PART 2: Structured and essay questions
CORE UNIT 1:
Patterns and Processes in the Physical Environment
• There will be three questions based on physical geography.
• You must answer one.
• The question will be worth 80 marks and is divided into three parts:
➤ Part A – 20 marks
➤ Part B – 30 marks
➤ Part C – 30 marks
• Timing for this question:
➤ Part A – 7 minutes
➤ Part B – 14 minutes
➤ Part C – 14 minutes
EXAM TIP
A sketch map of an ordnance survey map showing physical landforms has come up as a Part A in Physical Geography every year since 2007. Make sure you practise these before the exam.
EXAM TIP
A question on landform development has been asked every year since 2006. You should be able to explain one landform of erosion and one landform of deposition in detail.
Topic 1 Landform Development: Fluvial Erosion – Waterfall Typical question
➤ Examine the impact of the processes of erosion on the formation of one fluvial, coastal or glacial landform that you have studied.
Typical marking scheme
• Process of erosion named: 2 marks
• Landform named: 2 marks
• Examination: 13 SRPs
• Credit second process of erosion named for 1 x SRP from examination. All further references to processes of erosion require examination.
• Credit 1 x SRP for example from examination.
• The focus of the question is on the impact of the processes of erosion on the formation of one landform. Explanation of processes of deposition: 0 marks.
• Credit a relevant labelled diagram for 1 x SRP.
• Diagram without labelling: 0 marks.
• Credit additional relevant information on a labelled diagram for 2 x SRPs. This must be information not already given in the written account.
SAMPLE ANSWER
The landform of fluvial erosion that I have studied is a waterfall. A waterfall is a vertical fall of water usually found in the upper/youthful course of a river. An Irish example is Mahon Falls, Co Waterford and an international example would be Niagara Falls on the Canada/US border. Two processes of erosion that impact on the formation of a waterfall include hydraulic action and abrasion.
Waterfalls can occur in a number of ways but are commonly formed when a band of hard bedrock, e.g. granite, lies across the river’s course and meets a band of less resistant rock, e.g. limestone. As the river passes over the hard rock its erosive power increases which results in the soft rock eroding quicker than the hard rock (differential erosion). If the layer of rock is dipping gently downstream it causes a series of rapids, however if the layer of rock is horizontal or sloping upwards, a waterfall is formed.
Vertical erosion is the main process involved in the formation of waterfalls, by hydraulic action, abrasion and solution. Hydraulic action is the force of the moving water which makes its way into cracks and forces out loose rock and other material. Abrasion is the wearing away of the river bed and bank by its load while solution is when the river water dissolves soft rock such as limestone by chemical reaction.
As the erosion of the soft rock continues, the gradient of the river becomes steeper, allowing the water to fall faster. A small fall is then formed. As the water passes over the fall, the effects of hydraulic action (force of moving water) and abrasion (river using its load) increase. This makes the fall steeper. Most erosion takes place at the base of the fall and a plunge pool is formed. The plunge pool at Niagara Falls is 35m deep. Over time, the depth of a plunge pool can increase due to eddying which occurs when pebbles become trapped and swirl around, deepening hollows in the riverbed. The mist and splashback created by the falling water rots the soft rock underneath the hard rock cap, creating an overhang. This overhang eventually becomes undermined and it collapses under the influence of gravity. The collapsed rock will deepen the plunge pool through abrasion and also be broken down by attrition.
A waterfall slowly moves/retreats upstream and this is known as headward erosion. A steep sided gorge can be a result. The gorge of the Niagara Falls is 11km long.
Topic 2 Landform Development: Fluvial Deposition – Delta
Typical question ➤ Examine the impact of the processes of erosion on the formation of one fluvial, coastal or glacial landform that you have studied. Typical marking scheme • Landform named: 2 marks
• Examination: 14 SRPs
• Credit 1 x SRP for reference to process of deposition. All further references to processes of deposition require examination.
• Credit one example for 1 x SRP from examination.
• Focus of question is on the impact of the processes of deposition on the formation of one landform. Examination of processes of erosion: 0 marks.
• Credit relevant labelled diagram for 1 x SRP.
• Credit extra relevant information on labelled diagram
for 2 x SRP’s.
• Diagram without labelling: 0 marks.
