A Level H2 Geography Resources Sustainability Quiz

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

Total Marks: 50

Section A: Short Answer Questions [20 marks]

Question 1 [2 marks] Identify two types of mass movement hazards that commonly occur in tropical mountainous regions.

Answer: Type 1: Landslides/Debris flows (1 mark) Type 2: Rockfalls/Mudflows (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Accept any two appropriate mass movement types. Award 1 mark each for correct identification.

Question 2 [3 marks] Describe the vegetation structure of a typical tropical rainforest, including reference to biomass distribution.

Answer:

• Multi-layered structure with emergent layer (45-60m), continuous canopy (25-45m), understory (5-25m), and ground layer (1 mark)
• Dense canopy intercepts most sunlight, creating shaded understory conditions (1 mark)
• High biomass concentration (300-400 tonnes per hectare) mainly in canopy and trunk wood (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Award marks for structural description and biomass reference. Accept equivalent descriptions.

Question 3 [4 marks] Compare the sustainability scores for the four Southeast Asian cities.

Answer:

• Singapore scores highest across all dimensions (85, 78, 92) while Jakarta scores lowest overall (45, 58, 62) (1 mark)
• Environmental scores show greatest variation: Singapore (85) significantly exceeds others, with Bangkok (52), Manila (48), and Jakarta (45) clustered together (1 mark)
• Economic scores follow similar pattern to environmental, with Singapore (92) leading, followed by Bangkok (68), Jakarta (62), and Manila (59) (1 mark)
• Social scores show least variation between cities, ranging from Singapore's 78 to Manila's 55 (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Award marks for comparative language and specific data references. Must compare across cities, not just state individual scores.

Question 4 [3 marks] State three processes involved in the formation of karst landscapes.

Answer:

1. Chemical weathering/carbonation - rainwater + CO₂ forms weak carbonic acid (1 mark)
2. Solution/dissolution - carbonic acid dissolves limestone (CaCO₃) (1 mark)
3. Underground erosion - water flow through joints and bedding planes enlarges cavities (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Accept equivalent process descriptions. Must be specific to karst formation.

Question 5 [4 marks] Explain how climate data can be used to identify a tropical monsoon climate (Am).

Answer:

• Coldest month temperature must exceed 18°C to qualify as tropical (A) (1 mark)
• Annual precipitation typically exceeds 2000mm, indicating high moisture (1 mark)
• Short dry season present (1-3 months below 60mm) distinguishing from Af (1 mark)
• Distinct wet season with heavy monsoon rains compensates for dry period (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Must reference specific temperature and precipitation criteria. Award marks for Köppen-Geiger classification understanding.

Question 6 [4 marks] Analyze waste composition and suggest environmental challenges.

Answer: Analysis: High organic content (65%) indicates biodegradable waste dominance, while significant plastic proportion (18%) creates disposal challenges (1 mark)

Environmental Challenge 1: Methane emissions from decomposing organic waste in landfills contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (1.5 marks)

Environmental Challenge 2: Plastic pollution in waterways and soil due to poor disposal infrastructure, creating long-term contamination (1.5 marks)

Marking Notes: Must link composition to specific environmental impacts. Award partial marks for incomplete explanations.

Section B: Structured Response Questions [15 marks]

Question 7 [8 marks]

(a) Compare reasons for slum development [6 marks]

Answer: Developing Countries:

• Rural-to-urban migration driven by economic opportunities in cities (1 mark)
• Rapid urbanization outpacing formal housing supply and infrastructure development (1 mark)
• Low incomes preventing access to formal housing markets (1 mark)

Developed Countries:

• Deindustrialization leading to economic decline and property abandonment (1 mark)
• Gentrification displacing low-income residents to marginal areas (1 mark)
• Inadequate social housing provision and welfare support (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Award marks for clear distinction between contexts. Must show understanding of different underlying causes.

(b) Suggest similarity [2 marks]

Answer: Both contexts feature inadequate basic services (water, sanitation, electricity) and overcrowded living conditions due to poverty and marginalization (2 marks)

Marking Notes: Accept any valid similarity with explanation. Award 1 mark for identification, 1 mark for elaboration.

Question 8 [7 marks] Explain sinkhole formation processes in limestone regions.

Answer:

• Limestone (CaCO₃) is chemically vulnerable to weak acids in natural water (1 mark)
• Rainwater combines with atmospheric CO₂ to form weak carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) (1 mark)
• Carbonic acid infiltrates through soil and joints in limestone bedrock (1 mark)
• Chemical dissolution gradually enlarges joints and bedding planes, creating underground cavities (1 mark)
• Continued dissolution weakens overlying rock structure and soil support (1 mark)
• Eventually, surface materials collapse into enlarged underground void, forming sinkhole (1 mark)
• Process accelerated by groundwater flow and may be triggered by heavy rainfall or human activities (1 mark)

Marking Notes: Award marks for logical sequence of processes. Must explain chemical weathering and structural collapse.

Section C: Extended Response [15 marks]

Question 9 [15 marks] "Natural resources are always beneficial for countries at low levels of development."

Answer Framework:

Level 4 (13-15 marks): Excellent

• Clear disagreement with nuanced analysis
• Explains both benefits and problems (resource curse)
• Uses 2-3 specific, detailed case studies
• Discusses mediating factors (governance, institutions)
• Sophisticated conclusion about conditional outcomes

Level 3 (10-12 marks): Good

• Shows understanding of both sides
• Uses some specific examples
• Makes connections between resources and development outcomes
• Some evaluation of factors affecting success/failure

Level 2 (7-9 marks): Satisfactory

• Basic understanding of resource curse concept
• Limited examples or generic statements
• Some attempt at evaluation
• Descriptive rather than analytical

Level 1 (4-6 marks): Weak

• One-sided argument or confused understanding
• No specific examples
• Largely descriptive
• Poor geographical terminology

Sample Answer Points: Benefits: Export revenue (Botswana diamonds), employment, infrastructure investment Problems: Economic overdependence (Nigeria oil), conflict (Sierra Leone diamonds), corruption, Dutch disease Mediating factors: Governance quality, diversification strategies, institutional strength Case studies: Botswana vs. Nigeria, Chile vs. Venezuela, Norway vs. resource-cursed states

Marking Notes: Reward balanced arguments, specific examples, and sophisticated analysis of causation.