O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/22 · Oct/Nov 2021 · Q48 Marks

Australia's biggest earthquake was at the city of Newcastle in 1989. It measured 5.6 on the Richter scale and killed 13 people.

(a)(i)Fig. 4.1 and Table 4.1 give information about the intensity (strength) of the earthquake and its effects. On Fig. 4.1, label the position of the epicentre with the letter E.[1]
(a)(ii)On Fig. 4.1, draw the missing line of equal intensity.[1]
(a)(iii)Using Fig. 4.1 and Table 4.1, describe the effects of the earthquake in Australia's largest city, Sydney.[2]
(b)Fig. 4.2 shows the world distribution of earthquakes. Fig. 4.3 shows plate boundaries and the location of Newcastle. Using Figs. 4.2 and 4.3, what is unusual about the position of the Newcastle earthquake?[1]
(c)Explain why many earthquakes occur at destructive (convergent) plate boundaries.[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 (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] 4(a)(i) letter E in intensity 8 area,
[1] 4(a)(ii) line between 3 and 4 values,
[2] 4(a)(iii) bells ring, trees sway, objects fall, windows broken, sleepers awakened, cars rock, felt by many,
[1] 4(b) it is not on a plate boundary,
[3] 4(c) compression, subduction/description of subduction, of oceanic plate/denser plate (development point), friction, fracturing/faulting, build up/release of energy/pressure/stress,

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