Water Conservation
20 Grade 5 Agriculture questions on Water Conservation, with worked marking schemes. 20 questions are available on this topic in full.
Question 1
1 markWhy should a home water storage tank always be kept covered?
A. To keep the water clean and reduce evaporation
B. To let dust settle inside
C. To make the water dirty
D. To warm the water in the sun
(1 mark)
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1 markWhich of these is an example of REUSING water at home to save it?
A. Pouring clean drinking water on the road
B. Using water that washed vegetables to water flowers
C. Leaving the shower running while soaping
D. Washing the car with a running hosepipe
(1 mark)
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1 markPlanting trees and grass on a bare hillside helps conserve water because the plant roots
A. dry up the streams below
B. make the rain stop falling
C. hold the soil and help water soak into the ground
D. drink all the rainwater away
(1 mark)
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3 marksKamau's home uses a lot of water, and the family wants to reduce wastage. State three ways the family can conserve water at home.
(3 marks)
Marking scheme
Any 3 (1 mark each): close/repair dripping or leaking taps; harvest and store rainwater; reuse water e.g. vegetable-washing water for plants; use a cup instead of running tap when brushing; water crops in the morning/evening to reduce evaporation; mulch the kitchen garden; use a basin instead of running water when washing.
Question 5
1 markWhich container is the BEST choice for harvesting and storing rainwater for household use?
A. A basket lined with paper
B. A leaking metal drum
C. A covered clean water tank
D. An open pit dug in the soil
(1 mark)
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3 marksA school harvests rainwater from the classroom roofs.
(a) Name two structures needed to harvest and store this rainwater.
(b) Give one reason why the stored water should be covered.
(3 marks)
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1 markA pan or small dam is dug on a farm to
A. collect and store runoff water for later use
B. let water escape from the farm
C. increase soil erosion
D. stop rain from falling
(1 mark)
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1 markAchieng noticed water flowing away and wasting whenever it rained on the bare compound at her school. Which practice would BEST help conserve this rainwater?
A. Sweeping the water into the road
B. Digging shallow trenches and planting grass to trap the water
C. Leaving the ground bare so it dries faster
D. Pouring more water onto the compound
(1 mark)
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3 marksCompare drip irrigation and flooding as methods of watering crops by stating which one conserves more water and giving two reasons for your answer.
(3 marks)
Marking scheme
1 mark: drip irrigation conserves more water. Reasons, any 2 (1 each): it delivers small amounts of water directly to the roots; very little water is lost through evaporation or runoff; only the plant area is watered, not the whole field; flooding uses a lot of water and much of it runs off or evaporates.
Question 10
1 markA family collects rainwater from the roof during the rainy season. The pipe that directs this water from the roof into a storage tank is called a
A. gutter
B. furrow
C. borehole
D. terrace
(1 mark)
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1 markTerraces and trenches are dug across a sloping farm mainly to
A. dry the farm quickly
B. allow water to run downhill faster
C. slow down running water so it sinks into the soil
D. block sunlight from the crops
(1 mark)
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1 markMulching around crops helps to conserve water mainly because it
A. reduces evaporation of water from the soil
B. adds more water to the soil
C. makes the soil hotter
D. stops the crops from growing
(1 mark)
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4 marksNjeri waters her kitchen garden at midday when the sun is very hot and notices the soil dries quickly.
(a) Explain why watering at midday wastes water.
(b) Suggest a better time to water and give a reason.
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) 2 marks: at midday the sun is hot so much of the water evaporates quickly before the plants can use it / it is lost to the air. (b) 2 marks: water early in the morning or in the evening (1) because it is cooler and less water evaporates, so more soaks in and reaches the roots (1).
Question 14
1 markWhich of the following is the MOST effective way to reduce water loss when watering vegetables in a kitchen garden during a hot afternoon?
A. Flooding the whole garden once a week
B. Sprinkling water high into the air
C. Watering early in the morning or in the evening
D. Watering at midday when the sun is hottest
(1 mark)
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3 marksWater is described as a scarce resource in many parts of Kenya. Give three reasons why it is important to conserve water.
(3 marks)
Marking scheme
Any 3 (1 each): to have enough water during dry seasons/droughts; to save money/reduce water bills; water is limited/scarce; to keep crops and animals alive; for domestic use (cooking, drinking, cleaning); to protect the environment; because water is expensive/difficult to get.
Question 16
4 marksExplain how each of the following helps to conserve water on a farm: (a) mulching (b) digging terraces on a slope.
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) Mulching (2): the mulch/cover reduces evaporation of water from the soil surface, keeping the soil moist for longer. (b) Terraces (2): terraces slow down running water/runoff on the slope so that more water soaks into the soil instead of running off (also reduces soil erosion).
Question 17
1 markDuring a dry season, which crop-management practice helps the soil hold water for longer?
A. Ploughing the soil many times a day
B. Removing all grass and leaving bare soil
C. Adding mulch and organic matter to the soil
D. Watering only the pathways
(1 mark)
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1 markWhich method of watering crops wastes the LEAST amount of water?
A. Flooding the entire field
B. Spraying water high over the whole farm
C. Drip irrigation through small holes near the roots
D. Pouring buckets of water on the leaves
(1 mark)
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1 markA pupil sees a dripping tap in the school kitchen. The MOST responsible action to conserve water is to
A. let it keep dripping until evening
B. open the tap fully
C. put a cup under it and continue playing
D. report it or close it tightly to stop the drip
(1 mark)
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3 marksA dripping tap wastes water drop by drop throughout the day.
(a) State one effect of allowing many taps to drip in a school.
(b) State two actions a pupil can take to prevent this wastage.
(3 marks)
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