O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/13 · Oct/Nov 2010 · Q325 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 5, which shows information about a volcanic eruption on the Caribbean island of Montserrat (an LEDC). [Figure 5]

(a)(i)Why do you think some of the people living on Montserrat were surprised by the volcanic eruption in 1995?[1]
(a)(ii)Lava flows from the volcano reached the capital city, Plymouth. What is the distance and direction from Chance Peak, in the Soufriere Hills, to Plymouth?[2]
(a)(iii)Use evidence from Fig. 5 to describe three possible effects of the volcanic eruption on Montserrat.[3]
(a)(iv)Suggest reasons why people living on Montserrat found it hard to deal with the effects of this volcanic eruption.[4]
(b)Study Fig. 6, which shows plate margins, and zones where earthquakes and volcanoes occur. [Figure 6]
(b)(i)Describe the distribution of the major earthquake and volcano zones which are shown on Fig. 6.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain the processes which result in the eruption of volcanoes in the area shaded and labelled X on Fig. 6. You may use labelled diagrams in your answer.[5]
(c)In many parts of the world the natural environment presents hazards to people. Choose an example of one of the following: a flood, a tropical storm, a drought. For a named area, describe the causes of the hazard which you have chosen.[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 (Oct/Nov 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a)(i) It had not erupted before/it was thought to be dormant/extinct/first recorded eruption.
[2] (a)(ii) Distance = 4 to 5 km
[2] (a)(ii) Direction = west
[3] (a)(iii) damaged/destroyed buildings;
[3] (a)(iii) towns had to be evacuated/people left the island;
[3] (a)(iii) destruction of forests/trees;
[3] (a)(iii) loss of farmland/crops;
[3] (a)(iii) disruption of transport;
[3] (a)(iii) tourists unlikely to visit;
[3] (a)(iii) factories destroyed;
[3] (a)(iii) jobs lost;
[3] (a)(iii) economic decline/lowers GNP;
[3] (a)(iii) impact on river;
[3] (a)(iii) wildlife/habitats/ecosystems/food chains destroyed;
[4] (a)(iv) they were not expecting the eruption/not predicted;
[4] (a)(iv) were not prepared;
[4] (a)(iv) they had no previous experience of dealing with volcanic eruption;
[4] (a)(iv) it continued to erupt for over 2 years;
[4] (a)(iv) it destroyed many houses/people homeless/have to rebuild houses;
[4] (a)(iv) capital city affected therefore most important buildings lost;
[4] (a)(iv) loss of business/income/earnings;
[4] (a)(iv) no food available/loss of agricultural land/can't produce food/grow crops;
[4] (a)(iv) small island so large proportion was affected;
[4] (a)(iv) so aid difficult to reach;
[3] (b)(i) along plate boundaries/where plates meet; (Reserve 1 mark)
[3] (b)(i) e.g. down middle of Atlantic Ocean;
[3] (b)(i) around Pacific Ocean/west coast of Americas/East Asia;
[3] (b)(i) through Mediterranean/North Africa;
[3] (b)(i) East Africa is an exception.
[3] (b)(i) NB: May use names of places or plates if relevant.
[5] (b)(ii) Destructive plate boundary;
[5] (b)(ii) Plates converge/collide with/move together;
[5] (b)(ii) Subduction of one plate (oceanic);
[5] (b)(ii) Due to greater density of/heavier oceanic plate (dev);
[5] (b)(ii) Friction/heating;
[5] (b)(ii) Thus destruction of oceanic plate/turns to magma/melts (dev);
[5] (b)(ii) Build up of magma/pressure;
[5] (b)(ii) Magma rises through lines of weakness/magma rises up;
[5] (b)(ii) Lava solidifies to create volcano;
[7] (c) (Level 3) Must include place specific information. Uses named example (e.g. Lynmouth floods).
[7] (c) (Level 3) Comprehensive and accurate statements including some place specific reference.
[7] (c) (Level 3) (e.g. thunderstorms associated with frontal depression formed torrential rain – 229 mm near Longstone Barrow on Exmoor, saturated from previous rainfall as it had rained for 12 of the previous 14 days, impermeable rocks of Exmoor encouraging overland flow and rapidly raising river levels, river had been diverted and its channel made narrower due to building of hotels in Lynmouth, bridges over river trapped boulders and formed temporary dams etc.)