O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/11 · May/June 2011 · Q525 Marks

Section C Answer one question from this section. (a) Study Fig. 8, which is a map showing countries in Africa experiencing food shortages. [Figure 8.0]

(a)(i)Describe one problem which a shortage of food can cause for people.[1]
(a)(ii)Describe the distribution of countries in Africa which are facing a food shortage.[2]
(a)(iii)Give three different natural events which could cause food shortages.[3]
(a)(iv)Explain why a poor harvest of food crops is likely to have a greater impact on an LEDC in Africa than an MEDC in Europe.[4]
(b)(i)(b) Study Fig. 9, which shows ways in which soil can be damaged. Explain how soil can be damaged by: A overgrazing; B overcultivation; C irrigation.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain how the quality of the soil can be maintained and soil erosion reduced.[5]
(c)Name an area where large-scale commercial farming takes place. Describe the inputs, processes and outputs of this farming system. 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 (May/June 2011). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a) (i) Starvation/hunger/lose weight/become thin/skinny/die/malnutrition/kwashiorkor/ marasmus/stunted growth/development; etc.
[1] (ii) Ideas such as: within tropics;
[1] East Africa;
[1] South of Sahara;
[1] South of Tropic of Cancer;
[1] North/East/South Max 1. etc.
[1] (iii) Ideas such as: drought;
[1] flooding;
[1] hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons/storms;
[1] pests/locusts;
[1] volcanic eruption;
[1] earthquakes;
[1] tsunami; etc.
[1] (iv) Ideas such as: in LEDCs there are many subsistence farmers;
[1] MEDCs not as dependent on agriculture/work in factories/tertiary;
[1] they import food/can still earn money to buy food;
[1] more likely to have stores of food in MEDCs;
[1] poor harvest in LEDC will cause poverty/in MEDCs just lower profits;
[1] LEDC's can't afford to buy food/new seeds if poor harvest;
[1] government has money to invest in agriculture/government has no money to import food;
[1] have to rely on aid; etc.
[1] (b) (i) overgrazing makes soil bare/arid/wind/rain removes it/without protection/tramples soil;
[1] overcultivation removes nutrients from soil/reduces fertility;
[1] irrigation makes soil salty;
[1] (ii) Ideas such as: contour ploughing/do not plough up and down slopes;
[1] smaller herds of animals;
[1] shelter belts/tree planting as windbreaks/plant hedgerows;
[1] do not leave large areas fallow/leave area fallow;
[1] add manure/artificial fertilizers;
[1] crop rotation;
[1] terracing;
[1-3] (c) Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail describing a farming system. (e.g. soil, harvesting, cereal crops)
[4-6] Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example. More developed statements describing the chosen farming system. (e.g. deep, fertile soils, harvesting using combine harvester, cereal crops exported for bread making)
[7] Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example (e.g. large scale cereal growing in Canadian Prairies). Comprehensive and accurate statements including correct reference to a named area. (e.g. wheat farming in the Canadian Prairies – deep, fertile soils, harvesting using combine harvester, cereal crops exported for bread making.)