◈ Oracle PrepSign Up Free
O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/22 · May/June 2010 · Q830 Marks

A student was studying weather measurement in her lesson. She decided to do some fieldwork to measure and record rainfall and wind direction at her school. To extend her fieldwork she decided to compare her results with measurements recorded at the local airport, about 45km away from school. The locations of the school and airport are shown in Fig. 11 (Insert). [Figure 11] The student decided to investigate the following hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: Rainfall is greater when the wind is blowing from the south. Hypothesis 2: Rainfall is greater at the airport than at the school. (a) The student decided to take weather readings at 09.00 every day for two weeks.

  1. (a)(i)Why did she want to take readings at the same time each day?[1]
  2. (a)(ii)Suggest one possible problem of keeping to her schedule.[1]
  3. (b)(i)She took daily readings of the amount of rain which had fallen. Fig. 12 (Insert) shows the rain gauge which she used. Explain how she used it. [Figure 12][3]
  4. (b)(ii)Suggest two factors which the student should have considered when deciding where to position the rain gauge. 1 2[2]
  5. (b)(iii)As well as measuring the amount of rain which had fallen, the student also used a wind vane to record the wind direction. The wind vane shown in Fig. 13 (Insert) was attached to the roof of the school. Complete the sentences below to explain how the wind vane works. The letters (N, E, S, W) show ........................................................................................................................................... The arrow shows ........................................................................................................................................... The wind vane is located on the roof so that ........................................................................................................................................... [Figure 13][3]
  6. (b)(iv)Suggest one other way the student could have measured wind direction if the wind vane had not been available.[1]
  7. (b)(v)The results of the student's investigation are shown in Table 5 below. Use the results from Table 5 to complete Fig. 14, the wind rose graph, below. Draw in the bars for NW and N. [Table 5] [Figure 14][2]
  8. (b)(vi)The student wanted to link the results of her two investigations so she plotted them on the scatter graph, Fig. 15 below. Complete the graph by adding the results for east winds from Table 5. [Figure 15][2]
  9. (b)(vii)Hypothesis 1: Rainfall is greater when the wind is blowing from the south. Do the results of the investigation agree with this hypothesis? Support your conclusion with data from Fig. 15.[3]
  10. (c)(i)How is primary data different from secondary data?[2]
  11. (c)(ii)Calculate the average rainfall per day at the airport. Insert the figure in Table 6.[1]
  12. (c)(iii)In order to compare the amount of rainfall at school and the airport, the student plotted the dispersion graph shown in Fig. 17, below. Complete the dispersion graph for day 13 at the airport by using rainfall data from Table 6. [Figure 17][1]
  13. (c)(iv)Use Fig. 17 to describe two differences between the rainfall patterns at the school and the airport.[2]
  14. (c)(v)The student reached the conclusion that Hypothesis 2 is correct: Rainfall is greater at the airport than at the school. Suggest why rainfall is greater at the airport. Use Fig. 11 (Insert) and Figs. 14 and 16 to help you to answer.[3]
  15. (d)When the student had completed her tasks she wondered how she could improve the reliability of her results. Suggest some ways she could improve the reliability of her results.[3]

