O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/12 · Oct/Nov 2012 · Q525 Marks

Study Fig. 8, a flow diagram which shows a commercial farm in an MEDC.

(a)(i)What is meant by the term commercial farm?[1]
(a)(ii)Identify one crop and one animal product which the farmer in Fig. 8 produces. Crop ................................................................................................. Animal product ................................................................................[2]
(a)(iii)Suggest three different natural inputs which will be required by the farm shown in Fig. 8.[3]
(a)(iv)Explain how commercial farmers in MEDCs have increased their output.[4]
(b)(i)Describe three different features of the farming shown in Photograph B.[3]
(b)(ii)Suggest reasons for the land use in the area shown in Photograph B. You should refer to natural and human factors.[5]
(c)Name an area where small scale subsistence farming takes place. Explain why the farmers are subsistence farmers. Name of area[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 2012). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Produce (crops/animals) to sell/to make a profit/as a business/to make money/for the market
[1] Crops: wheat/barley
[1] Animal product: Wool/lambs/fleeces/sheep 2 @ 1 mark
[1] precipitation/rainfall/water;
[1] temperature/heat;
[1] sunshine/sunlight;
[1] soil;
[1] seeds;
[1] grass/hay/roots;
[1] manure/natural fertilizer;
[1] land/flat relief etc 3 @ 1 mark
[1] use of fertilizers/manure;
[1] irrigation;
[1] reclamation of marshland/wetland;
[1] removal of hedgerows;
[1] pesticides/insecticides/herbicides;
[1] terracing;
[1] GM crops/HYVs or examples;
[1] Use of greenhouses;
[1] Hydroponics;
[1] Aeroponics;
[1] Selective breeding;
[1] Mechanisation etc 4 @ 1 mark
[1] large scale of production/large area of land;
[1] plantation/growth of one crop/monoculture;
[1] growing of fruit/bananas;
[1] divided into plots/divided with walls/planned;
[1] terraced hillside;
[1] arable farming;
[1] commercial etc 3 @ 1 mark
[1] High temperatures;
[1] Lots of sunshine/little cloud cover;
[1] No frost;
[1] Sufficient water/rainfall;
[1] Water for irrigation;
[1] Fertile soils;
[1] Gently sloping land;
[1] Large amounts of land/lots of space;
[1] Capital/grants available;
[1] Good communications;
[1] Close to markets;
[1] Workforce nearby;
[1] High prices of chosen farm produce etc 5 @ 1 mark or development
Levels marking Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail explaining why many farmers are subsistence farmers. Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example More developed statements explaining why many farmers are subsistence farmers. (NB: max 5 marks if no named example or inappropriate example such as name of country or farm or name of area of commercial farming) Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example Comprehensive and accurate statements including correct reference to a named area. Candidates are likely to refer to issues such as: Poverty; Lack of land; Lack of markets; Technology; Tradition; Lack of education and skills etc Place specific detail may include names of places, locational information and appropriate statistics.