Geography Unit 2: Changing Urban Environments Past Papers (Gcse)

Front 1

Outline one impact on the environment of the increased use of road transport (2)

Back 1

•A rise in the number of cars /lorries / freight traffic leads to more emissions (1)

•so there will bemore incidences of breathing problems / asthma (1)

•heaviertraffic means vehicles are stationary for more of the time (1)

•soemissions will increase (1)

• more emissions from (diesel)vehicles (1)

•leads to blackening of buildings (1)

•the sulphur frommore exhausts (1)

•mixes with rain and erodes buildings (1)

•increased C02 emissions (1)

•leads to climate change/globalwarming (1)

Front 2

What type of map is shown in Figure 3? (1)

•choropleth

•isoline

•topological

Back 2

Topological

Front 3

Use Figure 3 and your own knowledge to explain how the impact of road traffic on theenvironment can be reduced (4)

Back 3

•The tram system in Nottingham has reduced the number of carscoming into the city as a tram can carry the equivalent of lots ofcars.

•“Boris Bikes” in London make it easy to cycle and sopeople choose to do that instead of driving in the city.

•TheOyster Card in London makes it easy to switch transport typesand so people use public transport as it’s as easy as driving andthe number of cars drops.

Front 4

Explain how residents have benefited from the scheme (3)

Back 4

• Increased security and safety evidenced throughboth vehicle crime and burglary reduction

• The commentsexpressed by the residents on how they feel about living there

• The relevance of social housing for lower income communities.

Front 5

Suggest how one or more of the conditions shown in Figure 5 affects the lives of thepeople living there (4)

Back 5

•lack of safety and the danger of injury ordeath from the poorly built environment especially if naturalhazard

•the risk of diseases such as cholera and typhoid fromthe polluted water shown

•diseases such as TB from thecrowded conditions

•depression and resentment amongst theresidents and social unrest as a result

Front 6

Explain how urban living can be made more sustainable (8)

Back 6

•reduces the need to pipe water from outside the city

•depleting aquifers and rivers or damaging habitats in rivers andso existing water supplies last longer

• it also means that somecarbon dioxide will be absorbed by the plants, making thebuildings carbon neutral.

• all the appliances are low energyversions in order to further reduce the carbon footprint of thehouses.

• the greater the percentage of journeys by publictransport, the fewer the emissions and the lower the impact onclimate change, so sustainable cities should try to maximisepublic transport use.

Front 7

Explain the differences in urban growth between the richer parts and poorer parts of theworld (3)

Back 7

• rapidurbanisation in poorer parts of the world due to rural-urbanmigration

•current rates increasing due to industrialisation andeconomic development in some poorer countries

•majorurbanisation has already taken place in richer countries hencethe already high levels of urbanisation c.80%

Front 8

Describe one or more strategies used to support multicultural communities inurban areas (4)

Back 8

• hospitals in big cities can have interpreters to help people whocan’t speak English talk to the doctors.

• they may invitecultural leaders to meetings about decisions that will affect theirarea

• leaflets in government offices are printed in lots oflanguages so that different communities can understand

Front 9

Suggest one reason why some CBDs are in decline (2)

Back 9

•There are more out of town shopping centres (1)

•and so theCBDs can’t compete (1)

•More people use the internet forshopping (1)

•and because it is cheaper this puts the city centreshops out of business (1)

•Economic downturn (1).

Front 10

Use one or more examples to explain how CBDs can be revitalised (4)

Back 10

•Birmingham to feature frequently alongwith other major cities such as Manchester though localexamples maybe just as valid such as “Portas Pilot” towns.

• Improvement of the physicalenvironment with flowers / street improvement; creation ofmarkets to give a more continental feel new indoor shoppingcentres

•restoration of old buildings

•use of city centre wardensto monitor behaviour.

•CBD is beingrevitalised not former industrial areas / dock areas regenerated.

Front 11

Describe disadvantages of building new housing on brownfield sites (4)

Back 11

Physical problems:

• constrained sites and the smaller number of houses that can be built.

Environmental problems:

• less attractive environment

• the proximity to poor quality existing housing

Social issues:

• resentment from poorer inner city dwellers who are displaced and can’t afford housing are also valid areas of comment

Front 12

The following are strategies that planners use to make urban living more sustainable.

1. Conserve the historic and natural environment.

2. Provide adequate open space.

3. Include local people in the decision-making process.

•Choose two of the strategies listed.

• Explain how each of your chosen strategies makes urban living more sustainable (4)

Back 12

Conserve the historic and natural environment:

•once buildingsare knocked down they are gone

•these are resources that if theyare used up by people today they will not be available for futuregenerations to use.

Provide adequate open space:

•Existing areas like parks need tobe left alone because they are important for people’s social well being.

• If they are built on, they will be difficult to restore for thefuture.

Include local people in the decision making process:

•Peopleare much more likely to support ideas if they feel part of acommunity

• therefore they are more likely to be successful intothe future.

Front 13

Suggest how Marina’s life has been improved by living in a squatter settlement (2)

Back 13

•She now earns enough to buy food so they will be less hungry.

•There are more opportunities for her and her children so they arelikely to have a better life.

•She earns 4-6 times as much (acceptfigures) so will be better off.

Front 14

Use a case study to explain how squatter settlements can be improved (8)

Back 14

•The Favela Barrio project in Rio de Janeiro

•allows residents toapply to legally own their property so they have greater security.

•There are adult literacy classes to improve the skills of the peopleand help them work their way out of poverty.

•Residents in thefavela have chosen what they want to happen so they feel involvedand they also staff the projects.

• This makes it cheaper to run andalso gives them skills.

Front 15

Describe one way in which increased traffic can affect settlements such asCambridge (2)

Back 15

•There is increased danger of accidents due to the greater number ofvehicles on the road.

•The increase in the amount of traffic can lead to airpollution which impacts on people's’ health.

•Buildings can be badlyaffected because of the increase in the amount of traffic.

•Discouragingpeople visiting/shopping in the settlement.

Front 16

How does a traffic solution you have studied help to reduce the problem oftraffic in settlements? (4)

Back 16

•Mass transit systems like the Tyneside Metro and the trams in

•Sheffieldand Manchester

•are quick and efficient and are not held up by traffic jamsand also reduce air pollution

•Bus priority lanes speed up buses and somore people will use them reducing the need for so many cars to be on theroad

• Pedestrianising city centres makes them safer for pedestrians andreduces noise and air pollution

• Increased car parking charges in the citycentre will discourage car use and encourage more people to use publictransport

• The increased profit would be used to invest in better publictransport systems.

Front 17

Describe the location of the squatter settlements in Nairobi (2)

Back 17

• Edge of the built-up area

• Close to rivers

• D is NE of CBD

• A,B and C areSW of the CBD

• most are in the SW.

Front 18

Use a named example to describe how local people living in squattersettlements have tried to improve their own lives (8)

Back 18

•Under the self-help scheme

• in Nairobi

• groups of people were encouragedto help build their own homes.

•Each group would do the basic work suchas digging ditches to take water and sewage pipes.

• The local authority willthen provide breezeblocks and roofing tiles, and the group provides thelabour.

•The money, which this saves, can be used by the authorities toprovide amenities such as electricity, a clean water supply, tarred roadsand a community centre.