Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography IGCSE > Settlement > Flashcards

Settlement Flashcards

1
Q

What is a settlement?

A

A place where people live. It can be large or small, permanent or temporary.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a settlement hierarchy?

A

A diagram used to classify a number of settlements in order of importance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the characteristics of a settlement hierarchy as you go up it?

A 
Increased size and population.
More urban.
Far away from each other, less in country.
Bigger range and number of services.
Bigger sphere of influence
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a settlement lower down a hierarchy referred to as?

A

A low order settlement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a linear settlement?

A

A settlement in long, thin rows. Often along a road or track.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the reasons for a linear settlement?

A
  1. Allows each dwelling to have access to a road or track for transport, and the areas of farmland at right angles to the road.
  2. If along a river for water supply.
  3. Next to fertile soil if along a river (in a floodplain).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a dispersed settlement?

A

A settlement containing scattered, isolated dwellings and small hamlets, with few villages.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the reasons for a dispersed settlement?

A
  1. Agricultural land may be poor, and people may need to farm large areas (e.g. by grazing).
  2. Cultural reasons e.g. not the tradition to live in grouped areas.
  3. Resources only able to support a few.
  4. Severe weather conditions unable to support many.
  5. No job prospects, no entertainment, no nearby hospitals.
  6. Need large amounts of land to farm.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a nucleated settlement?

A

Dwellings clustered around a central point (e.g. crossroads), with few isolated villages. Compact shape.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the reasons for a nucleated settlement?

A
  1. Social benefits of living next to neighbours
  2. Easy access to services, e.g. shops and schools
  3. Culture may favour this pattern if a tradition to live in groups.
  4. Good for defence.
  5. Flat land easy to grow on.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a market town’s function?

A

Service and process agricultural products and inputs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a mining town’s function?

A

To exploit local minerals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a port’s function?

A

On the coast for good movement of goods and people from land to sea.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a route centre?

A

The convergence of several natural route or nodal points resulting from economic development.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a commercial farm?

A

A farm that provides the needs of industry and business.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a cultural centre?

A

A settlement that attracts people for a short period, for religious or educational purposes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is an administrative centre?

A

A settlement that controls areas of varying sizes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a residential settlement?

A

A settlement in which the majority of people live but do not work.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What can a tourist settlement be?

A

Spa towns, coastal and mountain resorts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a sphere of influence?

A

The area served by a settlement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does the size of a sphere of influence depend on?

A
  1. Size and order of service (high or low) it provides
  2. Population density (a low population density will have a more ‘spread’ sphere of influence)
  3. Wealth of people (in wealthy areas, people have more money and therefore more outlets, so size of sphere decreases)
  4. Transport facilities (good transport links allow further travel, so the sphere is larger)
  5. Competition (a sphere is smaller when there are other settlements nearby)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the threshold population?

A

The minimum number of people needed to provide a large enough demand for a service.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the range?

A

The maximum distance that people are prepared to travel in order to obtain a service.

…Or, the number of DIFFERENT services in an area.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are convenience goods?

A
  1. Something that can be bought easily.
  2. Same price everywhere.
  3. Low range and low threshold population
  4. High frequency
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are comparison goods?

A
  1. Something that cannot be bought easily.
  2. Prices vary.
  3. High range and high threshold population.
  4. Low frequency
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is a site?

A

The point at which the settlement is located.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is situation?

A

The position of a settlement in relation to other features around it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are the factors influencing site choice?

A
  1. Defence - high hill best, meander gives protection on three sides
  2. Resources (e.g. ore, wood, animals, crops) - for building materials that are easy to transport; fuel supply; food supply
  3. Bridging point - improved communication and travel
  4. Shelter - hills best shelter from strong prevailing wind; south facing slope gives sunshine, heat and light so best for agriculture
  5. Soils - so that they are fertile and give higher yield
  6. Altitude - higher up it is colder and harder to farm
  7. Relief - steep slopes at risk of landslide and flooding, hard to farm on
  8. Nodal points - improve accessibility and transport
  9. Wet point - water supply in dry areas, fishing, export and communication
  10. Dry point - to be above unhealthy marshland (also bad for farming); as protection from flooding
  11. Weather - best if stable
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is urbanisation?

A

The increase in the number of people living in urban areas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What are the characteristics of the CBD (10)?

A
  1. Government buildings
  2. High order retail services such as department stores
  3. Offices, including company HQs
  4. Theatres, hotels and restaurants
  5. Multi-storey buildings developed in response to high land values
  6. Historic buildings
  7. Concentration of public services, including bus and railways
  8. Not a residential area - number of residents is low
  9. Vertical zoning
  10. High number of pedestrians and pedestrian areas
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Why is the CBD developed?

A
  1. Original core of the settlement, with the oldest buildings.
  2. Roads from outskirts converge, so most accessible part of the town
  3. A build up of services
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are the characteristics of the inner city?

