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Galicia PAU Geography study materials
Galicia PAU Geography study resources

Galicia PAU Geography practice questions

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Question 1Maps, statistics, spatial analysis and fieldwork

On a map, the ratio 1:50,000 is an example of which type of scale?

  1. Verbal scale
  2. Graphic (bar) scale
  3. Nominal scale
  4. Representative fraction scale Correct answer.

Explanation

A representative fraction (RF) expresses scale as a ratio such as 1:50,000, meaning one unit on the map equals 50,000 of the same units on the ground. It is unitless, so it works for any measurement system. A verbal scale states the relationship in words, and a graphic scale uses a marked bar.

Question 2Physical geography and earth-surface processes

A deep ocean trench, frequent earthquakes, and a volcanic mountain arc are most characteristic of which plate boundary?

  1. Divergent boundary
  2. Transform boundary
  3. Hotspot far from any boundary
  4. Convergent (subduction) boundary Correct answer.

Explanation

At a convergent boundary where an oceanic plate subducts beneath another plate, a deep trench forms at the subduction line, and melting of the descending slab feeds a volcanic arc. The Andes and the Japanese island arc are examples.

Question 3Climate systems and environmental change

Which statement about the Equator's climate is most accurate?

  1. It experiences four distinct temperate seasons
  2. It is dominated by polar high pressure and aridity
  3. It has the largest annual temperature range on Earth
  4. It receives relatively consistent, high solar energy year-round, producing warm temperatures Correct answer.

Explanation

Near the Equator the Sun's rays strike at a high angle throughout the year, delivering consistently high insolation. This produces warm temperatures with small annual variation; in humid equatorial regions it also produces year-round rainfall and rainforest vegetation.

Question 4Rivers, coasts and catchment water accounting

In a developing river meander bend, where do lateral erosion and sediment deposition predominantly take place?

  1. Erosion on the inner convex bank; Deposition on the outer concave bank
  2. Erosion on the outer concave bank; Deposition on the inner convex bank (slip-off slope) Correct answer.
  3. Erosion across both banks equally; Deposition only on the river bed centre
  4. Deposition along the outer bank; Zero erosion anywhere along the bend

Explanation

In a meander, helicoidal water flow travels fastest on the outside of the bend (outer concave bank), creating lateral erosion and forming a steep river cliff. Water flows slowest on the inside of the bend (inner convex bank), reducing energy and depositing sand/gravel to form a gently sloping slip-off slope (point bar).

Question 5Population, cities, economic location and development

In the demographic transition model, a country with high birth rates and rapidly declining death rates, producing very high population growth, is in which stage?

  1. Stage 1
  2. Stage 4
  3. Stage 5
  4. Stage 2 Correct answer.

Explanation

Stage 2 of the demographic transition model features continued high birth rates but sharply falling death rates due to improvements in food supply, sanitation, and medicine. This gap produces the most rapid natural population increase.

Question 6Resources, environment and sustainability

Overdrawing groundwater from an aquifer faster than it recharges most directly leads to

  1. falling water tables, well failure, and possible land subsidence Correct answer.
  2. rising water tables and flooding
  3. increased rainfall in the region
  4. the formation of new mountains

Explanation

When groundwater is pumped faster than natural recharge, the water table drops, wells can run dry, pumping costs rise, and in some areas the land surface subsides. This is a major sustainability concern for aquifers like the Ogallala.

Question 7Regional comparison and territorial scales

A region develops specialty fruit farming because of unique climate, brand reputation, and transport to cities. This best illustrates:

  1. Using regional comparative advantages Correct answer.
  2. Ignoring all market demand
  3. A purely random land-use choice
  4. The absence of human-environment interaction

Explanation

Regional development often builds on local physical and human advantages. Climate, branding, and market access combine to create a competitive specialty sector.

Question 8Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Which tectonic process primarily shaped the Macizo Galaico during the Cenozoic era into its current block-faulted relief?

