GCSE Geography 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'levée' in a river landscape?
- A deep channel cut by a fast-flowing river
- A raised bank of deposited sediment along the side of a river (Correct answer)
- An artificial dam built to control flooding
- A broad flat floodplain beside a river
Correct answer: A raised bank of deposited sediment along the side of a river
A levée is a natural raised bank formed by the repeated deposition of sediment beside a river during flood events.
Question 2: What does 'sustainable development' mean?
- Economic growth that prioritizes industrial output above all else
- Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs (Correct answer)
- Development focused solely on environmental conservation
- Using only renewable energy sources in construction
Correct answer: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs
Sustainable development balances economic, social, and environmental needs so that future generations can also meet their needs.
Question 3: Which type of rock is formed from the cooling of magma or lava?
- Sedimentary
- Metamorphic
- Igneous (Correct answer)
- Limestone
Correct answer: Igneous
Igneous rock forms when magma cools underground (intrusive) or lava cools on the surface (extrusive), crystallizing into rock.
Question 4: What is 'counterurbanization'?
- The movement of people from rural areas into cities
- The movement of people from cities into smaller towns and rural areas (Correct answer)
- Urban regeneration schemes in inner-city areas
- The decline of suburban shopping centers
Correct answer: The movement of people from cities into smaller towns and rural areas
Counterurbanization is the movement of people away from large urban areas to smaller settlements or the countryside, often enabled by better transport and remote working.
Question 5: What is the 'multiplier effect' in economic geography?
- The increase in pollution caused by industrial growth
- When initial investment in an area generates further economic activity and jobs (Correct answer)
- The spread of urban development beyond city limits
- When population growth increases demand for housing
Correct answer: When initial investment in an area generates further economic activity and jobs
The multiplier effect occurs when new investment or jobs create additional economic activity — workers spend wages, supporting other local businesses.
Question 6: In a tropical rainforest, what is the 'canopy' layer?
- The ground-level layer of mosses and ferns
- The uppermost layer of the tallest emergent trees
- The dense layer of trees 20–30m tall that intercepts most sunlight (Correct answer)
- The shrub layer just above the forest floor
Correct answer: The dense layer of trees 20–30m tall that intercepts most sunlight
The canopy is the continuous layer of interlocking branches and leaves at roughly 20–30m, which intercepts the majority of sunlight reaching the forest.
Question 7: Which of the following is a consequence of rapid urbanization in lower-income countries?
- Reduction in informal settlements and slums
- Improved public transport networks immediately
- Growth of squatter settlements due to housing shortages (Correct answer)
- Falling urban unemployment rates
Correct answer: Growth of squatter settlements due to housing shortages
Rapid urbanization in LICs often outpaces housing supply and infrastructure, leading to the growth of squatter settlements or slums on the urban fringe.
GCSE Geography 5
What is a 'levée' in a river landscape?