This document provides explanations for multiple choice questions from a CSEC Geography exam in 2014. It addresses topics like map coordinates, calculating time differences, gradients, climate, population density, and the environmental impacts of various human and natural activities. Explanations are provided for 59 multiple choice questions related to these geographic concepts.

1. Prepared by Oral Johnson
Simple explanations to CSEC Geography 2014 Multiple Choice
1. Barbados is located at 130
N and 590
W. Barbados is behind the 60 longitude line. Answer is C
2. Santo Domingo is located at 180
N and 700
W. Latitude first then longitude. Answer is B
3. Santo Domingo is located 1000km from Montego Bay. Answer is D
4. If an airplane leaves San Juan, Puerto Rico for Barbados it will be travelling in a south eastern
direction. 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 Santo Doming is to the east of Belmopan you add. Once a place is to the
east of a next place they will always be ahead of time. If it is 3:00pm in Belmopan then it is
4:00pm in Santo Domingo. Answer is D
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. A 1:5 gradient is steep. For every 5 unit you go across horizontally you increase in height by 1
unit. The smaller the number the steeper the gradient. A 1:2 gradient is very steep. Answer is A
8. X to Y is a scarp slope. A scarp slope is also called a steep slope. The contour lines are closer
together which indicates that the terrain is steep. When contour lines are further apart it is
gently sloping. Absence of contours mean that the terrain is flat. Answer is B
9. The grid reference for point B is 736507. Easting values first then northings. Answer C
10. 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
11. 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
12. Intervisible means visible to or from one point. If two points are intervisble it means you can
stay from one point and see the next. Q and S are intervisible as both points are at the peak of
two different hills and even though some distance may be in between can still stay from one
point and see the next. Answer is B
13. The gradient is steepest between Q and R. The contour lines are closest there out of all the
other pairs of points. Once contour lines are close together it means the terrain is steep. Answer
is C
14. 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
15. 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

2. Prepared by Oral Johnson
16. Urbanization is occurring the fastest at Z. It increase by 30% from 1970 to 2000 and by 15% from
2000 to 2030 (projected increase). Answer is D
17. A bar graph would be best suited to display the data. Isolines are lines that connect places with
similar characteristic, a dot man represents population distribution. All of this data can hold on a
single bar graph. Answer is C
18. The man difference between weather and climate is time. Weather usually changes over a short
time, can be seconds, minutes, and hours. Climate is average weather conditions over a 30-35
year period. Answer is B
19. The largest change in the annual mean global temperatures occurred over the period between
1970 and 1990. The difference is about 0.5 and it is the highest. Answer is D
20. The general trend of the annual global temperature shown in the graph is great fluctuation in
temperatures. The temperature decreases then increases, decrease again then increase and
followed by a similar pattern. Answer is D
21. The degree of change between 1910 and 1940 is 0.3. One of the individual lines on the y axis is
approximately 0.05 0
C. The temperature at 1940 is 14.0 and it is 13.7 at 1910. The difference or
degree of change is therefore 0.3. Answer is B
22. The smallest population is at IV. It has the lowest population density based on the legend.
Answer is D
23. The map above shows population density. Population density is represent by a shaded map or
choropleth map and it is measured in persons per unit area. Answer is B
24. 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
25. Subduction occurs at convergent plate boundaries. When an oceanic plate and continental plate
converges the denser oceanic plate subducts into the mantle. Answer is D
26. 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
27. A convergent plate margin is shown. The oceanic plate is subducting beneath the continental
plate to form volcanoes. Answer is C
28. It is true that various gases are emitted during a volcanic eruption and they occur at weak points
in the crust. Volcanic eruptions emit gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, water vapour
and hydrogen sulfide. Volcanoes reach the surface only when lines of weakness (such as fissures
or vents) are present. Not all volcanic eruptions are violent. Answer is A
29. X represents percolation. This is the downward movement of water in the soil. Answer is A
30. The diagram above represents the process in the hydrological cycle. Answer is D
31. The feature at M is called a terrace or river terrace or alluvial terrace. These are former flood
plains and they’re easily identified by the step like feature. Terraces in Geography are usually
step like features. Same with terraced farming. Answer is B
32. The feature formed at N is the floodplain. This is the area of land next to the river that gets
flooded after a river overflow its banks. It is called a floodplain. The answer is C
33. Deposition by a river usually occurs when its velocity decreases. The river will lose its energy
once there is decrease in velocity. The ability to transport sediments will decrease. Answer is D

