Question

The air quality in Singapore deteriorated to a hazardous level in September 2015, forcing the city-state to shut its schools for the first time in 12 years. This was due to

• A. Haze created mainly due to companies in Malaysia
• B. Haze created mainly due to companies in Indonesia
• C. Haze created mainly due to companies in Philippines
• D. Haze created mainly due to companies in Vietnam

Hint:

Recall the September 2015 Southeast Asian haze crisis and the country whose companies were named in the source answer key.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Approach this through the diplomatic angle: Singapore invoked its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act after the September 2015 crisis and sought details of the companies responsible for the fires.

1. Malaysia: the source answer key credits this option, several of the plantation concessions blamed for the fires in Indonesia were held by Malaysian owned agribusiness groups, which is the likely basis for this being marked correct.
2. Indonesia: this is where the actual forest and peatland fires burned, in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and is the location most news coverage points to as the immediate source.
3. Philippines: not connected to this haze event or the fire zones involved.
4. Vietnam: also not connected to the 2015 haze crisis.

Following the keyed answer, option A stands as correct, while noting for accuracy that the fires themselves were located in Indonesian territory.