Simple explanations with answers to CSEC Geography 2016 multiple choice Attached is the 2016 CSEC Geography multiple choice paper. Explanation is attached for each question.

1. Prepared by Oral Johnson
Simple explanations to CSEC Geography 2016 Multiple Choice
1. St Lucia is located at 140
N and 610
W. Answer is C
2. Havana is located at 23o
N and 820
W. Remember when finding location the latitude comes first
followed by the longitude. Latitude is north and south of the equator and longitude is east and
west of the prime meridian. Answer is D
3. Montego Bay is located 1000km from Santo Domingo. You would have to mark off zero and
1000km on a strip of paper. Placed the zero km mark at Santo Domingo. You will notice that the
1000km mark stop directly at Montego Bay. Answer is C
4. If an airplane leaves from Port of Spain in Trinidad for Kingston it will be flying in a north
westerly direction. The answer is B
5. To calculate the time between both places you’d have to know the longitude for each. The
longitude for Santo Domingo is 70o
W and the longitude for Belmopan is 880
W. Since both places
are in the same hemisphere you find the difference. The answer is 180
. To find the difference in
time between the two places you divide 180
/15. The answer is 1hour and 30
or 12 minutes (10=
4 minutes). Because Belmopan is to the left of Santo Domingo you subtract. West is less. 1 hour
from 3:00 pm is 2:00pm. Answer is B
6. One of the formula for calculating gradient is 1: Run/Rise. The run is the horizontal distance
between the two points and the rise is the vertical difference in height between the two points.
The formula would be 1: 400m/80m. The answer is 1:5 or 1 in 5. Answer is A
7. Lines of latitude represent angular distance north and south of the equator. The equator is the
only great circle out of all the lines of latitude. Answer is D
8. The feature labelled at x is in grid square 9327. Remember easting value comes first then
northing. Answer is C
9. The church is located close to a linear settlement. The distinctive shape of houses being on
either side of the main road is evident. Linear settlements develop along main roads. Answer is
A
10. The feature passing through Q is a railway. Look at the legend to the right to see the symbol.
Answer is D
11. The type of settlement that is most likely to develop between Y and X would be a linear
settlement. Because there is a road running along y and x and typically linear settlements are
usually along main lines of communication. Answer is A
12. The type of farming system that is most likely at X is would be commercial arable farming. Based
on the scale of the area surrounding x is approximately 4km. This is very large and commercial
farming usually take place on these large plots of land and also there is an absence of contours
which mean the terrain is flat. Answer is D
13. The grid reference at point X is 345410. Easting values are read first then northings. Answer is A
14. The bearing of X from W is approximately 3150
. The compass direction of x from y is North West.
The corresponding bearing for North West is 3150
. Answer is D
15. The vertical interval is 20m. This is the difference between two different contour lines. The
answer is A
16. The shaded landform shown at Y is a hill. Answer is A

2. Prepared by Oral Johnson
17. Whenever the term range is used in relation to temperature it is always the difference between
the maximum and minimum temperature. The maximum temperature is 28 and the minimum
temperature is 25. Therefore the answer is 30
C. Answer is B
18. The rainfall pattern indicates rain throughout the year which is typical of the equatorial regions.
Every month there is rainfall and there is no dry season. Answer is A
19. The type of climate is equatorial. The equatorial region has the lowest annual temperature
range out of all ecosystems on the planet. The temperatures are high all year round and usually
there is not much variation from month to month. Rainfall totals usually exceed 2000m and rain
falls every month. There is no dry season. Answer is B
20. The answer is not among the list of responses. To find the calculation density you would divide
the population over the area. 268,792/432. The answer is 622 persons per square km. But it is
not there.
21. The country with the lowest population density is Guyana and it has the largest area. Answer is
A
22. The part of the island with the lowest population density is IV. Population density is 0-100
persons per sq km. Answer is D
23. The map shows population density. Population density is usually represented by a shaded map
and it the unit is persons per sq km. Answer is B
24. Canada produced just over one-tenth of the aluminum in the world. One tenth as a decimal is
0.10. In order to calculate what Canada produced you would have to put 2.8 over the 27.7 which
is the total. The answer is 0.10. Canada is the only country out of the four that has a value close
to 0.10. Answer is C
25. The figures in the tables are not in absolute or actual numbers. It is represented by decimals. In
order to get the actual value of Norway you would have to multiply 1.2 by a million. The answer
will be 1,200,000. The answer is D
26. The plate margin show in the diagram is a convergent plate boundary. This is where two plates
collide. The diagram is showing an oceanic continental convergence where the oceanic crust is
subducting into the mantle. Answer is C
27. The features formed at R are volcanoes. When the oceanic crust subudcts it melts to form a new
magma. This magma is less dense and it rises through the continental crust to form volcanoes.
Answer is A
28. A volcanic spine usually develops when the lava is viscous. Viscous lava is usually thick and
doesn’t flow far due to its thickness, for e.g. molasses. Because the lava is thick sometimes cool
and solidify in the crater to form a volcanic spine. Answer is A
29. Potholes will tend to form on the bed of a river if the river has a high volume and lows over a
steep gradient. High volume is needed to ensure that vertical erosion or erosion on the bed can
take place. Potholes are usually formed in the upper course where the gradient is the steepest.
Answer is C
30. Vegetation contributes to the development of soils by producing humus or organic matter.
When vegetation such as leaves fall to the ground it gets decomposed by microorganisms. The
decomposed vegetation is brown and dark colored in nature and is also called humus. It is rich in
minerals as and it increases the fertility of the soil. Organic matter and humus can be used
interchangeably. Answer is B

