GEOGRAPHY 2011 Theory Past Questions

Hint

1. (a) Examine FIVE negative consequences of population migration on the migrant destination.

1. Leads to congestion
2. Reduces farm land
3. Increase in labour force
4. Increase in population
5. Increase in pressure over existing resources
6. Traffic congestion
7. Housing problems
8. Increase in crime rate
9. High cost of living
10. Environmental pollution
11. Increase in employment.

(b) Suggest FIVE measures that can be adopted to discourage rural urban migration.

1. Creation of employment opportunities
2. Provision of infrastructural facilities
3. Provision of social amenities
4. Industrialization
5. Some government establishment should be sited in rural areas
6. Encouragement of commercial activities
7. Encourage rural farmers with credit facilities and provision of fertilizers

Hint

(a) In what FIVE ways can physical factors hinder the development of railway transportation?

1. Relief-rugged terrain
2. Swamps and marshy area as well as flood
3. Climate
4. Rivers
5. Mismanagement

(b) Discuss the role of transportation in the economic development of any country.

1. Facilitates the movement of goods and services
2. Encourages people to move from one place to another
3. Generates employment
4. Generates revenue to government
5. Generates income to transporters
6. Helps in the development and growth of settlement
7. Serves as links to places
8. Facilitates the movement of agricultural produce from the farms to either homes or to the markets
9. Reduces the stress of movement

Hint

(a) Highlight FIVE basic features of manufacturing industries in Tropical African countries.

1. the manufacturing industries are of two types;
2. cottage craft industry
3. factory industries
4. the industries are indeed affected by proximity to raw materials, availability of power and proximity to market
5. the industries are energy powered
6. they require both skilled and unskilled labour
7. they are affected by inadequate capital
8. they require a large space
9. the industries are involved turning organic and inorganic raw or refined materials into new products by mechanical or chemical means
10. some of the industries are processing industries
11. some are of fabricating industries
12. some of the industries are light and others are heavy industries

(b) Account for the predominance of light industries in developing countries.

1. The production techniques are quite simple
2. Capital investment is quite small when compared with heavy industries
3. They are involved in consumer goods
4. Developing countries have capital constraints
5. Level of technology is low
6. Low purchasing power of the people
7. Poor infrastructural facilities
8. Inadequate supply of power
9. Shortage of entrepreneurs
10. Administrative and political problems

Hint

4 (a) On a sketch map of Nigeria, show and name:

(i)            Latitudes 4°N and 14°N;

(ii)           Longitudes 3°E and 15°E

(iii)          Rivers Niger and Benue;

(iv)         A confluence town;

(v)          One artificial lake; and

(vi)         Udi hill.

(b)          Explain the problems that may hinder the utilization of Nigerian rivers.

1. Lack of capital
2. River fluctuation during wet and dry season
3. The silting up of river mouths
4. Presence of falls and rapids
5. Presence of water weeds e.g. water hyacinth
6. Many swift flowing and short distance coverage
7. Shallow depth

Hint

5 (a)          On a sketch map of Nigeria, locate and name:

(i)            two thermal plants;

(ii)           two Hydro Electric Power Stations (HEP);

(iii)          one important town in (i) and (ii) identified above; and

(iv)         Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

(b)          Discuss THREE contributions of HEP generation to the economic development of Nigeria.

1. Generates employment for citizens
2. Facilitates infrastructure development
3. Generates income to the government
4. Forced point for tourism and recreation
5. It provides energy for industrial use
6. It has helped in the development of settlements
7. It provides energy for domestic use
8. It propels upward growth of gross domestic product of the country.

(c)           Highlight TWO problems associated with HEP generation in Nigeria.

1. Inadequate capital
2. Seasonal fluctuation in volume of water of the river
3. Inadequate skilled labour
4. Mismanagement
5. Maintenance of dams is very expensive
6. Absence of required topography settings for construction of dams

Hint

(a)          On a sketch map of Nigeria, locate and name:

(i)            sub equatorial climate;

(ii)           tropical continental climate; and

(iii)          one major town each in (i) and (ii) above

(b) In what THREE ways each has climate influenced the agricultural practices in:

(i)            sub equatorial climate belt

1. The area is of heavy rainfall which supports tree growth hence lumbering is practiced
2. For the fact that the rainfall amount supports the growth of trees research into forestry is made possible
3. The climate supports the cultivation of tuberous crops like yam, cassava
4. The climate supports the formation of soil rich in organic matter hence high crop yield.
5. Other food crops that are produced in the climate belt are pineapple, plantain, cocoyam, rice, maize and citrus plants (fruits) like orange, grape, tangerine e.t.c.
6. Plantain farming is practiced in the southern and eastern parts of Nigeria
7. Crops planted on plantation include cocoa, rubber, palm oil and sugar cane.

(ii)           tropical continental climate belt.

