PastPaper.question 1 · Structured Short Answer
18 PastPaper.marks### Section 1: Population and Settlement
**1** (a) Study the following list of urban terms and land-use zones.
(i) Define the term *rural-urban fringe*. [1]
(ii) State two typical land uses found in the rural-urban fringe of a city. [2]
(iii) Explain why large retail parks and industrial estates are increasingly locating in the rural-urban fringe. [3]
(b) The inner city often experiences significant change.
(i) Describe three typical characteristics of the transition zone (or twilight zone) located just outside the Central Business District (CBD). [3]
(ii) In many rapidly growing cities in Low and Middle Income Countries (LICs/MICs), a large proportion of the population works in the informal sector. Explain why the informal sector is so large in these cities. [4]
(c) For a named urban area you have studied, describe and explain the strategies used to improve the housing and living conditions in its slums or informal settlements. [5]
**1** (a) Study the following list of urban terms and land-use zones.
(i) Define the term *rural-urban fringe*. [1]
(ii) State two typical land uses found in the rural-urban fringe of a city. [2]
(iii) Explain why large retail parks and industrial estates are increasingly locating in the rural-urban fringe. [3]
(b) The inner city often experiences significant change.
(i) Describe three typical characteristics of the transition zone (or twilight zone) located just outside the Central Business District (CBD). [3]
(ii) In many rapidly growing cities in Low and Middle Income Countries (LICs/MICs), a large proportion of the population works in the informal sector. Explain why the informal sector is so large in these cities. [4]
(c) For a named urban area you have studied, describe and explain the strategies used to improve the housing and living conditions in its slums or informal settlements. [5]
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PastPaper.workedSolution
(a)(i) The rural-urban fringe is the boundary zone where the urban area meets the surrounding countryside, containing a mix of rural and urban land uses.
(a)(ii) Any two of:
- Out-of-town shopping centers / retail parks
- Science parks / industrial estates
- Airports
- Sewage treatment works / landfills
- Golf courses / recreational parks
- Park and ride schemes
- Bypass roads / motorways
(a)(iii)
- Cheap land: Land prices are significantly lower at the edge of the city than in the CBD.
- Space for expansion: Ample room for large single-story buildings and future expansion of facilities.
- Accessibility: Close to major transport routes like motorways, bypasses, and ring roads, making it easier for customers, deliveries, and workers to access.
- Parking: Space to build large, free car parks for customers.
- Less congestion: Avoids the heavy traffic and narrow streets of the city center.
(b)(i) Three of:
- Mixed land use (residential, light industry, commercial).
- High density, older housing (often terraced or tenement-style).
- Derelict or abandoned buildings / brownfield sites awaiting redevelopment.
- Social issues (e.g., high crime rates, high unemployment, low-income population).
- Gentrification occurring in some areas (older properties being renovated by wealthier residents).
- High proportion of ethnic minority groups or newly arrived migrants.
(b)(ii)
- High rates of rural-urban migration lead to an oversupply of labor in cities.
- Lack of formal job opportunities / formal sectors cannot grow fast enough to absorb the rapid population growth.
- Low levels of formal education or skills among migrants prevent them from securing professional/formal jobs.
- Ease of entry into the informal sector (no qualifications, capital, or official registration required).
- High poverty levels force people to create their own livelihoods (e.g., street vending, shoe shining, waste recycling) to survive.
- Lack of government regulation/enforcement allows informal activities to thrive.
(c) Case study example: Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (or Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya).
Strategies:
- Self-help schemes (e.g., Favela-Bairro Project): The local government provides materials (bricks, cement, tiles) while residents provide the labor to upgrade their homes. This improves structural safety and fosters community pride.
- Site and service schemes: Land is cleared and prepared with basic infrastructure (piped water, electricity, sewage pipes, paved roads) before residents build their houses on allocated plots.
- Infrastructure development: Laying down formal sewage systems and water mains to reduce waterborne diseases, and installing electricity cables to replace illegal and dangerous hookups.
