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Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2018

SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS/5 NORMAL (ACADEMIC)

GEOGRAPHY (ANSWER KEY)


(2236/01)

1 HOUR 40 MINUTES
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

Section A
This question is compulsory.
1 Students travelled to Pulau Hantu to conduct fieldwork investigations. Before
embarking on their trip, they did a short research on the island.

Pulau Hantu

Pulau Hantu is located to the south of Singapore, 30 minutes away from the
West Coast Pier. It actually comprises of 2 islets, the Pulau Hantu Kechil and
Pulau Hantu Besar. This tiny island stretches up to only 12.5 hectares in area.
During the high tide, the water level of the bay rises, and the middle of the
island which is geographically lower, gets immersed in water, which results in
two smaller islands. Pulau Hantu is teeming with exceptionally beautiful aquatic
life and reefs, which makes it a local favourite spot for fishing, scuba-diving,
snorkelling and countless other activities.

Aerial view of Pulau Hantu

Fig. 1
*black spots represent areas which contain coral reefs

(a) (i) Upon reaching Pulau Hantu, a student noticed that both islets were
inaccessible to each other during high tide. He suggested that a sand
bridge be reclaimed between the 2 islets, so that visitors can have
access to both places at all times.

Name and describe a fieldwork investigation that the students can


carry out to see if the sand bridge is a feasible idea. [6]
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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

Name:
 F.I. on strength of water/waves between the islets during high
tide [1]
Describe:
 Students can have 2 ranging poles along the water edge, at a
regular interval (e.g. 2m), for recording purposes. [1]
 At the first ranging pole, they throw the oranges a metre away
from the water’s edge into the water and start timing how long
they take to move from one pole to the next. [1]
 Once the oranges pass the second pole, the timing they took
to float pass should be recorded. [1]
 The records can be converted into the speed at which the
water moves. [1]
 The above steps should be repeated, at fixed time intervals
during high tide, so that the results can be averaged to get a
better accuracy. [1]

(ii) However, not everyone thought the sand bridge was a good idea to
begin with. Suggest reasons that supported this thought. [2]

 Erosion would mean that the bridge would have to be


constantly maintained and thus a maintenance cost incurred
[1]
 Sand that is eroded could affect the coral reefs nearby by
choking them [1]

(b) The students then decided to carry out an environmental investigation to


find out visitors’ experiences in Pulau Hantu.

The collated responses from 10 people were recorded as seen below.

Date: 6 June 2018


Location: Pulau Hantu

Bipolar survey on environmental perception of Pulau Hantu

Positive +2 +1 0 -1 -2 Negative
Beautiful surroundings 2 3 3 2 0 Ugly surroundings
Available services 0 3 1 4 2 Unavailable services
Low visitor count 0 4 4 2 0 High visitor count
Little litter 2 3 2 3 0 Much litter
Quiet 2 2 3 3 0 Noisy
Fig. 2

(i) Using a standard bar graph, present the findings as seen in the
survey. [2]
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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

 Use of bipolar graph with correct axes [1]


 Correct factors and values [1]

(ii) What do the findings from the survey say about visitors’ perceptions
of Pulau Hantu? Give reasons for your answer. [3]

 Positive [1]
 Score in positive is 27 vs score in negative is 18 [1]
 Except for the factor of services, where visitors seem to be
upset with the lack of it, score 3 vs 8 [1]

(c) Some students questioned the use of a bipolar survey collect data and the
bar graph to present the findings. Justify the use of the mentioned
methods. [5]

Bipolar:
 Allow quantitative data about characteristics of place to be collected
and scored [1]
 Useful in evaluating factors at chosen place [1]
Bar graph:
 Allows multiple sets of data to be compared easily [1]
 Large data sets can be used [1]
 Patterns can be observed easily [1]

(d) (i) The students also studied that amount of sunlight penetrating the
water surface, which was determined by turbidity and water depth,
could influence where coral reefs grew.

Suggest a hypothesis the students could test based on their study.[1]

 The higher/lower the turbidity of water, the lower/higher the


chances of coral reefs growing
OR
 The deeper/shallower the sea bed, the lower/higher the
chances of coral reefs growing

(ii) Based on the hypothesis in part (c)(i), the students then decided to
stay on the sandy shorelines near the black spots in Fig. 1 to wait for
low tide. Following that, they observed the conditions before
recording their findings.

Reflect on the reliability of their data collected and evaluate their


methods. You should also recommend different methods to help the
students if needed. [6]

Reflect:

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

 Findings would mostly be inaccurate as they are not physically


onsite to take readings, thus data collected unreliable
Evaluate:
 Good, as they stay safe being on the shoreline
 Not good, the wait for low tide might be a long one if
unresearched beforehand
 Not good, cannot really see into the depths due to distance
from area studied
(accept other relevant evaluation that targets their methods
mentioned)
Recommend solution(s) to increase accuracy and reliability of data:
 Students could take a boat out, under adult supervision, to
take exact readings of turbidity/water depth
 Students would have to get readings from different sites under
similar physical conditions to make data collected more
accurate for comparison

Section B

Answer one question from this section.

