settlement 3

Question 1

For a named urban area you have studied, explain the causes of inequality. (7)

Answer 1

Brussels

Economic Disparities:

-Molenbeek has an unemployment rate of over 25%, compared to the Brussels average of 16%.
-Many residents rely on low-paying, informal jobs, limiting upward mobility.

Migration and Integration Issues:

-Molenbeek hosts a significant immigrant population (around 40% of residents of Moroccan descent), facing barriers to integration such as discrimination and lack of job opportunities.

Education Gap:

-Youth unemployment is high due to low educational attainment; over 30% of residents do not finish secondary school.

Question 2

For a named urban area you have studied, describe the impacts of urban sprawl. (7)

Answer 2

Environmental Impact:

-Urban sprawl in Brussels increases CO2 emissions; vehicles account for 21% of total emissions.
-Over 50% of green spaces in suburban areas have been replaced by housing since the 1990s.

Social Segregation:

-Wealthier populations move to suburbs like Tervuren, increasing inequality in urban centers like Molenbeek.

Infrastructure Strain:

-Suburban expansion causes increased commuting times, with the average Brussels commute now 74 minutes daily.

Question 3

For a named urban settlement you have studied, describe the causes and effects of one problem faced by the people living there. (7)

Answer 3

Housing Crisis:

-Causes: Lack of affordable housing, with over 50% of Molenbeek residents living in rented properties that cost more than 30% of their income.
-Effects: Overcrowding, with an average of 3-4 people per room in some areas.

Crime:

-Causes: High unemployment and poor social services contribute to a crime rate of 140 incidents per 1,000 people in some districts.
-Effects: Fear and stigma for residents.

Public Services:
-Causes: Lack of investment in infrastructure due to economic challenges.
-Effects: Poor-quality schools and healthcare facilities.

Question 4

For a named urban area you have studied, describe the effects of urban sprawl on the natural environment.

Answer 4

Habitat Loss:

-Forested areas around Brussels have shrunk by 20% due to suburban housing projects.

Increased Carbon Footprint:
-Commuters traveling from suburbs contribute to 40% of daily traffic congestion, raising air pollution levels.

Water Resources:
-Increased impervious surfaces (e.g., roads, buildings) cause 15% more surface runoff, leading to floods.

Question 5

For a city you have studied explain the reasons for its rapid growth (7)

Answer 5

Rural-Urban Migration:
-Driven by poverty in rural Nigeria, with 70% of the rural population living on less than $1.90 a day.

Natural Population Increase:
-High birth rates, with a fertility rate of 4.5 children per woman in Lagos.

Economic Opportunities:
-Lagos is responsible for 30% of Nigeria’s GDP, attracting job seekers to its formal and informal economies.

Question 6

Explain the role of migration in a city that you have studied experiencing rapid growth (7)

Answer 6

Push Factors:

-Lack of healthcare and education in rural Nigeria; over 60% of rural areas lack basic healthcare facilities.

Pull Factors:
-Lagos provides access to schools, healthcare, and job opportunities, e.g., Eko Atlantic Project creating thousands of jobs.

Challenges of Migration:
-Migrants often settle in informal housing (e.g., Makoko slum), with over 66% of Lagos residents living in slums.

Question 7

For a named urban area you have studied, explain why the population is increasing due to rural‑urban migration. Name of urban area ………………………………………..

Answer 7

Economic Disparities:
-Lagos residents earn up to 4 times more than rural farmers on average.

Urban Facilities:
-Access to public amenities like water supply and electricity (though intermittent) attracts migrants.

Youthful Population:
-Rural migrants are predominantly young, adding to Lagos’s already youthful population (median age: 18 years).

Question 8

Describe the ways LEDC cities attempt to improve living conditions (7)

Answer 8

Self-Help Schemes:
-In Rocinha, families are provided building materials to upgrade their homes; around 75% of houses now have electricity.

Favela-Bairro Project:
-Government invested $180 million in improving basic infrastructure, including sanitation and road networks.

Pacification Programs:
-Police units stationed in Complexo de Alemão since 2010 have reduced crime rates by over 50% in some areas.

Question 9

For a named city you have studied explain what has been done to reduce housing problems (7)

Answer 9

Infrastructure Upgrades:

-Rocinha has better sanitation and water services, with 60% of houses now connected to proper sewage systems.

Relocation Programs:
-Residents of high-risk areas (e.g., landslide zones) have been relocated to government-built housing like Morar Carioca.

Microcredit Programs:
-Small loans are provided for residents to make home improvements, benefiting over 50,000 families.

Question 10

For a named urban area you have studied, describe what has been done to reduce the problems caused by urban growth.

Answer 10

Public Transport:
-Expansion of the metro and BRT systems, reducing travel times for 200,000+ passengers daily.

Waste Management:
-Initiatives like “Light for All” have provided bio-gas electricity to 7,000+ homes from waste.

Crime Reduction:
-“Pacification” in favelas has improved safety, with homicide rates in pacified areas dropping by 25%.