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NCEA L1 Geography study materials
NCEA L1 Geography study resources

NCEA L1 Geography practice questions

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Question 1Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

In the NCEA Level 1 Geography context, which term describes the process by which a natural event such as an earthquake becomes a hazard only when it affects people and things they value?

  1. Resilience
  2. Adaptation
  3. Natural hazard
  4. Disaster risk Correct answer.

Explanation

Disaster risk expresses the potential for harm and arises from the combination of a natural hazard with exposure and vulnerability of people and assets. A hazard is the event itself, whereas risk depends on what is in harm's way and how prepared it is. This distinction is central to Level 1 hazard geography.

Question 2Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A river floods a floodplain where houses have been built on low-lying land. Which pair of factors best explains why this event causes a disaster rather than only a physical flood?

  1. Long return period and short warning time
  2. High rainfall and steep catchment slopes
  3. Exposure of people and property plus their vulnerability Correct answer.
  4. Plate boundary location and rock type

Explanation

A disaster occurs when a hazard intersects with exposed, vulnerable people and assets. Building houses on low-lying floodplain land increases both exposure and vulnerability, converting a physical flood into social and economic loss. Physical characteristics of the rainfall and catchment explain the flood's magnitude, not the disaster outcome on their own.

Question 3Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best describes the difference between a hazard and a disaster in Level 1 Geography?

  1. A hazard is a potential source of harm, while a disaster is a realised event causing widespread loss Correct answer.
  2. A disaster is a potential source of harm, while a hazard is a realised event
  3. A hazard is always human-made, while a disaster is always natural
  4. A hazard and a disaster are the same thing described in different words

Explanation

A hazard is a potential source of harm, such as a fault line or a steep slope. A disaster is the realised outcome when that hazard affects a vulnerable community severely enough that it cannot cope using its own resources. The two concepts are linked but not interchangeable.

Question 4Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A community on a coastal plain experiences repeated flooding. Which response is an example of adaptation rather than mitigation of the hazard itself?

  1. Building stopbanks to hold back floodwater
  2. Planting trees on the upper catchment slopes
  3. Dredging the river channel to increase capacity
  4. Relocating houses away from the floodplain Correct answer.

Explanation

Adaptation involves adjusting where and how people live so that exposure to the hazard is reduced. Relocating houses off the floodplain changes exposure and is a classic adaptation measure. The other options modify the physical hazard or its behaviour rather than adjusting human use of the land.

Question 5Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

In geography, what does the term 'resilience' most accurately refer to when describing a community facing natural hazards?

  1. The frequency with which a hazard event occurs
  2. The ability of a community to absorb impacts and recover from a hazard event Correct answer.
  3. The total value of property damaged in a hazard event
  4. The speed at which a hazard event arrives

Explanation

Resilience describes the capacity of a community or system to absorb disturbance and recover function after a hazard event. It includes social factors such as preparedness, networks, and resources, not just physical infrastructure. High resilience reduces the disaster impact of a given hazard.

Question 6Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which sequence correctly orders the structure of the Earth from the surface inwards?

  1. Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
  2. Mantle, crust, inner core, outer core
  3. Crust, outer core, mantle, inner core
  4. Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core Correct answer.

Explanation

The Earth is layered by composition and physical state. From the surface inwards the order is crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. The outer core is liquid, while the inner core is solid despite its higher temperature because of immense pressure.

Question 7Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

At which type of plate boundary does one oceanic plate sink beneath a continental plate, forming a deep ocean trench and a chain of volcanoes inland?

  1. Transform boundary
  2. Passive margin
  3. Divergent boundary
  4. Convergent boundary Correct answer.

Explanation

At a convergent boundary where an oceanic plate meets a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate subducts. Subduction creates a trench at the boundary and generates magma that rises to form volcanic arcs inland. This is the classic subduction zone setting.

Question 8Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Why do most of the world's earthquakes and active volcanoes occur along plate boundaries?

  1. Plate boundaries have cooler rock that contracts and cracks
  2. Plate boundaries have no relationship to tectonic activity
  3. Plate boundaries are where stress accumulates and magma can rise Correct answer.
  4. Plate boundaries are always located under oceans

Explanation

Plate boundaries are zones where plates interact, so stress builds up and is released as earthquakes, and where magma can reach the surface to form volcanoes. The concentration of activity along boundaries reflects these interactions. Away from boundaries, tectonic activity is much less common.

