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Cameroon GCE O-Level Geography study materials
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Cameroon GCE O-Level Geography practice questions

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Question 1Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best describes the term 'geomorphology' as used in Cameroon GCE O-Level Geography?

  1. The study of the distribution of plants and animals
  2. The study of the atmosphere and weather systems
  3. The study of the origin and evolution of landforms Correct answer.
  4. The study of population distribution and migration

Explanation

Geomorphology is the branch of physical geography concerned with the origin and development of landforms and the processes that shape them. In the Cameroon syllabus it links to the study of relief, drainage and erosion. The other options describe climatology, demography and biogeography respectively.

Question 2Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

The imaginary line passing through the centre of the Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole is called the:

  1. Equator
  2. Prime Meridian
  3. Earth's axis Correct answer.
  4. Tropic of Cancer

Explanation

The Earth's axis is the imaginary line through the poles around which the planet rotates. Rotation about this axis once every 24 hours produces day and night. The Equator and Tropics are lines of latitude on the surface, while the Prime Meridian is a line of longitude.

Question 3Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the main cause of the equatorial climate experienced in southern Cameroon?

  1. The cold offshore Benguela current
  2. Its high altitude above sea level
  3. Its position on the leeward side of mountains
  4. Its location within the equatorial belt influenced by the ITCZ Correct answer.

Explanation

Southern Cameroon lies near the Equator where the Intertropical Convergence Zone brings heavy convectional rainfall and high temperatures throughout the year. The equatorial belt receives near-vertical sun rays, producing a hot, wet climate. Altitude modifies climate locally but is not the regional cause.

Question 4Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which vegetation type is most typical of the humid equatorial zone around Yaoundé and Ebolowa?

  1. Tropical rainforest Correct answer.
  2. Tropical savanna grassland
  3. Montane moorland
  4. Mangrove swamp

Explanation

Areas near Yaoundé and Ebolowa receive high rainfall and constant heat, supporting dense evergreen tropical rainforest with tall trees and a closed canopy. Savanna requires a distinct dry season, mangroves need brackish coastal water, and moorland occurs at high altitude.

Question 5Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A river rises in the Cameroon Highlands and flows south to the Atlantic Ocean. On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, the river measures 12 cm. What is its actual length?

  1. 6 km Correct answer.
  2. 24 km
  3. 12 km
  4. 60 km

Explanation

A scale of 1:50,000 means 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm on the ground, which equals 0.5 km. Multiplying 12 cm by 0.5 km gives 6 km. Converting units carefully is essential for map-distance calculations.

Question 6Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

On a topographical map, closely spaced contour lines indicate:

  1. A steep slope Correct answer.
  2. A river valley floor
  3. A gentle slope
  4. A flat plain

Explanation

Contour lines join points of equal height, so where they are packed closely together the ground rises or falls rapidly over a short horizontal distance, indicating a steep slope. Widely spaced contours indicate gentle slopes, and a flat plain would show very few contours.

Question 7Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following processes is the main way in which waterfalls form along a river course?

  1. Lateral erosion of the outer bank at a meander
  2. Evaporation reducing the river's discharge
  3. Deposition of alluvium across the channel
  4. Differential erosion where a band of hard rock overlies soft rock Correct answer.

Explanation

A waterfall commonly develops where a river crosses a boundary between resistant rock and softer rock. The soft rock is eroded more quickly, creating a step over which the water plunges. The hard caprock is undercut until it collapses, so the fall retreats upstream.

Question 8Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of a youthful stage river valley?

  1. An oxbow lake
  2. A delta at the mouth
  3. A wide floodplain with levees
  4. A V-shaped valley with rapids Correct answer.

Explanation

In the youthful stage the river has a steep gradient and high energy, so it erodes vertically, cutting a narrow V-shaped valley. Rapids and waterfalls are common where the channel crosses hard rock. Floodplains, oxbow lakes and deltas belong to the mature and old stages.

Question 9Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Laterite soils, common in parts of Cameroon, are best described as:

  1. Deep, dark, humus-rich soils of temperate grasslands
  2. Waterlogged organic soils of coastal swamps
  3. Fine wind-blown deposits of desert margins
  4. Leached, iron-rich red soils formed under tropical conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

Laterite soils form in hot, wet tropical climates where heavy rainfall leaches soluble bases and silica, leaving iron and aluminium oxides that give a red colour. They harden when exposed and are often of low fertility. The other options describe chernozems, loess and peat respectively.

