specialized subjects - graduate school of …...specialized subjects [留学生用] [for...

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

令和 2 年度 4 月入学大学院修士課程入学試験問題（秋季入試）

令和元年度 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] ・ 9 questions are given in the subjects of Environmental Science (3 questions), Mathematics

and Physics (2 questions), Ecology and Geography (2 questions), and Chemistry and Biology (2 questions). Candidates are required to answer 2 questions out of 9 questions.

・ Use one answer sheet for each question. ・ Specify the subject name and the question number on each answer sheet.

August 22, 2019

Entrance examination for Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1

Environmental Science

Question 1 Read following sentences and answer the questions (1) to (6). Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the technology which removes some of the CO2 gas in the atmosphere or (…A…). Recently, (i)reduction of CO2 is globally an urgent issue, and the need for CCS technology is increasing in addition to the technology to reduce CO2 emission itself such as energy saving, fuel conversion, and (ii)alternative energy utilization. CCS technology includes various approaches: the physiochemical method to remove some of the CO2 from (…A…) of industrial plants such as (…B…); the biological method including large-scale (…C…) on land; and large-scale storing (sequestering) into (…D…).

(1) Write down the terms suitable to fill in the blanks ( A ) to ( D ). (2) Explain the technology and advantages of forcing CO2 into underground storage in about four

lines. (3) Concerning the underline (i), select all description(s) from the following sentences which

contain unsuitable explanations. If there is no unsuitable one, write as “Not Applicable”. (a) Develop technologies which improve the efficiency of thermal power plant (b) Frequently save power energy at home (c) Introduce low-carbon equipment and repair existing equipment at business offices (d) Avoid using automobiles and bicycles as much as possible and actively use railways and

aircraft (e) Monitor and reduce rainforest harvesting and planting using satellite imagery (4) Concerning the underline (ii), wind power is an example. Raise three other examples, and

explain their outlines in about three lines for each. (5) About 40% of the CO2 gas by anthropogenic origin is absorbed by ocean and land area.

Describe the reason why the absorption of CO2 dominates in the land area although there are several causes of anthropogenic emission of CO2 in the land in about three lines.

(6) When excessive CO2 is absorbed by the ocean, ocean acidification is enforced. Describe the

effects of the ocean acidification on marine creatures in about four lines.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2

Environmental Science Question 2 Answer the questions (1) to (4). (1) Read the following paragraph and write appropriate words for ( A ) to ( E ).

An ecosystem consists of biotic communities and their surrounding abiotic environments such as water, air, and soil. Organisms and abiotic environments interact each other. The process in which organisms shape environments is referred to ( A ), and the process in which the environments influence organisms is referred to ( B ). Biotic communities are maintained through predator-prey interactions. The linear pathway between predators and preys is referred to ( C ) and a position of each predator-prey pathway is referred to ( D ). The complex interconnection of ( C ) is referred to ( E ). (2) Biodiversity is generally viewed from three different levels: 1) genetic, 2) species, and 3) ecosystem. If these different diversity levels are degraded, what kinds of issues occur? Explain these in about three lines each. (3) Recently, species extinction has accelerated globally. List three major drivers that have contributed to species decline/extinction. Additionally, for each of these drivers you raised, describe a known example of species decline/extinction in about three lines. (4) Wind energy development is facilitated globally because it produces little or no greenhouse gases. However, wind energy development can have detrimental impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Explain what type of impact is concerned in about three lines.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3

Environmental Science Question 3 Answer all questions from (1) to (5) after reading the following sentences.

Since the industrial revolution, various harmful substances have been emitted to the atmosphere by human activity, causing air pollution. Environmental standards have been set for harmful substances that greatly affect our health. Astonishingly, environmental standards for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are much stricter than the standard value for ( A ) which causes a fatal accident due to incomplete combustion. One reason for this is that ( B ) such as unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides from automobile exhaust produce secondary pollutants called ( C ) (i)under oxygen in the air and intense sunlight. ( C ) gave a severe pain in throat and eyes to people. This phenomenon is called ( D ).

(ii)Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide also cause acid rain. Rain originally has a slightly acidic pH of 5.6 to 6 due to ( E ) in the air. Therefore, (iii) acid rain is often defined as values of pH less than ( F ). In addition, there may be an acid mist in which sulfuric acid changed from sulfur dioxide, dissolves in the mist formed by condensation of coal smoke in winter.

