MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS BOARD
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE LEVEL
SAMPLE PAPER SEC 15
SUBJECT :
PAPER NUMBER:
DATE:
TIME:
GEOGRAPHY
I
Direction to Candidates
Answer all questions. Answers are to be written on the exam paper itself.
Good use of language and orderly presentation are important. Credit will be given for relevant
illustrations.
The use of non-programmable calculators and geometric instruments is permitted.
1. Examine Figure 1 which is a map extract showing the island of Comino. Now answer the following
questions.
(a) Give the six-figure grid reference of:
(i)
Knisja (Church) marked A on the map.
(ii) Torri ta Kemmuna marked B on the map
(4)
(b) What is the coastal length of Kemmunett in metres?
(2)
(c) What is the approximate area of Kemmunett in metres squared?
(2)
(d) Calculate the slope gradient along the lines identified by E and F; G and H:
(i)
(ii)
E to F
G to H
(4)
(e) Write a paragraph on the geographical advantages of il-Bajja ta’ San Niklaw or il-Bajja ta’ Santa
Maria as tourist resort.
(4)
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Figure 1 Map of Comino
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2. Study the world map (Figure 2) and then answer the following questions.
(a) Name the shaded countries 1 to 4.
1
………………………………………...
2
………………………………………….
3
………………………………………… 4
………………………………………….
(2)
(b) Match the following descriptions with the countries numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Name of Country
Devastated by a tsunami in 2004.
Many thousand of people from this country migrate to the USA every
year.
Vast areas of this country are covered with rainforests
One-child policy introduced in this country to control population
growth.
(2)
(c) Name three intermediate stopping places shown on a shipping route from Barcelona to Tokyo.
……………………………………..
……………………………………..
……………………………………..
(2)
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(d) Name the seas numbered 5 to 8, and the rivers numbered 9 to 12.
seas:
5
………………………………………...
6
………………………………………….
7
………………………………………… 8
………………………………………….
9
………………………………………...
10
………………………………………….
11
………………………………………… 12
………………………………………….
rivers:
(4)
(e) Name the ocean current marked by an arrow and numbered 13.
…………………………………………………
(1)
(f) Explain how the climate of the UK is affected by this ocean current.
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(2)
(g) City 14 is located at 20oN and 80oE. Calculate the local time at City 14 if it is noon at
Greenwich. Show all your workings.
(3)
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3.
Loose rock such as sand and pebbles are picked up and transported along the coast by the longshore
drift.
(a) Complete the Figure 3 by showing how sand and pebbles will eventually reach the other side of
the beach marked by the letter X.
(1)
Figure 3
(b) On the diagram itself label the swash and the backwash.
(1)
(c) Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the direction of the longshore drift.
(1)
(d) Name one landform that is formed from longshore drift.
……………………………………….
(1)
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(e) Draw a labelled diagram to show the landform you named in question (d).
(3)
4.
Study Table 1 showing the population pyramid for Italy for the year 2007.
Table 1
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(a) The population pyramid for Italy is incomplete. Use the data provided below to complete the
graph.
Age group
Males
Females
(in millions)
(in millions)
20-24
1.5
1.3
80-84
0.7
1.2
(1)
(b) Draw lines on the pyramid to identify the young dependents, the economically active and the
elderly dependents .
(3)
(c) The pyramid indicates Italy’s ageing population. How does the pyramid show an ageing
population?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………… (1)
(d) Give two reasons why the people of Italy are now able to live to an older age.
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5. (a) Use the following data provided in Table 2 to draw the climate graph in the grid provided below.
Table 2
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Temp (oC)
9
10
13
16
20
25
27
29
26
21
15
11
Rain (mm)
70
60
30
25
20
5
-
5
20
50
60
80
(4)
(b). What is the temperature range for the year?
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…………….
(1)
6. Study the Figure 4 below.
Figure 4
(a) What do we call such a settlement? …………………………………………..
(1)
(b) Where would one expect to find such a settlement in a Less Developed Country?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(1)
(c) Describe the housing conditions shown in Figure 4.
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(2)
(d) Describe two urban problems other than housing resulting from rapid growth in cities in
LEDCs.
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(2)
7. Study the outline map of Egypt (Figure 5) shown below.
Figure 5
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(a) In 1970 a dam was constructed at Aswan. Mark and name this on Figure 5.
(1)
(b) Mark and name on Figure 5 the lake that was formed behind the dam.
(1)
(c) List two advantages and two disadvantages created by the Aswan High Dam.
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(4)
8. Study Figure 6 below which shows some causes and effects of acid rain pollution.
Figure 6
(a) State two causes of acid rain shown in the diagram.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
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(b) Describe the possible effects of acid rain in areas marked by the letters A to D on Figure 6,
A
……………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
B ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
C ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
D ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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(4)
(c) Explain one strategy used for reducing the amount of acid rain produced.
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………… (2)
9. Figure 7 shows the CBD of a North American city.
Figure 7
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(a) What do the letters CBD stand for?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
(1)
(b) Explain two CBD characteristics that can be recognised in the photo.
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(2)
(c) Name two land uses that cover large areas in other urban zones but are missing in the CBD.
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(2)
(d) Explain why these land uses are absent from the CBD.
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(1)
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10.
The Figure 8 below shows the five main layers of rocks of the Maltese Islands.
(a) Write down the remaining names of the layers of rocks of the Maltese Islands in the
appropriate place on the diagram.
(2)
Figure 8
(b) Choose two from the letters A, B, C, D and E which best fit the following descriptions.
It is porous but impermeable.
It is soft and easily cut into building slabs.
(2)
(c) Explain one use of Maltese rocks, other than building houses.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
(1)
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