  1. Re-fracturing of the Hercynian basement during Alpine orogeny Correct answer.
  2. Fold-thrust mountain building of Mesozoic marine sediments
  3. Widespread volcanic rifting and basaltic plateau formation
  4. Quaternary glacio-isostatic uplift of coastal plains

Explanation

The Macizo Galaico consists of a Paleozoic Hercynian (Variscan) crystalline basement. During the Cenozoic Alpine orogeny, rigid granitic and metamorphic rocks broke into horsts (raised blocks) and grabens (depressions) rather than folding.

Question 9Physical geography and earth-surface processes

What is the highest mountain peak in Galicia, located near the border between Ourense and Zamora?

  1. Pena Trevinca (2,127 m) Correct answer.
  2. Puig Major (1,445 m)
  3. Torre de Cerredo (2,648 m)
  4. Cabeza de Manzaneda (1,781 m)

Explanation

Pena Trevinca reaches 2,127 meters in the Macizo Ourensano / Montes de León, making it the highest elevation in the Autonomous Community of Galicia.

Question 10Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Which characteristic weathering landform is created in granitic areas of Galicia when chemical hydrolysis along orthogonal joints breaks bedrock into rounded boulders?

  1. Berrocal (chaos of boulders and tors) Correct answer.
  2. Karstic doline (sinkhole)
  3. Badlands rills and ravines
  4. Lapiez (karren micro-grooves)

Explanation

Hydrolysis of orthoclase feldspar in granitic bedrock creates saprolite along joint lines. Subsequent erosion washes away fine sediment, leaving a chaos of rounded tors and boulders known as a berrocal (or penedo/piornedo in Galician).

Question 11Physical geography and earth-surface processes

How were the Galician rías geomorphologically formed?

  1. Post-glacial marine submergence of pre-existing tectonic and river valleys Correct answer.
  2. Tectonic collapse of volcanic calderas flooded by ocean water
  3. Glacial fjord carving by deep Pleistocene valley glaciers reaching the ocean
  4. Coral reef accumulation enclosing coastal lagoons behind barrier islands

Explanation

Galician rías are flooded river valleys resulting from the post-glacial Flandrian eustatic sea-level rise (transgresión marina) entering pre-existing fault valleys carved into the Hercynian basement.

Question 12Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Which geomorphological contrast distinguishes the Rías Baixas from the Rías Altas?

  1. Rías Baixas are wider, more funnel-shaped, and deeply indented, whereas Rías Altas have steeper cliffs and narrower inlets Correct answer.
  2. Rías Baixas are U-shaped glacial fjords, while Rías Altas are coral-lined lagoons
  3. Rías Baixas drain directly into the Cantabrian Sea, while Rías Altas face the Mediterranean
  4. Rías Baixas formed in limestone karst, while Rías Altas formed in volcanic basalt

Explanation

The Rías Baixas (e.g., Vigo, Pontevedra, Arousa) feature wide, sheltered, funnel-shaped estuaries with low-gradient coastal margins, while the Rías Altas (e.g., Ortigueira, Viveiro) face open Atlantic/Cantabrian waters with steeper coastal topography and narrower inlets.

Question 13Physical geography and earth-surface processes

How does the Macizo Galaico relate structurally to the Meseta Central of the Iberian Peninsula?

  1. It forms the northwestern submerged and uplifted margin of the Hercynian basement Correct answer.
  2. It is an alpine mountain chain formed by collision between Spain and North Africa
  3. It is a recent Cenozoic sedimentary basin filled with clay and gypsum
  4. It is an isolated volcanic archipelago accreted to mainland Spain

Explanation

The Macizo Galaico is structurally continuous with the Hercynian (Variscan) basement of the Iberian Meseta, representing its elevated and block-faulted northwestern corner.

Question 14Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Which coastal landform is created when a sand spit connects an offshore granitic island to the mainland, as seen at A Lanzada in Pontevedra?

  1. Tómbolo Correct answer.
  2. Albufera
  3. Ría
  4. Estuary delta

Explanation

A tómbolo is a coastal depositional landform where a wave-built sand spit or bar bridges the gap between the mainland and a rocky island (e.g., connecting O Grove to the mainland at A Lanzada).

