Q1. [2] medium exam-ready
State two ways in which mining activities harm the environment and the health of people living near mines.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:33 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Two ways mining harms the environment and people's health:
- Health hazard: Dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners cause pulmonary (lung) diseases. Risk of mine roof collapse, inundation, and fires are constant threats to miners' lives.
- Environmental damage: Water sources get contaminated due to mining. Dumping of waste and slurry degrades land, soil, and increases river and stream pollution.
Source: Hazards of Mining, Chapter 5
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Explanation
- This is a 2-mark question, so one point per mark is ideal — examiners expect exactly two distinct harms.
- The answer must cover both aspects mentioned in the question: harm to environment AND health of people.
- Use the textbook's exact terms: "pulmonary diseases," "contaminated water sources," "dumping of waste and slurry" — these fetch full marks.
- Avoid listing only health OR only environment; that would cost you a mark.