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A Level H2 Geography Resources Sustainability Quiz

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Questions

A-Level Geography H2 Quiz - Resources Sustainability

Name: __________________________
Class: __________________________
Date: __________________________
Score: ________ / 60

Duration: 60 Minutes
Total Marks: 60
Topic: Resources & Sustainability

Instructions:

Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Marks are indicated in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Use specific case studies and geographical terminology where appropriate.

Section A: Source-Based Questions (Questions 1–10)

Study Resource 1: Global Material Footprint and Resource Efficiency

Resource 1A: Table showing Material Footprint (tonnes per capita) and GDP per capita (USD) for selected countries in 2022.

Country	Material Footprint (t/capita)	GDP per Capita (USD)	Resource Efficiency (GDP/Material Footprint)
Country A (High Income)	28.5	65,000	2,280
Country B (Upper Middle Income)	14.2	12,500	880
Country C (Lower Middle Income)	3.8	2,100	552
Country D (Low Income)	1.2	850	708

Resource 1B: Graph showing the relationship between Human Development Index (HDI) and Ecological Footprint. The graph indicates a "decoupling" trend for several OECD nations where HDI continues to rise while the ecological footprint stabilizes or declines slightly.

1. Refer to Resource 1A. Calculate the difference in Material Footprint per capita between Country A and Country B. [1]

2. Refer to Resource 1A. Describe the relationship between GDP per capita and Material Footprint for the four countries shown. [2]

3. Refer to Resource 1B. Explain what is meant by the term "decoupling" in the context of economic development and resource use. [3]

4. Refer to Resource 1A and your own knowledge. Suggest two reasons why Country A has a significantly higher Resource Efficiency value than Country C. [4]

Study Resource 2: Urban Waste Management in Southeast Asia

Resource 2A: Pie chart showing Waste Composition in Metro Manila, Philippines (2023).

Biodegradable: 52%
Recyclables (Plastic, Paper, Metal): 28%
Residual Waste: 15%
Special Waste: 5%

Resource 2B: Photograph of an informal waste picking site adjacent to a formal landfill in a developing urban centre. The image shows individuals sorting through mixed waste without protective gear.

5. Refer to Resource 2A. Identify the dominant waste type in Metro Manila and state its percentage. [1]

6. Refer to Resource 2A and 2B. Explain one environmental hazard associated with the high percentage of biodegradable waste in tropical urban environments. [3]

7. Refer to Resource 2B. Assess the social implications of informal waste picking for urban communities in developing countries. [4]

Study Resource 3: Water Stress and Virtual Water Trade

Resource 3: Map showing global water stress levels. High stress areas include North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia. Arrows indicate virtual water flows from low-stress areas (e.g., Brazil, USA) to high-stress areas via agricultural imports.

8. Refer to Resource 3. Define the concept of "virtual water." [2]

9. Refer to Resource 3. Explain how virtual water trade can contribute to resource sustainability in water-stressed regions. [3]

10. Refer to Resource 3. Suggest one limitation of relying on virtual water trade for national water security. [2]

Section B: Structured Response Questions (Questions 11–15)

11. Distinguish between resource depletion and resource degradation, providing one example for each. [4]

12. Explain two strategies used by governments to promote the "Circular Economy" in urban areas. [4]

13. "Technological innovation is the most effective way to achieve resource sustainability." Explain one argument supporting this statement and one argument challenging it. [6]

14. Compare the challenges of managing solid waste in megacities in developed countries versus megacities in developing countries. [6]

15. Explain how the concept of "carrying capacity" applies to tourism in fragile physical environments (e.g., coral reefs or alpine regions). [4]

Section C: Extended Response / Essay Questions (Questions 16–20)

Note: For the purpose of this quiz, answer the following short-essay style questions. In a full exam, these would be part of larger 20-mark essays. Here, they are condensed to test specific evaluative skills.

