A-Level Geography (7037/2) - Paper 2 Human Geography
Example Questions and Answers
Question 1:
Outline threats to Antarctica from fishing and whaling. [4 marks]
One threat is to Antarctica's marine waters, which are highly productive due to the Antarctic Convergence, where
upwelling and mixing creates oxygen and nutrient-rich waters. This makes them extremely profitable for fishing
companies, and overfishing has occurred. Another major concern in the Southern Ocean is illegal fishing, which is
difficult to control and manage for organisations like ASOC. Long line fishing for Patagonian Toothfish has
resulted in massive stock depletion, but it has also resulted in the deaths of seabirds due to a loss of a food source.
4 marks
Question 2:
Explain the difference between experienced places and media places. [4 marks]
Experienced places are those in which you’ve previously lived or visited. This implies that we may gain a better
understanding of the location. Media places, on the other hand, are places that we only know through media such as
TV, literature, songs, or art. This means that our perceptions are shaped by what we are shown.
4 Marks
Question 3:
Explain why thunderstorms are common in urban areas. [4 marks]
Thunderstorms form in hot, humid air and are distinguished by heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. Low pressure
caused by convectional uplift in unstable conditions draws moist air from the surrounding countryside, resulting in
tall cumulonimbus clouds. When combined with water vapour and condensation nuclei from industry and vehicles,
intense precipitation and thunderstorms result.
4 Marks
Question 4:
Outline the concept of Malthusian perspectives on population growth. [4 marks]
Malthusian perspectives are pessimistic views on population growth, believing that the power of the population is
infinitely greater than the power in the earth to provide food for man. Malthus believed that food could only
increase arithmetically 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, whereas population increases geometrically – 2, 4, 8, 16. He believed that if the
population exceeded carrying capacity there would be a population crash, for example a famine, war or disease that
act as ‘checks’ on population growth.
4 Marks - Fluency could improve but still worth full marks
Question 5:
Outline the difference between indicated and inferred resources. [4 marks]
, An indicated resource is an extractable mineral resource that has a 50% chance of being there. If it’s there
with a sufficient level of confidence to allow further evaluation of the economic viability, seismic
exploration will be allowed to determine geological grade. Whereas, an inferred resource is a mineral
resource that isn't certain (with roughly a 10% chance).
4 Marks - Fluency need improving
Question 6:
Evaluate the usefulness of Figure 5a and Figure 5b in showing the nature and extent of either economic
change or demographical and cultural change in this area. [6 marks]
Figure 5a is a painting, whereas Figure 5b is a photograph. This means that only a portion of the painting could be
made up to suit how the artist wants the high level bridge to be perceived, whereas figure 5b is a photograph, which
is generally more useful because it is the reality of what the place looks like and thus the real culture of a place can
be shown, as well as the extent of how cultured the place actually is. For example, in figure 5a, there are many
buildings and housing behind the bridge, indicating that it was a densely populated area in 1935, but in the
photograph, there are far fewer buildings, indicating that the population of that particular area has declined. As a
result, the figures as a whole are far more useful in demonstrating the nature and extent of the change. However,
the painting alone may misrepresent the location and is thus ineffective.
6 marks
Level 2 - a clear understanding of the nature of change with an implicit sense of scale. Clear assessment of the
usefulness of both figures, as well as an explicit attempt to evaluate. A thorough understanding that when they are
combined, they provide a more complete picture of change.
Question 7:
Assess the usefulness of house price data such as that shown in Figure 6 in helping to understand the
nature of a local place, comparing it with other quantitative sources that you used in studying. [6 marks]
When looking at the economic nature of a local place, house price data is very valuable because it shows the
change one time economically and can show dips in the local economy for people late in 2011 when the price has
gone down from 2006. Data on house prices can also be useful in other contexts, such as for estate agents and
housing companies like Rightmove. Other quantitative techniques include ethnicity percentages, which tell you
more about the demographic of the area rather than the purely economic, pointing more towards nature because it
can help you show how multicultural the area is. Other methods used include crime rates, which provide a large
amount of information about the nature of a location. These methods are more useful than house price data because
they provide a clearer indication of nature as a whole rather than just economically. While house price data can be
useful, no single method can be used to describe the nature of a place because it considers so many factors such as
economic demographics and more.
Level 2 - 6 marks
Very clear response/ Makes clear connections with the data, attempting to exemplify using the data and own
knowledge. A clear assessment of the utility of house price data in comparison to other data sources.
