(a) Study Fig. 6, which shows the global distribution of areas with tropical rainforest and tropical desert climates. [Fig. 6 is a world map showing the distribution of two climate types. The Equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn are marked. Key: - tropical rainforest (dark shaded areas) - tropical desert (dotted shaded areas) Tropical rainforests are mainly found along the Equator in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Tropical deserts are found around the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, on the western sides of continents, e.g., Sahara (North Africa), Arabian Desert, Australian deserts, Atacama (South America). Point X is located in the Sahara Desert in North Africa.] (b) Study Photograph C (Insert), which shows deforestation of an area of tropical rainforest in Indonesia. [Photograph C (Insert) would show an image of deforestation in a tropical rainforest in Indonesia, likely featuring cleared land, logging activities, or burnt areas.]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (a) (i) Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a specific time/day to day, however climate is average/what is expected at different times of year /yearly conditions.
2. [2] (a) (ii) Similarities such as: Both are found in Africa/South America; Both are found between the tropics etc Differences such as: Rainforests are found around equator, deserts around tropics (of Capricorn/Cancer)/ deserts are further away from equator; deserts on western sides of land masses, rainforests across the continents; rainforests found on islands, deserts are not; North America/Australia have deserts but no rainforest; etc NB: Annotates and d
3. [3] (a) (iii) Ideas such as: high pressure in deserts; descending air in deserts; dry winds/trade winds blow to deserts/across Australia; no sources of water to evaporate/no clouds; etc
4. [4] (a) (iv) Ideas such as: hundreds of different species/large biodiversity; evergreen; deciduous; different layers of vegetation; canopy of trees; shrub layer; emergents/tall trees; lianas; parasites/epiphytes; drip tip leaves; buttress roots; etc
5. [3] (b) (i) Ideas such as: logging/selling wood/for making furniture; cattle ranching; for planting plantations/rubber trees; to grow cash crops; so mining can take place/quarrying or examples; to build settlement/to relocate people from the cities; communications – roads/railways; HEP; etc
6. [5] (b) (ii) Ideas such as: it kills animals; reduces variety of species (dev); loss of habitat; threatening species with extinction (dev); impacts on food chain; reduces interception; therefore increasing run off(dev); causing floods(dev); sedimentation of rivers (dev); loss of nutrients in soil; etc.
7. [7] (c) Levels marking Level 1 (1-3 marks) Statements including limited detail describing characteristics of natural vegetation of tropical desert. (e.g. scattered/sparse vegetation, seeds/plants only flower/grow for short periods, narrow/spiky leaves, long roots/wide spreading roots search for water, some plants store water, plants grow around oases; etc) Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example More developed statements describing and explaining characteristics of natural vegetation of tropical desert. (e.g. Low precipitation/aridity results in scattered/sparse vegetation, seeds/plants remain dormant during long dry spells, narrow/spiky leaves reduce rates of evapotranspiration/because of high temperatures, long roots/wide spreading roots search for water as it is so dry; little cover of soil/sand/bare rock surfaces so few plants grow; some plants/cacti store water in order to survive long periods of drought, plants grow around oases where water is available; etc) NB Max 5 if no named example Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example (e.g. Sahara Desert). Comprehensive and accurate statements describing and explaining characteristics of natural vegetation of tropical desert, including some specific reference to place or species of plants. (e.g. Low precipitation/aridity results in scattered/sparse vegetation, Joshua Tree remains dormant during long dry spells, narrow/spiky leaves reduce rates of evapotranspiration/because of high temperatures, creosote bush has long roots/wide spreading roots search for water as it is so dry; little cover of soil/sand/bare rock surfaces so few plants grow; xerophytes/saguaro cactus stores water in order to survive long periods of drought, plants grow around oases where water is available; etc)