Question 10Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following human activities is the greatest direct cause of deforestation in Cameroon?

  1. Terrace farming on highland slopes
  2. Commercial timber logging and shifting cultivation Correct answer.
  3. Fishing along the Atlantic coast
  4. Herding of reindeer

Explanation

Deforestation in Cameroon is driven mainly by commercial logging for tropical hardwoods and by shifting cultivation as farmers clear forest for food crops. Both remove tree cover and expose soils to erosion. Terrace farming, fishing and reindeer herding are not major causes of forest loss there.

Question 11Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

The population of a town was 40,000 in 2010 and 52,000 in 2020. What was the percentage increase over the decade?

  1. 12%
  2. 30% Correct answer.
  3. 23%
  4. 40%

Explanation

The increase is 52,000 minus 40,000, which equals 12,000. Dividing 12,000 by the original 40,000 gives 0.30, so the percentage increase is 30%. Always divide by the original value, not the final value.

Question 12Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why the population density of Cameroon's forested south is lower than that of the western highlands?

  1. The south is entirely covered by desert
  2. The south has dense forest, poor soils and fewer economic opportunities Correct answer.
  3. The south has no rainfall
  4. The south is too cold for settlement

Explanation

The humid forest zone has leached, less fertile soils, difficult transport through dense vegetation and fewer urban industries, so it supports fewer people. The western highlands offer fertile volcanic soils, cooler conditions and established towns and farming. Physical and economic factors together explain the difference.

Question 13Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

The movement of people from rural areas to towns and cities is known as:

  1. Nomadic herding
  2. Rural-urban migration Correct answer.
  3. Transhumance
  4. International migration

Explanation

Rural-urban migration is the movement of people from the countryside to towns and cities, often driven by push factors such as low farm incomes and pull factors such as jobs and services. It contributes to rapid urban growth in Cameroon. Transhumance is the seasonal movement of livestock, not people to cities.

Question 14Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is a push factor encouraging people to leave a rural area?

  1. High soil fertility and good harvests
  2. Presence of piped water and clinics
  3. Lack of schools and poor farm incomes Correct answer.
  4. Availability of jobs in nearby towns

Explanation

Push factors are negative conditions that drive people away from a place, such as poor services, low incomes and land pressure. Lack of schools and low farm incomes therefore encourage out-migration. The other options are pull factors that attract people to stay or move in.

Question 15Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following crops is a major cash crop grown in the volcanic soils of western Cameroon?

  1. Cocoa Correct answer.
  2. Rubber
  3. Rice
  4. Millet

Explanation

Cocoa is a major export cash crop of Cameroon, grown widely in the forest zone including the southwest and western areas with suitable rainfall and fertile soils. Rubber is also grown but on coastal plantations, while millet and rice are mainly food crops. Cocoa remains a leading earner of foreign exchange.

Question 16Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following factors most favours the location of an aluminium smelter at Edéa in Cameroon?

  1. Deep-water port facilities at the site
  2. Large local deposits of bauxite ore
  3. Abundant cheap hydroelectric power from the Sanaga River Correct answer.
  4. A cold climate suitable for smelting

Explanation

Aluminium smelting requires very large amounts of electricity, so smelters are located near cheap and reliable power supplies. The Edéa plant uses hydroelectricity from the Sanaga River. Bauxite is imported, and the site is inland rather than a deep-water port.

Question 17Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is an example of a renewable source of energy?

  1. Natural gas
  2. Coal
  3. Petroleum
  4. Hydroelectric power Correct answer.

Explanation

Renewable energy sources are naturally replenished on a human timescale. Hydroelectric power is generated from flowing water, which is continually renewed by the water cycle, making it renewable. Coal, natural gas and petroleum are fossil fuels that take millions of years to form and are therefore non-renewable.

Question 18Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

The process by which water vapour changes directly into liquid droplets to form clouds is called:

  1. Condensation Correct answer.
  2. Transpiration
  3. Precipitation
  4. Evaporation

Explanation

Condensation is the change of water vapour into liquid water when air is cooled to its dew point, forming cloud droplets. Evaporation is the reverse process, precipitation is water falling from clouds, and transpiration is water loss from plants. These are all stages of the hydrological cycle.

