2024 Cambridge IGCSE Geography (0460) Practice Paper with Answers

In a rapid-growing city of an LEDC, a new informal settlement is established on a steep hill slope. During the monsoon season, this area faces severe hazards. State the primary physical hazard faced by this settlement and suggest one management strategy to reduce this risk.

A climate graph of a tropical rainforest station shows an annual rainfall of 2800 mm and a constant temperature around 27°C throughout the year. Explain why tropical rainforests have high annual rainfall, and state the term used to describe rainfall caused by intense daily heating.

A river flows over a vertical step of resistant granite overlying softer shale. Name the landform created at this step and state the erosional process that forms a deep basin at its base.

Along a coastline, longshore drift transports beach material until the shoreline abruptly changes direction, leading to deposition. State the name of the depositional landform that extends out across an estuary from the headland, and explain how the spit's curved end is formed.

Country X has an HDI value of 0.450 and Country Y has an HDI value of 0.890. Classify each country's level of development based on these values, and identify which country is likely to have a lower infant mortality rate.

Eco-tourism is growing rapidly in fragile natural areas. Describe how eco-tourism differs from mass tourism, and suggest one way eco-tourism benefits local communities economically.

A population pyramid with a very wide base and a rapidly tapering top represents a specific type of population structure. Identify the demographic stage of this population and explain what the wide base indicates about the country's birth rate.

At a destructive plate boundary, oceanic crust is subducted beneath continental crust. State the name of the deep feature formed where the oceanic plate begins to descend, and explain why earthquakes occur at this zone.

Study the following statistics showing the dependency ratios of three hypothetical countries: Country X: 35%, Country Y: 55%, Country Z: 75%. (i) Identify which country has the highest proportion of its population in the working-age group (economically active). [0.5] (ii) State two potential economic challenges faced by Country Z due to its dependency ratio. [1.0]

In many rapidly growing cities in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs), high rates of rural-to-urban migration lead to the growth of informal settlements. (i) Name one specific informal settlement you have studied. [0.5] (ii) Describe two distinct physical characteristics of the housing typically found in these informal settlements. [1.0]

A river's load is transported downstream through several distinct processes. (i) Identify the transport process where small, fine particles are carried along within the main body of the river water without touching the river bed. [0.5] (ii) Describe the difference between 'traction' and 'saltation' as river transport processes. [1.0]

Spits are depositional coastal landforms that develop where the coastline changes direction. (i) Identify the primary process of coastal transportation responsible for moving sediment along the coastline to form a spit. [0.5] (ii) State two conditions required for a spit to develop. [1.0]

Volcanoes occur at different plate boundaries. (i) Name the type of plate boundary where tectonic plates pull apart, allowing magma to rise to the surface and form shield volcanoes. [0.5] (ii) State two features of a shield volcano. [1.0]

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index used to measure development. (i) Identify one demographic indicator included in the calculation of HDI. [0.5] (ii) Explain why using a composite index like HDI is a more accurate measure of development than using a single economic indicator like GDP per capita. [1.0]

Farming can be classified as intensive or extensive, and subsistence or commercial. (i) Identify the term used to describe farming where the primary focus is producing food to feed the farmer’s own family, with little or no surplus for sale. [0.5] (ii) Describe two characteristics of intensive commercial farming. [1.0]

Many coastal areas rely heavily on the tourism industry for economic growth. (i) Identify one seasonal employment opportunity created by tourism in a coastal destination. [0.5] (ii) State two environmental problems that can be caused by rapid, unplanned tourism development along a coastline. [1.0]

State one natural cause of food shortages and explain how this cause leads to a reduction in crop yield.

Identify one social push factor of rural-to-urban migration in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) and briefly describe its impact on the remaining rural population.

Explain why death rates have fallen in many Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) in recent decades.

Explain how rapid urbanisation can lead to air and water pollution in cities within Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs).

Explain how a river transports its load using four different processes.

Explain how longshore drift moves sediment along a beach.

Explain why many people continue to live in areas at risk from volcanic eruptions.

Explain how human factors can lead to food shortages in developing countries.

Explain why the Human Development Index (HDI) is a more effective measure of development than Gross National Income (GNI) per capita alone.

Explain how tourism can create both positive and negative economic impacts for local populations.

Explain how a large influx of international migrants can cause social and economic challenges for the host country.

Explain why rivers deposit their load at different points along their course.

