HUMAN - A LEVEL BEFORE 2016

Question 1

Why have flood defences like in London, been raised over time?

Answer 1

In cities, urbanisation has meant more runoff and decreased lag time.
-Water can’t infiltrate through plant roots as much, meaning valleys can increase in level.
-Flood defences May get outdated and poor quality over time.
-Economic importance is so high in London, it’s worth spending billions to prevent a flood.
+ more storms + extreme events

Question 2

Flows which connect China to the rest of the world

Answer 2

• TNC Investment
• Internet
• Media
• Tourism
• Air travel
• Capital flows

Question 3

Explain why NICS (newly industrialised) like China have become important for manufacturing and investment (5marks)

Answer 3

Global shift: has meant more TNCs are setting up factories in NICs like China/India, due to low labour costs + manufacturing cost. This is possible due to less strict rules/regs concerning machinery and safety.
China can exploited with poor workers conditions, due to lack of Trade Union membership
•Due to China open door policy in 80s, they have been moving toward capitalism. Over 1bn people make for a good workforce. TNCs enter new untouched markets and bring western culture.
+ English speakers + physical resources

Question 4

Suggest for distribution of world billionaires changing (10 marks)

Answer 4

• Possibly due to westernisation - TNCs have inspired others + created jobs in NICs. They have promoted innovation + fuelled tech advances
• TNCs spread across world has improve infrastructure, which ensures a faster movement of goods(containerisation)
• Also, education improvements, more specialist + qualified (Silicon Valley)
• economies are improving, better trade + GDP per capita - movement from primary to secondary

Question 5

Examine the success of rural rebranding schemes

Answer 5

Rebranding is needed in areas where deindustrialisation has occurred, e.g. Cornwall used to heavily rely on mining to support economy.
•With mining stopped, deprivation levels builds due to lack of jobs +
GDP per capita
•In 99’, Cornwall was given EU objective one funding-this funding is given to areas where GDP is 75% of EU’s average or less.
•The key players for Cornwall were:
-Development agencies, central govs, local councils + Environmental groups
•The Cornish economy has grown faster than UK average, it grew at 5.8% per year.
•Eden project: 750,000 visitors per year + in first 3 years gained £600m
-Also: 400 full time staff, reducing unemployment by 6%
-Expansion of Newquay Aerohub + Gatwick + Stanstead has helped to reduce isolation
•CUC university has helped graduates set up business in Cornwall, trying to stop ‘brain drain’

Question 6

Why has membership of trade blocs + environmental groups, such as UN changed over time

Answer 6

•People have realised the benefits of free trade
—>Also jobs have been created through trade, especially with the rise of TNCs, people realise that its important to reach new markets
•Global governance groups like world bank, IMF + WTO have risen to make free trade easier by organising it. The WB provides financial advice + research to developing nations to aid their economic development.
•Also, groups like UN are peacekeepers of the world to combat environmental issues, tackle poverty + ensure safety thru UN peacekeeping
•Also for defence: such as NATO, with emergence of nuclear weapons and potential uprisings
•EU helps political + economic ties with a governing body

Question 7

How has transport improvements helped to build a more interconnected world. (15 marks)

Answer 7

Improvements in transport of goods with containerisation, allowing efficient transfer
•Allows next-day deliveries + supply of tropical, yearly round food supply.
•TNCs source products from all around the world. E.g. a mini has 6 countries contributing to the making process. This cuts costs + unites countries
•However…transport could be damaging places (Amazon)
•Heathrow airport expansion in UK, can allow more flights per year + high speed rail in UK + euro tunnel allows UK to connect with EU easily
•Aid can be given to countries very easily, creating interdependence + unity

Question 8

Evaluate success of global actions to protect biodiversity

Answer 8

Groups like UN-help maintain peace + security, by preventing conflict; the UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for this.
•Conflict like War can lead to destruction of areas with bombings etc, like in Afghanistan.
•UN also delivers humanitarian aid, which can help rebuild economies + promote sustainable living + improve infrastructure to help biodiversity
•UN can also uphold pollution laws
—> Kyoto protocol also sets emission reduction targets(5%)
—>Paris agreement (2015) to combat CC. Aims to keep global temp rise in this century to well below 2 degrees
•There will be a global stock take every 5 years to assess collective progress towards achieving purpose of agreement
•Greenpeace: goal is to ensure ability of Earth to nurture life in all diversity

Question 9

Explain why it’s difficult to measure development

Answer 9

Because…there are many different factors which go into determining whether a country is developed or not, such as HDI, which looks at literacy rates, life expectancy. There is also income per capita, which looks at GDP per person of that population, along with Energy consumption per capita. Some countries may be high in some and low in others
BRAZIL: has good HDI, and also a low income inequality
•Measures like income per capita (GDP) doesn’t take into account farmers or informal sectors. Approx 40% of Kenya’s population rely on subsistence farming and 10m were employed in informal sectors
+economic factors only take into account what a country produces and pays for, doesn’t consider environmental + social costs
—> e.g. USA is one of highest emitters of CO2

Question 10

Evaluate the methods to reduce the development gap

Answer 10

Focus of bodies, such as UNESCO, UN + WB should be more inclined towards ensuring equitable distribution of world’s natural resources.
•Fairtrade is useful in LEDC, where producers are made to receive a guaranteed fair price. Fair trade sets minimum price standards for the pay + conditions of workers.
•Aid can be given, e.g. multilateral aid occurs when donor countries give to an internal org such as WB or Euro development fund, who use the money to assist developing countries
—>NGO’s are primarily charities that raise money to use for aid programmes, which can be in the form of short-term assistance (humanitarian aid)