16. "The 'Resource Curse' is inevitable for countries with abundant fossil fuels." To what extent do you agree with this statement? Provide one counter-argument. [5]

17. Evaluate the effectiveness of carbon pricing (e.g., carbon tax or cap-and-trade) as a tool for reducing industrial carbon emissions. [5]

18. "Sustainable urban development is impossible without significant foreign aid." How far do you agree? Cite one example of a city that has improved sustainability without heavy reliance on aid. [5]

19. Assess the role of consumer behaviour in driving sustainable resource management. Is individual action sufficient to create significant change? [5]

20. "International cooperation is more important than national policy in achieving global resource sustainability." Discuss this view with reference to one global resource (e.g., oceans, atmosphere, or rare earth minerals). [5]

End of Quiz

Answers

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

Total Marks: 60

Section A: Source-Based Questions

1. Difference in Material Footprint:

Calculation: $28.5 - 14.2 = 14.3$
Answer: 14.3 tonnes per capita [1]

2. Relationship between GDP and Material Footprint:

There is a positive correlation / direct relationship. [1]
As GDP per capita increases, the Material Footprint per capita also increases (Country A has the highest GDP and highest footprint; Country D has the lowest GDP and lowest footprint). [1]

3. Meaning of "Decoupling":

Decoupling refers to the process where economic growth (GDP/HDI) continues to rise while environmental pressure (resource use/ecological footprint) stabilizes or decreases. [2]
It indicates that economies are becoming more efficient and less dependent on resource extraction for growth. [1]

4. Reasons for higher Resource Efficiency in Country A vs Country C:

Reason 1: Technological Advancement: Country A likely employs advanced technology in manufacturing and services that allows for higher value output with less material input. [2]
Reason 2: Economic Structure: Country A likely has a service-based economy (tertiary/quaternary sector) which is less material-intensive than the primary/agricultural or heavy industrial sectors likely dominant in Country C. [2] (Accept other valid reasons such as stricter environmental regulations, recycling infrastructure, or higher cost of resources driving efficiency.)

5. Dominant Waste Type:

Biodegradable waste [0.5]
52% [0.5]

6. Environmental Hazard of Biodegradable Waste in Tropics:

In tropical climates, high temperatures and humidity accelerate the anaerobic decomposition of biodegradable waste. [1]
This process produces methane ( $CH_4$ ), a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change. [1]
It can also produce leachate (liquid runoff) which contaminates groundwater and soil if not properly managed in landfills. [1]

7. Social Implications of Informal Waste Picking:

Positive: Provides a livelihood/income source for the urban poor who lack formal employment opportunities. [2]
Negative: Poses significant health and safety risks due to exposure to hazardous materials, lack of protective gear, and poor sanitary conditions, leading to disease and injury. [2] (Award marks for balanced assessment.)

8. Definition of "Virtual Water":

Virtual water is the hidden flow of water required to produce a commodity or service. [1]
It is "traded" when goods (especially agricultural products) are imported or exported, effectively transferring the water used in production from the exporting country to the importing country. [1]

9. Virtual Water Trade and Sustainability in Water-Stressed Regions:

It allows water-stressed regions to import water-intensive goods (e.g., grain, meat) rather than producing them domestically. [1]
This conserves local domestic water resources for higher-value uses or drinking water. [1]
It reduces the pressure on local aquifers and rivers, preventing over-extraction and environmental degradation. [1]

10. Limitation of Virtual Water Trade:

Dependency Risk: Reliance on imports makes the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations, trade embargoes, or supply chain disruptions. [2] (Accept: Loss of local agricultural jobs; Carbon footprint of transport; Political leverage by exporting nations.)