(1) Answer appropriate words or numbers for (A) to (F). (2) Raise one of the global air pollution problems and explain why it is a problem to human

health within three lines. (3) Concerning the underline (i), answer what happened due to the reaction between oxygen in

the air and ultraviolet rays of sunlight. (4) Concerning the underline (ii), the atmospheric standard value of nitrogen dioxide is less than

0.06 ppm. Assuming that the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere is 30 mL / m3, what kind of compound is produced when 0.06 ppm of nitrogen dioxide dissolves in the water vapor? Also, select the expected pH value in the solution from the following. The atomic weights of O, H, and N are 16, 1, and 14, respectively, and no other molecules are involved in the reaction. Describe also the calculation processes and the reasons. (a) pH < 1，（b）pH 1≦ pH < 2，（c）2≦ pH < 3，（d）3≦ pH

(5) Concerning the underline (iii), describe the influence of acid rain on buildings and the

influence on lakes within 3 lines each.

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

4

Mathematics and Physics Question 4 Answer the following questions (1) to (4). (1) Obtain the following indefinite integrals.

(a)∫𝑥𝑥3𝑒𝑒𝑥𝑥𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥

(b)∫ 1cos 𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥

(c)∫ 1√𝑥𝑥2+𝑎𝑎2

𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥

(2) Differentiate the following functions.

(a) √𝑥𝑥2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 1

(b) 𝑥𝑥sin𝑥𝑥

(3) Answer the following questions on a matrix 𝐀𝐀 = �8 −105 −7 �.

(a) Obtain the eigenvalues (𝜆𝜆1 and 𝜆𝜆2 where 𝜆𝜆1 < 𝜆𝜆2) of 𝐀𝐀.

(b) Obtain the eigenvectors 𝒂𝒂1 and 𝒂𝒂2 associated with 𝜆𝜆1 and 𝜆𝜆2.

(c) If a diagonal matrix 𝐁𝐁 satisfies 𝐁𝐁 = 𝐏𝐏−1𝐀𝐀𝐏𝐏, obtain a pair of matrix 𝐏𝐏 and 𝐁𝐁.

(d) Calculate 𝐀𝐀n, using 𝐁𝐁.

(4) Answer the following questions on the function Γ(𝑥𝑥) = ∫ 𝑧𝑧𝑥𝑥−1∞0 𝑒𝑒−𝑧𝑧𝑑𝑑𝑧𝑧 (𝑥𝑥 > 0).

(a) Prove Γ(𝑥𝑥) = (𝑥𝑥 − 1)Γ(𝑥𝑥 − 1).

(b) Prove 0! = 1, using Γ(𝑥𝑥).

(c) Calculate Γ �12�, using ∫ 𝑒𝑒−𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥2𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥 = �𝜋𝜋

𝑎𝑎∞−∞ .

(d) Calculate ∫ 𝑥𝑥𝑒𝑒−𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥4𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥∞0 , using Γ(𝑥𝑥). Assume 𝑎𝑎 > 0.


5

Mathematics and Physics

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

(1) Explain the terms below in about three lines for each.

【Terms】 Dew point temperature Atmospheric boundary layer Solar constant Thermal wind

(2) Figure 1 illustrates the latitudinal variation of annual mean precipitation and evaporation. Answer the questions

(i) to (v).

(i) The precipitation maximum near the Equator is collocated with the ascending branch of the Hadley circulation. The trade winds from both hemispheres meet within this zone, and thereby, deep convection is dominated. Answer the name of this zone.

(ii) For evaporation, the left axis represents the mass of evaporation per day (M) while the right axis represents

the energy required for evaporation (Q).

(a) Answer the equation describing the relationship between M and Q. Assume the latent heat of evaporation is 2.5×106 J/kg.

(b) At 40ºN the evaporation rate is 2.0 mm/day. Calculate the annual total energy required for evaporation at 40ºN. The answer must be in J/m2.

(iii) Explain the characteristics of the latitudinal variation of precipitation as well as the reasons for the variation

within four lines.

(iv) The evaporation is greater than the precipitation around 25ºN and 25ºS. Explain the reason within four lines.

(v) The sea surface salinity is relatively low in the tropics and high in the subtropics. Explain the reason within three lines.

(Continue to the following page)


6

(3) Answer the questions (i) to (v).

(i) For each of the following descriptions (a) to (c), answer as “yes” for the appropriate description and “no” for the inappropriate description.

(a) Hygroscopic aerosol particles can serve as nuclei of atmospheric cloud droplets. (b) In the clean air without aerosols, cloud droplet begins to form at a relative humidity lower than 100%. (c) The saturation vapor pressure of water vapor with respect to liquid water is less than that with respect

to ice at the same subfreezing temperature.

