Download Paper 1 Specimen Paper Solutions update 2017

Practice Exam 3 Paper 1 New Specimen Paper – Solutions
1. (a) Identify two biomes in Mongolia. ( Topic 2)
Answer is in booklet : desert , mountain, steppe, boreal facts or tundra.
(b) Outline two factors that have contributed to the high biodiversity in Mongolia
( Topic 4)
1. low human impact : fig. 2 only 1% used for farming
2. biodiversity definition: species, habitat, and genetic diversity.
Species – snow leopard and others see fig. 4b
Habitat – 4 biomes fig. 4b
Genetic – high number of species
2. (a) With reference to Figure 3a, 3b, and 3c outline two ways in which the climate
may limit productivity in Mongolia. ( Topic 2)
Productivity – most important factors : rain ( precipitation) , temp. and sun, also NPP, GPP, Biomes
Fig. 3A – avg. temp.
Fig. 6a,b – precipitation
(b) With reference to Figure 3c and your own knowledge, explain two reasons why
Mongolia is susceptible to soil erosion ( Topic 3 farming ,5 soil erosion)
Cite data from graphs
Soil erosion – wind speeds high in April. Focus on enhanced wind erosion : graph 2
above ground plant material April and May. Hydrologic factors April and May
3. Using the diagram below, draw labeled arrows to create a flow diagram that
shows:
(a) one input and one output of the system. (b) two flows between the given
storages
Different answers possible see one example below”
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4. To what extent does the data in Figure 6a and 6b provide evidence for climate
change in Mongolia? ( Topic 6 Climate Change)
Fig 6a – temp increasing – cite specific data
Fig. 6b – no real change in precipitation.
Hard to tell if climate change is really occurring. Temp. may be due to other causes.
Global warming debate.
5. (a) With reference to Figure 7b, state one impact on the natural capital of this
ecosystem of nomads settling in one place. ( Topic 3)
Nomads settling in fresh grazing pastures will reduce the pasture. Cite data: by
looking at the settled pastoralism figure the number of most degraded increases
significantly.
(b) Identify two reasons for the changing number of livestock when former nomads
become settled in one place.
Settled pastoralism:
1.
2.
3.
4.
From text the price of meat goes up so livestock should go down.
Common sense: degraded pasture does not support as many animals
Live stock may be put into barns.
Farmers may get other part time jobs
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6. Figure 8a shows a variation in the community over the distance between A and D.
( Interpretation of graphs and data)
(a) With reference to Figure 8a, state why site D is included in the study.
Need control of non degraded land to compare with degraded land tracks A, B, C
(b) Outline two ways in which the abiotic conditions of Tracks A and C differ ( Topic 2
–3)
size – width,
wind erosion,
Track A has more sand , dirt and soil and has more car – vehicle erosion
(c) (i) State the process through which communities change over time ( Topic 2)
Succession
(ii) Explain how this process can cause changes in the biotic and abiotic conditions
by reference to Tracks A and C. ( Topic 2)
Biotic conditions: increases vegetation and plant growth. This increased growth will
also increase animal growth and other organisms.
Abiotic conditions: vegetation and plant growth will decreases the amount of sand ,
erosion and aeration.
7. With reference to Figure 6a and 6b, Figure 7a, 7b and 7c and Figure 9 explain
how desertification and water resource shortage have led to the formation of smog in
Ulan Bator. ( Topic 5)
1. Photochemical Smog is a pollutant formed by tropospheric ozone, fossil fuels,
CO2, NO and sun light
2. Cite data and graphs: Fig. 9 is the best one to use : shows nomads and range
decreasing therefore urbanization increases and urban pollution increases
causing smog.
Fig. 7a, b : shows settled pastoralism meaning more urbanization close to the city.
Fig 6a,b : not much, just shows temp. and precipitation.
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8. (a) With reference to Figure 4 and Figure 10 outline two possible reasons why the
Snow leopard has received special attention from conservationists ( Topic 4)
Fig 4 : shows picture of a beautiful leopard snow - media attention
Fig. 10 : shows snow leopard trust and history which faces many different threats.
The snow leopard may be a keystone species.
(b) The Snow Leopard Trust demonstrates features of several different value
systems. Identify one feature of its activity that would be typical of anthropocentric
and one of technocentric value systems in the table below. ( Topic 7)
See Fig. 10 :
Anthropocentric Activities:
Humans must sustainably manage ecosystems. Fig 10 shows a research center set
up to study the ecosystem.
Technocentric Activities:
Technology can solve problems. Fig. 10 shows cameras, satellite tracking and GPS
tracking collars
9. With reference to Figure 11 and other information from the resource booklet,
suggest why Mongolia’s biocapacity has changed over time. ( Interpreting graphs)
Biocapacity – see fig 11 defined: the amount of biologically productive land,
measured in global hectares per capita.
Cite data: Since 1961 biocapacity in Mongolia dropped from 50 to 24 in 1985 and to
15 in 2008. This was due to soil erosion and overgrazing see fig. 8
10. With reference to the information presented in the resource booklet, analyse the
global ecological value of Mongolia.
Look for Specific examples either good or bad – look for key buzz words:
Good
1. High habitat diversity- several types of biomes: tundra, desert, ( see fig. 1b or
2)
2. Low human population – low impact on environment ( fig. 2)
3. Significant protected area ( fig. 2)
4. Endemic species (fig 4) : snow leopard, Saiga antelope, etc.
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Bad
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Grasslands vulnerable to degradation, wind erosion and overgrazing. ( fig. 5a)
Frequent drought may lead to desertification (fig. 5a)
Severe cold may be caused by climate change ( fig 5b)
Cold tem. And low precipitation ( fig. 6a and b)
Urbanization and smog occurring in city.
Other answers acceptable
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