Explain why the Human Development Index (HDI) is considered a more comprehensive measure of development than Gross National Income (GNI) per capita alone.

Explain how vegetation in hot deserts is adapted to survive extremely dry conditions.

For a named city in an LEDC you have studied, describe and explain the challenges faced by people living in squatter settlements.

For a named river you have studied, explain how it provides opportunities for the people living in its drainage basin.

For a named tourist area you have studied, explain the negative impacts of tourism on the natural environment.

### 1 Study the 1:25000 topographic map extract and associated figures for the settlement of Aberdale, Scotland.

**Fig. 1.1** shows simplified features in the northern sector of the map extract, and **Fig. 1.2** shows a cross-section along easting 14.

**(a) Using the map extract, identify the following features shown in Fig. 1.1:**
(i) the type of road at **A** in grid square 1234 [1]
(ii) feature **B** at 131352 [1]
(iii) the height above sea level of the spot height at **C** (145328) [1]
(iv) feature **D** at 128335 [1]
(v) the land use or vegetation type at **E** in grid square 1533 [1]

**(b) Give the six-figure grid reference of the historical monument F shown in Fig. 1.1.** [1]

**(c) Identify three tourist services or facilities located along the coastline.** [3]

**(d) Study the coastline on the southern edge of the map extract:**
(i) What is the distance (in metres) along the coastal path between Sandy Cove (120300) and Rocky Point (135300)?
Choose from: 850m / 1650m / 2150m / 2950m [1]
(ii) What is the compass direction from Sandy Cove to the lighthouse in grid square 1529? [1]

**(e) Study Fig. 1.2, which is a cross-section along easting 14 from northing 310 to northing 330:**
(i) Identify the physical feature at **X** (140318). [1]
(ii) Identify the transport feature at **Y** (140324). [1]
(iii) The cross-section shown in Fig. 1.2 is incomplete. Using information from the map, draw a line on Fig. 1.2 to complete the cross-section to a peak elevation of 145m at northing 328. [1]

**(f) Study the settlement of Aberdale. Describe the site of the settlement and give reasons for its growth.** [6]

(a) Study the table below, which shows population and land area data for three sub-districts in Kuro Valley, an area in East Africa.

| Sub-district | Population (2024) | Land Area ($km^2$) |
|---|---|---|
| North Kuro | 120 400 | 400 |
| Central Kuro | 540 000 | 180 |
| South Kuro | 15 000 | 250 |

(i) Calculate the population density of Central Kuro in people per $km^2$. Show your calculation. [2]

(ii) Identify the sub-district with the lowest population density. [1]

(b) Central Kuro has a high population density, whereas South Kuro is sparsely populated. Suggest reasons for this difference. Refer to factors such as relief and rainfall. [5]

(a) Study Fig. 2.1, a block diagram showing a convergent plate boundary at the fictional 'Zelanda Island Arc'.

- Plate A (Oceanic Plate) is moving towards Plate B (Continental Plate).
- Plate A is subducting below Plate B into the mantle.

(i) Identify the type of plate boundary shown in Fig. 2.1. [1]

(ii) State which plate is subducting (Plate A or Plate B) and explain why. [2]

(iii) Name the deep geological feature formed on the ocean floor at the subduction zone. [1]

(b) Explain how tectonic activity at convergent plate boundaries leads to volcanic eruptions. [4]

(a) Study the table below, which shows monthly temperature and rainfall data for Oasis Verde, a meteorological station in a hot desert region.

| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | 16 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 31 | 35 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 28 | 21 | 17 |
| Rain (mm) | 12 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 15 |

(i) Calculate the annual temperature range for Oasis Verde. Show your calculation. [2]

(ii) Calculate the total annual rainfall for Oasis Verde in mm. [1]

(iii) Identify the driest three-month period (consecutive months) at Oasis Verde. [1]

(b) Explain how hot desert vegetation is adapted to survive the low annual rainfall and high temperatures shown in the data. [4]

(a) Study the table below, which lists the main causes of food shortages in Aridat, a country in a dry climatic zone.

| Cause | Percentage Contribution (%) |
|---|---|
| Drought | 42% |
| Conflict / War | 28% |
| Poverty / Lack of Capital | 18% |
| Pests and Disease | 8% |
| Poor Infrastructure / Transport | 4% |

(i) State the single most significant cause of food shortages in Aridat. [1]

(ii) Classify the five causes listed in the table into two groups:
- Natural/Environmental Causes
- Human/Economic/Political Causes [2]

