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Date May 2018 Marks available 10 Reference code 18M.2.bp.5
Level SL and HL Paper 2 Time zone
Command term Compare Question number 5 Adapted from N/A

Question

The graph shows the probability (likelihood) of the depth of snow on a ski field being over 1 metre, and over 2 metres, between June and October.

[Source: Michael Paine]

State the earliest date on which there is a 50 % probability of snow depth exceeding 1 metre.

[1]
a.i.

Estimate the probability of snow depth exceeding 2 metres on 1 September.

[1]
a.ii.

Briefly explain how the graph provides evidence that this ski field is located in the southern hemisphere.

[2]
a.iii.

Explain two environmental impacts of tourism in one named extreme environment.

[6]
b.

Compare the importance of water and wind in the development of landform features in hot, arid areas.

[10]
c.

Markscheme

July 15th [1]

a.i.

27 % (accept 26–28 %) [1]

a.ii.

Award [1] for evidence from the graph showing heaviest snow cover is in August/September and [1] for explaining that this must be winter in the southern hemisphere.

a.iii.

In each case, award [1] for each identified environmental impact linked to a tourist activity, and [2] for further development and explanation of how the physical environment is affected.

Possibilities include erosion, mass movement, land degradation, vulnerability to hazards, water usage, waste disposal, disruption to biodiversity. Positive changes are possible, eg irrigation, restoration.

For example: Erosion of land surface in high altitude areas by creating ski-field infrastructure (pistes, chair lifts, restaurants) [1]. This destroys the vegetation which helps stabilize the slopes [1], which can then contribute to soil erosion/avalanches/unsightly bare ground [1].

Award up to a maximum of [3] for a generic account of tourism impacts with no reference to the specifics of a named extreme environment (either type or named region, eg Alps).

b.

In hot, arid areas, water action includes erosion and deposition by exotic, endoreic and ephemeral rivers. Flash floods can produce sheetwash. Features formed by river action include canyons, wadis, alluvial fans and bajadas. The role of water in weathering processes should also be credited.

Wind action includes abrasion and deflation and landforms include dunes (barchans, seif, star, etc), deflation hollows, yardangs and zeugens.

N.B.: Responses do not need to consider more than a few of these landforms for the award of full marks.

Good answers might recognize that water and wind are equally important in forming features in hot, arid areas or may attempt to give credence to one over the other. Alternatively, a temporal element may be introduced with recognition of past pluvial periods or seasonal flash floods or a recognition that some landforms may be formed by a combination of both processes.

At band D, expect some description of the development of both water- and windformed features.

At band E, expect either a greater explanation of water- and wind-formed features in hot, arid areas or an attempt to compare the processes/features.

At band F, expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 2 HL and SL markbands.

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
a.iii.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Optional themes » Option C: Extreme environments » The physical characteristics of extreme environments » Hot, arid environments (hot deserts and semi‑arid areas)

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