1. The amount of rainfall received in the tropical continental climate belt is less compared with the sub equatorial climate belt as such does not support the growth of trees and tuberous plants.
2. The climate supports the growth of grasses hence cereal crop production is common
3. Crops like millet, guinea corn, rice, maize are produced
4. The presence of grasses makes rearing of animals possible.
5. Pastoral farming is practiced
6. Transhumance is practiced by the nomads
7. Leguminous crops like beans, soya beans, groundnut are produced
8. Irrigation farming is practiced

(c) Identify any THREE crops produced in b(ii) above

millet, groundnut, cotton, rice

Hint

(a)          On an outline map of West Africa, locate and name:

(i)            Ria coastline;

(ii)           Lagoon coastline;

(iii)          River volta and Senegal; and

(iv)         Futa Djalon Plateau.

(b)          Highlight FOUR ways in which rivers have contributed to the economic development of West Africa.

1. The rivers provide water for domestic purposes like washing, cooking, and drinking.
2. The provide water for industrial purpose. For instance bottling companies depend on water because it forms their basic major raw material. Water is also used for cooling engines in factories.
3. The presence of rivers make the generation of hydro-electric power possible
4. They provide water for irrigation particularly in arid or dry environment for example river Niger is prominent in this.
5. They provide aquatic food like fish that is source of protein for the people.
6. Provides employment opportunities for people in the riverine area in west Africa
7. Some dammed rivers are tourist centers e.g. river niger is dammed at kianji and serves as a tourist center.
8. Rivers facilitate movement of people, goods, and services from one geographical region to another.

(c)           Outline FIVE characteristics of West African Rivers.

1. Some of the rivers are of rapids and falls e.g. river Niger
2. The rivers experience seasonal fluctuation in volume. The rivers which originate from equatorial areas have large volume of water during the raining seasonal volume of water decreases during the dry season.
3. Some of the rivers have deltaic mouth e.g. river Niger, and are associated with mangrove swamps which hinder free movement on the river.
4. The rivers have erosive force and transportation force on the materials along the upper and middle courses. Therefore deposit silt materials at the lower course of the rivers. This hinders navigation of the rivers.
5. Some of the rivers are covered with water weeds like water hyacinth which reduces the use of rivers
6. Some of the rivers are short and swift flowing hence are not navigable.

Hint

(a)          What is irrigation agriculture?

Irrigation agriculture is the system of farming in which water is distributed to farmlands in other to facilitate the cultivation of crops in an area which surfers from inadequate rainfall by irrigation, soil moisture is improved and farming can go on throughout the year even with little or no rainfall.

(b)          Highlight FIVE contributions of irrigation scheme in the Nile Basin.

1. The production of food and cash crops for the people of Egypt and Sudan is facilitated by irrigation farming
2. Generates revenue for the government e.g. exportation of cotton generates a lot of revenue for the government
3. Farmers in the area derive income from irrigation practice
4. It serves as tourist center
5. Provides raw materials for industries since most of the crops produced serves as raw materials for some industries.
6. Provision of employment
7. Facilitates the growth of settlements

(c)           Explain any FOUR problems associated with irrigation agriculture.

1. Displacement of people whenever dams are to be constructed
2. Problem of seasonality of water in the river.
3. Perennial irrigation allows concentration of sodium in the soil which is injurious to plants
4. Occasional flooding occurs
5. Free movement of the river is disturbed by the construction of many dams
6. Construction of dams requires huge amount of money
7. Perennial irrigation encourages silting up of dams which tends to reduce the depth of the reservoir
8. Seasonal flooding can cause dam collapse
9. Damming rivers can cause outbreak of water borne diseases due to stagnant water. For example bilharzia and river blindness
10. Problem of water weed is usually experienced

Hint

Write a geographical account of lumbering in Zaire under the following headings:

(i)            favourable factors;

1. The area is forested zone with species of valuable trees that can be sawn into planks
2. The climate and soil favours the growth of the vegetation
3. River Zaire has many tributaries which facilitates the easy transportation of wood to the saw mill or for export to other countries
4. There is ready market for the hard wood in industrial countries outside Africa which makes the demand for wood to be on the increase.

(ii)           contributions to economic development

1. Serves as foreign exchange
2. Provision of soft wood for making plywood, plants like mahogany for furniture making.
3. Provides employment for people who work as forest guards and lumber men
4. Provides hard wood for boat building
5. Provides materials for paper products
6. Bridges across rivers, construction companies, residential and industrial areas make use of wood
7. Electric and telephone poles are derived from lumbering

(iii)          problems

1. Indiscriminate felling of trees as a result of demand for wood.
2. Deforestation is massive
3. Deforestation in the area leads to rapid soil erosion
4. Due to deforestation, vegetation cover lacks and exposes the soil to agents of denudation which causes land slide and flooding
5. The felling of trees adversely affects climate and eventually leads to desertification
6. Quality of game reserve is reduced.

(iv)         solutions

1. More forest reserves must be established
2. More roads should be constructed for easier transportation of logs
3. Afforestation should be encouraged so that as trees are fell more are planted
4. Loans and credit facilities should be provided for lumbering to the people
5. Practices of wood recycling should be encouraged so as to reduce undue pressure on existing forest.
6. Strict laws should be enacted on the felling of trees