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UEE Geography practice questions

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Question 1Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that absorbs most incoming ultraviolet radiation?

  1. Mesosphere
  2. Troposphere
  3. Stratosphere Correct answer.
  4. Thermosphere

Explanation

Ozone concentration peaks in the stratosphere, roughly 15–35 km above the surface, where UV absorption warms the air with height. This temperature inversion also stabilizes the stratosphere and limits vertical mixing.

Question 2Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A river's discharge measured at a gauging station rises sharply within hours of intense rainfall and falls equally fast. Which combination of basin characteristics best explains this flashy regime?

  1. Gentle slopes, deep permeable soils, and dense forest
  2. Large basin area with extensive floodplain storage
  3. Extensive lakes and wetlands along the main channel
  4. Steep slopes, thin soils, and sparse vegetation cover Correct answer.

Explanation

Steep gradients deliver water to channels quickly, thin soils have little storage capacity, and sparse vegetation reduces interception and infiltration. Together these produce a rapid, peaked hydrograph with little lag between rainfall and peak flow.

Question 3Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which process is the dominant way that coarse bedload sediment is transported along a river channel?

  1. Suspension in the water column
  2. Saltation of clay particles
  3. Traction along the bed Correct answer.
  4. Solution as dissolved ions

Explanation

Coarse material such as gravel and cobbles is too heavy to be held in suspension and moves by traction, rolling, sliding, and saltating along the channel bed. Suspension and solution carry finer material instead.

Question 4Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A coastline experiences a prevailing wind blowing obliquely onshore. Over time, what is the expected net effect on beach sediment?

  1. Sediment moves inland and forms a parallel dune ridge
  2. Sediment accumulates uniformly with no net alongshore movement
  3. Longshore drift moves sediment along the shore in the direction of wave approach Correct answer.
  4. Sediment is driven directly offshore into deep water

Explanation

Waves approaching at an angle create a swash that pushes sediment up the beach obliquely while the backwash returns it perpendicular to the shoreline. This sawtooth path produces a net alongshore transport in the direction of the wave approach.

Question 5Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which factor most strongly controls the rate of chemical weathering of silicate bedrock in a humid climate?

  1. Frequency of freeze–thaw cycles
  2. Wind abrasion by sand particles
  3. Rate of glacial plucking
  4. Availability of water and dissolved carbon dioxide Correct answer.

Explanation

Hydrolysis and carbonation require liquid water and carbon dioxide to form weak carbonic acid that attacks silicate minerals. Warm, wet conditions with abundant infiltrating water therefore accelerate chemical weathering far more than mechanical processes.

Question 6Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

In the Köppen classification, a climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters, with the driest month in summer, is labelled in which group?

  1. Af
  2. Csa Correct answer.
  3. Cfa
  4. Dfb

Explanation

The Csa type is a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, so the summer minimum of precipitation is diagnostic. The 's' denotes a dry summer season.

Question 7Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Why do orographic clouds and heavy precipitation typically form on the windward slope of a mountain range?

  1. Windward slopes have lower atmospheric pressure at the same altitude
  2. Solar heating is stronger on windward slopes than on leeward slopes
  3. Descending air on the windward side compresses and cools adiabatically
  4. Forced ascent cools the air, raising relative humidity until condensation occurs Correct answer.

Explanation

Air forced to rise over a barrier expands and cools at the dry adiabatic rate until it reaches the lifting condensation level. Continued ascent then condenses water vapour, forming cloud and releasing latent heat that sustains uplift.

Question 8Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which biome is characterized by permafrost, low shrubs, mosses, and a short growing season?

  1. Tundra Correct answer.
  2. Taiga
  3. Temperate grassland
  4. Tropical savanna

Explanation

Tundra occurs at high latitudes or high altitudes where permafrost prevents deep rooting and the growing season is very short. Vegetation is dominated by mosses, lichens, and low shrubs.

Question 9Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between gradient, discharge, and channel form in a river system?

