division of environmental science development …...・ environmental science (questions 1 through...

北海道大学大学院環境科学院環境起学専攻

Division of Environmental Science Development

Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University (Course in Human and Ecological Systems, Course in Environmental Adaptation Science, and

Course in Global Environmental Management)

平成 29年度 4月入学大学院修士課程入学試験問題（秋季入試）

平成 28年度 10月入学大学院修士課程入学試験問題

Entrance Examination

専門科目

Specialized Subjects [留学生用]

[For International Students] ・ Environmental Science (Questions 1 through 3) is a compulsory subject, and all 3 questions

must be answered. ・ Two questions are given in each of the following 4 specific subject areas (1) Mathematics and

Physics, (2) Ecology and Geography, (3) Environment and Society, and (4) Chemistry and Biology. Candidates are required to answer 1 out of these 8 questions (Questions 4 through 11).

・ The total score of the 3 questions for Environmental Science (Compulsory) is equal to the score of the 1 question for the chosen subject area.

・ Use one answer sheet for each question. ・ The backside of the answer sheet can be used if necessary. ・ Specify the question number on each answer sheet.

August 25, 2016

Entrance Examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1

Environmental Science（Compulsory） Question 1 Answer the following questions (1) to (4) about the biodiversity.

(1) Cite two of the international treaties that aim to save threatened species.

(2) Explain examples of influences of (a) invasive species and (b) climate change, as threats to the biodiversity, in about 4 lines each.

(3) Substantial number of migrant bird species are included in the International Union of

Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Describe the primary cause of the population declines of the migrant birds compared to the other animals in about 4 lines.

(4) Specific invasive species are often found nearby ports and harbors. Describe possible causes in

about 4 lines.


2

Environmental Science (Compulsory) Question 2 Read the following sentences and answer the questions (1) to (4). Earth biosphere is sustained by the flow of energy from the sun. A layer of ozone in the【 a 】 keeps about 95% of the sun's harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth's surface. Since the earth's atmosphere is nearly transparent to visible light, visible light is absorbed at the ocean and land surfaces. Plants use visible light in combination with【 b 】and water to form organic molecules. Earth radiates infrared radiation back towards space. Theoretically, the amount of the earth radiation energy is proportional to the【 c 】power of the earth temperature.

(1) Insert appropriate words or an ordinal number to fill parentheses【 a 】to【 c 】.

(2) Select all description(s) from the following sentences which meet suitable explanation for the radiation components. (A) UV radiation offers negligible impacts on plants.

(B) The visible light occupies a major part of solar radiation energy. (C) The intensity of UV radiation increases with latitude.

(D) Human body emits infrared radiation. (E) The wavelength of infrared radiation is longer than the wavelength of visible light.

(3) Explain the reason why solar radiation reaching at the top of earth’s atmosphere decreases from low to high latitudes. You must answer in about 3 lines.

(4) Describe the relationship between radiative energy balance of the earth and earth’s average surface air temperature in about 4 lines by using the term of “greenhouse effect”.


3

Environmental Science (Compulsory) Question 3 Answer the questions (1) to (4).

(1) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identifies environmental factors that can increase the risk of human cancer. These include chemicals, occupational exposures, physical agents, biological agents, and lifestyle factors. They are classified from Group 1 (Carcinogenic to humans; having the potential to cause cancer) to Group 4 (Probably not carcinogenic to humans). Choose five agents (or factors) which are identified as Group 1 from the list below.

a) Inorganic mercury compounds b) 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin c) Magnetic fields (static) d) Saccharin e) Benzene f) Alcoholic beverages g) Toluene h) Aflatoxins i) Polyvinyl chloride j) Chlorinated drinking-water k) Involuntary smoking

(2) A risk of harmful chemical is estimated from its toxicity and exposure level. Explain this

statement using examples of a high risk chemical and a low risk chemical within 10 lines. (3) Explain LD50 which is the value to be used for risk assessment within 3 lines.

(4) Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins including PCBs and agrochemicals etc. are

regulated by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. List up terms of their four negative effects (characteristics) on the environment.


4

Mathematics and Physics

Question 4 Answer the following questions (1) to (4).

(1) Obtain of the following functions.

(a) y = (x !1)

! 32 (b)

y = x2 ! 3x +1 (c) x = tan y

(2) Calculate the following integrals.