(b) Describe how conflict and war can lead to food shortages. [2]

(c) Suggest three distinct agricultural methods that can be used to increase food production and reduce shortages in dry regions. [3]

(a) Study the table below, which shows development indicators for five fictional countries.

| Country | GDP per capita (USD) | Life Expectancy (Years) | Adult Literacy Rate (%) | HDI Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alania | 18 500 | 76.5 | 98.2 | 0.812 |
| Bratia | 2 100 | 58.2 | 64.5 | 0.495 |
| Calida | 42 000 | 81.1 | 99.0 | 0.924 |
| Danika | 8 400 | 71.3 | 89.5 | 0.728 |
| Elira | 12 300 | 62.4 | 92.1 | 0.690 |

(i) Identify the country with the lowest level of human development. [1]

(ii) Explain why Elira has a lower HDI value than Danika, despite having a higher GDP per capita. Refer to data from the table to support your answer. [2]

(iii) Name the three key indicators (components) used to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI). [3]

(b) Suggest why composite measures like the HDI are more useful for assessing a country’s level of development than single economic measures like GDP per capita. [2]

### Tianhe Walk Fieldwork Investigation

Students from an international school in Guangzhou, China, conducted a fieldwork investigation at **Tianhe Walk**, a newly developed, pedestrianised urban commercial and entertainment district. The district features a mix of luxury department stores, cafes, green spaces, and recreational facilities, attracting thousands of visitors daily.

The students wanted to investigate the following two hypotheses:

* **Hypothesis 1:** *The main mode of transport used to visit Tianhe Walk depends on the distance travelled by the visitor.*
* **Hypothesis 2:** *Visitors' satisfaction levels with the environment of Tianhe Walk are higher among those who stay longer in the district.*

---

#### Part (a) [6 marks]

**(i)** To collect data for their hypotheses, the students designed a questionnaire to ask visitors. State **three** essential pieces of background information the students should record on the questionnaire sheet (such as date, time, or location) before starting the interview. [3]

**(ii)** Explain why the students should use a **systematic sampling method** (e.g. interviewing every 5th person passing a specific entrance) rather than simply interviewing people who look friendly. [3]

---

#### Part (b) [8 marks]

The students surveyed 100 visitors about the distance they had travelled to reach Tianhe Walk and their primary mode of transport. The results are shown in **Table 1.1**.

**Table 1.1: Distance travelled and primary mode of transport of 100 visitors**

| Distance Travelled | Walking / Bicycle | Public Transport (Metro/Bus) | Private Car / Taxi | Total |
| :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: |
| **Less than 2 km** | 18 | 4 | 2 | 24 |
| **2 km to 10 km** | 2 | 28 | 12 | 42 |
| **More than 10 km** | 0 | 14 | 20 | 34 |
| **Total** | 20 | 46 | 34 | 100 |

**(i)** Using the data in **Table 1.1**, describe how a student would complete a divided bar graph to represent the primary transport modes for visitors travelling **'More than 10 km'**. [2]

**(ii)** To what extent do the results in **Table 1.1** support **Hypothesis 1**: *The main mode of transport used to visit Tianhe Walk depends on the distance travelled by the visitor*? Support your conclusion with evidence from **Table 1.1**. [4]

**(iii)** Suggest **two** reasons why public transport (such as the Metro/subway) is a highly popular mode of transport for visitors travelling between 2 km and 10 km to commercial centers in large Chinese cities. [2]

---

#### Part (c) [8 marks]

The students also asked visitors how long they planned to stay at Tianhe Walk and to rate their satisfaction with the district's environmental quality (on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is very poor and 5 is excellent). The average satisfaction scores are shown in **Table 1.2**.

**Table 1.2: Length of stay and average environmental satisfaction score**

| Length of Stay | Number of Visitors | Average Environmental Satisfaction Score (out of 5) |
| :--- | :---: | :---: |
| **Under 1 hour** | 15 | 3.1 |
| **1 to 3 hours** | 55 | 4.2 |
| **Over 3 hours** | 30 | 4.6 |

**(i)** Describe how the students would display the data in **Table 1.2** using a bar chart. [2]

**(ii)** Do the results in **Table 1.2** support **Hypothesis 2**: *Visitors' satisfaction levels with the environment of Tianhe Walk are higher among those who stay longer in the district*? Explain your decision using data from **Table 1.2**. [3]

**(iii)** Suggest **three** features of a pedestrianised commercial centre, such as Tianhe Walk, that would make it attractive to visitors staying for a long time (over 3 hours). [3]

---

#### Part (d) [8 marks]

As an extension to their fieldwork, the students decided to investigate the environmental quality of the commercial center themselves using a bi-polar environmental quality assessment sheet at four different locations (Sites A, B, C, and D) within Tianhe Walk.

