1. Geography
Essential
Questions
EOY 2012.

2. Geography Essential
Questions, 2012. [EOY]
1. Describe the reasons for the rising demand for land.
[6Marks]
The increase in population requires a growth in industries to provide for increasing demand for jobs
and businesses. This increase in industries to provide more jobs and businesses to keep
unemployment rate down requires a huge amount of land. For example, in Singapore, industries use
10% of total land area. Thus, causing the rising demand for land.
The increase in population requires an increasing demand for recreational space for families.
Recreational spaces are needed to provide for the growing population, for example swimming pools,
parks, nature reserves. Therefore leading to a rising demand for land.
The increase of population requires a growth in agriculture to produce more food to feed the
people. This increase in agriculture requires more land as 80% of the Earth’s land is unsuitable for
agriculture due to unsuitable soils or climates. Hence, causing the increase in rising demand for land.
Marks awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )
2. Explain how increasing the price for land can be
used as a response to the rising demand.
The increase in population causes a growth of housing. The land area available for use in a
country or city is limited. When the demand for land increases, this equates to the increase
of price for the land. The minority might be willing to pay a higher price for the same land.
However, the majority would not be willing to pay or they would buy cheaper lands and
thus this would ultimately stop the overall demand for land.
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3. 3. Evaluate the various responses of increasing the
supply of land. (Land clearance, landfill, empoldering
and reclaiming derelict land.)
Land area is limited, and as the demand of land raises the greater the need to increase the
supply of land. One such various response to increasing land supply is Land Clearance. Land
clearance is a process where land is cleared by demolishing old buildings or by
deforestation. However, deforestation causes loss of habitats for plants and animals as well
as the extinction of plant and animal species. An example of land clearance would be in
Singapore, all graves in Bidadari Cemetery at Upper Aljunied Road/ Upper Serangoon Road,
was exhumed to make way for new development projects. An advantage by land clearance
is that it is easier and is able to increase the amount of land available at a faster rate. A
disadvantage to land clearance would be deforestation, the burning of trees causing global
warming which is not friendly to the environment.
Another example of various responses to increase land supply is Landfill. Landfill is a method
by draining the desired land area and filling it with material to create dry land. With today
technology, it only allows reclamation of land for waters up to 15 metres in depth. An
example of landfill in Singapore would be places such as Bedok, Jurong Island and Changi
Airport. There is always an advantage and disadvantage. An advantage of Landfill would be
that land is being freed and using land which used to be part of the ocean, sea to now build
buildings or farms. A disadvantage to landfill is that land reclamation projects for landfills
have changed the seabed in the territories affecting shipping routes. This would affect
Singapore’s ports as sea space is required to maintain accessibility.
Another example of various responses to increase land supply is empoldering. Empoldering
normally refers to the creation of a piece of land in a low-lying area reclaimed from a body
of water by building dykes and by drainage, which is called polder. Polders normally
constitute areas of land reclaimed from a body of water, such as the lake or the sea, and are
consequently below the surrounding water level. The most successful empoldering project
up to date has been the Zuider Zee project in the Netherlands. An advantage of land
empoldering is that the polder can be reused for agriculture and other purposes. Also,
farmers are able to benefit from empoldering as they could control the water supply in their
fields.
Lastly another example of a response to increase land supply is reclaiming of derelict land.
Reclaiming of derelict land is to reclaim land that is damaged by natural disasters or
improper human activities. Improper human activities include improper farming or mining
as well as improper waste disposal. Derelict land can be made arable again by adding
fertilisers to restore nutrients lost through poor farming methods, removing or levelling out
waste heaps, filling mining pools and planting new vegetation to prevent soil erosion. An
advantage of reclaiming derelict land is that it could make useless land to be useful again.
An disadvantage of reclaiming derelict land is that it is very costly and time consuming.
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Comments: ( )

4. 4. Describe the process of landfill and empoldering.
