Upper Sixth Geography: Human Topics

 

A2 Revision

 

Take time over the holidays to organise your notes, learn your case studies and practise essays by writing essay plans.  Be familiar with all aspects of the specification and learn the facts, figures etc.

 

It is essential that you start a good revision timetable now!

 

Module 2683 (January Exam): Options in Physical & Human Geography (Coasts AND Tourism, Recreation and their Environmental Impacts)

 

This paper consists of your physical option (coasts) and human option (tourism).  You will have 1 hour 30 minutes to write 2 essays, one from each topic.  Each essay will be marked out of 45 making 90 marks the maximum possible on this paper. You will have a choice from three essay titles in each of the two sections.  Some past essay titles are shown below. Do consult your Student Handbook for advice on essay writing, command words and how your answer will be marked.

Main topics to revise include:  

Development of tourism

Impacts (economic, social, environmental) - good and bad!

Influence of transport

Resources for tourism

Changes in destinations and scale

Sustainable Tourism
Urban Tourism

UK recreation and National Parks

 

Think carefully about the case studies and be flexible in how you use them in your essays.

 

1.   (a) In what ways can the rapid growth of tourism put stress on the physical enviroment?   [20]

(b) Taking named examples of popular tourist areas from contrasting enviroments in MEDCs and LEDCs, show how these damaging impacts can be limited.    [25]

 

2.   Discuss factors influencing the growth of international tourism over the last 30 years.        [45]

 

3.   (a) Why do few LEDCs feature in the list of the most popular tourist destinations and what can those countries do to increase the number of tourists?      [20]

(b) Assess the economic and social impact of tourism in an LEDC you have studied.         [25]

 

4.   The growth of recreational activities in rural areas may bring tensions and conflicts as well as benefits.  Discuss this statement with reference to specific examples.   [45]

 

5.   Describe and explain  how the rapid growth of international tourism usually brings both social and environmental problems.     [45]

 

6.   The past decade has seen a significant increase in eco-tourism.

(a) Explain what is meant by this term.     [20]

(b) Show, with examples, the different forms eco-tourism can take.     [25]

 

Jan 2002

7.  (a) Describe the growth of international tourism during the second half of the 20th century. [20]

     (b) Identify the reasons for this growth, and comment on their relative importance.     [25]

 

8.  (a) Why have traditional seaside resorts in many MEDCs declined in the past 30 years?    [20]

(b) Using examples, examine attempts by governments and other bodies to reverse the tourism decline in some parts of MEDCs.     [25]

 

9.  (a) Describe what is meant by the term sustainable tourism.                       [20]

(b) Using specific examples, examine the attempts by governments and other bodies to achieve  greater sustainability in tourism.      [25]


 

 

Module 2684 (June Exam): People and Environments Options (Hazards AND Managing Urban Environments)

 

This is the synoptic paper consisting of two topics you have studied: managing urban environments, and hazardous environments.  You will be expected to make clear links with other areas of the specification, including your AS work.  The paper will last 1 hour 30 minutes and a total of 120 marks will be available.  Your essay style is crucial here and evidence of planning is important.  Give your answer some structure!  You will have a choice from three essay titles in each of the two sections.

 

The main topics for to revise for both MEDCs and LEDCs are:

Urban growth: urbanisation, housing issues, urban sprawl, inner cities.

Social and economic inequalities in urban areas, urban deprivation

Congestion, transport planning & management

Pollution: air, noise & water

Sustainability

 

The questions are likely to ask you to discuss what you know about the problems (including detailed facts) and then refer to specific cities where solutions have been attempted.

 

Main Case studies: -  London Docklands (transport; industry; inner cities; social exclusion)

                  Manchester & Salford (inner cities & redevelopment; social exclusion)

                  Cardiff Bay (redevelopment scheme)

                  Birmingham (multiple deprivation; social exclusion; transport; reurbanisation)

                  Worcester (retailing; offices; housing; transport)

                  Guayaquil (water supply; land ownership; proximity to employment)

                  Mexico City (air, noise, water and land pollution)

                  Cairo (urban sprawl; housing; employment; waste disposal)

                  Rio de Janeiro & Nairobi (housing; self-help: GCSE work)

                  Curitiba, Brazil (successful urban planning; transport; waste; sustainability)

 

Learn specific themes within each case study e.g. housing, social exclusion, pollution, water supply, services, employment, transport, derelict land etc.

 

1.   The quality of the urban environment is influenced as much by physical factors as by human ones.  How far do you agree with this statement?   [60]

2.   With reference to urban areas you have studied assess the impact of urban growth on the physical environment.   [60]

3.   The problems of urban environment can only be solved with reference to both physical and human systems.  Discuss with reference to specific examples.   [60]

4.   Discuss the suggestion that pollution is a consequence of urban growth.     [60]

5.   (a)  Outline the principal problems associated with increases in urban traffic congestion and explain why it has proved difficult to reduce this congestion?  [60]

6.   How have attitudes to the growth of spontaneous settlements in LEDCs changed in the last twenty years, and what have been the consequences of these changes to settlements and their inhabitants? [60]

7.   Outline the problems of housing in cities in LEDCs and examine the effectiveness of different approaches to deal with them. [Feb 2002]  [60]

8.   Outline the impact of low density urban sprawl in MEDCs and evaluate the arguments for and against such developments. [Feb 2002]      [60]

9.   The problems of urban living are unevenly distributed within towns and cities. Discuss the validity of this statement.    [Feb 2002]     [60]

 

December 2004