer: C

39. Carbon monoxide affects:

 A. Lungs

B. Blood

C. Skin

D. Bones

Answer: B

40. Lead damages: 

A. Brain only

B. Liver and kidneys

C. Skin

D. Eyes

Answer: B

41. Surgical masks are ineffective because: 

A. They are expensive

B. Pollution particles are too small

C. They are uncomfortable

D. They cause allergy

Answer: B

42. Who warned against relying on masks? 

A. Anil Agrawal

B. Ranjan Bose

C. Chan Chang-Chuan

D. Iqbal Malik

Answer: C

43. According to World Bank, how many people in Delhi need hospitalisation yearly? 

A. Two million

B. Three million

C. Four million

D. Five million

Answer: C

44. Children with high lead levels show: A. Better memory

B. Poor concentration

C. Physical strength

D. Faster learning

Answer: B

45. New cars in major Indian cities must have: 

A. Diesel engines

B. Air filters

C. Catalytic converters

D. Turbo engines

Answer: C

46. What percentage of airborne lead comes from auto exhausts? 

A. 50%

B. 65%

C. 75%

D. 90%

Answer: D

47. Lead emissions in Delhi have:

 A. Decreased

B. Remained same

C. Doubled

D. Tripled

Answer: C

48. Bangkok’s GDP could rise by more if: A. Taxes reduced

B. Pollution and congestion cleared

C. More industries built

D. More cars added

Answer: B

49. Why did the Indian government withdraw the 20-year vehicle ban?

 A. Public protest

B. Court order

C. Transport lobby pressure

D. Lack of funds

Answer: C

50. What is the final message of the passage? A. Pollution is unavoidable

B. Economic growth is harmful

C. Prevention is cheaper than cure

D. Cities cannot change

Answer: C