Question 15Physical geography and earth-surface processes

What type of geological deposit characterizes the interior tectonic depressions of Galicia, such as As Pontes de García Rodríguez and Monforte de Lemos?

  1. Cenozoic lacustrine sediments containing lignite coal and clay Correct answer.
  2. Mesozoic thick limestone reefs with cavernous karst caves
  3. Paleozoic high-grade metamorphic marble and diamond pipes
  4. Quaternary basaltic lava flows and volcanic ash

Explanation

The interior grabens (depressions) of Galicia accumulated Cenozoic lacustrine and fluvial sediments, including significant brown coal (lignite) deposits exploited historically at As Pontes and Meirama.

Question 16Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Which process generated the stepped fluvial terraces along the lower course of the Miño River?

  1. Quaternary climatic oscillations alternating between glacial aggradation and interglacial incision Correct answer.
  2. Tectonic volcanic eruptions blocking the river channel annually
  3. Chemical dissolution of granite bedrock by acidic rainwater
  4. Tidal storm surges depositing coral debris along riverbanks

Explanation

Quaternary climatic cycles caused sea-level and discharge variations, driving alternating periods of sediment accumulation (aggradation) and channel downcutting (incision) that produced flat fluvial terraces along the Miño.

Question 17Physical geography and earth-surface processes

The coastal cliffs of Serra da Capelada (Vixía Herbeira, over 600 meters high) are exceptional in Europe due to their height and geological composition of:

  1. Ultrabasic and oceanic crust rocks such as eclogites and serpentinites Correct answer.
  2. Soft Triassic red sandstone and gypsum strata
  3. Jurassic coral limestone and chalk cliffs
  4. Recent quaternary volcanic tuff and pumice

Explanation

Serra da Capelada features some of continental Europe's highest sea cliffs (>600 m) at Vixía Herbeira, composed of rare mantle/oceanic crust rocks (eclogites, granulites, serpentinites) uplifted during Paleozoic plate collisions.

Question 18Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Within the traditional lithological division of Spain (Siliceous, Calcified, and Clay Spain), Galicia belongs almost entirely to:

  1. Siliceous Spain (España silícea) Correct answer.
  2. Calcified Spain (España caliza)
  3. Clay Spain (España arcillosa)
  4. Volcanic Spain (España volcánica)

Explanation

Galicia forms part of Siliceous Spain, dominated by ancient Paleozoic and Precambrian crystalline rocks such as granite, slate, gneiss, and quartzite.

Question 19Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Glacial erosion landforms in Galicia (such as glacial cirques and tarns) are preserved in which mountain areas?

  1. High eastern and southern ranges including Serra do Caurel, Serra do Xistral, and Pena Trevinca Correct answer.
  2. Low coastal plains of the Rías Baixas at sea level
  3. The sandy dunes of Corrubedo and Baldaio
  4. The alluvial floodplain of the lower Ulla River

Explanation

Pleistocene ice caps and valley glaciers developed above 1,200–1,500 meters in eastern Galician ranges like Pena Trevinca, Serra do Caurel, and Serra do Xistral, leaving cirques, U-shaped valleys, and glacial lakes.

Question 20Physical geography and earth-surface processes

What structural role do the N-S and NE-SW fault systems play in the landscape of Galicia?

  1. They dictate the linear alignment of river valleys, coastal rías, and tectonic trenches like the Fosa de As Verdes Correct answer.
  2. They produce active explosive volcanism along coastal towns
  3. They prevent any rainwater from infiltrating into the soil layer
  4. They convert granitic bedrock into pure calcium carbonate

Explanation

Structural fault fractures (N-S and NE-SW trending fracture networks) controlled selective erosion, guiding river network orientation, tectonic depressions (e.g., Fosa de As Verdes/Eixo Atlántico), and the estuaries of the rías.

Question 21Physical geography and earth-surface processes

The alteration of granite under Galicia's humid climate produces a sandy, weathered residual mantle known locally as:

  1. Sábrego (or xabre) Correct answer.
  2. Less
  3. Terra rossa
  4. Albariza

Explanation

Chemical weathering of granite in humid Galicia decomposes feldspars into clays and quartz grains, yielding a coarse sandy regolith known locally as sábrego or xabre.

