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S.7 Mock Exam. Geog. I 2000-2001
ROSARYHILL SCHOOL
(Secondary Section)
S.7 Geography Paper I
Mock Examination 2000-2001
Total marks: 100
Time allowed: 3 hours
Instruction:
1. Answer a total of FIVE questions.
2. In Part I, answer the compulsory question. In Part II, answer ONE question from each of Sections A, B and C, and ONE other from either Section A or Section C.
3. All questions carry equal marks.
4. A map extract (HKALE 1994) is provided.
Part I: Answer this compulsory question.
1. Study the map extract provided which shows the extent of two basins, A and B. Refer to Table 1 and Figure 1 is a simplified geological map which covers the same area as the map extract.
Table 1
Basin / Area (km²) / Stream length (km) / Stream order1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th
A / 1.24 / 10.6 / 16 / 3 / 1 / 0
B / 1.88 / 11.4
(a) Using data in Table 1, calculate
(i) the drainage density of basins A and B. (2 marks)
(ii) the number of streams in each other (Strahler’s system) in basin B. (2 marks)
(b) Compare and contrast the relief and drainage of the two basins. (8 marks)
(c) To what extent does the information given in Figure 1 help to explain the differences between the two basins with respect to
(i) relief and drainage network characteristics you described in (a) and (b), and (4 marks)
(ii) the possible hydrological response to a single rainstorm? (4 marks)
Figure 1
Part II
Section A: Answer at least ONE but not more than TWO questions from this section.
2. Figure 2 shows the contrast in the disposition of insolation on the summer solstice at Station (A) and (B). Both stations are in the northern hemisphere.
Figure 2: Heat budget at station (A) 20°N and (B) 80°N
(a) (i) Explain the high value of radiant energy arriving at the outer edge of the
atmosphere at Station (B). (2 marks)
(ii) Explain the low value of radiant energy that actually reaches the ground at Station (B). (4 marks)
(b) Describe how the earth's surface dispenses the radiant energy it absorbed.
(6 marks)
(c) Explain how and why removal of vegetation and atmospheric pollution occur after the amount of energy reaching the earth's surface. (8 marks)
3. Figures 3a and 3b show the temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall before the occurrence of the landslide.
Figure 3a - Rainfall Distribution before Landslide
Figure 3b - Rainfall Record of GEO (Geotechnical Engineering Office) Rain Gauge No. H05
(a) Referring to Figure 3a, describe the location of the landslide site in relation to the to the distribution of rainfall within the specified time duration. (4 marks)
(b) Referring to Figure 3b which shows the rainfall record of a nearby rain gauge, what do you notice about the occurrence of the landslide and the hourly rainfall intensity? (7 marks)
(c) Generalize the relationship between rainfall and the occurrence of landslides.
(4 marks)
(d) Suggest ways to prevent the possible occurrence of such landslides or ways of reducing the damage caused by landslides. (5 marks)
4. Figure 4 shows two characteristic soil forming processes which occur under different environmental conditions. Study the Figure 4 carefully and answer the following questions:
Figure 4
(a) Identify the two processes by using the letter codes I and II as in the Figure .
(4 marks)
(b) Name one landscape type in which each of the processes is found. (4 marks)
(c) Describe the way in which climatic and vegetation factors interact to produce the distinctive soil forming process I and II. (12 marks)
5. Study Figure 5 carefully.
Figure 5
A large area of untouched rainforest in Rodonia (Figure 5) has been identified for development by the government of Brazil. The development scheme includes building of road to reach the region. Logging rights will be sold to international companies. Agricultural rights are also sold to companies in setting up large cattle ranches and to peasant families. Families moving into the region will be granted
50 ha of land each as long as they will clear the forest and cultivate it. The area will produce maize, bananas, vegetable and animal products especially beef. The future looks bright.
(a) List the advantages of clearing the Amazon forest from the point of view of the Bralizian government. (8 marks)
(b) List the disadvantages of clearing the Amazon forest from the point of view of
(i) the Chief of an Indian tribe which used to live in the area, (6 marks)
(ii) a meteorologist who is concerned which the world's weather change.
(6 marks)
Section B: Answer ONE question from this section.
6. Figure 6 shows the crop uptake of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in the wheat belt of Canada and its relation to fertilizers used.
Figure 6
Year / Crop uptake (thousand tonnes) / Fertilizer used (thousand tones)N / P / N / P
1883-1953*
1954-1964*
1965-1971*
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986 / 203
446
623
637
545
800
831
733
982
696
1133 / 36
75
110
111
93
136
142
125
166
134
192 / 1
22
128
126
308
363
530
590
682
854
896 / 2
20
59
64
133
131
156
169
171
204
202
* estimates
(a) Comment on the trends of nutrient uptake and fertilizer used as revealed in Figure 6.