2 (a) Explain how constructive waves form sandy beaches. [4]

 Beaches are formed by constructive waves which have a strong


swash but a weak backwash [1]
 The strong swash deposits sediments on the coasts [1]
 While the weak backwash removes only little materials [1]
 Over time, the coasts are built up by the deposited sediments,
forming sandy beaches [1]

(b) Fig. 2 shows rocks that were eroded by a certain coastal process.

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

Fig. 2

Identify the coastal process and describe why the rocks looked like that in
Fig. 2. [4]

Identify:
 Attrition [1]
Describe:
 When rock particles carried by waves rub or hit against one another
[1]
 they break down into smaller particles/pebbles [1]
 and become smoother and more rounded over time [1]

(c) Fig. 3 shows the map of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, showing
results of aerial surveys for 911 reefs.

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

Australia

Fig. 3

Based on Fig. 3, compare the conditions of the reefs found in the different
sectors and suggest reasons for the differences. [4]

Compare:
 Northern sector the highest damage (81% severely bleached) found
in reefs, followed by Central (33%), then Southern the lowest (1%)
[1]
 Norther sector had the lowest surviving (<1% not bleached), then
Central (10%), with Southern highest (25%) [1]
Suggest: (Location being the main reason)
 Northern nearest to neighbouring country Indonesia, so possible
higher sea traffic and human activity, increasing sea temperature,
thus high bleaching
 Southern faces a larger fetch (Pacific Ocean) so lesser activity and
lower fluctuations in sea temperature, so less bleaching and
healthier reefs

(d) Fig. 4 shows a mangrove-littered coastline.

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

Fig. 4

Draw an annotated sketch of Fig. 4, clearly showing the environmental


conditions for growth and the characteristics of the adaptations of the
mangroves. [5]

No marks to be awarded if sketch is not closely proportional to figure


Sketch that has only labels get max 1m
 Sketch that looks like figure [1]
Environmental conditions:
 Identification of sea (proving natural saline condition) [1]
 Gentle sloping coastline (showing low energy waves) [1]
Characteristics:
 Prop roots to anchor trees firmly [1]
 Thin and pencil-like aerial roots to help trees breathe during high
tide [1]

(e) Stabilising dunes has always been the best natural method to protect
coastal areas from erosion.

To what extent do you agree with the statement? Support your answer
with relevant examples. [8]

Stand: not the best, but one of the existing

Para 1: stabilising dunes


 Sand dunes stabilised by planting grasses
 Roots of grasses anchor sand and prevent erosion
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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

 Matting put over dunes and young grasses planted into the sand
through it
 Over time, grasses become established and dunes become more
stable
 Matting rots away, adding nutrients to soil
 However, fences and access paths need to be built to protect dunes
from human traffic
 Maintenance costs would be incurred to manage such construction
 Higher fences would have to be built over time as sand
accumulates
 Signboards placed to
 e,g, coast along Triton Place, Western Australia has vegetated
sand dunes and an access fence

Para 2: beach nourishment


 Using sand from external source to replenish sand on depleted
beach
 Change a wide sandy beach that offers protection to the immediate
inland area
 e.g. beach nourishment restored depleted beach at the coast of
Cape May in New Jersey, USA
 however, trucking or piping in sand can be expensive and time-
consuming
 sand used could be washed out to sea and suffocate corals
 beach is not permanent and eroded constantly

Para 3: encouraging coral reef growth


 Coral reefs help weaken wave energy
 Artificial reefs can be created by placing lasting materials such as
steel or concrete onto the sea floor
 Corals colonise these materials and start to function as a natural
reef
 e.g. in the waters of Palau in the northern Pacific Ocean, sunken
ships from World War II have been naturally colonised by corals
 however, it is not easy to encourage growth of corals
 sites need to be surveyed to ensure maximum opportunity for
growth
 dangers of siltation need to be overcome or avoided
 coral growth slow, taking 20-30 years, with no guarantee of
significant growth

conclusion: interdependence

0 marks  No attempt
 Irrelevant points
 Only listing/statement of points
L1 (1-3m)  At least one point (main) described and explained
and supported with example
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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

 No relevant examples given


 Main point of essay not discussed
 Points given not answering question
L2 (4-6m)  At least 2 points (main and 1 other) described and
explained and supported with examples
 Relevant examples provided are weak and show
only some support for description and explanation
 Points given somewhat answer question
L3 (7-8m)  All 3 points (main and 2 others) described and
explained and supported with examples
 Relevant examples provided show good support
 Points given show good linkage to question
 Valid stand and conclusion