Question 19Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best describes the role of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in West African rainfall patterns?

  1. It brings dry dusty winds from the Sahara
  2. It marks the meeting of moist equatorial air and dry northern air, controlling the rainy season Correct answer.
  3. It causes permanent drought across the region
  4. It prevents any rainfall in coastal areas

Explanation

The ITCZ is a zone where moist maritime air from the south meets drier air from the north, forcing the moist air to rise and produce rain. Its seasonal northward and southward migration determines when the rainy season reaches different latitudes. Areas north of the ITCZ receive dry harmattan winds.

Question 20Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A farmer in northern Cameroon notices that his land is becoming bare and gullied after years of continuous cropping. Which combination of practices would best reduce this soil erosion?

  1. Contour ploughing, terracing and adding organic matter Correct answer.
  2. Continuous monocropping and removal of all crop residues
  3. Increasing the stocking rate of grazing animals
  4. Deep ploughing downslope and burning of vegetation

Explanation

Contour ploughing and terracing reduce the speed of runoff and trap soil on slopes, while organic matter improves structure and infiltration. Together they protect the soil surface and reduce gully formation. Removing residues, downslope ploughing and overgrazing all accelerate erosion.

Question 21Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes weather from climate?

  1. Climate changes daily while weather remains constant
  2. Weather and climate are identical terms
  3. Weather refers to long-term averages; climate refers to short-term conditions
  4. Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time; climate is the average over many years Correct answer.

Explanation

Weather describes the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, rainfall and wind. Climate is the average pattern of weather over a long period, usually 30 years. The two concepts differ in time span and stability.

Question 22Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Mount Cameroon rises to over 4,000 m. Which of the following explains why its summit is much cooler than the coastal town of Limbe at its foot?

  1. The summit has higher atmospheric pressure
  2. The summit receives less sunlight than the coast
  3. Temperature decreases by about 6.5 degrees Celsius per 1,000 m of ascent Correct answer.
  4. The coast is closer to the Equator

Explanation

In the troposphere temperature falls with height at a normal lapse rate of about 6.5 degrees Celsius per 1,000 m. A 4,000 m climb therefore lowers temperature by roughly 26 degrees Celsius, making the summit much cooler than the coast. Atmospheric pressure also falls with altitude.

Question 23Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the most important function of a mangrove forest along Cameroon's coast?

  1. Supplying hydroelectric power
  2. Producing volcanic soil
  3. Providing timber for export
  4. Stabilising the shoreline and serving as a fish nursery Correct answer.

Explanation

Mangrove roots trap sediment, reduce coastal erosion and shelter fish and prawns during breeding, which supports coastal fisheries. They also protect the shore from storm waves. Although some timber is used locally, export is not their main function, and they have no link to hydropower or volcanism.

Question 24Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A town on a map is located where a river emerges from a mountain valley onto a flat plain. Which landform is most likely to develop at this point?

  1. A meander scar
  2. An alluvial fan Correct answer.
  3. A hanging valley
  4. A fjord

Explanation

When a steep mountain stream reaches a flat plain, its gradient and velocity fall sharply, so it deposits its coarse load in a fan-shaped spread called an alluvial fan. The sudden loss of energy causes the deposition. Hanging valleys, meander scars and fjords form under different conditions.

Question 25Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why Cameroon's northern region has a shorter rainy season than the south?

  1. The north is affected by cold ocean currents
  2. The north is at a higher altitude than the south
  3. The north receives no sunshine
  4. The north lies farther from the Equator, so the ITCZ reaches it for a shorter period Correct answer.

Explanation

The ITCZ migrates north and south with the overhead sun. Because northern Cameroon is farther from the Equator, the ITCZ brings rain there only briefly before retreating, giving a single short wet season. The south stays near the ITCZ longer and receives rain over many months.

Question 26Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A map has a scale of 1:50,000. Two villages are 8 cm apart on the map. What is the actual straight-line distance between them on the ground?

