Danho
ZIMSEC A Level · 9156/1 · N2004

Geography Paper 1 November 2004

Questions
37
Total marks
350
Syllabus code
9156/1

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Questions
37
Pass mark
23
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Answer every question in the printed order, get marked at the end, then see the answers.

The questions

Question 201

[1 marks]rainfall analysis techniques
A geographer wants to show the seasonal occurrence of rainfall at one weather station using its monthly rainfall records. What type of graph, plotting each month's rainfall total as a bar, is normally used to show this?

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 202

[1 marks]rainfall analysis techniques
A geographer has annual rainfall totals for 20 weather stations scattered across a 1 000 km² area, plus a topographical map of the area. Which technique is most appropriate for showing how annual rainfall varies across the whole area?
  1. ARanking the 20 stations from wettest to driest and listing them in a table beside the map.
  2. BPlotting each station's total at its correct location and drawing isohyets to interpolate rainfall values between them.
  3. CPlotting each station's total at its correct location and joining them with contour lines of equal elevation, which actually represent height above sea level rather than rainfall.
  4. DCalculating one average rainfall figure for the whole area and shading the entire map a single colour.

Question 203

[1 marks]rainfall analysis techniques
A rainfall dispersion graph plots each year's total rainfall as a point against time for 30 years of records at a station. If the points are tightly clustered close to the long-term mean line, what does this indicate about the station's rainfall?
  1. ARainfall at the station is reliable, varying little from year to year.
  2. BRainfall at the station is increasing steadily over time.
  3. CRainfall at the station is decreasing steadily over time.
  4. DRainfall at the station is unreliable, varying greatly from year to year.

Question 301

[1 marks]climatology
Which statement correctly distinguishes the greenhouse effect from global warming?
  1. AThe greenhouse effect is caused mainly by carbon dioxide, while global warming is caused mainly by methane and water vapour, as if they were two entirely separate sets of gases.
  2. BThe greenhouse effect is most noticeable in urban areas, while global warming is treated as a separate process that occurs mainly over oceans.
  3. CThe greenhouse effect is the natural trapping of outgoing long-wave radiation by atmospheric gases, while global warming is the additional warming caused by rising greenhouse gas concentrations from human activity.
  4. DThe greenhouse effect is described as a recent phenomenon caused entirely by industrialisation over the last two centuries, while global warming is treated as the older natural process that existed long before any human industry began.

Question 302

[1 marks]climatology
Urban areas are typically warmer than the surrounding rural areas, an effect known as the urban heat island. Which of the following is NOT a reason for this warming?
  1. AUrban areas typically have more vegetation and open water than rural areas, increasing cooling by evapotranspiration.
  2. BDark tarmac and concrete surfaces absorb heat and slowly re-radiate it long after sunset.
  3. CTall buildings trap heat and reduce wind flow that would otherwise dissipate it.
  4. DVehicle and industrial emissions release additional heat directly into the urban atmosphere throughout both the working day and the night.

Question 303

[1 marks]climatology
The Northeast and Southeast Trade wind air masses converge near the equator, producing rising, moist, unstable air, cumulonimbus development, and heavy convectional rainfall. What is this convergence zone called (give its full name or its common abbreviation)?

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Question 401

[1 marks]precipitation
What is the term for moisture that condenses directly onto cool surfaces near ground level, usually overnight, without falling from clouds?

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Question 402

[1 marks]precipitation
Which statement correctly distinguishes rain from hail?
  1. ARain typically falls only in winter months, while hail typically falls only in summer months.
  2. BRain forms from condensation occurring at ground level, while hail forms from condensation occurring inside clouds.
  3. CRain and hail form through the same process, differing only in the temperature of the air the drops pass through as they fall, with hail simply being rain that freezes once on the way down.
  4. DRain is liquid precipitation falling from clouds once droplets grow heavy enough, while hail is layered ice pellets formed when strong up-draughts carry droplets repeatedly through freezing levels before they fall.

