Soil Degradation & Conservation (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): SL)

Exam Questions

46 mins10 questions
1a2 marks

Briefly outline the meaning of the term succession in the context of soil ecosystems.

1b2 marks

State two soil qualities or characteristics that may change during soil ecosystem succession.

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2a2 marks

Briefly outline the meaning of the term desertification in the context of soil ecosystems.

2b2 marks

Identify two soil conservation measures that can be implemented to prevent desertification.

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31 mark

Outline one effect of soil conditioning on soils.

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42 marks

In the context of agriculture and terrestrial food production systems, outline the meaning of the term marginal lands.

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13 marks

Explain how deforestation contributes to soil degradation.

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2a3 marks

Outline how soil degradation can be caused by human activities other than deforestation.

2b2 marks

Explain how allowing arable farmland to remain fallow (unused) between growing seasons might contribute to soil degradation.

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3a3 marks

The figure below shows information about desertification in Northern Africa.

fig-6-2-paper12-cie-igcse-geography

Describe the distribution of the areas in Northern Africa where the risk of desertification is very high.

3b5 marks

Describe the impacts of desertification on local people.

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43 marks

Landslides are often triggered by intense rainfall following a hurricane.

The photograph below depicts a landslide occurring in Cusco, Peru as a result of substantial rainfall on a steep incline.

landslide-in-cusco-peru---2018

Galeria del Ministerio de Defensa del Perú, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Outline one method farmers in Peru could employ to mitigate soil erosion on hillsides and why this method would be beneficial.

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17 marks

Explain why commercial industrialised food production systems generally tend to reduce soil fertility more than small-scale subsistence farming methods.

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29 marks

Evaluate the soil management strategies used by farming systems for soil conservation.

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