1. Examine, with reference to one biome that you have studied, how plants and animals have adapted to specific climatic and soil conditions.
2. Biomes are altered by human activity. Discuss.
3. With reference to one biome that you have studied, account for the type of climate experienced in this biome and explain how this climate impacts on soils and vegetation within the biome.
Marks awarded
Common Marking Scheme for Geoecology Questions Discussing 3 aspects
Total marks for each aspect 27m + 27m + 26m Identifying an aspect
4m each
Examination of each aspect 8 SRPs @ 2m each Overall coherence
7/6m per aspect Discussing 4 aspects
20m + 20m + 20m + 20m 4m each
6 SRPs @ 2m each 4m per aspect
2015 Q18 80M 2014 Q18 80M
2014 Q17 80M
The following ‘structure sheet’ will help you to plan your Geoecology answers. Many students try to learn off sample answers. This can take a long time and forgetting one sentence can lead to a person forgetting all of the sentences that follow it. It is always better to focus on understanding key words.
Try using the structure sheet to write your own answer to the question.
HIGHER LEVEL EXAM QUESTION
‘The development of economic activities can alter biomes.’ Discuss this statement with reference to appropriate examples that you have studied.
Structure Sheet
Aspect 1: Logging in the Amazon Rainforest
Commercial logging greatly altered biome
Loss of biodiversity – destruction of habitat
Interdependency breaks down
Loss of soil fertility – removal of canopy
Laterite formed from exposure to climate
Soil erosion – wind and rain
Evapotranspiration stopped – drought
Destroys carbon sink – CO2 released
Aspect 2: Intensive agriculture in the Amazon Rainforest
Ecosystem destroyed – plants and animals extinct
Nutrient cycle stopped Slash-and-burn technique Soils become infertile
Impossible to cultivate – indigenous people displaced
Aspect 3: Industrial activity in the Amazon Rainforest
Areas cleared for access for machinery/transport
Roads allow easy access for illegal logging
Toxic materials, e.g. mercury released
Hydroelectric power – flooding Methane and CO2
atmosphere
Blast furnaces – burn trees for charcoal
Carajás region – 75% of forest destroyed
Air pollution – greenhouse gases
Note that these are not SRPs, but act as SRP ‘cues’. This method should improve your understanding of the topic. When you have chosen your key points, practise writing your answer with the aid of your notes and this book. You will gradually become more comfortable with the topic and eventually find that you need only these cues to write the answer.
