Unit 3 Contested Planet: Section B Past Questions
Here are all the past topics, regions and questions for Section B of Contested Planet. Are there any patterns of differences between the questions set?
January 2010
Superpower Geographies / The small Gulf States: Emerging Powers?
(a) Explain the factors that have led to rapid economic growth in the small Gulf States (12)
(b) Evaluate the possible environmental consequences of continues rapid urban and economic development in the small Gulf States (14)
(c) Explain how the growing economic power of the small Gulf States could lead to social and political tension within the region and beyond (14)
June 2010
Biodiversity Under Threat / The Pacific SIDS Biodiversity under threat
(a) Explain why the Pacific SIDS (Small Island Developing States) have such high biodiversity (10)
(b) Evaluate the relative importance of the threats facing biodiversity in the region (16)
(c) Examine the actions shown in Figure 7. Assess the contribution these might make to a more sustainable future for the Pacific SIDS (14)
January 2011
Energy Security / Energy Security options for North America
(a) Explain why there are growing concerns about North America’s energy security (12)
(b) Evaluate the arguments for and against large scale development of unconventional and technically difficult fossil fuel sources in North America (14)
(c) Assess the contribution renewable energy could make in securing North America’s energy future (14)
June 2011
Bridging the Development Gap / Which way for the Maghreb (North Africa)
(a) Outline the strengths and weaknesses of Morocco’s decision to use tourism as a major development strategy (14)
(b) To what extent does environmental change threaten economic development and ecological wellbeing in the Maghreb? (12)
(c) The Maghreb is at a political and economic crossroads. Evaluate the costs and benefits of the possible directions it could take for its future development (14)
January 2012
The Technological Fix? / Scandinavia: Most advance part of the planet?
(a) Explain the contribution that technology has made to Scandinavia’s development level and quality of life (12)
(b) Assess the extent to which Scandinavia has minimized the environmental costs of using technology and resources (14)
(c) Study Figure 13. Evaluate the contribution that the technologies shown might make in reducing ecologicalfootprints in Scandinavia and beyond (14)
June 2012
Water Conflicts / Water resource in the Himalaya
(a) Explain how the physical and political geography of the region is putting water supply at risk (10)
(b) Assess the relative importance of the threats to future water supply within the region (15)
(c) Evaluate the contribution water management schemes, such as those shown in Figure 11, might make towards a sustainable water future for the region (15)
January 2013
Energy Security / Securing Western Europe’s energy future
(a) Explain why energy players have such different perceptions of nuclear power (12)
(b) Evaluate the economic and political costs and benefits of developing new nuclear power stations in Western Europe to increase energy security (14)
(c) Study the three options in Figure 11. Assess the possible impacts of their development on the energy security and the environment of Western Europe
(14)
June 2013
Superpower Geographies / East Asian neighbours.
(a) Explain why there are, and have been, tensions between superpowers and other countries in East Asia. (14)
(b) Assess the extent to which each of the four East Asian countries named in Figure 2 have the characteristics of superpowers. (14)
(c) To what extent are trends in population and resource consumption in China and Japan sustainable? (12)
June 2014
Bridging the Development Gap / East African development.
(a) Compare the development progress made by the three East African countries since 1990. (12)
(b) To what extent do economic and political issues affect the stability and development potential of the region? (14)
(c) Evaluate the potential opportunities and risks of developing the LAPSSET project and creating the EAF from the EAC. (14)
June 2015
Biodiversity Under Threat / Arctic on the Edge.
(a) Explain why the Arctic’s physical systems and ecological resources are of great value to the planet and its people. (12)
(b) Evaluate the relative importance of the threats to the future health of the Arctic environment and its biodiversity. (16)
(c) Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the three approaches to the future management of the Arctic. (12)
June 2016
Superpower Geographies / 21st Century Superpowers: India and China?
Questions TBC: Exam date Thursday 16th June 9am
Year / TopicJan 2010 / Superpower Geographies
June 2010 / Biodiversity Under Threat
January 2011 / Energy Security
June 2011 / Bridging the Development Gap
January 2012 / The Technological Fix?
June 2012 / Water Conflicts
January 2013 / Energy Security
June 2013 / Superpower Geographies
June 2014 / Bridging the Development Gap
June 2015 / Biodiversity Under Threat
June 2016 / Superpower Geographies
Topic / Used
Energy Security / 2
Water Conflicts / 1
Biodiversity Under Threat / 2
Superpower Geographies / 3
Bridging the Development Gap / 2
The Technological Fix? / 1