SAMPLE ANSWER
The landform of fluvial deposition that I have studied is a Delta. A delta is a flat area of alluvium deposited at the mouth of a river when it enters slow-moving water such as an estuary, lake or the sea. An example of a delta can be seen in the Upper Lake, Glendalough, Co Wicklow or the River Nile in Egypt. Two processes that influence the formation of a delta are flocculation and sorting. Deltas form when a river loses its speed and cannot carry its load any further. Material is deposited onto the sea floor and builds up above the water. For this to happen, the river must be carrying a large load with the rate of deposition being greater than the rate of erosion. Deltas are composed of three different layers of sediment due to the action of the processes of deposition, flocculation and sorting. The lightest deposits are carried furthest out to sea and make up the bottomset bed. This fine, light material sinks to the sea floor as a result of flocculation. Fresh water mixes with salt water causing the load of clay and silt to stick together and become heavier. Coarser material is then deposited directly on top of the fine material close to the mouth of the river to form the foreset bed. The topset bed consists of a mixture of material as sorting is less active. The mouth of the river can become blocked causing the river to break into distributaries to find a way past the delta.
Deltas can form when a river enters a lake (lacustrine) or a sea (marine). There are three different types of marine deltas due to varying rates of deposition and the load being carried. An arcuate delta is shaped like a triangle as the strong ocean currents remove deposited material in a straight line along the coast. This can be seen in the River Nile in Egypt. An estuarine delta forms when material is deposited along the sides of an estuary. A bird’s foot delta occurs when deposition occurs beyond the coastline as the sea waves are weak compared to the power of the river. The channels of rivers have to divide up into little streams known as distributaries, which resemble a bird’s foot, in order to get through the deposited material. The Mississippi Delta is an example of this type of delta.
Topic 3: Weathering and Karst Landscapes Typical question
➤ With the aid of a labelled diagram(s), explain how chemical weathering has shaped one of the following:
• The surface karst landscape
• The underground karst landscape
Typical marking scheme
• Labelled diagram: 4 marks (4/0)
• Explanation: 13 x SRPs
• Credit a named process of chemical weathering for 1 x SRP from explanation. All further processes require explanation.
• Credit a named landform for 1 x SRP from explanation.
• Credit one named example for 1 x SRP from explanation.
• Diagram without labelling: 0 marks.
• Credit additional relevant information on a labelled diagram for 1 x SRPs. This must be information not already given in the written account.
• Credit a max of 2 x SRPs if merely a description of chemical weathering with no reference to shaping of the surface or underground karst landscape.
• If explanation of both surface and underground features, mark both separately and award the highest mark.
SAMPLE ANSWER
In this essay I will discuss how chemical weathering has shaped the surface karst landscape. A karst region is the term given to an area of exposed limestone such as the Burren. I will discuss how carbonation influenced the formation of a limestone pavement in the Burren. Carbonation occurs when rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide in the air and forms a weak carbonic acid. Calcium carbonate is the major mineral in limestone rock. When weak carbonic acid mixes with this calcium carbonate, it undergoes a chemical reaction and forms calcium bicarbonate. This substance is soluble and is dissolved by the rainwater and washed away. Limestone is a permeable rock, meaning water can pass through it. However, water does not pass through the rock itself, but instead passes through the bedding planes and joints that make up its sedimentary structure. Over time, the fissures in the rock become bigger and the rock eventually dissolves.
A limestone pavement is a large flat area of exposed limestone rock that had its soil cover removed as a result of soil erosion or glacial erosion. As mentioned, limestone is a well-jointed rock and rainwater acts upon these joints through the process of carbonation. These joints are gradually deepened and widened over time to form gaps between blocks of limestone called grikes. These grikes can be up to 30cm wide and 100cm deep, depending on how effective carbonation has been in the area. Separating the grikes is a series of flat rock surfaces called clints. As the rainwater dissolves the surface of the limestone further, small hollows may form on the surface of the clint. These are known as karrens. The rainwater running down the side of the clint dissolves it further, forming furrows along the edge. This is known as fluting.
CORE UNIT 2: Regional Geography
• There will be three questions based on Regional Geography.
• You must answer one.