(ii) Explain the “warm clouds” within two lines.

(iii) Figure 2 illustrates the temporal variation of the radius of liquid cloud droplet. Answer the most appropriate term which can fill (A).

(iv) In Figure 2, the change rate of the radius for the process (A) increases with time. Explain the reason in about three lines.

(v) Explain the reason why, in the condensation growth process in Figure 2, the growth rate of the droplet

diminishes with time for large-sized droplet. You must derive the equation that describes the time evolution of the droplet radius (r) by referring the below equation.

The time evolution of the mass of liquid droplet (M) is written as

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

= 4𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜌𝜌𝑣𝑣𝑆𝑆

where constant values of 𝜋𝜋, 𝜌𝜌𝑣𝑣, and 𝑆𝑆 represents the diffusion coefficient of water vapor in the air, the density of water vapor, and the supersaturation of ambient air, respectively.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7

Ecology and Geography Question 6 Answer all the questions (1) to (3). (1) Explain or define each of the five ecological terms (i) to (v).

(i) assimilation efficiency (ii) biological species (iii) edge species (iv) relaxation (v) population

(2) Answer the questions (a) to (e), based on Figure 1 and text.

Figure 1. Relative abundance data (in terms of cover) for plant species in old fields in 5 stages of abandonment in southern Illinois, USA.

Modified from Instant Notes in Ecology (2012)

A community can be characterized by its (i)diversity which is expressed as a (ii)function of species richness (the number of species) and of the evenness of species abundance. Communities in which the species are all more or less equal in abundance exhibit evenness, whereas communities with one or a few abundant species and many rare ones show ___(X)___．One way of demonstrating species richness and evenness is to plot the relative abundance of species against their rank order, as shown in the above figure. This yields either a (iii)straight line or a characteristically-shaped curve.

(Continued to the next page)

Species rank

102

101

100

10-1

Rel

ativ

e co

ver v

alue

s

1 year 4 years 15 years

25 years

40 years

10 units


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8

(a) Fill an appropriate word(s) in the blank (X).

(b) On the underline (i), explain why (i) is important for applying ecological service.

(c) On the underline (ii), show the representative index.

(d) On the underline (iii), explain any mechanisms that a straight line is fitted.

(e) Explain the characteristics of succession in the old fields after the abandonment, based on the figure.

(3) Examine Figure 2 and answer the questions (a) to (c).

Figure 2. A species-area curve between lake size and species richness of aquatic plants for oxbow lakes along a large river is provided above. Each plot denotes individual lake, with the solid line indicating a statistically significant regression line.

(a) The relationship between the two parameters on vertical and horizontal axes is called

species-area curve. Provide explanations for the ecological processes behind such a relationship within 5 lines. You may refer to island biogeography theory or metapopulation theory.

(b) Provide definitions for α-diversity, β-diversity and γ-diversity. Explain which diversity types the species richness on the vertical axis of Figure 2 corresponds within 7 lines.

(c) The lakes accompanied by an arrow in the figure have on-going artificial eutrophication. Describe major human activities as causes of eutrophication, and explain some mechanisms by which species richness of aquatic plants can increase or decrease within 7 lines.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9

Ecology and Geography

Question 7 Provide answers to both questions (1) and (2). (1) The following text and Figure 1 describe the major zonal soils to be found between the Polar region and the Equator. Read the text and answer questions (a) to (c).

( A ) shown in Figure 1 occurs in the cool, humid regions where ( B ) is dominant, and is especially developed in the areas covered by coniferous forests, in addition to deciduous forests and pastureland. Therefore, ( A ) is characterized by an upper gray horizon and a lower horizon where the ( C ) of iron and aluminum forms a darker horizon. Meanwhile, ( D ) , one type of tropical soils, is developed widely in the regions with a marked dry season, and tends not to be with high ( E ) . The crusts of ( D ) may develop as much as 10 m thick. Black earth or prairie soil and ( F ) soil with a crumb structure are generally developed where precipitation is less than evaporation in a dry season.

Figure 1: Zonal soils in a transverse from Pole to Equator (Cited and modified from “A Level Geography” (1996) Letts Educational)

(a) Select appropriate terms in (A) to (F) from the followings.

