100 GCSE Geography Questions

1. River Environments

  1. Define the term discharge in a river system.
  2. Explain how a meander forms.
  3. What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
  4. Describe the characteristics of a river regime.
  5. How does a hydrograph help in understanding river behaviour?
  6. Identify two processes of river erosion.
  7. What is a watershed, and why is it significant?
  8. Explain the formation of an oxbow lake.
  9. Calculate the discharge of a river with a cross-sectional area of 20 m220m2 and velocity of 2 m/s2m/s.
  10. How does mass movement affect river landscapes?

2. Coastal Environments

  1. Define longshore drift and its role in coastal deposition.
  2. Contrast hard engineering and soft engineering strategies.
  3. How do mangroves protect coastlines?
  4. Describe the formation of a sand dune ecosystem.
  5. What is a sub-aerial process, and how does it impact cliffs?
  6. Explain why coral reefs are considered fragile ecosystems.
  7. How does salt marsh vegetation adapt to tidal conditions?
  8. Name two landforms created by coastal erosion.
  9. Why is biodiversity high in coastal ecosystems?
  10. Assess the effectiveness of beach nourishment as a management strategy.

3. Hazardous Environments

  1. Define a natural hazard and provide two examples.
  2. How does monitoring volcanoes reduce disaster risks?
  3. Explain the formation of a tropical storm.
  4. Why are earthquakes common along tectonic plate boundaries?
  5. What factors determine the severity of a natural disaster?
  6. Describe mitigation strategies for earthquakes.
  7. How does deforestation increase landslide risks?
  8. Why are LICs more vulnerable to natural hazards than HICs?
  9. What role does prediction play in managing volcanic eruptions?
  10. Explain the social impacts of a tsunami.

4. Economic Activity and Energy

  1. Define sectoral shift and its stages.
  2. Why do TNCs locate factories in MICs?
  3. Contrast renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
  4. What is the energy gap, and how can it be addressed?
  5. Explain the challenges of the informal sector in LICs.
  6. How does hi-tech industry impact urban areas?
  7. Why is location critical for manufacturing industries?
  8. Calculate the energy gap if demand is 500 TWh500TWh and supply is 420 TWh420TWh.
  9. Assess the role of fossil fuels in global energy use.
  10. What are the environmental impacts of fracking?

5. Ecosystems and Rural Environments

  1. Define a biome and give two examples.
  2. Explain succession in a temperate grassland ecosystem.
  3. How do GM crops affect rural economies?
  4. Describe the causes of soil erosion in rural areas.
  5. What is counterurbanisation, and why does it occur?
  6. How does irrigation lead to environmental issues?
  7. Contrast food webs and food chains.
  8. Why is depopulation a problem in rural LICs?
  9. Explain how HIVs (High Yielding Varieties) improve crop yields.
  10. Assess the impact of rural-urban migration on cities.

6. Urban Environments

  1. Define urbanisation and its drivers in LICs.
  2. Describe the challenges of inner-city areas.
  3. How does suburbanisation lead to urban sprawl?
  4. Explain the concept of a megacity.
  5. What are brownfield sites, and why are they redeveloped?
  6. Contrast greenfield and brownfield site development.
  7. How does self-help housing improve shanty towns?
  8. Why is deprivation common in urban peripheries?
  9. Assess the role of urban regeneration in HICs.
  10. What is rebranding, and how does it attract investment?

7. Fragile Environments

  1. Define desertification and its primary causes.
  2. How does overgrazing accelerate soil degradation?
  3. Explain the link between deforestation and global warming.
  4. Why is malnutrition prevalent in famine-affected regions?
  5. Describe strategies to combat soil erosion.
  6. How does sustainability reduce environmental fragility?
  7. What are the consequences of glacial retreat?
  8. Explain how climate change affects coral reefs.
  9. Why is international cooperation vital for addressing deforestation?
  10. Assess the effectiveness of afforestation projects.

8. Globalisation and Migration

  1. Define globalisation and its economic impacts.
  2. How do production chains benefit TNCs?
  3. Contrast voluntary and forced migration.
  4. Explain the role of ecotourism in conservation.
  5. Why do refugees face challenges in host countries?
  6. How has mass tourism affected Mediterranean coasts?
  7. Describe the causes of net migration in HICs.
  8. What are the social impacts of remittances on LICs?
  9. How does cultural diffusion result from globalisation?
  10. Assess the role of the EU in managing asylum seekers.

9. Development and Human Welfare

  1. Define HDI and its components.
  2. Contrast GDP and GNI.
  3. Why is life expectancy higher in HICs?
  4. Explain the development gap between core and periphery regions.
  5. How does literacy influence quality of life?
  6. Describe appropriate aid strategies for LICs.
  7. Why are emerging economies like China growing rapidly?
  8. Assess the limitations of using GDP to measure development.
  9. How does debt relief assist LICs?
  10. What are the environmental costs of rapid industrialisation?

