A2 Geography: Global issues

Exemplar essay questions

Earth hazards (always essay questions 7 and 8)
aw
To what extent is poverty the real killer in earthquake disasters?
Discuss the view that the management of earth hazards is more successful in urban than
in rural areas.
!pe"imen paper
Examine the view that in ED!s the long term impacts of earth hazards are more
significant than the short term impacts.
"The growth of urban areas# in the past $% years# has greatly increased the risks presented
by earth hazards.& Discuss the validity of this statement.
#anuary 2$%$
"'isks from flooding owe more to physical factors than human factors.& (ow far do you
agree with this view?
)ssess the extent to which primary rather than secondary impacts are the more serious
effects arising from volcanic eruptions.
#une 2$%$
To what extent is the impact of an earthquake related to its strength?
"The causes of earth hazards owe more to human than to physical factors.& Discuss.
#anuary 2$%%
To what extent is there a range of human responses to hazards associated with mass
movement?
"*mpacts from earth hazards owe more to physical factors than human factors.& (ow far do
you agree?
#une 2$%%
To what extent is there a range of human responses to earth hazards?
"The impacts of flooding are essentially the same wherever they occur.& Discuss.
#anuary 2$%2
)ssess the extent to which risk from mass movement results more from human rather than
physical factors.
(ow significant is the level of economic development of an area in determining the impacts
of earth hazards?
#une 2$%2
To what extent can volcanic hazarsd be managed effectively?
"The impacts of earth hazards tend to be short term.& Discuss.
#anuary 2$%&
To what extent do human factors contribute to risks of flooding?
"+rimary impacts of earth hazards are more serious than secondary ones.& Discuss.
#une 2$%&
(ow far is it possible to reduce rrisk from earth hazards?
,The main impacts arising from mass movement events are environmental rather than
social-. (ow far do you agree?
'limati" hazards (always essay questions %% and %2)
aw
*n hurricane hazards# "storm surges pose the greatest threat to life and property&# ./ederal
Emergency 0anagement )gency1. Discuss the validity of this statement.
2hy# and to what extent# are populations in ED!s more vulnerable to hurricane hazards
than those living in 0ED!s?
!pe"imen paper
To what extent is global warming a ma3or threat to the population of the planet?
"!oastal areas are more vulnerable to climatic hazards than areas inland.& (ow far do you
agree with this statement?
#anuary 2$%$
To what extent are the impacts of tropical storms more than 3ust environmental?
Evaluate strategies used to reduce the impacts of climatic hazards.
#une 2$%$
"ow pressure atmospheric systems have more of a short4term impact than high pressure
systems.& Discuss.
Evaluate the success of strategies used to reduce the impact of either acid rain or
photochemical smog.
#anuary 2$%%
To what extent are immediate impacts from climatic hazards more serious than long4term
ones?
"The impacts of tropical storms depend on location.& (ow far do you agree?
#une 2$%%
To what extent is it possible to predict climatic hazards?
"(azards arising from depressions are immediate# whereas those arising from anticyclones
are longer term.& Discuss.
#anuary 2$%2
"(azards resulting from extreme weather have more serious economic impacts than
environmental impacts.& Discuss.
"The principal causes of global warming are the result of human activities.& Discuss.
#une 2$%2
!an impacts of climatic hazards be managed successfully?
Discuss the view that most impacts arising from depressions are local# whereas those from
anticyclones are regional.
#anuary 2$%&
"*mpacts from tropical storms are essentially the same wherever they occur&. Discuss.
(ow far do you agree that the effects of climatic hazards are more serious in the long term
than the short term?
#une 2$%&
(ow far is it possible to reduce the impacts of climate hazards?
To what extent are the risks from anticyclone the result of physical factors?
Globalisation (always essay questions %( and %))
*ou might be able to ta"+le some o, these using your +nowledge ,rom the
-.e/elopment and inequalities0 unit1
aw
Discuss the view that the impact of inward investment by transnational corporations on an
area is often more harmful than beneficial.
(ow and with what success have governments managed the harmful economic# social and
environmental effects of globalisation?
!pe"imen paper
To what extent do Trans45ational !orporations bring both benefits and problems to the
areas in which they locate?
"*nternational aid brings both benefits and problems for a country trying to develop its
economy.& 2ith the aid of named examples evaluate this view.
#anuary 2$%$
)ssess the extent to which globalisation brings advantages only to 0ED!s.
Evaluate the role of international trade agreements in influencing global patterns of
production.
#une 2$%$
To what extent do transnational corporations .T5!s1 bring more advantages than
disadvantages to the countries in which they operate?
!an aid ever do more than reinforce dependence?
#anuary 2$%%
Evaluate impacts of transnational corporations .T5!s1 in ED!s and6or 5*!s.
"7lobalisation is mainly an economic process.& Discuss.
#une 2$%%
"7lobalisation brings only advantages.& Discuss.
Evaluate attempts by the government of one country to manage the impacts of
globalisation.
#anuary 2$%2
To what extent can aid bring advantages to those receiving it?
"Environmental impacts of globalisation are always negative.& Discuss.
#une 2$%2
"*nternational trade offers both opportunities and challenges.& Discuss with reference to
different countries.
!an globalisation narrow the divide between rich and poor?
#anuary 2$%&
To what extent is globalisation a cultural process?
Evaluate impacts of transnational corporations .T5!s1 on 0ED!s.
#une 2$%&
To what extent have the impacts of globalisation been managed successfully by an
individual government?
)ssess the degree to which international aid benefits both donors and recipients.
.e/elopment and inequalities (always essay questions %7 and %8)
aw
!onsider the view that economic development increases inequalities both within and
between countries.
(ow and to what extent is it possible to reduce social and economic inequalities?
!pe"imen paper
2ith reference to one named country evaluate attempts that have been made to reduce
social and economic inequalities.
"The most important factors in decreasing the "Development 7ap& between regions are
political.& To what extent do you agree with this viewpoint?
#anuary 2$%$
"The level of economic development influences the quality of life.& Discuss.
2ith reference to one named country# assess the degree to which inequalities within it
have been reduced.
#une 2$%$
"Development increases inequalities within a country.& Discuss this viewpoint in the context
of one named country.
)ssess the extent to which the Development 7ap is narrowing.
#anuary 2$%%
Discuss the extent to which physical factors hinder the development process.
Evaluate the success of methods used in reducing inequalities in any one named country.
#une 2$%%
To what extent have historical factors influenced levels of development?
)ssess the degree to which inequalities within one named region or city result from
economic factors.
#anuary 2$%2
To what extent do economic inequalities within a country result in social and environmental
inequalities?
"7lobal inequalities can never be eliminated.& Discuss.
#une 2$%2
Evaluate the role of political factors in the development process.
!an improvements in quality of life be achieved without first establishing economic
development?
#anuary 2$%&
Evaluate different ways used to measure levels of development and quality of life.
)ssess the extent to which economic inequalities influence social and environmental
issues within one named region or city.
#une 2$%&2