3. Prepared by Oral Johnson
34. The intrusive feature is sill. Sills are horizontal sheets of solidified magma. Crater, caldera and
lava plateau are all extrusive volcanic features. Answer is A
35. The type of settlement that will most likely form along a main road is a linear settlement BUT
the type of settlement at a road junction will be a nuclear settlement. Answer is C
36. 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
37. All three factors can apply to the decline in population in cities. Land has been redeveloped for
business and the number of factories have increased. Both factors reduce the possibility of
residential development in the city. Therefore the physical space for constructing homes would
decline and this will mean less people. Most developments now are taking place on the outskirts
of cities. Urban areas are normally polluted. This can be air pollution from factories or exhausts
from vehicles. The atmosphere in urban spaces are not clean hence some people will choose to
move and live on the outskirts of cities where the environment is cleaner. Answer is D
38. 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 D
39. Peasant farming is a small scale farming and the individual farms are small. Answer is A
40. Rapid urbanization in Caribbean countries usually results in housing shortages 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 A
41. Tourism is a tertiary industry. Fishing is primary, food processing and oil refining are 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. The Caribbean government usually provide tax incentives and the necessary infrastructure to
influence the location of settlements. The government has control over where they want
development to take place. Sometimes they build the infrastructure in a particular location. This
is sometimes industrial zones or just an area that they want development to take place.
Potential investors would not have to build any infrastructure as it is already provided by the
government. Answer is C

4. Prepared by Oral Johnson
44. Lack of capital is the most serious problem hindering rapid agricultural development in the
Caribbean. This is a fact both at the national and the local scale. Agriculture is not as important
to the Caribbean economies as before. More money is directed towards tourism. Less money is
spent on agriculture. Because of the lack of capital the development of our agriculture is
hindered. Small scale farmers don’t have enough capital to buy the necessary equipment and
inputs for the farm. Lack of capital is a very big problem in agriculture. Answer is A
45. Cattle ranching is not arable farming. The rearing of animal is called pastoral farming. Fruit
farming, market gardening, sugar cane growing are all arable farms as it deals with the
cultivation of crops. Answer is B
46. All methods have been used by Caribbean governments to improve farming in the region.
Government provides land to small farmers for food production. A good example is the agro
projects across Jamaica. The lands are leased by the government to small scale farmers. Some
banking institutions provide loans to farmers form them to purchase machinery and fertilizers.
The government also encourages food processing to supply the local and regional markets.
Sugar cane is processed for rum production and this is sold on the local market as well as it is
exported to external markets (international countries). Answer is D
47. 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
48. Limited capital and limited raw material are problems affecting industrial development in the
Caribbean. The Caribbean governments have to rely on external investment to start up
industrial projects. Most of the raw materials we used are non-renewable resources. This means
it will get depleted with continuous extraction. These are resources that sometimes take
millions of years to form. Good examples are bauxite and oil. A large labour force is not a
problem in the Caribbean. Unemployment exists and there is a large pool of skilled and unskilled
workers. Answer is C
49. Smog is a form of air pollution. Smog is a kind of air pollution, originally named for the mixture
of smoke and fog in the air. Smog usually results from the burning of coal from factories.
Answer is A
50. Deforestation and erosion poses the most serious threat to rivers of the Caribbean. When trees
are cut down the soil is exposed to rainfall and other elements. When the rain falls the soil will
be eroded and transported into nearby rivers. This will cause sedimentation. Answer is C
51. Oil spills from ocean-going vessels and discharge of waste material into rivers will cause coastal
pollution in the Caribbean. Dumping of garbage in rivers is common in the Caribbean. All of that
material will then be transported to the coast. Good example is Kingston harbour. All the
material that is dumped in rivers eventually reach the Kingston Harbour. This can be solid waste
or chemical waste. Answer is D
52. 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

5. Prepared by Oral Johnson
53. 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
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. The greatest influence on tourism in the Caribbean is climate. Our peak tourism period coincides
with the cold winters in the temperate countries. People usually want to escape the cold
temperatures in the winter to experience the warm and sunny climate in the Caribbean. Even
when it is winter in the Caribbean the temperatures are high enough. Answer is A
56. Treatment of sewage and hygienic disposal of domestic waste will control water pollution along
the coast. Sewage systems that are efficient can treat the waste without having an impact on
the environment. There is a town upstream and improper disposal of waste can cause pollution
on the coastline. Once residents dispose their waste properly pollution will be reduced. Answer
is A
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). Pesticide and fertilizers can
infiltrate in ground water source and contaminate it. Answer is C
58. 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
59. Harvesting of coral formations for souvenirs and discharging sewage and industrial waste along
the shore may harm the environment in the Caribbean. Sewage can result in eutrophication.
When this happens the algae deplete the marine organisms of oxygen. Eutrophication usually
prevent sunlight from reaching the corals and this can hinder their growth. Tourists damage the
environment when they take the coral reefs for souvenir. Zoning of marine activities is good.
This may come in the form of protected areas and marine parks. Fishing and other activities
cannot be done in these areas. Answer is D
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