Climate & Natural Vegetation (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography)

Figs. 4.1 and 4.2 show part of a desert in southern Africa.

Figure 4.1 

Figure 4.2

Fig. 4.2 shows a waste heap produced by the mining of copper ore. Suggest how this may pose a threat to the natural environment.

Fig. 4.1 shows the annual rainfall totals for ten years for a place with a hot desert climate and a place with an equatorial climate.

(i)

What was the most frequent rainfall total for the place with a hot desert climate?

[1]

(ii)

What was the range of rainfall totals for the place with a hot desert climate?

[1]

(iii)

What was the average annual rainfall for the place with a hot desert climate? Circle your answer below.

[1]

Fig. 5.1 shows the world distribution of areas of equatorial climate.

Which two of the following statements describe the areas of equatorial climate shown on Fig. 5.1? Tick only two boxes below.

Fig. 5.2 shows the climate of area X shown in Fig. 5.1. Study Fig. 5.2 and answer the question below.

Which three of the following statements describe the climate of area X shown in Fig. 5.2? Tick only three boxes below.

The vegetation of the areas of equatorial climate is tropical rainforest. Name each of the following features of the tropical rainforest:

(i)

the continuous layer of leaves and branches formed near the top of the tall trees

 [1]

(ii)

the pointed ends of the leaves which help to get rid of excess rainfall

[1]

(iii)

the roots which support the tall trees in the soft soil

[1]

Fig. 4.2 shows a desert area where there has been recent rainfall. 

Fig 4.2

Explain how the vegetation shown in Fig. 4.2 has been affected by this rainfall.

Fig. 3.1 shows the temperatures and rainfall of an area of equatorial climate.

(i)

The area shown on Fig. 3.1 has a temperature of 24°C and 250mm of rainfall in June. Plot this information on Fig. 3.1.

[1]

(ii)

Use the information in Fig. 3.1 to complete the table below.

[3]

The equatorial climate is constant throughout the year. Table 3.1 shows a typical day’s weather.

Table 3.1

(i)

Calculate the daily range of temperature shown in Table 3.1.

[1]

(ii)

Using information in Table 3.1, at what time of day would rainfall be expected? Tick one box below.

[1]

Explain why the equatorial climate is constant throughout the year with little seasonal variation.

Two features of plants in the tropical rainforest are given below. Explain how each feature is adapted to the equatorial climate:

(i)

channelled leaves with drip tips;

[1]

(ii)

broad leaves.

[1]

Fig. 5.1 shows a nutrient cycle in a tropical rainforest.

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.1 shows various processes which take place in a tropical rainforest. Identify each of the following processes:

(i)

rain falling

[1]

(ii)

loss of water vapour from trees

[1]

(iii)

loss of nutrients from the soil.

 [1]

Suggest reasons why some local people are for deforestation and other local people are against it. For ........................................................................................ Against .................................................................................

Fig. 5.1 shows the world distribution of areas of hot desert climate.

Fig. 5.1

Which two of the following statements describe the areas of hot desert climate shown in Fig. 5.1? Tick (✓) only two boxes below.

Fig. 5.1 shows a nutrient cycle in a tropical rainforest.

Using Fig. 5.1, identify two reasons why soil becomes more infertile when trees are removed due to deforestation. 1 ........................................................................................... 2 ...........................................................................................

Fig. 5.2 shows the climate of part of the Sahara Desert, shown in Fig. 5.1. Study Fig. 5.2 and answer the question below.

Fig. 5.2

Which three of the following statements describe the climate of the area shown in Fig. 5.2? Tick (✓) only three boxes below.

Fig. 5.3 (below) shows the vegetation of an area of hot desert climate.

Fig. 5.3

(i)

Describe the main features of the vegetation shown on Fig. 5.3.

[2]

(ii)

Using evidence from Fig. 5.3 only, explain one way that the vegetation shown in Fig. 5.3 is adapted to the climate.

[1]