2024 Cambridge IGCSE Geography (0460) 模拟试题及答案详解

(a)(i) Natural population increase is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a population, excluding migration. It is positive when births exceed deaths.

(a)(ii) Calculation:
Birth rate = 29.1 per 1000
Death rate = 4.8 per 1000
Natural population increase = \(29.1 - 4.8 = 24.3\) per 1000 (or 2.43%).

(a)(iii) Fiji has a lower birth rate than Vanuatu (18.5 per 1000 compared to 22.4 per 1000, a difference of 3.9 per 1000). On the other hand, Fiji has a higher death rate than Vanuatu (6.2 per 1000 compared to 5.1 per 1000, a difference of 1.1 per 1000).

(a)(iv) Death rates are falling in LEDCs due to improved healthcare access, widespread vaccination programs, better sanitation facilities, cleaner water supplies, and improved agricultural techniques reducing famine risk.

(b)(i) Three challenges: 1. Increased pressure on public services (schools and hospitals). 2. High unemployment or underemployment due to a lack of jobs. 3. Shortages of housing leading to the growth of squatter settlements.

(b)(ii) Strategies include introducing family planning clinics, providing subsidized contraception, implementing education programs for women and girls about reproduction, establishing laws or incentives for smaller families (like tax benefits), and improving pension systems so couples do not rely on children for support in old age.

(c) Case Study: Bangladesh
Bangladesh is overpopulated due to physical, economic, and social factors. Physically, the flat fertile floodplains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta make agriculture productive, attracting high densities. Socially, early marriage is common, leading to longer reproductive windows. Religiously and culturally, large families are traditionally favored, and sons are desired to carry on the family name and work farms. Economically, high levels of poverty and a lack of pensions mean families rely on children to support elderly parents and work on agricultural land. Furthermore, poor access to education, especially for women, and restricted access to family planning services in rural districts keep birth rates high, causing the population to outstrip the available resource base.

(a)(i) 1 mark for correct definition:
• The difference between birth rate and death rate / births minus deaths (excluding migration).

(a)(ii) 2 marks:
• Correct calculation of 24.3 per 1000 (or 2.43%) [1 mark]
• Correct working showing Birth Rate - Death Rate (\(29.1 - 4.8\)) [1 mark]

(a)(iii) 3 marks:
• Comparative statement for birth rates (e.g., Fiji is lower than Vanuatu) [1 mark]
• Comparative statement for death rates (e.g., Fiji is higher than Vanuatu) [1 mark]
• Correct comparative statistics using figures from the table (e.g., Fiji BR is 18.5 while Vanuatu BR is 22.4 / Fiji DR is 6.2 while Vanuatu DR is 5.1) [1 mark]

(a)(iv) 4 marks (4 @ 1 mark):
• Improved medical care / vaccines / hospitals.
• Clean water supply / improved sanitation reducing water-borne diseases.
• More stable food supplies / better farming techniques preventing starvation.
• Education about basic hygiene.
• Lower infant mortality means fewer total family deaths.

(b)(i) 3 marks (3 @ 1 mark):
• Shortage of housing / development of slums / overcrowding.
• High unemployment rates.
• Overburdened healthcare and education systems.
• Food shortages / famine risk.
• Increased waste / environmental pollution.

(b)(ii) 5 marks (5 @ 1 mark with development):
• Provision of family planning clinics / advice [1].
• Free / subsidized distribution of contraceptives [1].
• Improving education of girls / delayed marriage [1].
• Anti-natalist government policies / legal limits on children [1].
• Providing pensions so older generations don't rely on having many children [1].

(c) 7 marks (Levels of response):
• Level 1 (1 to 3 marks): Simple statements describing causes of overpopulation (e.g., farmers need children to help, girls marry early, lack of birth control).
• Level 2 (4 to 6 marks): Developed explanations of causes with links to the chosen example (e.g., in rural areas, poor subsistence farmers require children to cultivate fields, and since many children die young, parents have larger families as security. Early marriage at 16 extends the childbearing period).
• Level 3 (7 marks): Comprehensive explanation containing at least three developed points with specific details of the named example (e.g., Bangladesh, naming specific cities or regions like Dhaka or Sylhet, citing cultural preference for sons, poverty statistics, or specific policy factors).

(a)(i) The point where a river begins is called the source.

(a)(ii) Abrasion occurs when the river load (stones, pebbles) scrapes and grinds against the bed and banks, wearing them away. Attrition occurs when stones carried by the river collide with each other, chipping away corners to become smaller, smoother, and more rounded.

