O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/12 · Oct/Nov 2024 · Q525 Marks

Study Fig. 5.1 (Insert), a map showing countries where there were major food shortages between March and July 2021.

(a)(i)Using Fig. 5.1, name the continent which had most countries with food shortages.[1]
(a)(ii)Food shortages can cause starvation and malnutrition. Explain the difference between starvation and malnutrition.[2]
(a)(iii)Using Fig. 5.1 only, name a different country where food shortages were caused by each of: drought flood locusts.[3]
(a)(iv)Explain why drought can cause food shortages.[4]
(b)(i)Study Fig. 5.2, which shows four possible methods of increasing food supply in an LEDC. Method A: increase food imports. Method B: increase areas of farmland by removing forests. Method C: reduce the production of cash crops for export. Method D: increase the manufacture of fertilisers. [Figure 5.2] Explain why Method A, 'increase food imports', is not likely to be a sustainable method of increasing food supply for an LEDC.[3]
(b)(ii)Which method do you consider to be the best method to increase food supply in an LEDC? Choose from methods B, C or D shown in Fig. 5.2. Justify your answer by referring to the advantages of the method you have chosen and the disadvantages of the two methods you have rejected. Method chosen[5]
(c)For a named farm or area you have studied, describe and explain the agricultural land use. Name of farm or 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 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a)(i) Africa
[2] (a)(ii) Starvation: A severe deficiency in caloric energy intake/lack of food/not enough food to stay alive; Malnutrition: When a person's diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients/lack of a balanced diet/getting too little or too much of certain nutrients/not eating nutritious food/lack of nutrients
[3] (a)(iii) Drought: Somalia/Ethiopia/Angola/Madagascar/Afghanistan/Haiti; Floods: Democratic Rep. of Congo/South Sudan/Sudan/Somalia; Locusts: Angola/Zimbabwe/Ethiopia/Somalia/Sudan
[4] (a)(iv) Ideas such as: Crops/plants will not grow/kills crops/reduces yields/crops cannot survive/there are less crops/crops wilt; Water not available for irrigation; Weakness of farmers/farmers cannot work/farmers died because of dehydration; Livestock/animals die/there are less animals/fish die; Communities have to spend more time fetching water from distant places rather than cultivating; Exports of cash crops reduced so no money for food imports; Food becomes more expensive; Etc.
[3] (b)(i) Ideas such as: People will not be able to afford imported food/imported food will be expensive/tariffs may have to be paid on imports; Increases debt/causes (balance of payment) deficit; Food imports might be cut in war/political disputes/sanctions; Increases dependency; It results in lack of development of home production; Poor transport/communications within the country; Pollution of air/water by transport; Etc.
[5] (b)(ii) Candidates can choose any of methods B, C or D (no mark). Marks to be awarded for advantages of chosen strategy and disadvantages of those rejected. Advantages of chosen methods: Increase areas of farmland by removing forest (Method B): More land to grow crops/produce food; Soils likely to be fertile; Sell the wood; Work available; Reduce production of cash crops for export (Method C): Land used for food production/local; Cash crops more likely to exhaust the soil; Reduction of 'food miles'/air pollution/transport noise; Increase the manufacture of fertiliser (Method D): Fertiliser will be cheaper/more accessible than imported supplies; Yields of crops/plants will increase; Farmers will earn more money to invest in other technologies e.g. irrigation/insecticides; Jobs will be created in the factories making fertilisers; Disadvantages of rejected methods: Increase areas of farmland by removing forest (Method B): Removing forests will deplete resources/wood supplies/hunting grounds etc.; Removing forests will increase the threat of air pollution/global warming/climate change/carbon footprint; Removing forests could cause flooding to nearby areas; Removing forests could result in soil erosion/desertification; Reduce production of cash crops for export (Method C): Reducing cash crop production would increase trade deficits; reduce exports/money earned; Loss of profit work for plantation owners; Etc. Increase the manufacture of fertiliser (Method D): Farmers cannot afford it; Eutrophication/chemicals may damage the land/soil/environment; Lack of money/technology for production; Building of factories may lead to deforestation; NOTE Max 2 on advantages of chosen method and disadvantages of each rejected method
[7] (c) Levels marking Level 1 (1-3 marks) Statements including limited detail which describe agricultural land use. Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example More developed or linked statements which describe and explain agricultural land use. (NOTE Max 5 if no named or inappropriate example such as a country) Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example Comprehensive and accurate statements, which describe and explain agricultural land use, including place specific information. Content Guide: Description should refer to land use such as Crops Livestock Explanations are likely to refer to: Soil Climate Relief Market availability Accessibility Workforce Availability of finance Tradition Education about agricultural practices Etc. Place specific reference is likely to consist of: Named locational details Specific soil types Specific climatic details Named location of market areas Specific details of transport routes Etc.