10. General and Case Studies

  1. Explain how Bangladesh is affected by climate change.
  2. Describe the causes of deforestation in Brazil.
  3. Why is Zomba, Malawi experiencing rural-urban migration?
  4. Assess the impact of tourism on Bhutan’s environment.
  5. How has São Paulo addressed favela growth?
  6. Explain soil erosion management in the Lake District.
  7. Why is MediaCityUK an example of successful rebranding?
  8. Describe the economic structure of BRIC countries.
  9. How do TNCs like Walmart influence global trade?
  10. What measures has China taken to reduce air pollution?

Detailed Answers

  1. Discharge is the volume of water passing a specific point in a river per unit of time, measured in cubic metres per second (m3/sm3/s).
  2. Meanders form due to lateral erosion on the outer bend (creating a river cliff) and deposition on the inner bend (forming a slip-off slope), gradually increasing the bend’s curvature.
  3. Weathering breaks down rocks in place (e.g., freeze-thaw), while erosion involves the removal of material by water, wind, or ice.
  4. A river regime shows seasonal variations in a river’s discharge, influenced by precipitation, temperature, and human activity.
  5. A hydrograph illustrates discharge changes during/after rainfall, helping predict flood risks.
  6. Hydraulic action (force of water) and abrasion (rocks scraping the bed).
  7. A watershed is the boundary separating adjacent drainage basins; it determines the direction of river flow.
  8. An oxbow lake forms when a meander neck is cut off by deposition during flooding, leaving a crescent-shaped lake.
  9. Discharge Q=A×V=20 m2×2 m/s=40 m3/sQ=A×V=20m2×2m/s=40m3/s.
  10. Mass movement (e.g., landslides) adds sediment to rivers, altering channel shape and increasing flood risk.

2. Coastal Environments

  1. Longshore drift is the process where sediment is moved along a coastline by waves approaching at an angle. Swash carries material up the beach, while backwash drags it perpendicularly down, resulting in a zigzag movement. This builds spits and redistributes sediment.
  2. Hard engineering uses artificial structures (e.g., sea walls) to resist erosion, often disrupting natural processes. Soft engineering works with nature (e.g., beach nourishment) to protect coasts sustainably.
  3. Mangroves reduce wave energy with dense roots, trap sediment to stabilise shores, and act as barriers against storms and tsunamis.
  4. Sand dunes form when wind-blown sand is trapped by vegetation (e.g., marram grass). Embryo dunes grow into foredunes, eventually stabilising into mature dunes with diverse plants.
  5. Sub-aerial processes (weathering, mass movement) weaken cliffs. Rain causes chemical weathering; freeze-thaw breaks rocks. Gravity triggers landslides, increasing cliff retreat.
  6. Coral reefs are fragile due to sensitivity to temperature changes, ocean acidification, and pollution. Human activities (e.g., dynamite fishing) also destroy reef structures.
  7. Salt marsh plants (e.g., cordgrass) have salt-excreting glands and tolerate waterlogged mud. Their roots bind sediment, reducing erosion during tides.
  8. Landforms: cliffs (from wave erosion) and wave-cut platforms (flat surfaces left after cliff retreat).
  9. High biodiversity arises from varied habitats (e.g., dunes, reefs) supporting specialised species and nutrient-rich tidal zones.
  10. Beach nourishment adds sand to eroded beaches, absorbing wave energy. However, it is costly, temporary, and may harm marine ecosystems if foreign sand is used.

3. Hazardous Environments

  1. Natural hazard: A natural event (e.g., earthquake, volcanic eruption) that threatens life, property, or the environment. Examples: Earthquakes, tropical storms.
  2. Monitoring volcanoes involves tracking seismic activity, gas emissions, and ground deformation to predict eruptions, enabling timely evacuations and reducing casualties.
  3. Tropical storms form over warm oceans (>27°C). Warm, moist air rises, creating low pressure. The Coriolis effect causes rotation, forming an eye surrounded by spiralling winds and heavy rain.
  4. Earthquakes occur at plate boundaries due to tectonic stress release. At convergent (collision), divergent (separating), or transform (sliding) boundaries, friction builds until plates slip.
  5. Disaster severity depends on hazard magnitude, population density, infrastructure quality, and preparedness. For example, poorly constructed buildings in LICs increase fatalities.
  6. Earthquake mitigation: Building earthquake-resistant structures, enforcing zoning laws, public education on drills, and developing early warning systems.
  7. Deforestation removes tree roots that stabilise soil. Heavy rainfall then triggers landslides, especially on steep slopes.
  8. LICs’ vulnerability: Limited resources for disaster preparedness, inadequate healthcare, and reliance on informal housing increase risks compared to HICs.
  9. Prediction allows evacuations and emergency planning. Tools like tiltmeters and gas analyzers monitor volcanic activity, though accuracy varies.
  10. Tsunami impacts: Loss of life, displacement, destruction of infrastructure, contamination of freshwater, and long-term psychological trauma.

