GEOGRAPHY GCSE EDEXCEL B - Revision Paper 3: People and Environment Issues - Name: Wey Valley ...

GEOGRAPHY GCSE
           Revision
         EDEXCEL B
Paper 3: People and Environment Issues

    Name: ……………………………………………………

Topic 7: People and the biosphere

You should know                                                              R   A   G
Enquiry question: Why is the biosphere so important to human wellbeing and
how do humans use and modify it to obtain resources?
How the global distribution and characteristics of major biomes
(tropical, temperate and boreal forests, tropical and temperate
grasslands, deserts and tundra) are influenced by climate
(temperature, precipitation, sunshine hours)..
Local factors (altitude, rock and soil type, drainage) can alter
the biome distribution locally and how the biotic (flora, fauna)
and abiotic (soils, rock, water, atmosphere) components of
biomes interact.
How the biosphere provides resources for indigenous and local
people (food, medicine, building materials and fuel resources)
but is also increasingly exploited commercially for energy,
water and mineral resources
How the biosphere regulates the composition of the
atmosphere, maintains soil health and regulates water within
the hydrological cycle, providing globally important services
The global and regional trends increasing demand for food,
energy and water resources (population growth, rising
affluence, urbanisation and industrialisation) and theories on
the relationships between population and resources (Malthus
and Boserup)

Topic 8 Forests under threat

You should know                                                              R   A   G
Enquiry question: What are the threats to forest biomes and how can
they be reduced?
How biotic and abiotic characteristics are interdependent (climate,
soil, water, plants, animals and humans), how plants (stratified layers,
buttress roots, drip tips) and animals are adapted to the climate.
Why tropical rainforests have a very high rate of nutrient cycling
which, in turn, supports high levels of biodiversity and complex food
webs
How biotic and abiotic characteristics are interdependent (climate,
soil, water, plants, animals and humans), how taiga plants (cone-
shaped, needles, simple structure) and animals (migratory) are
adapted to the climate
Why the taiga has lower productivity, with less active nutrient cycling
and much lower levels of biodiversity.
Causes of deforestation: commercial hardwood logging, subsistence
and commercial agriculture, local demand for fuel wood and how
demand for biofuels, mineral resources and electricity (HEP) contribute
to deforestation
Why climate change is an indirect threat to the health of tropical
rainforests (ecosystem stress, drought).
Direct threats from logging for softwood, pulp and paper production
and indirect threats resulting from the exploitation of minerals, fossil
fuels and HEP potential.
How acid precipitation, forest fires, pests and diseases and forest fires
contribute to a loss of biodiversity.
Advantages and disadvantages of global actions (CITES, REDD)
designed to protect tropical rainforest species and areas and why
deforestation rates are rising in some areas but falling in others.

The challenge of achieving sustainable forest management and why
alternative livelihoods (ecotourism, sustainable farming) might better
protect the remaining tropical rainforest.
Challenges of creating and maintaining protected wilderness areas,
national parks and sustainable forestry in the taiga.
Reasons for conflicting views on protecting or exploiting forest and
natural resources in the taiga.

Topic 9: Consuming energy resources

You should know                                                          R   A   G
Enquiry question: How can the growing demand for energy by
met without serious environmental consequences
How energy resources can be classified as non-renewable
(finite stocks of fossil fuel coal, oil and gas), renewable (flows
of solar, wind, HEP) and recyclable (nuclear, biofuels
How mining and drilling can have environmental impacts
(landscape scarring, oil spills, carbon emissions, removal of
forests) and the landscape impacts of renewable energy (HEP
flooding, land use for wind turbines and solar panels).
How access to energy resources is affected by access to
technology and physical resources (geology, accessibility,
climate and landscape influences on renewable potential).
The global pattern of energy use per capita and the causes of
variations (levels of economic development, reliance of
traditional fuel sources, demand from different economic
sectors).
How oil reserves and production are unevenly distributed and
why oil consumption is growing (rising per capita GDP, rapid
industrialisation in emerging economies).
How oil supply and oil prices are affected by changing
international relations (conflicts, diplomatic relations) and
economic factors (periods of recession versus boom, over or
under supply).
Economic benefits and costs of developing new conventional
oil and gas sources in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas.
Environmental costs (negative impacts on water quality and
ecosystems) of developing new unconventional oil and gas
sources (tar sands, shale gas) in ecologically-sensitive and
isolated areas.
The role of energy efficiency and energy conservation (in
transport and the home) in reducing demand, helping finite
energy supplies last longer and reducing carbon emissions
Costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels (biofuels, wind,
solar and HEP) and future technologies (hydrogen) aimed at
reducing carbon footprints, improving energy security and
diversifying the energy mix.
How different groups (consumers, TNCs, governments, climate
scientists and environmental groups) have contrasting views
about energy futures (business as usual versus sustainable
How, in some developed countries, rising affluence,
environmental concerns and education are changing attitudes
to unsustainable energy consumption and reducing carbon
footprints. (

GLOBAL GEOGRAPHICAL ISSUES - PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

In the exam there will be a range of one mark questions (related to AO1) which will be based on
defining/naming key terms.
Name two goods provided by the biosphere. (2)
Describe one way of conserving threatened environments (2)
Define the term biome (2)
Define the term eco-system (2)

