O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/12 · Oct/Nov 2023 · Q625 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 6.1 (Insert), a map showing information about desertification in Africa.

(a)(i)Which one of the following countries has the largest amount of land with a very high risk of desertification? (Circle) your answer. Botswana Chad Gabon Madagascar[1]
(a)(ii)Using Fig. 6.1, describe the distribution of the areas at very high risk of desertification in Africa.[2]
(a)(iii)Compare the risk of desertification in Angola and Nigeria.[3]
(a)(iv)Suggest likely problems that desertification will cause for people who live in countries such as Angola and Nigeria.[4]
(b)Study Fig. 6.2, information about the emission of greenhouse gases in the world between 2000 and 2020.
(b)(i)Describe the changes in the emissions of greenhouse gases between 2000 and 2020. You should use statistics to support your answer.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain why global warming occurs.[5]
(c)Describe the impacts of global warming. You should refer to different named places.[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 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Chad
1 mark
[2] Ideas such as:
Uneven distribution;
Clustered/countries bordering each other;
Linear;
Near/surrounding/just north/south of Sahara Desert;
Along northern/north-west coast;
Along east/south-east coast;
West Africa;
Etc.
2 @ 1 mark
[3] Ideas such as:
Greater risk in Nigeria/less of a risk in Angola;
Mainly very high risk in Nigeria but mainly moderate/low risk in Angola;
More very high risk in Nigeria;
More high risk in Angola;
More moderate risk in Angola;
More low risk in Angola/low risk in Angola but not in Nigeria;
More varied risk in Angola;
Etc.
3 @ 1 mark
[4] Ideas such as:
Farmland being changed to desert/soils become infertile/poor/soil erosion occurs;
Crop yields reduced/people cannot grow crops;
Pasture becomes poor quality/grassland is destroyed/no food for animals;
Livestock/cattle/goats die;
People have no/less food/increased food prices/food shortages;
Starvation/famine;
Lack of water (supplies);
Out migration/people become refugees/rural-urban migration;
More pastoral farmers become nomadic;
Sandstorms/homes covered by sand/roads get blocked/transport is impossible;
Conflict over land/food supplies;
Etc.
4 @ 1 mark
[3] Ideas such as; General/overall/greenhouse gases increase; Overall, 34000–34100 to 45900–46000/by 12000/by 30–40%;
Increased/(more marked for/especially) carbon dioxide; 24500 to 34500/by 10000/by 35–45%/from 71/72% of total to 75% of total;
Increase in CFC/methane; Increase more marked/largest increase after 2010/from 2015;
(Note: MAX 1 RESERVED FOR STATISTICS.)
3 @ 1 mark
[5] Ideas such as:
Industrialisation/burning fossil fuels/using fossil fuels;
Greenhouse gases/carbon dioxide/nitrous oxides/sulphur dioxide from industry/vehicles/power stations/aviation etc;
Burning forests/deforestation;
Methane emissions from rice growing/cattle etc;
Greenhouse gases (or example) build up in atmosphere/form a layer;
Sun's rays can pass through the layer;
Heat is trapped (by the layer/greenhouse gases)/reflected back to earth's surface/not reflected back into space.
5 @ 1 mark or development
[7] Levels marking
Level 1 (1-3 marks): Statements including limited detail which describe the impacts of global warming.
E.g. coastal land flooded.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): More developed statements which describe the impacts of global warming. e.g. ice melts and sea level increases.
(Note: MAX 5 if no place references, MAX 6 if one place reference Accept countries or larger areas e.g. Antarctica if valid.)
Level 3 (7 marks): Comprehensive and accurate statements which describe the impacts of global warming, including some place references. Must refer to two place references.
Content Guide: Answers are likely to refer to: Changing rainfall patterns/drought/desertification; Difficulty producing food; Lack of water supplies; Melting of ice caps/glaciers; Impacts on species/biodiversity; Food chains; Flooding of coastal lowlands/low islands; Spread of tropical diseases to other areas; Loss of habitat; Heat stroke; Forest fires; Bleaching of coral; Oceans warming; Etc.
Note: Accept positive impacts e.g. growth/ripening of vines in temperate countries etc.