The landfill process is done by draining the desired area and filling it with material to create
dry land. Firstly, columns of sand forced into soft clay of the seabed to make it more stable.
A machine would be used to force the columns of sands (piles) into the seabed. Secondly, a
sand wall is built around the area to be reclaimed to keep sea water out. Sand is loaded into
the sea just outside the sand wall and stored there until it is needed. Thirdly, the sand that
was previously loaded into the sea is sucked up and pumped into the enclosed area. As
additional sand raises the level of the seabed to above sea level. Fourthly, the sand is then
compressed as compacted sand reduces time needed for settling. A granite wall is also built
on the side facing the sea to prevent the area from being eroded by waves. Lastly, trees and
vegetation are grown on the reclaimed land to prevent soil erosion. After which the land is
left to rest, the duration of rest depends on the purpose of the land in future, resting allows
sand to stabilise.
Empoldering normally refers to the creation of a piece of land in a low-lying area reclaimed
from a body of water by building dykes and by drainage, which is called polder. Firstly, a
dike is constructed around the area to be reclaimed to keep water from coming in.
Secondly, the area is drained using pumps and drainage canals. Thirdly, reeds a type of
plant, are sown by air craft to help form soil. Fourthly, after three years, the reeds are burnt
and the ash is used as fertilisers for the soil. Lastly, after a period of up to 15 years, the
polder is ready for growing crops, building houses and constructing roads.
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5. 5. Describe how existing land uses can be maximized.
Existing land uses can be maximized by maximising use of urban land use. Mixed land
developments refer to areas that comprise a mixture of activities, example financial and
commercial, residential. Previously, cities were planned based on zones where different
areas on a piece of land were assigned different functions. This planning process is called
land use planning. It was impractical because people had to travel long distance to move
from one zone to another. With mixed land use, various land uses are now connected by
effective transport systems. The competition for land is more intense in cities. High density
building are in areas where there are many people living or working per unit area.
Therefore, buildings are built close together to allow more residential flats to house growing
population and offer more offices to accommodate expanding economic activities. Today’s
technology allows the construction of taller buildings where land is scarce but high in
demand. For example, Singapore has tall HDB flats in older housing estates like Bishan and
Toa Payoh.
Existing land uses can be maximized by maximising agricultural land use. Irrigation is the
watering of crops through artificial means. It also increase yields in existing farmlands by
lengthening the growing seasons. Traditional irrigation methods include diverting water to
the fields by simpler canals. Nowadays, dams are built and these dams provide irrigation all
year around. Sprinklers driven by electric pumps from dams are also widely used on modern
farms to increase the efficiency of irrigation. Terracing involves creating flat strips of land by
cutting a series of steps into hill slopes. Terracing increases the area of arable land, thus
maximizing the exiting land use. Low walls built at the end of each step slow down the
runoff of rain water, thus preventing soil erosion. This allows rainwater to seep into the soil
and then be absorbed by plant roots. This wall also creates flooded conditions ideal for
cultivation for padi.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )

6. 6. Evaluate the various responses of maximizing the
existing use of land.
Existing land uses can be maximized by mixed land use. Mixed land developments refer to areas that
comprise a mixture of activities, example financial and commercial, residential. Previously, cities
were planned based on zones where different areas on a piece of land were assigned different
functions. This planning process is called land use planning. It was impractical because people had to
travel long distance to move from one zone to another. With mixed land use, various land uses are
now connected by effective transport systems. An advantage by mixed land use is that people would
have easy access to shops, work, recreation and schools. But an disadvantage is that residential
areas close to other functions such as industries and shopping areas may lead to traffic congestion as
well as noise and air pollution due to the increased amounts of human and vehicle traffic.