Question 9Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

New Zealand lies across the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate. Which description best explains the tectonic setting of the North Island?

  1. The two plates are moving apart, forming a mid-ocean ridge through the North Island
  2. The Australian Plate is subducting beneath the Pacific Plate across the whole North Island
  3. The Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the Australian Plate, producing volcanism and earthquakes Correct answer.
  4. The plates are locked and not moving, so there is no tectonic activity

Explanation

In the North Island, the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Australian Plate along the Hikurangi margin. This subduction produces the volcanic arc of the central North Island and frequent earthquakes. The setting is a convergent boundary, not a spreading ridge.

Question 10Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which landform is most directly produced by glacial erosion in a mountain valley?

  1. An alluvial fan
  2. A delta
  3. A moraine
  4. A U-shaped valley Correct answer.

Explanation

Glaciers erode valleys by abrasion and plucking, widening and deepening them into a U-shaped cross-profile. A U-shaped valley is a classic landform of glacial erosion. Moraines are depositional features, while alluvial fans and deltas are formed by running water.

Question 11Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which process is the main way that rivers transport dissolved material such as calcium and sodium ions to the sea?

  1. Traction
  2. Suspension
  3. Solution Correct answer.
  4. Saltation

Explanation

Solution is the transport of material dissolved in the water, including ions such as calcium and sodium. Traction and saltation move coarser particles along the bed, while suspension carries fine sediment within the flow. Dissolved load is therefore carried in solution.

Question 12Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A river flows from steep mountains onto a flat plain. Which change in river characteristics is most likely to occur?

  1. The channel becomes narrower and deeper with no deposition
  2. The discharge always decreases to zero
  3. The gradient decreases and deposition becomes more likely Correct answer.
  4. The gradient increases and erosion becomes more likely

Explanation

As a river leaves steep terrain and enters a flat plain, its gradient falls and its velocity typically decreases. Lower velocity reduces carrying capacity, so deposition becomes more likely and features such as alluvial fans may form. This reflects the downstream change from erosion to deposition.

Question 13Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which factor most directly increases the discharge of a river after a rainstorm?

  1. Impermeable ground and steep slopes in the catchment Correct answer.
  2. Lower rainfall intensity
  3. A longer river channel
  4. A wider floodplain with wetlands

Explanation

Impermeable ground reduces infiltration so more water runs off quickly, and steep slopes speed that runoff into the channel. Both raise discharge rapidly after rain. Wetlands and gentle terrain tend to store water and slow the rise in discharge.

Question 14Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

What is the main difference between weather and climate?

  1. Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term patterns Correct answer.
  2. Weather occurs only over oceans, while climate occurs only over land
  3. Weather and climate are identical concepts
  4. Weather refers to long-term averages, while climate refers to short-term conditions

Explanation

Weather describes the state of the atmosphere over short periods such as hours or days, including temperature, rainfall, and wind. Climate describes the average pattern of weather over a long period, typically 30 years or more. The distinction is one of timescale.

Question 15Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Why are tropical rainforests typically found near the equator?

  1. Low latitudes receive high solar energy and rising warm air produces heavy rainfall Correct answer.
  2. Cold ocean currents dominate equatorial waters
  3. High latitudes receive more direct sunlight than low latitudes
  4. Equatorial regions are always far from oceans

Explanation

Near the equator, solar energy is intense and consistent through the year, heating the surface and causing air to rise. Rising warm, moist air cools and condenses, producing frequent heavy rainfall. Together with consistently high temperatures, this supports tropical rainforest.

Question 16Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best explains why the leeward side of a mountain range is usually drier than the windward side?

  1. The leeward side is always closer to the equator
  2. The windward side receives no moisture from the ocean
  3. Air cools and gains moisture as it descends the leeward slope
  4. Air loses moisture as it rises on the windward side, leaving it drier as it descends the leeward side Correct answer.

Explanation

Air forced to rise over a mountain range cools and its moisture condenses, producing rain on the windward side. As the air descends the leeward side it warms and its relative humidity falls, so little rain occurs there. This creates the rain shadow effect.

Question 17Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which of these is a primary source of geographic data collected directly in the field?

