Exam Studio

This page has a variety of different exam answers to help you. Try mind mapping the answers and creating plans from them.

Tips

• Read the question carefully picking out the focus careful e.g. does it want economic or environmental factors. Lots of people misread the question and then lose marks when they really know the stuff.
• Use some specific case study details (facts and figures)
• Use case studies to support your argument
• Linkage - you must expand your answers PEE on your work!
• On 8 mark questions a very quick plan might help.
• Check SPAG - you get marks for this!!

Tectonics

Use a case study to describe the effects of a tsunami. (8 marks)

On Friday 11th March 2011, 14:46pm (local time) a 9.0 magnitude megathurst earthquake struck 70m off the coast of Sendai. This resulted in Japan shifting by about 50m and changed the axis of the earth by about 10cm.  The secondary impact was a huge tsunami ranging from 1 -10m (in Sendai) struck the coast. There were also thousands of aftershocks. The effects of the earthquake itself were limited due to the earthquake resistant design and preparedness of the Japanese population. The tsunami caused the most devastation.

The immediate impacts of the tsunami wave were the destruction of infrastructure. Over 100,000 homes were destroyed, 700,000 homes left to collapse and 10% of fishing ports were damaged as the tsunami inundated the coastal settlements particularly badly effected was the area of Sendai. After the earthquake nuclear power plants were shut down leaving 4.4 million homes without electricity. The Fukushima power plant although turned off during the quake was damaged by the flooding meaning the cooling system didn't work resulting in 3 meltdowns. Many brave power plant workers stayed to stabilize the plant. People had to be evacuated from the surrounding regions. People feared that themselves, land and crops were contaminated with radiation.

The tsunami has also had long term impacts, one year after the tsunami 330,000 people living in temporary accommodation. Many people suffered psychological trauma from the loss of their homes and families. Many businesses, particularly related to the fishing industry, had been destroyed along the coast. The loss of these businesses meant that unemployment and increased greatly.  The Japanese government’s preparation and response to the event however, reduced the long term impacts significantly.

Population

Using a named example of a European country explain how the government have coped with an increasingly elderly population. (8 marks)

 Many EU countries are facing very low fertility rates as they move into stage 5 of the demographic transition model. The UKs fertility rate has dropped to 1.66 births per women, this is below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per women, and also, the number of people aged 65 or over is estimated to increase by 61% by 2032. The UK is now facing a naturally decreasing and ageing population which poses massive social, economic and political problems for the UK government which will raise the dependency of older citizens on those of working age.

The UK’s government has started to implement solutions to the problems related to an increasingly elderly dependency. Under current government policy, the state pension age for women will gradually rise from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020. For both men and women it will rise further, from 65 to 68, between 2024 and 2046. Special efforts will be required to make it more attractive for both women and older workers to stay on at work or to find economically useful and personally challenging work once they approach or pass the age of retirement. The government has also set aside extra money for care of the elderly, including things like the Winter fuel allowance and free flu jabs for all elderly.   Forcing people to save a proportion of their income has also been suggested as a way of solving the UK’s pension crisis. Many people seem to favour this option, provided that their employers contribute as well. Another option is to encourage higher labour force participation. In developed economies, a high percentage of men of working age tend to work, however participation rates are relatively lower for women and older workers aged 55-64.

The UK’s government also sees it as necessary to attempt to increase the fertility rate.  There are many pro natal policies in the UK designed to boost the fertility rate.  These include child benefits (a weekly payment to people who have children), improved maternity leave for women and men, health in pregnancy grants and child trust funds.

Describe how a named country has attempted to cope with the effects of rapid population growth. (8 marks)

China's one child policy was established in 1979 to limit communist China's population growth after a catastrophic famine and a baby boom resulting in an unsustainable population. Although designated a "temporary measure," it continues a quarter-century after its establishment.

The policy limited couples to one child. Fines, pressures to abort a pregnancy or even forced abortions, and forced sterilization accompanied second or subsequent pregnancies. The ‘Granny Police’ would also put huge pressure on women of child bearing age ensuring that they took their contraceptive pill.  People only having one child would receive benefits including free education and family benefits. It is not an all-encompassing rule with exceptions being made for some and not others. For example the Han Chinese make up 80% of the population so must follow the restrictions. Citizens living in some rural areas and minorities living in China where not subjected to the law.

The one child policy has caused a dislike for female infants; abortion, neglect, abandonment, and even infanticide have been known to occur to female infants. The result of such harsh family planning has resulted in the ratio of 114 males for every 100 females among babies from birth through children four years of age. Normally, 105 males are naturally born for every 100 females.

