Paper 2: Urban issues and challenges

Question 1

What is urbanisation?

Answer 1

Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.

Question 2

What does rural mean?

Answer 2

Away from towns and cities (countryside)

Question 3

What does urban mean?

Answer 3

Towns and cities

Question 4

What is migration?

Answer 4

Moving to a new place to live there

Question 5

What is international migration?

Answer 5

Moving from one country to another to live

Question 6

What is rural to urban migration?

Answer 6

Moving from the countryside to a city to live

Question 7

True or false? There has been a significant increase in urbanisation across the world between 1950 and 2014, from 0.8 billion to 3.85 billion people

Answer 7

True

Question 8

When and where did urbanisation first begin?

Answer 8

Urbanisation first occurred in areas that are now high-income countries (HICs) during the industrial revolution.

Question 9

Why did urbanisation occur in HICs?

Answer 9

People were attracted to urban areas (pulled) from rural areas to work in factories. They were also pushed as developments in technology led to mechanisation on farms.

Question 10

Identify the continent with the highest rate of urbanisation.

Answer 10

North America

Question 11

Where is the current rate of urbanisation greatest?

Answer 11

The rate of urbanisation in low-income countries (LICs) is greater than in HICs.

Question 12

Why have rates of urbanisation been greatest in LICs since the 1950s?

Answer 12

Rates of urbanisation have increased due to industrialisation and economic development in LICs. This has led to rural-urban migration as agriculture has become mechanised and social and economic opportunities have grown in urban areas. Urbanisation growth rates are lower in more developed countries because major urbanisation has already taken place hence the already high levels of urbanisation (over 80%).

Question 13

In some HICs there is a reverse flow of people migrating from urban to rural area. What is this known as?

Answer 13

Counter-urbanisation

Question 14

Give two reasons for counter-urbanisation in HICs.

Answer 14

The increase in car ownership over the last 40 years means people can live in rural areas and commute to urban areas to work. Also, the growth in IT means more people can work from home.

Question 15

True or false? Poorer LICs (much of Africa, and some parts of Asia and the Middle East) are still predominantly rural. However, they are experiencing the fastest rate of urbanisation.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Identify the two factors that cause urbanisation.

Answer 16

Rural to urban migration and natural increase.

Question 17

What is natural increase?

Answer 17

It is the increase in population caused by birth rates being higher than death rates.

Question 18

What is meant by the term push factor?

Answer 18

A factor that drives a person away from a certain place.

Question 19

What is meant by the term pull factor?

Answer 19

A factor that attracts a person to a certain place.

Question 20

Identify three push factors that lead to urbanisation.

Answer 20

Limited opportunities for employment, Poor transport infrastructure, Limited services such as water, electric, schools and health care, Natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, Issues related to climate change such as flooding, droughts, desertification and soil erosion, Civil war, Food shortage results from poor harvests

Question 21

Identify three pull factors that lead to urbanisation.

Answer 21

Employment opportunities, Better schools and health care provision, Access to services such as clean water and electricity, Friends and relatives already living in an urban environment, Larger market for goods and services, Better transport facilities

Question 22

What is a mega city?

Answer 22

A mega city is an urban area with a population of more than 10 million people

Question 23

How is the global growth of megacities changing?

Answer 23

The growth in mega cities in HICs is slowing, those in parts of Asia and Africa are growing rapidly.

Question 24

Describe the location of Mumbai

Answer 24

On the Western coast of India in the Maharashtra State

Question 25

Give one characteristic of the regional importance of Mumbai

Answer 25

Attracts many migrants from surrounding rural areas

Question 26

Give one characteristic of the national importance of Mumbai

Answer 26

It is India’s richest city. It has the highest population in India.

Question 27

Give one characteristic of the international importance of Mumbai

Answer 27

It has India’s busiest port, used for international trade.

Question 28

Why did rapid urbanisation occur in Mumbai?

Answer 28

The port, which started as a fishing port, grew as it is in a good location for trade, As the port grew, more people were drawn to the city for work.

Question 29

What are the two main causes of population of growth in Mumbai?

Answer 29

Natural increase: The birth rate is 20.1, the death rate is only 6 so the population is growing rapidly. Migration: Migrants from all over India come to Mumbai to work in industries such as aerospace and engineering. The average migrant is 20 years old (child bearing age, adding to the high birth rate).

Question 30

Describe 3 pull factors that attract migrants to Mumbai

Answer 30

Better education, better healthcare, more job opportunities

Question 31

Describe 3 push factors that force people to migrate from rural areas to Mumbai

Answer 31

Lack of sanitation, lack of clean drinking water, becoming harder to grow enough food.

Question 32

Identify two social opportunities associated with the growth of Mumbai

Answer 32

Literacy rate is 90%, much higher than surrounding rural areas where it is 71%. More people have access to electricity and running water.

Question 33

Identify two economic opportunities associated with the growth of Mumbai

Answer 33

Higher incomes and more employment opportunities. Many jobs in manufacturing. 25% of India’s industrial production is in Mumbai.

Question 34

What is a slum?