**(i)** Suggest a hypothesis that the students could test using their own environmental quality assessment. [1]

**(ii)** Design a bi-polar environmental quality scorecard that the students could use. Your scorecard must include **three** environmental categories and a rating scale from -2 to +2. [3]

**(iii)** Describe how the students would carry out this environmental survey at the four sites to ensure their results are reliable and safe. [4]

Students from a school in Dorset, UK, carried out geography fieldwork at West Point Bay. The bay experiences active marine processes, and different coastal management strategies have been implemented. The students chose to investigate two main hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Groynes along the beach have successfully trapped sediment moving along the shore.
Hypothesis 2: Public opinion on the environmental impact of hard engineering defences is divided between residents and visitors.

(a) Before commencing fieldwork on the beach, the students completed a risk assessment for three potential hazards. They scored the probability (1 to 5) and severity (1 to 5) of each risk to calculate an overall risk rating (probability \u00d7 severity).

Table 2.1: Risk Assessment of Beach Hazards
- Getting trapped by rising tide: Probability = 2, Severity = 5, Risk Rating = 10
- Slipping on wet seaweed: Probability = 4, Severity = 2, Risk Rating = 8
- Cliff falls/rockfalls: Probability = 2, Severity = 4, Risk Rating = 8

(i) Identify which hazard represents the highest risk score based on the risk rating calculation in Table 2.1.
[1]

(ii) Suggest two different safety precautions the students should take during their fieldwork to minimize risks associated with rising tides and cliff falls.
[2]

(b) To understand how wave energy shapes the beach, the students measured sediment characteristics from the shore inland.

(i) The students sampled one pebble every 2 metres along a straight line perpendicular to the sea. State the name of this sampling method.
[1]

(ii) Describe how the students would measure the size and roundness of each sampled pebble. Refer to equipment they would use.
[3]

(c) Figure 2.2 shows a diagram of the longshore drift process operating at West Point Bay.

(i) Name the process that carries sediment up the beach at an angle determined by the wind.
[1]

(ii) Explain why the backwash of a wave moves sediment directly down the beach slope at a right angle (90\u00b0) to the coastline.
[2]

(d) To test Hypothesis 1: 'Groynes along the beach have successfully trapped sediment moving along the shore', the students measured the height of the beach surface on the east side and west side of three timber groynes (labeled X, Y, and Z).

Table 2.2 shows the results of their measurements:
- Groyne X: East side = 0.45 m, West side = 1.10 m
- Groyne Y: East side = 0.30 m, West side = 0.95 m
- Groyne Z: East side = 0.50 m, West side = 1.25 m
Note: A higher measurement means a larger vertical distance from the top of the groyne to the beach surface (i.e., less sediment).

(i) Complete the bar graph (Figure 2.3) below to show the east side (0.50 m) and west side (1.25 m) measurements for Groyne Z.
[2]

(ii) What conclusion should the students make regarding Hypothesis 1? Support your answer with evidence from Table 2.2, identifying the direction of longshore drift.
[3]

(iii) State two ways the students could improve the accuracy or reliability of their groyne measurements.
[2]

(iv) Describe an alternative fieldwork method the students could use to investigate longshore drift using painted pebbles.
[4]

(e) The students interviewed 100 people (50 local residents and 50 visitors) to test Hypothesis 2: 'Public opinion on the environmental impact of hard engineering defences is divided between residents and visitors'.

They asked the question: 'Do you believe rock armor (rip-rap) is an appropriate method to protect the coastline at West Point Bay?'

Table 2.3: Interview Results
- Residents: Yes = 38 (76%), No = 12 (24%)
- Visitors: Yes = 18 (36%), No = 32 (64%)

(i) Complete the pie chart (Figure 2.4) showing the opinions of the visitors (Yes = 36%, No = 64%).
[2]

(ii) To what extent does the data support Hypothesis 2? Use statistics to support your decision.
[3]

(f) Describe how the students would measure the profile (slope gradient) of West Point Bay beach from the low water mark to the back of the beach. Refer to the equipment they would use.
[4]