2013 Geography WAEC Past Questions CBT

Hint

(a) Outline four functions of an urban centre

1. provision of high order services
2. provision of social amenities
3. diffusion of ideas and innovations
4. information dissemination
5. for recreation and tourism
6. Administrative and political functions
7. Educational functions
8. Industrial functions
9. Provide employment
10. Commercial function

(b) Highlight four problems of urbanization.

1. environmental pollution
2. high cost of living
3. overcrowding
4. traffic congestion
5. housing problem
6. high crime rate
7. increase in social vices
8. underemployment and unemployment
9. growth of slums and ghettos
10. poor sanitation
11. rapid spread of diseases
12. government expenditure increases

(c) Suggest possible solutions to any two of the problems identified in (b) above.

1. introduction of modern agricultural techniques
2. enlightenment on pollution
3. urban renewal
4. development of new towns
5. poverty alleviation and job creation
6. rapid industrialization
7. sanitation laws should be enacted and enforced
8. budgetary provisions should be increased by government
9. price control measures should be put in place
10. waste management system should be properly put in place
11. security should be improved
12. housing estates should be constructed

Hint

(a) Highlight any three advantages of each of the following modes of transport:

(i) Rail

1. bulky goods are easily transported
2. cheap mode of transport
3. helps to open new areas
4. favours both long and medium distance haulage
5. many passengers are easily transported
6. not prone to traffic congestion
7. relatively safe for passenger traffic
8. Maintenance cost is low.

(ii) Water

1. It is the cheapest means of transportation
2. It allows free passage for all nations
3. Good for passenger traffic
4. It can carry heavy goods
5. It is used for large freight
6. It facilitates international trade.

(b) Give any four reasons why some countries in Africa have not been able to sustain their rail transport.

1. Inadequate spare parts
2. High cost of fueling
3. Low patronage
4. Dwindling mineral reserves
5. Competition with other modes of transport
6. Poor management
7. Low level of technology
8. Maintenance culture is poor
9. Government policies not stable
10. Non flexibility
11. Infrastructural development is high

Hint

(a) Define international trade

International trade is the exchange of goods and services among nations. A country can trade with another country or more depending on certain prevailing factors or circumstances of which the degree of need is involved as well as the willingness to trade with each other.

(b) Describe any five benefits of international trade.

1. Healthy competition is encouraged
2. It encourages specialization
3. Exchange of skills expertise
4. Ports development is encouraged
5. Market horizon widens
6. Generate revenue to government
7. Encourages industrial growth
8. Facilitates development
9. Domestic production is stimulated
10. Encourages the growth of ancillary services e.g. banking and insurance
11. Access to variety of products
12. Provides income to traders
13. Living standards are improved
14. Enhances international cooperation
15. Facilitates acquisition of marketing skills
16. Foreign exchange earnings

(c) What four factors limit trade between African countries and the United States of America (USA)?

1. Competition among other regions
2. Strained relationship between countries
3. Language barrier
4. Inability to produce enough goods
5. Cultural taboos/discrimination
6. Low purchasing power
7. Low demand
8. Poor quality of products
9. Political will and instability
10. High tariffs
11. Unfavourable balance of trade
12. Crude oil production techniques

Hint

(a) Draw a sketch map of Nigeria. On the map, show and name:

(i) Any two industrial zones;

(ii) One town in each zone;

(iii) One manufacturing industry in one of the zones

(b) Explain any two factors that favour the location of the industry named in 4(a)(iii) above

• Nearness to raw materials
• Government policies
• Availability of market
• Availability of labour
• Political stability
• Availability of capital
• Availability of infrastructural facilities
• Presence of power supply
• Presence of water
• Presence of social amenities

(c) Highlight any four problems facing manufacturing industries in Nigeria.

