IB Geography Core Topics Sample Questions Naomi (5) Patterns in Environmental Quality and Sustainability Explain the factors

affecting access to safe drinking water. (5 marks) Drinking water, or potable water, is water that is of a standard that can be consumed without any short term or long term health effects, therefore not containing any harmful concentrations of chemicals or microorganisms. The World Health Organization estimates that 4 million deaths each year are attributed to water related diseases including cholera, hepatitis, malaria, and other parasitic diseases, via which contaminated water sources are the impetus. Foremost are the physical factors affecting access to safe drinking water. Various regions including sub-Saharan Africa and Iquitos for instance have low levels of precipitation, or conversely, seasonal distributions of precipitation, thus limiting their access to safe drinking water. Areas of which find this an issue often dont have the infrastructure to physically store the water when it does fall, and so people must rely on alternative sources of water such as nearby rivers contaminated by faeces. However, when there is no alternative, drinking this water is what results in diseases such as cholera. This is typical of LEDCs as demonstrated in Jakarta, whereby only 3% of the 1.3million cubic metres of water consumed annually reaches sewage treatment plants, as opposed to the 100% in Australia. There are also various human factors which impact access to safe drinking water. The wealth of nation or region in terms of its ability to construct and maintain water infrastructure is paramount. Ethiopia, despite high precipitation, only 42% of the most populous country in Africa have access to improved water sources, and 20% in rural areas as there is insufficient infrastructure to capture and store the water. Additionally, LEDCs pay more for their water than EDCs, therefore discriminating against populations that cannot economically afford to purchase safe drinking water. This is demonstrated in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where households connected to the water system pay $1 per cubic metre, however unconnected customers are forced to purchase from mobile vendors at a price between $5.50-$16.50 per cubic metre. As previously mentioned, contamination of urban water supplies is of high concern, both by industry and the people in general. Sewage, fertilizers and pesticides form farming can affect quality, as can heavy metals and acids form industrial processes and transport. In China, a third of their Yellow River cannot be used due to contamination by industrial waste (4.3 billion tonnes). This is constant throughout the country with 20% of their rivers not considered safe for water consumption. Additionally, sanitation is not able to keep up with population growth between 1990 and 2000 the number of people without sanitation rose from 2.6 billion to 3.3 billion. Asia currently has the least access to sanitation (48%). When sanitation is present, rivers are often open sewers, which are then consumed.

Thus, both physical and human factors namely economic, impact access to safe drinking water. IB MARSCHEME The response should demonstrate knowledge of what safe drinking water is [1 mark]. Depending on the scale considered, the main factors would be increasing population, the rising per capita consumption of water and the absence of, or failures in, the management of water, although other possible factors (global climate change, infrastructure developments) could be mentioned [22 marks]. Other valid factors should be credited. Populations in Transition Describe the life expectancy in 2 contrasting countries: 1 LEDC and one MEDC. (4 marks) Life expectancy is the average number of years that a person can be expected to liven. Between 1960 and 1980s, almost every country in the world showed a continual increase in life expectancy, however, since then, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has caused large spread increases in mortality, decreasing life expectancy in southern Africa below its level in 1960. In MEDCs, life expectancy is increasing so fast that half the babies born in 2007 will live to be at least 14, and if current trends continue, babies born over the past few years in the UK will live to be beyond 100 years old. Life expectancy in MEDCs such as Australia is increasing and people are living to a higher degree, surviving chronic illnesses due to early intervention. Improvements in medical facilities, hygiene and increased use of vaccines have resulted in the decline in death and sudden increase in life expectancy. Many MEDCs now have more than 20% of their population aged over 65years. This is evident in Australia, whereby the life expectancy of a person is now 81.8 years. This can be contrasted to 56.19 years in Ethiopia, a LEDC in Africa, whereby the presence of AIDS can be identified. Without the AIDS epidemic, life expectancy in Africa is approximated to be 60years, however insufficient access to medical services has resulted in a decreased life expectancy. Disparities in Wealth and Development Explain the value of the above indices in measuring disparities across the globe. (3 marks) Indices including infant mortality, education, nutrition, income, marginalization and the Human Development Index are important indicators that allow the deduction of statistics related to the population of a society both as an exclusive measurement, but also a record of change over time. The infant mortality rate (IMR) refers to the number of children that die before their first birthday per 1000 births. This is then used as an indicator of development for 3 main reasons. Firstly, high IMRs are found in the poorest LEDCs, the causes of death are often preventable, and where water supply, sanitation, housing, healthcare and nutrition are adequate, IMRs are low. Therefore, the IMR not only demonstrates the number of infant mortalities, but displays the likely condition under which it occurred.

The Education Index provides an index of education varying from a minimum of 0.0 to a maximum of 1.0. This index is based on 2 components adult literacy, defined as the percentage of the adult population with basic reading and writing skills, and secondly, the combined primary, secondary and tertiary enrolment in schools and colleges. Quality education and female literacy are central to development. The World Bank concluded that improving female literacy is one of the most fundamental achievements for a developing nation. Therefore, the Education Index provides information regarding the education level of the country, thus allowing decisions to be made regarding the academic futures of children. Countries with a high index of 0.993 include Australia, New Zealand, Finland and Cuba. Afghanistan has an index of 0.354, and Nigers is 0.282. It can be noted that Cuba isnt an economically developed country, however the money invested in education is apparent through this index. The Index of Nutrition/malnutrition Prevalence and Height for age measures the height of children under 5 years, whereby if their height is more than 2 standard deviations lower than the median for the international reference population aged 0-59 months, theyre malnourished. This is a condition that developed when the body doesnt receive adequate minerals, vitamins and nutrients to maintain proper body functions. This index therefore displays the spread of malnutrition across the globe and aids the deduction of where resources should be directed. The Height for Age (HFA) index indicates chronic malnutrition and is a useful indicator for nutrition surveys during chronic emergencies or when wasting levels are low. Similarly, the weight for age (WFA) does the same, and WFA growth charts are used to monitor weight gain. However, weight for height or length (WFH) is the preferred indicator for nutrition. Its used the same way as the other indices, and also as a selection criteria for selective feeding programs. There are various measures on income including gross domestic product (GDP), gross national income (GNI), gross national income per capita, and GNI at purchasing power parity (PPP). Each of these gives different indications as to the level and distribution of wealth and resources within a country. The Human Development Index is determined by 3 factors longevity (life expectancy), knowledge (adult literacy and average number of years schooling), and standard of living (purchasing power adjusted to local cost of living). By incorporating each of these 3 factors, this index indicates the level of development of a country, and is therefore one of the most reliable and comprehensive measures of human development. It can be noted that over the past 15 years, most countries have seen a steady improvement in HDI, with East Asia and the Pacific performing particularly well. In conclusion, each of the indices is important when used in conjunction with one another, thus reaffirming the value of the HDI. Essentially, the value of these indices lie in their ability to demonstrate trends through data collected over time, and thus their value in both predicting future trends, and the current distribution of resources to combat issues including poverty, nutrition, inequalities, and mortality.

Patterns in Resource Consumption Name 1 geopolitical impact of the changing pattern in energy production and consumption. (2 marks) In regards to the production of oil by the Middle East, and consumption of that oil throughout the world, countries that do rely on the Middle East for oil must ensure political stability within the region in order to maintain adequate political links and continue to involve it in economic cooperation. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) controls the price of crude oil, and so this has increased its economic and political power. Therefore, theres an incentive for developed countries to increase energy conservation or develop alternate energy forms as opposed to having to rely on the Middle East.