  1. Lowland reaches typically have wide, shallow channels and gentle gradients Correct answer.
  2. Steep upland reaches usually have narrow, deep channels and high velocity
  3. Channel width decreases downstream while depth increases
  4. Discharge always decreases downstream as tributaries join

Explanation

Downstream, gradient and bed material calibre decrease while discharge increases, so channels widen and become shallower relative to width. Upland reaches by contrast are steeper with coarser beds and more irregular, often narrower channels.

Question 10Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

What is the primary cause of the seasonal reversal of winds known as the monsoon?

  1. Coriolis deflection of the trade winds alone
  2. Migration of the intertropical convergence zone caused by ocean currents
  3. Volcanic aerosols altering atmospheric circulation
  4. Differential heating of land and ocean producing pressure reversals Correct answer.

Explanation

Land surfaces heat and cool faster than adjacent oceans, so seasonal pressure contrasts reverse the prevailing wind direction. In summer, low pressure over the heated continent draws moist maritime air onshore; winter reverses this pattern.

Question 11Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A soil profile shows a thick, dark surface horizon rich in organic matter over a clay-rich B horizon. This is most characteristic of which soil order?

  1. Histosol
  2. Oxisol
  3. Aridisol
  4. Mollisol Correct answer.

Explanation

Mollisols are grassland soils with a thick, dark, base-rich surface horizon and often a clay-enriched subsoil. The dark colour reflects accumulated humus from grass roots rather than waterlogging.

Question 12Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which of the following best explains why the leeward side of a mountain range is often arid?

  1. Air is forced to rise and cool, which removes moisture as rain
  2. Cold ocean currents always border leeward coasts
  3. Air descends and warms, lowering relative humidity and suppressing condensation Correct answer.
  4. Leeward slopes receive less solar radiation than windward slopes

Explanation

After losing moisture on the windward slope, air descends the leeward side and warms adiabatically. The warming lowers relative humidity and creates a rain shadow with suppressed condensation.

Question 13Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which term describes a mass of ice that moves downslope under its own weight and forms U-shaped valleys?

  1. Iceberg
  2. Valley glacier Correct answer.
  3. Firn field
  4. Ice shelf

Explanation

A valley glacier flows down a pre-existing valley under gravity, eroding its floor and sides into a characteristic U-shaped cross-section. Icebergs and ice shelves are floating or marine features, not valley-carving glaciers.

Question 14Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the movement of tectonic plates?

  1. Isostatic rebound of continental crust
  2. Mantle convection and slab pull acting on the lithosphere Correct answer.
  3. Atmospheric pressure differences across continents
  4. Tidal forces from the Moon

Explanation

Plate motion is driven mainly by the negative buoyancy of subducting slabs (slab pull) and by mantle convection, with ridge push contributing. These forces act on the rigid lithospheric plates.

Question 15Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

At a convergent boundary between an oceanic and a continental plate, which feature is most likely to form?

  1. A transform fault with lateral offset
  2. A mid-ocean ridge with new oceanic crust
  3. A volcanic mountain arc above a subduction zone Correct answer.
  4. A continental rift valley

Explanation

Where oceanic lithosphere subducts beneath continental lithosphere, melting of the mantle wedge generates magma that feeds a volcanic arc. The result is a mountain chain with volcanoes and earthquakes along the subduction zone.

Question 16Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which process produces the greatest loss of water from a catchment during a prolonged dry period with no rainfall?

  1. Groundwater discharge to the sea
  2. Surface runoff into the channel
  3. Infiltration into deep aquifers
  4. Evapotranspiration from vegetation and soil Correct answer.

Explanation

In the absence of rainfall, evapotranspiration continues to remove water from soil and vegetation, and is usually the dominant loss. Runoff, discharge, and infiltration redistribute water within the catchment rather than removing it from storage.

Question 17Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which factor most directly determines the salinity of surface ocean water in the subtropics?

  1. The amount of river discharge from polar regions
  2. The speed of surface currents
  3. The balance between evaporation and precipitation Correct answer.
  4. The depth of the ocean floor

Explanation

In subtropical gyres, evaporation exceeds precipitation, concentrating dissolved salts and raising surface salinity. Near the equator and at high latitudes, greater precipitation or freshwater input dilutes surface water.