1. Insufficient raw materials
2. Poor transportation facilities
3. Less skilled labour
4. Poor management
5. Difficulty in accessing loans from banks as well as high interest rate
6. High taxation
7. Limited market due to low purchasing power
8. Limited technology
9. Too much interest in foreign goods by the people
10. Competition from foreign goods
11. High cost of spare parts
12. Production of inferior goods

Hint

(a) Draw an outline map of Nigeria. On it, locate and name:

(i) The Chad Basin;

(ii) The Western Highlands;

(iii) One important town in 5(a)(i) or (ii) above

An outline map of Nigeria

(b) Describe the geography of the Western Highlands under the following headings:

(i) Relief

1. Western highlands are of basement complex rock
2. The highest ranges from 300-600m above sea level.
3. It is of group of hills like Apata, Idanre, Epinmi hills
4. However some of the peaks are over 1000m e.g. Ilesha hills and Idanre hills
5. The area is associated with ferruginous soil type
6. Some of the hills are of steep slopes

(ii) Economic activities

1. The farmers engage in the production of cash crops like kolanut, cocoa, oil palm
2. Mining activities takes place e.g. gold at Ilesha, marble at igbeti e.t.c
3. Food crops are also grown e.g cassava, yam, and cocoyam e.t.c.
4. Due to the presence of grass land, livestock rearing takes place in the northern part.
5. Commercial activities are carried out
6. Lumbering
7. Tourism
8. Industrial activities like tobacco, textile, rubber processing
9. Quarrying

(iii) Problems of development.

1. The problem of lateritic soil which is highly leached and infertile
2. Poor physical planning with high population
3. Soil erosion
4. Land tenure system
5. Flooding in urban areas along river valleys
6. Low labour force due to high rural-urban migration.

Hint

(a) Explain any five physical factors that hinder the development of railway transportation in Nigeria.

1. Rugged terrain
2. Flooding
3. The presence of many rivers
4. Soil erosion and mass movement
5. Presence of water logged areas and swamps

(b) Highlight any five ways transportation contributes to the economic development of Nigeria

1. Facilitates the movement of people from place to place
2. Helps in the opening up of new lands
3. It helps to link areas of production and areas of consumption
4. Facilitates access to natural resources
5. Enhances national development
6. Facilitates tourism development
7. Ideas and technology diffusion is enhanced
8. Movement of goods and services
9. Promotes international trade
10. Helps to increase gross domestic product (GDP)
11. Helps to improve standard of living
12. Generates revenue for government
13. Promotes dissemination of information
14. Facilitates the development of towns
15. Provides employment

Hint

(a) Explain any five factors that are responsible for the population distribution in West Africa.

1. Historical factors
2. Soil fertility
3. Political reasons
4. Availability of higher education institution
5. Climate factors
6. Mining activities
7. Relief (topography)
8. Presence of water
9. Administration
10. Pest and diseases infestation
11. Security reasons
12. Drainage
13. Commerce
14. Cultural factors
15. How accessible the place is
16. Availability of social amenities

(b) Outline any five advantages of low population density in some parts of West Africa.

1. Enhanced standard of living
2. Decrease in crime rate as well as ease in detection of crime
3. Enhanced per capital income
4. No traffic congestion
5. Reduced/low cost of living because the price of agricultural products are low
6. Social cohesion
7. Enough resources to take care of existing population

Hint

a) Draw an outline map of Africa. On the map, show and name:

(i) Any three rivers important for generating electricity;

(ii) Any two dams on two of the rivers.

An outline map of Africa showing rivers and dams

(b) Outline any five benefits of hydroelectric power to the people of Africa.

1. Generates employment

2. Provides foreign exchange to government

3.Provides energy for domestic use

4. Improves the standard of living

5. Source of revenue to government

6. Facilitates the growth of settlements

7. Provides energy for offices, ICT (information and communication technology)

8. It provides energy for industrial use

Hint

(a) Draw a sketch map of Africa. On the map, locate and name any two areas of gold mining in South Africa.

Outline map of Africa showing the gold mining areas in South Africa

(b) Describe one method of mining gold in South Africa

Open cast method:

1. This method is applied to where the seam is close to the earth surface
2. The overburden is scrapped off
3. The gold bearing rock is broken with the use of explosives
4. Mechanical shovel is used to load the broken rocks
5. The broken rocks are transported to the crushing mill where extraction of the gold is done.

Hint

Study the map extract on a scale of 1:50,000 and answer the following questions:

(a) Draw an annotated cross profile along line X-Y.

(b)  Describe the settlement pattern on the mapped area.

1. At the eastern part of the map, there are no settlements because of the high lands
2. Most settlement are of isolated buildings and compounds
3. Jalingo is built-up area and is the largest of all the settlements
4. Jalingo is the only built-up area on the map
5. The settlement are found along the main path and are generally dispersed
6. Areas liable to flooding are avoided by the settlements.

(c) Calculate the full length of River Jamtari.

