A Level H1 Geography Practice Paper 2

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Geography H1 A-Level

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) - Version 2

Subject: Geography H1
Level: A-Level
Paper: Paper 1 (Themes in Geography)
Duration: 3 Hours
Total Marks: 100
Name: __________________________ Class: __________ Date: __________

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Instructions to Candidates

1. Answer all questions in Section A and Section B.
2. Section A focuses on Theme 1: Climate Change and Flooding.
3. Section B focuses on Theme 2: Urban Change.
4. Use the provided resources to support your answers.
5. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

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Section A: Climate Change and Flooding (50 Marks)

Question 1 (Data Response) Refer to Resource A: A graph showing the global mean sea-level rise from 1993 to 2023 and Resource B: A map showing the projected flood-risk zones in Southeast Asia by 2050.

(a) Describe the temporal trend of global mean sea-level rise as shown in Resource A. [4] (b) Using Resource B, explain why certain coastal cities in Southeast Asia are more vulnerable to flooding than others. [6] (c) Explain how the process of "Arctic Amplification" contributes to the trends observed in Resource A. [6] (d) Evaluate the usefulness of Resource A and Resource B in understanding the overall threat of climate change to coastal settlements. [8]

Question 2 (Structured Response) (a) Explain the difference between climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. [4] (b) Account for the reasons why some nations are more reluctant to participate in collective international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, to mitigate climate change. [8] (c) "The most effective way to manage flood risk is through hard engineering strategies." To what extent do you agree with this statement? [10]

Question 3 (Essay) "Climate change can only be mitigated with the collective effort of nations." To what extent do you agree with this statement? [18]

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Section B: Urban Change (50 Marks)

Question 4 (Data Response) Refer to Resource C: A photograph of a favela in Rio de Janeiro and Resource D: A table showing the percentage of residents with access to piped water and sanitation in three different informal settlements (2010 vs 2020).

(a) Explain the characteristics of the informal settlement as seen in Resource C. [5] (b) Account for the changes in service provision shown in Resource D between 2010 and 2020. [6] (c) Explain how the development of informal settlements can be seen as a response to the failure of formal urban planning. [7] (d) Evaluate the extent to which the improvements in service provision shown in Resource D lead to a sustainable urban environment. [8]

Question 5 (Structured Response) (a) Explain how the Hoyt Model explains the development of industrial zones in a growing city. [6] (b) A group of students conducted an investigation into urban liveability in a neighborhood in Singapore. They used bipolar surveys to measure perceived safety. Justify the use of this methodology. [6] (c) Assess the success of state-led strategies used to improve urban liveability for the elderly in a city of your choice. [10]

Question 6 (Essay) "Slums are the greatest impediment confronting cities in achieving sustainable urban development." How far do you agree with this statement? [18]

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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).