Question 18Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

What is the main reason that coastal upwelling zones are highly productive?

  1. Solar radiation is more intense in upwelling areas
  2. Freshwater input from rivers supplies abundant nutrients
  3. Warm surface water sinks and carries nutrients downward
  4. Wind-driven Ekman transport brings nutrient-rich water to the surface Correct answer.

Explanation

Along coasts where winds blow parallel to shore, Ekman transport moves surface water offshore, allowing cold, nutrient-rich water to rise and fuel phytoplankton growth. These nutrients support productive food webs and fisheries.

Question 19Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of a karst landscape developed on limestone?

  1. Braided river channels
  2. Periglacial patterned ground
  3. Sinkholes and underground drainage Correct answer.
  4. Extensive sand dunes

Explanation

Karst develops where soluble limestone is dissolved by acidic water, producing sinkholes, caves, and disappearing streams that flow underground. Surface drainage is typically sparse because water infiltrates rapidly.

Question 20Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which statement best explains why tropical rainforest soils are often nutrient-poor despite lush vegetation?

  1. Cold temperatures slow decomposition and lock nutrients in the soil
  2. Rapid decomposition and uptake recycle nutrients in biomass, leaving little in the soil Correct answer.
  3. Frequent fires remove organic matter from the soil
  4. High evaporation removes nutrients from the soil solution

Explanation

In hot, wet climates, organic matter decomposes rapidly and roots take up nutrients quickly, so most nutrients are held in living biomass and litter rather than stored in the soil. Heavy rainfall also leaches soluble nutrients from the profile.

Question 21Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A steeply dipping sedimentary rock layer is cut by an igneous intrusion that is not metamorphosed. Which principle helps determine that the intrusion is younger than the sedimentary layer?

  1. Superposition
  2. Original horizontality
  3. Faunal succession
  4. Cross-cutting relationships Correct answer.

Explanation

An intrusion that cuts across existing layers must have formed after those layers. Because the intrusion is unmetamorphosed, it also postdates any deformation that tilted the beds.

Question 22Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which condition is necessary for a thunderstorm to develop?

  1. Very dry air through the whole troposphere
  2. Descending air aloft that suppresses convection
  3. Conditionally unstable air with sufficient moisture and a lifting mechanism Correct answer.
  4. A strong temperature inversion near the surface

Explanation

Thunderstorms require warm, moist, conditionally unstable air that is forced to rise, allowing latent heat release to sustain the updraft. A lifting mechanism such as a front or heating triggers the initial ascent.

Question 23Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which of the following is a correct statement about the global distribution of deserts?

  1. Deserts form only where cold ocean currents are absent
  2. Deserts occur mainly near the equator where rising air removes moisture
  3. Deserts are confined to continental interiors regardless of latitude
  4. Many deserts lie near 30° latitude where subtropical high pressure causes descending air Correct answer.

Explanation

Subtropical high-pressure belts around 30° north and south have descending, warming air that suppresses condensation, producing many of the world's great deserts. Continental interiors and rain shadows add further dry regions.

Question 24Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A drainage basin is underlain by impermeable clay and has a drainage density of 0.5 km per km². If the same area were underlain by permeable sandstone, what change in drainage density would you expect?

  1. Drainage density would double because channels become straighter
  2. Drainage density would stay exactly the same
  3. Drainage density would increase because runoff is faster
  4. Drainage density would decrease because more rainfall infiltrates Correct answer.

Explanation

Permeable bedrock allows more infiltration and subsurface flow, reducing overland flow and the number of surface channels per unit area. Drainage density is therefore lower on permeable lithology than on impermeable clay.

Question 25Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Why does the troposphere generally decrease in temperature with increasing altitude?

  1. The atmosphere is heated mainly from below by the Earth's surface Correct answer.
  2. Solar radiation is absorbed equally at all altitudes
  3. Air pressure increases with altitude in the troposphere
  4. Ozone absorption cools the lower atmosphere

Explanation

The troposphere is heated primarily by the transfer of sensible and latent heat from the Earth's surface, so temperature falls with distance from this heat source. Convection then redistributes heat vertically, giving the observed lapse rate.