  1. A climate graph built from long-term station records
  2. A satellite image downloaded from an online database
  3. A topographic map published by a mapping agency
  4. Measurements of river velocity taken at a site using a flow meter Correct answer.

Explanation

Primary data are collected first-hand by the researcher, such as field measurements taken at a site. River velocity measured with a flow meter at the study location is primary data. Maps, satellite images, and long-term records are secondary sources compiled by others.

Question 18Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A student measures river velocity at five points across a channel and records the values. Which action best improves the reliability of this fieldwork?

  1. Taking one measurement at the fastest point only
  2. Choosing the highest value to represent the site
  3. Estimating the values instead of measuring them
  4. Repeating the measurements several times and averaging them Correct answer.

Explanation

Reliability refers to how consistent and repeatable results are. Repeating measurements and averaging reduces the effect of random error and produces a more dependable value. Single or estimated readings are less reliable because they may reflect one-off error.

Question 19Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which type of graph is most suitable for showing how river discharge changed at a site over twelve months?

  1. A pie graph
  2. A line graph Correct answer.
  3. A divided bar graph
  4. A choropleth map

Explanation

A line graph shows change in a continuous variable over time, so it suits monthly discharge values across a year. Pie graphs show proportions of a whole, and divided bar graphs compare parts of categories. Choropleth maps show data by area rather than by time.

Question 20Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A map has a scale of 1:50 000. A straight-line distance of 4 cm on the map represents what real-world distance?

  1. 20 km
  2. 200 m
  3. 2 km Correct answer.
  4. 200 km

Explanation

A scale of 1:50 000 means 1 cm on the map represents 50 000 cm on the ground, which is 0.5 km. Multiplying 4 cm by 0.5 km gives 2 km. Converting units carefully is essential when using ratio scales.

Question 21Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

On a topographic map, closely spaced contour lines indicate which feature?

  1. A flat plain
  2. A depression
  3. A gentle slope
  4. A steep slope Correct answer.

Explanation

Contour lines join points of equal height, and the spacing between them shows the steepness of the land. Closely spaced lines mean height changes rapidly over a short distance, so the slope is steep. Widely spaced lines indicate gentler slopes.

Question 22Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A settlement grows at the point where a river leaves a mountain gorge and enters a plain. Which explanation best accounts for its location?

  1. The site is high and exposed for defence
  2. The site is far from any transport route
  3. The site offers a flat area, water supply, and a crossing point Correct answer.
  4. The site has no access to water

Explanation

Where a river leaves a gorge, the land becomes flatter and easier to build on, water is available, and the river may be crossable. These site advantages favour settlement growth. Such locations often become route nodes and market centres.

Question 23Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best describes the difference between a site factor and a situation factor in explaining where a settlement is located?

  1. Site refers to the settlement's position relative to surrounding features, while situation refers to its physical characteristics
  2. Site refers to the physical characteristics of the location itself, while situation refers to its position relative to surrounding features Correct answer.
  3. Site and situation both refer only to climate
  4. Site refers only to population size, while situation refers only to altitude

Explanation

Site factors describe the actual physical characteristics of the place, such as relief, water, and soils. Situation factors describe where the place is relative to other features, such as routes, resources, and neighbouring towns. Both help explain settlement location and growth.

Question 24Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A country's population pyramid has a broad base and narrows sharply towards the top. Which interpretation is most consistent with this shape?

  1. Low birth rates with high life expectancy
  2. A stable population with equal numbers in all age groups
  3. A population dominated by elderly people
  4. High birth rates with lower life expectancy Correct answer.

Explanation

A broad base shows a large proportion of young people, consistent with high birth rates. The sharp narrowing towards the top indicates relatively few people survive to older ages, consistent with lower life expectancy. This is typical of many rapidly growing populations.

Question 25Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which measure best describes the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current birth rates?

  1. Infant mortality rate
  2. Total fertility rate Correct answer.
  3. Crude birth rate
  4. Natural increase rate

Explanation

The total fertility rate estimates the average number of children a woman would bear over her lifetime if current age-specific birth rates continued. The crude birth rate is births per 1 000 people per year. Infant mortality and natural increase measure different things.

Question 26Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which layer of the Earth lies directly beneath the crust and behaves as a hot, weak, slowly flowing solid?

