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O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/22 · May/June 2014 · Q730 Marks

Three students wanted to investigate the effects of two different types of woodland on temperature and the amount of sunlight in the wooded areas. Photographs B and C (Insert) show the two types of woodland. They decided to investigate the following hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: Temperature will be higher in the area of deciduous woodland than in the area of coniferous woodland. Hypothesis 2: The amount of light at ground level will differ in the two areas of woodland.

  1. (a)(i)To begin their investigation the students drew two transect lines (X and Y) on a map of the area. These are shown on Fig. 9 (Insert). Suggest three pieces of advice their teacher gave them to keep them safe whilst carrying out fieldwork in this area.[3]
  2. (a)(ii)Using Fig. 9, describe two similarities and two differences between transects X and Y. Similarities 1 2 Differences 1 2[4]
  3. (b)(i)The three students decided to take measurements of temperature and light every 25 metres along each transect line. They worked along transect X in the morning and along transect Y in the afternoon. What is the name of the sampling method they used? Circle your choice below. random stratified systematic[1]
  4. (b)(ii)Suggest why they took measurements every 25 metres.[2]
  5. (c)(i)The results of the students' measurements are shown in Table 2 (Insert). To measure temperature they used the digital thermometer shown in Photograph D (Insert). Give two advantages of using a digital thermometer for this task.[2]
  6. (c)(ii)To measure the amount of light at ground level the students made a measuring device to estimate the percentage of sky they could see. More sky means more light. Their measuring device is shown in Fig. 10 (Insert) along with instructions on how it was used. What percentage of sky is shown on Fig. 10?[2]
  7. (c)(iii)Use Table 2 (Insert) to give the most common temperature recorded in the grassland area.[1]
  8. (c)(iv)The students used their results in Table 2 (Insert) to plot the graphs in Fig. 11 opposite. Use the results shown in Table 2 to plot the temperatures at 275m and 300m along transect X.[2]
  9. (c)(v)Use the results in Table 2 to plot the percentage of sky measured at 150m and 300 m along transect Y.[2]
  10. (c)(vi)How does the percentage of sky measured differ between the grassland and woodland in both transects?[1]
  11. (d)(i)What conclusion would the students make about Hypothesis 1: Temperature will be higher in the area of deciduous woodland than in the area of coniferous woodland? Support your decision with evidence from Fig. 11.[3]
  12. (d)(ii)The students agreed that Hypothesis 2: The amount of light at ground level will differ in the two areas of woodland was correct. Give two pieces of evidence from Fig. 11 to support their decision.[2]
  13. (d)(iii)Using Photographs B and C (Insert), suggest why temperature and the percentage of sky measured are different in the two areas.[2]
  14. (e)Having completed their investigation the students considered how they could have improved the reliability of their results. Suggest three ways they might have done this.[3]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2014). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1 + 1 + 1 = 3] (a) (i) Keep together/stay as a group (1)
  2. Don't get lost/stick to paths/stay in designated area (1)
  3. Use a map/compass (1)
  4. Wear boots/appropriate clothes/suitable clothing (1)
  5. Don't climb trees (1)
  6. Take a mobile phone (1)
  7. Stay away from wild animals (1)
  8. Use insect repellent/sunblock etc. (1)
  9. [2 + 2 = 4] (ii) Similarities: Same length/400 metres long (1)
  10. Start at same place/height/380 metres (1)
  11. Go from grassland into woodland/both start in grassland (1)
  12. Both downhill/sloping (1)
  13. Both straight (1)
  14. Both cross a land-use boundary (1)
  15. Differences: Go in different direction (1)
  16. Transect X is W-E/goes east, transect Y is S-N/goes north (1)
  17. Transect X is gentler (1)
  18. Transect X goes down to 321/339m (in range), Y goes down to 300m/Y goes to lower height (1)
  19. Transect X is in coniferous wood, transect Y is in deciduous wood (1)
  20. [1] (b) (i) Systematic
  21. [1 + 1 = 2] (ii) Examples To get an equal distribution of sites/fair/consistent/no bias (1)
  22. To show how results change along transect (1)
  23. Gap between sites is not too big to miss change in results/get a good range (1)
  24. 25 metres is an easy length with a tape measure (1)
  25. If < 25 metres very time-consuming (1)
  26. By using 17 sites per transect can get a lot of data (1)
  27. [1 + 1 = 2] (c) (i) Examples Easy to read/use/less chance of error (1)
  28. Quick/saves time/instant measurement (1)
  29. Accurate/precise/sensitive/gives decimal point (1)
  30. [2] (ii) 35-37% = 2 marks
  31. 32-34% or 38-40% = 1 mark
  32. [1] (iii) 8.4C
  33. [1 + 1 = 2] (iv) Completion of temperature line graph – 1 mark per plot
  34. 4.4°C at 275m and 6.7°C at 300 m
  35. [1 + 1 = 2] (v) Completion of sky bar graph – 1 mark per bar
  36. 70% at 150 m and 62% at 300 m
  37. [1] (vi) Sky percentage is higher in grassland than woodland/ lower in woodland than in grassland (1)
  38. Sky percentage is = > 95% in grassland but = < 92% in woodland (1)
  39. [(1R + 1 + 1) = 3] (d) (i) One mark reserved for decision on hypothesis.
  40. TRUE/AGREE with Hypothesis.
  41. OR Temperatures are lower in coniferous woodland/higher in deciduous woodland
  42. Evidence from Fig 3:
  43. Coniferous temperatures 4.4–7°C but deciduous temperatures 6.3–8.2°C (1)
  44. Highest 8.2°C in deciduous but only 7°C in coniferous (1)
  45. Coniferous has figures below 6.3°C but deciduous all = > 6.3C (1)
  46. Average temperature in coniferous 5.7 °C but higher average 7.1 °C in deciduous (1)
  47. [1 + 1 = 2] (ii) Examples of evidence Sky results are lower in coniferous woodland or X/higher in deciduous woodland or Y(1)
  48. Coniferous percentage/X32–92% but deciduous/Y percentage 55–90% (1)
  49. Average percentage lower/53.9/54% in coniferous/X OR higher/66.6/67% in deciduous/Y (1)
  50. Percentage of sky in deciduous/Y not below 55% but in coniferous/X lowest is 32% (1)
  51. [1 + 1 = 2] (iii) Examples (Answers can be from deciduous point of view)
  52. Can refer to A = Coniferous and B = Deciduous
  53. Trees are closer together in coniferous woodland/A (1)
  54. Leaf/canopy cover is denser in coniferous woodland/A (1)
  55. Less sunlight can penetrate coniferous woodland/A (1)
  56. Less sunlight/higher shade in coniferous woodland/A (1)
  57. [1 + 1 + 1 = 3] (e) Examples Extend transects (1)
  58. Take more measurements/sites into woodland/smaller distance between measuring sites (1)
  59. Two/more people take same readings and check results (1)
  60. Use two thermometers (1)
  61. Take measurements at same time/not morning and afternoon (1)
  62. Better to do study over several days to get more reliable/average results (1)
  63. Use a mirror/light meter to measure sky/light (1)

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About this question

Topic
The natural environment, O-Level Geography (syllabus 2217). Structured question, 30 marks.
Source
O-Level Geography, May/June 2014 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 7.

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