Question 26Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which type of weathering dominates in cold, high-latitude regions where water repeatedly freezes and thaws in rock joints?

  1. Hydrolysis of feldspar
  2. Frost shattering Correct answer.
  3. Oxidation of iron minerals
  4. Solution of calcium carbonate

Explanation

Repeated freeze–thaw cycles exploit joints because water expands on freezing and exerts pressure that prises rock apart. This mechanical process needs no chemical reaction and is most effective where temperatures oscillate around 0 °C.

Question 27Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A river flows from a mountainous source to a lowland plain. Which downstream change is expected along its long profile?

  1. Both gradient and discharge remain constant
  2. Channel gradient decreases while discharge generally increases Correct answer.
  3. Both gradient and discharge decrease steadily
  4. Channel gradient increases while discharge decreases

Explanation

Along a river's long profile the gradient is steepest near the source and declines downstream as the valley widens. Discharge grows downstream because tributaries and groundwater add water to the channel.

Question 28Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which process transfers water from the land surface directly to the atmosphere without passing through plants?

  1. Percolation to the water table
  2. Transpiration from stomata
  3. Evaporation from lakes and soil Correct answer.
  4. Infiltration into the soil

Explanation

Evaporation converts liquid water at surfaces such as lakes, rivers and bare soil into vapour that enters the atmosphere. Transpiration is the plant-mediated pathway, whereas infiltration and percolation move water downward into the ground.

Question 29Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Why does a cinder cone volcano typically have steeper flanks than a shield volcano?

  1. Its lavas are more fluid and spread widely from the vent
  2. It is built mainly from alternating fluid lava flows
  3. It forms only at divergent plate boundaries
  4. Its lavas are more viscous and its pyroclastic fragments settle at steep angles Correct answer.

Explanation

Cinder cones are built from fragmented ejecta and viscous lava that pile up close to the vent, producing slopes near the angle of repose. Shield volcanoes are constructed from low-viscosity basalt that flows far and builds gentle gradients.

Question 30Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A parcel of air at 20 °C with a relative humidity of 50% is cooled until condensation begins. Which change describes the air at that point?

  1. It has reached its dew-point temperature Correct answer.
  2. It has reached the level of free convection
  3. It has reached its environmental lapse rate
  4. It has become absolutely unstable

Explanation

Cooling raises relative humidity until the air becomes saturated at a specific temperature, the dew point. Further cooling below that temperature forces condensation onto nuclei.

Question 31Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which condition best explains why a rain shadow desert develops on the leeward side of a mountain range?

  1. Air is forced to rise and cool, condensing most of its moisture
  2. Air descends and warms adiabatically, raising its saturation capacity Correct answer.
  3. Cold ocean currents chill the air and suppress convection
  4. Persistent high pressure prevents any air from crossing the range

Explanation

Moisture is removed as air rises on the windward slope, and the now-dry air warms during descent on the leeward side. The warming lowers relative humidity and suppresses condensation, producing arid conditions.

Question 32Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

In a meandering river, where does erosion occur most actively?

  1. Uniformly across the whole channel bed
  2. On the outer bank of a bend where flow is fastest Correct answer.
  3. On the inner bank of a bend where flow is slowest
  4. On the point bar where sediment accumulates

Explanation

Flow is fastest on the outside of a bend, so hydraulic action and abrasion cut into the outer bank and form a cut bank or river cliff. Slower flow on the inside encourages deposition and builds a point bar.

Question 33Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which soil-forming process concentrates clay, iron and aluminium oxides in the B horizon of a humid temperate soil?

  1. Podzolisation under acid coniferous litter
  2. Lessivage and eluviation from the overlying horizon Correct answer.
  3. Salinisation caused by rising groundwater
  4. Calcification driven by strong evapotranspiration

Explanation

Throughflow carries fine clay and oxides down from the A or E horizon and deposits them in the B horizon, a process termed lessivage. The result is a textural B horizon enriched in clay relative to the surface.