Question 403

[1 marks]precipitation
A map of mean annual thunderstorm-day frequency over Africa shows values ranging from about 10 days near the Sahara and southern coasts up to over 180 days over Central Africa. Which explanation best accounts for this pattern?
  1. AThunderstorm frequency across Africa depends mainly on distance from the ocean, and Central Africa happens to be closest to the coast.
  2. BCentral Africa has more thunderstorms because it sits at a much higher average altitude than the Sahara, and altitude alone, regardless of moisture or air stability, determines thunderstorm frequency.
  3. CCentral Africa lies near the equator, where high insolation and humidity sustain persistent convectional uplift, while the Sahara lies under subsiding, dry air that suppresses convection.
  4. DThe Sahara has fewer thunderstorms because it receives more solar radiation than Central Africa, which suppresses cloud formation there.

Question 404

[1 marks]precipitation
Which human activity is most likely to increase local rainfall through enhanced convectional uplift?
  1. ALarge-scale irrigation, because it removes moisture from the local atmosphere through evaporation and therefore reduces rainfall in the surrounding area.
  2. BUrbanisation, because heat-island warming intensifies local convection and cloud formation, tending to increase local rainfall.
  3. CBuilding tall dams, because they physically block moisture-bearing winds from reaching the surrounding area.
  4. DDeforestation, because removing trees reduces evapotranspiration and local moisture recycling, which increases local rainfall.

Question 501

[1 marks]hydrology
In a straight river channel, where is water velocity typically highest?
  1. AClose to one bank, where flow accelerates most on the outside of a meander bend rather than in the centre of a straight channel.
  2. BJust below the surface in the centre of the channel, away from frictional drag at the bed and banks.
  3. CRight at the bed, where the channel is deepest and most confined.
  4. DRight at the banks, where the channel narrows and water is forced through a smaller space.

Question 502

[1 marks]hydrology
A river's discharge rises rapidly within hours of a storm, peaks quickly, and falls away again over a short period. Which term describes this kind of short-term hydrograph response, and what catchment condition typically produces it?
  1. AA baseflow-dominated response, typical of catchments with steep slopes and sparse vegetation that nonetheless allow slow, sustained groundwater seepage into the channel.
  2. BA 'flashy' response, typical of catchments with impermeable surfaces, steep slopes, or sparse vegetation that limit infiltration.
  3. CA 'flashy' response, typical of catchments with permeable soils and dense forest cover that maximise infiltration.
  4. DA baseflow-dominated response, typical of catchments with impermeable surfaces that store little water underground.

Question 503

[1 marks]hydrology
Which human activity is most likely to increase the risk of flooding downstream?
  1. AUrbanisation, because impermeable surfaces increase surface runoff and reduce infiltration, raising peak discharge.
  2. BTerracing hillslopes, because it slows overland flow and encourages infiltration, reducing runoff.
  3. CBuilding small check dams along tributary streams, because they store water and release it gradually, reducing peak flow.
  4. DAfforestation, because trees intercept rainfall and increase infiltration into the soil, reducing peak runoff.

Question 601

[1 marks]slope processes
Which statement best explains why overland flow occurs on a slope?
  1. AOverland flow occurs mainly on very gentle slopes, since gravity has far less pull on the water there and it simply pools on the surface instead of infiltrating into the soil below.
  2. BOverland flow is caused by groundwater rising through bedrock joints and emerging at the surface.
  3. CRainfall intensity exceeds the soil's infiltration capacity, or the soil is already saturated, so excess water flows over the surface rather than soaking in.
  4. DOverland flow is most common on steep slopes, because water there has less time to infiltrate before running off.

Question 602

[1 marks]slope processes
A slope profile has three zones: a gently sloping upper zone dominated by throughflow and leaching, with little erosion; a steep mid-slope 'transport slope' dominated by overland flow and mass wasting; and a lower zone of deposition. What overall slope form does this produce?
  1. AA concave crest grading into a straight mid-slope and then a convex foot slope.
  2. BA stepped slope with several vertical cliffs separated by flat terraces.
  3. CA convex crest grading into a straight, steep mid-slope and then a concave foot slope.
  4. DA uniformly straight slope from crest to foot, with no change in gradient at any point.

Question 603

[1 marks]slope processes
Which human activity is most likely to reduce overland flow and help stabilise a slope?
  1. AOvergrazing, because removing vegetation cover increases infiltration and reduces runoff.
  2. BRoad-cutting into the slope base, because it removes support at the base and increases infiltration higher up.
  3. CDeforestation for fuelwood, because removing the soil's vegetation cover increases its infiltration capacity.
  4. DAfforestation, because tree cover and roots increase infiltration and bind the soil, reducing overland flow.

