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O-LevelGeographyThe natural environmentMay/June 2010Paper 1 Q425 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 5, which shows information about an earthquake in Sichuan province, China, which occurred in May 2008. [Figure 5] (b) Study Fig. 6, an article from a website about the Sichuan earthquake. Who is to blame for collapsed schools? Thousands of schoolchildren were among the 80000 people killed or missing after the massive 12 May Sichuan earthquake. Parents who lost their children want to know why so many schools collapsed – something many blame on poor construction, linked to local corruption. In Beichuan, where about 1300 children were killed, Mu Qibing, whose 17-year-old son was killed, told Reuters: “They said this building was strong and earthquake-proof, but when we saw it, the concrete was like talcum powder and the steel was as thin as noodles.” Beichuan suffered such severe damage that the whole town will be rebuilt in a new location. Fig. 6

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This O-Level Geography Question

Topic

This structured question tests The natural environment in O-Level Geography (syllabus code 2217). It is worth 25 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge O-Level Geography May/June 2010 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

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