Question 22Physical geography and earth-surface processes

What is a major feature of the Galician continental shelf along the Atlantic margin?

  1. It is relatively narrow and dissected by deep submarine canyons off the Costa da Morte Correct answer.
  2. It extends continuously for 500 kilometers at a uniform depth of 5 meters
  3. It is covered by active coral reef barrier systems
  4. It consists of massive evaporite salt domes exposed above sea level

Explanation

The Galician continental shelf is narrow, dropping steeply into deep oceanic abyssal plains and intersected by prominent submarine canyons (such as those off the Costa da Morte).

Question 23Physical geography and earth-surface processes

The famous rock arches and sea caves at As Catedrais Beach (Praia das Catedrais) in Ribadeo were sculpted in slate and schist primarily by:

  1. Differential wave erosion and hydraulic action along vertical rock fractures Correct answer.
  2. Glacial ice movement carving U-shaped sea caverns
  3. Windborne sand dunes abrading inland mountain ridges
  4. River dam overflow during summer floods

Explanation

Praia das Catedrais features natural rock arches and caves carved into Paleozoic slate and schist beds by wave pounding, hydraulic pressure, and marine abrasion exploiting structural rock joints.

Question 24Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Which mountain system connects directly with the eastern margin of the Macizo Galaico?

  1. Cordillera Cantábrica (Cantabrian Range) Correct answer.
  2. Sistema Central
  3. Sierra Morena
  4. Cordillera Penibética

Explanation

The Macizo Galaico transitions eastwards into the Cantabrian Range (Cordillera Cantábrica), sharing Paleozoic rock structures and high relief.

Question 25Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Accumulations of angular rock fragments formed by freeze-thaw weathering (frost wedging) on Galician mountain slopes are called:

  1. Canchales (scree slopes or pedreiras) Correct answer.
  2. Lava tubes
  3. Dunes
  4. Mangroves

Explanation

Freeze-thaw activity (gelifraction) on steep mountain slopes shattered granitic and slate bedrock during glacial periods, creating scree deposits known as canchales or pedreiras.

Question 26Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Cabo Fisterra (Cape Finisterre) is geomorphologically described as a prominent granitic:

  1. Headland (cabo / promontory) subject to intense Atlantic wave exposure Correct answer.
  2. Low barrier island enclosing a freshwater lagoon
  3. Fluvial delta extending 50 kilometers into the ocean
  4. Coral atoll surrounding a submerged volcano

Explanation

Cabo Fisterra is a high granitic headland projecting into the Atlantic Ocean, marked by steep sea cliffs and heavy wave erosion.

Question 27Physical geography and earth-surface processes

Why are natural soils developed over bedrock in Galicia predominantly acidic?

  1. Because the parent bedrock is siliceous (granite, slate) and heavy rainfall leaches base cations Correct answer.
  2. Because limestone bedrock releases high concentrations of calcium carbonate
  3. Because active volcanoes emit sulfuric acid ash across the fields
  4. Because irrigation with sea water raises soil acidity

Explanation

Siliceous parent rocks (granite, slate, quartzite) contain little calcium or magnesium, and high annual rainfall causes intense leaching (lavado del suelo), leaving acidic humic cambisols and rankers.

Question 28Climate systems and environmental change

According to the Köppen climate classification, the dominant climate of Galicia is classified as:

  1. Oceanic climate (Cfb) Correct answer.
  2. Hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa)
  3. Semi-arid cold climate (BSk)
  4. Subarctic climate (Dfc)

Explanation

Galicia is dominated by the temperate Oceanic climate (Cfb), characterized by mild temperatures year-round, abundant precipitation throughout all seasons, and cool to warm summers.

Question 29Climate systems and environmental change

Which weather system is mainly responsible for bringing prolonged rainfall to Galicia during autumn and winter?

