A Level H2 Geography Human Geography Quiz

Answer Key - A-Level Geography H2 Quiz (Human Geography)

Section A: Urbanisation and Sustainable Cities

1. Sustainable Urban Development (3m): Development that meets the needs of the present urban population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Must mention balance of social, economic, and environmental pillars.
2. UHI Effect (5m): Concrete/asphalt have high thermal mass $\rightarrow$ absorb short-wave radiation during the day $\rightarrow$ release long-wave radiation at night $\rightarrow$ prevents cooling. Mention specific city (e.g., Singapore's high-density core).
3. Mitigation Strategies (6m): 1. Green roofs/walls (evapotranspiration, shading). 2. Urban cooling corridors/wind paths (ventilation). Reference specific city (e.g., Singapore's "City in Nature" initiative).
4. Slum Comparison (8m):
   • Developing: Rapid rural-urban migration, lack of affordable housing, weak land tenure (e.g., Dharavi, Mumbai).
   • Developed: Deindustrialization, gentrification, systemic poverty/marginalization (e.g., inner-city Detroit).
   • Comparison: Both involve poverty/poor services, but causes differ (growth-driven vs. decline-driven).
5. Migration & Informal Settlements (6m): Push factors (rural poverty) $\rightarrow$ Pull factors (urban jobs) $\rightarrow$ demand for housing exceeds formal supply $\rightarrow$ squatting on marginal land $\rightarrow$ growth of slums.
6. Upgrading vs. Clearance (8m):
   • Upgrading: In-situ improvement (water, electricity), preserves social networks, more sustainable.
   • Clearance: Forced relocation, destroys livelihoods, often replaces one slum with another.
   • Evaluation: Upgrading is generally more effective for social stability.
7. Economic Development & Sustainability (10m):
   • Agree: High-income cities have capital for green tech (e.g., Copenhagen).
   • Disagree: Low-income cities can "leapfrog" (e.g., mobile banking, solar) or use low-cost nature-based solutions.
   • Conclusion: Capital helps, but political will and planning are more critical.

Section B: Global Economy and Globalisation

8. Globalisation (3m): The increasing integration and interdependence of national economies through trade, investment, and technology.
9. GVCs & NICs (6m): Fragmentation of production $\rightarrow$ NICs specialize in assembly/manufacturing stages $\rightarrow$ shift from agriculture to secondary sector $\rightarrow$ integration into global markets.
10. SEZs & FDI (5m): Areas with liberal economic laws (tax breaks, reduced regulation, streamlined customs) $\rightarrow$ lower costs for MNCs $\rightarrow$ increased FDI inflows.
11. Digital Divide (6m): Gap between those with access to ICT and those without $\rightarrow$ LDCs lack infrastructure $\rightarrow$ limits education, market access, and efficiency $\rightarrow$ traps them in low-value production.
12. Inequality Within Nations (8m): Globalisation benefits skilled workers (tech/finance) $\rightarrow$ wage growth for "creative class" $\rightarrow$ displacement of low-skilled manufacturing workers (outsourcing) $\rightarrow$ widening Gini coefficient.
13. Dutch Disease (7m): Resource boom $\rightarrow$ currency appreciation $\rightarrow$ other exports (manufacturing) become expensive/uncompetitive $\rightarrow$ decline of non-resource sectors $\rightarrow$ over-dependence on one commodity.
14. Globalisation & Inequality (12m):
    • Benefits: Poverty reduction in East Asia, technology transfer.
    • Exacerbation: Core-periphery divide, "race to the bottom" in labor standards, unequal terms of trade.
    • Synthesis: Benefits are unevenly distributed; structural dependencies remain.

Section C: Development and Resource Management

15. Economic Development vs Growth (4m): Growth = increase in GDP/GNP (quantitative). Development = improvement in quality of life, health, education, and equity (qualitative/holistic).
16. Resource Curse (7m): Over-reliance on one resource $\rightarrow$ volatility in global prices $\rightarrow$ corruption/rent-seeking behavior $\rightarrow$ neglect of other sectors $\rightarrow$ political instability.
17. Top-down vs Bottom-up (8m):
    • Top-down: Government led, large scale, fast implementation, but often ignores local needs.
    • Bottom-up: Community led, high buy-in, sustainable, but slow and small scale.
    • Comparison: Integrated approaches are most effective.
18. EKC (6m): Inverted U-shape $\rightarrow$ initially, growth increases pollution $\rightarrow$ reaching a "turning point" (income threshold) $\rightarrow$ demand for environment quality increases $\rightarrow$ pollution decreases.
19. Foreign Aid (10m):
    • Pros: Fills financial gaps, provides technical expertise, emergency relief.
    • Cons: Aid dependency, corruption, "tied aid" (benefits donor), conditionality.
    • Evaluation: Effective only if paired with good governance.
20. Economic Transition (10m):
    • Primary $\rightarrow$ Secondary $\rightarrow$ Tertiary.
    • Transition reduces vulnerability to commodity price shocks.
    • Tertiary sector (services) allows for higher value-add and sustainable urban growth.
    • Conclusion: Essential for long-term stability, but the path varies (e.g., some skip secondary and go straight to services).