Answer 34

Informal housing, which has been built out of scrap materials as there is not enough proper housing. Slums can be very unsafe.

Question 35

Identify three challenges associated with the growth of Mumbai

Answer 35

Slums have developed e.g. Dharavi. 95% of households in slums do not have access to clean water. In Dharovi there is only one toilet per 1450 people. Lack of sanitation increases risk of disease. Healthcare and education is limited as there are too many people for the available services. Few legal employment opportunities, so many people work in the informal sector or turn to crime.

Question 36

Identify two environmental issues that Mumbai faces.

Answer 36

Increasing population and industry means more waste - about 7500 metric tonnes per day. 22 million vehicals in the city means air pollution is high.

Question 37

Give an example of a project to help the urban poor in Mumbai

Answer 37

Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) is a US$2 billion development project which will rehouse people into new 14 storey apartment blocks.

Question 38

What are the positives of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority project?

Answer 38

Clean water piped to every home, new roads are built giving beetter access to services like waste management and emergency services. The homes are run by the council, giving people an official address and making it easier to get a job.

Question 39

What are the negatives of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority project?

Answer 39

The apartments are tiny (21 metres squared). Communities will be broken up causing loss of community spirit.

Question 40

What proportion of the UKs population live in towns and cities?

Answer 40

82%

Question 41

Describe the pattern of population density across the UK.

Answer 41

Population density is high across England, especially in the south and east. The highest densities are in major city regions such as London, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast and the south of Wales. The lowest densities are in the north and west of the UK, where upland areas such as Snowdonia, the Lake District and the Highlands.

Question 42

Describe the pattern of distribution of the UKs cities.

Answer 42

The majority of the UK’s main towns and cities are located in England. There are relatively few in the north and west of the UK. Cities are fairly evenly spread in the south, however, they are clustered in the north. This reflects the concentration of settlements that developed as the result of heavy industry and manufacturing, close to areas of raw materials.

Question 43

Describe the location of Birmingham

Answer 43

Birmingham is in the West Midlands.

Question 44

Give three reasons for the importance of Birmingham at the national scale

Answer 44

Direct rail links to many UK cities. Used by over 34 million people in 2014. Excellent job opportunities, including 200 law firms. Other companies include Atkins and BBC. Birmingham Hippodrome is the busiest theatre in the UK with over 520,000 visitors each year.

Question 45

Give three reasons for the importance of Birmingham at the international scale

Answer 45

Birmingham Airport had over 9 million customers in 2014. It has been extended to connect to more places around the world. Home to over 300 international companies.

Question 46

Give three economic opportunities resulting from urban change

Answer 46

Largest number of businesses outside of London, over 28,000 job vacancies. Lots of jobs e.g. retail, engineering and research e.g. the Uni of Birmingham BioHub.

Question 47

Give three social opportunities resulting from urban change

Answer 47

5 universities and 50,000+ students, one of the youngest cities in Europe. Rich historical culture; city centre museum and art gallery have over 2,000 exhibits. Diverse restaurants from many cultures e.g. Sabai Sabai (Thai) and Mela (Indian). The Bullring, a major shopping centre, has 160 shops and 750,000 weekly visitors.

Question 48

Give three environmental opportunities resulting from urban change

Answer 48

Birmingham has more square miles of parks and open spaces than any other city in Europe. Developing green roofs to increase biodiversity and reduce water run off. Birmingham’s Green Vision project aims to make the city healthier, more attractive and to encourage business.

Question 49

Give three social challenges associated with urban change

Answer 49

Birmingham is the 7th most deprived area in the UK. Industrial decline from the 1970’s when many businesses left the city, often to cut costs by moving to other countries where labour was cheaper. Around 10000 people in Birmingham are homeless. Big difference in education and healthcare between richer areas like Sutton and more deprived areas.

Question 50

Give two economic challenges associated with urban change

Answer 50

Areas with boarded up factories and shops due to industrial decline. High rates of unemployment in parts of the city such as Lozells.

Question 51

Give three environmental challenges associated with urban change

Answer 51

Increasing population means increasing need to build on greenfield sites leading to urban sprawl. Waste disoposal is a challenge due to large population. Heavy congestion leads to air pollution.

Question 52

Identify the case study about urban regeneration in the UK

Answer 52

Grand Central in Birmingham

Question 53

What does regeneration mean?

Answer 53

Upgrading existing places

Question 54

Why did the area need regeneration?

Answer 54

Many areas of the city have suffered from industrial decline. Places in the centre like New Street Station became run down. The station was voted as the UK’s ugliest building in 2003 with dark underground platforms with no natural light.

Question 55

How was Grand Central improved?

Answer 55

The project was completed in 2015. New Street station was improved and a shopping centre was built around it. It has a large new concourse, better links to transport, including the tram and it looks much nicer. It is bright with natural light provided by a large glass roof. 66 new shops were opened crating 1000 permanent jobs.

Question 56

Were there any negatives of the Grand Central regeneration?

Answer 56

Rent is high for shops in Grand Central. John Lewis, the flagship store, has been forced to close for this reason.