O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/11 · Oct/Nov 2011 · Q525 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 9, which shows how water is used in different countries. [Figure 9]

(a)(i)What percentage of Bolivia's water is used for agriculture?[1]
(a)(ii)Which of the countries listed on Fig. 9 uses the largest percentage of water for: A domestic use; B industry/electricity generation?[2]
(a)(iii)Use the information in Fig. 9 to compare the use of water in MEDCs and LEDCs.[3]
(a)(iv)Suggest reasons for the variation in the use of water between countries at different levels of economic development.[4]
(b)(i)State one way in which the economic activity shown in each of the photographs might cause water pollution. Photograph A Photograph B Photograph C[3]
(b)(ii)Describe the impacts of water pollution on people and the natural environment.[5]
(c)Name an area which you have studied which experiences water shortages. Explain how the water shortages cause problems for the people who live in your chosen area. Area studied[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] 80
[1] A. Denmark
[1] B. France
[1] Greater proportion used for agriculture in LEDCs
[1] Greater proportion used for industry/electricity generation in MEDCs
[1] Greater proportion used for domestic purposes in MEDCs
[1] (Greater proportion used for agriculture/irrigation) in developing countries because people are more dependent on the land
[1] (Greater proportion used for industry) in developed countries as there are more factories in developed countries
[1] (Greater proportion used for electricity generation) in developed countries as it is used for cooling in thermal power stations
[1] (Greater proportion used for electricity generation) in developed countries as richer countries use more electricity
[1] (Greater proportion used domestically) in developed countries as more likely to have supply infrastructure/pipes/taps etc.
[1] Photograph A: disposal of effluent/dumping of waste/sewage (into river/lake/sea)
[1] Photograph B: run off from fertilizers/pesticides/examples of farming pollutants causing water pollution
[1] Photograph C: oil spillages/fuel leaks
[1] Lowers quality of drinking water/poisons people/water borne diseases
[1] Smell
[1] visual impact
[1] Reduces tourism (if beaches are polluted)
[1] Kills aquatic life/fish
[1] Impact on food chains/ecosystems
[1] Impact on fishing industry
[1] loss of habitats
[1] eutrophication (or description of it)
[1] build up of algae
[1] depletion of oxygen
[1-3] Level 1: Statements including limited detail describing problems experienced by people as a result of water shortages (e.g. people killed, crops destroyed, they have no water to drink, soils ruined, people move away etc.).
[4-6] Level 2: Uses named example. More developed statements describing problems experienced by people as a result of water shortages (e.g. people have to walk long distances to find water; lower crop yields leads to lack of food; death through starvation/malnutrition; farmers unable to leave land fallow therefore soils exhausted; overgrazing of livestock takes place; Increased likelihood of soil erosion by wind; loss of vegetation leads to more rapid run off; greater potential for flash floods; people move to cities to find food/water etc.). NB MAX 5 marks if no named example.
[7] Level 3: Uses named example (e.g. Eritrea; Sahel;). Comprehensive and accurate statements describing problems experienced by people as a result of water shortages drought, including some place specific reference (e.g. Lower crop yields so malnutrition rate reached 19.1 percent in Gash Barka zone; 2.3 million people in Eritrea/almost two-thirds of the population depend on food aid; although 80 percent of the population is rural the country only produced 47 percent of its average harvest; Over a million Eritreans are likely to go hungry this year; it is made worse because Eritrea is still recovering from a war with neighbouring Ethiopia; Also the resettlement of Eritrean refugees returning from Sudan is an extra strain on the country's resources. etc.).