4. Economic Activity and Energy

  1. Sectoral shift: Transition from primary (agriculture) → secondary (manufacturing) → tertiary (services) → quaternary (research/tech) sectors as economies develop.
  2. TNCs in MICs: Benefit from lower labour costs, expanding consumer markets, and government incentives (e.g., tax breaks in China).
  3. Renewable vs non-renewable:
  • Renewable (solar, wind): Sustainable, low emissions.
  • Non-renewable (coal, oil): Finite, high pollution.
  1. Energy gap: Demand (500 TWh) − Supply (420 TWh) = 80 TWh. Solutions: Invest in renewables, improve grid efficiency, import energy.
  2. Informal sector challenges: No job security, lack of regulation, and exclusion from social safety nets (e.g., street vendors in Mumbai).
  3. Hi-tech industries: Drive urban growth through skilled jobs and innovation hubs (e.g., Silicon Valley), but may widen inequality.
  4. Location factors: Proximity to markets, transport links (e.g., ports), raw materials, and labour supply (e.g., factories near cities).
  5. Energy gap calculation: 500 TWh−420 TWh=80 TWh500TWh−420TWh=80TWh.
  6. Fossil fuels: Provide 80% of global energy but contribute to climate change. Phasing out requires transitioning to renewables.
  7. Fracking impacts: Causes groundwater contamination, micro-earthquakes, and methane leaks, despite boosting natural gas production.

5. Ecosystems and Rural Environments

  1. Biome: Large-scale ecosystem defined by climate and vegetation (e.g., tropical rainforest, temperate grassland).
  2. Succession: Bare soil → pioneer species (e.g., grasses) → shrubs → trees → stable climax community (e.g., oak forest).
  3. GM crops: Increase yields (e.g., pest-resistant cotton) but may reduce biodiversity and increase farmer debt for seeds/chemicals.
  4. Soil erosion causes: Overgrazing, deforestation, and monoculture farming strip vegetation, exposing soil to wind/water.
  5. Counterurbanisation: Urban dwellers move to rural areas for affordability and cleaner environments, causing countryside sprawl.
  6. Irrigation issues: Overuse depletes aquifers (e.g., Aral Sea) and causes salinisation, rendering soil infertile.
  7. Food web vs chain: A chain is linear (e.g., grass → deer → wolf); a web shows interconnected chains within an ecosystem.
  8. Rural depopulation: Reduces agricultural productivity and strains urban infrastructure as migrants overcrowd cities (e.g., Malawi).
  9. HYVs: High-yielding crops (e.g., IR8 rice) from the Green Revolution require fertilisers but boost food production.
  10. Rural-urban migration: Strains urban housing (e.g., São Paulo’s favelas) but provides labour for industries.

6. Urban Environments

  1. Urbanisation refers to the increasing proportion of people living in urban areas, driven in LICs by rural-urban migration for jobs, education, and healthcare.
  2. Inner-city challenges: Aging infrastructure, overcrowding, pollution, and socioeconomic deprivation due to deindustrialisation.
  3. Suburbanisation spreads housing to city outskirts, consuming greenfield sites and increasing car dependency, leading to urban sprawl.
  4. A megacity has over 10 million residents (e.g., Tokyo), often facing traffic congestion, housing shortages, and pollution.
  5. Brownfield sites are previously developed lands (e.g., abandoned factories) reused for urban projects, reducing greenfield development.
  6. Greenfield vs. brownfield: Greenfield is undeveloped rural land (cheaper but environmentally damaging); brownfield is urban redevelopment (costly but sustainable).
  7. Self-help housing: Residents upgrade informal settlements (e.g., installing plumbing) with NGO support, improving living standards incrementally.
  8. Deprivation in peripheries: Poor transport, limited services, and low-income housing create inequality in suburban/rural-urban fringe areas.
  9. Urban regeneration revives declining areas (e.g., London Docklands) via mixed-use developments, boosting economy and reducing dereliction.
  10. Rebranding reinvents areas with new identities (e.g., MediaCityUK), attracting businesses and tourists through modern infrastructure and marketing.

