Getting familiar with the syllabus
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

The current geography syllabus has been in use for two years. I trust that you are familiar with it and the corresponding format of the question paper. In the event that there are those of you are who are unfamiliar with the latter, let me state briefly that there are four sections on the question paper, each corresponding to the sections of the syllabus. These are as follows:

Section A - Mapwork
Section B - Natural Systems
Section C - Human Systems
Section D - Human-Environment Systems

For the last several weeks, I discussed Question 1 of the June 2008 question paper. This is the only question in Section A of the paper and also the only compulsory question. Each of the other sections of the paper has three questions from which you must choose ONE. The total number of questions to be done then is FOUR, covering all sections of the paper.

My focus for a while will be on the questions given in the June 2008 examinations in Section D. If you have your syllabus, you will know that this section covers the topics of natural hazards and environmental degradation. The section was included when the former syllabus was revised and, therefore, could be seen as a 'new' section. Question 8 is the first of the three questions in this section. Here is the entire question.

SECTION D (Human-Environment Systems)

Answer ONE question from this section.

a) Study Table 6 which provides data on the annual average number of people made homeless by natural disasters from 1972 to 1976 and answer the questions that follow.

(i) how many persons were made homeless by volcanoes annually?

(1 mark)

(ii) what is the average number of persons who were affected by climatic disasters annually?

(2 marks)

(iii) what was the annual percentage of persons homeless from natural disasters as a result of high winds?

(1 mark)

(b) For a country you have studied describe FOUR ways in which EITHER an earthquake, OR a volcanic eruption, OR a hurricane affected life or property.

(8 marks)

(c) For EITHER a hurricane, OR an earthquake, OR a volcano explain how EACH of THREE precautions can be used to reduce its impact.

(12 marks)

Total 24 marks

A table has been given in part (a) as stimulus material. Let me pause to state here that all questions in Sections B, C and D of the question paper have stimulus material. This can take different formats, including graphs, sketches, maps, diagrams and tables. A few questions are given based on the stimulus material. You are required to STUDY whatever is given then answer the questions. Apply that guideline to part (a) of this question being discussed. Make note of some key words in the questions, like climatic disasters in (ii) and annual percentage in (iii).

The answers for part (a) are as follows:

(i) 15,000 persons were made homeless by volcanoes annually

(ii) 4,425,500 persons were affected by climatic disasters. By way of an explanation of this question, you need to identify the climatic disasters listed. These are flood and high wind. Both figures are added together to obtain the total.

(iii) 22.8 per cent or 23 per cent of persons were homeless from natural disasters as a result of high winds.

I will discuss the other parts of the question in the next lesson. In the meanwhile, refer to you textbooks and find the possible answers to them.

Radio personality Jenny Jenny interacts with students from various high schools.