Sec 2 ANS Section B

Riverside Secondary School Geography Examination Notes

Examination Overview

  • Subject/Paper: Geography (Section B)

  • Level/Stream: Secondary 2 G3

  • Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

  • Total Marks: 36 marks

  • Instructions to Candidates:
      - Answer all questions from Section A and Section B in the Question Booklets.
      - Write in dark blue or black pen; HB pencil may be used for diagrams or graphs.
      - Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue, or correction fluid.

Question 2: Quality of Life Improvements through Good Housing [3 Marks]

Key Points:

  • Safe and Comfortable Shelter
      - Good housing provides safe and comfortable shelter, protecting residents from the elements.
      - Award: 1 mark for this point.

  • Access to Basic Needs
      - Provides access to essential services such as sanitation, water, and electricity.
      - With access to sanitation, there is a reduced likelihood of contracting water-borne diseases, which improves health and well-being.
        - Award: 1 mark for access to basic needs.
        - Award an additional mark for the explanation of health benefits.

  • Provision of Amenities
      - Good housing gives residents access to services and facilities that simplify daily life, such as grocery shops and clinics nearby.
        - Award: 1 mark for amenities.
        - Award an additional mark for describing how this reduces travel distance and improves accessibility.

  • Social Gathering Spaces
      - Provides areas for social gatherings, fostering community ties which cater to social needs.
      - For example, community spaces like void decks or parks allow for friendship and support systems.
        - Award: 1 mark for shared spaces.
        - Award an additional mark for further explanation on social benefits.

Question 2(b): Urban Slums Data Analysis [3 Marks]

Figure Analysis: Fig. 2.1 (Percentage of people living in urban slums from 2000 to 2015)

  • Trends:
      - Similarities:
        - All listed ASEAN countries exhibit a reduction in the percentage of residents in urban slums between 2000 and 2015.
          - Example: Cambodia decreased from 80% to 53%, Vietnam from 49% to 28%.
            - Award: 1 mark for the trend; 1 additional mark for specific country statistics.
        - Highest Slum Percentage:
          - Both Cambodia and Laos had the highest rates of urban slum residences in 2000, at 80%.
            - Award: 1 mark for this point.

  • Differences:
      - Greatest Decrease:
        - Lao PDR shows a significant decrease of 50%, dropping from 80% to 30%.
          - Award: 1 mark for indicating the highest decrease; 1 additional mark for specific data.
      - Smallest Decrease:
        - Thailand had the smallest reduction of merely 2%, from 27% to 25%.
          - Award: 1 mark for indicating the smallest decrease; 1 additional mark for specific data.
      - Lowest Proportion:
        - Thailand consistently exhibited the lowest percentage of people living in slums in both years.
          - Award: 1 mark for this point; 1 additional mark for noting the specific percentages.

Question 2(c): Informal Housing Distribution Description [3 Marks]

Figure Analysis: Fig. 2.2 (Satellite image of a slum in the Philippines)

  • Description of Informal Housing:
      - Informal housing is typically situated on undesirable land (locally unwanted land).
        - For example, in Fig. 2.2, these areas are located next to landfills.
          - Award: 1 mark for undesirable land; 1 additional mark for specific example.
      - Such housing is often near polluted areas such as landfills or sewage treatment plants.
        - Example: Slums adjacent to the Tondo landfill.
          - Award: 1 mark for proximity to pollution sources; 1 additional mark for reference to Fig. 2.2.
      - Informal housing may also be located near industrial sites, which serve as workplaces.
        - Award: 1 mark for this point; reference to the location in relation to factories such as charcoal factories in Fig. 2.2.

Explanation of Distribution

  • Land in polluted areas is more affordable, attracting residents with limited financial means.
      - Award: 1 mark for this economic explanation.

  • Proximity to factories allows residents to minimize transport costs for easier access to low-paying jobs.
      - Award: 1 mark for this logistical explanation.

Question 2(d): Negative Impacts of Informal Housing [4 Marks]

Key Points

  • Poor Construction Materials
      - Informal housing is built with low-quality materials (wood, zinc sheets, or cardboard).
        - This increases the risk of fires or structural collapse, leading to severe injuries or fatalities.
          - Award: 1 mark for construction quality; 1 additional mark for the consequences.

  • Lack of Legal Rights
      - Residents often have no legal right to the land they occupy, which can cause mental stress due to the fear of evictions.
        - Award: 1 mark for legal status; 1 additional mark for emotional impact.

  • Absence of Basic Services
      - Informal housing typically lacks essential services like clean water and sanitation.
        - This can lead to poor hygiene and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.
          -