O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/11 · Oct/Nov 2011 · Q225 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 3 on page 7, which shows information about population living in urban areas. [Figure 3]

(a)(i)What is meant by urbanisation?[1]
(a)(ii)Name: A a country where 75% or more of the population lived in urban areas in the year 2000, B a continent in which there were some countries with less than 45% of the population living in urban areas in the year 2000.[2]
(a)(iii)Describe the distribution of the world's fastest growing cities.[3]
(a)(iv)Describe the environmental problems caused by the expansion of towns and cities into the surrounding rural areas.[4]
(b)(i)Using evidence from Fig. 4 only, suggest three reasons why many people are moving to towns and cities in Botswana.[3]
(b)(ii)Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, was founded in 1964 with a planned population of 20000. It now has a population of over 200000. What problems are caused for people who live in such rapidly growing urban areas in LEDCS?[5]
(c)For a named town or city which you have studied, describe the location and characteristics of two contrasting housing areas. Name of city or town[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 2011). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Increase in the proportion/number/percentage of people living in urban areas/growth of urban areas/movement of people from rural to urban areas/more people live in towns and cities/rural areas become built up
[1] A. USA/Canada/Brazil/Chile/Peru/Argentina/UK/France/Australia
[1] B. Asia/South East Asia/Africa
[1] mainly in the 'South'
[1] south Asia/Central/South America/Africa/in LEDCs (Max 1 mark)
[1] Largely in tropics/around/near to equator/low latitudes
[1] Many are close to coasts
[1] loss of vegetation/deforestation/cutting down trees
[1] impact on habitats/loss of/destruction of
[1] loss of species/endangered/extinction
[1] animals killed
[1] impact on food chains/ecosystems
[1] high levels of atmospheric pollution/or examples e.g. CO2 increase
[1] pollution of water courses/rivers
[1] Acid rain
[1] Noise scares animals/disturbs wildlife
[1] Dumping of rubbish/more landfill sites needed
[1] Floods
[1] good transport links/accessibility/roads/railways; (Max 2)
[1] mines
[1] water supplies/dams
[1] inadequate housing stock/not enough houses
[1] thus squatter settlements develop
[1] unemployment
[1] poverty
[1] pressure on educational facilities
[1] pressure on health care facilities
[1] inadequate water supplies/sewage disposal
[1] traffic congestion
[1] high crime rates
[1] increasing cost of...
[1] litter is unsightly/causes diseases
[1] spoils the view/unsightly
[1] noise disturbs people
[1] air pollution causes breathing problems
[1] water pollution causes cholera/water borne diseases
[1] forces wages down due to increased competition for jobs
[1] floods could destroy housing
[1] overcrowding
[1] disease will spread more quickly
[1-3] Level 1: Statements including limited detail describing location and/or characteristics of two contrasting housing areas. No need to compare each area (e.g. new houses in X; old houses in Y; expensive houses in X; cheap in Y).
[4-6] Level 2: Uses named example. More developed statements describing location and/or characteristics of two contrasting housing areas (e.g. houses in X were built within last 10 years; in Y they were built over 50 years ago, more expensive detached houses in X compared with terraced in Y). NB MAX 5 marks if no named example and/or if only one housing area is considered.
[7] Level 3: More developed statements describing location and characteristics of two contrasting housing areas. Uses named example. (e.g. Sheffield) (e.g. Y located in inner city area in Don Valley Y in outer suburbs 10km south east of the centre, houses in X were built within last 10 years but in Y they were built over 50 years ago, more expensive detached houses in X compared with terraced in Y;). Naming of housing areas can be used as examples of place specific information.