River Enquiry Skills (Edexcel IGCSE Geography): Exam Questions

Study Figure 4a . It shows some sample data from one site on a river. A cork float was used to measure the time taken to travel between two points.

Figure 4a

River data collected by a group of students

(i)

Calculate the mean time taken for the cork float to travel from site A to site B

Give your answer to one decimal place.

(ii)

Complete Figure 4b below for samples 1 and 4 using data in Figure 4a.

(iii)

Sample 5 shows an anomalous result.

Suggest one possible explanation for this

(i)

Study Figure 4a. It shows sample data on velocity from one site on a river. A cork float was used to measure the time taken to travel between two points, A and B.

Calculate the meantime taken for the cork float to travel between points A and B.

Give your answer to one decimal place.

You must show all your workings in the space below.

Figure 4a

River data collected by a group of students

(ii)

Using the data in Figure 4a (in the Resource Booklet), complete Figure 4b below for measurements 1 and 4.

(iii)

Mark an x in the box on Figure 4b which represents the float with the anomalous result.

(iv)

Suggest one explanation for this anomaly.

Study Figure 4a below

Identify one type of primary data used by the students

Study Figure 4b which shows some data about river velocity at four sites

Calculate the mean river velocity at Site 2

Give your answer to one decimal place

You must show all your workings

Suggest one reason why the data for Site 1 may not be reliable

Complete Figure 4d below using the data highlighted in Figure 4c

Study Figure 4b which shows some data collected about river velocity

Calculate the mean velocity

Give your answer to one decimal place

You must show all your workings

Complete Figure 4d, using the data highlighted in figure 4c

Identify two ways the students could have improved the reliability of the data collected

Study Figure 4b, which shows some data about river velocity at four sites.

Calculate the mean river velocity at Site 2.

Give your answer to one decimal place. You must show all your workings in the space below.

State one type of sampling students could have used to choose their data collection sites.

Suggest one reason why the data for Site 1 may not be reliable.

A student investigated how pebble roundness changes along a river. They measured the roundness of ten pebbles at each site using the Power's Scale, where 1 = very angular and 6 = well rounded. The results are shown in the table below.

Calculate the median pebble roundness score for Site 3.

Show your working.

State one method that the students could use to present pebble roundness data from their enquiry.

Describe two sources of secondary information that might be useful in planning a river channel investigation.

Suggest why one of the sampling methods named in (b)(i) would be appropriate to use in a river channel investigation. Sampling method

To extend the river study, students were asked to use one additional quantitative and one qualitative technique. Describe two additional fieldwork techniques the students may have selected.

Quantitative

Qualitative

(i)

Suggest one possible aim of a river channel investigation

(ii)

Identify three reasons why a river channel investigation might not achieve the aim given in (c)(i).

Explain one advantage of using a line graph to present results

Explain one advantage of using a line graph to present results.

Study the table below.

Identify the anomalous result in the data for Site 6.

Suggest one reason why the anomalous result at Site 6 may have occurred.

You have studied river environments for your geographical enquiry.

Evaluate how successful your chosen data analysis methods were in answering your geographical enquiry question.

Enquiry question.

You have studied river processes as part of your own geographical enquiry.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the data collection methods in relation to the purpose of the study.

Enquiry question .

Study Figure 4 below. It shows some information about methods used, data collected and a conclusion.

The aim of the student’s enquiry was to examine change in river channel shape along the course of a river.

Evaluate how far the student’s data presentation methods and analysis helped the student to make their conclusions.

You have studied river environments as part of your own geographical enquiry.

Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the conclusion you drew from your enquiry.

State the title of your geographical enquiry.