Secondary 4 Geography Preliminary Examination Paper 1

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Geography Secondary 4

Answer Key and Marking Scheme (Version 1)

Subject: Geography
Level: Secondary 4
Topic: Map, Graph & Data Skills

SECTION A: Map and Photograph Interpretation

Question 1
(a) Calculate distance [2]

• Measurement: Distance on map should be approx 3.8 cm - 4.0 cm (depending on print scale).
• Conversion: $4.0 \text{ cm} \times 25,000 = 100,000 \text{ cm}$.
• Final Answer: $100,000 \text{ cm} = 1 \text{ km}$.
  • Marking: 1 mark for correct measurement/calculation setup, 1 mark for correct final answer in km.
  • Note: Allow tolerance of $\pm 0.2$ km.

(b) Describe relief [2]

• Answer: The land is steep/hilly. Contour lines are close together. Elevation rises from below 20m to over 60m.
  • Marking: 1 mark for describing steepness/contour spacing, 1 mark for referencing specific heights or landform type (hill/spur).

(c) Explain flooding risk [3]

• Answer:
  1. The settlement is located on low-lying land (contours show <10m elevation). [1]
  2. It is situated near a river mouth/coastline, making it susceptible to high tides or storm surges. [1]
  3. The presence of marshland/swamp nearby indicates poor drainage, leading to water accumulation during heavy monsoon rains. [1]

Question 2
(a) Identify strategy [1]

• Answer: Sea wall.

(b) Describe features [2]

• Answer:
  1. It is a curved/concave face designed to reflect wave energy.
  2. It is made of concrete/stone and is a solid, vertical structure.
  • Marking: 1 mark per valid observable feature.

(c) Explain negative impact [3]

• Answer:
  1. Sea walls reflect wave energy rather than absorbing it. [1]
  2. This increases erosion at the base of the wall (scouring) or in adjacent areas where the reflected waves hit. [1]
  3. This can lead to the loss of the beach in front of the wall or erosion of neighbouring unprotected coastlines. [1]

Question 3
(a) Identify Zone X [1]

• Answer: Recreational Zone / National Park Core / Protected Area. (Accept reasonable interpretation based on map symbols, e.g., "Forest Reserve").

(b) Reasons for hotel cluster [2]

• Answer:
  1. Zone Y is closer to transport links (airport/highway) shown on the map, ensuring accessibility for tourists. [1]
  2. Zone Z may be designated as a protected natural area where construction is restricted, or it is too far from amenities. [1]

(c) Transport network support [3]

• Answer:
  1. The map shows a highway/main road connecting the airport to the hotel zone, facilitating easy arrival. [1]
  2. There are secondary roads linking hotels to tourist attractions (e.g., beach, park), allowing dispersal of visitors. [1]
  3. The network avoids the core protected area (Zone X), minimizing environmental damage while maintaining access. [1]

SECTION B: Graph Construction and Data Representation

Question 4
(a) Calculate angle [1]

• Working: $60\% \times 360^\circ = 216^\circ$.
• Answer: $216^\circ$.

(b) Construct Pie Chart [4]

• Marking:
  • 1 mark for correct angles: Agriculture ($18^\circ$), Industry ($126^\circ$), Services ($216^\circ$).
  • 1 mark for accurate plotting (within $\pm 2^\circ$ tolerance).
  • 1 mark for clear labels/segments.
  • 1 mark for Title ("GDP Contribution by Sector, Country A 2023") and Key.

Question 5
(a) Calculate mean [2]

• Working: Sum of rainfall = $240+210+180+150+120+100+90+110+140+190+230+250 = 1910 \text{ mm}$.
  $1910 / 12 = 159.16 \text{ mm}$.
• Answer: $159.2 \text{ mm}$ (1 d.p.).
  • Marking: 1 mark for correct sum, 1 mark for correct division/answer.

(b) Describe distribution [2]

• Answer: Rainfall is seasonal. It is higher in the first and last quarters of the year (Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec) and lower in the middle of the year (Jun-Aug).
  • Marking: 1 mark for identifying seasonality, 1 mark for specifying wet/dry periods.