  1. 8 km
  2. 40 km
  3. 4 km Correct answer.
  4. 400 km

Explanation

A scale of 1:50,000 means 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm on the ground, which equals 0.5 km. Multiplying 8 cm by 0.5 km gives 4 km. Converting units correctly is the key step in map-scale calculations.

Question 27Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

On a topographical map, a V-shaped contour pattern pointing upstream where a contour crosses a valley indicates that the land is:

  1. a steep cliff face
  2. a spur projecting into the valley Correct answer.
  3. a depression or hollow
  4. a gently sloping plateau

Explanation

Where contours cross a valley they bend to point upstream, and the ground between successive Vs forms a ridge-like projection called a spur. Spurs are the positive relief feature between two adjacent valleys. Recognising this pattern lets you interpret three-dimensional relief from a flat map.

Question 28Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best describes the climate of the Cameroon coast around Douala?

  1. Cool and dry for most of the year
  2. Temperate with cold winters and warm summers
  3. Hot and humid throughout the year with two rainy seasons Correct answer.
  4. Hot and dry with a single short rainy season

Explanation

The coastal lowlands of Cameroon lie close to the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea, giving high temperatures and heavy humidity all year. Rainfall is spread across two wet maxima linked to the passage of the ITCZ overhead twice annually. This produces the equatorial double-maximum rainfall pattern.

Question 29Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

In the Sudano-Sahelian zone of northern Cameroon, the natural vegetation is best described as:

  1. mangrove swamp forest
  2. savanna grassland with scattered drought-resistant trees Correct answer.
  3. dense evergreen rainforest
  4. temperate deciduous woodland

Explanation

Northern Cameroon has a long dry season and relatively low annual rainfall, which supports savanna: tall grasses with scattered fire- and drought-tolerant trees such as acacia and baobab. The vegetation thins progressively northwards towards the Sahel. Rainfall totals, not temperature, are the main control here.

Question 30Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the main reason why the Benue and Sanaga rivers carry much more water in August than in February?

  1. Rainfall in their catchments is concentrated in the wet season Correct answer.
  2. August temperatures increase evaporation from the river channel
  3. February is when tributaries are dammed for irrigation
  4. The rivers are fed by snowmelt that peaks in August

Explanation

River discharge in this region follows the rainfall regime, so the wet-season months bring high flow and the dry-season months bring low flow. Snowmelt plays no role because the catchments are tropical and low-lying. Seasonal discharge variation is therefore a direct response to rainfall distribution.

Question 31Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is a characteristic of a meandering river in its middle course?

  1. A braided channel choked with glacial boulders
  2. Rapid downcutting over a waterfall
  3. Deposition on the inner bank and erosion on the outer bank Correct answer.
  4. A straight channel cut deeply into a V-shaped valley

Explanation

In a meander, faster flow swings towards the outer bank and erodes it, while slower water on the inner bank deposits sediment to build a slip-off slope. This lateral migration is why meanders shift across the floodplain over time. The process combines erosion and deposition within the same cross-section.

Question 32Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why the Adamawa Plateau is cooler than the surrounding lowlands of Cameroon?

  1. It has more vegetation to absorb heat
  2. It receives less sunshine than the lowlands
  3. It is further from the sea than the lowlands
  4. Temperature falls with increasing altitude Correct answer.

Explanation

The environmental lapse rate means air temperature decreases by roughly 6.5 °C per 1,000 m of ascent in the lower atmosphere. Because the Adamawa Plateau stands well above the surrounding plains, its average temperatures are noticeably lower. Altitude, not distance from the sea, is the dominant control here.

Question 33Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A settlement in Cameroon grows at a site where two trade routes cross a river at a ford. Which site factor does this illustrate?

  1. Bridging point and route focus Correct answer.
  2. Fertile alluvial soils
  3. Aspect and shelter
  4. Defensive site

Explanation

Settlements often develop at route nodes and river crossing points because these locations attract traffic, trade and services. A ford where routes converge is a classic bridging-point site. The advantage is accessibility rather than defence or agriculture.

Question 34Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the best example of a secondary economic activity?

  1. Processing cocoa beans into chocolate in a factory Correct answer.
  2. Growing cocoa on a smallholding
  3. Transporting cocoa beans to a port
  4. Selling chocolate in a supermarket

Explanation

Secondary activities transform raw materials into manufactured goods, adding value through processing. Turning cocoa beans into chocolate is manufacturing and therefore secondary. Growing is primary, while selling and transporting are tertiary services.