7. Fragile Environments

  1. Desertification is land degradation in arid regions due to overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change, turning soil infertile.
  2. Overgrazing removes vegetation cover, exposing soil to wind/water erosion, accelerating desertification (e.g., Sahel region).
  3. Deforestation reduces carbon sinks, increasing atmospheric CO₂. Burning forests also releases greenhouse gases, intensifying global warming.
  4. Malnutrition arises from prolonged food shortages in famines, weakening immune systems and increasing mortality (e.g., Somalia).
  5. Soil erosion solutions: Terracing, afforestation, contour ploughing, and crop rotation stabilise soil.
  6. Sustainability ensures resource use meets current needs without compromising future generations (e.g., renewable energy adoption).
  7. Glacial retreat reduces freshwater supplies, raises sea levels, and disrupts ecosystems (e.g., Himalayan glaciers).
  8. Coral reefs and climate change: Warmer oceans cause coral bleaching; acidification weakens calcium carbonate structures.
  9. Deforestation cooperation: International agreements (e.g., REDD+) fund forest conservation in LICs to curb global carbon emissions.
  10. Afforestation success: Replanting trees (e.g., China’s Great Green Wall) restores ecosystems but requires long-term community engagement.

8. Globalisation and Migration

  1. Globalisation increases interconnectedness via trade, technology, and cultural exchange, boosting TNC dominance but causing job losses in HICs.
  2. Production chains allow TNCs to source cheap labour/materials globally, maximizing profits (e.g., Apple’s iPhone assembly in China).
  3. Voluntary migration is chosen (e.g., job opportunities); forced migration results from push factors like war or persecution.
  4. Ecotourism funds conservation (e.g., Bhutan’s visitor fees) and empowers locals through sustainable tourism jobs.
  5. Refugee challenges: Legal barriers, discrimination, and limited access to housing/employment in host countries (e.g., Syrian refugees).
  6. Mass tourism degrades coasts via pollution and habitat loss (e.g., overdevelopment in Spain’s Costa del Sol).
  7. Net migration in HICs: Attracts skilled workers (e.g., UK’s NHS recruitment), driven by higher wages and political stability.
  8. Remittances improve LIC households’ incomes but create dependency (e.g., Philippines relying on overseas workers’ funds).
  9. Cultural diffusion: Global brands (e.g., McDonald’s) spread lifestyles, eroding local traditions but fostering multiculturalism.
  10. EU asylum policies: Quota systems (e.g., 2015 migrant crisis) aim to distribute refugees equitably but face political resistance.

9. Development and Human Welfare

  1. HDI measures development via life expectancy, education, and income (e.g., Norway ranks highest).
  2. GDP vs. GNI: GDP measures domestic production; GNI includes overseas income (e.g., remittances in the Philippines).
  3. Life expectancy in HICs: Advanced healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition reduce mortality (e.g., Japan’s average >84 years).
  4. Development gap: Core regions (e.g., London) attract investment; peripheries (e.g., Cornwall) lack infrastructure, widening inequality.
  5. Literacy empowers individuals to access better jobs and healthcare, improving quality of life (e.g., Kerala, India).
  6. Appropriate aid: Small-scale, community-led projects (e.g., boreholes in Malawi) match local needs better than large loans.
  7. Emerging economies (e.g., China) grow via export-led manufacturing, FDI, and technological innovation.
  8. GDP limitations: Ignores inequality, informal sectors, and environmental costs (e.g., Nigeria’s oil wealth vs. poverty).
  9. Debt relief frees LIC funds for healthcare/education (e.g., HIPC Initiative reduced Mozambique’s debt by 73%).
  10. Industrialisation costs: Air/water pollution and deforestation (e.g., China’s coal reliance causing smog).

10. General and Case Studies

  1. Bangladesh: Rising sea levels and cyclones (e.g., Cyclone Sidr) displace millions and salinize farmland.
  2. Brazil deforestation: Cattle ranching and soy farming drive Amazon clearance (20% lost since 1970).
  3. Zomba, Malawi: Rural-urban migration occurs due to land shortages and pursuit of education/jobs in cities.
  4. Bhutan tourism: Strict visitor caps and eco-lodges protect biodiversity but limit economic gains.
  5. São Paulo favelas: Upgrading programs (e.g., Favela-Bairro) provide utilities and land titles, reducing informality.
  6. Lake District: Stone walls and controlled grazing prevent soil erosion in upland farms.
  7. MediaCityUK: Transformed Salford’s docks into a digital hub, creating 7,000 jobs and attracting BBC investments.
  8. BRIC economies: Brazil (agriculture), Russia (energy), India (IT), China (manufacturing) drive global growth.
  9. Walmart’s influence: Global supply chains lower consumer costs but exploit low-wage workers in LICs.
  10. China’s pollution measures: Coal plant closures, electric vehicle subsidies, and afforestation (e.g., 35 billion trees planted since 1990).