(c) Plot Line Graph [3]

• Marking:
  • 1 mark for correct axis labels (Month vs Rainfall mm) and scale.
  • 1 mark for accurate plotting of all 12 points.
  • 1 mark for joining points with straight lines (or smooth curve if appropriate, but straight lines standard for monthly data in this context).

Question 6
(a) Describe relationship [1]

• Answer: Positive correlation. As distance from source increases, velocity increases.

(b) Graph type and reason [2]

• Answer: Line graph or Scatter graph. [1]
  • Reason: Both variables (distance and velocity) are continuous numerical data, and we want to show the trend/change over distance. [1]

(c) Limitation of float method [2]

• Answer:
  1. Wind can affect the float's speed, leading to inaccurate readings. [1]
  2. It measures surface velocity only, which is faster than the average velocity of the whole river column. [1]

SECTION C: Statistical Analysis and Fieldwork Methods

Question 7
(a) Describe correlation [1]

• Answer: Strong positive correlation.

(b) Line of best fit [1]

• Marking: Line drawn through the center of the data points, balancing points above and below.

(c) Correlation vs Causation [2]

• Answer:
  1. While more tourists coincide with more litter, other factors (e.g., reduced cleaning staff, seasonal events) could cause the litter increase. [1]
  2. The graph shows association, not proof that tourists directly caused the litter without further evidence. [1]

Question 8
(a) Advantage of questionnaire [1]

• Answer: Allows for the collection of quantitative data from a large sample size quickly / Can gather subjective opinions/attitudes that secondary data cannot provide.

(b) Stratified vs Random [3]

• Answer:
  1. Stratified sampling ensures that specific sub-groups (e.g., age groups, residents vs. business owners) are represented proportionally. [1]
  2. Random sampling might accidentally miss out on minority groups (e.g., elderly residents) who are significantly affected by tourism. [1]
  3. This makes the data more representative and reduces bias in the findings. [1]

(c) Critique and Improve [3]

• Critique: The question is biased/leading ("Don't you think...") and assumes a negative view. It is also a closed yes/no question which limits detail. [1]
• Improvement: "How has tourism impacted your neighbourhood?" with a Likert scale (Very Positive to Very Negative) OR "Please list one positive and one negative impact of tourism on your area." [2]

Question 9
(a) Highest quality zone [3]

• Working:
  • Zone A Score: $4 + (-3) + (-4) + 5 = +2$.
  • Zone B Score: $(-2) + 3 + 4 + (-1) = +4$.
• Answer: Zone B has the higher score (+4 vs +2), indicating better overall environmental quality.
  • Marking: 1 mark for Zone A calc, 1 mark for Zone B calc, 1 mark for correct conclusion.

(b) Reason for positive noise rating [2]

• Answer:
  1. In a city centre, noise may be associated with vibrancy, economic activity, and accessibility to services/entertainment. [1]
  2. Residents may perceive the "buzz" of the city as a positive attribute of urban living compared to isolation. [1]
  • Note: Accept answers relating to perception of safety (people around) or convenience.

Question 10
(a) Identify winter profile [1]

• Answer: Profile A (Assuming Profile A is steeper/flatter depending on standard diagrams: Correction: Winter profiles are typically flatter and wider due to destructive waves removing sediment from the beach face to the offshore bar. Summer profiles are steeper due to constructive waves depositing sediment.
  • Check Fig 6 Context: If Fig 6 shows a steep berm, it is Summer. If it shows a flat profile with an offshore bar, it is Winter.
  • Standard Answer: The profile with the offshore bar and flatter beach face is Winter.

(b) Explain winter profile formation [4]

• Answer:
  1. Winter conditions feature strong winds and storms, generating destructive waves. [1]
  2. Destructive waves have a strong backwash and weak swash. [1]
  3. The strong backwash pulls sediment (sand/shingle) down the beach face and deposits it offshore. [1]
  4. This creates an offshore bar and leaves the beach profile flatter and wider. [1]