Question 35Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is a likely consequence of rapid urban growth in a city such as Douala?

  1. A rapid reduction in the urban population
  2. A decline in the number of informal settlements
  3. A fall in demand for public transport
  4. Increased pressure on housing, water and waste services Correct answer.

Explanation

When a city's population grows faster than its infrastructure, housing shortages, strained water supplies and inadequate waste collection are common outcomes. Informal settlements often expand as a response to unmet housing demand. Service provision, not population decline, is the pressure point.

Question 36Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a land-use survey in a rural area of Cameroon?

  1. To record how land parcels are currently used so that planning decisions can be made Correct answer.
  2. To determine the age of rocks beneath the soil
  3. To measure the exact height of every building in a village
  4. To count the number of vehicles passing on a road

Explanation

A land-use survey maps what each parcel of land is used for, such as cropping, grazing, forest or settlement. Planners use this record to allocate land, resolve conflicts and target development. It is a spatial inventory rather than a geological or traffic study.

Question 37Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A country has a population of 20 million, a birth rate of 40 per 1,000 and a death rate of 15 per 1,000. What is its annual natural increase in absolute numbers?

  1. 1,100,000
  2. 250,000
  3. 500,000 Correct answer.
  4. 800,000

Explanation

Natural increase equals the birth rate minus the death rate: 40 − 15 = 25 per 1,000. Applying this to 20 million people gives 20,000,000 × 25 ÷ 1,000 = 500,000. The figure excludes migration, which is why it is called natural increase.

Question 38Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the most direct cause of soil erosion on steep slopes in the western highlands of Cameroon?

  1. Terracing of hillsides for farming
  2. Planting of contour hedgerows
  3. Construction of drainage channels
  4. Removal of vegetation cover and cultivation downslope Correct answer.

Explanation

Vegetation protects soil by intercepting raindrops and binding particles with roots. When it is cleared and crops are planted up and down a slope, runoff accelerates and washes topsoil away. Terracing, hedgerows and drainage are all conservation measures that reduce erosion.

Question 39Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why the aluminium smelter at Edéa depends on hydroelectric power?

  1. Smelting aluminium requires very large amounts of electricity Correct answer.
  2. Smelting produces electricity as a by-product
  3. Hydroelectricity is the only energy source available in Cameroon
  4. Aluminium ore can only be smelted near a river

Explanation

Extracting aluminium from alumina by electrolysis consumes enormous quantities of electrical energy, so smelters are sited where cheap, reliable power is available. The Sanaga falls at Edéa provide that hydroelectric capacity. The ore itself, bauxite, is not mined at the site.

Question 40Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is a renewable resource that is widely used for domestic cooking in Cameroon?

  1. Coal imported from abroad
  2. Firewood from managed woodlots Correct answer.
  3. Natural gas from offshore fields
  4. Kerosene from refined crude oil

Explanation

Firewood is renewable when harvested from woodlots that are replanted at the same rate as they are cut. Kerosene, natural gas and coal are fossil fuels formed over millions of years and are therefore finite. The distinction rests on whether the resource regenerates within a human timescale.

Question 41Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is an example of a tertiary activity in the Cameroonian economy?

  1. Fishing in an inland lake
  2. Banking services in a city centre Correct answer.
  3. Weaving baskets by hand
  4. Quarrying limestone

Explanation

Tertiary activities provide services rather than extracting or manufacturing goods. Banking, insurance, retail and tourism are typical examples. Fishing and quarrying are primary, while hand weaving is a manufacturing or craft activity.

Question 42Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why the population of a coastal fishing village may increase even when its birth rate falls?

  1. Death rates rise sharply at the same time
  2. In-migration exceeds the natural decrease from falling births Correct answer.
  3. Emigration from the village increases
  4. Birth rates always fall faster than death rates

Explanation

Total population change combines natural change (births minus deaths) with net migration. A fall in births slows natural growth but does not prevent growth if more people move in than move out. Migration can therefore offset or outweigh a declining birth rate.

Question 43Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following statements about the rain shadow effect is correct?

