REVIEW OF THE 1999 AL GEOGRAPHY EXAMINATION QUESTIONS (PAPER II)

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Hong Kong Geographer, Vol. 16, No.1, July 1999

H.T. Lai

Sik Sik Yuen Ho Fung College

This short paper is to review the 1999 AL Geography Paper II Examination, which was held in April. The table below summarizes the topics covered & the skills required in each question. The general comment is listed as follows:

a.	Questions of section A cover almost all the topics of natural landscapes
b.	In section B, questions about von Thunen & Sinclair Models & floods & droughts are not found
c.	In section C, there is only one question about manufacturing. Questions of urban landscapes are more emphasized.
d.	Skills of comparison are commonly found in questions of sections A & B
e.	Some parts of questions 2&4 are repeaated, e.g. precipitation of equaatorial/tropical humid regions
f.	The meaning of the term "colonial-style port city" in question 10 is quite vague
g.	Overall speaking, almost all questions require knowledge within the syllabus only. Current issues are not emphasized. The difficulty level is appropriate.

Questions	Topics covered	Skills required
1	Soil formation factors. Importance of climatic factors	Explanation & suggestion
2	Temperature & precipitation characteristics of equatorial & polar areas. Affecting factors of these characteristics ins6lation & atmospheric circulation	Comparison & explanation
3	Environmental resources of TD. Positive impacts of development of TD on local landscape & people.	Description, explanation & discussion
4	Natural water cycle of a drainage basin in tropical humid & polar landscapes. Humankind-induced flooding in drainage basins of tropical humid landscape in LDCs	Comparison & explanation
5	Socio-economic impacts of plantation farming on development of tropical regions. Ecological changes brought by crop diversification.	Discussion & explanation
6	The ways of socio-econornic factors adversely affecting farm productivity in LDCs. Difficulties of implementing farm modernization & the possible solutions.	Description, explanation & discussion
7	Differences in terms of motives of rural-urban migration in a LDC & a MDC & effects on the rural land uses	Description, explanation & discussion
8	Locational advantages of manufacturing industries located at ports. Coastal pollution brought by these industries & possible measures	Explanation & suggestion
9	Christaller's theory : classification & spatial organization of urban centres. Spatial pattern of towns & cities & its affecting factors: local physical & economic conditions	Description, explanation & discussion
10	Generalized land-use patterns of a colonial-style port city The changing pattern in some colonial-style port cities.	Description, explanation, discussion & drawing diagram.
11	The effects of transport improvements on expansion of urban area & redistribution of commercial land uses. Importance of other socio-economic factors affecting urban growth & land-use zoning	Description, explanation & discussion