A Level H1 Geography Practice Paper 3

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Geography H1 A-Level

Answer Key & Marking Scheme (Version 3)

Section A: Climate Change and Flooding

Part 1: Data Response

1. (a) Temporal Trend (3m)

   • 1 mark for identifying the general upward trend (sea level is rising).
   • 1 mark for noting the acceleration after 1990 (steeper gradient).
   • 1 mark for referencing specific data points from Resource 1 (e.g., "from X cm to Y cm").

2. (b) SST and Cyclone Intensity (6m)

   • Identification: SST anomalies are positive (+0.5 to +1.8°C), meaning waters are warmer than average. (2m)
   • Explanation: Warmer SSTs increase the rate of evaporation $\rightarrow$ more latent heat released during condensation $\rightarrow$ fuels the cyclone's energy and intensifies wind speeds/rainfall. (4m)

3. (c) Short Lag Time/High Peak Discharge (6m)

   • Reason 1: Physical factor (e.g., steep slopes in Fiji's coastal highlands) $\rightarrow$ rapid surface runoff. (3m)
   • Reason 2: Meteorological factor (e.g., intense rainfall from the cyclone) $\rightarrow$ soil saturation leading to high overland flow. (3m)

4. (d) Evaluation of Resources (8m)

   • Strengths: Resource 1 shows the long-term global threat (sea-level rise); Resource 2 shows the immediate, acute threat (cyclone intensity). Together they provide a multi-scalar view of vulnerability. (4m)
   • Limitations: Neither resource shows the socio-economic capacity of SIDS to respond (e.g., GDP, governance). They show the hazard, not the vulnerability. (4m)

5. (e) Mitigation vs Adaptation (7m)

   • Mitigation: Reducing GHG emissions (e.g., transitioning to solar power in Fiji) to slow long-term sea-level rise. (3m)
   • Adaptation: Building sea walls or improving drainage systems to manage the high peak discharge seen in Resource 3. (4m)

Part 2: Essay

6. (a) Collective Effort (20m)

   • Agree: Climate change is a global commons problem; carbon leakage occurs if only some nations act; Paris Agreement requires unified targets.
   • Disagree: National policies (e.g., Singapore's Green Plan) and corporate initiatives (Net Zero) can drive rapid change regardless of global treaties.
   • Conclusion: Collective effort is essential for scale, but national/local action is the engine of implementation.

7. (b) Climatic vs Human Factors (20m)

   • Climatic: Rainfall intensity, duration, and seasonality (e.g., Monsoons) are the primary triggers for flooding.
   • Human: Urbanization (impermeable surfaces), deforestation, and poor drainage (e.g., Mumbai) exacerbate the physical risk.
   • Synthesis: The most severe floods occur where high climatic triggers meet high human vulnerability.

Section B: Urban Change

Part 1: Data Response

8. (a) Characteristics of Favela (5m)

   • High density/overcrowding (houses close together). (2m)
   • Poor infrastructure (open sewage, precarious wiring). (2m)
   • Marginal land use (steep slopes). (1m)

9. (b) Service Provision Changes (6m)

   • Identification: Increase in % access to water/sanitation. (2m)
   • Explanation: State-led slum upgrading programs, investment in infrastructure, or the formalization of land tenure allowing utilities to be installed. (4m)

10. (c) Liveability for Elderly (6m)

    • Proximity: High density of clinics and community centers reduces travel distance for those with limited mobility. (3m)
    • Accessibility: Integration of public transport hubs ensures the elderly can access services independently. (3m)

11. (d) Reliability of Bipolar Surveys (7m)

    • Strengths: Quantifies subjective feelings (fear/safety), allowing for statistical comparison between sites. (3m)
    • Limitations: Subjective bias; "snapshot" in time (time of day affects fear); does not explain why people feel unsafe. (4m)

12. (e) Sustainable Strategies (6m)

    • Social: Land tenure regularization (giving residents ownership). (3m)
    • Environmental: Slope stabilization/reforestation to prevent landslides in high-density areas. (3m)

Part 2: Essay

13. (a) Slums as Impediment (20m)

    • Impediment: Health risks (cholera), environmental degradation (pollution), lack of tax base for city revenue.
    • Not Impediment: Provide affordable housing for the urban poor; hubs of informal entrepreneurship/employment; social support networks.
    • Conclusion: Slums are a symptom of failed planning, not the primary cause of unsustainability.

14. (b) Success of Liveability Strategies (20m)

    • Case study required (e.g., Singapore's "Age-Friendly" initiatives or Medellin's cable cars).
    • Evaluation: Measure success by accessibility, safety, and social inclusion. Discuss trade-offs (e.g., gentrification pushing the poor further away).