A Level H1 Geography Practice Paper 2

Answer Key & Marking Scheme - Geography H1 A-Level (Version 2)

Section A: Climate Change and Flooding

Question 1 (a) Temporal Trend [4]:

• Identify overall upward trend (1 mark).
• Reference specific data points (e.g., rise from X mm in 1993 to Y mm in 2023) (2 marks).
• Note any acceleration in the rate of rise in the latter decade (1 mark).

(b) Vulnerability [6]:

• Identify specific high-risk zones from Resource B (e.g., low-lying deltas, Bangkok, Jakarta) (2 marks).
• Explain physical factors: low elevation, subsidence (2 marks).
• Explain human factors: high population density, lack of coastal defenses (2 marks).

(c) Arctic Amplification [6]:

• Define Arctic Amplification: warming at poles is faster than global average (2 marks).
• Explain Albedo Feedback: ice melt $\rightarrow$ lower albedo $\rightarrow$ more absorption of solar radiation $\rightarrow$ further warming (3 marks).
• Link to sea-level rise: thermal expansion and melting of land-based ice sheets (1 mark).

(d) Evaluation [8]:

• Strengths: Resource A provides quantitative global evidence of a trend; Resource B provides spatial application of risk (3 marks).
• Limitations: Resource A doesn't show regional variation; Resource B is a projection (uncertainty) and doesn't show the cause (3 marks).
• Judgment: Together they are useful for identifying what is happening and where it will hit, but not why (2 marks).

Question 2 (a) Mitigation vs Adaptation [4]:

• Mitigation: Reducing the causes (e.g., reducing GHG emissions, reforestation) (2 marks).
• Adaptation: Adjusting to the effects (e.g., building sea walls, drought-resistant crops) (2 marks).

(b) Reluctance in Agreements [8]:

• Economic costs: Transitioning to green energy is expensive for developing nations (3 marks).
• Sovereignty/Political will: Reluctance to let international bodies dictate national energy policy (3 marks).
• "Free-rider" problem: Some nations benefit from others' cuts without making their own (2 marks).

(c) Hard Engineering [10]:

• Agree: Immediate protection, high reliability for extreme events (e.g., dams, sea walls) (4 marks).
• Disagree: High cost, environmental degradation (habitat loss), "levee effect" (false sense of security) (4 marks).
• Conclusion: Balanced view—integrated management (soft + hard) is more sustainable (2 marks).

Question 3 (Essay) [18]:

• Introduction: Define mitigation and the scale of the climate crisis.
• Argument for Collective Effort: GHGs are global pollutants; no single nation can stop warming; need for shared technology and funding (e.g., Green Climate Fund) (6 marks).
• Counter-argument (National/Local): Role of individual nations (e.g., Costa Rica's reforestation), corporate net-zero targets, and local behavioral changes (6 marks).
• Evaluation: Barriers like political instability and economic disparity make collective action difficult but necessary (4 marks).
• Conclusion: Collective effort is the only way to achieve global targets, though national leadership drives the process (2 marks).

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Section B: Urban Change

Question 4 (a) Characteristics [5]:

• Visual evidence: High density, haphazard layout, makeshift materials (corrugated iron), steep slopes (3 marks).
• Interpretation: Lack of formal planning, poverty, overcrowding (2 marks).

(b) Service Provision [6]:

• Identify increase in % from Resource D (2 marks).
• Explain reasons: Government slum-upgrading programs, NGO interventions, "bottom-up" community efforts (3 marks).
• Link to urban growth/formalization (1 mark).

(c) Failure of Planning [7]:

• Explain "housing gap": Population growth exceeds formal housing supply (3 marks).
• Explain economic barriers: High cost of formal land/housing for low-income migrants (3 marks).
• Result: Informal settlements provide the only affordable option (1 mark).

(d) Sustainability [8]:

• Positive: Improved health (sanitation), reduced water-borne diseases, social dignity (4 marks).
• Limitation: Does not address land tenure security, overcrowding, or economic instability (3 marks).
• Judgment: Necessary but insufficient for full sustainability (1 mark).

Question 5 (a) Hoyt Model [6]:

• Describe model: Development along transport corridors (radiating from CBD) (3 marks).
• Application: Factories locate near rail/roads to minimize transport costs; residential zones develop away from industry (3 marks).

(b) Methodology [6]:

• Justification: Bipolar surveys quantify subjective feelings (e.g., -3 to +3) (3 marks).
• Benefit: Allows for statistical mean calculation and spatial comparison across different streets/zones (3 marks).

(c) Elderly Liveability [10]:

• Strategy: e.g., "Silver Zones" in Singapore (widened footpaths, slower crossings) (4 marks).
• Success: Increased safety, better accessibility to clinics, reduced social isolation (4 marks).
• Limitation: Gentrification may push elderly out of traditional neighborhoods (2 marks).

Question 6 (Essay) [18]:

• Introduction: Define slums and sustainable urban development (SUD).
• Slums as Impediment: Health risks (epidemics), environmental degradation (pollution), lack of tax revenue for city, social instability (6 marks).
• Slums as Solution/Asset: Provide affordable housing for essential low-wage workers, entrepreneurial hubs (informal economy), strong community social networks (6 marks).
• Evaluation: The "impediment" is often the lack of investment rather than the slum itself (4 marks).
• Conclusion: Slums are a symptom of unsustainable growth; addressing them through upgrading rather than eradication is the key to SUD (2 marks).