A
  1. For lower income groups e.g. students
  2. High density housing, doors opening onto streets
  3. Few leisure amenities
  4. Few high rise flats where there has been redevelopment
  5. Surrounded by heavy industry
  6. Low class housing, smaller, mainly terraced, built in straight rows
  7. Little vegetation, gardens or garages
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the advantages of the Inner City?

A
  1. Available to rent
  2. Near the city centre where there are services
  3. Cheaper
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What are the disadvantages of the Inner City?

A
  1. Industrial decline
  2. High crime e.g. vandalism
  3. Urban decay, causing visual pollution
  4. Loss of community in new high-rise flats
  5. High unemployment
  6. Lack of open spaces and greenery
  7. Hard to park
  8. High LAND cost
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What are the characteristics of the suburbs?

A
  1. More spacious due to low density
  2. Not uniformed housing, detached
  3. Space for gardens and garages
  4. Space for industrial complexes, shopping c
  5. Local shops and facilities
  6. More expensive
  7. Farming
36
Q

What are the advantages of living in the suburbs?

A
  1. Low land cost
  2. Better quality housing
  3. Easy to park
  4. Less congested
  5. Close to the country
37
Q

What are the disadvantages of living in the suburbs?

A
  1. Longer commuting times and thus higher journey cost
  2. High housing cost
  3. Rising number of burglaries and crime
38
Q

What is the rural-urban fringe?

A

A zone of transition rural and urban areas.

39
Q

What is rural-urban migration?

A

The movement of people from the countryside to towns and cities.

40
Q

What are the advantages of building on greenfield sites?

A
  1. Low land cost
  2. Provides services for locals
  3. More spacious
  4. Flat land
  5. Less congested, quieter
  6. Unexploited resources
  7. Unpolluted and uncontaminated
  8. Often near rural urban fringe so transport is good
41
Q

What are the disadvantages of building on greenfield sites?

A
  1. Destruction of habitats and reduced biodiv.
  2. Conflict with farmers
  3. Increased pollution
  4. Increased impermeability leads to flooding
  5. Increased congestion/cross city commuting
  6. Deforestation leads to flooding + glob.w
42
Q

What are the advantages of building on a brownfield site?

A
  1. Redevelopment of derelict land
  2. Does not harm the environment
  3. Creates local jobs
43
Q

What are the disadvantages of building on a brownfield site?

A
  1. Land may be contaminated.
  2. Widespread air pollution
  3. Congestion
  4. Overcrowding
  5. Expensive land
44
Q

Draw the Burgess Model.

45
Q

What is the difference between the MEDC settlement model and the LEDC model?

A
  1. CBD is centred in both cases.
  2. In an LEDC, the highest quality land is around the centre of the city.
  3. In an LEDC, there are slums on the outskirts.
  4. Industry follows the main road on LEDC, not in rings
46
Q

What is the perfifera?

A

The zone that surrounds favelas in an LEDC, home to older informal housing that improves and becomes more permanent over time.

47
Q

What are the characteristics of a squatter settlement?

A
  1. Densely populated
  2. Often situated on hills
  3. Disease
  4. Informal sector work
  5. Home-made housing
48
Q

What are the problems facing people in squatter settlements?

A
  1. Do not have land or legal right to occupy it, so threat of being evicted
  2. Houses not waterproof
  3. Prevalence of disease due to no sanitation or water supply
  4. Prevalence of crime due to high level of drug and alcohol abuse
  5. Residents may be immigrants with no connection to the area
  6. No public transport
49
Q

What can government-run schemes offer squatter settlements?

A
  1. Employment
  2. Electricity
  3. Running water
  4. Improved sanitation
50
Q

What are the solutions to immigration?

A
  1. Provide social facilities such as sports clubs
  2. Start job-creation schemes to boost employment
  3. Zero tolerance of crime and drugs
  4. Language lessons for immigrants
  5. Improving police facilities
51
Q

Give four sources of noise pollution.

A
  1. Late night bars
  2. Power stations
  3. Congestion
  4. Airports
52
Q

What is urban sprawl?

A

The spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs into the surrounding countryside.

53
Q

What is a suburbanised village?

A

A village that has been engulfed by the suburbs.

54
Q

What is counter-urbanisation?

A

The increase in population of rural areas in proportion to cities due to urban-rural migration.

55
Q

What is suburbanisation?

A

The growth of areas on the fringes of cities.

56
Q

What is an urban area?

A

A settlement with 10,000 people or more.

57
Q

What is a capital city?

A

The main administrative centre of a country and the home of national government.

58
Q

What is the primate city?

A

The largest and most important city in a country, usually but not always the capital.

59
Q

What is a conurbation?

A

Two cities that have joined together.

60
Q

What is a megalopolis?

A

A conurbation or clustering of cities with a population of over 10 million.

