A Level H2 Geography Practice Paper 1

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Geography H2 A-Level

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) — Version 1 of 5

Subject: Geography H2
Level: A-Level (Pre-University)
Paper: Practice Paper (Topic: Resources Sustainability)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Marks: 60
Name: ________________________
Class: ________________________
Date: ________________________

Instructions:

• This practice paper contains 20 questions across three sections, focused on the A-Level H2 Geography syllabus topic of Resources & Sustainability (Syllabus 9173, Cluster 1.1).
• Answer all questions.
• Use the resources provided (including data tables and image placeholders to be rendered later) to support your answers.
• Marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Section subtotals and question marks add up exactly to 60 Total Marks.

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Section A: Resource Concepts and Classification (Questions 1–7) — Total 18 marks

1. Define the term sustainable development as used in the 1987 Brundtland Report Our Common Future. [2]

2. State one difference between a renewable and a non-renewable resource, giving an example of each. [2]

3. The table below shows reserve categories for a mineral resource in Country X.

Reserve category	Description	Tonnes
Proven	Economically extractable at current prices and tech	120 million
Conditional	Potentially extractable if prices rise	80 million
Hypothetical	Inferred from geological theory	50 million
Speculative	Possible but unexplored	30 million

Using the table, calculate the total known + potential reserve base (proven + conditional + hypothetical + speculative) for Country X. [1]

4. Explain the concept of ecosystem services and name the four types recognised in the syllabus. [3]

5. Thomas Malthus argued that population growth would outstrip resource supply. State one limitation of Malthus' view as recognised in modern geography. [2]

6. Ester Boserup proposed a contrasting view to Malthus. Explain her central argument regarding technology and resource limits. [3]

7.

Image pending generation: graph for Q7.

Using Resource Q7-fig1, compare the trend in per capita renewable freshwater availability between Region A and Region B from 1960 to 2020. [5]

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Section B: Resource Management and Challenges (Questions 8–14) — Total 24 marks

8. Describe two human activities that compromise regulating ecosystem services. [2]

9. Solar power is promoted as a renewable energy source. State one environmental limitation of large-scale solar farms. [1]

10. For transboundary water resources, explain why conflicts arise between countries sharing a river basin. Use one example of a shared river in Asia. [4]

11. The table below shows hydropower capacity and fossil fuel dependence for three countries.

Country	Hydropower % of total energy	Fossil fuel % of total energy	Energy security index (0–10)
C	45	50	6.2
D	12	85	3.1
E	30	65	4.8

Using the table, compare the relationship between hydropower share and energy security index. [3]

12. Extractive industries for non-renewable resources are often capital-intensive. Explain one social impact of mining on local communities near a extraction site. [3]

13.

Image pending generation: chart for Q13.

Using Resource Q13-fig1, identify the city with the highest recycling rate and calculate the difference between the highest and lowest city. [2]

14. Evaluate one management strategy used by governments to reduce fossil fuel dependence through renewable energy substitution. [5]

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Section C: Synthesis and Application (Questions 15–20) — Total 18 marks

15. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) use quantitative targets. Suggest one challenge in measuring progress toward SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) in a developing country. [2]

16.

Image pending generation: map for Q16.

Using Resource Q16-fig1, suggest how uneven agricultural land use around the shared lake may lead to resource conflict. [3]

17. Explain how habitat destruction can reduce provisioning ecosystem services with one example. [3]

18. A country relies on groundwater that is being extracted faster than recharge. Using the syllabus idea of regenerative capacity, explain why this is unsustainable. [3]

19. Compare Malthus' and Boserup's views on the role of the environment in limiting human development. [4]

20. "Achieving resource sustainability requires trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection." To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use syllabus concepts in your answer. [3]

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper — Answer Key (Version 1 of 5)

Subject: Geography H2 A-Level
Topic: Resources Sustainability
Total Marks: 60

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Section A Answers (18 marks)

Q1 [2]
Answer: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland, 1987).
Marking: 1 mark for present-needs idea; 1 mark for future-generations / intergenerational equity idea.
Teaching note: This definition is the cornerstone of the syllabus. Do not confuse with "environmental protection only" — it includes economic and social dimensions.

Q2 [2]
Answer: Renewable resources regenerate naturally within human timescales (e.g., solar energy); non-renewable resources do not regenerate or form over geological timescales (e.g., coal).
Marking: 1 mark for correct distinction; 1 mark for one valid example each (or clear pair).
Common mistake: Saying renewable = "infinite" (wrong; can be exhausted if regenerative capacity exceeded).

Q3 [1]
Answer: 120 + 80 + 50 + 30 = 280 million tonnes.
Method: Sum all four categories from table.
Marking: 1 mark for correct total.
Teaching note: Proven + conditional + hypothetical + speculative = total resource potential per syllabus reserve classification.

Q4 [3]
Answer: Ecosystem services are benefits people obtain from ecosystems. Four types: provisioning (e.g., food, water), regulating (e.g., climate control), cultural (e.g., recreation), supporting (e.g., nutrient cycling).
Marking: 1 mark for definition; 2 marks for naming all four types (½ each acceptable if listed correctly, but full 2 for all four).
Teaching note: Supporting services underpin the other three; often missed by students.

Q5 [2]
Answer: Limitation: Malthus ignored technological advancement and unequal access — resources distributed unevenly, so scarcity is often access-based not absolute.
Marking: 2 marks for one clear limitation with brief explanation (1+1).
Accept: ignored tech, ignored distribution, predicted famine not universally realised.

Q6 [3]
Answer: Boserup argued that population pressure stimulates technological innovation (e.g., intensive farming, irrigation) that expands the resource base, so limits are not fixed.
Marking: 3 marks — 1 for population pressure stimulus, 1 for tech innovation, 1 for expanded resource base / anti-Malthus conclusion.
Teaching note: She is optimistic; contrasts Malthus' pessimistic fixed-limit view.

Q7 [5]
Answer: Region A shows a steep decline from 12,000 to 4,000 m³/person/yr (–67%) over 1960–2020, while Region B remains stable near 9,000 (small drop to 8,900). Region A therefore lost far more per-capita availability; gap widened from 2,500 to 4,900 m³.
Marking: 1 for A decline described with values; 1 for B stable with values; 1 for comparison of direction; 1 for magnitude/ gap; 1 for conclusion on widening inequality.
Image need: Lines as placeholder described; student must read trends correctly.

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Section B Answers (24 marks)

Q8 [2]
Answer: (i) Pollution from factories reducing air purification; (ii) Deforestation reducing flood regulation.
Marking: 1 mark each for activity + linked regulating service.
Teaching note: Regulating = climate, flood, disease control etc.

Q9 [1]
Answer: Land-use change / habitat loss for panel construction; or toxic materials in manufacturing.
Marking: 1 mark for any valid environmental limitation.

Q10 [4]
Answer: Upstream countries may divert or dam water, reducing quantity/quality for downstream neighbours → conflict. Example: Mekong River (China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam) where dams affect flow.
Marking: 2 for explanation of mechanism; 2 for Asian example with brief relevance.
Teaching note: Transboundary = >1 country; syllabus stresses varying management success.

Q11 [3]
Answer: Higher hydropower share associates with higher security index: C (45%, 6.2) > E (30%, 4.8) > D (12%, 3.1). Fossil dependence inverse.
Marking: 1 compare direction; 1 reference C vs D; 1 link to security index values.
Teaching note: Correlation not causation; but pattern clear in data.

Q12 [3]
Answer: Social impact: displacement of communities for mine site; loss of livelihoods; or health issues from dust/water contamination.
Marking: 3 marks — state impact (1), explain mechanism (1), consequence for community (1).

Q13 [2]
Answer: Highest = City Z (58%). Difference = 58 – 22 = 36 percentage points.
Marking: 1 for Z; 1 for correct difference.
Image need: Bars as described; read values.

Q14 [5]
Answer: Strategy: Feed-in tariffs for solar. Eval: reduces fossil use (env benefit), but high cost (economic trade-off), needs grid (social access). Success varies by state capacity.
Marking: 1 identify; 2 for advantages; 2 for limitations / evaluative judgement.
Teaching note: Use trade-off concept from syllabus.

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Section C Answers (18 marks)

Q15 [2]
Answer: Challenge: lack of data infrastructure in rural areas → under-reporting; or unequal access not captured by national average.
Marking: 2 for challenge + why it hinders measurement.

Q16 [3]
Answer: Country F/G/H may use more water for agriculture → less for others; nutrient runoff causes eutrophication; conflict over outflow rights.
Marking: 1 per valid suggestion up to 3, linked to map.
Image need: Map shows shared lake; use positions.

Q17 [3]
Answer: Habitat destruction (e.g., mangrove clearing) removes fish nursery (provisioning service = seafood). Less food supply.
Marking: 1 habitat; 1 service link; 1 example.

Q18 [3]
Answer: Regenerative capacity = natural recharge rate. If extraction > recharge, stock declines → depletion; not sustainable for future.
Marking: 1 define; 1 apply > recharge; 1 conclude unsustainable.

Q19 [4]
Answer: Malthus: environment fixed limit, population outstrips. Boserup: environment limit expandable via tech. Contrast = pessimistic vs optimistic.
Marking: 2 each for accurate contrast of both views.

Q20 [3]
Answer: Agree: e.g., protected areas reduce logging (growth loss) but save ecosystems. Extent: partial — green tech may align both.
Marking: 1 stance; 1 trade-off example; 1 extent/nuance.
Teaching note: Syllabus emphasises trade-offs and limits.