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Date November 2013 Marks available 6 Reference code 13N.2.sl.5
Level SL only Paper 2 Time zone
Command term Explain Question number 5 Adapted from N/A

Question

With reference to a named hot, arid environment, explain two geographic factors (other than climate) that can make them extreme.

[6]
b.

Contrast the landforms that result from erosional and depositional glacial processes.

[10]
c.

Markscheme

Likely factors should include human discomfort, inaccessibility, remoteness and relief. (Credit other valid factors, such as poor soils). Award [1 mark] for each factor that is identified and a further [1 mark] for the named example of a recognizable extreme arid environment.

The remaining [3 marks] should be allocated for the explanation of the factors, for instance explaining how inaccessibility could limit development and habitation opportunities because tourism, or other forms of economic activity, cannot be easily implemented.

b.

The landforms could be contrasted in terms of shape, size, material, location and origin/formation, links to advance/retreat of ice.

Likely erosional features will include cirques, arête, pyramidal peaks, glacial troughs, hanging valleys, roche moutonnées and striations. Depositional features are likely to include till plains, moraines, kames, eskers, erratics and drumlins.

Erosional features are more likely to be located in upland areas, while depositional features are more commonly found in lowland areas. Erosional features are often formed of solid rock while depositional features are formed of unconsolidated material, whether sorted (fluvioglacial) or unsorted (glacial). Erosional features tend to be rugged, whereas depositional features are usually subdued with lower amplitude of relief.

To achieve band D, both erosion and deposition features should be covered and described with an attempt to contrast.

At band E and there should be a clear attempt at contrasting the features.

At band F, answers should show an awareness that many landforms owe their origin to a combination of erosional and depositional processes.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
b.

Appropriate command term not available

c.

Syllabus sections

Optional themes » Option C: Extreme environments » Challenging environments » Global distribution of extreme environments
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