3. Prepared by Oral Johnson
31. The reasons why some area in the Caribbean is sparsely populated is due to all three factors. A
hilly and forested area would be sparsely populated. The steep terrain would make it difficult to
construct houses and communication. If areas are inaccessible due to poor transport links then
it would repel settlement development and hence it would be sparsely populated. Where
minerals are located it is possible to have development of industries to exploit the mineral
resource. This will result in job opportunities. People will start to gravitate towards the area. As
people start to earn other services start to develop and over time a large settlement can
develop due to the presence of mineral resources. If no mineral resources are present then this
can cause an area to be sparsely populated. Answer is D
32. Rural to urban migration is the most important contributor to the growth of cities in the
Caribbean. There is a significant difference between rural areas and urban areas. Urban areas
have more job opportunities as well as more services. This is lacking in rural areas. This usually
encourage movement from rural areas to urban areas. Answer is A
33. Rapid urbanization in Caribbean countries usually results in housing shortages (inadequate
housing) in the cities. Most urban areas or cities are usually overpopulated. There is far more
people than housing opportunities in the cities. This results in housing shortages. Kingston is
very diverse in terms of land use but it currently has little or no space for lateral developments.
Therefore developments are taking place outside the city to facilitate the population. Answer is
B
34. The size of the labour force is not a problem affecting industrial development in the Caribbean.
Even though our populations are not high as other countries but there are always people
looking for job opportunities. Labour would not be a problem if there should be any industrial
development in the Caribbean. Answer is C
35. Very intense rainfall and poor cultivation techniques may increase the rate of soil erosion. If the
soil is exposed then rainfall will eroded it easily. Small scale farmers usually plant on the
marginal lands on the hillsides. Sometimes they cut down trees to facilitate farming. This can
have a negative effect on the environment as trees stabilize the soil and prevents erosion. Trees
also replenish the soil with nutrients in the form of leaf droppings that will eventually become
humus when it is decamped by microorganisms. Afforestation is the planting of trees which is
good for the environment as trees protect the soil and reduces erosion. Answer is C
36. Wheat farming is done on a commercial basis in Canada. This means it is done on a large scale.
The wheat is farmed on the prairies in Canada. The three main provinces are Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta. Manitoba is 59 times larger than Jamaica. Because these areas are
so large intensive mechanization is used. Answer is D
37. The value of manufactured products exported greater than 75% of the total exports is Barbados.
By looking at the graph the primary products exported was about 24%. Therefore the remaining
manufactured exports would be more than 75%. Answer is A
38. Guyana has the greatest difference in value between primary products and manufactured
products. The primary products exported is approximately 95% and the remaining 5% would
represent manufactured products. The difference is 90%. Answer is B
39. The landform at x is a spit and is a usually formed as a result of coastal deposition and longshore
drift. Erosion is out of the picture as if the coastal area is erosive then it would prevent the
formation of the spit. Spits are coastal depositional features. Answer is A

