4E5N Geography Answering Techniques Manual 2020 EG

HIHS Secondary ‘O’ LevelHumanities (Geography) 2272/02Answering Techniques Manual Name: _____________________ ( ) Class: ________Date: _________ Overview of skills1. Describe relationships2. Describe trends3. Describe distributions4. Compare and contrast5. Diagram drawing6. Annotated and Well-labelled diagrams7. Open-ended questions (1) Describe relationships Steps:1. State the relationship. Suggested structuresare:As variable Xincreases/decreases, variableYincreases/decreases(direct relationship)ORThegreater/highervariable X, thegreater/higher/smaller/lowervariable Y (inverserelationship). 2. Provide two sets of relevant data to reflectthe described relationship. (data can beselected from the highest or lowest valueto show contrast) 3. State anomalies, if any. Sample questionRefer to Pitstop 3 in ‘Variable weather and changingclimate’. Fig. 2.17.Question: With reference to Fig. 2.17, describe therelationship between temperature and the capacityof air tohold water vapour. [2] Answer:[1] Thehigherthe air temperature, thegreaterthecapacity of air to hold water.[1] As seen in Fig. 2.17, when air temperatureincreasesfrom 10°C to 50°C, the amount of watervapour contained in the airincreasesfrom 10g/kgof air to 94g/kg of air. (2) Describe trends (Single line/bar graphs)Steps:1. Give the overall trend (starting year + value,ending year + value, increase/decrease/constant) 2. Pick out significant changes.- greatest/sharpest/most drastic change (in the samedirection as the overall trend) 1

- least/smallest/slowest change (in the same direction as the overall trend) 3. State anomalies, if any.- greatest change (in the opposite directionas the overall trend) What makes an ideal description?✔ A verb is used to show the type of change or lackof – increase, decrease or remains constant.✔ An adjective or adverb is used to show the extentof change – slight(ly), gradually, slowly, small,moderate, large, sharp, drastic(ally).✔ Interpretation is supported by data from the graph.✔ State starting year and value, ending year and value,with the correct units. Sample question 1Refer to Fig. 2.26 in ‘Food resources’, TB pg 108.Question: With reference to Fig. 2.26, describe thetrend of beef consumption in the EU between 1980to2010. [3] Answer:[1] There is an overall decreasein beef consumptionin the EU from8.2 million tonnes in 1980 to6.4 million tonnes in 2010.[1] Thesharpest decreaseoccurs in1999, from7.5millionto7 million in 2000.[1] From2000onwards, itincreasedat a decreasingrate from6 million tonnesto6.4 milliontonnes in 2010. Sample question 2Refer to Fig. 1.55a) in ‘Global Tourism’. TB pg 49.Question: With reference to Fig. 1.55a), describethe trend in Egypt’s annual international touristarrivals from2006 to 2011. [3] Answer:[1] There is an overall increasein Egypt’s annual international tourist arrivals from9.1 million in2006to11.5million in 2012.[1] Thegreatest increaseis observed to be from12.5million in 2009to14 7 million in 2010.[1] From2010 to 2011,there is adecreasefrom14.7million to 9.8 million.(Comparative line/bar graphs) ● Compare = give both similarities and differences• Contrast = give only differences Steps:1. For compare, first identify the similarity/similarities.The overall trend is a good place to start. Suggestedstructure for phrasing similarities: Both (A and B) are _________. 2. Next, identify difference(s). Compare the samecriterion/aspect/factor at any one time.Suggested structure for phrasing differences: A is ______ but B is _______. 3. Avoid writing everything about A, then everything about B (i.e. more than one criterion). What makes an ideal description?✔ All that apply to single graphs✔ Use comparative adjectives e.g. higher/smaller than. Sample question 2

Refer to Fig. 3.47 in Physical Geog TB ‘Geographical Skills and Investigations’ on comparative bar graphs.Question: Compare the number of tectonic-related hazardsin selected countries over the three ten-yearperiods. [3] Compare = similarities and differences [1] Similarity - In all the countries shown, the greatestnumber of tectonic-related hazards occurred between2000 to 2009 (which also means an increase in overall trend), of about 49 in Indonesia, 48 in China, 23in Iranand 18 in Japan.[1] Difference – For all countries except Japan, therewere more or same number of tectonic-related hazardsfrom 1990 to 1999 as compared to 1980 to 1989. ForIndonesia, it remained at 30, while in China, itincreasedfrom 19 to 34 and in Iran, it increased from 19 to20. For Japan, it decreased from 11 to 10.[1] Difference – There are significantly more tectonic-relatedhazards occurring in Indonesia and China ascompared to Iran and Japan. The total number of tectonic-relatedhazards over the 30 years amounted to 109in Indonesia, 101 in China, 62 in Iran and 39 in Japan. (3) Describe distributions Steps:1. Describe locations of high concentration.2. Describe locations of low concentration.3. State anomalies (exceptions), if any.4. Use the number of marks as a guide as to how manypoints to include.For each description:1. Use descriptive words to outline the general patternse.g.a. largest/highest/most concentratedb. smallest/lowest/leastc. occurs in a thin beltd. clustered/concentrated vs dispersed/scatterede. inland vs along the coast/coastal areas2. Specify names of continents, landmarks and/or countries.3. Use compass directions (north, south, east, west)for precision. Central is also acceptable.4. For choropleth maps where values are also given, categorisethe entire range of values into what youwould consider ‘high’, ‘moderate’ and ‘low’. Specifythem in your answer. (see sample question 2) Sample question 1:Pitstop 1 in ‘Living with Tectonic Hazards’Question 2(a): With reference to Fig. 1.5, describethe distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes. [4] Answer:[1] Highest concentration - Most volcanoes and earthquakesare generally located along thePacific Ocean.[1] Specific names - This area stretches fromtheAndes in South Americato California inNorth America,and up northalong the western coastto Alaska (entirewestern coast of North and South America). Thearea also stretches along theeast Asian countriesof Korea, Japan, and China, as well as SoutheastAsia.[1] Anomaly - There is an area stretching from Atlantic Ocean(mid-Atlantic Ridge) to southern Australiainthe Indian Ocean(around the Australian plate) whereearthquakes occur but no volcanoes are present.[1] Anomaly - Earthquakes occur across central Asia and the Middle East. However, there are generallynovolcanoes in these areas. Sample question 2:Refer to Fig. 2.71 in ‘Food resources’. TB pg 141. 3

Question: Describe the projected changes in agricultural productivity in 2080 due to climate change, as shownin Fig. 2.71. [3] Answer:[1] Areas that are projected to experience growthin their agricultural productivity (positive changeup to 35%)are located in the majority of mainland Asia, Europeand central North America.[1] Areas that are projected to experience great negativegrowth in their agricultural productivity (between-15to -50% ) are Mexico, India sub-continent, many Africancountries and northwestern Australia.[1] The projected change in South America is veryvaried across the continent, with most of the continentexperiencing negative change except the southern partwhich is expected to grow by 15%.Sample question 3:Refer to Fig. 2.52 in ‘Variable weather and changingclimate’, TB pg 104.Question: With reference to Fig. 2.52, describe theglobal distribution of deforestation between 2005and 2010.[3] Answer:[1] The greatest forest loss (more than 500 000haper year) occurs in Australia, Brazil and Southeast Asia e.g.Kalimantan forest.[1] Moderate forest loss of between 250 000ha to 500000ha per year occurs in northern and central SouthAmerica, central Africa and Myanmar.[1] Forest loss of less than 250 000 ha per year occursin central Africa, Mexico, large parts of South Americaand Mongolia. (4) Compare and contrast Co