  1. Rainfall is heaviest on the leeward slope of a mountain
  2. Air descending on the leeward slope warms and becomes drier Correct answer.
  3. Windward slopes are always drier than leeward slopes
  4. Air cools and condenses as it descends a mountain slope

Explanation

Air forced to rise over a mountain cools and releases moisture as rain on the windward side. As it descends the leeward side it warms, so its relative humidity falls and little rain occurs there. This creates the dry rain-shadow zone behind high ground.

Question 44Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A survey map shows a settlement surrounded by land that is flooded for part of each year. Which land-use category best describes this land?

  1. Swamp or marsh Correct answer.
  2. Arable cropland
  3. Plantation
  4. Built-up area

Explanation

Land that is seasonally or permanently waterlogged is classified as swamp or marsh on land-use maps. Such land is usually shown with a distinctive symbol and is unsuited to most cultivation or building. The seasonal flooding is the defining characteristic.

Question 45Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why Cameroon's forested south has a lower population density than the highlands of the west?

  1. The forest zone has poorer soils and a higher disease burden from tsetse and mosquitoes Correct answer.
  2. The forest zone receives too little rainfall for farming
  3. The forest zone is too cold for permanent settlement
  4. The forest zone has no rivers or water sources

Explanation

Dense equatorial forest is difficult to clear, its leached soils are often infertile for continuous cropping, and humid lowlands carry a heavy burden of vector-borne disease. The western highlands combine fertile volcanic soils, cooler conditions and long-established settlement. Physical and health factors together explain the density difference.

Question 46Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the main function of a seaport such as Douala in Cameroon's economy?

  1. To provide electricity for the national grid
  2. To store agricultural produce indefinitely
  3. To handle the import and export of goods for the hinterland Correct answer.
  4. To serve as a centre for mining

Explanation

A seaport is a transfer point where cargo is loaded and unloaded between ships and land transport, serving the trade of its hinterland. Douala handles most of Cameroon's external trade, including cocoa, timber and imported manufactures. Ports are transport nodes, not power stations or mines.

Question 47Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best describes the difference between a census and a sample survey?

  1. A census counts everyone in a population, while a sample survey counts only a selected part Correct answer.
  2. A census measures only births, while a sample survey measures only deaths
  3. A census is used only in rural areas, while a sample survey is used only in towns
  4. A census is taken every year, while a sample survey is taken once a decade

Explanation

A census aims to enumerate every member of a defined population, giving complete but costly data. A sample survey collects information from a representative subset and uses it to infer characteristics of the whole. The distinction is coverage, not frequency or location.

Question 48Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following is the best example of a push factor in migration?

  1. Better schools in a nearby town
  2. Loss of farmland through desertification Correct answer.
  3. Improved health facilities in a destination area
  4. A well-paid job advertised in a city

Explanation

Push factors are negative conditions at the place of origin that encourage people to leave, such as land degradation, drought or conflict. Pull factors are attractions at the destination. Loss of farmland through desertification is clearly a condition of the origin area.

Question 49Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

A river gauge records a discharge of 30 cubic metres per second in March and 180 cubic metres per second in September. Which of the following best explains this pattern?

  1. The river flows underground for most of the year
  2. The river's catchment is entirely arid with no seasonal rainfall
  3. The river is fed mainly by melting glaciers in September
  4. The river has a wet-season peak and a dry-season low flow Correct answer.

Explanation

A sixfold rise in discharge between March and September reflects the seasonal distribution of rainfall in the catchment. High flow follows the wet season, and low flow follows the dry season. This seasonal rhythm is the defining feature of a river regime in a tropical climate.

Question 50Unspecified - source does not enumerate content domains

Which of the following best explains why contour lines that are very close together on a map indicate a steep slope?

  1. Close contours show that the map scale is very small
  2. Close contours show that the land is flat and featureless
  3. Each contour represents the same height, so close spacing means height changes rapidly over a short distance Correct answer.
  4. Close contours indicate that the area is covered by water

Explanation

Contours join points of equal elevation, so the horizontal distance between them shows how quickly height changes. Where they crowd together, a large height gain occurs over a short horizontal distance, which is a steep gradient. Widely spaced contours indicate gentle slopes.