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Date May 2022 Marks available 4 Reference code 22M.2.bp.3
Level SL and HL Paper 2 Time zone
Command term Explain Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

The graph shows changes in the percentage of the population of Lesotho living in slums.

[Source: UN Habitat, 2016. Slum Alamnac 2015–2016: Tracking Improvement in the Lives of Slum Dwellers. [pdf online]
Nairobi: UNON Publishing Service Station. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/download-managerfiles/Slum%20
Almanac%202015-2016_PSUP.pdf [Accessed 4 June 2020]. Source adapted.]

Describe the trends shown in the slum populations of Lesotho between 2005 and 2014.

[2]
a.

Suggest two reasons why progress towards access to safe water has been slow in some regions.

Reason 1:

 

 

Reason 2:

 

 

[4]
b.

Explain one economic advantage and one environmental advantage of the circular economy.

Economic advantage:

 

 

Environmental advantage:

 

 

 

[4]
c.

Markscheme

Award [1] for each of the following trends.

Quantification required for allocation of [2].

a.

In each case, award [1] for a valid reason for slow progress and [1] for further development/exemplification.

For example: In Madagascar there has been a lack of investment in water provision [1] which has meant that the development of infrastructure such as water points is missing [1] for a large proportion of the rural population.

Other possibilities include:

b.

In each case, award [1] for identification of a valid advantage and [1] for further development/exemplification.

For example: The circular economy results in employment growth [1] – jobs are created through more labour-intensive activities/logistics/new innovative industries [1].

Economic advantages:

Environmental advantages:

c.

Examiners report

Most candidates were able to identify the two trends shown on the graph, increase from 2005-09 and decrease from 2009-14. Although the majority gained full marks a number failed to use quantification and lost the second mark.

a.

Candidates seemed confident with the topic of water security and could identify reasons why progress towards safe water was slow in some regions. Answers were usually focused on financial, political and social explanations with lack of investment, conflict and disposal of domestic waste the prevailing reasons. There were however some good answers that recognized the influence of the water-food-energy nexus and others that developed causes related to climate change. Some candidates were confused by the focus on progress and examined the absolute lack of water as a reason which was not the core of the question.

b.

The concept of the circular economy was understood by the majority of candidates, but many found difficulty in applying it to the two elements of the question. Comments on the economic advantages often focused on raw materials but having recognized the savings that would be made many answers failed to develop this effectively. A recurrent feature of answers was that they could identify the advantage, but development seemed to be more difficult. Responses to environmental advantages generally fared better with candidates recognizing that less waste was produced and linking this with improvements to habits, terrain and location.

c.

Syllabus sections

Unit 2: Global climate—vulnerability and resilience » 2.1. Causes of global climate change
Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security » 3.3. Resource stewardship
Unit 2: Global climate—vulnerability and resilience
Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security

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