A Level H1 Geography Practice Paper 4

Answer Key & Marking Scheme - Geography H1 A-Level (Version 4)

Section A: Climate Change and Flooding

Question 1 (a) Trend Description (4m):

• 1m for identifying general upward trend.
• 2m for specific data points (e.g., "increased from X mm in 1990 to Y mm in 2020").
• 1m for noting acceleration (e.g., "steeper increase after 2010").

(b) Vulnerability Analysis (6m):

• 2m for identifying spatial patterns from Resource 2 (e.g., low-lying deltas, high-density coastal cities).
• 4m for explanation: Low elevation increases inundation risk; high population density increases social/economic vulnerability; lack of natural buffers (mangroves).

(c) Evaluation of Usefulness (8m):

• 2m for judgment (e.g., "moderately useful").
• 3m for strengths: Specificity of Kiribati case, detail on specific strategies (e.g., migration with dignity).
• 3m for limitations: Lack of quantitative data on success rates, narrow focus on one island, potential bias in reporting.

(d) Interaction Analysis (7m):

• 3m for physical factors: Low-lying topography, storm surge patterns.
• 4m for anthropogenic factors: GHG emissions $\rightarrow$ thermal expansion/ice melt $\rightarrow$ sea level rise; urban concrete $\rightarrow$ reduced infiltration $\rightarrow$ increased surface runoff.

Question 2 (a) Cyclone Development (8m):

• 2m for SST $\ge 26.5^\circ\text{C}$ (energy source).
• 2m for Coriolis force (rotation, $\ge 5^\circ$ from equator).
• 2m for low-pressure system/convergence.
• 2m for latent heat release fueling the eye-wall intensification.

(b) Mitigation Debate (16m):

• Agree: Global nature of GHGs; Paris Agreement (collective targets); carbon leakage if only some nations act.
• Counter: National leadership (e.g., Costa Rica's reforestation); corporate innovation (Tesla/SolarCity); individual behavioral shifts.
• Evaluation: Collective action provides the framework, but national implementation is where the actual reduction occurs.

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Section B: Urban Change

Question 3 (a) Characteristics (5m):

• 3m for identifying features from Resource 4: High density, makeshift materials (corrugated iron), steep slopes, lack of planned roads.
• 2m for explanation: Poverty, rapid rural-urban migration, lack of affordable formal housing.

(b) Service Provision (6m):

• 2m for identifying differences (e.g., Settlement A has water, Settlement C has none).
• 4m for account: Government intervention/upgrading programs in A; age of settlement; accessibility for utility companies; political will.

(c) Method Justification (5m):

• 2m for definition: Bipolar surveys quantify subjective feelings.
• 3m for context: Allows comparison of "safety" across different streets using a mean score, making qualitative data statistically analyzable.

(d) Reliability Evaluation (6m):

• 3m for limitation: Weekday afternoon excludes working adults/students; sample is biased toward retirees/stay-at-home parents.
• 3m for impact: Perceptions of safety may differ by time of day (day vs. night), making the conclusion not representative of the total population.

Question 4 (a) Hoyt Model (8m):

• 3m for model description: Sectoral growth, not concentric; development along transport arteries.
• 5m for application: Industrial zones follow rail/river lines to minimize transport costs; residential zones develop away from industry but near transport.

(b) Slums Debate (16m):

• Impediment: Health hazards (cholera), environmental degradation, lack of tax revenue, social instability.
• Solution/Asset: Affordable housing for low-income workers, entrepreneurial hubs (informal economy), social safety nets.
• Evaluation: Slums are a symptom of failed planning, not the cause. Sustainable development requires "upgrading" (e.g., Rio's favela-bairro) rather than "clearance."

Question 5 (Synthesis)

• Physical (6m): Low-lying coastal plains, monsoon rainfall intensity, soil saturation.
• Human (6m): Urban sprawl on wetlands, clogged drainage (waste), impermeable surfaces (concrete), poor zoning laws.
• Interaction (4m): Synthesis: Physical vulnerability is amplified by human mismanagement. Example: Mumbai's Mithi river is naturally prone to flooding, but encroachment by slums and industry removes the natural flood-plain, making floods catastrophic.