Question 3 (i) Look at the map on page 8 showing the Pacific Ring of Fire. What conclusions can you draw about the direction plates are moving at the location of a volcano? You may support your answer with diagrams. [12 marks]
Using the map and key, I can conclude that a large number of volcanoes are located along the Pacific Ring of Fire where the Pacific Plate and Eurasian/North American Plates are colliding. From my knowledge of plate tectonics, I can conclude that as the plates are forced together at this boundary, one plate is pushed downwards into the mantle and melts to form magma. The magma can then rise up due to great pressure and escapes to form a volcano. This is a subduction zone.
I can also conclude that the Pacific Ring of Fire is a very active zone and the plates must be pushing together continuously at this boundary. I conclude this because of the very large number of volcanoes that are visible along the boundary: there are more volcanoes there than at any other boundary shown on the map.
The question asks you what conclusions you make after reviewing the map. ‘Conclusion’ means a judgement or a decision reached by reasoning. You make your judgement by looking closely at the location of volcanoes on the map and at the type of boundary they are found on.
Marks Awarded
(i) Conclusions stated – 4 marks (2 + 2)
Conclusions outlined using evidence from map – 8 marks (4 + 4)