61
Q

What would the function of a rural area be?

A

Either agricultural or tourism.

62
Q

How do you control growth in the rural urban fringe?

A
  1. Greenbelt
  2. Urban wedges
  3. Brownfield site
  4. High housing density
63
Q

Why will rural areas have fewer functions?

A
  1. Poor transport
  2. Fewer people
  3. Poorer communication
  4. Less technology
  5. More suited to other purposes e.g. farming
64
Q

How is the growth of a settlement linked to its function?

A

If function is in high demand, will grow.

If in low demand, will experience population decline and economic problems.

65
Q

What is derelict land?

A

Land that has become abandoned, often a sign of disinvestment.

66
Q

List the different land uses.

A 
Commercial
Agricultural
Educational
Industrial
Residential
Recreational
Retail
67
Q

What are the disadvantages of the Burgess model?

A

Out of date (deindustrialisation and redevelopment).
Only based on one city (Chicago).
Very simplistic.
Not applicable to LEDCs.

68
Q

What are the disadvantages of the Hoyt Model?

A

Out of date (before mass car ownership).

Only looked at North American cities - not applicable to LEDCs.

69
Q

Who might be affected by development in the rural urban fringe?

A 
Farmers
Local residents
Housing planners
Hikers and cyclists
Supermarkets and factories
70
Q

Why has housing demand increased?

A
  1. Lower family sizes
  2. Immigrants are often single
  3. Increase in divorces
  4. People married later
  5. Older housing often low quality (no bath etc.)
71
Q

Why site in the CBD?

A
  1. Convergence of transport links, so easily accessible
  2. Other facilities available to visit at the same time
  3. Many historical buildings in the area, giving your site a good character
72
Q

Why is it a bad idea to site in the CBD?

A
  1. Land is expensive
  2. Deserted at night so very unsafe + high crime rate, will put people off visiting
  3. Small independent shops can no longer afford rent - only chain stores
  4. Increased car ownership has led to congestion, also due to small historical roads
  5. Shortage of space so hard to develop
  6. Due to narrow roads deliveries may be delayed
73
Q

Why is it a good idea to site in the rural urban fringe?

A
  1. Plenty of land available to expand
  2. Often cheaper land prices
  3. More parking spaces
  4. Generally more attractive environment for customers
  5. Easier for shopping centres to receive deliveries
  6. Often many roads and less congestion so easy to access
74
Q

Why is it a bad idea to site in the rural urban fringe?

A
  1. Can cause environmental damage
  2. Encourages greater car use, also causing pollution
  3. Customers without cars will find it hard to access unless train or local
75
Q

What are the advantages to locals of development in the rural urban fringe?

A
  1. New public transport links developed
  2. New jobs
  3. New services
  4. May pull more people into an area and benefit more services (positive multiplier)
76
Q

What are the disadvantages to locals of development in the rural urban fringe?

A
  1. Increased congestion
  2. Noise and visual pollution
  3. Hikers etc. cannot enjoy/use greenfield sites
  4. Conflict with farmers
77
Q

How do areas become derelict?

A
  1. De-industrialisation and de-investment, offshoring etc.
  2. Unemployment
  3. People have less money to spend on services, invest less in housing
  4. More services close
  5. Area becomes less attractive and people emigrate
  6. Less investment in area and gov. has less to spend on education, unemployment rises…
78
Q

What are the solutions to congestion?

A
  1. Congestion charge
  2. Park and ride schemes
  3. Reintroduction of trams
  4. Extension of the Underground
  5. Pedestrianisation
  6. Carpooling
  7. Working at home
  8. Bikes (think Boris!)
79
Q

What is an integrated transport network?

A

Transport linked to each other e.g. bus station outside the metro

80
Q

What is gentrification?

A

When people move into an area and improve it ‘socially’ and economically.

81
Q

What is regeneration?

A

The improvement of areas through investment, rebranding etc.

82
Q

What are the LOCAL advantages to self help schemes?

A
  1. Building sense of community
  2. Improvement in housing
  3. Possible legal ownership of housing
  4. Improvement of water supply and sanitation should reduce disease
  5. Due to better housing quality, less at risk from landslides
  6. Residents learn new skills
83
Q

What are the GOVERNMENTAL advantages to self help schemes?

A
  1. Positive multiplier effect as residents feel obliged to make more improvements
  2. Legal ownership means can be taxed
  3. Crime rates will lower (hopefully)
  4. Reduction in disease means that government have to pay
84
Q

What is rural?

A

Of or relating to the countryside.

85
Q

What is urban?

A

Of or relating to a town or city.

86
Q

What is function?

A

The main activities of a settlement.

87
Q

What are the orders of a settlement hierarchy?

A 
Isolated dwelling
Hamlet
Village
Small Town
Large Town
City
Conurbation

Geography IGCSE (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions