A Level H2 Geography Practice Paper 2

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A-Level Geography H2 Quiz - Resources Sustainability

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

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Marks: 100

Instructions:

• Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
• Use a black or blue pen.
• For higher-mark questions, ensure you provide specific case study evidence and balanced arguments.

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Section A: Resource Identification and Data Interpretation (Questions 1–7)

1. Define the term "sustainable development" in the context of resource management. [3]


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2. Distinguish between "renewable" and "non-renewable" resources, providing one example of each. [4]


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3. Resource A shows a table of water stress indices for five different global regions. If Region X has a stress index of 0.8 and Region Y has 0.3, explain the difference in their water security status. [5]


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4. Identify two factors that contribute to the "resource curse" in countries at low levels of development. [4]


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5. Describe the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation as suggested by the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). [6]


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6. Resource B is a graph showing the decline of global fish stocks over 50 years. Suggest two human activities that have contributed to this trend. [4]


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7. Explain why the "carrying capacity" of a resource is not a fixed number but a dynamic value. [6]


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Section B: Structured Analysis (Questions 8–15)

8. Explain how the "tragedy of the commons" applies to the management of international waters. [7]


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9. Compare the environmental impacts of extracting minerals via open-cast mining versus deep-shaft mining. [8]


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10. Explain the role of "technological leapfrogging" in helping developing nations achieve sustainable energy transitions. [7]


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11. Discuss how the concept of "ecological footprint" can be used to evaluate a city's sustainability. [8]


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12. Explain two ways in which climate change is currently affecting the availability of freshwater resources in the Himalayas. [8]


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13. Analyze the trade-offs between economic profitability and environmental conservation in the management of tropical rainforests. [8]


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14. Describe how "top-down" resource management strategies differ from "bottom-up" (community-based) approaches. [7]


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15. Explain the impact of "Dutch Disease" on the economic diversification of a resource-rich nation. [7]


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Section C: Evaluative Essays (Questions 16–20)

16. "The transition to renewable energy is the only viable path to long-term global sustainability." To what extent do you agree with this statement? [12]


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17. Evaluate the effectiveness of international treaties (e.g., the Paris Agreement) in managing global atmospheric resources. [12]


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18. "Resource scarcity is caused more by inequitable distribution than by absolute physical shortage." Discuss this view with reference to water or food resources. [12]


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19. Assess the extent to which the "Circular Economy" model can realistically replace the traditional "Linear Economy" in highly industrialized nations. [12]


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20. To what extent is the sustainability of mineral resources dependent on the development of substitute materials? [12]


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Answer Key - A-Level Geography H2 Quiz: Resources Sustainability

Section A

1. Sustainable Development (3m): Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Must mention intergenerational equity and balance of economic, social, and environmental pillars.
2. Renewable vs Non-Renewable (4m): Renewable: Can be replenished at the same rate as consumption (e.g., solar, wind). Non-renewable: Finite stock that takes millions of years to form (e.g., coal, oil).
3. Water Stress Index (5m): Region X (0.8) is under high water stress/scarcity, meaning demand is nearly equal to available supply, risking instability. Region Y (0.3) has low water stress and higher water security.
4. Resource Curse Factors (4m): (1) Over-dependence on a single export leading to economic volatility; (2) Corruption/poor governance due to "easy money" (rent-seeking).
5. EKC Relationship (6m): Initial stage: Economic growth leads to increased pollution/degradation. Turning point: At a certain income level, society prioritizes environment. Final stage: Further growth leads to decreased degradation via better technology/regulation.
6. Fish Stock Decline (4m): (1) Overfishing/Industrial trawling; (2) Habitat destruction (e.g., coral bleaching or pollution).
7. Carrying Capacity (6m): Dynamic because it changes with: (1) Technological advancements (e.g., desalination increases water capacity); (2) Changes in consumption patterns; (3) Environmental shifts (e.g., climate change reducing arable land).

Section B

8. Tragedy of the Commons (7m): Individuals act in self-interest to maximize gain from a shared resource $\rightarrow$ leads to over-exploitation $\rightarrow$ eventual collapse of the resource. In international waters, lack of a single governing body makes enforcement of quotas difficult.
9. Mining Comparison (8m): Open-cast: Massive surface disturbance, deforestation, soil erosion, high visibility. Deep-shaft: Lower surface footprint but risk of subsidence, groundwater contamination, and higher worker safety risks.
10. Technological Leapfrogging (7m): Skipping intermediate, polluting stages of development (e.g., skipping coal-fired grids for decentralized solar/wind grids) to reduce carbon footprints and infrastructure costs.
11. Ecological Footprint (8m): Measures land/water area required to produce resources consumed and absorb waste. High footprint relative to biocapacity indicates an "ecological deficit," signaling unsustainable urban consumption.
12. Himalayan Freshwater (8m): (1) Accelerated glacial melt $\rightarrow$ short-term flooding/increased flow, long-term depletion of "water towers." (2) Altered monsoon patterns $\rightarrow$ unpredictable precipitation affecting seasonal water availability.
13. Trade-offs (8m): Profit: Timber/Mining provides immediate GDP and jobs. Conservation: Preserves biodiversity and carbon sinks. Conflict: Short-term economic gain vs long-term ecosystem services.
14. Top-down vs Bottom-up (7m): Top-down: Government-led, standardized, often ignores local nuance, high enforcement power. Bottom-up: Community-led, utilizes traditional knowledge, higher local buy-in, but may lack scale or funding.
15. Dutch Disease (7m): Resource boom $\rightarrow$ currency appreciation $\rightarrow$ other exports (manufacturing/agri) become uncompetitive $\rightarrow$ economy becomes dangerously mono-cultural and vulnerable to price shocks.

Section C (Marking Guide for 12m Essays)

General Rubric: 1-4 (Descriptive), 5-8 (Analytical with some evidence), 9-12 (Evaluative, balanced, strong case studies).

16. Renewable Energy (12m): Agree: Decarbonization is essential for climate stability. Disagree: Energy storage limits, reliance on rare earth minerals for panels/batteries, need for nuclear as baseload.
17. International Treaties (12m): Effectiveness: Sets global targets, encourages transparency. Limitations: Lack of binding enforcement, "free rider" problem, targets often non-binding or insufficient.
18. Distribution vs Shortage (12m): Argument for distribution: Global food production is sufficient, but waste and poverty prevent access. Argument for shortage: Physical limits of arable land and aquifer depletion in specific regions.
19. Circular Economy (12m): Feasibility: Reduces waste, creates "green" jobs. Barriers: High initial cost of redesigning supply chains, consumer culture of "planned obsolescence," technical limits of recycling.
20. Substitute Materials (12m): Dependence: High for critical minerals (e.g., Cobalt). Evaluation: Substitutes (e.g., graphene, synthetic alternatives) extend resource life but may introduce new environmental costs.