4. Prepared by Oral Johnson
40. The temperatures are high in the Caribbean due to our location or latitude. Places nearer to the
equator usually experience higher temperatures. Closer to the equator the sun’s rays is
concentrated over a small area and it has smaller distance of atmosphere to travel through.
Answer is C
41. Tourism is a tertiary industry. It provides a service. Fishing is primary, food processing and oil
refining is secondary. Answer is B
42. The setting up of factories in the Caribbean have resulted in increased external markets and
increased employment opportunities. Once a factory is developed it will need workers. So
people will be employed. There may also be a particular demand for the goods that is being
produce. This may come from different countries. Therefore setting up factories may result in
increased external markets. There is no reduction in the cost of living due to development of
factories. Answer is B
43. Establishing green zones for industrial development is one measure the government may use to
influence the location of industries. Green zones are usually areas that are designated for
industrial development. A good example is the industrial zone along Marcus Garvey Drive in
Kingston. Answer is C
44. A coral reef which is separated from the mainland by a wide lagoon is known as a barrier reef.
Barrier reefs are usually located a further out into the sea than fringing reefs. Answer is C
45. Warm water temperatures are instrumental to the growth of coral reefs. Sunlight is needed for
the zooxanthelae or algae to carry out photosynthesis. The ideal temperatures are between
230
C and 250
C. Cloudy water is not good as it will prevent sunlight to reach the coral. Coral reefs
don’t form in fresh waters, you’ll never find a coral reef close to a river. Answer is B
46. The cocos plate is the only plate that is pushing under the Caribbean plate. These form the
volcanoes of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Answer is A
47. At transform plate boundaries crustal plates are sliding pass each other. Answer is B
48. The volcanoes in the Caribbean are associated with convergent plate boundaries. The answer is
A. There is convergent plate boundary in the Eastern Caribbean. It forms a volcanic island arc or
the volcanic islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Answer is A
49. Acidic lava is usually associated with convergent plate boundaries. Because the lava is viscous it
traps gases from escaping. This will result in an explosive eruption. Therefore the characteristics
of volcanoes in the Eastern Caribbean are explosive. Answer is B
50. The method of crop cultivation that uses extensive practices and results in high yields per
worker is commercial arable farming. Extensive farming is an agricultural production system that
uses small inputs of labour, fertilizers, and capital relative to the land area being farm. The land
area or size is usually the largest component. Commercial farming is usually done on large areas
of land. This distance can extend for hundreds of kilometers. The answer is D
51. The type of soil related to the equatorial climate is called latosols are tropical red earths.
Answer is B
52. Raw materials are very important when considering the location of primary industries. A good
example is Bauxite industries in the Caribbean. Bauxite factories are usually located close to the
bauxite deposits. This is because of the bulkiness of this raw material. Transportation cost also
increase with bulkiness and also with distance. So factories usually locate close to the raw
materials in order to reduce the cost of transportation. Answer is D

5. Prepared by Oral Johnson
53. There is a radio, a racing car, a heavy duty truck and a man using a jackhammer. This will more
likely result in noise pollution. Answer is B
54. The problem of household waste may be reduced by burying and covering with soil. This is
especially true of organic waste. Things such as banana skin, remains or orange can be buried.
These are called biodegradable materials. They can be decomposed by microorganisms in the
soil and they will eventually form humus and become a part of the soil. Answer is D
55. Exhaust fumes from motor vehicles contribute most to the pollution of the environment of
capital cities in CARICOM. A large number of vehicle passes through Kingston every day and
furthermore these cars are run by oil, gasoline or petroleum. A byproduct is the emission of
harmful gases and this will come from the exhaust fumes. Answer is C
56. Deforestation and erosion poses the most serious threat to rivers of the Caribbean. When trees
are cut down the exposed soil be washed down into rivers causing sedimentation. Answer is C
57. Mulching is not expected to pollute the underground water. Mulching is any material that is
spread or laid over the surface of the soil as a covering. It is used to retain moisture in the soil,
suppress weeds and reducing soil temperatures (keep the soil cool). Gasoline, pesticide and
fertilizers can all infiltrate in ground water source and contaminate it. Answer is A
58. Solar is the source of energy that is least likely to harm the environment. Natural gas and oil are
non-renewable resources and they both emit harmful gases in the atmosphere. Areas
surrounding nuclear plants are not conducive to living after some number of years. Radioactive
waste can be harmful to the environment. Answer is C
59. Infiltration is reduced when trees are cut down. Deforestation will result in less infiltration and
more surface runoff. The trees are not there to protect the soil and runoff results. Soil erosion
will then follow. The answer is B
60. Deforestation and dumping of garbage in rivers would most likely to result in flooding. Trees
help to stabilize the soil, prevent surface run off, flooding and soil erosion. When trees are cut
down the possibility of flooding increases. The dumping of waste in a river can temporarily block
the flow of the water causing it to overflow its banks. Soil conservation methods such as
terracing or contour ploughing control soil erosion and reduce flooding. Answer is C