  1. Atlantic polar fronts and low-pressure systems (borrascas atlánticas) driven by westerly winds Correct answer.
  2. Sahara thermal lows bringing dusty easterly winds
  3. Persistent Siberian continental high-pressure cells
  4. Tropical maritime trade winds from the Equator

Explanation

Galicia lies directly in the path of the jet stream's Atlantic storm track, bringing polar front low-pressure systems (borrascas) and humid westerly air masses throughout autumn and winter.

Question 30Climate systems and environmental change

What happens when the Azores Anticyclone moves northward over the Iberian Peninsula during summer?

  1. It block Atlantic storm tracks, bringing warm, relatively dry weather to Galicia Correct answer.
  2. It causes continuous blizzards across coastal Galicia
  3. It triggers torrential monsoonal downpours every afternoon
  4. It lowers sea level by 50 meters along the rías

Explanation

In summer, the Azores High shifts north, deflecting Atlantic storms north of Galicia and producing sunny, warm weather with reduced (though not completely absent) rainfall.

Question 31Climate systems and environmental change

The hydrographic network of Galicia is officially divided into which two main management jurisdictions?

  1. Galicia-Costa (intra-community rivers) and the Miño-Sil Basin (inter-community hydrographic confederation) Correct answer.
  2. Ebro Basin and Guadalquivir Confederation
  3. Duero Confederation and Tagus Basin
  4. Cantabrian Basin and Segura Confederation

Explanation

Galician rivers belong either to Galicia-Costa (coastal rivers entirely within Galicia managed by Augas de Galicia) or the Miño-Sil Basin (draining across community boundaries, managed by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Miño-Sil).

Question 32Climate systems and environmental change

Where does the Miño River-the longest and most important river in Galicia-have its geographic source?

  1. Pedregal de Irimia (Serra de Meira, Lugo) Correct answer.
  2. Picos de Europa (Asturias)
  3. Serra da Estrela (Portugal)
  4. Moncayo (Sistema Ibérico)

Explanation

The Miño River originates at Pedregal de Irimia in the Serra de Meira (Lugo province) at an elevation of about 700 meters.

Question 33Climate systems and environmental change

The popular Galician saying 'O Sil leva a auga e o Miño a fama' ('The Sil carries the water and the Miño gets the fame') refers to the fact that:

  1. The Sil River contributes a greater average water discharge volume at their confluence than the Miño Correct answer.
  2. The Sil River is longer than the Miño and flows into the Atlantic directly at Vigo
  3. The Miño dries up completely every summer while the Sil is an underground stream
  4. The Sil River flows northward into the Bay of Biscay

Explanation

At their confluence in Os Peares, the Sil River supplies a higher average discharge (m³/s) than the Miño due to its high mountain catchment area, despite being classified hydrologically as the Miño's tributary.

Question 34Climate systems and environmental change

What type of flow regime characterizes short Galician coastal rivers such as the Tambre, Ulla, and Eume?

  1. Oceanic pluvial regime (régimen pluvial oceánico) Correct answer.
  2. Nival regime (régimen nival pure)
  3. Subtropical Mediterranean torrential regime
  4. Arid endorheic regime

Explanation

Galician coastal rivers experience an oceanic pluvial regime: high, regular discharge fueled by year-round rainfall, with peak flow in winter/spring and modest summer low flows (estiajes) without drying.

Question 35Climate systems and environmental change

Why were numerous hydroelectric dams constructed along the deep canyons of the Sil and Miño rivers (Ribeira Sacra)?

  1. Steep elevation drops, narrow steep-walled valleys, and high, reliable water discharge provide ideal conditions for hydro power Correct answer.
  2. To prevent desert sandstorms from reaching A Coruña
  3. To evaporate water for commercial sea-salt production
  4. Because the rivers flow through dry limestone caverns that require artificial filling

Explanation

Deep granite gorges (canóns do Sil e Miño), steep gradients, and high year-round water volume created optimal physical sites for major hydroelectric reservoirs (Belesar, Peares, Santo Estevo).

Question 36Climate systems and environmental change

How does the annual thermal amplitude (difference between warmest and coldest month averages) change between coastal Galicia and interior Ourense?