Question 34Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which factor most strongly controls the rate of chemical weathering in a humid tropical catchment?

  1. Low temperature and frequent freezing
  2. Sparse vegetation and thin litter
  3. High temperature and abundant rainfall Correct answer.
  4. Rapid tectonic uplift of the bedrock

Explanation

Chemical reactions such as hydrolysis proceed faster at high temperature and where abundant water is available to remove dissolved products. Humid tropical climates therefore favour deep, rapid chemical weathering.

Question 35Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

A drainage basin is underlain by granite with sparse vegetation, and a neighbouring basin of similar size and climate is underlain by impermeable clay with dense vegetation. Which basin will have the higher drainage density?

  1. The clay basin, because impermeable bedrock forces all water into channels
  2. The granite basin, because its joints store more groundwater
  3. The granite basin, because infiltration is lower and overland flow is more efficient Correct answer.
  4. The two basins will be identical because climate is the same

Explanation

Drainage density rises where runoff is generated quickly and where channels can be cut easily. Granite with sparse vegetation sheds water as overland flow, encouraging a denser network of channels than a well-vegetated clay basin.

Question 36Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography)

Which combination of factors best explains the high biodiversity of tropical rainforests compared with temperate forests?

  1. Low rainfall, poor soils and strong seasonal temperature range
  2. Short growing season, low light and frequent fire
  3. Seasonal frost, high soil fertility and recent glaciation
  4. Stable warm climate, high primary productivity and long evolutionary history Correct answer.

Explanation

Tropical rainforests combine continuously warm, moist conditions with high net primary productivity and a long history without glacial disruption, allowing many species to coexist and diversify. High structural complexity provides numerous niches.

Question 37Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

In the demographic transition model, which stage is characterised by high birth rates and high death rates that fluctuate with famine and disease, keeping total population roughly stable?

  1. Stage 4, the low stationary phase
  2. Stage 3, the late expanding phase
  3. Stage 2, the early expanding phase
  4. Stage 1, the high stationary phase Correct answer.

Explanation

Stage 1 describes pre-industrial societies where both birth and death rates are high, so natural increase is near zero and population size oscillates around a stable level. Stage 2 already shows falling death rates, and stages 3 and 4 show declining birth rates.

Question 38Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

A country has a total fertility rate of 1.4 and a life expectancy at birth of 82 years. Which population structure is most consistent with these figures?

  1. An ageing population with a narrowing base and a large elderly cohort Correct answer.
  2. A wide-based pyramid with many young dependants
  3. A youthful population experiencing high infant mortality
  4. A population with balanced age cohorts and rapid natural increase

Explanation

A fertility rate well below the replacement level of about 2.1 combined with long life expectancy produces few births and many survivors into old age. The resulting profile has a narrow base and a bulging older section, typical of an ageing society.

Question 39Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

Which measure best expresses the number of deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births in a given year?

  1. Natural increase rate
  2. Infant mortality rate Correct answer.
  3. Crude death rate
  4. General fertility rate

Explanation

The infant mortality rate counts deaths of children under one year old per 1,000 live births in the same year. It is a sensitive indicator of healthcare, sanitation and nutrition because infants are the most vulnerable group.

Question 40Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

A rural highland region loses most of its working-age adults to a distant capital city. Which combination of changes is most likely in the source region?

  1. Falling dependency ratio and a surplus of young labour
  2. Higher fertility and a rising working-age population
  3. Rising dependency ratio and an increased share of elderly and children Correct answer.
  4. Rapid natural increase and a younger age structure

Explanation

Out-migration of working-age adults removes the economically active group, so the proportion of children and elderly dependants rises. This raises the dependency ratio and can accelerate ageing in the source area.

Question 41Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

Which term describes the movement of people into a country to settle permanently, measured against the number leaving?

  1. Commuting
  2. Transhumance
  3. Net migration Correct answer.
  4. Circulation

Explanation

Net migration is the balance between immigration and emigration for a given area and period. A positive figure indicates more arrivals than departures, while a negative figure indicates net outflow.