(a)(iii) Physical characteristics: 1. Narrow channel width. 2. Shallow channel depth. 3. Steep gradient with a V-shaped valley floor.

(a)(iv) A waterfall forms where a river flows over alternating bands of hard (resistant) rock and soft (less resistant) rock. The soft rock is eroded more rapidly by hydraulic action and abrasion, creating a step in the river bed. As the water plunges over the step, it forms a plunge pool at the base. Undercutting of the hard rock occurs due to splashback and erosion, leaving an overhanging ledge of hard rock. Eventually, this overhang collapses under its own weight, causing the waterfall to retreat upstream, leaving a steep-sided gorge.

(b)(i) Differences: 1. On the outside bend, water flows faster, whereas on the inside bend, velocity is slow. 2. On the outside bend, lateral erosion dominates (forming a river cliff), while on the inside, deposition dominates (forming a slip-off slope). 3. The river channel is deepest on the outside and shallowest on the inside.

(b)(ii) Floodplains are attractive for farming because when a river floods, it spills over its banks and deposits fine, nutrient-rich sediment called alluvium over the flat land. This makes the soil highly fertile. Additionally, the flat relief of the floodplain makes it easy to cultivate and use large machinery. The close proximity to the river provides an easily accessible source of water for irrigation, and the soft soil is easy to plow.

(c) Case Study: River Ganges (Bangladesh)
Flooding along the River Ganges in Bangladesh is caused by a combination of physical and human factors. Physically, heavy seasonal monsoon rains bring massive volumes of water in a short period (typically June to September). Additionally, spring snowmelt in the Himalayan mountains, where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers originate, rapidly increases river volume downstream. Bangladesh is also extremely low-lying and flat, with over 70% of the country situated less than 1 meter above sea level, making it difficult for excess water to drain away. Human activities have worsened the situation: widespread deforestation in the upper catchment area of Nepal and India reduces interception and evapotranspiration, leading to rapid surface runoff into the river. Furthermore, urban development has increased impermeable concrete surfaces, causing rapid runoff and reduced lag time, leading to severe flooding.

(a)(i) 1 mark:
• Source.

(a)(ii) 2 marks (2 @ 1 mark):
• Abrasion: Pebbles/load rub or scrape against the river bed/banks [1 mark].
• Attrition: Rocks/load collide with each other and break into smaller, smoother pieces [1 mark].

(a)(iii) 3 marks (3 @ 1 mark):
• Steep gradient.
• Shallow water / low hydraulic radius.
• Narrow channel.
• Large bedload / boulders.
• V-shaped valley.

(a)(iv) 4 marks:
• Hard rock layer overlies soft rock layer [1].
• Differential erosion (soft rock eroded faster than hard rock) [1].
• Plunge pool forms at the base of the fall [1].
• Undercutting of hard rock / collapse of overhang / upstream retreat / gorge formation [1].

(b)(i) 3 marks (3 @ 1 mark):
• Outside bend has faster flow, inside bend has slower flow.
• Outside bend has erosion, inside bend has deposition.
• Outside bend is deep, inside bend is shallow.
• Outside bend has a river cliff, inside bend has a slip-off slope / point bar.

(b)(ii) 5 marks (5 @ 1 mark with development):
• Flat terrain makes farming machinery easy to operate [1].
• Regular deposition of alluvium / silt provides high natural soil fertility [1].
• Proximity to the river supplies abundant water for crop irrigation [1].
• Flat valley lands are easier to build roads/infrastructure on to transport crops [1].
• Moisture is retained in the low-lying silt soils [1].

(c) 7 marks (Levels of response):
• Level 1 (1 to 3 marks): Simple statements describing causes of floods (e.g., lots of rain, flat land, deforestation, snowmelt).
• Level 2 (4 to 6 marks): Developed explanations of flooding causes with a named river (e.g., seasonal monsoon rainfall in Bangladesh exceeds the channel's capacity. Deforestation in the Himalayas has reduced interception, increasing overland flow and sedimentation in the Ganges river bed).
• Level 3 (7 marks): Detailed, comprehensive case study explanation with specific locational details, naming tributaries or physical/human facts of the flood basin (e.g., River Ganges/Brahmaputra in Bangladesh, citing peak discharge rates, specific Himalayan regions, or urbanization in Dhaka).

(a)(i) The Energy sector showed the largest decrease, declining from 42% in 2010 to 31% in 2022.