Question 8:
Assess the effects on the carbon cycle of incineration and landfill approaches to waste disposal in urban
areas. [9 marks]
Example Questions and Answers
Question 1:
Outline threats to Antarctica from fishing and whaling. [4 marks]
One threat is to Antarctica's marine waters, which are highly productive due to the Antarctic Convergence, where
upwelling and mixing creates oxygen and nutrient-rich waters. This makes them extremely profitable for fishing
companies, and overfishing has occurred. Another major concern in the Southern Ocean is illegal fishing, which is
difficult to control and manage for organisations like ASOC. Long line fishing for Patagonian Toothfish has
resulted in massive stock depletion, but it has also resulted in the deaths of seabirds due to a loss of a food source.
4 marks
Question 2:
Explain the difference between experienced places and media places. [4 marks]
Experienced places are those in which you’ve previously lived or visited. This implies that we may gain a better
understanding of the location. Media places, on the other hand, are places that we only know through media such as
TV, literature, songs, or art. This means that our perceptions are shaped by what we are shown.
4 Marks
Question 3:
Explain why thunderstorms are common in urban areas. [4 marks]
Thunderstorms form in hot, humid air and are distinguished by heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. Low pressure
caused by convectional uplift in unstable conditions draws moist air from the surrounding countryside, resulting in
tall cumulonimbus clouds. When combined with water vapour and condensation nuclei from industry and vehicles,
intense precipitation and thunderstorms result.
4 Marks
Question 4:
Outline the concept of Malthusian perspectives on population growth. [4 marks]
Malthusian perspectives are pessimistic views on population growth, believing that the power of the population is
infinitely greater than the power in the earth to provide food for man. Malthus believed that food could only
increase arithmetically 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, whereas population increases geometrically – 2, 4, 8, 16. He believed that if the
population exceeded carrying capacity there would be a population crash, for example a famine, war or disease that
act as ‘checks’ on population growth.
4 Marks - Fluency could improve but still worth full marks
Question 5:
Outline the difference between indicated and inferred resources. [4 marks]
, An indicated resource is an extractable mineral resource that has a 50% chance of being there. If it’s there
with a sufficient level of confidence to allow further evaluation of the economic viability, seismic
exploration will be allowed to determine geological grade. Whereas, an inferred resource is a mineral
resource that isn't certain (with roughly a 10% chance).
4 Marks - Fluency need improving
Question 6:
Evaluate the usefulness of Figure 5a and Figure 5b in showing the nature and extent of either economic
change or demographical and cultural change in this area. [6 marks]
Figure 5a is a painting, whereas Figure 5b is a photograph. This means that only a portion of the painting could be
made up to suit how the artist wants the high level bridge to be perceived, whereas figure 5b is a photograph, which
is generally more useful because it is the reality of what the place looks like and thus the real culture of a place can
be shown, as well as the extent of how cultured the place actually is. For example, in figure 5a, there are many
buildings and housing behind the bridge, indicating that it was a densely populated area in 1935, but in the
photograph, there are far fewer buildings, indicating that the population of that particular area has declined. As a
result, the figures as a whole are far more useful in demonstrating the nature and extent of the change. However,
the painting alone may misrepresent the location and is thus ineffective.
6 marks
Level 2 - a clear understanding of the nature of change with an implicit sense of scale. Clear assessment of the
usefulness of both figures, as well as an explicit attempt to evaluate. A thorough understanding that when they are
combined, they provide a more complete picture of change.
Question 7:
Assess the usefulness of house price data such as that shown in Figure 6 in helping to understand the
nature of a local place, comparing it with other quantitative sources that you used in studying. [6 marks]
When looking at the economic nature of a local place, house price data is very valuable because it shows the
change one time economically and can show dips in the local economy for people late in 2011 when the price has
gone down from 2006. Data on house prices can also be useful in other contexts, such as for estate agents and
housing companies like Rightmove. Other quantitative techniques include ethnicity percentages, which tell you
more about the demographic of the area rather than the purely economic, pointing more towards nature because it
can help you show how multicultural the area is. Other methods used include crime rates, which provide a large
amount of information about the nature of a location. These methods are more useful than house price data because
they provide a clearer indication of nature as a whole rather than just economically. While house price data can be
useful, no single method can be used to describe the nature of a place because it considers so many factors such as
economic demographics and more.
Level 2 - 6 marks
Very clear response/ Makes clear connections with the data, attempting to exemplify using the data and own
knowledge. A clear assessment of the utility of house price data in comparison to other data sources.
Question 8:
Assess the effects on the carbon cycle of incineration and landfill approaches to waste disposal in urban
areas. [9 marks]