Question 42Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

A government wishing to reduce a very high birth rate would most directly target which factor through policy?

  1. Restricting female participation in paid employment
  2. Increasing the availability of contraception and female education Correct answer.
  3. Lowering the legal age of marriage
  4. Encouraging larger families through child bonuses

Explanation

Birth rates fall most reliably where women have access to contraception, education and employment alternatives to early childbearing. These factors raise the opportunity cost of large families and improve reproductive choice.

Question 43Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

Which settlement pattern is typical of a fertile valley where farms cluster along a single road or riverbank?

  1. Isolated settlement
  2. Linear settlement Correct answer.
  3. Nucleated settlement
  4. Dispersed settlement

Explanation

A linear settlement develops where a physical feature such as a river, valley or road constrains building to a narrow strip. Dwellings align along that line rather than clustering around a central point.

Question 44Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

According to central place theory, which statement about higher-order settlements is correct?

  1. They provide more specialised goods and have larger hexagonal catchments Correct answer.
  2. They depend on manufacturing rather than on service provision
  3. They exist only where relief is flat and soils are fertile
  4. They offer few low-order services and are spaced closely together

Explanation

Higher-order central places supply rarer, more specialised goods that consumers will travel further to obtain. This gives them larger market areas, greater spacing between centres, and fewer of them in a region.

Question 45Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

In the rank-size rule, if the largest city in a country has a population of 8 million, what is the expected population of the fourth-ranked city?

  1. 0.5 million
  2. 4 million
  3. 2 million Correct answer.
  4. 1 million

Explanation

The rank-size rule states that a city's population is approximately the largest city's population divided by its rank. Dividing 8 million by rank 4 gives an expected 2 million.

Question 46Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

A country's urban system is strongly primate, with one city several times larger than the second city. Which explanation is most consistent with this pattern?

  1. Colonial or political concentration of administration and investment in one centre Correct answer.
  2. Balanced regional planning that decentralised industry
  3. Even development of transport and industry across all regions
  4. A dense network of small market towns serving dispersed farmers

Explanation

Primate urban systems typically arise where colonial administration, port functions or centralised investment concentrate resources in a single city. The absence of competing regional centres allows that city to dominate disproportionately.

Question 47Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

Which sector of economic activity includes quarrying, mining and fishing?

  1. Quaternary
  2. Tertiary
  3. Primary Correct answer.
  4. Secondary

Explanation

Primary activities extract raw materials directly from the natural environment, including mining, quarrying, fishing, forestry and farming. Processing and services belong to later sectors.

Question 48Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

A clothing firm relocates assembly from a high-wage country to a lower-wage country while keeping design and marketing at home. Which concept best describes this arrangement?

  1. Import substitution
  2. The new international division of labour Correct answer.
  3. Economic rent
  4. The multiplier effect

Explanation

The new international division of labour describes the shift of labour-intensive production to lower-cost countries while higher-value functions remain in advanced economies. It reflects globalised production chains rather than national self-sufficiency.

Question 49Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

Which factor is most often cited to explain the concentration of heavy industry such as iron and steel near coalfields in the nineteenth century?

  1. The high cost of transporting bulky coal relative to finished goods Correct answer.
  2. Cheap air transport for finished products
  3. Government subsidies for rural manufacturing
  4. The availability of fibre-optic telecommunications

Explanation

Before cheap bulk transport, moving heavy coal and ore was expensive, so industry located close to energy sources and raw materials. Iron and steel therefore clustered on coalfields to minimise transport costs.

Question 50Human Geography (population, settlement, economic activity, cultural geography)

Which of these is a cultural push factor that can drive international migration?

  1. A scholarship offered by a foreign university
  2. Higher wages available abroad
  3. Persecution of a religious minority at home Correct answer.
  4. Family already settled in the destination country

Explanation

Persecution based on religion, ethnicity or politics is a push factor that expels people from their home area. The other options describe attractions at the destination, which are pull factors.