Section B: Structured Response Questions

11. Resource Depletion vs. Degradation:

Resource Depletion: The consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. It refers to the quantity of the stock decreasing.
- Example: Exhaustion of crude oil reserves or overfishing leading to collapse of fish stocks. [2]
Resource Degradation: The reduction in the quality or productivity of a resource, rendering it less useful or harmful.
- Example: Soil erosion reducing fertility, or water pollution making water undrinkable. [2]

12. Strategies for Circular Economy:

Strategy 1: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Legislation requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including take-back, recycling, and final disposal. This incentivizes durable design. [2]
Strategy 2: Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) Models: Shifting from ownership to leasing (e.g., lighting, appliances). The manufacturer retains ownership and maintains/repairs the product, encouraging longevity and material recovery. [2] (Accept: Industrial symbiosis, design for disassembly, repair cafes.)

13. Technological Innovation: Support vs. Challenge:

Support: Technology enables efficiency gains (e.g., precision agriculture reduces water/fertilizer use) and substitution (e.g., renewables replacing fossil fuels), allowing growth without proportional resource use. [3]
Challenge: Jevons Paradox/Rebound Effect: Increased efficiency may lower costs, leading to higher overall consumption. Also, technology often requires rare earth minerals, shifting the burden rather than solving it, and may not address underlying overconsumption habits. [3]

14. Waste Management Challenges: Developed vs. Developing Megacities:

Developed: Challenge is high volume of complex waste (e-waste, plastics) and high public expectation for zero-waste/recycling. High labor costs make manual sorting expensive. [3]
Developing: Challenge is rapid urbanization outpacing infrastructure. Lack of formal collection services leads to open dumping. Large informal sector complicates regulation. Financial constraints limit investment in advanced treatment facilities. [3]

15. Carrying Capacity in Tourism:

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of visitors an environment can sustain without causing unacceptable deterioration of the physical, ecological, or social environment. [2]
In fragile environments (e.g., coral reefs), exceeding this limit leads to physical damage (breakage of coral), pollution (sunscreen, waste), and loss of biodiversity, undermining the resource base for future tourism. [2]

Section C: Extended Response / Essay Questions

16. Resource Curse Inevitability:

Agreement: Abundance often leads to Dutch Disease (currency appreciation hurting other sectors), corruption, and conflict over rents (e.g., Nigeria, DRC). Governance structures may weaken. [3]
Counter-Argument: It is not inevitable. Countries like Norway or Botswana used strong institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and transparent governance to convert resource wealth into sustainable development. Outcome depends on management, not just abundance. [2]

17. Effectiveness of Carbon Pricing:

Effectiveness: Internalizes the externality of pollution, making carbon-intensive activities more expensive. Encourages firms to innovate and switch to low-carbon alternatives. Generates revenue for green investment. [3]
Limitations: If the price is too low, it fails to change behavior. Risk of carbon leakage (companies moving to countries with no tax). Regressive impact on low-income households unless rebated. Political resistance. [2]

18. Foreign Aid and Sustainable Urban Development:

Agreement: LDC cities lack capital for expensive infrastructure (sewage, mass transit). Aid provides technical expertise and initial funding (e.g., World Bank projects). [2]
Disagreement: Aid can create dependency and may not align with local needs. Domestic resource mobilization (tax reform) and private sector investment are more sustainable. Example: Curitiba, Brazil improved sustainability through innovative local planning and bus rapid transit without heavy reliance on foreign aid. [3]

19. Role of Consumer Behaviour:

Role: Consumer demand drives production. Shifts towards ethical consumption (fair trade, organic) and minimalism can force companies to adopt sustainable practices. [2]
Sufficiency: Individual action is insufficient without systemic change. Structural barriers (lack of public transport, cheap plastic packaging) limit choices. "Greenwashing" misleads consumers. Government regulation and corporate accountability are required for scale. [3]

20. International Cooperation vs. National Policy:

International Cooperation: Essential for global commons (atmosphere, oceans) which cross borders. Problems like climate change require coordinated targets (e.g., Paris Agreement). No single nation can solve transboundary pollution. [3]
National Policy: Implementation happens at the national level. Without strong national laws, enforcement, and infrastructure, international agreements are meaningless. National sovereignty allows tailored solutions. Example: China’s national renewable energy push had a larger global impact than many international treaties. [2] (Award marks for balanced discussion referencing a specific resource.)