• The question will be worth 80 marks and is divided into three parts:
➤ Part A – 20 marks
➤ Part B – 30 marks
➤ Part C – 30 marks
• Timing for this question:
➤ Part A – 7 minutes
➤ Part B – 14 minutes
➤ Part C – 14 minutes
EXAM TIP
Being asked to draw a sketch map of a region is a common Part A in this section. The only way to get better at these is to practise them. If the question asks you to draw a sketch map of an Irish region, then look at the accompanying ordnance survey map – it will have an outline of Ireland on it.
Topic 1 Tertiary economic activities in an Irish region Typical question
Account for the development of transport or tourism in an Irish region that you have studied.
Typical marking scheme
• Examination: 15 SRPs
• Do not accept European or Continental/Sub
Continental region.
• Examination without reference to named or clearly
inferred region: 0 marks.
• Credit 2 x SRPs for Irish examples.
• Credit factors influencing the development of transport or tourism for 2 x SRPs from examination. All further factors require examination.
• Max 2 x SRPs if merely a description of transport or
tourism with no accounting for its development.
SAMPLE ANSWER
In this essay I will discuss the development of tourism in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Tourism is an important activity in the GDA as it brings in over €1bn annually to the economy of the region. In 2012, 5.5 million tourists visited Dublin and this number has steadily increased to 10.6 million in 2017. This is partly due to various marketing strategies by Fáilte Ireland such as The Gathering.
Tourism in the GDA is a long-established sector of the economy in the region and is an important service. Unlike in the western region, tourism is a year-round industry in the GDA employing about 50,000 people
in areas such as hotels, tour guiding and restaurants. Dublin City has many tourist attractions ranging from museums to music venues such as the 3 Arena. Many tourists are attracted for sporting events such as rugby and football matches in the Aviva Stadium. The biggest attraction for tourists in Dublin is the Guinness Storehouse which was visited by over 1.7 million people in 2018. It is one of five attractions to receive more than 1 million visitors in 2017 and attracted more tourists than the Cliffs of Moher and Dublin Zoo.
Tourism in the GDA benefits from a number of factors including accessibility and government investment. The GDA is easily accessible from other Irish and worldwide locations due to its modern transport systems. Dublin airport handled 29 million passengers in 2017, compared to 2.3 million in Cork and 1.5 million in Shannon. It is traditionally seen as the main point of entry for visitors. The region also has a well-developed public transport system – Luas, DART, Dublin Bus – which are all regular, efficient and plentiful. This makes the region an attractive place for tourists as they can easily travel to different parts of the GDA. Plans are currently being discussed to develop a metro system in Dublin City which would make travel even easier, attracting more tourists in the process.
The GDA has also benefitted from government investment in events such as the St Patrick’s Day Parade, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Dublin. About 500,000 people watched the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin in 2018. The GDA also benefits from marketing strategies used by Fáilte Ireland.
Topic 2:
Secondary economic activities and manufacturing in a European region
Typical question
Account for the development of manufacturing in a European region (not in Ireland) that you have studied.
Typical marking scheme
• Examination: 15 SRPs
• Do not accept Irish or Continental/Sub-Continental
region.
• Discussion without link to named or clearly inferred
European region: 0 marks.
• Credit 2 x SRPs for examples of manufacturing from
examination.
• Credit factors influencing the development of manufacturing for 2 x SRPs from examination. All further factors require examination.
• Positive or negative interpretation of development is
acceptable.
SAMPLE ANSWER
In this answer I will discuss the development of manufacturing in the Paris Basin. A wide variety of industries make up a well-developed manufacturing sector in the Paris Basin. These industries range from heavy industry such as car manufacturing, with Renault located in the north-east, to fashion with many high-end labels based close to Paris City. A number of factors have influenced the development of manufacturing in this region, including accessibility and population.
The easy access to the Paris Basin has played a major role in attracting industry to the region. The River Seine is easily navigated and can be reached by boat far from the sea. Deep water ports with modern docking facilities and warehouses make it an attractive area for heavy industry with bulky raw materials such as steel, petrochemical and textile industries. Heavy industries use these ports to import and export goods cheaply and efficiently, taking advantage of the natural easy access to the Paris Basin.
Paris is a nodal point with excellent communications infrastructure which is aided by the low-lying nature of the region. Transport costs are low which benefits industries by reducing overheads which in turn increases profit for industries. France has one of the most modern transport systems in the world with the Paris Basin benefitting the most from this. The Paris Metro, TGV (high speed train) and most French roads concentrate on Paris and the region also has two international airports – Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The wide variety of transport links presents a number of opportunities for industries to export finished goods to a worldwide market.
