The Water Cycle & Drainage Basin System (Edexcel IGCSE Geography): Exam Questions

Exam code: 4GE1

50 mins20 questions
1a
1 mark

State one store in the hydrological cycle.  

1b
1 mark

Identify the meaning of the term river regime

  • variation in river discharge throughout the year 

  • variation in river discharge over a day 

  • variation in river discharge over a month 

  • variation in river discharge throughout the week

2a
2 marks

Explain one method of water transfer in the hydrological cycle.

2b
1 mark

Identify the definition of the hydrological cycle

  • an open system made up of stores and transfers

  • a closed system made up of only stores 

  • a closed system made up of stores and transfers

  • an open system made up of only transfers

3a
1 mark

Identify the meaning of the term river discharge

  • the average speed of water in a river at one place at any one time

  • the volume of water in a river at one place at any one time 

  • the average depth of a river at one place 

  • the average width of a river at one place 

3b
1 mark

State one feature of a drainage basin. 

4a
1 mark

Identify the meaning of the term drainage basin

  • an area of land where water is stored 

  • an area of land where water levels vary 

  • an area of land where flooding occurs 

  • an area of land drained by a river 

4b
2 marks

Explain the term lag time

5
1 mark

State one physical factor that affects river discharge.

6a
1 mark

Identify one transfer in the hydrological cycle

  • Groundwater

  • Infiltration

  • Interception

  • Lake

6b
1 mark

Identify the statement that best defines evapotranspiration

  • Loss of water from the ground from water stores and plants

  • Movement of water through the soil 

  • Loss of water from the atmosphere into other stores

  • Movement of water over the ground into other stores

7a
1 mark

Identify the best definition of a watershed

  • A boundary of a drainage basin

  • Bend in a river

  • Where a river meets the sea

  • Where two rivers meet

7b
1 mark

Identify the best definition of a river mouth

  • Bend in a river

  • Starting point of a river

  • Where two rivers meet

  • Where a river meets the sea

8a
1 mark

State one transfer of the hydrological cycle

8b
1 mark

State one store in the hydrological cycle

9
1 mark

Study Figure 1b below

Identify the feature of the storm hydrograph labelled X

screenshot-2023-08-14-at-17-35-45
10
1 mark

Identify one physical factor that affects river regimes.

  • amount of rainfall

  • building a reservoir

  • building a football stadium

  • size of river mouth

11
1 mark

Identify the best definition of the term evaporation.

  • any form of water that falls from the sky

  • the emission of water vapour from leaves

  • water changing from a gas to a liquid

  • water changing from a liquid to a gas

12
1 mark

Identify the best definition of a river source.

  • a smaller river that joins a larger river

  • where the river meets the sea

  • where the river starts

  • where two rivers meet

13
1 mark

Study Figure 1b in the Resource Booklet.

Identify the feature of the storm hydrograph labelled X.

Graph showing precipitation and discharge over 26 hours post-storm. Precipitation peaks at 8-10 hours; discharge peaks at 11 hours
Figure 1b
14a
1 mark

Identify the best definition of the term precipitation.

  • any form of water that falls from the sky

  • the emission of water vapour from leaves

  • water changing from a gas to a liquid

  • water changing from a liquid to a gas

14b
2 marks

Explain one way temperature can affect river regimes

1
4 marks

Study Figure 1a which shows two storm hydrographs

screenshot-2023-07-10-at-16-29-54

Suggest two physical factors that affect the differences in lag time

2
3 marks

Explain how urban land use can affect river regimes

3
4 marks

Study Figure 1a.

Diagram of the water cycle showing processes like condensation, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, snowmelt, percolation, and groundwater flow.
Figure 1a - The hydrological Cycle

Explain two transfers in the hydrological cycle shown.

4
3 marks

Explain how one physical factor can affect river regimes.

5
3 marks

Explain one way dams can affect river regimes.

1
8 marks

Study Figure 1c below

Analyse the factors that affect the river regime shown in figure 1c

screenshot-2023-08-15-at-10-11-53