Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0) · Spec 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4
Measuring development and global strategies
Read the notes, then try the questions. Each one is marked the moment you press Check, and shows the right answer and why.
Key ideas
- The Human Development Index (HDI) has three parts: life expectancy at birth, years of schooling and income per person.
- Other measures include the Corruption Perceptions Index. A map such as a choropleth map has a weakness: countries in one band can have quite different values.
- Factors behind uneven development are physical (such as flat fertile land and a coastline), historical (such as colonial rule) and economic (such as reliance on exporting oil).
- Strategies include aid, microfinance loans and debt relief. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
- Economic growth can raise incomes but may damage the environment through pollution and habitat loss.
Key terms
- HDI
- A measure of development that combines life expectancy, schooling and income.
- Corruption Perceptions Index
- A ranking based on surveys of how corrupt a country's public sector seems.
- Microfinance
- Small loans that help people start small businesses.
- Debt relief
- Cancelling money that a country owes.
- Choropleth map
- A map that shades areas by bands of a value.
Common mistakes
- Saying the HDI uses literacy rate, infant mortality or GDP per capita. It combines life expectancy, years of schooling and income per person.
- Calling healthcare or trade a physical factor. Physical factors are about the natural environment.
- Saying a choropleth map is 'out of date' or 'not accurate'. The weakness is that bands hide differences within each band.
Exam tip
Check the direction of a question: physical factors that lead to a high level of development are favourable, such as flat land and ports. Assess means weigh the factors against each other.
Free practice questions
6 questions, 8 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.
- Question 1 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which of these is one of the three components of the Human Development Index (HDI)?
- Question 2 · Sort into groups[2 marks]
Sort each factor behind uneven development into the correct group.
Reliance on exporting oil
Colonial rule that took away resources
- Question 3 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
A choropleth map shades each country by its HDI band, for example 0.55 to 0.70. Which is a weakness of this type of map?
- Question 4 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which of these is an index of political corruption?
- Question 5 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which physical factor helps a country reach a HIGH level of development?
- Question 6 · Fill the gaps[2 marks]
___ loans help people start small businesses, while debt ___ cancels money a country already owes.
Word bank: relief · Tourism · Microfinance