Tanjong Katong Elect Geog MS 2026

[Turn over CANDIDATE NAME CLASS INDEX NUMBER HUMANITIES 2260/02 Paper 2 Geography Monday, 17 August 2026 Additional Materials: Insert 1 hour 45minutes ANSWERS This document consists of 8 printed pages. TANJONG KATONG SECONDARY SCHOOL Preliminary Examination Secondary 4

2 TKSS/Sec4/HumGeog/Prelim/2026 1 Cluster 1: Geography of Everyday Life (a) Study Fig.1.1 (Insert), which shows a major change to a canal in an urban neighbourhood between 2008 and 2012. With reference to Fig. 1.1, suggest how the change benefits people living in the nearby neighbourhood. [3] ● The canal was changed to a naturalised river channel with an extended area of vegetation [1 mark] – COMPULSORY ● It provides more open space for recreational activities such as walking/trekking along the river channel, improving residents’ physical health. [1 mark] ● Residents can relax and spend time with family and friends while exploring the river, improving their mental and social well-being. [1 mark] ● During photosynthesis, vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and other air pollutants which improves the air quality. [1 mark] ● The leaves of the vegetation also intercept small dust particles which are washed to the ground when it rains, improving air quality. [1 mark] Accept any 2 at 1 mark each. (b) Study Fig. 1.2 (Insert), which shows some facilities found in a residential area in Singapore. (i) Identify the level of spatial hierarchy that the facilities in Fig. 1.2 cater to. [1] ● Precinct [1 mark] (ii) Using evidence from Fig. 1.2, explain why these facilities are catered to the level of the spatial hierarchy identified in b(i). [3] ● The playground, community garden and hard court are relatively small -scale facilities intended mainly for residents living nearby. [1 mark] ● They meet residents’ frequent or everyday recreational and social needs, so they need to be located close to their homes. [1 mark] ● The minimart located at the void deck provides basic daily necessities and serves a small cluster of surrounding residential blocks rather than the whole town. [1 mark] (c) Explain how soil formation supports ecosystems services in urban neighbourhoods. [3] ● Soil formation creates and replenishes soil through the weathering of rocks and decomposition of organic matter. [1 mark] ● It is essential for the health of all terrestrial ecosystems within the urban neighbourhood as it provides a habitat for billions of organisms. [1 mark] ● Without soil formation, provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services would not function effectively because vegetation, which forms the basis of these services, would be unable to grow. [1 mark] (d) Study Fig. 1.3 (Insert), which shows selected features in the myResponder mobile application used by residents in Singapore.

3 TKSS/Sec4/HumGeog/Prelim/2026 Using information from Fig. 1.3, explain how the myResponder application can strengthen community resilience in Singapore. [4] ● It allows trained residents to provide immediate assistance before the emergency services arrive by alerting them to nearby emergencies, such as cardiac arrests or minor fires. [1 mark] ● This can increase the survival rate of victims as the professional emergency responders may not be able to render assistance in time. [1 additional mark] ● It enables professional emergency responders to respond more efficiently by allowing residents to provide vital information, such as the exact location and visual evidence of the incident. [1 mark] ● Therefore, the application strengthens community resilience by providing residents with the tools and information needed to take immediate and coordinated action during emergencies, reducing reliance on professional emergency responders. [1 mark] 2 Cluster 2: Tourism

4 TKSS/Sec4/HumGeog/Prelim/2026 (a) Explain how business innovations have contributed to the growth of tourism. [3] ● Business innovations such as Airbnb allowed homeowners to rent out spare rooms or properties, increasing the supply of accommodation and offering alternatives that were often cheaper than conventional hotels. [1 mark] ● Online booking platforms also increased competition and made it easier for tourists to compare prices and find discounts. [1 mark] ● As accommodation became more affordable, more people were able to travel, contributing to the growth of tourism. [1 mark] (b) Study Figure 2.1 (Insert), which shows the number of international tourist arrivals (in millions) to selected destination regions between 2005 and 2025. Describe the trends in international tourist arrivals show in Fig. 2.1. [3] ● Generally, international tourist arrivals have been increasing across all four destination regions between 2005 and 2025. [1 mark] OR Overall, international tourist arrivals have increased across all four destination regions between 2005 and 2025. [1 mark] ● However, the increase was not consistent as tourist arrivals fell sharply in all four regions in 2021 before rebounding in 2024. [1 mark] ● Asia Pacific experienced the greatest proportional decrease between 2019 and 2021. [1 mark] ● Tourist arrivals fell from 360 million to 22 million, a decrease of approximately 93.9%. [1 additional mark] ● Europe consistently received the highest number of international tourist arrivals throughout the period. [1 mark] Accept any 3 at 1 mark each. (c) Explain the social impacts that may result from the commodification of culture due to tourism. [3] ● Traditional cultural practices may be exaggerated, staged or shortened to appeal to tourists. [1 mark] ● As these practices are performed mainly to earn income, they may lose their original cultural meaning and authenticity. [1 mark] ● This may lead to conflict among local people who disagree with these changes. [1 mark] (d) ‘The government is the most important stakeholder in influencing sustainable tourism development’.

5 TKSS/Sec4/HumGeog/Prelim/2026 How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [9] Relevant content Stakeholder Influence on sustainable tourism development Government Establishes policies, creates tourism plans and enforces regulations to manage tourism development International organisations Provide consultancy and financial assistance and raise public awareness Tourism businesses Participate in decision -making and adopt practices that reduce environmental and social impacts Local communities Contribute local knowledge, participate in decisions and ensure that development considers their needs Tourists Behave responsibly, respect local communities and support sustainable tourism products Possible approaches The answer makes a clear judgement on whether the government is the most important stakeholder in influencing sustainable tourism development. Reference could be made to the government’s ability to establish policies, create long -term plans and enforce regulations. For example, governments may limit visitor numbers, control the location of tourism developments, establish protected areas and require businesses to follow environmental standards. Unlike voluntary action by other stakeholders, legislation can compel tourism operators and tourists to behave more sustainably. Governments may also have greater financial resources and the authority to coordinate tourism development across an entire destination region. This cou