(a) xe! x dx0

1

"

(b) b 1! x2

a2dx

0

!2" (a,b > 0)

(c) 12!" 2

e! x2

2" 2 dx!"

"

#

(3) Answer the following questions on matrix R(! ) = cos! !sin!sin! cos!

"#$

%&'

.

(a) Obtain the determinant of R(! )． (b) Prove R2 (! ) = R(2! )． (c) Prove that the inverse matrix of R(! ) is R(!! )．

(d) Prove that R(! ) rotates an arbitrary two-dimensional vector, xy

!

"#

$

%& , by an angle !

counterclockwise．

(Continue to the following page)

dydx


5

(4) Row vectors, !c1,!c2,!,

"cn , are the components of matrix C =

!c1!c2 "

!cn

!

"

###

$

%

&&&

. The matrix C is

orthogonal when the row vectors satisfy !ci,!ci =1,

!ci,!c j = 0 (i ! j) , where x,y is the inner product of

vectors x and y . Answer the following questions．

(a) Prove CTC = I , where TC means the transpose of matrix C and I is the identity matrix．

(b) Prove that the determinant of orthogonal matrices is 1 or –1, using the formula of det(AB) = det(A)det(B) for arbitrary matrices A and B .

(c) Prove that the product of two different orthogonal matrices is an orthogonal matrix.

Entrance Examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6

Mathematics and Physics Question 5 Answer the following questions (1) to (3).

(1) Explain the terms below within 3 lines for each.

【Terms】 troposphere, hydrostatic balance, El Niño (2) Read the following sentences and answer the questions (i) and (ii).

Vorticity ζ and divergence D are defined as equations (*) below. u and v represent wind speed

for x- and y-directions, respectively and are defined as ! = !"!"

and ! = !"!"

, where t represents

time. Figures (a) to (d) illustrate wind patterns in which the length of thick arrows is proportional to wind speeds.

(i) Choose appropriate figure(s) from (a) to (d) showing positive vorticity around the origin O. Then, explain the reason for the choice within 3 lines by using the equations (*).

(ii) Choose appropriate figure(s) from (a) to (d) showing negative divergence around the origin O. Then, explain the reason for the choice within 3 lines by using the equations (*).


Entrance Examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7

(3) Read the following sentences and answer the questions (i) to (vi). Consider an air parcel moving at the azimuthal speed of v located at a radius of r from the center

of axially symmetric cyclone. Without the Earth’s rotation effect, the angular momentum of the air parcel is rv. If the angular velocity of Earth’s rotation is Ω, r2Ωsinφ + rv is the conserved quantity at a latitude of φ according to the conservation law of angular momentum.

（i） For the underlined sentence, the value of Ω is about 7.3×10-5 sec-1. Explain how the

value is obtained within two lines.

（ii） Suppose a cyclone located over the equator and an air parcel moving around the cyclone at v = 1 m sec-1 at r = 500 km. Calculate the azimuthal speed of air parcel when it is moved to r = 50 km by using the conservation law of angular momentum.

（iii） Calculate the azimuthal speed of air parcel when it is moved to r = 50 km by applying the same conditions with (ii) except that the cyclone location is at latitude of 10°N. Note that sin10° = 0.174.

（iv） Based on the results of (ii) and (iii), describe the spatial distribution of tropical cyclone genesis around the equator within four lines.

（v） Explain the difference between tropical cyclone and extratropical cyclone with respect to their development mechanisms within four lines.

（vi） Explain the role of extratropical cyclone in general atmospheric circulation within four lines.

Entrance examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8

Ecology and Geography Question 6 Answer the questions (1) and (2). (1) Answer the questions (A) and (B).

(A) Describe each of the five ecological terms (i) to (v). (i) negative density effect (ii) interspecific competition (iii) landscape (iv) keystone species (v) biomass

(B) Answer the questions (a) to (e), based on the figure and text.

Fig. Grime’s triangle.

Grime classifies plant species into three types based on (i)disturbance and stress. These types are: (C) competitors that establish on (ii)habitats with low stresses and weak disturbances, (R) ruderals that establish on habitats with low stresses and severe disturbances, and (S) stress-tolerators that establish on habitats with high stresses and ( X ) disturbances. The relationships of (iii)productivities between these types are shown by the above figure. This graph can be applied to ( Y ). When the nutrients increase from the pioneer to climax stages, the replacements of species types are shown by the arrow drawn in the figure. By the same token, we can predict (iv)the case that soil nutrients are abundant.

