Grade 9 · Social Studies · Unit 7 of 11
Using Resources Wisely
Sustainability and everyday products
What your child practises
What sustainable development means, quotas and reclamation, the circular economy, how governments, industries, advocacy groups and individuals influence resource use, and the life cycle of everyday products such as a phone.
Ontario Curriculum expectation: C2.1, C2.2, C2.3, C2.4, C2.5 · sustainable development of resources and industries, strategies by governments and industries, and the life cycle of everyday products
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
Put the life cycle of a phone in order, from start to finish.
- Minerals are mined
- The phone is shipped to stores
- Parts are manufactured and assembled
- The phone is recycled or thrown out
- The phone is used by a person
Show answer
Minerals are mined → Parts are manufactured and assembled → The phone is shipped to stores → The phone is used by a person → The phone is recycled or thrown out
Hint: A product starts as raw materials, is made, shipped and used, and ends as waste or is recycled.
Question 2
The three parts of sustainability are…
- environment, society and economy
- primary, secondary and tertiary
- past, present and future only
- rivers, lakes and oceans
Show answer
environment, society and economy
Hint: A sustainable plan has to work for all three.
Question 3
A town produces 500 tonnes of waste and keeps 200 tonnes out of the landfill by recycling and composting. What is its diversion rate, as a percent?
answer box%
Show answer
40 %
Hint: 200 ÷ 500 × 100 = 40%.
Question 4
Scientists estimate a fish stock at 20 000 tonnes. A quota allows 10% to be caught each year. How many tonnes is that?
answer boxt
Show answer
2000 t
Hint: 10% of 20 000 = 20 000 × 0.1 = 2000 tonnes.
Question 5
Which action is an example of reducing waste?
- leaving lights on
- buying a new one each time
- repairing something instead of throwing it out
- putting recyclables in the trash
Show answer
repairing something instead of throwing it out
Hint: Reduce, reuse and recycle, in that order.
Question 6
How can governments influence sustainable resource use?
- by stopping all science
- by increasing waste
- by ignoring all industries
- by making laws, setting limits and offering incentives
Show answer
by making laws, setting limits and offering incentives
Hint: Governments set rules for industries and communities.