In the 90s and 00s there have been changes made to the policy including couples who are both single children can have two children, people must not obtain permission for their first child and as people become wealthier they are choosing to pay the fines.

The methods used have been considered too strict and cruel.  However, the rule has been estimated to have reduced population growth in the country of 1.3 billion by as much as 300 million people over its first twenty years. Women with fewer children have also been able to focus upon their careers. Although still half the population has lived on less than $2 a day.  

Development Gap

Use a case study of a natural hazard to explain how development can be hindered by environmental factors. (8)

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has been struck with at least 20 large scale disasters making it incredibly vulnerable. In 2010 an 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti’s capital Port Au Prince hindering the country’s economic development.

The earthquake killed 316,000, this loss was catastrophic for the economy. Many of the industries which Haiti is involved in for exports are very people intensive and they now do not have a large workforce. This loss of a productive workforce will have an impact on Haiti’s economy for years to come.   The workforce has also suffered trauma and are now less productive further stunting the GDP of the country.

The collapse of 30,000 commercial buildings and 250,000 homes comes at great cost. Haiti’s government and people need to spend more money on rebuilding of homes and buildings. The commercial buildings such as the fragile clothing industry will be stunted for a long period leading to further losses.  This money will then not be able to redevelop infrastructure, hospitals and education facilities leading to Haiti being trapped in a cycle of poverty.

The products which they do create cannot be exported due to damage to key infrastructure including roads, bridges, the main port and airport. The rubble from the buildings is still present in the capital 4 years after the event and significantly slows the movement of traffic and therefore goods. Companies are unlikely to invest in Haiti with poor education and infrastructure making it harder for Haiti to recover and hindering their economy further.

Tourism

Describe the economic advantages and disadvantages of tourism (8 marks)

Jamaica is one of the Caribbean’s main tourist destinations with 1.9 million visitors arriving in 2010. Tourism in Jamaica brings with it economic advantages and disadvantages.

Tourism is the second biggest earner within the country and employs 262,000 workers. These people would have previously survived on subsistence agriculture or day labouring where jobs were not regular, tourism provides a more regular and reliable wage. Tourism will also provides more demand for other services and businesses such as agriculture supporting further jobs. The economy benefits from tourism through taxation of tourists; this money can then be spent building new infrastructure such as roads and airports which will help trade and encourage businesses to locate in Jamaica.  

There are however disadvantages to the tourist industry. The industry is dominated by big travel companies who sell package holidays. Many tourists never leave the holiday complex and much of the money never enters the Jamaican economy. The high paying jobs within the complexes often go to people from outside of the country and Jamaicans are left with the low paying jobs such as cleaners and bus boys. These jobs are also often seasonal with more tourists arriving in the summer months. This may mean that local people find themselves out of work the rest of the year. With an increasing number of tourists the prices of basic such as food is inflated and Jamaican’s on low wages and seasonal employment are priced out of the market.

The Jamaican government are trying to solve the issue by encouraging ecotourism and community tourism. This involves tourists staying with local people or in lodges that employ local people in the high paying jobs so the money is put directly back into the economy.

Restless Earth

Use a case study to describe the effects of a tsunami. (8 marks)

On Friday 11th March 2011, 14:46pm (local time) a 9.0 magnitude megathurst earthquake struck 70m off the coast of Sendai. This resulted in Japan shifting by about 50m and changed the axis of the earth by about 10cm.  The secondary impact was a huge tsunami ranging from 1 -10m (in Sendai) struck the coast. There were also thousands of aftershocks. The effects of the earthquake itself were limited due to the earthquake resistant design and preparedness of the Japanese population. The tsunami caused the most devastation.

The immediate impacts of the tsunami wave were the destruction of infrastructure. Over 100,000 homes were destroyed, 700,000 homes left to collapse and 10% of fishing ports were damaged as the tsunami inundated the coastal settlements particularly badly effected was the area of Sendai. After the earthquake nuclear power plants were shut down leaving 4.4 million homes without electricity. The Fukushima power plant although turned off during the quake was damaged by the flooding meaning the cooling system didn't work resulting in 3 meltdowns. Many brave power plant workers stayed to stabilize the plant. People had to be evacuated from the surrounding regions. People feared that themselves, land and crops were contaminated with radiation.

The tsunami has also had long term impacts, one year after the tsunami 330,000 people living in temporary accommodation. Many people suffered psychological trauma from the loss of their homes and families. Many businesses, particularly related to the fishing industry, had been destroyed along the coast. The loss of these businesses meant that unemployment and increased greatly.  The Japanese government’s preparation and response to the event however, reduced the long term impacts significantly.