Ecosystems (AQA GCSE Geography): Exam Questions

Exam code: 8035

49 mins20 questions
1
1 mark

The living world

Study Figure 6, a world map showing some global ecosystems.

fig-6-june-2018-paper1-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Using Figure 6, which one of the following statements is true?

Shade one circle only.

  • There is a greater area of hot desert in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern Hemisphere.

  • The largest single area of tropical rainforest is in South America.

  • Temperate deciduous forests are all found on the western side of continents.

  • Hot desert areas are all found between the two tropics.  

2a
1 mark

Study Figure 6, which shows a food web for a small scale ecosystem in the UK.

fig-6-june-2019-paper1-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Using Figure 6, which one of the following statements is true?

Shade one circle only.

  • Sparrowhawks eat plants.

  • Voles eat moles.

  • Moles eat beetles.

  • Badgers eat small birds.

2b
2 marks

Suggest what would happen in the food web shown in Figure 6 if foxes became extinct.

3a
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1 mark

Study Figure 7, which shows annual climate data for two different environments.

fig-7-june-2020-paper1-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Using Figure 7, calculate the temperature range in Place A.

3b
2 marks

Using Figure 7, state two differences between the climate in Place A and Place B.

4a
2 marks

Study Figure 5, a world map showing global biodiversity levels.

fig-5-nov-2021-paper-1-aqa-gcse-geography


Using Figure 5, describe the location of areas with low biodiversity levels.

4b
2 marks

Using Figure 5, suggest one reason for the high biodiversity levels in area X.

5a
1 mark

Study Figure 7, a typical climate graph for one global ecosystem.

fig-7-june-2018-paper1-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Which global ecosystem is most likely to have the temperature and precipitation pattern shown in Figure 7?
Shade one circle only.

  • temperate deciduous forest

  • tundra

  • hot desert

  • savanna

5b
1 mark

State the minimum temperature shown in Figure 7.

  • –26°C

  • –28°C

  • –30°C

  • –32°C

5c
1 mark

Give one reason why polar regions have low temperatures throughout the year.

6
1 mark

State one role of decomposers in an ecosystem.

7
1 mark

Study Figure 7, a graph showing the biomass at different levels of a food chain. 

fig-7-june-2019-paper1-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Calculate the percentage loss in biomass between the primary consumer and secondary consumer levels. 

Shade one circle only.

  • 2.5%

  • 97.5%

  • 25.2%

  • 95.5%

8
2 marks

Give two reasons why the biomass changes between each level in the food chain.

9
1 mark

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

10
1 mark

Which global ecosystem matches the following description?
An area with trees which drop their leaves in winter.
Shade one circle only.

  • Tundra.

  • Tropical grassland.

  • Deciduous forest.

  • Tropical rainforest.

11
2 marks

For a small scale ecosystem you have studied, name one producer and one consumer.

Producer ____________

Consumer _____________

12
1 mark

Which one of the following phrases defines the term biodiversity?

  • How living things affect each other and the environment.

  • The number and types of plants and animals that live in an area.

  • Energy flows between living things when they eat or are eaten.

  • How plants and animals are adapted to their habitats.

13a
1 mark

The living world

Study Figure 5, a map showing the major world ecosystems.

Figure 5

figure-5-june-2022-paper-1-aqa-gcse-geography

Using Figure 5, which one of the following statements is true?
Shade one circle only.

  • There are temperate grasslands in every continent

  • Deserts are only found in the middle of continents

  • Temperate deciduous forests are only found in the Northern hemisphere.

  • Coniferous forests occur in large areas of North America, Europe and Asia.

13b
1 mark

Using Figure 5, name the continent with the largest area of savanna.

13c
1 mark

Which statement describes the characteristics of temperate deciduous forests?

Shade one circle only.

  • The vegetation is short because the growing season only lasts two months

  • The trees drop their dead leaves because of lower temperatures in winter.

  • The vegetation is sparse because rainfall is low

  • The vegetation is evergreen because the climate is hot all year round.

14
1 mark

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

15
2 marks

For a small scale ecosystem you have studied, outline the link between producers and consumers.

1
4 marks

Study Figure 1, which shows the distribution of world biomes.

Using figure 1 and your own understanding, explain why different biomes are found in different parts of the world.

2-4-1-distribution-of-biomes-1
2
4 marks

Study Figure 6, which shows a woodland food web

Explain how a decrease in the mouse population could impact the food web

fig-6-june-2019-paper1-qp-gcse-aqa-geo
3
4 marks

Study Figure 1, which shows a deciduous forest nutrient cycle

Using figure 1 and your own understanding explain how ecosystems are interdependent 

screenshot-2023-06-29-at-15-05-50
4
4 marks

Study Figure 1, which shows cases of chalara (ash dieback) in the UK

Using Figure 1 and your own understanding explain how natural and human-induced changes can affect ecosystems

screenshot-2023-06-29-at-15-28-55

                                                                                                                                           Source: BBC

5
4 marks

Study Figure 1, which shows the world biomes

Explain the distribution of the tropical rainforest and coniferous forest (boreal) biomes

2-4-1-distribution-of-biomes-1