There will be a range of two, three and four mark questions (linked to AO2 and AO3). The following
are examples questions you might see in the paper
Suggest two reasons for changes in global oil production (2)
Define the term non-renewable energy (2)
Explain one reason why oil may become less important as an energy source in the future. (2)
Explain one reason why global oil production may fall after 2015.
Explain the problems of switching from non-renewable resources, such as oil, to renewable
resources. (4)
Explain why countries using electricity may need to switch to renewable energy resources in the
future. (2)
Describe how technology might solve the problem of resource shortages. (4)
Describe Malthus’s theory about population growth and resources. (2)
Explain why Boserup suggests that population growth might be a good thing. (4)
Explain two ways in which technology can increase food supplies for the world’s people. (4)
Explain why the taiga forest biome has very low levels of productivity. (4)
Describe one theory (Malthus or Boserup) about the relationship between population and
resources. (4)
Explain how governments try to manage resource consumption. (4)
Describe two ways in which governments manage resource consumption through recycling (4)
For a named non-renewable resource, explain why consumption varies from place to place. (4)
Explain why some resources may never run out. (3)
Describe how the demand for a named resource might be reduced. (3)
For a named global resource describe its pattern of supply. (3)
Describe how developing renewable resources might help achieve sustainability. (3)
Outline one way that population growth might lead to solutions for resource shortages. (2)
Explain why using renewable resources is more sustainable than using non-renewable resources.
(2)
Describe the management methods that can be used to conserve the biosphere. (4)
Forests are ecosystems. Suggest two ways in which humans could protect Ecosystems (2)
Suggest two reasons why many rainforest areas are being cut down (deforestation). (2)
Describe two effects of deforestation on the environment (4)
The destruction of some forests has made us more aware of the benefits they can provide. Explain
the value of a biome you have studied (4)
Using examples, describe how the biosphere provides people with a range of goods and services
(4)
For a named biome, describe two ways it has been damaged by human activity. (4)
Describe how local factors can affect biomes (4)
The biosphere acts as a life support system for the planet. Describe two ways in which it does this.
(4)
Other than deforestation, outline one threat to the biosphere (2)
Describe two different management methods that can be used to conserve the biosphere. (4)
Describe the biosphere’s role in: a) maintaining soil health AND b) regulating the composition of
the atmosphere (4)
Describe how people use two different types of goods produced by the biosphere. (4)
Outline one way in which the biosphere maintains soil health (2)
Describe one local/national and one global approach used to manage the biosphere (4)
Explain how human activity is causing the destruction of tropical rainforests. (4)

Explain two ways in which the biosphere regulates the composition of the atmosphere. (4)
Explain how latitude affects temperature and precipitation (4)
Explain how rainfall and temperature influence the location of temperate deciduous biomes (4)
Explain the importance of the biosphere to the water cycle (4)
Explain why tropical rainforests have complex food webs (4)
Explain why plant productivity is low in the taiga (4)
Explain two ways in which tropical rainforest are threatened by global warming (4)
Explain how pests and diseases threaten biodiversity in taiga (4)
Explain the ways in which tropical rainforests can be conserved (4)
Explain the ways in which the taiga can be conserved (4)
Explain why oil reserves are unevenly distributed (4)
Explain one cost and one benefit of searching for energy resources in ecologically sensitive areas
(4)
Explain how energy efficiency and conservation measures can reduce energy consumption (4)

There will also be a range of 8 mark questions (linked to AO3 and AO4). The following are
examples of questions which have been asked in the old (legacy) specification
Explain how new technologies might help solve resource shortages (6)
Explain how national and local governments attempt to manage resource consumption. (6)
Explain how altitude and soils can affect biome distribution (6)
Explain how the biosphere influences the hydrological cycle. (6)
For either a national or a local approach, explain how management measures can help conserve
the biosphere (6)

There will also be a range of 8 mark questions (linked to AO3 and AO4). The following are
examples of questions which have been asked in the old (legacy) specification
Using evidence from both resources, assess the view that the local impacts of tar sands mining are
more severe than the global impacts (8)
Assess the reasons why there are mixed views about the Athabasca Tar Sands development within
your chosen groups (8)
Assess the reasons why some people are concerned about the destruction of the rainforest for
commercial uses (8)
Assess the reasons why population and industrialisation have increased the demand for resources
(8)
Assess the multiple causes of deforestation in tropical rainforests (8)
Assess the ways in which mining and energy developments threaten the taiga biome (8)
Assess the reasons why different groups have contrasting views on conserving or exploiting the
taiga (8)
Assess the environmental impacts of oil drilling and open cast mining (in China and the USA) (8)
Assess the statement that ‘ access to energy is affected by accessibility and technology’ (8)
Assess the statement that ‘changing oil prices can be affected by international relations’ (8)
Assess the conflicts caused by the development of unconventional oil and gas (8)
Assess the reasons why people’s views differ about energy futures (8)

Weekly Planner:

Day               Monday   Tuesday   Wednesday   Thursday   Friday   Saturday   Sunday
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Subject 4