Question 701

[1 marks]weathering
Which statement correctly distinguishes block disintegration from granular disintegration?
  1. ABlock disintegration and granular disintegration both occur only underwater, on rock that is permanently submerged and exposed to constant wave action grinding it into smaller angular fragments over centuries.
  2. BBlock disintegration is a chemical process, while granular disintegration is a purely biological process.
  3. CBlock disintegration splits rock along joints and bedding planes into large angular blocks, while granular disintegration breaks rock down into individual mineral grains from differential expansion of grains under repeated heating and cooling.
  4. DBlock disintegration breaks rock into individual mineral grains, while granular disintegration splits rock along joints into large angular blocks.

Question 702

[1 marks]weathering
Deep weathered layers develop where rock is well-jointed, vegetation is dense enough to supply organic acids, and the landscape has been stable for a long time. Name the two climatic conditions (working together) that also favour their development.

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Question 703

[1 marks]weathering
When the deep regolith covering tropical granite is stripped away by erosion, the resistant unweathered corestones beneath are exposed as distinctive rounded, dome-shaped hills. Give one term used for these exposed landforms.

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Question 801

[1 marks]biogeography / tropical grasslands
Which of the following is a human (not physical) cause of soil erosion in tropical grasslands?
  1. AOvergrazing, which removes vegetation cover and compacts the soil surface.
  2. BSandy soil texture that is inherently prone to particle detachment.
  3. CIntense seasonal rainfall falling on sparsely vegetated, erodible sandy soils.
  4. DNaturally low vegetation density typical of the savanna biome.

Question 802

[1 marks]biogeography / tropical grasslands
Which soil-conservation measure reduces overgrazing-related erosion in tropical grasslands by controlling where and how long livestock are allowed to graze a given area?

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Question 901

[1 marks]soils
Which statement correctly distinguishes podsols from latosols?
  1. APodsols are red, iron-rich soils typically found in hot, wet tropical climates, while latosols are pale, leached soils with a hardpan typically found in cool, humid climates, the reverse of how these soils actually form.
  2. BPodsols form in cool, humid climates through leaching that removes iron and aluminium oxides into a lower hardpan, while latosols form in hot, wet tropical climates through intense weathering that leaves the soil enriched in iron and aluminium oxides.
  3. CPodsols form in hot, wet tropical climates, while latosols form in cool, humid climates.
  4. DPodsols and latosols both form only in arid, low-rainfall environments with minimal leaching.

Question 902

[1 marks]soils
In a podsol, leaching removes iron and aluminium oxides from the upper horizon, leaving it pale, while these oxides accumulate lower down as a dark, cemented layer. What is this cemented lower layer called?

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Question 1001

[1 marks]plate tectonics
Which set of features is most characteristic of a constructive (divergent) plate boundary?
  1. ATransform faults, with frequent earthquakes but negligible volcanic activity.
  2. BA central rift valley, shield volcanoes, shallow-focus earthquakes, and a mid-ocean ridge system.
  3. CDeep-focus earthquakes, explosive stratovolcanoes, and a deep ocean trench.
  4. DFold mountains and thrust faults, with volcanic activity limited to rare, deeply buried magma chambers.

Question 1002

[1 marks]plate tectonics
New oceanic crust forms where plates move apart at a constructive boundary, building an underwater mountain range such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. What general term describes this type of undersea mountain range?

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Question 1003

[1 marks]plate tectonics
Seafloor spreading at constructive plate boundaries produces a distinctive age pattern in oceanic crust across an ocean basin. Which pattern is this?
  1. ACrust is the same age everywhere in the ocean basin, since it all formed at the same time.
  2. BCrust is oldest at the mid-ocean ridge, close to where it first formed, and becomes progressively younger with increasing distance away from it on both sides.
  3. CCrust is youngest at the mid-ocean ridge and becomes progressively older with distance away from it on both sides.
  4. DCrust age is randomly distributed and unrelated to distance from the mid-ocean ridge.

