O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/12 · May/June 2018 · Q425 Marks

Answer one question from this section. (a) Study Fig. 4.1, which shows climate graphs for four places.

(a)(i)Estimate the average annual precipitation shown by climate graph A on Fig. 4.1. Circle your answer in the list below. 500 mm 750 mm 1050 mm 2000 mm[1]
(a)(ii)Identify the letter of the climate graph which shows: – a temperature range of 17°C – an annual average temperature of 3 °C[2]
(a)(iii)Identify the graph which shows an equatorial climate. Give two reasons for your choice. Climate graph Reason 1 Reason 2[3]
(a)(iv)Explain why some places have an equatorial climate.[4]
(b)Study Fig. 4.2 (Insert), which shows part of the Amazon rainforest.
(b)(i)Using evidence from Fig. 4.2 only, give three reasons why deforestation has occurred in this area.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain why protecting the rainforest from deforestation is important for the local natural environment and for the people who live in the rainforest.[5]
(c)Describe the problems caused by large-scale deforestation of tropical rainforests for the global natural environment and people who live in other named parts of the world.[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] 1050 mm
[1] Temperature range of 17 °C = C
[1] Annual average of 3 °C = B 2 @ 1 mark
[3] Graph D = 1 mark (reserved) Reasons such as: High temperatures/above 20 °C/around 27or 28 °C; Low temperature range/same all year round; High rainfall; Rainfall all year round/above 140 mm per month; No seasons etc. Note: Wrong letter/no letter = no marks for answer. 3 @ 1 mark
[4] Ideas such as: On/near Equator/low latitude ; Overhead sun/high insolation/high angle of/direct sun; Rising air/convection/convectional rainfall; Low pressure; Large amounts of/more evaporation; Large amounts of/more transpiration etc. 4 @ 1 mark
[3] Ideas such as : Sawmills; Roads; Cattle grazing/ranching/slaughterhouse; Settlements/towns/villages; Hydro electric dam 3 @ 1 mark
[5] Ideas such as protection of the rainforest will: Prevent extinction of species/death of animals/people; Prevents loss of habitat; Conserve ecosystems/maintain biodiversity; Ensure that food chains are not broken; Prevent flooding; Prevent soil erosion/infertile soil; Prevent desertification; Ensure locals keep producing food/ensures more food for locals; Ensure locals have building materials/homes/do not have to move to cities/rely on it to survive; Enable locals to continue hunter-gatherer lifestyles; Not destroy valuable medicines/undiscovered species; Prevent introduction of Western diseases; Tourism retained; Note: Reserve one mark on natural environment/people Accept value of protection and also problems caused by not protecting. 5 @ 1 mark or development
[7] Levels marking Level 1 (1-3 marks) Statements including limited detail which describe impacts of deforestation on the global natural environment and/or people who live in other parts of the world. Level 2 (4-6 marks) More developed statements which describe impacts of deforestation on the global natural environment and/or people who live in other parts of the world. Note: Can accept valid statistics as 1× L2 for this question Level 3 (7 marks) Comprehensive and accurate statements, which describe impacts of deforestation on the global natural environment and people who live in other parts of the world, including reference to places. Content Guide: Answers are likely to refer to: Impact on patterns of rainfall/drought; Impact on global temperatures/global warming; Reduction in oxygen; Increase in carbon dioxide levels; Greenhouse effect; Melting of ice sheets; Rising sea levels; Destruction of environments in polar areas; Extinction of species in other parts of world e.g. polar bears; Loss of medicines; Changing patterns of crops; Spread of pests e.g. mosquitoes etc.