Existing land uses can be maximized by high density buildings. The competition for land is more
intense in cities. High density building are in areas where there are many people living or working
per unit area. Therefore, buildings are built close together to allow more residential flats to house
growing population and offer more offices to accommodate expanding economic activities. Today’s
technology allows the construction of taller buildings where land is scarce but high in demand. For
example, Singapore has tall HDB flats in older housing estates like Bishan and Toa Payoh. An
advantage for high density buildings is that it helps to reduce the rate at which the country’s
remaining green spaces are developed. An disadvantage for high density buildings is that the large
number of people in a small area may result in a more crowded environment, traffic congestion and
higher noise levels. All these may lead to increased stress levels among people and reduce their
quality of life.
Existing land uses can be maximized by irrigation. Irrigation is the watering of crops through artificial
means. It also increase yields in existing farmlands by lengthening the growing seasons. Traditional
irrigation methods include diverting water to the fields by simpler canals. Nowadays, dams are built
and these dams provide irrigation all year around. Sprinklers driven by electric pumps from dams are
also widely used on modern farms to increase the efficiency of irrigation. An advantage for irrigation
is that it ensures a regular supply of water, which allows farmers to grow greater amounts and wider
varieties of crops. An disadvantage is that the cost of maintenance of canals is very high.
Existing land uses can be maximized by terracing. Terracing involves creating flat strips of land by
cutting a series of steps into hill slopes. Terracing increases the area of arable land, thus maximizing
the exiting land use. Low walls built at the end of each step slow down the runoff of rain water, thus
preventing soil erosion. This allows rainwater to seep into the soil and then be absorbed by plant
roots. This wall also creates flooded conditions ideal for cultivation for padi. An advantage for is that
terracing is an inexpensive method of increasing the area of arable land. An disadvantage for
terracing is that they are difficult to construct and requires a lot of human energy and time to cut
steps into hill slopes.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )

7. 7. Describe the reasons for the increasing demand for
water.
Increase population requires a growth in agriculture to produce more food to feed the people. This
increase in agriculture requires more water for watering plants and water for animals to drink. The
amount of water used for agricultural purposes in the world is 69%. Therefore, there is an increasing
demand for water.
Increasing population requires a growth in industries to provide for increasing demand for products
and services. This increase in industries requires more water for cleaning and cooling the machines,
as well as a raw material in making products. Thus, the increasing demand for water.
Increasing population requires a change in life style as the country becomes more develop, the
standard of living as well as the incomes of the people generally increases. Basic household water
requirements have been estimated around 50 litres per person, per day, excluding water for
gardens, which is much higher in developed countries. It is estimated that 15% of water use
worldwide is for household purposes. Hence, the increasing demand for water.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
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8. 8. Evaluate the various responses to the rising demand
For water.
There are many responses to the rising demand for water. An response made to the rising
demand for water would be the increasing price of water. Some countries increase the price
of water to control demand of water. Due to the increasing price of water, people who do
not want to pay more for water use less water. An advantage to this is that the price
increase helps to reduce the rising costs of producing and distributing water. The
disadvantage to increasing the price of water is that the impact on people will be uneven
and those who can afford to pay more will continue to use large amounts of water. But the
poor will suffer more when the price of water increases.
Another response made to control the demand of water is increasing of water supply. A
water catchment area is built to collect water. Rain water is intercepted by trees and then
absorbed into the soil. The water eventually flows into a reservoir for storage. An advantage
is the low cost needed, rain water is easier and cheaper to purify because it is much cleaner
than used water and does not contain salt. A disadvantage is that this response it is not
viable for small countries, which cannot afford to set aside too much land.
Finally, the conserving of water helps to control the demand for water. Water conservation
refers to careful use of water resources to ensure minimal wastage. Educating the public
through campaigns and educating industries through talks and introduction of guidelines is a
way to encourage water conservation. An advantage to water conservation is that It reduces
risk of future water shortage for families and industries. As they are encouraged to use less
water to prevent water supplies in reservoirs from being depleted. A disadvantage is that it
is very hard to get everyone to cooperate and conserve water.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )

9. 9. What are the causes of air/land/water pollution?