  1. The lithosphere
  2. The inner core
  3. The asthenosphere Correct answer.
  4. The outer core

Explanation

The asthenosphere sits below the rigid lithosphere and, although solid, is hot and weak enough to flow very slowly over geological time. This flow allows the overlying tectonic plates to move. The outer core is liquid iron-rich metal, the inner core is solid metal, and the lithosphere is the rigid outer shell.

Question 27Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

At a conservative plate boundary, what is the dominant tectonic process?

  1. Two plates slide past each other horizontally Correct answer.
  2. Two plates move apart and magma rises to fill the gap
  3. One plate is forced upward to form a fold mountain belt
  4. One oceanic plate is subducted into the mantle

Explanation

At conservative boundaries the plates neither collide head-on nor separate; they grind past each other along transform faults. Friction can lock the plates until stress is released as shallow earthquakes. Mountain building, sea-floor spreading and subduction belong to other boundary types.

Question 28Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A river's cross-section is measured at two sites. Site A is a narrow, deep channel with a smooth bed; Site B is wide and shallow with a bouldery bed. Which site would you expect to have the higher velocity for the same discharge?

  1. Site B, because a wider channel always flows faster
  2. Both sites would be equal because discharge is the same
  3. Site A Correct answer.
  4. Site B

Explanation

Velocity depends on channel shape and roughness as well as discharge. A narrow, deep channel has less wetted perimeter relative to its cross-sectional area and a smooth bed, so friction is lower and velocity is higher. A wide, shallow, bouldery channel creates more frictional resistance.

Question 29Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which combination of factors would most strongly increase the risk of a flash flood in a small catchment?

  1. Gentle slopes, dense forest and light drizzle
  2. Steep slopes, thin vegetation cover and intense short rainfall Correct answer.
  3. Wide floodplain, meandering channel and dry antecedent conditions
  4. Permeable soil, gentle slopes and steady moderate rain

Explanation

Flash floods occur when water reaches the channel very quickly. Steep slopes speed runoff, sparse vegetation reduces interception and infiltration, and intense rainfall delivers a large volume in a short time. Together these produce a rapid rise in discharge.

Question 30Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best explains why coastal areas generally have a smaller annual temperature range than inland areas at the same latitude?

  1. Water heats and cools more slowly than land, moderating coastal air temperatures Correct answer.
  2. Coastal areas receive more direct sunlight than inland areas
  3. Coastal areas are closer to the equator than inland areas
  4. Ocean currents always bring warmer air to the coast in every season

Explanation

Because water has a high heat capacity, the sea warms and cools slowly and releases or absorbs heat gradually. This moderates air temperatures along coasts, giving cooler summers and milder winters than inland sites. Inland land surfaces heat and cool quickly, producing a larger range.

Question 31Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Aspect influences local climate on a hill. Which slope in the Southern Hemisphere would generally be warmer and drier?

  1. A south-facing slope
  2. A north-facing slope Correct answer.
  3. An east-facing slope at dawn
  4. A slope facing directly into the prevailing moist wind

Explanation

In the Southern Hemisphere the sun tracks through the northern part of the sky, so north-facing slopes receive more direct solar radiation. They are therefore warmer and lose moisture faster, making them drier. South-facing slopes are shaded for longer and tend to be cooler and damper.

Question 32Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which of these best describes a choropleth map?

  1. Areas are shaded in graded tones to show how a value varies between regions Correct answer.
  2. Lines join places of equal value such as rainfall
  3. Arrows show the direction and volume of movement between places
  4. Points are plotted to show the exact location of individual events

Explanation

A choropleth map uses shading or colour within defined areas, such as regions or districts, to represent data values. Darker tones usually indicate higher values. It is suited to data collected over whole areas rather than individual points.

Question 33Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A student wants to show the proportion of a city's workforce employed in primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors. Which presentation is most suitable?

  1. A pie graph Correct answer.
  2. A line graph
  3. A scatter graph
  4. A bar graph of absolute numbers only

Explanation

A pie graph divides a whole into proportional sectors, so it clearly shows the share of the workforce in each sector. Because the four sectors together make up the whole workforce, proportions are directly comparable. Line and scatter graphs are suited to trends and relationships, not parts of a whole.

