(a) (i) Study Fig. 2.1, a climate graph showing temperature and rainfall for Karachi. Content removed due to copyright restrictions.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [2] identify the highest rainfall: 52 (mm)
2. calculate the temperature range: 10.5/11 (°C)
3. 2 @ 1 mark
4. [2] the south-west monsoon: summer
5. the western depressions: winter
6. 2 @ 1 mark
7. [2] cold winter, mild summer and rainfall in all seasons: northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
8. mild winter, warm summer, extreme aridity: central Balochistan
9. 2 @ 1 mark
10. [3] rocks/rocky/stones/stony
11. sand(y)/(sand) dunes
12. vast/large (area)
13. uneven/hilly/rugged/undulating/rolling/bumpy
14. ridges/ripples
15. (steep) slopes
16. barren/bare ground
17. dead/withered vegetation
18. dry/arid
19. 3 @ 1 mark
20. [2] a period/a time/a season/months/weeks
21. of no/low/scarcity/lack of precipitation/rainfall
22. 2 @ 1 mark
23. [4] altitude:
24. temperatures are low(er) at high(er) altitudes/high(er) at low(er) altitudes
25. the temperature drops by 6.5 degrees for each 1000m increase in altitude
26. air is more dense/thicker can absorb more heat/water vapour/dust particles/solar radiation (causing higher temperature) at low altitude/sea level
27. or
28. air is less dense/thinner can absorb less heat/water vapor/dust particles/solar radiation (causing lower temperature) at high altitude/in mountainous regions
29. at low(er) altitude air absorbs more heat from Earth's surface
30. or
31. at high(er) altitude air absorbs less heat from Earth's surface
32. latitude:
33. low(er) latitudes/clos(er) to Equator/Tropic of Cancer have high(er) temperatures
34. or
35. high(er) latitudes/furth(er) from Equator have low(er) temperatures
36. southern Pakistan has higher temperatures than northern Pakistan/temperatures decrease further north/increase further south
37. low(er) latitudes/close(r) to Equator sun rays at a higher angle/shine directly/more focused on small area (cause higher temperatures)
38. or
39. high(er) latitudes/further from Equator sun rays at a lower angle/heating effect is more spread out (cause lower temperatures)
40. low(er) latitudes/close(r) to the Equator sunlight is strongest/sun's rays pass through a smaller depth of atmosphere (causing higher temperatures)
41. or
42. high(er) latitudes/further from Equator sunlight is weakest/sun's rays pass through a greater depth of atmosphere (causing lower temperatures)
43. 4 @ 1 mark
44. [4] negative impacts:
45. high/heavy rainfall; washes crops away/causes crop failure
46. high/strong winds; cause soil erosion/damage crops/uproot plants
47. lightning strikes; can start field fires/burn crops
48. soil erosion; leads to infertile land
49. flooding; causes areas to be cut off/livestock to die/be stranded/topsoil washed away/causes waterlogging and salinity
50. still/stagnant water; can lead to pests that spoil crops
51. contaminated water supplies; farmers can't irrigate their remaining crops/give to livestock
52. electricity supply disrupted; irrigation systems can't work
53. damaged roads/bridges; can't travel to market/get supplies
54. damaged farm buildings; high cost to repair/nowhere to store equipment/produce/harvest
55. destroyed crops/lost livestock; farmers lose income/food shortages
56. positive impacts:
57. bring more nutrients to soil; improves yields in future years
58. replenishes water supplies; farmers can store this for irrigation
59. rain waters crops; increasing output/no need to irrigate
60. Note: 1 mark for simple point and a further mark for the development of the point. 1 mark for second simple point and a further mark for development of the second point.
61. Note: Max. 2 marks if no development.
62. 2 @ 2 marks
63. [6] Levels marking
64. No valid response
65. Level 1
66. Simple point referring to one view (1)
67. Simple points referring to any view (2)
68. Level 2
69. Developed point referring to one view only (3)
70. Developed points referring to both views or developed point and a relevant example (4)
71. Level 3
72. Developed points referring to both views with evaluation or relevant example (5)
73. Developed points referring to both views with evaluation and relevant example (6)
74. Content guide
75. benefits of low temperatures, ice and snow:
76. areas with significant snow/glaciers can have scenic beauty
77. areas can become tourist attractions and therefore the potential to generate employment/income/GDP
78. development of ski resorts/ice skating/leisure opportunities can attract foreign investment/require investment e.g. roads built that locals can also utilise
79. glacial meltwater can provide essential water for irrigation
80. glacial meltwater will refill the hydel reservoirs
81. cooler summers make living conditions tolerable/remove the need for air conditioning
82. challenges of low temperatures, ice and snow:
83. roads become blocked by snow and ice/avalanches
84. difficulty in growing crops so have to keep livestock such as sheep/goats, practice transhumance
85. rivers/pipes freeze causing a limited supply of water for people/crops/leads to frozen soil
86. extreme cold winters mean people need to spend more on heating their homes
87. cannot work outside, restricted to cottage industry work
88. some people have to leave their homes when it gets very cold