There are many causes of air pollution; one such cause is by industries. Due to the fact that
industries burn fossil fuels, it produces harmful pollutants such as soot, sulphur dioxide and
excessive heat. Another cause of air pollution would be motor vehicles. As motor vehicles burns fuel
to get energy, dust, smoke, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are being released by the vehicle
into the air. Another cause of air pollution would be construction work, example the constructing of
the circle line. Construction work requires clearing of land for construction of buildings and
transporting of construction materials. Dust and smoke is being released. A major cause of air
pollution would be volcanic eruptions. Natural volcanic eruptions produce volcanic ash, smoke, soot
and poisonous gases. These poisonous gases are being spread around in the air easily. Lastly, forest
fires are also causes of air pollution as it produces dust, smoke and ashes.
One cause of water pollution is the improper disposal of sewage. Sewage contains, chemicals,
untreated human waste and non-biodegradable detergents. This untreated sewage is released into
water bodies. Some non-biodegradable substances, example detergents, cannot be broken down.
Another cause of water pollution is oil spills. Oil spills accidents occurs at sea, it occurs when the hull
of an oil tanker is torn by sharp rocks, or if the tanker collides with another ship, causing oil that is
being carried to spill into the sea. Oil spills are very difficult to clean up, as they spread over large
areas and are not easily broken down. Another cause of water pollution is Agriculture. Agriculture
uses excessive of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides and these substances are washed
into water bodies. Examples of which are Phosphates and Nitrates. These wastes encourage an
explosion in growth of algae leading to insufficient oxygen in the water. This causes plants and
aquatic animals to suffocate and die. Aquatic life are also being decomposed, this further reduces
oxygen levels.
One cause of land pollution is domestic activities. Domestic activities causes land pollution as there
is a lack of suitable places for waste disposal. It also causes land pollution as there are insufficient
controls over the disposal of waste. Pollutants such as non-biodegradable wastes like plastic and
metals are released. Another cause of land pollution is industries. As industries produces large
amounts of chemicals and hard wastes, it is not disposed properly thus, causing land pollution. Toxic
chemicals, metals and industrial wastes are released. Another cause of land pollution is mining.
Mining causes land pollution as large amounts of waste materials from mining sites are left behind
after minerals have been extracted. These waste materials include toxic chemicals, radioactive
wastes and mining wastes. Lastly, another cause of land pollution is agricultural activities.
Agricultural activities causes land pollution as soil contamination through excessive use of chemical
fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Due to the excessive use of pesticides, pests develop resistance
to pesticides overtime. Farmers are then being forced to use even more pesticides, worsening soil
contamination.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )

10. 10. What are the effects of air/land/water pollution?
Industry causes land pollution and these pollutants they release causes health hazards to those with
respiratory disease, example asthma, bronchitis. These pollutants causes heart and lung diseases or
cancer, it also dirties and corrodes buildings due to the acidic substance. Acid rain kills fishes in rivers
and lakes and visibility is reduced. Motor Vehicles cause a huge 90% of air pollution in urban areas,
as due to the advance in technology, there are more motor vehicles used. The carbon monoxide and
nitrogen oxide released worsens the human respiratory system. Construction work also worsens the
human respiratory system and dirties buildings. Also, the pollutants being released can be carried by
wind easily to nearby residential areas. Volcanic eruptions and forest fires, causes damage to natural
vegetation, wildlife and settlements. Due to the amount of ash, soot and smoke produces, nearby
countries can be affected by the resulting haze, visibility is reduced and air traffic affected. Health
hazards as well are caused to those with respiratory problems like asthmatic people.
Improper disposal of sewage destroys aquatic life. Chemicals encourage algae to grow this prevents
sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. Health hazard for people who consume polluted aquatic
plants and animals example birth deformities. To clear this pollution is very costly and it may take
years for plants and animal life to be restored. Oil spills prevents aquatic plants from
photosynthesising as there is a layer of oil on water surface. Sea birds and mammals freeze to death
from cold when layer of oil prevents them from trapping air between their bodies and hair. Hair is
made for animals to act as a layer of insulation. Sea birds may drown as the oil on their wings
prevents them from flying. The livelihoods of fishermen are affected, as they will have lesser animals
to catch and sell, tourism revenue is also affected. To clear oil spills, is very costly and takes many
workers and many years to complete. Agriculture pollution of the water affects the aquatic life and
causes death. Chemicals that are washed into the water bodies accumulate in plants and animals
which are in contact with polluted water bodies. These are a health hazard to humans as when
consumed, birth deformities occur.