(a) Fill an appropriate word in each of the blanks (X) and (Y).

(b) On the underline (i), explain the mechanisms of ecosystem maintenance after a forest fire with using a concrete example.

(c) How do we call conservation and restoration by the construction of underlined (ii) that saves endangered species, etc.?

(d) On the underline (iii), define “net biome productivity”.

(e) Show the arrow that predicts the underline (iv) with writing Grime’s triangle on your answer sheet by freehand drawing.

C

R S

Entrance examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9

(2) Answer the following questions (a) to (e) after carefully examining the text below.

A population is a group of organisms of the same species occupying a given space at the

same time. Populations may consist of either (i)unitary or (ii)modular organisms. Using fish as an example, the population size is the number of individuals present in a given river or lake．

Understanding population characteristics is important when examining the need for

conservation or restoration of habitat, and age distribution is one of critical information. A

stable age distribution results where the ratio of one age group to the next remains the same and

the shape of the age pyramid does not change over time. The shape stays constant because ( X )

and ( Y ) for each age class are constant. Age distributions provide a valuable insight into (iii)the

records of environmental changes for a population. In the natural environment, without abrupt

environmental changes, most populations are not at their constant equilibrium, but are dynamic

and changing. (iv)The population size can overshoot the carrying capacity and then can show a

gradually deceasing and delayed response relative to a decreasing level of capacity; such

oscillations of population size can persist. Long-term prediction of population size allows the

estimations of (v)population’s chance of extinction and the minimum reserve area required to

retain a viable population.

(Source: Mackenzie et al. 1998 Instant Notes in Ecology, partly modified).

（a） Provide words suitable to fill the blanks ( X ) and ( Y ).

（b） Describe differences between the underlined (i) and (ii) by referring to characteristics in terms of reproduction and growth．

（c） Concerning the underlined (iii), graphically draw the shape of an age pyramid when

recent environmental changes decreased reproduction. Also explain why such a shape

is drawn.

（d） Assume the situation described in the underlined (iv) in which fish species A coexists

with its predator, fish species B. When the abundance of A is the carrying capacity

for B, graphically describe the theoretical fluctuation patterns of abundance of A and

B against time. Also, provide reasons behind such patterns.

（e） Concerning the underlined (v), explain why a small population is more likely to

become extinct than a large one, by referring to “an extinction vortex”.

Entrance examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10

Ecology and Geography

Question 7 Provide answers to both questions (1) and (2). (1) The following text and Figure 1 describe the basic core concepts of geography. Read the text,

and answer questions (A) to (C).

The three core concepts of (a) , Place, and (b) can be identified as the central concerns of geography (Figure 1). Geographical (a) comprises location, or where we are on the Earth’s surface in relation to geographical coordinates; distances measured in a variety of ways; and (c) that completes the interrelationships of different locations on the Earth’s surface.

Place is another core concept in geography. Place is not independent of (a) because it involves an area or territory. (b) is the third core concept for geography. The need to understand the biophysical (b) , human (b) and their interactions is becoming increasingly urgent, as issues of sustainability, the protection and preservation of Earth, and (i) the global warming become imperative.

(Modified from Matthews, J.A. & Herbert, D.T.: Geography, A Short Introduction)

Figure 1 Three core concepts of geography

(A) Select appropriate terms in【a】to【c】from the followings. Direction, Earth Observation (EO), Environment, Geographical Information System (GIS), Map, Space

(B) On the part of underline (i), the following three regions (I to III) are greatly affected by the

global warming. Choose one of the three regions, and describe the concrete issues occurring in the region.

(I) Sahara, Africa, (II) Alps, Europe, (III) Himalaya, South Asia

（Continue to the following page）


11

(C) Matthews and Herbert say that there would be no term to explain the center area (X) in Figure 1, but probably the term, geographical landscape would be close. The following two geographers (I and II) are leading geographers who have studied on geographical landscape. Choose one of the two geographers, and describe his major achievements. (I) Paul Vidal de la Blache, (II) Carl Troll

（Continue to the following page）


12

(2) The topographic map shown in the next page is from the website of the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan. The left side corresponds to the north. Answer the following questions (A) to (F).

(A) The landform labeled with ‘M1’ is a volcano (Mount Yotei). Provide the appropriate

geomorphological term showing the volcano.