Question 1101

[1 marks]natural hazards
Which pair correctly matches each hazard with a typical effect of crustal movement?
  1. ATsunamis are the primary direct cause of both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, rather than being a secondary hazard that these events can sometimes trigger afterwards.
  2. BEarthquakes release lava and ashfall, while volcanic eruptions cause ground shaking and rupture.
  3. CBoth earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur mainly in the centre of stable continental plates, far from any boundary.
  4. DEarthquakes cause ground shaking and rupture, while volcanic eruptions release lava, pyroclastic flows, ashfall, and gases.

Question 1102

[1 marks]natural hazards
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can trigger a secondary hazard in which a large body of water is suddenly displaced, producing a fast-moving, destructive sea wave. Name this secondary hazard.

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Question 1201

[1 marks]arid geomorphology
Which statement best explains the typical soils and vegetation of arid and semi-arid areas?
  1. AHigh, reliable rainfall and low evaporation throughout the year promote deep chemical weathering, producing thick, heavily leached soils and dense evergreen forest vegetation.
  2. BArid soils are typically thick and fertile because evaporation concentrates nutrients at the surface, supporting dense vegetation growth.
  3. CVegetation in arid areas is dense because drought-adapted plants grow faster there than plants in wetter climates.
  4. DLow, unreliable rainfall and high evaporation limit chemical weathering and leaching, producing thin, often saline soils and sparse, drought-adapted vegetation.

Question 1202

[1 marks]arid geomorphology
Many desert landforms, such as wadis and alluvial fans, are thought to be inherited from an earlier, wetter climatic phase rather than formed under today's arid conditions. What term describes this earlier wetter phase?

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Question 1301

[1 marks]coastal geomorphology
Which set of processes is primarily responsible for undercutting a coastal cliff to form a wave-cut notch?
  1. AHydraulic action, abrasion (corrasion), and corrosion (solution) acting at the cliff base.
  2. BLongshore drift and deposition building up a beach at the cliff base.
  3. CFreeze-thaw weathering breaking up rock on a glacier's surface.
  4. DEvaporation and salt crystallisation, a process more typically associated with desert rock outcrops than coastal cliffs.

Question 1302

[1 marks]coastal geomorphology
As a coastal cliff is undercut and retreats through repeated collapse, a gently sloping rock surface is left exposed in front of it at the base. What is this surface called?

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Question 1303

[1 marks]coastal geomorphology
Which statement correctly distinguishes 'soft' from 'hard' coastal engineering?
  1. ASoft engineering, such as beach nourishment and managed retreat, works with natural sediment processes, while hard engineering, such as sea walls and groynes, can starve down-drift beaches of sediment.
  2. BHard engineering methods such as beach nourishment add sand to replenish an eroding beach without disrupting natural processes.
  3. CSoft engineering is typically favoured on low-lying sandy beaches where wave energy is lower, while hard engineering is considered better suited to rocky, high-energy coastlines that face stronger wave attack.
  4. DSoft engineering uses concrete sea walls and rock armour, while hard engineering uses beach nourishment and managed retreat.

Question 1401

[1 marks]glaciation
A glacier's mass balance is the difference between accumulation and ablation. Which situation describes a glacier with a positive mass balance?
  1. AAccumulation and ablation are roughly balanced this year, so the glacier's size stays about the same for the season.
  2. BAblation exceeds accumulation, causing the glacier to retreat or thin.
  3. CAccumulation exceeds ablation, which in this case causes the glacier to retreat and gradually thin rather than advancing as might be expected.
  4. DAccumulation (mainly in the upper zone) exceeds ablation (mainly in the lower zone), causing the glacier to advance or thicken.

Question 1402

[1 marks]glaciation
One process of alpine glacial erosion occurs when meltwater freezes onto jointed rock and, as the ice moves, tears fragments of rock away with it. What is this process called?

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Question 1403

[1 marks]glaciation
A sinuous ridge of sorted sand and gravel, deposited by a meltwater stream flowing in a tunnel within or beneath a glacier, is left standing once the surrounding ice melts. What is this landform called?

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Question 1404

[1 marks]glaciation
A depression in an outwash plain forms where a block of stagnant glacial ice becomes buried in sediment and later melts, leaving a hollow that often fills with water. What is this landform called?

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