Domestic activities affects the quality of life in surrounding area due to bad smells and also causes
environmental eyesore. These are a health hazard to humans because improperly disposed wastes
attract pests like rats and insects, which can spread diseases. Industrial activities contaminate plants
and animals in turn become a health hazard to humans when consumed. It is costly to dispose of
properly, and costly to treat it. Mining destroys surrounding vegetation and wildlife, after which the
land becomes unusable. Agricultural activities causes cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, skin
problems. These are effects that can be caused by health hazard due to agricultural activities.
Poisoning of wildlife, example brittle shells in birds’ eggs, deformed chicks leads to a danger of
extinction in some species.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )

11. 11. Evaluate the various measures taken to reduce
air/land/water pollution at different levels (individual,
national and international.).
As individuals, one of the main ways is “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”. Examples of “Reduce, Reuse
and Recycle” are, firstly reducing the amount of polluting materials such as disposal products such as
paper and cups and pesticides that are used on land. Secondly, we individuals could reuse materials
such as plastic bags, or any waste materials which come from forests and factories. Lastly,
individuals, could recycle, materials which are recyclable into new forms examples, plastics made
into furniture and newspapers recycled into new paper products. But, it has to be acknowledged
that there are always disadvantaged and advantages. An advantage of this is that, it is easy to
implement, but a disadvantage is that it cannot be enforced, people can only be encouraged to
comply with measures but not forced.
As a national level, governments can make laws to require organizations to recycle materials and to
minimize land, water and air pollution. Laws can be passed to require individuals to dispose waste
properly and to refrain from making excessive noise. Fines and taxes are used to enforce these laws.
Governments can also limit the use of toxic chemicals, or banning the use of very acidic chemicals to
prevent pollution. Public education to reduce, reuse and recycle materials can also be made, by
advertisements, school programmes and workshops for industries to make people better informed
and act more responsibly to reduce pollution. They could also decide where waste matter is put, and
in state, sealed, incinerated or buried in a land fill. An advantage would be that measures can be
enforced through laws. People, who do not, can be met with penalties such as fines. A disadvantage
is that some measures may affect industries economically and these industries may choose to locate
elsewhere affecting the economy of the country.
At the international level, an example is the agreement that was made between Singapore,
Indonesia and Malaysia to check and monitor ocean-going ships passing through the straits of
Malacca and Singapore Straits to minimise sea pollution. Agreements were also made between the
Association of South-East Asian Nations to reduce slash and burn activities in the forests of the
Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra to minimise impact of haze on neighbouring countries. An
advantage is that if all countries comply with the agreed measures, the effects of these measures
due to the extent at which the solutions are carried out. A disadvantage is that Countries cannot be
forced to adopt the measures. Even if countries adopt the measures, it will be difficult to enforce if
the country does not comply with the agreed measures.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
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12. 12. Explain the greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon in which gases which make up the Earth’s
atmosphere absorb heat from the Sun, warming the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. The
Earth radiates heat into the atmosphere, some of this heat escapes into space. Some of the heat is
absorbed by the greenhouse gases which heats up and radiate the heat back to Earth.
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13. Describe the causes of global warming.
One of the causes of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels. The main reason why fossil fuels
are burnt, is because it generate electricity that we need daily. During burning at factories, fossil
fuels which contain carbon in solid form, is changed into carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide itself traps
heat, with this additional amount of carbon dioxide added into the air, more heat is being trapped
which increases the temperature.
