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Date May 2011 Marks available 3x2 Reference code 11M.2.bp.14
Level SL and HL Paper 2 Time zone
Command term Explain Question number 14 Adapted from N/A

Question

Describe what is meant by a “sustainable city”.

[4]
a.

Explain three ways in which human activities can modify the microclimate of an urban area.

[3x2]
b.

Examine reasons why cities in some parts of the world have higher rates of population growth than others.

[10]
c.

Markscheme

Answers could include the following elements:

A city that is designed to protect quality of life for its future generations [1 mark].

Award 3 marks for three of the following elements:

a.

Microclimate can describe temperatures, wind speed, humidity, air quality and local rainfall regimes.

Answers could include the following:

Award 1 mark for each basic modification explained and 1 mark for any extension or good example.

Maximum 3 marks if only one aspect of microclimate (for example, urban heat island) is explained but with three causes given.

b.

Good answers are likely to focus on migration and natural increase also. Variations in the relative strength of urban pull factors and rural push factors should be discussed. Economic, cultural and political factors may feature in the discussion as influences of both migration and rates of increase.

Counter-urbanization and low birth rates are a cause of slower growth or even a decline in population in many cities in MEDCs.

Responses that focus simply on urban growth in one area should be limited to band D. Expect the inclusion of both migration and natural increase to access bands E/F.

While examples are not a specific requirement of the question, those answers that provide supporting examples are likely to access the higher markbands.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

c.

Examiners report

Sustainability seems to be well understood and most candidates gave a good response – many referred to the Roger's model and many provided annotated diagrams to illustrate it.

a.

Surprisingly, overall, this was done quite poorly. Many referred to the greenhouse effect and there was considerable confusion over the causes of the urban heat island.

b.

Some answers were excellent but many took an inappropriate scale (national population growth rather than urban) or did not consider natural increase as well as migration. The use of supporting examples made it easier for candidates to access higher markbands.

c.

Syllabus sections

Optional themes » Option G: Urban environments » Urban stress » Urban microclimate

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