  1. It increases from low coastal values (8–10 °C) to moderate interior values (14–16 °C) due to declining maritime influence Correct answer.
  2. It decreases from 35 °C on the coast to 2 °C in Ourense
  3. It remains identical across all cities in Galicia at 25 °C
  4. It drops to negative values along the coast during summer

Explanation

Maritime influence moderates coastal temperatures (small range, 8–10 °C in Vigo/A Coruña). Moving inland to sheltered interior valleys (Ourense), continentality increases, raising summer heat and winter cold (range 14–16 °C).

Question 37Climate systems and environmental change

Galicia belongs to which major European biogeographical region?

  1. Eurosiberian region (Atlantic province) Correct answer.
  2. Mediterranean region (Macaronesian province)
  3. Boreal region (Tundra province)
  4. Alpine region (Carpathian province)

Explanation

Galicia forms part of the Atlantic province of the Eurosiberian biogeographical region, dominated by broadleaf deciduous forests and high moisture-adapted flora.

Question 38Climate systems and environmental change

What is the traditional name for native Atlantic oak woodlands in Galicia dominated by Quercus robur?

  1. Carballeiras Correct answer.
  2. Dehesas
  3. Laurisilva
  4. Garriga

Explanation

Native Galician oak forests dominated by *Quercus robur* (carballo) are called carballeiras, representing the climax Atlantic vegetation of the region.

Question 39Climate systems and environmental change

Dense, well-preserved Atlantic riparian and slope climax forests containing oaks, chestnuts, maples, and rare ferns are locally termed:

  1. Fragas Correct answer.
  2. Maquis
  3. Pinedas
  4. Sabinares

Explanation

Fragas refer to dense, humid, highly biodiverse Atlantic relict forests along river valleys in Galicia, famously exemplified by Fragas do Eume Natural Park.

Question 40Climate systems and environmental change

Which soil profile feature is typical of humic cambisols developed under humid Atlantic conditions in Galicia?

  1. Thick, dark A-horizon rich in organic matter, acidic pH, and low base saturation Correct answer.
  2. White petrocalcic horizon encrusted with salt crusts
  3. Cracked expansive clay horizon (vertisol) with deep summer fissures
  4. Arid sandy horizon devoid of any humic material

Explanation

High humidity and cool temperatures slow organic matter decomposition, producing thick dark humic A-horizons that remain acidic due to cation leaching from siliceous parent rock.

Question 41Climate systems and environmental change

What ecological concern is associated with the widespread fast-growing Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Galicia?

  1. High water consumption, soil acidification, reduction of native biodiversity, and increased fire risk Correct answer.
  2. Complete elimination of all rainfall across the Iberian Peninsula
  3. Deposition of toxic heavy metals into deep underground magma
  4. Overproduction of wild truffles that destroy agricultural fields

Explanation

Eucalyptus monocultures consume substantial soil moisture, produce acidic leaf litter that suppresses understory growth, reduce habitat diversity, and contain volatile oils that burn intensely during summer wildfires.

Question 42Climate systems and environmental change

When analyzing a climograph for a coastal Galician location like Vigo or A Coruña, which pattern is observed?

  1. Total annual rainfall > 1,000 mm, no dry month under 30–40 mm, and winter temperatures averaging 8–10 °C Correct answer.
  2. Annual rainfall < 250 mm with 10 completely dry months and summer temperatures exceeding 45 °C
  3. Peak rainfall in July and August with zero precipitation from November to March
  4. Mean monthly temperatures below -15 °C for 8 months of the year

Explanation

Galician coastal climographs display abundant annual precipitation (>1,000 mm), year-round humidity with minor summer drops, and moderate mild winter temperatures (8–10 °C).

Question 43Climate systems and environmental change

Coastal fog (locally known as néboa) frequently occurs along the Galician coastline during summer primarily due to:

  1. Advection of warm, moist Atlantic air over cooler coastal waters near coastal upwelling zones Correct answer.
  2. Volcanic steam emissions along intertidal beaches
  3. Dust storms blowing directly from the Sahara Desert across the Bay of Biscay
  4. Freezing of sea water into coastal ice sheets

Explanation

Advection fog forms when warm, humid maritime air passes over cooler ocean waters near the Galician coast (cooled by deep-water coastal upwelling), causing moisture to condense into low fog banks.