Question 34Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A topographic map uses a scale of 1:25 000. Two huts are 6 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance between them?

  1. 15 km
  2. 1.5 km Correct answer.
  3. 150 km
  4. 0.15 km

Explanation

At 1:25 000, one centimetre on the map represents 25 000 cm on the ground, which is 250 m. Multiplying 6 cm by 250 m gives 1 500 m, or 1.5 km. Converting units carefully avoids errors.

Question 35Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

On a topographic map, a series of contour lines forming a V shape that points upstream indicates which feature?

  1. A flat plateau
  2. A valley or gully Correct answer.
  3. A spur or ridge
  4. A depression or crater

Explanation

Contour lines bend to follow the shape of the land. Where a valley cuts into a slope, the contours form a V pointing up the valley, that is, towards higher ground. Spurs produce the opposite pattern, with the V pointing downslope away from higher ground.

Question 36Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best explains why many early towns in New Zealand were located at river mouths or natural harbours?

  1. These sites were always furthest from flood risk
  2. These sites were chosen because they had the highest elevation
  3. These sites gave access to sea transport and to fresh water and flat land Correct answer.
  4. These sites had the most fertile volcanic soils in the country

Explanation

Before road and rail networks developed, sea and river transport were the main ways to move goods and people. River mouths and harbours also offered fresh water, flat land for building, and often productive fishing grounds. These site advantages explain many early settlement locations.

Question 37Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which of these is the best example of a situation factor for a settlement?

  1. Its reliable supply of fresh water from a nearby spring
  2. Its position on a route between a port and an inland mining area Correct answer.
  3. Its shelter from strong prevailing winds
  4. Its flat, well-drained land suitable for building

Explanation

Situation factors describe a settlement's position relative to other places and features, such as routes, ports and resources. Being on a route between a port and a mining area is a relationship to surrounding places. Site factors describe the immediate physical characteristics of the location itself.

Question 38Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A population pyramid is widest in the 20-34 age groups and narrow at the base. Which interpretation is most consistent with this shape?

  1. Birth rates have fallen recently and the population includes a large migrant workforce Correct answer.
  2. Birth rates have risen sharply in the last decade
  3. The population has an unusually high death rate among young adults
  4. The population is in the first stage of the demographic transition

Explanation

A narrow base shows fewer recent births, indicating falling birth rates. A bulge in the young adult years can reflect immigration of workers. Together these produce a pyramid that is wide in the middle and narrow at the base. A high proportion of young adults is not typical of a very early-stage population.

Question 39Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which term describes the number of live births per 1 000 people in a population in a given year?

  1. Total fertility rate
  2. Crude birth rate Correct answer.
  3. Natural increase rate
  4. Infant mortality rate

Explanation

The crude birth rate expresses live births in a year per 1 000 of the total population. It is called crude because it does not adjust for age structure. Natural increase rate compares births and deaths, total fertility rate estimates children per woman, and infant mortality rate measures deaths of infants.

Question 40Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which process is the main way that ice moves material down a valley glacier?

  1. The ice carries rock debris frozen into it and pushes a pile ahead of it Correct answer.
  2. Meltwater dissolves all the debris and carries it in solution
  3. Wind blows fine particles along the glacier surface
  4. Chemical weathering breaks the debris into gas

Explanation

Glaciers transport material mainly as supraglacial, englacial and subglacial debris frozen into the ice. As the ice flows, it bulldozes and carries this load downslope, later depositing it as moraine. Meltwater also moves some material, but the ice itself is the dominant carrier.

Question 41Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which landform is a depositional feature formed at the end of a glacier?

  1. An arête
  2. A terminal moraine Correct answer.
  3. A hanging valley
  4. A cirque

Explanation

A terminal moraine is a ridge of unsorted debris deposited at the furthest point reached by a glacier. It marks the glacier's maximum extent. Cirques, arêtes and hanging valleys are all erosional features carved by ice.

Question 42Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Wind erosion is most effective in which environment?

  1. A coastal wetland with waterlogged soil
  2. A humid forest with deep leaf litter
  3. A glaciated valley with boulder clay
  4. A dry desert with sparse vegetation and loose surface material Correct answer.

Explanation

Wind erosion requires dry, loose, unprotected material and little vegetation to bind it. Deserts provide these conditions, allowing deflation and abrasion to remove and shape sediment. Vegetation, waterlogged ground and cohesive boulder clay all resist wind erosion.