3 (a) Describe what tides are and explain what happens during high tides. [5]

Describe:
 Caused mainly by the effects of the gravitational pull of the moon
and sun on the earth [1]
 Produces a cycle of alternating low and high tide which changes
about every 6 hours [1]
 Means that there is a cycle of 2 low tides and 2 high tides every 24
hours [1]
Explain:
 During high tides, waves reach parts of coasts that may not be
subjected to wave action at low tides [1]
 At high tides, waves erode and transport more sediments away
from larger parts of the coasts than at other times [1]

(b) With reference to Fig. 5, explain how wave refraction occurs along a
coastline. [5]

Fig. 5
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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

 As seen in Fig. 5, wave energy converges on headlands, giving rise


to increased wave height and greater erosive energy [1]
 and causing sediment movement inland [1]
 When waves approach bays, they diverge, resulting in decreased
wave height and reduced erosive energy [1]
 which allows deposition and the quiet beaches to form [1]
 These happen as parts of the wave that reaches shallow water first
slow down while the other parts of the wave continue at the same
speed [1]

(c) Fig. 6 shows a form of niche tourism.

Fig. 6

With reference to Fig. 6, identify the form of niche tourism and discuss its
purposes. [3]

Identify:
 Ecotourism [1]
Discuss:
 Travelling down the river in tubes instead of boats reduces the risk
of pollution as no fuels are used [1]
 Person moving through the forest on a zipline ensures that no trails
are made on the forest floor, leaving habitats undisturbed [1]
(must link to what can be seen in figure)

(d) Fig. 7 shows demonstrators clashing with the riot police during a protest
against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

Fig. 7

With the aid of Fig. 7 and studies you have made, describe and explain
how this event would have affected tourism in Venezuela. [4]

Describe:
Protestor causing disturbance while others run for safety [1]
(award mark in relation to figure)
Explain:
Disrupt services and cause damage to infrastructure [1]
Tourists postpone or cancel plans due to fear of personal safety [1]
Other government countries would have issued travel advisories to
discourage their own citizens to travel to Venezuela, causing number of
tourists to drop also [1]

(e) After a lesson in tourism studies, a student commented that responsible


tourism is only just about taking care of the environment.

To what extent do you agree with the comment? Support your answer with
relevant examples. [8]

Key concept is responsible tourism


First stand: it’s true, about the environment

1st para: environmental impact (conservation of natural environments)


 Positive impact is the funding it provides to help conserve
 Revenue can be used
 e.g. Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, Malaysia
relies on entrance fees to pay staff – staff rehabilitate orang-utans
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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

 e.g. in Kenya, survival of animals in reserves and national parks


relies on funding from international tourists – a single lion can
generate US$7000 annually in tourist revenue - $$ raised used to
preserve animals and habitats

Second stand: however, there is also the economic part (people’s


livelihood)
2nd para: employment opportunities leading to growth in income
 Growth of tourism leads to increase in number of tourism-related
jobs which leads to employed earning more to improve their
lifestyles
 Tourism industry offers many employment opportunities like tour
guides and taxi drivers
 e.g. in 2011, UNWTO estimated that the tourism industry employed
over 235m people worldwide
 e.g. fishermen on Pamilacan Island in the Philippines hired by local
tour companies to take tourists on boats to look for and swim with
whale sharks and dolphins and paid between US$80 and US$100
per trip, which is a significant amount for them, on top of their
normal takings

Third stand: last one would be the socio-cultural (people’s culture)


3rd para: preservation of local custom and heritage
 Revenue from tourists fund preservation and restoration
 Historical and cultural sites make a place more attractive when
preserved and restored
 Restored sites benefit local population by enhancing sense of
history and sense of belonging
 e.g. entry fees to Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt used directly to
fund conservation efforts
 e.g. historical Christ church in Malacca, Malaysia has been carefully
restored and now stands as a relic of Malacca’s colonial history,
while serving as a tourist attraction

0 marks  No attempt
 Irrelevant points
 Only listing/statement of points
L1 (1-3m)  At least one point (main) described and explained
and supported with example
 No relevant examples given
 Main point of essay not discussed
 Points given not answering question
L2 (4-6m)  At least 2 points (main and 1 other) described and
explained and supported with examples
 Relevant examples provided are weak and show
only some support for description and explanation
 Points given somewhat answer question

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

L3 (7-8m)  All 3 points (main and 2 others) described and


explained and supported with examples
 Relevant examples provided show good support
 Points given show good linkage to question
 Valid stand and conclusion

Q2: AO2-12m AO3-13m

Q3: AO2-13m AO3-12m

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Preliminary Examination 2018 Secondary 4 Express/5 Normal (Academic)
Geography (2236/01)

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