Question 44Climate systems and environmental change

How do rivers draining the Cantabrian slope in northern Galicia (e.g., Landro, Sor, Masma) differ from the Miño-Sil system?

  1. They are much shorter, steeper, have smaller drainage basins, and drop rapidly from mountains to the Cantabrian Sea Correct answer.
  2. They flow south into the Mediterranean Sea through Madrid
  3. They dry up for 9 months every year during winter
  4. They carry high concentrations of dissolved sulfuric acid from active volcanoes

Explanation

Cantabrian slope rivers originate close to the coast in northern ranges (Serra do Xistral), resulting in short, high-gradient, fast-flowing streams with small basin areas compared to the extensive interior Miño-Sil system.

Question 45Climate systems and environmental change

Which public body manages the intra-community river basins, reservoirs, and coastal waters belonging to the Galicia-Costa domain?

  1. Augas de Galicia (Galician Water Agency) Correct answer.
  2. Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro
  3. Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET)
  4. Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN)

Explanation

Augas de Galicia is the autonomous water authority responsible for managing water resources, river basins, and coastal supply within the intra-community Galicia-Costa demarcation.

Question 46Climate systems and environmental change

Severe forest fire events in Galicia during late summer and early autumn are exacerbated by dry easterly/southerly winds, flammable biomass, and:

  1. Continuous stands of pyrophytic tree species (eucalyptus and pines) combined with rural abandonment Correct answer.
  2. Underground magma chambers melting forest roots
  3. Permanent ice cap melting in coastal estuaries
  4. Acid rain dissolving granitic mountain massifs

Explanation

Wildfire propagation in Galicia is driven by extensive monocultures of resinous pines and flammable eucalyptus, accumulated understory fuel from scrub encroachment following rural land abandonment, and summer weather dry spells.

Question 47Population, cities, economic location and development

What is a defining feature of Galicia's contemporary demographic situation?

  1. Severe demographic aging and a prolonged negative natural growth rate (crecimiento natural negativo) Correct answer.
  2. Rapid natural population growth driven by high birth rates among young rural families
  3. An extremely young population pyramid with over 40% under age 15
  4. Mass rural-to-rural inward migration from northern Europe seeking agricultural land

Explanation

Galicia suffers from advanced population aging (over 25% of population aged 65+) and low birth rates, resulting in a persistent natural population deficit where deaths outnumber births.

Question 48Population, cities, economic location and development

Galicia's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) over recent decades has generally hovered around:

  1. 1.0 to 1.1 children per woman (far below the replacement level of 2.1) Correct answer.
  2. 3.5 to 4.0 children per woman (doubling the replacement level)
  3. 2.1 children per woman (exact demographic replacement)
  4. 5.5 children per woman (highest in Europe)

Explanation

Galicia's TFR is among the lowest in Europe (around 1.0-1.1), well below the 2.1 threshold required for generational replacement without immigration.

Question 49Population, cities, economic location and development

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the primary destination for Galician transoceanic emigrants was:

  1. Latin American nations, particularly Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, and Brazil Correct answer.
  2. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
  3. Australia and New Zealand goldfields
  4. The Scandinavian Arctic regions

Explanation

Economic hardship and rural land pressure drove hundreds of thousands of Galicians to emigrate to Latin America (Buenos Aires became known culturally as the 'fifth Galician province').

Question 50Population, cities, economic location and development

In the mid-20th century (1960–1975), Galician outward migration shifted significantly toward:

  1. Industrialized Western European countries such as Switzerland, Germany, France, and the UK Correct answer.
  2. Rural agricultural settlements in East Africa
  3. Antarctic research stations
  4. Central American banana plantations

Explanation

During the 1960s economic boom in Western Europe, over 150,000 Galicians migrated as guest workers to Switzerland, West Germany, France, and the UK.