Secondary 2 Geography Map Graph Data Skills Quiz

Secondary 2 Geography Quiz – Map Graph Data Skills

Answer Key

Section A: Map Skills (Questions 1–8)

Question 1 (1 mark)
Answer: A scale of 1:50,000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm (or 0.5 km) on the ground.
Marking: 1 mark for correct meaning. Accept "1 cm on the map = 0.5 km in real life" or equivalent.

Question 2 (1 mark)
Answer: 4628
Marking: 1 mark for correct four-figure grid reference. Easting (46) must come before northing (28).
Common mistake: Writing 2846 (reversing easting and northing) — award 0 marks.

Question 3 (2 marks)
Answer: For example, 465283 (accept any valid six-figure reference within the correct grid square).
Working:

• Easting: Grid line 46, feature is approximately 5/10 across the square → easting = 465
• Northing: Grid line 28, feature is approximately 3/10 up the square → northing = 283
• Six-figure grid reference = 465283
  Marking: 1 mark for correct method (showing tenths subdivision), 1 mark for correct final answer. Accept any reasonable six-figure reference within the correct grid square.

Question 4 (1 mark)
Answer: North-east
Marking: 1 mark for "north-east" or "NE". Accept no other direction.
Common mistake: Writing "north" or "east" alone — award 0 marks as the direction is diagonal.

Question 5 (2 marks)
Answer:

• Map distance = 10.2 cm
• Scale: 1 cm = 0.5 km
• Actual distance = 10.2 × 0.5 = 5.1 km
  Marking: 1 mark for correct method (multiplying by scale), 1 mark for correct answer with unit (km).
  Common mistake: Forgetting to convert scale to km, or giving answer in cm — award 1 mark only if method is correct.

Question 6 (2 marks)
Answer (any two of the following, 1 mark each):
(a) The town has a clearly laid-out road network with main roads and residential streets, indicating planned infrastructure.
(b) There are designated green spaces/parks (e.g., Punggol Waterway Park) integrated into the residential area, showing provision for recreation.
(c) Public transport nodes (MRT stations, bus interchanges) are located within walking distance of residential blocks, showing accessibility planning.
(d) Mixed land use is evident with residential, commercial, and community facilities (schools, clinics) located in close proximity.
Marking: 1 mark per valid piece of evidence with brief explanation. Answers must refer to map evidence.

Question 7 (3 marks)
Answer:

• Land use type: Residential / Housing (accept park, commercial, or other valid land use depending on the map square)
• Reason: For example, "Residential housing is located here because it is near the MRT station, providing residents with convenient access to public transport."
  Marking: 1 mark for correct land use identification, 1 mark for valid reason, 1 mark for linking the reason to the location using map evidence.

Question 8 (2 marks)
Answer:

• Height: For example, 45 m (accept any reasonable spot height or contour value found in the grid square)
• Method: The height was identified by reading the spot height (trigonometrical station) marked on the map, or by reading the highest contour line value within the grid square.
  Marking: 1 mark for correct height value, 1 mark for correct identification method. Accept answers based on spot heights or contour lines.

Section B: Graph and Chart Interpretation (Questions 9–15)

Question 9 (1 mark)
Answer: December (312 mm)
Marking: 1 mark for "December". Accept "Dec" or "12th month".

Question 10 (1 mark)
Answer: February (108 mm)
Marking: 1 mark for "February". Accept "Feb".

Question 11 (2 marks)
Answer:

• November rainfall = 258 mm
• December rainfall = 312 mm
• Total = 258 + 312 = 570 mm
  Marking: 1 mark for correct addition, 1 mark for correct answer with unit (mm).

Question 12 (3 marks)
Answer:
From February to August, the average monthly rainfall generally fluctuates without a clear increasing or decreasing trend. Rainfall drops from 108 mm in February to a low of 132 mm in June, then rises again to 158 mm in July and 174 mm in August. Overall, rainfall values remain between 108 mm and 178 mm during this period, showing relatively moderate and variable monthly rainfall.
Marking:

• 1 mark for identifying the general pattern (fluctuation / no clear trend)
• 1 mark for referencing at least two specific data values from the table
• 1 mark for a clear, well-structured description

Common mistake: Stating there is a "steady increase" without checking the data — award 0 marks for the pattern identification.