(B) The landforms labeled with ‘M2’ are also volcanoes, but the topographic features are different. Provide the possible reason(s).

(C) Choose the appropriate geomorphological term showing the landform labeled with ‘R1’ from

the followings.

Braided river, Endorheic river, Intermittent river, Meandering river, Raised-bed river

(D) Calculate an approximate horizontal distance between ‘X’ and ‘Y’. Use the scale in the map for the calculation.

(E) Calculate the relative height (difference of the altitudes) between ‘X’ and ‘Y’.

(F) The area around H in the map has various tourism-related facilities and paper factories. It is

important to understand the influence of the facilities and factories on the water quality of River R2. Where would you sample the river water to understand such an influence?



13


14

Environment and Society Question 8 The amount of CO2 emissions from each country can be expressed with the following

equation:

!"! !"#$$#%&$ = !"#$%&'(")× !!"#$%&'(")

× !"#$%& !"#!

× !"! !"#$$#%&!"#$%& !"#

.

(1) The term A represents a macroeconomic indicator reflecting people’s living standard. Write the

name of the indicator.

(2) By referring to the equation above, state an acceptable action to reduce CO2 emission in about five lines.

(3) The United Nations Framework of Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 21st Conference of

the Parties (COP21) produced a certain result that all the participating countries shared the idea of necessity in combating global warming and adopted Paris Agreement. However, the reduction targeted is different between advanced countries such as European countries and developing countries such as China and India. State the difference in about five lines by referring to the equation above.

(4) Considering the current international situation with regard to global warming, state problems in

newly installing coal fired power plants in about four lines, by using a term of “locked-in effect”. Also, state a possible action to prevent from or mitigate the problem in about four lines.


15

Environment and Society Question 9 Answer the questions (1) to (4) after reading the following sentences.

The twelve years from 1995 to 2006 are ranked as the warmest twelve years in the instrumental

record of global surface temperature from 1850 to 2006. The 100-year linear trend of 0.74 (i)(0.56 to 0.92) °C from 1906 to 2005 is more significant than the corresponding trend of 0.6 (i)(0.4 to 0.8) °C from 1901 to 2000. The temperature increase is widespread over the globe and is greater at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Also the land has been warmed faster than the ocean.

Over the Arctic regions, the air temperature increase resulted in (ii)reduction of sea ice and permafrost areas, and deepened seasonally thawed ground. For human communities, impacts, particularly those resulting from changing snow and ice conditions, are projected to be mixed. Detrimental impacts would include (iii)those on infrastructure and traditional indigenous ways of life. (modified from IPCC 4th Assessment Report, Synthesis Report, Summary for Policy-makers)

(1) The IPCC Report often shows confidence intervals in indicating observed and predicted values.

What percent do the confidence intervals in the underlined (i) show? Also, why does the IPCC Report show confidence intervals? Answer in about five lines.

(2) State the reason why influences of rise in atmospheric temperature resulting from global warming

are generally more significant, (a) in the higher latitudes than in the lower latitudes and (b) in the land than in the ocean, in about four lines each.

(3) As for underline (ii), describe what advantages and disadvantages are provided to human societies

by the sea ice retreat in about four lines each. (4) As for underline (iii), how does permafrost degradation influence infrastructure and indigenous

communities in the Arctic? Answer in about four lines.

Entrance examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐

16

Chemistry and Biology

Question 10 Answer the following questions (1) to (3). In the case of a numerical calculation,

describe the calculation process and the reasons.

(1) When methanol was burned completely in the air, 12 g of water was produced. Answer the

following questions (A) to (D).

(A) Describe this reaction formula.

(B) How many grams of methanol reacted in this reaction? Answer with two significant digits.

(C) Calculate the volume of a gaseous component produced with water in this reaction at 30℃

and 1 atm. Answer with two significant digits. This gas is ideal gas and the dissolution

into water can be neglected. Gas constant is 0.082 L atm K-1 mol-1.

(D) This gaseous component dissolves more into basic water than in acidic water. Explain the

reason by using the reaction formula within three lines.

(2) In the case of A → product, the relationship between 1/[A]t and the reaction time is shown

in the figure on the right. [A]t is the concentration of A at the reaction time t.

(A) What is the order of this reaction against A?