(a)(ii) Calculation:
Share in 2022 = 26%
Share in 2010 = 15%
Change = \(26 - 15 = 11\)% increase.

(a)(iii) Between 2010 and 2022, the share of emissions from the energy sector decreased from 42% to 31% (a decline of 11%), and the manufacturing sector also saw a decrease from 18% to 14% (a decline of 4%). In contrast, the transport sector increased from 25% to 29% (an increase of 4%), and agriculture experienced a major increase from 15% to 26% (an increase of 11%).

(a)(iv) Agricultural emissions are increasing because of the growing global demand for meat, which has led to a massive expansion of cattle farming, producing large amounts of methane. Furthermore, increased use of chemical fertilizers releases nitrous oxide, and deforestation to clear land for crops and livestock removes carbon sinks and releases CO2. Mechanization of farms also requires more fossil fuel use.

(b)(i) Environmental consequences: 1. Rising global average temperatures / enhanced greenhouse effect. 2. Melting glaciers and polar ice caps leading to sea level rise. 3. Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events (such as intense droughts or floods).

(b)(ii) Manufacturing industries can use several methods: 1. Switching to renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind power) rather than fossil fuels. 2. Installing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to trap CO2 before it enters the atmosphere. 3. Improving energy efficiency in factories with modern, low-energy machinery. 4. Implementing strict recycling systems to reduce raw material demand. 5. Treating industrial wastewater before discharging it into local rivers.

(c) Case Study: Ecotourism in Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio National Park)
In Costa Rica, tourism—a major economic activity—is carefully managed to minimize risks to the delicate tropical rainforest and marine ecosystems. To prevent environmental degradation, the government established Manuel Antonio National Park with strict regulations. To manage the physical impact of visitors, a strict limit is placed on the number of tourists allowed in the park per day (800 on weekdays, 1000 on weekends). To prevent soil compaction and protect root systems, tourists must stay on elevated wooden boardwalks. To reduce waste pollution, plastic water bottles and single-use food packaging are strictly banned within the park, and visitors are searched at the entrance. Local hotels near the park are evaluated under the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) scheme, which grades their energy efficiency, waste recycling, and water usage, encouraging eco-friendly business practices. Furthermore, a percentage of entry fees is reinvested directly into conservation research and hiring local forest rangers to prevent poaching, protecting biodiversity while supporting the economy.

(a)(i) 1 mark:
• Energy.

(a)(ii) 2 marks:
• Correct answer: 11% (or an increase of 11%) [1 mark].
• Showed calculation (\(26 - 15\)) [1 mark].

(a)(iii) 3 marks (3 @ 1 mark):
• Description of sectors decreasing (Energy and/or Manufacturing) [1 mark].
• Description of sectors increasing (Transport and/or Agriculture) [1 mark].
• Use of correct comparative statistics from both years (e.g., energy went from 42% to 31% / agriculture rose from 15% to 26%) [1 mark].

(a)(iv) 4 marks (4 @ 1 mark):
• Increased global population requiring more food production.
• Rise in livestock farming (especially cattle) releasing methane.
• Widespread use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers releasing nitrous oxide.
• Deforestation / slash-and-burn clearing of rainforests for pastures.
• Increased mechanization / use of diesel tractors.

(b)(i) 3 marks (3 @ 1 mark):
• Enhanced greenhouse effect / global warming.
• Sea level rise / flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
• Ocean acidification.
• Shifting climate zones / desertification / loss of habitats.

(b)(ii) 5 marks (5 @ 1 mark with development):
• Transition to clean/renewable energy sources (e.g., wind, solar) [1].
• Investing in energy-efficient equipment / LED lighting [1].
• Adopting carbon capture and storage (CCS) [1].
• Treating chemical waste/effluent before discharge into water bodies [1].
• Reducing, reusing, and recycling scrap materials / circular economy [1].

(c) 7 marks (Levels of response):
• Level 1 (1 to 3 marks): Simple statements describing how an economic activity is managed (e.g., they stop people littering, limit tourists, use solar power, treat waste).
• Level 2 (4 to 6 marks): Developed explanations of management methods linked to a named economic activity and location (e.g., in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica, tourism is managed by placing a cap of 800 visitors per day to stop path erosion. All single-use plastics are banned to prevent litter from harming monkeys).
• Level 3 (7 marks): Comprehensive explanation of environmental management with at least three developed points and precise locational details of the named area/economic activity (e.g., Costa Rica ecotourism, mentioning Manuel Antonio, specific national park policies, CST certifications, or wildlife species protected).