A Level H2 Geography Practice Paper 5

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A-Level Geography H2 Quiz - Resources Sustainability

Name: ____________________ Class: ____________________ Date: ____________________ Score: ________ / 100

Duration: 2 Hours
Total Marks: 100
Instructions: Answer all questions. For source-based questions, refer to the provided descriptions of resources. For essays, ensure you provide specific case study evidence.

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Section A: Data Interpretation and Short Response (Questions 1-10)

Questions 1-3 refer to Resource A: A table showing Sustainability Indices (Environmental, Social, and Economic) for four Southeast Asian cities: Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila.

1. Compare the scores for the four cities shown in Resource A across the three sustainability dimensions. [5]
   
   
   
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2. Identify which city exhibits the greatest disparity between its Economic and Environmental sustainability scores. [2]
   
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3. Explain one possible reason why a city in this region might score high in Economic sustainability but low in Environmental sustainability. [3]
   
   
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Questions 4-6 refer to Resource B: A diagram of a tropical forest in the Amazon Basin showing vertical stratification and a mean biomass of 350 tonnes/ha.

4. Describe the vegetation structure and mean biomass of the forest shown in Resource B. [3]
   
   
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5. Explain how the vegetation structure described in Question 4 contributes to the sustainability of the local ecosystem. [4]
   
   
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6. Identify two potential human activities that would most significantly reduce the mean biomass shown in Resource B. [2]
   
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Questions 7-10 refer to Resource C: A photograph of a limestone landscape in Guilin, China, featuring steep towers and sinkholes.

7. Explain the processes that have contributed to the formation of the karst landscape shown in Resource C. [7]
   
   
   
   
   
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8. Describe the role of rainfall in the chemical weathering process mentioned in Question 7. [3]
   
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9. Identify one way in which the karst landscape in Resource C can be managed sustainably for tourism. [2]
   
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10. Explain why karst landscapes are particularly vulnerable to groundwater pollution. [3]
    
    
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Section B: Structured Analysis (Questions 11-15)

Questions 11-13 refer to Resource D: A waste composition chart for Nairobi, Kenya (Organic 60%, Plastic 15%, Paper 10%, Other 15%) and Resource E: An infographic on marine plastic pollution in the Indian Ocean.

11. Describe the waste composition in Nairobi as shown in Resource D. [3]
    
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12. Using Resources D and E, explain the link between urban waste management in cities like Nairobi and the environmental issues shown in the infographic. [5]
    
    
    
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13. Suggest two strategies to improve the sustainability of waste management in a city with the waste profile shown in Resource D. [4]
    
    
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14. Compare the reasons for the development of informal settlements (slums) in a developing region (e.g., Mumbai) and a developed region (e.g., Detroit). [12]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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15. Explain how the "Resource Curse" can lead to political instability in countries at low levels of development. [6]
    
    
    
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Section C: Extended Response (Questions 16-20)

16. "An abundance of natural resources is always a blessing for a country's economic development." To what extent do you agree with this statement? [20]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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17. "Sustainable urban development is impossible for megacities in the Global South without significant foreign aid." Discuss. [20]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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18. Evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies used to manage water scarcity in arid regions. [10]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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19. Discuss the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental sustainability in rapidly industrializing nations. [10]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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20. To what extent is the transition to renewable energy a viable solution for all countries regardless of their level of development? [10]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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Answer Key - A-Level Geography H2 Quiz: Resources Sustainability

Section A

1. Comparative Analysis (5m):

   • Award 1m for identifying the highest/lowest performers in each dimension.
   • Award 2m for using comparative language (e.g., "Bangkok's environmental score is significantly lower than Jakarta's").
   • Award 2m for synthesizing patterns (e.g., "While all cities score moderately in Economic sustainability, there is a wide variance in Environmental scores").

2. Identification (2m):

   • Correct city identified based on the gap between Economic and Environmental indices. (1m for city, 1m for referencing the gap).

3. Explanation (3m):

   • 1m for identifying rapid industrialization/urbanization.
   • 1m for explaining the economic gain (GDP growth, jobs).
   • 1m for explaining the environmental cost (pollution, loss of green space, carbon emissions).

