Physical Geography – Higher Paper
Questions only
2012
1
The Restless Earth
1 (a) Study Figure 1 on the insert, a map showing the locations of young fold
mountains and ocean trenches.
1 (a) (i) Describe the location of ocean trenches.
1 (a) (ii) With the help of a diagram(s), explain the formation of young fold
mountains and ocean trenches.
1 (b) Outline how the Richter scale is used to measure earthquakes.
1 (c) What is the difference between the focus and the epicentre of an
earthquake?
1 (d) Study Figure 2 on the insert, which shows characteristics of the L’Aquila,
Italy earthquake in April 2009, and the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.
Compare and/or contrast the characteristics of the two earthquakes.
1 (e) Describe how the effects of an earthquake in a richer area of the world are
different from the effects of an earthquake in a poorer area of the world.
2011
1
The Restless Earth
1 (a) Give two differences between continental crust and oceanic crust
1 (b) (i) Study Figure 1 on the insert, a photograph of Mount Vesuvius, a volcano
in Italy.
Draw a labelled sketch of Figure 1 to show the characteristics of this volcano.
1 (b) (ii) Explain how volcanoes form at constructive plate margins.
1 (c) (i) Describe the size and shape of a supervolcano
1 (c) (ii) Describe the likely worldwide effects of a supervolcano eruption.
1 (d) Study Figure 2 on the insert, photographs of how people use fold mountains.
With the help of Figure 2 and a case study of a fold mountain range, describe how
people use fold mountains.
2010
1
The Restless Earth
1 (a) Study Figure 1 which shows the earth’s tectonic plates and the places where
earthquakes occur worldwide.
1 (a) (i) Describe the distribution of earthquakes.
1 (a) (ii) Draw a labelled diagram(s) to explain why earthquakes occur at
conservative plate boundaries.
1 (b) Study Figure 2, on the insert, a 1:50000 Ordnance Survey map extract of
market Rasen, Lincolnshire. An earthquake struck Market Rasen on 27 February
2008. Figure 3 is a sketch map drawn from Figure 2.
1 (b) (i) The epicentre of the earthquake was 4km north of the railway station in
Market Rasen.
On Figure 3, mark the position of the epicentre with the letter X.
1 (b) (ii) Damage was reported to Legsby parish church in grid square 1385 and
to the chimneys of houses at grid reference 108892.
On Figure 3, draw two arrows to show where this damage occurred.
Label these arrows with the correct lettes Y and Z from the key.
1 (b) (iii) The earthquake measure 5.2 on the Richter Scale.
With the help of Figure 2 and your own knowledge, explain why the damage was
limited.
1 (c) Use a case study to describe the responses to a tsunami.