2023 HKDSE Geography Practice Paper | DSE Mock

Which of the following descriptions about a convergent plate boundary between an oceanic plate and a continental plate is/are correct?
(1) A deep ocean trench is formed parallel to the plate boundary.
(2) Fold mountains are formed on the continental plate.
(3) The depth of earthquake foci increases with distance from the trench towards the continent.

Which of the following changes is/are likely to occur along a river from its upper course to its lower course?
(1) The average velocity increases.
(2) The hydraulic radius increases.
(3) The channel roughness increases.

Assuming the prevailing longshore drift along a sandy coast is from West to East, which of the following correctly describes the immediate coastal changes after a groin is constructed perpendicular to the shoreline?

On a 1:20 000 topographic map, the map distance between Point A and Point B is 5 cm. Point A has an elevation of 150 m and Point B has an elevation of 350 m. What is the average gradient between Point A and Point B?

Which of the following best explains why soils in tropical rainforests (latosols/ferralsols) are generally nutrient-poor despite the dense vegetation cover?
(1) Rapid decomposition of organic matter leads to quick uptake of nutrients by plants, leaving little in the soil.
(2) Heavy rainfall causes intense leaching of soluble nutrients down the soil profile.
(3) High temperatures limit physical weathering, preventing the release of minerals from parent rocks.

Which of the following is/are environmental advantage(s) of using drip irrigation instead of flood irrigation in arid region farming?
(1) It reduces the risk of soil salinisation.
(2) It minimises water loss through evaporation and deep percolation.
(3) It increases the local water table level to support surrounding vegetation.

Which of the following combinations correctly describes the characteristics of a shield volcano?

Which of the following is/are the driver(s) of counter-urbanisation in developed countries?
(1) Improvements in transport infrastructure and telecommunication.
(2) Deindustrialisation and the decline of inner-city areas.
(3) Rising land prices and living costs in metropolitan cores.

In the Demographic Transition Model, which of the following characteristics best distinguishes a country in Stage 5 from a country in Stage 4?

Under the global production network of multinational corporations (MNCs), which of the following is/are the typical locational characteristic(s) of different corporate functions?
(1) Headquarters are usually located in global cities for access to financial services and market information.
(2) Research and Development (R&D) centres are located in regions with abundant cheap manual labor.
(3) Assembly plants are located in developing countries to benefit from lower production costs and tax incentives.

Which of the following practices can improve the reliability of river bedload analysis during fieldwork? (1) Selecting only the smooth and rounded pebbles. (2) Using a systematic sampling method (e.g. measuring pebbles at 10cm intervals along a transect). (3) Ensuring a sample size of at least 30 pebbles per site. (4) Measuring only the long axis (a-axis) of each pebble.

At a convergent plate boundary where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate, which of the following combinations of landforms and geological activities is correct?

Which of the following descriptions about wave refraction along an irregular coastline is correct?

According to the Hjulström relationship, which of the following statements regarding river processes is correct?

A government department wants to use Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify areas at high risk of landslides. Which of the following sets of data layers is most useful for this spatial analysis? (1) Slope gradient (2) Bedrock geology and fault lines (3) Annual rainfall distribution (4) Distribution of major shopping malls

Why do earthquakes of similar magnitudes usually cause higher death tolls in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) than in More Developed Countries (MDCs)? (1) LDCs generally lack strict building codes and seismic-resistant engineering. (2) Tectonic plates move at a faster rate in LDCs. (3) Emergency response and medical infrastructure are less developed in LDCs. (4) LDCs are always located closer to plate boundaries.

Which of the following is an advantage of using soft engineering (e.g. beach nourishment) over hard engineering (e.g. seawalls) for coastal management?

Which of the following sequences correctly describes the positive feedback loop associated with the ice-albedo effect?

On a 1:20 000 topographic map, the map distance between Point X (elevation 150m) and Point Y (elevation 450m) is 5 cm. What is the average gradient between Point X and Point Y?

Which of the following conditions are necessary for an earthquake to trigger a major tsunami? (1) The earthquake epicentre must be located on land. (2) The earthquake must have a high magnitude (usually \(M_w \ge 6.5\)). (3) The fault movement must cause vertical displacement of the seabed. (4) The earthquake must occur at a shallow focal depth.

Refer to the table below which shows data for two earthquake events, Event A and Event B.

Table 1a: Comparison of Event A and Event B
- Magnitude (Mw): Event A = 7.1, Event B = 6.9
- Focal Depth: Event A = 8 km, Event B = 10 km
- Epicentral Distance to City Centre: Event A = 12 km, Event B = 15 km
- Population Density of Affected Area: Event A = 4,500 people/km², Event B = 3,800 people/km²
- Death Toll: Event A = 12, Event B = 18,500
- Direct Economic Losses (USD): Event A = 35 Billion, Event B = 1.2 Billion

(a) Compare the physical characteristics and scale of Event A and Event B. (4 marks)
(b) Account for the huge discrepancy in casualties between Event A and Event B. (8 marks)
(c) Evaluate the effectiveness of community preparedness (e.g. emergency drills and public education) relative to structural engineering measures in reducing earthquake risks in developing nations. (6 marks)

Refer to the table below, which shows hydro-meteorological data of the River Alpha drainage basin under a standard 80 mm rainfall event (3-hour duration) before and after urbanisation.

Table 2a:
- Peak Discharge: Before Urbanisation = 42 m³/s, After Urbanisation = 118 m³/s
- Lag Time: Before Urbanisation = 4.2 hours, After Urbanisation = 1.1 hours
- Infiltration Rate: Before Urbanisation = 16 mm/hour, After Urbanisation = 1.5 mm/hour
- Surface Runoff: Before Urbanisation = 18%, After Urbanisation = 72%

(a) Compare the hydrological characteristics of River Alpha before and after urbanisation, and explain the physical mechanisms leading to these changes. (6 marks)
(b) The municipal government is deciding between two flood management strategies:
- Strategy X (Hard Engineering): Straightening the river channel and lining the riverbed and banks with concrete.
- Strategy Y (Soft Engineering & SuDS): Restoring natural river meanders, building retention ponds, and implementing permeable pavements.
Compare the effectiveness and environmental impacts of Strategy X and Strategy Y. (6 marks)
(c) Discuss the challenges of implementing Strategy Y in a highly built-up urban area. (6 marks)

Explain how urbanisation in a drainage basin increases river flood risks. Evaluate the effectiveness of using 'soft engineering' over 'hard engineering' to mitigate these risks in a sustainable manner.