Grade 9 · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 11
People & the Natural World
Risks, hazards and adapting
What your child practises
How landscapes support work and communities, how paving, draining wetlands and building dams change natural systems, hazards such as floods, wildfires and earthquakes, and local ways to adapt to and reduce climate change.
Ontario Curriculum expectation: B2.1, B2.2, B2.3, B2.4 · how physical features support communities, how human activities change physical processes, natural hazards and risks, and climate change adaptation and mitigation
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
A region burned 2000 hectares in one wildfire season and 4000 hectares in the next. By what percent did the area burned increase?
answer box%
Show answer
100 %
Hint: Increase = 4000 − 2000 = 2000. 2000 ÷ 2000 × 100 = 100%.
Question 2
A town builds a new subdivision on a floodplain. Which statement shows good geographic thinking?
- Risk is the same everywhere
- It raises the risk to people and property, and the town should weigh that risk against the benefits
- Floodplains never flood
- Rivers do not affect land use
Show answer
It raises the risk to people and property, and the town should weigh that risk against the benefits
Hint: Weigh the physical risk, the economic benefit and the long-term cost.
Question 3
Which is an adaptation to wildfire risk for a community?
- planting more dry grass beside houses
- building in the forest without any plan
- ignoring the weather forecast
- clearing brush near homes and preparing evacuation plans
Show answer
clearing brush near homes and preparing evacuation plans
Hint: Programs such as FireSmart help homeowners and towns reduce their risk.
Question 4
Thawing permafrost matters to northern communities because it…
- freezes the ground harder
- makes land more fertile everywhere
- can shift the ground under buildings, roads and pipelines
- raises mountains
Show answer
can shift the ground under buildings, roads and pipelines
Hint: Permafrost is frozen ground that supports northern infrastructure.
Question 5
Clearing trees from steep slopes increases the risk of…
- tornadoes
- landslides and erosion
- deeper snow
- earthquakes
Show answer
landslides and erosion
Hint: Roots help hold soil in place.
Question 6
A town has 500 homes. 30% of them are in a flood zone. How many homes are in the flood zone?
answer box
Show answer
150
Hint: 30% of 500 = 500 × 0.3 = 150.