(a) Study Fig. 4, an article about an earthquake. Earthquake devastates Italy L'AQUILA, Italy – A powerful earthquake shook this medieval town in central Italy, killing 308 people, leaving thousands homeless and damaging many monuments. More than 20 churches were damaged in the earthquake, including the cathedral and the Basilica of San Bernardino. As rescue teams searched for survivors, many asked whether the deaths could have been avoided. Tremors had been felt around L'Aquila for several weeks. Giampaolo Giuliani, a physicist, said he had warned authorities that an earthquake would hit Abruzzo. Mr. Giuliani said he had come to this conclusion by measuring the amounts of radon gas released by the earth. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake was strong enough that many felt it in Rome, 60 miles west of L'Aquila. Experts say that many buildings in Italy are vulnerable because many of them date back hundreds of years. They have not been fitted with modern technology to make them earthquake proof. As aftershocks rumbled through the streets of L'Aquila residents pushed carts full of their belongings they had found before fleeing their homes. Officials were setting up some 1000 tents, enough to hold 12000 people. Fig. 4 (b) Study Fig. 5, which shows an ‘earthquake-proof house' designed by Indian engineers. [Figure 5.0 (Diagram of an 'earthquake-proof house' with labelled features)] Fig. 5 (c) An earthquake is an example of a natural hazard. Choose an example of one of the following: a tropical storm, a drought. For a named area, describe the causes and effects of your chosen hazard. Hazard chosen.................................................. Area chosen ....................................................

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2011). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (a) (i) Richter Scale
2. [2] (a) (ii) Ideas such as: deaths/killed people; people were homeless/homes damaged/set up tents; monuments were damaged; churches/cathedral/basilica damaged/historic buildings.
3. [3] (a) (iii) People attempt to predict by recording tremors/when tremors occur an earthquake is predicted by some people/use of seismometers; people predict by measuring radon gas; animal behaviour; look at past records/estimate time scales; but earthquakes are hard/impossible to predict exactly/can predict area but not time.; One mark reserved for evaluative comment
4. [4] (a) (iv) Ideas such as: plate boundaries are line of weakness; plates slide past/rub against/move towards/converge/collide/move apart/diverge; locked together/stick/friction; build up of pressure; sudden movement/jerk apart/pressure released/break apart/break free; etc.
5. [3] (b) (i) Ideas such as: hollow concrete blocks will cause less damage/injury if they collapse; shatterproof glass on windows stops people being cut by it/stops it breaking; foundations of stone are resistant to earth movements; springs allow some movement; reinforced concrete roof less likely to collapse; reinforced steel corner pillars supports the house/reduces risk of collapse;
6. [5] (b) (ii) Ideas such as: they have lived there all their lives/sentimental attachment; close to family/friends; work/education in area; cannot afford to move; pressure of living space/lack of available land; willing to take the risk/don't think it will happen to them; scientists/researchers; preparations e.g. drills/packs/safety of earthquake proof houses; etc.
7. [7] (c) Levels marking; Level 1 (1–3 marks): Statements including limited detail describing causes and/or effects of drought or tropical storms. (e.g. low pressure over sea, people killed, crops destroyed, they have no water to drink, houses damaged, people have to evacuate, roads flooded/blocked etc.); Level 2 (4–6 marks): Uses named example. More developed statements describing causes and/or effects of drought or tropical storms. (e.g. low pressure formed over warm sea areas, people have to walk long distances to find fresh water; damage to crops leads to lack of food; death through starvation/ malnutrition/drowning etc.; housing destroyed by strong winds; people have to evacuate and live in refugee camps; roads flooded/blocked so aid cannot be sent in etc.); (NB MAX 5 if no example); Level 3 (7 marks): Uses named example (e.g. Cyclones in Bangladesh). Comprehensive and accurate statements describing causes and effects of drought or tropical storms including some place specific reference. (e.g. low pressure formed over warm Bay of Bengal; people have to walk long distances to find fresh water as local groundwater sources are flooded by the Ganges; damage to rice crops leads to lack of food; death through starvation/malnutrition/drowning etc.; housing destroyed by strong winds sweeping in from Bay of Bengal; people have to evacuate and live in refugee camps in Dhaka, roads flooded/blocked so aid cannot be sent in etc.)