ASRJC 2023 J1 Promos Ans Key

2023 JC1 H2 Geo Promos – ANSWER GUIDE Page 1 of 9 Section A Answer both questions. Cluster 1: Development, Economy and Environment 1 Resource 1 features a comic showing one perspective of the relationship between population and resources. Resource 2 shows the global distribution of proven oil reserves in 2020. Resource 3 is an information sheet on oil and gas exploration in the Arctic Circle. Resource 4 is an article on the impacts of oil exploration in the Arctic Circle. (a) Describe the perspective of the relationship between population and resources seen in Resource 1. [4] Answer Guide: • [Observation] The perspective of the relationsh ip between population and resources seen in Resource 1 is where population numbers will eventually outstrip supply / population increase is too rapid for the growth in resources to match with. • [Evidence of population growth] From Resource 1, it can be seen that population is growing at an exponential rate from 1600 onwards till the present day. • [Evidence and interpretation of resource growth] The train in the comic depicting world food delivery systems , which signifies the amount of food resources available in the wor ld. This train is seen to be having difficulty moving up the population line given the steepness of the track, and is about to crash back down soon as seen from the line “I think I can…” (b) Explain the limitations of the view of the r elationship between po pulation and resources seen in Resource 1. [6] Answer Guide: • This view neglects the contribution of technological advancements in increasing resource supply: o The view from Resource 1 implies that humans would never be able to figure out a way to overcome the limitations of existing agricultural productivity. o However, the increase in scientific knowledge and agricultural inventions over the last few decades has undermined the law of diminishing returns as an economic principle underpinning the idea that food supply increases in arithmetical progression. o Consequently, the food supply has in creased much faster and is able to keep up population growth. o Additional mark – Any appropriate example that is explained • This view is too simplistic does not reflect the reality that the relationship between population and resources differs according to spatial context: o Different types of non-renewable resources in particular are frequently localized in specific geographic regions. Hence, different societies have varying access to different types of resources, and hence food resources may be able to ke ep up w ith pop ulation growth depending on spatial context.

2023 JC1 H2 Geo Promos – ANSWER GUIDE Page 2 of 9 ASRJC 2023 JC1 H2 Geography Promo – ANSWER GUIDE o Differences in wealth in a population may affect access to food resources. For example, t he wealthier may only number a few in society but can access more food resources. However, the poorer may see that the supply of affordable food resources that they can access is not able to meet the demands of the growing population. o Additional mark – Any appropriate example that is explained *Note: Max of 4 marks if only one limitation is explained. Max of 4 marks per limitation discussed as well. (c) Distinguish between proven reserves and hypothetical reserves. [4] Answer Guide: Proven reserve Basis of Comparison Hypothetical reserve Yes. Discovery of resource No. Generally, full exploration has occurred. Extent of exploration of the area for the resource Partially surveyed and explored. Yes. Ability to extract given current economic conditions Uncertain. (d) Describe the distribution of proven oil reserves in the w orld in 2020 as seen in Resource 2. [4] Answer Guide: • Generally, proven oil reserves can be found across most continents. [1] • Most of the world’s proven oil reserves can be found in Northern and Central Asia (from 3 billion tonnes to 30 billion tonnes), Middle East (from 300 million tonnes to 100 billion tonnes), North America and South America (from 100 million tonnes to 100 billion tonnes). [2] • A lower concentration of proven oil reserves can be found in Australia (300 million tonnes – 1 billion tonnes) and in Northern Africa an d some countries along the west coast of Africa (100 million tonnes to 3 billion tonnes). [2] (e) Citing information from Resource 3, explain how oil explorat ion in the Arcti c Circle demonstrates characteristics of an extractive industry. [6] Answer Guide: Evidence How the evidence demonstrates characteristics of an extractive industry From the map o f the Arctic Circl e, it can be seen that there are clear boundari es and specific regions with in R ussia, Denmark, Norw ay, Canada and the US which have a high probability of gas and oil reserves. [1] This shows the location-specific nature of oil as a resource to be explored, which is characteristic of extractive industries. [1]

2023 JC1 H2 Geo Promos – ANSWER GUIDE Page 3 of 9 ASRJC 2023 JC1 H2 Geography Promo – ANSWER GUIDE “The land and terr itorial waters in the Arctic belong to one of five countries: Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway and Denmark . These countries grant licenses to companies such as Shell to explore for oil and gas.” [1] Oil exploration in t he Arctic is don e through private firms which are state- sanctioned [1], showing both private and public intervention in oil exploration which is characteristic of extractive industr ies [1]. (Any of the evidence below – [1]) • Potential for oil is explored through installing a wellbore and a system of tubes and valves to monitor and regulate oil flow and pressure • Ice roads and an ice airstrip have to be constructe d after installing an oil well, as temperatures c an reach minus 50 degrees Celsius in winter The need to install a wellbore , system of tubes and valves, and the ice roads and ice airstrips all show that oil exploration is highly dependent on specialised technologies to discover and then extract the reso urce, which is characteristic of extractive industries. [1] In addition, t hese technologies are likely to be highly capital intensive [1], another characteristic of extractive industries. The fact that oil exploration has to b e done in near minus 50 degrees Celsius in winter shows reflects the l ong, risky and costly exploration phase needed to search for oil in the Arctic Circle, and th e huge cost purely for exploration is highly characteristic of extractive industries. [1] (f) With reference to Resources 3 and 4, explain the possible impacts of drilling for oil in the Arctic Circle. [6] Answer Guide: [From Resource 3] • Drilling in the Arctic Circle could have positive economic implications the countries in the Arctic Circle where oil is found, as shown in Resource 3 – e.g. Norway, US, Denmark, Canada, R ussia [1 ]. Should oil be disco vered and be able to be extracted, these countries would be able to sell the discovered oil and generate revenue from oil as a result. [1] • (Bonus point) This is particularly significant since oil is a non-renewable resource that is highly used by the world population and current stocks are believed to run out one day. [1] [From Resource 4] • Drilling for oil in the Arctic Circle can positively impact the social wellbeing of some Arctic Circle communities that previously did not have su ch such social service provision [1]. As seen from Resource 4, oil derived revenues have “helped to pay for basic services and infrastructure in villages in the region, such as Barrow near the Chukchi Sea”. [1] • However, drilling for oil can result in negative environmental impacts on the Arctic Circle. [1]

2023 JC1 H2 Geo Promos – ANSWER GUIDE Page 4 of 9 ASRJC 2023 JC1 H2 Geography