(B) Describe the slope and the Y-intercept of

this line when the rate constant of this

reaction is k and the initial concentration

of A is [A]0.

(C) Obtain the ratio of the half-life of 0.1

mol L-1[A]0 to that of 0.5 mol L-1[A]0.


t

1/[A]t

Y

X 0

Entrance examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐

17

(3) The weak acid (HA) dissociates in water and reaches the equilibrium as follows. The equilibrium constant is called the acid dissociation constant.

H+ ＋ A- HA

(A) Indicate the acid dissociation constant Ka by [HA]0 and α. [HA]0 is the initial

concentration of HA and α is the degree of electrolytic dissociation.

(B) pH of the solution of 0.2 mol L-1 HA was 3.0. Calculate the degree of electrolytic dissociation,

α. Answer with two significant digits.

(C) When the degree of electrolytic dissociation of HA is negligibly small, calculate the acid

dissociation constant, Ka. Answer with two significant digits.

(D) When the initial concentration of HA becomes small, how does the degree of electrolytic

dissociation change? Explain the change with a reason within two lines.


18

Chemistry and Biology

Question 11 Answer the following questions (1) and (2). In question (1), describe the calculation

process and the reasons. Incidentally, 1 mM indicates 10-3 mol/L (mol/dm3).

（１） ATP transports chemical energy for energy storage, metabolism and synthesis in all eukaryotic

cells. Answer the following questions (A) to (F) in relation to ATP. The free-energy change

due to ATP hydrolysis to ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) is defined as follows:

∆G = ∆G˚ + 2.3RTlog10[ADP][Pi] / [ATP],

where the concentrations are expressed as molarities. R is the gas constant (1.98 cal/K･mol), T

is the temperature (310 K), ∆G˚ is the free-energy change at the standard state and ∆G is –11.5

kcal/mol when the concentrations of ATP, ADP and Pi are all equal to 1 mM.

(A) Calculate ∆G for ATP hydrolysis in the cells with two significant digits, when the

concentrations of ATP, ADP and Pi in a cell are 1 mM, 1 mM and 10 mM, respectively.

(B) In cells, a synthesis of ATP, the reverse reaction of ATP hydrolysis, is linked to the reaction

that phosphoenolpyruvate converts into pyruvate and Pi. Answer ∆G˚ for the linked reactions

with two significant digits when the concentrations of ATP, ADP and Pi are all equal to 1 M.

∆G˚ for the hydrolysis of the phosphate group in phosphoenolpyruvate, converting it to

pyruvate, is –14.8 kcal/mol.

(C) Explain how glycolysis reaction changes in about three lines when ATP concentration

increases in cells.

(D) Theoretically, the complete oxidation of one molecule of glucose is coupled to the synthesis of

30-38 ATP molecules. But practically, the ATP production yield of aerobic respiration is

extremely lower than the theoretical values. Explain the reason in about four lines.

(E) Answer where ATP synthase is located in the membranes of eukaryotic cells.



19

(F) In prokaryotes, ATP synthase is located in the cell membranes. When the membrane potential

is zero, the ∆G available from the transport of protons from the outside (pH 1.5) to the inside

(pH 6.5) in iron-oxidizing bacteria, which grow at pH 1.5, are given by the following

equation:

∆G = 2.3RTlog10[H+]in / [H+]out

Assuming that the concentrations of ATP, ADP and Pi are all equal to 1 mM, and the

temperature is 298 K, at least how many protons would have to enter the cell through the ATP

synthase to produce one ATP molecule? Answer the integral number.

（２） Select five structure names that are characteristic of prokaryotic cells from the following

structure 1) to 11). In addition, choose each function of the selected structure from the

following words or phrases (a) to (n).

1) fimbria (pilus) 2) capsule 3) peptidoglycan 4) spore 5) lysosome

6) 80S ribosome 7) rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum 8) smooth-surfaced

endoplasmic reticulum 9) centrosome (centriole) 10) intercellular space

11) cyanophycin

(a) phosphate storage (b) nitrogen storage (c) carbon source and energy storage

(d) survival under harsh condition (e) intercellular conjugation and adhesion

(f) dispersion of individuals (g) enhancement of cell wall strength

(h) synthesis of proteins (i) DNA synthesis (j) cell division (k) gas exchange

(l) photosynthesis (m) antiphagocytosis (n) intracellular digestion

division of environmental science development …...・ environmental science (questions 1 through...

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