| Date | May 2017 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 17M.1.SL.TZ0.9 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Describe | Question number | 9 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Figure 8: Area used for grain production and quantity of grain produced between 1990 and 2014
Describe the relationship between harvested area and grain production as shown in the resource booklet, Figure 8.
With reference to Figure 8, outline two reasons for the relationship between the area used for grain production and the quantity of grain produced.
Markscheme
the amount of grain production has significantly increased over time / the amount of grain produced has increased almost 4-fold / from about 50 million tonnes to about 200 million tonnes over 24 years;
whereas the amount of land used to grow grain has only increased slightly/from about 30 million hectares to about 50 million hectares;
the increase in land used is not proportional to the increase in grain production / grain production is independent to harvested area / there is no relationship between grain production and land harvested / grain production has increased more rapidly than harvested area;
there is a (slight/small) positive relationship/correlation between the amount of land used and amount of grain produced / crop production increases (to some extent) with the amount of land used.
If quantification is used the units should be correct, ie either in thousand thousand/million hectares/tonnes.
[2 max]
intensification of farming methods/technological improvements that does not increase amount of land used to grow more crops / more efficient land use leads to increase in crop production;
increase in use of fertilizers to increase crop production;
increase in irrigation to increase crop production;
use of pesticides to reduce crop losses to pests or reduce competition;
growing pest resistant plants resulting in higher yields;
use of crop varieties (genetically modified organisms GMOs) that produce high yields / high yielding varieties HYV;
use of crops that grow more quickly allowing multiple harvests;
increase in mechanization allowing greater speed of planting/harvesting crops reducing crop losses;
increase in number of times crops are planted in a year.
Do not accept “more land available, the more grain can be produced” as it does not address the large increase in crop production.
Method must relate to increase in crop production.
Accept any other reasonable suggestions.
[2 max]
Examiners report
Most candidates scored at least 1 mark on this question although some responses lacked the necessary detail or did not include the correct units as specified on the y-axis in Figure 8.
Many candidates were unable to explain why the level of grain production had significantly increased with only a relatively small increase in the amount of land used and simply suggested that the increase in production was due to an increase in land used. Those that gave a correct response often referred to improvements in technology or use of fertilizers that have allowed grain production levels to increase without increasing the amount of land used. Some candidates did not link ‘cause’ with ‘effect’ i.e. they stated ‘use of fertilizers’ without linking it to an increase in grain production.
