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O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/22 · May/June 2012 · Q830 Marks

Four students in Workington in Cumbria in the U.K. read in the local newspaper about a plan to build six wind turbines on a local hilltop near to their school. The newspaper report said that some local people were objecting to the plan. The students decided to investigate the views of local people on wind power and the possible location of the wind turbines near to where they lived. The students investigated the following hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: Most local people think that wind power is a good way to generate electricity. Hypothesis 2: Most local people think that wind turbines should not be built on the hilltop.

  1. (a)(i)To begin their investigation the students divided into two pairs to think of some questions to include in a questionnaire. The questions produced by one pair are shown in Fig. 14 (Insert). Suggest two weaknesses of the questions in this questionnaire pointed out by their teacher. 1 2[2]
  2. (a)(ii)The questionnaire produced by the other pair was approved by their teacher. This is shown in Fig. 15 (Insert). Why is this a better questionnaire than the one in Fig. 14?[3]
  3. (a)(iii)Before using the questionnaire shown in Fig. 15, the four students thought about the best way to make use of it. They decided to ask the opinion of 100 people. Describe a suitable sampling method for the students to select 100 people. Explain why you have chosen this method.[3]
  4. (b)The results of the question (Do you think that generating electricity by wind power is a good idea?) and reasons for the answer are shown in Table 4 below. [Table 4.0]
  5. (b)(i)What is the most common reason given by the 100 people questioned against using wind power to generate electricity?[1]
  6. (b)(ii)Complete Fig. 16 below, by drawing in the two missing bars on the graph. [Figure 16.0][2]
  7. (b)(iii)Do the results shown in Table 4 and Fig. 16 support Hypothesis 1: Most local people think that wind power is a good way to generate electricity? Use data to support your conclusion.[2]
  8. (b)(iv)Suggest two reasons, not shown in Table 4, why wind power is a good way to generate electricity. 1 2[2]
  9. (c)The opinions of people about whether the local area is a good location to build wind turbines are shown in Table 5, below. [Table 5.0]
  10. (c)(i)Complete the results of the statement ‘Wind turbines will stop tourists visiting the area’ on Fig. 17 below. [Figure 17.0][3]
  11. (c)(ii)Which one of the five statements has the most even balance of local people's opinions?[1]
  12. (c)(iii)What conclusion would the students make about Hypothesis 2: Most local people think that wind turbines should not be built on the hilltop? Refer to data in Table 5 and Fig. 17 to explain your answer.[5]
  13. (d)To extend their study the students asked some local people for their opinions on renewable energy and global warming. However, some of the people they spoke to did not understand these topics. So the students decided to produce an information sheet to give to people. The following answers will be part of the information given to people.
  14. (d)(i)Wind power is one type of renewable energy. Give two other examples of renewable energy. 1 2[2]
  15. (d)(ii)Explain how global warming occurs.[4]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2012). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [2] (a) (i) Examples: Credit ONLY weaknesses of the 4 questions. Only contains closed question/yes-no answers (1) No reasons/opinions are asked for (1) Answers are too obvious (1) Question 1/global warming question irrelevant (1) Questions general/vague (1)
  2. [3] (ii) Need three different examples; can be opposites of (i) Gives a scale/range/options/multiple choice/quantitative answers (1) Includes gender/age group (1) Introduction to the questionnaire (1) Reasons/opinions are asked for (1) Style more user-friendly/tick boxes/circling is easier/circling is quicker (1)
  3. [3] (iii) Can be any one of stratified, systematic or random. Need to name (1) describe method (1 mark) and give one reason (1 mark) why they chose the method. Stratified sampling (1): Samples an appropriate gender balance (1) Samples an appropriate age balance (1) Avoids bias (1) Creates a mix of age/gender –variety/representative (1) Systematic sampling (1): Asking at regular intervals e.g. every tenth person (1) Easy to organise/collect data (1) Fast to collect samples (1) Avoids bias (1) Random sampling (1): Generates formal sample by random numbers (1) Can generate sample by informal random choices e.g. 3rd then 7th person (1) Avoids bias by using random system to choose people (1) OR Generates informal sample (1): Ask anybody with no real criteria e.g. best friend (1) Convenient/quick (1)
  4. [1] (b) (i) Wind turbines only work when it is very windy
  5. [2] (ii) Graph completion. 1 mark for each correct plot; ignore any shading. Wind power doesn't pollute the atmosphere = 46 Wind is free = 19
  6. [2] (iii) Yes/agree with hypothesis/TRUE. Comparable data such as yes = 72/no = 28; 72% or 72/100 agree with it (1)
  7. [2] (iv) Reasons such as: There are no waste materials (1) Land beneath/around the turbines can still be used for farming (1) Wind turbines can be a local scheme (1) Can be in a remote area/hilly/off shore (1) Cheap running costs/low maintenance (1) Noise is relatively low (1) No need to mine coal/gas/oil/fossil fuels (1) No need for expensive nuclear stations (1)
  8. [3] (c) (i) Completion of divided bar: Two dividing lines at 30 and 82 (1 + 1) Correct shading of all 3 sectors = 1
  9. [1] (ii) Wind turbines will create few jobs in the area. Allow 'last one/bottom one/statement number 5'
  10. [5] (iii) For the hypothesis: (1 Reserve) 60%/most agree that it will spoil the view (1) 90%/almost all agree that they create a lot of noise (1) 52%/majority agree that will create few jobs in the area (1) Against the hypothesis: (1 Reserve) 70%/most disagree that tourists will stop visiting the area (1) 84%/almost all disagree that turbines will be a danger to walkers (1) Evidence can be data or judgement (made by looking at data). EXCEPTION : If candidates focus on the “hilltop” in the hypothesis they can really only say Hypothesis is TRUE because 60% agree it will spoil the view (1) Allow max. of 2 marks for this response (1HA + 1 max = 2).
  11. [2] (d) (i) Examples each worth 1 mark each. HEP/Hydro/Water turbines Tidal Solar Geothermal Biogas Wave
  12. [4] (ii) Four processes at 1 mark each Sun's energy/short-wave radiation passes through the earth's atmosphere (1) Some energy absorbed by the earth's surface (1) Earth's surface heats up (1) Long-wave radiation radiated back towards space (1) Greenhouse gases form blanket/absorb/trap outgoing radiation/prevent escape (1) Radiation reflected back towards earth's surface (1) Atmosphere heats up (1)

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About this question

Topic
Economic development, O-Level Geography (syllabus 2217). Structured question, 30 marks.
Source
O-Level Geography, May/June 2012 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 8.

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