From measurement, the length of Jamtari =28cm

Scale of the map is 1cm on the map represents 50,000cm on the ground

• 1cm represents 0.5km

:. 28cm converted to kilometer value using scale of map is (0.5 × 28) km= 14km

Therefore the length of River Jamtari is 14km

(d) List three man-made features and three physical features in the area marked by rectangle ABCD.

(1) The man made features in the area marked ABCD are

1. Scattered cultivation
2. Settlements
3. Main paths
4. Foot paths

(2) Physical features in the area marked ABCD

1. Valleys
2. Spurs
3. Ridges
4. Main river and tributaries
5. Plateau
6. Hills
7. Forest
8. Scrub
9. Knoll
10. Saddle
11. Meander

Hint

Four Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries contributed to a capital project in the sub-region in 2007 as shown below:

(a) illustrate the information above in a pie chart

Step 1; sum up the contributions of the countries

• 50,000+150,000+110,000+90,000 = $ 400,000

Step 2; calculate for the angles, noting that the sum of the angles in the circle is 360⁰. Convert each contribution to degrees and use the value to construct a pie chart

• Country A = 50,000/400,000×360/1= 45⁰
• Country B = 150,000/400,000×360/1 = 135⁰
• Country C= 110,000/400,000 ×360/1 = 99⁰
• Country D =90,000/400,000 × 360/1 =81⁰

A pie chart showing the four(4) ECOWAS countries (A, B, C, D) contribution towards a project in 2007.

(b) State two advantages of using pie chart.

1. It is easy to construct
2. It aids in making comparison
3. It is easy and simple to interpret
4. It can be used to show many items

Hint

(a) With the aid of diagrams, explain the following terms in relation to the shape of the earth.

(i) Sunrise and sunset

The rotation of the earth causes sunshine and sunset. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At different places on the earth, the sun rises and set at different times. People living in the east see the rising sun first before those living in the west. Had been that the earth were flat all the places, east and west, of the earth will see the rising sun and the sunset all at the same time.

(ii) Circumnavigation

Earlier times witness the belief by the ancient people that the world was flat and it had edges. This means those who wise to travel were afraid of not falling off the edge. This belief was proved wrong in the early 16th century when some European sailors, first sir Ferdinand Magellan and his crew, sailed round the world and arrived at the same point they started from or place where they took off; other people like Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake did the same.

(b) Calculate the distance between town A (latitude 5°A0 and town B (latitude 10°N) if they are both situated on the same meridian

Difference In latitude between town A and town B => 10⁰N – 5⁰N =5⁰N

1⁰ of latitude =111km

:. 5⁰ of latitude = (5×111) km = 555km

Hint

(a) With the aid of diagrams, describe one mode of formation of a block mountain.

Block mountain formation can be achieved through the forces of tension and compression which results from earth’s movement

1. Tensional forces

As the earth moves, tensional forces are generated. The tensional forces facilitate the creation of lines of weakness known as faults on the rocks. On either side of the faults, the tensional forces act. In between two faults is a central block which could subside creating depression called rift valley or graben. The uplifted block on both sides of the graben is called Block Mountain or the horst. The rift valley of east Africa as well as the central valley of Scotland is good examples of tensional forces formed features.

2. Compressional forces

Compressional forces are generated by earth’s movement. As the compressional forces continue to act on the earth’s crust, fault lines are developed. With time, the central block is uplifted as Block Mountain or horst. Good examples of Block Mountains formed due to compressional forces are Forest Mountain of Europe, hunstucks mountain of Germany and vorges in France

(b) In what four ways are mountains of economic importance?

1. They provide site for communication mast
2. Provide raw material for construction
3. Most mountains are water shed
4. Tourist centers
5. Source of minerals
6. Hydro-electric power generation (HEP)
7. Provide site for military training.

Hint

(a) Define the term weathering

Weathering is a process whereby rocks are gradually weakened, broken up into smaller fragments either by chemical, physical or biological means in situ.

(b) Describe four processes of chemical weathering.

1. Solution
2. Oxidation
3. Carbonation
4. Hydrolysis
5. Hydration
6. Chelation

1. Carbonation

When rain falls, it mixes with the carbon dioxide in the air to form a mild acid know as carbonic acid. The weak acid reacts with rocks rich in carbonate. This reaction weakens the rocks e.g. limestone which is rich in calcium carbonate on reacting with the weak acid, calcium bicarbonate is form and its disintegration is quite easy.

2. Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis involves hydrogen in the water combining with certain metal ions in a mineral to form different chemical compounds i.e. the water and the mineral react chemically which gives rise to formation of different chemical compounds. Hydrolysis of feldspar gives clay and olivine rock changes to serpentine

3. Hydration

New compounds are formed when some minerals absorb water.  For instance hematite which is an iron oxide combines with water to produce limonite which is another iron compound, calcium sulphate absorbs water to give gypsum. Water dissolves some hydrated minerals. However, the minerals from which they are formed are not soluble.

4. Oxidation

Oxidation takes place when oxygen combines with a mineral. Rocks that contain iron combine with oxygen to form iron oxides. Hydrolysis often precedes, and accompanies oxidation. Other weather processes easily attack new minerals formed by oxidation. In the rocks with iron and silicate combination are completely broken down by oxidation of iron.

Hint

(a) List any two types of delta

1. Lacustrine
2. Estuarine
3. Arcuate delta
4. Marine
5. Birds foot.

(b) Explain four conditions favourable for the formation of delta.

1. If the upper course of a river, active lateral and vertical erosion produce sediments
2. The features of the lower course of a river
3. Prevention of disappearance of sediments by shallow sea
4. Large load of sediments are to be carried by flowing river
5. A river depositional features
6. Tideless coast
7. No strong current at the river mouth to remove deposition.

(c) Describe three main characteristics of a delta.

1. Delta is a feature associated with lower course of a river
2. It is a depositional feature of a river
3. It could be of many distributaries
4. It has alluvial deposit at the mouth of the river.
5. There is presence of shallow water at the delta mouth
6. Braiding of rivers into distributaries
7. Differ In shape, growth, size and importance
8. Estuarine delta is associated with U-shaped channel

1. Delta extends seaweeds
2. Arcuate delta is associated with fan-shape.

Hint

Write explanatory notes on flooding under the following:

(a) Areas of occurrence

1. Poorly drained area
2. The flood plains of big rivers like river Niger (Nigeria) and Nile (Egypt)
3. Regions of delta
4. Area that witnesses heavy rainfall
5. Coastal area of Nigeria e.g. that is around the southern part, Rivers State
6. Where water table is close to the surface.

(b) Causes

1. Rise in sea level
2. Release of excess water from dams or reservoirs
3. Collapse of dams
4. Heavy rainfall
5. Blockage of drainage and water ways
6. Settlement encroachment on water courses
7. Ground water coming out from over saturated aquifer
8. Rivers over flooring their banks
9. Poor drainage system
10. Poor urban planning
11. Dumping of refuse along water channels
12. Melting of ice or snow
13. Establishment of settlement on areas liable to flooding
14. Poor infiltration

(c) Negative effects

1. Destruction of farmlands, houses and properties
2. Contamination of domestic sources of water
3. Outbreak of diseases
4. Loss of lives
5. Interruption of economic activities
6. Schooling and marketing stoppage
7. Shortage of food
8. The cost of food is high
9. Mud flow and land slide
10. People displacement
11. Submergence of buildings
12. Collapse of building
13. Destruction of bridges, roads and railway lines
14. Traffic congestion at point of flooding.
15. Disruption of ecosystem balance

(d) Control

1. Regular clearing of drainage channels
2. River course must be dredged to allow free flow of water
3. Existing dams should be well maintained
4. Rivers should be properly channelized
5. Environmental laws should be enforced strictly
6. Environment education should seriously be embarked upon
7. Proper urban planning
8. Enough drainage channels like gutters and culverts should be constructed.

Hint

(a) Define ecosystem

Ecosystem is defined as the interaction between living organisms i.e. flora (plants) and fauna(animals) and their physical environment. The physical environment involves the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and the lithosphere.

(b) Describe any four ways in which man has interfered with the ecosystem.

1. Urbanization
2. Hunting
3. Mining
4. Agricultural practices
5. Industrialization
6. Fishing
7. Cloud seeding
8. Pollution
9. Construction
10. Deforestation
11. Reclamation of land

(c) With specific examples, outline three effects of man’s interference with the ecosystem.

1. Loss of soil fertility
2. Pollution
3. Soil erosion
4. Human migration
5. Loss of animals
6. Loss of plants
7. Animal migration
8. Reduction in amount of rainfall
9. Loss of farmland
10. Destruction of soil structure
11. Pressure on available resources