- Improving accessibility: Building cable cars (such as in Complexo do Alemão, Rio) or paved stairs/roads up steep hillsides to connect isolated settlements to public transit and employment centers.
- Provision of public services: Setting up local clinics, schools, and community centers to improve health and literacy rates.
- Legalization of land tenure: Issuing land deeds to residents so they cannot be easily evicted, giving them the confidence to invest money into improving their homes.
(a)(ii) Any two of:
- Out-of-town shopping centers / retail parks
- Science parks / industrial estates
- Airports
- Sewage treatment works / landfills
- Golf courses / recreational parks
- Park and ride schemes
- Bypass roads / motorways
(a)(iii)
- Cheap land: Land prices are significantly lower at the edge of the city than in the CBD.
- Space for expansion: Ample room for large single-story buildings and future expansion of facilities.
- Accessibility: Close to major transport routes like motorways, bypasses, and ring roads, making it easier for customers, deliveries, and workers to access.
- Parking: Space to build large, free car parks for customers.
- Less congestion: Avoids the heavy traffic and narrow streets of the city center.
(b)(i) Three of:
- Mixed land use (residential, light industry, commercial).
- High density, older housing (often terraced or tenement-style).
- Derelict or abandoned buildings / brownfield sites awaiting redevelopment.
- Social issues (e.g., high crime rates, high unemployment, low-income population).
- Gentrification occurring in some areas (older properties being renovated by wealthier residents).
- High proportion of ethnic minority groups or newly arrived migrants.
(b)(ii)
- High rates of rural-urban migration lead to an oversupply of labor in cities.
- Lack of formal job opportunities / formal sectors cannot grow fast enough to absorb the rapid population growth.
- Low levels of formal education or skills among migrants prevent them from securing professional/formal jobs.
- Ease of entry into the informal sector (no qualifications, capital, or official registration required).
- High poverty levels force people to create their own livelihoods (e.g., street vending, shoe shining, waste recycling) to survive.
- Lack of government regulation/enforcement allows informal activities to thrive.
(c) Case study example: Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (or Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya).
Strategies:
- Self-help schemes (e.g., Favela-Bairro Project): The local government provides materials (bricks, cement, tiles) while residents provide the labor to upgrade their homes. This improves structural safety and fosters community pride.
- Site and service schemes: Land is cleared and prepared with basic infrastructure (piped water, electricity, sewage pipes, paved roads) before residents build their houses on allocated plots.
- Infrastructure development: Laying down formal sewage systems and water mains to reduce waterborne diseases, and installing electricity cables to replace illegal and dangerous hookups.
- Improving accessibility: Building cable cars (such as in Complexo do Alemão, Rio) or paved stairs/roads up steep hillsides to connect isolated settlements to public transit and employment centers.
- Provision of public services: Setting up local clinics, schools, and community centers to improve health and literacy rates.
- Legalization of land tenure: Issuing land deeds to residents so they cannot be easily evicted, giving them the confidence to invest money into improving their homes.
PastPaper.markingScheme
(a)(i) 1 mark for a clear definition showing the boundary/transition nature.
- e.g., The area at the edge of the city where urban and rural land uses mix. (1)
- Note: Do not accept just 'the edge of town' without referring to the mixing/transition of land uses.
(a)(ii) 1 mark per valid land use identified (maximum 2 marks).
- Accept: Retail parks, airports, landfills, science parks, golf courses, bypasses, motorways, low-density suburban housing.
- Reject: Skyscrapers, high-rise flats, CBD.
(a)(iii) 1 mark per valid explanation (maximum 3 marks).
- Land is cheaper (1) which reduces capital investment costs (1).
- More space is available (1) for large car parks or large single-story buildings (1).
- Better road accessibility (1) as they are located near major bypasses or ring roads (1).
- Avoids CBD traffic congestion (1).
(b)(i) 1 mark per valid characteristic described (maximum 3 marks).
- Mixed residential and industrial land use (1).