(4 marks)
(b) In 1984, the application of fertilizer exceeded the amount of uptake by plants. What environmental problems would have arisen? (6 marks)
(c) (i) List the techniques which farmers can use to enrich soil without using chemical fertilizers. (3 marks)
(ii) Pesticides are also agrochemicals used on farm. List the techniques which farmers can use to protect crops without using pesticides. (3 marks)
(d) What are the advantages of those techniques mentioned in (c)? (4 marks)
7. Study Table 7a which shows the production data of four crops.
Table 7a
Crop / Price per ha ($) / Production Cost per ha ($) / Transport cost per ha of production per 10km ($)A / 140 / 80 / 60
B / 100 / 20 / 40
C / 70 / 30 / 10
D / 40 / 10 / 20
(a) On a graph paper provided, draw and label the economic rent curves for crops A, B, C and D. (2 marks)
(b) Find the margin of cultivation for crops A, B, C and D. (2 marks)
(c) Assuming that the farmers strive to earn the highest possible economic rent, which crops will not be grown? Briefly explain your answer. (2 marks)
(d) Suppose a farmer 10 km from the market insists on growing crop C, how much income would be sacrificed? Explain why sometimes crops that do not yield the maximum profit are grown? (4 marks)
(e) What happens to the pattern of agricultural landuse when the price of crop D increases to $70 per ha, other things being constant? Give your answer with the aid of graph work.
(4 marks)
(f) Comment on the value of the concept of economic rent to the study of agricultural landuse pattern. (2 marks)
Study Figure 7b which shows the agricultural landuse pattern in North America.
(g) In what manner does the agricultural landuse pattern in North America conform to von Thunen’s model? (4 marks)
Figure 7b
Section C: Answer at least ONE but not more than TWO questions from this section.
8. (a) What are the two main principles underlying the hierachical pattern of settlement suggested by the Central Place Theory. Define them. (4 marks)
(b) Study Figure 8 which shows a model of the hierarchy of shopping centres in a large city.
(i) Comment on the location of the shopping centres of different orders within the built-up area. (4 marks)
(ii) Suggest reasons for the hierarchy of shopping centres. (4 marks)
(iii) What factors have resulted in the development of hypermarket outside the built-up area of the city? (4 marks)
(iv) Explain the main characteristics of the shops in the central business district.(4marks)
Figure 8
9. Figure 9 shows the urban population density functions of two cities X and Y.
(a) Discuss briefly the similarities and differences of the two urban population density functions of the two cities. (3 marks)
(b) Which of the cities, X or Y, most closely resembles the situation found in Third World cities? With the help of an actual example, give reasons to support your argument. (5 marks)
(c) With the aid of a graph, explain briefly how a large-scale rural-urban migration would affect the slope of the curve of city X. (4 marks)
(d) With the aid of a graph, explain briefly how suburbanisation would affect the shape of the curve of city Y. (4 marks)
(e) What the environmental implication of suburbanisation for city Y? (4 marks)
Figure 9
10. Refer to Figure 10 which shows the horizontal variations of temperature distribution over
London (Minimum temperature at 14 May 1959).
(a) Draw a transect from A to B to show the temperature variations. (3 marks)
(b) Describe the temperature patterns shown in Figure 10. (4 marks)
(c) Account for the temperature patterns. (4 marks)
(d) How do temperature variations in the urban area affect the following weather phenomena?
(i) relative humidity (3 marks)
(ii) wind speed (3 marks)
(iii) precipitation (3 marks)
Figure 10
11. The sketch map, Figure 11a, shows two possible routes between a raw material source R and a market M. Figure 11b shows the freight costs for 1 tonne of material being transported by rail and lake steamer. The rail transport cost is stepped so that, for example, the cost of transporting a tonne of raw material over a distance of 50 km is $10 (terminal cost) + $30 (line-haul cost) = $40. For material transported by lake steamer, there is also a transfer cost of $15 per tonne at each transfer point, i.e. P and Q.
Figure 11a Figure 11b
(a) What is the total transport cost of moving one tonne of material from R to M using
(i) route RPQM (2 mark)
(ii) route RSTM (2 mark)
(b) Which is the cheaper route? (1 mark)
(c) Why is the lakeside site more likely for processing of the raw material than either R or M?
(3 marks)
(d) Under what conditions would the processing take place at M instead of along the lakeside?
(3 marks)
Study Figure 11c which shows the three stages in the production of aluminum.
Figure 11c
(e) Calculate the material index (M.I.) of each of the three stages of production (3 marks)
(f) With reference to Figure 11d, describe and explain the location of the refineries and smelters.
(6 marks)
Figure 11d