A Level H2 Geography Practice Paper 4

Answer Key & Marking Scheme - Geography H2 Practice Paper (Version 4)

Section A: Physical Geography

Question 1 (a) Vegetation Structure & Biomass [3]

• 1m: Identification of vertical layers (Emergent, Canopy, Understory, Ground).
• 1m: Description of density/height (e.g., continuous canopy, sparse understory).
• 1m: Reference to mean biomass value from Resource 1 (e.g., X tonnes/ha).

(b) Nutrient Cycling [7]

• 2m: High temp/humidity $\rightarrow$ rapid decomposition by fungi/bacteria.
• 2m: Thin humus layer $\rightarrow$ rapid uptake by shallow roots (closed loop).
• 2m: Role of precipitation $\rightarrow$ leaching of minerals from soil, making biomass the primary nutrient store.
• 1m: Link to productivity (rapid turnover allows growth despite poor soil).

(c) Climate Change vs. Human Exploitation [10]

• 4m: Human exploitation (Logging, Agriculture) $\rightarrow$ immediate habitat loss, fragmentation, soil erosion.
• 4m: Climate change $\rightarrow$ altered precipitation, drought stress, increased fire risk, tipping points.
• 2m: Evaluative conclusion (e.g., exploitation is the immediate driver, but climate change creates systemic instability).

Question 2 (a) Susceptibility [4]

• 2m: Location within the "Warm Pool" / Tropical latitudes ($5^\circ$ to $30^\circ$).
• 2m: Presence of Coriolis effect to initiate rotation and warm ocean waters.

(b) SST and Intensity [6]

• 2m: SST $> 26.5^\circ\text{C}$ provides latent heat of condensation.
• 2m: Fuels strong convection $\rightarrow$ lowers central pressure.
• 2m: Steeper pressure gradient $\rightarrow$ increased wind speeds/storm intensity.

(c) Hard vs. Soft Engineering [10]

• 4m: Hard engineering (Sea walls, Groynes) $\rightarrow$ immediate protection, high cost, disrupts sediment flow (down-drift erosion).
• 4m: Soft engineering (Mangrove restoration, Beach nourishment) $\rightarrow$ sustainable, biodiversity gain, takes time to establish.
• 2m: Synthesis (Integrated approach/Managed retreat is often most sustainable).

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Section B: Human Geography

Question 3 (a) Comparison of Scores [5]

• 2m: Comparative language used for waste management (e.g., "Bangkok scored highest at X, whereas Manila scored lowest at Y").
• 2m: Comparative language for water security (e.g., "Jakarta's score exceeds Ho Chi Minh City's by Z points").
• 1m: Summary of overall relative performance.

(b) Waste Composition Impacts [7]

• 3m: Link plastic composition (Resource 4) to environmental issues (e.g., clogging drains $\rightarrow$ urban flooding).
• 3m: Impact on marine ecosystems (microplastics, ingestion by fauna).
• 1m: Reference to specific data from Resource 4.

(c) Economic Development vs. Degradation [8]

• 4m: Agreement (EKC theory: pollution increases during industrialization, lack of regulation in pursuit of GDP).
• 4m: Disagreement (Leapfrogging to green tech, environmental legislation in middle-income states, "Green Growth").

Question 4 (a) Slum Comparison [6]

• 3m: Nairobi (Developing) $\rightarrow$ Rural-urban migration, rapid population growth outpacing housing.
• 3m: Detroit (Developed) $\rightarrow$ Deindustrialization, economic decline, gentrification/displacement.

(b) Land Tenure [6]

• 3m: Lack of security $\rightarrow$ residents unwilling to invest in permanent, sustainable housing.
• 3m: Government reluctance to provide infrastructure (water/electricity) to "illegal" settlements.

(c) Foreign Aid [8]

• 4m: Benefits (Financial gap filling, technology transfer for sustainable water/energy).
• 4m: Limitations (Dependency, corruption, "top-down" projects that ignore local needs).

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Section C: Integrated Essay

Question 5: Resource Blessing/Curse [20]

• Introduction (2m): Define resource abundance and the "Resource Curse" (Paradox of Plenty).
• Blessing (6m): Export revenue, infrastructure investment, GDP growth. Case: Botswana (Diamonds).
• Curse (6m): Dutch Disease, volatility of commodity prices, conflict/corruption. Case: DRC (Cobalt/Coltan) or Nigeria (Oil).
• Mediating Factors (4m): Governance, institutional strength, economic diversification.
• Conclusion (2m): Management is the deciding factor, not the resource itself.

Question 6: Food Sustainability [20]

• Introduction (2m): Define food sustainability and the nexus of physical/human factors.
• Physical Processes (6m): Climate change, soil degradation, pests/diseases, water scarcity.
• Human Intervention (6m): Green Revolution, GMOs, precision farming, vertical farming.
• Interaction/Evaluation (4m): Technology can mitigate physical limits but may create new sustainability issues (e.g., chemical runoff).
• Conclusion (2m): Synthesis of the need for "agro-ecological" approaches.