Question 43Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which of these is the best example of a secondary source of geographic information?

  1. Notes recorded during a beach profile survey
  2. Measurements of stream velocity taken by a student at the site
  3. A government report summarising census results collected by others Correct answer.
  4. Photographs taken by a student during a field trip

Explanation

A secondary source is information collected by someone else and made available for others to use. A published report summarising census data fits this definition. Field measurements, photographs and survey notes recorded by the student are primary data collected first-hand.

Question 44Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A student records river depth at 10 cm intervals across a channel and plots the results. Which step would most improve the reliability of the cross-section?

  1. Repeat the measurements at the same points and average the results Correct answer.
  2. Take all measurements from one bank only
  3. Measure only at the deepest point of the channel
  4. Record the values to the nearest metre

Explanation

Reliability improves when measurements are repeated and the results compared or averaged, reducing the effect of random error. Repeating at the same points tests whether the values are consistent. Reducing the number of points or the precision of measurement would weaken the data.

Question 45Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best explains why the temperature of the atmosphere generally decreases with height in the troposphere?

  1. The troposphere receives most of its heat directly from the sun's rays
  2. Ozone in the troposphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation
  3. Air pressure increases with height in the troposphere
  4. The troposphere is heated mainly from below by the Earth's surface Correct answer.

Explanation

Sunlight passes through the troposphere without heating it much. The Earth's surface absorbs solar energy, warms, and then heats the air above it by conduction and convection. Because the air is warmed from below, temperature falls with height through the troposphere.

Question 46Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which factor most directly determines the amount of solar energy received at the Earth's surface at a given latitude?

  1. The angle at which the sun's rays strike the surface Correct answer.
  2. The local wind direction
  3. The distance from the nearest ocean
  4. The height of the local vegetation

Explanation

The angle of incoming sunlight controls how concentrated the solar energy is on the surface. Near the equator the sun is high, so energy is concentrated; near the poles the rays strike at a low angle and are spread over a larger area. Wind, distance from the ocean and vegetation affect local conditions but not the angle of insolation.

Question 47Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A river has a discharge of 30 m³/s and its channel cross-sectional area is 15 m². What is the average velocity?

  1. 2 m/s Correct answer.
  2. 450 m/s
  3. 0.5 m/s
  4. 45 m/s

Explanation

Discharge equals cross-sectional area multiplied by average velocity. Rearranging gives velocity equal to discharge divided by area, so 30 m³/s divided by 15 m² equals 2 m/s. Checking the units confirms the calculation.

Question 48Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best describes the difference between erosion and deposition in a river system?

  1. Erosion lays material down, while deposition removes it
  2. Erosion only occurs in the upper course, while deposition only occurs at the source
  3. Erosion and deposition both refer to the chemical breakdown of rock
  4. Erosion removes material from the bed and banks, while deposition lays material down Correct answer.

Explanation

Erosion is the wearing away and removal of material by flowing water, whereas deposition is the dropping of transported material when the water can no longer carry it. Both can occur in any part of a river, depending on energy conditions. Chemical breakdown of rock is weathering, not erosion or deposition.

Question 49Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

A city experiences rapid population growth and its housing and transport cannot keep pace. Which consequence is most directly linked to this situation?

  1. Growth of informal settlements and increased commuting congestion Correct answer.
  2. Immediate decline in the city's population
  3. A reduction in demand for public services
  4. A fall in the total fertility rate to zero

Explanation

When urban population grows faster than housing and transport infrastructure, people may build informal housing and face longer, more congested journeys. Demand for services such as water, schools and health care also rises. These are common consequences of rapid urbanisation.

Question 50Geography achievement standards (Level 1)

Which statement best explains why New Zealand experiences frequent earthquakes?

  1. It lies on and near an active boundary between two tectonic plates Correct answer.
  2. Its earthquakes are produced by changes in atmospheric pressure
  3. Its earthquakes are caused mainly by volcanic eruptions at hot spots
  4. It sits in the centre of a single, stable tectonic plate

Explanation

New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, where the crust is fractured and stressed. Movement along faults releases this stress as earthquakes. Being near an active plate boundary is the key reason for the country's high earthquake frequency.