- High density / terraced housing (1).
- High levels of dereliction / run-down buildings (1).
- Evidence of redevelopment or gentrification (1).
- Low-income residents / high crime / social deprivation (1).
(b)(ii) 1 mark per valid explanation (maximum 4 marks).
- Rapid urban population growth / high migration rates (1).
- Not enough formal jobs available / high unemployment (1).
- Many migrants lack formal education, qualifications, or skills (1).
- High cost/difficulty of setting up a formal business (taxation, licenses) (1).
- Low barriers to entry for informal activities / cheap to start (1).
- Lack of government enforcement against informal traders (1).
(c) 5 marks total (Case Study).
- Level 1 (1–2 marks): Simple, generic statements describing improvements without specific detail or naming a case study.
- e.g., 'They gave them bricks to build better houses and put in clean water pipes.'
- Level 2 (3–4 marks): More detailed descriptions/explanations of strategies with some specific local details or named schemes.
- e.g., 'In Rio de Janeiro, the Favela-Bairro project was launched. The government provided building materials so residents could improve their self-help housing. They also paved roads and added sanitation systems.'
- Level 3 (5 marks): Comprehensive and well-focused explanation of multiple strategies, well-linked to a specific named case study with precise geographical detail.
- e.g., 'In Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, the government implemented site and service schemes where they cleared steep, landslide-prone slopes and installed concrete foundations. They also constructed a new cable car system connecting the top of the hills to the main transit network, improving employment access. Piped water and sewage systems were introduced to 70% of households, drastically reducing cholera cases.'
- e.g., The area at the edge of the city where urban and rural land uses mix. (1)
- Note: Do not accept just 'the edge of town' without referring to the mixing/transition of land uses.
(a)(ii) 1 mark per valid land use identified (maximum 2 marks).
- Accept: Retail parks, airports, landfills, science parks, golf courses, bypasses, motorways, low-density suburban housing.
- Reject: Skyscrapers, high-rise flats, CBD.
(a)(iii) 1 mark per valid explanation (maximum 3 marks).
- Land is cheaper (1) which reduces capital investment costs (1).
- More space is available (1) for large car parks or large single-story buildings (1).
- Better road accessibility (1) as they are located near major bypasses or ring roads (1).
- Avoids CBD traffic congestion (1).
(b)(i) 1 mark per valid characteristic described (maximum 3 marks).
- Mixed residential and industrial land use (1).
- High density / terraced housing (1).
- High levels of dereliction / run-down buildings (1).
- Evidence of redevelopment or gentrification (1).
- Low-income residents / high crime / social deprivation (1).
(b)(ii) 1 mark per valid explanation (maximum 4 marks).
- Rapid urban population growth / high migration rates (1).
- Not enough formal jobs available / high unemployment (1).
- Many migrants lack formal education, qualifications, or skills (1).
- High cost/difficulty of setting up a formal business (taxation, licenses) (1).
- Low barriers to entry for informal activities / cheap to start (1).
- Lack of government enforcement against informal traders (1).
(c) 5 marks total (Case Study).
- Level 1 (1–2 marks): Simple, generic statements describing improvements without specific detail or naming a case study.
- e.g., 'They gave them bricks to build better houses and put in clean water pipes.'
- Level 2 (3–4 marks): More detailed descriptions/explanations of strategies with some specific local details or named schemes.
- e.g., 'In Rio de Janeiro, the Favela-Bairro project was launched. The government provided building materials so residents could improve their self-help housing. They also paved roads and added sanitation systems.'
- Level 3 (5 marks): Comprehensive and well-focused explanation of multiple strategies, well-linked to a specific named case study with precise geographical detail.
- e.g., 'In Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro, the government implemented site and service schemes where they cleared steep, landslide-prone slopes and installed concrete foundations. They also constructed a new cable car system connecting the top of the hills to the main transit network, improving employment access. Piped water and sewage systems were introduced to 70% of households, drastically reducing cholera cases.'