Another reason for global warming is deforestation. Around 15 million hectares of rainforests are
cleared every year and burning forests to clear land releases carbon dioxide. When trees are burnt,
we release carbon dioxide trapped in the trees in form of carbon. As trees also change carbon
dioxide into oxygen by photosynthesis, fewer trees would mean that more carbon dioxide is not
changed into oxygen.
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13. 14. Describe the consequences of global warming.
Changes in weather conditions are consequences of global warming. It is estimated that by 2100, the
earth’s average temperature will increase by another 1.5 degree Celsius to 4.5 degree Celsius. This
will lead to an huge increase in evaporation rates, resulting in severe droughts since drier areas of
the world will become even drier. Water shortages will affect plant, animal and human lives.
Rising sea levels are another consequences of global warming. Sea levels are likely to rise as a result
of global warming because water expands when it’s temperature increases. The increasing
temperature also causes polar ice caps in the North and South Pole to melt, leading to a rise in sea
levels of 20 to 50 centimetres by 2050. This put low-lying islands and cities at major risks of being
flooded and eventually submerged under water.
Lastly, there will be a huge impact on plants. Excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and
herbicides for plants are being washed into water bodies. These wastes encourage an explosion in
growth of aquatic plants leading to insufficient oxygen in the water. Both plants and aquatic animals
suffocate and die, due to the lack of oxygen. Death of aquatic life, further reduces oxygen levels due
to decomposition.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )

14. 15. Evaluate the measures to reduce the impact of
global warming. (Individual, national and international.)
As individuals, we could start to reduce the impact of global warming by using low-energy electric
light bulbs, with high energy-saving ratings. Not only so, individuals could play a part by offing
electrical appliances if not in use. Examples, lights and fans not at home but also in school and air
conditioners. Also, we could reduce our usage of paper as paper comes from trees; this reduces the
amount of trees being cut down. As trees helps us change carbon dioxide into oxygen. We can reuse
our old papers as rough paper to draft out any ideas if necessary instead of taking new pieces of
paper. Individuals could also recycle the paper we use, putting them into the recycling bin instead of
throwing it away and letting it be burned. Using public transport, walking and cycling instead of
using cars can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles and lower energy needs. An
advantage is that it is easy to implement. A disadvantage is that, it cannot be enforced. People can
only be encouraged to comply with measures but not forced to do it.
Governments could close down older, coal-fired power stations and switching to cleaner, gas fired
ones, or those that use nuclear or hydro-electric energy. Developing renewable sources of energy
such as wind farms and solar panels that do not produce greenhouse gases could be built too. Using
solar panels we can recycle heat and change it into energy, instead of burning fossil fuels.
Governments could also regulate car manufacturing to reduce petrol consumption and exhaust
emissions; this reduces the amount of greenhouse gases produce. Lastly, they could provide an
efficient and pleasant public transport system. Cars could use gases instead of burning oil. An
advantage is that measures can be enforced through laws. Non-compliance can be met with
penalties such as fines. An disadvantage is that some measures may affect industries economically
and these industries may choose to locate else where affecting the economy of the country.
International efforts could be made by gathering all the countries to agree on cutting greenhouse
gases. An example of one such event is the Kyoto Protocol. World leaders met in Kyoto, Japan in
1997 and agreed to cut greenhouse gases by an average of 5.5% by 2010 from the 1990 levels. Most
countries agreed to it except the United States of America, Russia and Australia, agreed to the cuts.
Also countries could encourage one another by helping in production of low energy electric light
bulbs, air conditioners, yet highly efficient. Also set a standard for exhaust emissions by cars,
regulating them to reduce petrol consumption. An advantage of international efforts is that if all
countries comply with the agreed measures, the effects of these measures adopted can be very
effective due to the extent at which the solutions are carried out. A disadvantage to it is that
countries cannot be forced to adopt the measures. Even if countries adopt the measures, it will be
difficult to enforce if the country does not comply with the agreed measures.
Marks Awarded: ( Marks)
Comments: ( )