Shaping the Landscape - Rivers (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography B): Exam Questions

Exam code: C112

1 hour16 questions
1
2 marks

Give one reason why urbanisation causes flooding.

2
4 marks

The town of Slough has suffered from river flooding many times in recent years.

Study Figure 2.2 and the OS Map (opens in a new tab)

Flood risk map showing graded areas: dark blue for high, medium blue for medium, light blue for low, and very light blue for very low flood risk.
Figure 2.2: Flood risk map for Area A shown on the OS Map.

Use the information in both Figure 2.2 and the OS Map to decide if each of the following statements are True or False.

True (T) / False (F)

The Academy at 965794 is in a high flood risk zone.

The hotel at 962797 is not at risk of flooding.

The greatest risk of flooding is in the west of Area A.

The houses at 963793 are at a lower risk of flooding than those at 967796.

3a
2 marks

Study Figure 2.3.

Bar chart showing the number of units for various building types: railway stations, sewage works, fire stations, police stations, schools, and care homes.
Figure 2.3-Some important buildings in Slough at risk of flooding.

Complete Figure 2.3 by drawing bars to show the following data for care homes and schools.

Number of buildings

Schools

35

Care homes

2

3b
2 marks

Suggest two other appropriate techniques that could be used to display the data in Figure 2.3.

4
4 marks

Study Figure 2.4.

Diagram showing how "sponge" roads absorb water, directing it through layers to underground tunnels. Text explains Slough's £6m grant for water management.
Figure 2.4: Slough Flood Relief Scheme

Suggest why this scheme could be described as a sustainable solution to Slough’s flood problem.

5
4 marks

Study Area B on the OS Map (opens in a new tab).

Analyse the economic consequences if Area B on the map was to flood. Use map evidence in your answer.

6a
6 marks

More land is being used for towns and cities in the UK.

Explain why using more land for towns and cities might increase the risk of river flooding in the UK.

6b
6 marks

Hard engineering is one option that is used to manage river flooding.

Explain why hard engineering methods might have limitations when managing flood risk from rivers in the UK

7
2 marks

Storm Christoph caused widespread flooding in the UK.

Give one reason why heavy rainfall causes flash flooding.

8
8 marks

Physical processes create distinctive river landscapes in the UK. Study Figure 2.4.

Four landscapes: a winding river meander, a vibrant estuary with boats, a lush V-shaped valley, and a cascading waterfall in rocky terrain.
Figure 2.4 – Some distinctive river landscapes

Erosion is the most important physical process in the formation of distinctive river landscapes in the UK, such as those shown in Figure 2.4. How far do you agree?

9
8 marks

Some rivers in the UK are under increasing risk of flooding.

Study Figure 2.5 below.

Hard and soft engineering methods for flood control: dam, managed flooding, drainage channel, and clearing vegetation.
Figure 2.5 – Examples of soft and hard engineering methods of river flood management

Is hard or soft engineering a more sustainable way of managing UK rivers? Justify your views.

10a
2 marks

Floods can also have impacts on people. Study Figure 2.3.

Bar chart illustrating economic flood damage in billions, with Thailand in 2011 highest at $40 billion and Germany in 2002 lowest at $11.6 billion.
Figure 2.3 – Economic damage of selected floods between 1993 to 2016

The table below contains four statements about Figure 2.3. Only two are correct. Tick (√) the two correct statements.

  • Germany had greater total economic damage than the US

  • China had greater total economic damage than Thailand

  • There was lower economic damage between 1993 and 1999 than between 2000 and 2016

  • The most recent flood shown occurred in Germany

10b
1 mark

Suggest one way in which Figure 2.3 could be improved

11
8 marks

Study the information in Figure 2.4.

Side-by-side images illustrating engineering methods: a dam in China, riverbanks in Ipswich, a woodland restoration, and a land use zoning diagram.
Figure 2.4 – Some examples of soft and hard engineering solutions to river flooding

“Soft engineering is a better river flood management strategy than hard engineering”. How far do you agree with this statement? You should consider both sides of the argument in your answer.

12
4 marks

Study the information in Strategy 1

Strategy 1 – Using underground water stores (aquifers).

Image showing a water pumping station near Perth, extracting water from aquifers. Diagram illustrates aquifer water cycle and lists positive and negative effects.

Explain why climate influences stores and flows of water.

13
4 marks

The students used a website to get data of the house prices in Bewdley. The information is shown on Map 2.2 below.

Map depicting property prices along the River Severn, with prices ranging from £88k to £638k, shown in a residential area divided by roads.
Map 2.2 - Average house prices in Bewdley

Suggest two reasons why the river can affect house prices.

14
2 marks

The UK experiences frequent flooding. Give one reason why parts of the UK are at risk of river flooding.

15
4 marks

Study Diagram 3.3 below. The amount of urban land in the UK is increasing. This creates pressure to use floodplains.

Diagram of land use from urban areas and factories to roads, playing fields, grazing animals, and parks for leisure, increasing distance from a river.
Diagram 3.3 - Land use zoning on a floodplain

Give two reasons why land use zoning on floodplains is used to reduce flood risk.

16
6 marks

Keswick in the north of England is an area at high risk of flooding.

Study Photograph 3.4 below which shows a flood management strategy in Keswick.

Glass barrier on a stone wall lines a riverside path with a scenic view of houses, greenery, and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
Photograph 3.4 - An example of flood defences on the River Derwent in Keswick

Explain why the choice of different flood management strategies, like the one in Keswick, could cause conflicting views between groups of people?