The population of the Paris Basin has also assisted the development of industry in the region. There is a large educated workforce with 21 million people living in the Paris Basin with 12.2 million of those living in the Greater Paris area. The presence of 17 universities (e.g. Sorbonne University) in the region attracts high-tech industries as there is a large number of highly skilled graduates. This workforce attracts a range of industries from electronics to healthcare. The large population also provides a wealthy market for industries to sell their products. This attracts many industries who make luxury items. The fashion industry has thrived in Paris since it originally developed to meet the demands for luxury items from the royal family at the Palace of Versailles. Most fashion houses, such as Dior, are located close to the city centre and supply a world market, using the excellent communication links the region provides. The Cosmetic Valley in the Chartres area (95km from the city centre) is home to famous cosmetics brands such as L’Oréal and Paco Rabanne.
Topic 3 Primary economic activities and agriculture in a continental/sub-continental region Typical question
➤ Examine the factors that influence the development of one primary economic activity in a continental/subcontinental region that you have studied.
Typical marking scheme
• Factors identified: 2 marks + 2 marks
• Examination: 13 SRPs
• Discussion without link to a named or clearly inferred region: 0 marks
• Accept examination of only one primary economic
activity (agriculture, forestry, fishing or mining).
• Credit 2 x SRPs for specific examples of primary activity.
• Accept a positive or negative interpretation of development.
SAMPLE ANSWER
The continental/sub-continental region that I have studied is India. In this answer I will discuss how climate and population affect agriculture in India.
1. Climate
The seasonal nature of the monsoon-type climate greatly affects the type of agriculture practised. Double cropping is practised in order to make the most of the dry and wet seasons. Rice is grown in areas such as the Ganges and Brahmaputra plain during the wet season. Other cereal crops such as wheat and maize need drier conditions in order to grow so these are grown during the dry monsoon.
Precipitation levels from monsoon rains in June and July can reach 2,000mm in places like the Western Ghats. This level of precipitation favours the production of rice as it is planted in flooded paddy fields. Rice thrives in these wet conditions.
North-West India and the Solapur region of the Deccan plateau are amongst the driest areas in India. A cereal crop called millet is the dominant crop here as it thrives in the dry conditions. Solapur is in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats, so it gets less than 900mm of precipitation per year. Yearly temperatures average around 28°C. This heat favours the growing of cotton, tea and other important cash crops that are crucial to the economy of India.
The climate in India also affects the soil type which in turn affects agriculture. The Ganges valley is one of the most intensively farmed areas in the world as it consists of nutrient-rich alluvial soils. Heavy monsoon rains wash the nutrients and minerals down through the soil, resulting in leaching. This leaching creates laterite soils – one of India’s most common soil types – which become infertile due to leaching. This is a big problem for agriculture in areas such as the Western Ghats where annual rainfall can exceed 3,000mm. Arable farming becomes unproductive as a result.
2. Population
India has a population of over 1 billion people which creates a huge demand for food. This has resulted in intensive subsistence farming whereby farmers only produce enough food to feed their own families. Half of these subsistence farms are less than half a hectare which means no land can be wasted. Double cropping is normal practice, roads are very narrow, and fields usually don’t have boundaries in order to save space. Rice is the most common output of these intensive farms as it is a high-yield crop, so it is suited to feeding large quantities of people. Rice is grown on 25% of India’s landmass and is planted and harvested by hand on small farms. The high population density (350 per sq km) benefits this practice by providing a large and willing workforce.
India’s population is increasing at 2% per year creating a need for increased food supplies. The Green Revolution was a policy introduced by the Indian government in the 1960’s in response to this issue. It involved genetically modified plant breeding, producing new varieties of rice and wheat. This allowed India’s food production to outpace population growth – by 2000, India became a net exporter of food (more food exported than imported). This was hugely significant for the future food supply of India. If current population growth continues, then India’s population could reach 2 billion people by 2040.
Most of the population (80%) is Hindu. Cows are sacred – they can provide milk and pull carts but cannot be killed. Therefore, livestock is a largely underdeveloped aspect of agriculture in India. India has more cattle than any other country in the world (238 million).