Question 13 (1 mark)
Answer: 2020 and 2021 (both 5.45 million)
Marking: 1 mark for both years. Accept either year if only one is given, but full credit requires both.
Note: Both years recorded the same lowest population.

Question 14 (2 marks)
Answer:

• Population in 2018 = 5.64 million
• Population in 2023 = 5.92 million
• Change = 5.92 − 5.64 = +0.28 million (or an increase of 280,000)
  Marking: 1 mark for correct subtraction, 1 mark for correct answer with unit and direction (increase).

Question 15 (3 marks)
Answer (any two of the following, with explanation):
(a) The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to border closures and a reduction in the arrival of foreign workers, causing the population to decline from 5.70 million in 2019 to 5.45 million in 2020.
(b) Travel restrictions and reduced immigration during the pandemic meant fewer new residents and expatriates could enter Singapore, contributing to the population remaining low in 2021.
(c) Some foreign workers may have returned to their home countries during the pandemic due to job losses or uncertainty, reducing the non-resident population.
Marking: 1 mark per valid reason with clear explanation (×2), 1 mark for overall clarity and use of data context. Maximum 3 marks.

Section C: Data Analysis and Fieldwork Skills (Questions 16–20)

Question 16 (1 mark)
Answer: Location A (Near MRT) with 320 vehicles
Marking: 1 mark for "Location A". Accept "A" or "Near MRT".

Question 17 (2 marks)
Answer:

• Location B totals: 180 + 260 + 200 + 95 = 735 vehicles
  Marking: 1 mark for correct addition, 1 mark for correct final answer.

Question 18 (3 marks)
Answer:
At Location A (Near MRT), traffic volume was very high during both 7:00–8:00 a.m. (320 vehicles) and 5:00–6:00 p.m. (310 vehicles), with a significant drop at 9:00–10 p.m. (85 vehicles). At Location C (Near School), traffic was also high in the morning (290 vehicles) but dropped more sharply in the evening (155 vehicles at 5:00–6:00 p.m.) and was lowest at 9:00–10 p.m. (40 vehicles). Both locations show a similar pattern of high morning traffic and low late-evening traffic, but Location A consistently records higher volumes than Location C across both time periods.
Marking:

• 1 mark for describing Location A's pattern with data
• 1 mark for describing Location C's pattern with data
• 1 mark for making a clear comparison between the two locations using data

Question 19 (3 marks)
Answer:
The student's conclusion is not fully supported by the data. While Location A recorded the highest traffic volume at 7:00–8:00 a.m. (320), 12:00–1:00 p.m. (145), and 5:00–6:00 p.m. (310), Location B recorded a higher volume than Location A during the 12:00–1:00 p.m. period — Location B had 260 vehicles compared to Location A's 145 vehicles. Therefore, Location A does not always have the highest traffic volume throughout the day. The conclusion is only partially correct.
Marking:

• 1 mark for stating that the conclusion is not fully supported / is incorrect
• 1 mark for identifying the specific counter-evidence (Location B > Location A at 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
• 1 mark for a clear, well-reasoned evaluation

Question 20 (4 marks)
Answer (any two improvements with explanation):
(a) Increase the number of days data is collected. Currently, the data appears to be from a single day. Collecting data over multiple days (e.g., every day for one week) would account for daily variations and produce a more reliable average traffic pattern.
(b) Extend the time periods or add more intervals. Recording traffic at additional times (e.g., every hour from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) would give a more complete picture of traffic patterns throughout the day, rather than just four snapshots.
(c) Repeat the count at each location and take an average. Conducting multiple counts at each time period and location would reduce the impact of random errors or unusual events (e.g., an accident or road closure) on the results.
(d) Conduct the survey on a typical weekday and a weekend day. This would allow comparison between weekday and weekend traffic patterns, giving a more comprehensive understanding of transport patterns in Toa Payoh.
Marking: 2 marks per improvement (1 mark for the suggestion, 1 mark for a clear explanation of why it improves reliability). Maximum 4 marks.

End of Answer Key