4. Vegetation Description (3m):

   • 1m for mentioning vertical layers (emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor).
   • 1m for describing density/height (e.g., "dense continuous canopy").
   • 1m for stating mean biomass (350 tonnes/ha).

5. Sustainability Link (4m):

   • 1m for mentioning biodiversity (niches in different layers).
   • 1m for nutrient cycling (rapid decomposition on forest floor).
   • 1m for climate regulation (transpiration/carbon sequestration).
   • 1m for protection of soil (canopy intercepts rain, preventing erosion).

6. Identification (2m):

   • 1m each for: Deforestation/Logging, Forest Fires, or Agricultural Conversion (e.g., soy/cattle).

7. Karst Processes (7m):

   • 1m: Identification of soluble carbonate rock (limestone).
   • 2m: Chemical weathering process (Rainwater + CO2 $\rightarrow$ Carbonic acid $\rightarrow$ Dissolution of CaCO3).
   • 2m: Physical pathway (Infiltration/percolation through joints and bedding planes).
   • 2m: Formation of features (Cavities $\rightarrow$ roof collapse $\rightarrow$ sinkholes; underground drainage $\rightarrow$ towers).

8. Role of Rainfall (3m):

   • 1m: Source of water for dissolution.
   • 1m: Absorption of atmospheric CO2 to create weak acid.
   • 1m: Transport of dissolved minerals away from the site.

9. Sustainable Management (2m):

   • 1m for strategy (e.g., zoning, visitor quotas, boardwalks).
   • 1m for explanation of how it prevents degradation.

10. Groundwater Vulnerability (3m):

    • 1m: High permeability of limestone.
    • 1m: Lack of filtration (water moves quickly through conduits/joints).
    • 1m: Direct connection between surface sinkholes and aquifers.

Section B

11. Waste Description (3m):

    • 1m: Dominance of organic waste (60%).
    • 1m: Significant plastic component (15%).
    • 1m: Relatively low paper/other components.

12. Synthesis (5m):

    • 1m: Link between high plastic waste in Nairobi (Resource D) and leakage into waterways.
    • 2m: Process of transport (urban drains $\rightarrow$ rivers $\rightarrow$ Indian Ocean).
    • 2m: Impact on marine environment as shown in Resource E (e.g., ingestion by wildlife, coral reef degradation).

13. Strategies (4m):

    • 2m: Composting/Biogas (targeting the 60% organic waste).
    • 2m: Plastic ban/Circular economy initiatives (targeting the 15% plastic waste).

14. Slum Comparison (12m):

    • Developing (4m): Rural-urban migration, rapid population growth, lack of affordable formal housing, weak land tenure.
    • Developed (4m): Deindustrialization (rust belt), gentrification, systemic poverty/marginalization, failure of social housing.
    • Comparison (4m): Similarities (poor sanitation, social exclusion); Differences (scale of growth, primary driver—growth vs. decay).

15. Resource Curse (6m):

    • 2m: Economic overdependence (volatility of commodity prices).
    • 2m: Governance failure (corruption, rent-seeking behavior).
    • 2m: Conflict (competition for control of resource-rich areas, e.g., "blood diamonds").

Section C

16. Natural Resources Essay (20m):

    • Agreement: Revenue for infrastructure, foreign exchange, industrialization (e.g., Botswana diamonds).
    • Disagreement: Dutch Disease, corruption, environmental degradation, conflict (e.g., DRC minerals).
    • Evaluation: Role of institutional strength and governance in determining the outcome.

17. Foreign Aid Essay (20m):

    • Agreement: Financial gaps in LDCs, need for technology transfer (green tech), capacity building.
    • Disagreement: Domestic resource mobilization (taxation), aid dependency/conditionality, success of self-reliant models (e.g., Vietnam).
    • Evaluation: Aid is a catalyst but not a substitute for good governance and urban planning.

18. Water Scarcity (10m):

    • Evaluation of desalination (high cost/energy), rainwater harvesting (low scale), and drip irrigation (efficient but requires initial investment).

19. Trade-offs (10m):

    • Discussion of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), immediate economic gains vs. long-term ecological collapse, and the "grow now, clean up later" mentality.

20. Renewable Energy (10m):

    • Analysis of viability based on geography (solar/wind potential) and economic capacity (cost of transition). Contrast between developed (grid upgrades) and developing (leapfrogging to off-grid solar).