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 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] (a)(i) To achieve equal time divisions between readings (1)
  2. [1] (a)(i) To compare/fair/valid/consistent/reliable. (1)
  3. [1] (a)(ii) Access to school at weekend/school closed (1)
  4. [1] (a)(ii) Student is busy at weekend (1)
  5. [1] (a)(ii) Allow personal problems e.g. late/traffic delays (1)
  6. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(i) Emphasis on used of rain gauge NOT siting factors or recording. Funnel placed into jar (1)
  7. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(i) Jar stood firmly in ground/above land (1)
  8. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(i) Allow rainfall to collect in measuring cylinder/jar (1)
  9. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(i) Read water level in measuring cylinder (1)
  10. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(i) Empty water to set up for next day (1)
  11. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(ii) Emphasis on site factors Clear of buildings/away from shelter (1)
  12. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(ii) Clear of trees/away from interception (1)
  13. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(ii) Clear of people/animals/away from interference (1)
  14. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(ii) On grass/not concrete (1)
  15. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(ii) On flat land (1)
  16. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(iii) The letters (N, E, S, W) show... directions/compass or cardinal directions/North East South West. (1)
  17. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(iii) The arrow shows... which direction the wind is coming from/from which the wind is blowing. (1)
  18. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(iii) The wind vane is located on the roof so that... there is no obstruction/maximum wind strength/interference (1)
  19. [1] (b)(iv) Wind sock/Streamer/thread attached to pole/use a flag/Throw grass into the air/Wet finger (1) NOT equipment.
  20. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(v) Two ticks/crosses. Completion of wind rose graph NW = 3, N = 1
  21. [2 @ 1 = 2] (b)(vi) Two ticks/crosses Completion of scatter graph. Plot at 4 mm and 8m
  22. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(vii) Tick/cross HA: (1) plus statement (1) plus reserve (1) for Data. NOT little from north.
  23. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(vii) Hypothesis is not supported (1) if just consider S winds (1) as only rainfall generally 5mm when winds from S (1)
  24. [3 @ 1 = 3] (b)(vii) Hypothesis is supported (1) if include SW winds & SE winds in quadrant (1) with 36/52 mm of rainfall (1) or most comes from SE/E. (1)
  25. [2 @ 1 = 2] (c)(i) Primary data is collected by student herself (1)
  26. [2 @ 1 = 2] (c)(i) Secondary data is obtained from other sources/already exists/books/the internet. IF collected by others/not herself must be qualified. (1)
  27. [1] (c)(ii) Tick/cross. 72/14 = 5.14. Accept 5.1 or 5.142 as only alternatives.
  28. [1] (c)(iii) Tick/cross: Completion of dispersion graph by plotting 9mm at 2 days at airport.
  29. [2 @ 1 = 2] (c)(iv) Answers must relate to pattern More variation in rainfall at airport/more dispersed/spread out (1)
  30. [2 @ 1 = 2] (c)(iv) More days with little rainfall at school (1)
  31. [2 @ 1 = 2] (c)(iv) More days with high rainfall at airport/less days with high rainfall at school (1)
  32. [3 @ 1 = 3] (c)(v) Airport is nearer to the sea/school further away from sea (1)
  33. [3 @ 1 = 3] (c)(v) Winds blowing from sea generally bring more rain (1)
  34. [3 @ 1 = 3] (c)(v) More incidences of winds from S (from sea) at airport (1)
  35. [3 @ 1 = 3] (c)(v) Possible difference in altitude (airport higher above sea level) (1)
  36. [3 @ 1 = 3] (c)(v) Relief rainfall possible (1)
  37. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Emphasis on HOW the student could improve THESE results; do not credit new investigations
  38. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Repeat the study herself (1)
  39. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Done study over longer period of time than two weeks (1)
  40. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Make two sets of recordings (possibly a friend) to increase reliability (1)
  41. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Ensure readings are comparable at the two locations (e.g. time of readings) (1)
  42. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Take readings in different seasons to see if there is any difference (1)
  43. [3 @ 1 = 3] (d) Take readings at more than one time in the day (1)

Write your answer and get it marked

On Oracle Prep you can write or photograph your own answer and have it marked by AI against this mark scheme, with feedback on what you missed.

Sign up free →

About this question

Topic
The natural environment, O-Level Geography (syllabus 2217). Structured question, 30 marks.
Source
O-Level Geography, May/June 2010 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 8.

Questions and mark schemes are from past examination papers and remain the copyright of the exam board. How Oracle Prep builds its content

Related Geography questions

The natural environmentMay/June 20131m

Which of the following best defines a tropical desert? Underline the answer which you choose.

The natural environmentMay/June 20138m

Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar are two countries in Africa which are affected by soil erosion. Study Table 2A, which sh…

Population and settlementMay/June 20138m

Study Table 1, which shows the services provided by six villages.

Economic developmentMay/June 20148m

Study Fig. 4, information about nuclear power in Bangladesh.

Economic developmentOct/Nov 201525m

Study Photographs C, D and E (Insert), which show three different types of farming.

← Browse all past-paper questions

© 2026 Oracle Prep