Accumulation, Brown earth, Chernozem, Fertilization, Laterite, Leaching, Podsol, Regolith, Soil catena, Steppe, Tropical red earth

(b) Zonal soils shown in Figure 1 occur over wide areas on well-drained land. They have been there long enough for the climate and organisms to have expressed their full influence. Besides the zonal soils, azonal soils and intrazonal soils are recognized on the earth. Describe the azonal soils and intrazonal soils in about three lines using the following four terms.

Alluvial soils, Gleyed soils, Immature soils, Local conditions

(c) When a forested area experiences deforestation, what kind of influence(s) can occur on the soil there? Explain the possible influence(s) in about three lines.

(Continued to the next page)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10

(2) Figure 3 shows the topographic contour lines in the surrounding area of a certain city. Figure 2 shows cross profiles along the section lines (black solid lines) in Figure 3. Look at these figures and answer (a) to (e) below.

(a) Which one of the cross profiles (i, ii, iii, and iv in Figure 2) corresponds to each of the section lines (O-O', P-P', Q-Q', and R-R' in Figure 3)? Answer all the combinations like "O-O' and i".

(b) Find the approximate elevation at point S in Figure 3. (c) Spring water flows are observed near T in Figure 3. Describe the reason of this in about two lines. (d) The slopes around U in Figure 3 have clearly steeper gradient at their upper side and gentler

gradient at their lower side. Describe the formative processes of such slopes in about three lines. (e) Around W in Figure 3, built-up areas are being developed, but the mounded area is preserved as a

green space. Describe the significance of such land use controls in about four lines.

Figure 2. Topographic cross profiles.

(continued to the next page)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11

Figure 3. Topographic contour lines with an interval of 10 m.

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

12

Chemistry and Biology

Question 8 Answer the following questions (1) to (6). Use the light velocity of 3.0 × 108 m/s, the Planck constant of 6.6 × 10-34 J·s, log2 = 0.3, and log5 = 0.7, if necessary for the calculation.

(1) Draw the two resonance contributors for ozone with an arrow and formal charges.

(2) Draw the major product of the following reaction.

HCl

(3) Ordinary transition elements produce brightly colored compounds, but compounds containing scandium ions and zinc ions are colorless. Why do transition elements usually color brightly, and why are these two elements colorless? Write those reasons together in about 15 lines. You may draw a figure to explain them. Incidentally, the electron configuration of the scandium atom is [Ar] 4s23d1.

(4) Although manganese is one of the transition elements, why is the color of the aqueous solution of divalent manganese ions practically colorless? Explain the reason in about 12 lines using two terms of principle, "Hund's rule" and "Pauli exclusion principle".

(5) Let’s assume the following four items: 1) The sunlight consists of monochromatic light of wavelength 660 nm; 2) The energy density of sunlight on the farmland surface is fixed to 1 kW/m2; 3) It takes 10 photons to fix one molecule of CO2 as carbohydrate; 4) All the photons that strike the leaf are absorbed and used for fixation of carbon dioxide. Calculate how many hours it takes with a leaf area of 1 square meter to make one mole of glucose from carbon dioxide in the air. Answer it with two significant figures.

(6) The pKa of acetic acid is 4.7. How much volume of 0.1 mol·L-1 sodium acetate solution should be added to 40 mL of a 0.1 mol·L-1 acetic acid solution to make a buffer solution with a pH of 5.0? Answer the volume with two significant figures.

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

13

Chemistry and Biology

Question 9 Answer the following questions (1) to (6).

(1) Explain the definitions of “replication” and “transcription” of genes within three lines each.

(2) “Affinity chromatography” and “gel filtration chromatography” are frequently used for protein purification. Explain their principles within four lines each.

(3) Arctic mammals contain higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in the legs and hooves than in the other body parts. Explain the reason of this phenomenon within five lines.

(4) Explain how C3 plants, C4 plants, and CAM plants differ in photosynthesis in about eight lines.

(5) Explain in about six lines why green leaves in temperate zones turn red or yellow in the fall.

(6) There are two complexes called photosystems I and II in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplast. Explain the relationship between the photosystems and Calvin cycle in about two lines.

Also, the photosystem II reaction center absorbs photons having the wavelength of 700 nm, whereby the standard redox potential changes by minus 1.6 V. Calculate the percentage of the captured free energy (ΔG = –nFΔE0) yield with two significant figures. Use the light velocity of 3.0 × 108 m/s, the Planck constant of 6.6 × 10-34 J·s, and the Faraday constant of 9.6 × 104 C/mol, if necessary for the calculation.

specialized subjects - graduate school of …...specialized subjects [留学生用] [for...

Documents