Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0) · Spec 8.3 and 8.4
UK challenges: landscapes, flooding and climate change
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
- Name a specific approach to managing river flood risk, such as floodplain zoning. 'Flood defences' is too general.
- Climate change responses are mitigation (reducing the cause, such as replacing a coal power station with an offshore wind farm) or adaptation (coping with effects, such as raising a sea wall).
- The Climate Change Act 2008 set an 80% cut in emissions by 2050. In June 2019 the target was raised to 100%, known as net zero.
- The Thames Barrier has 10 gates across 520 m and protects London from surge tides.
- A Level 3 answer to a 12-mark Discuss weighs both sides using course knowledge and data from several figures, with a supported judgement.
Key terms
- Mitigation
- Reducing the causes of climate change.
- Adaptation
- Adjusting to cope with the effects of climate change.
- Floodplain zoning
- Controlling what is built on land that floods.
- Net zero
- Balancing emissions put into the air with those taken out.
Common mistakes
- Naming 'engineering' or 'flood defences' as an approach. Name the specific approach.
- Using only the figures on the 12-marker. Level 3 also needs course understanding.
- Mixing up mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation tackles the cause, adaptation copes with the effect.
Exam tip
On the 12-mark Discuss, plan both sides of the view, use data from several figures with your own knowledge, and finish with a supported judgement. The 4 SPaG marks go only to an answer that earns content marks.
Free practice questions
6 questions, 15 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.
- Question 1 · Fill the gaps[2 marks]
The Climate Change Act 2008 set a ___% cut in emissions by 2050. In June 2019 the target was raised to ___%, known as net zero.
Word bank: 100 · 80 · 78 · 68
- Question 2 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which one of these names a specific approach to managing river flood risk in the UK?
- Question 3 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which ONE is the best description of a Level 3 answer to a 12-mark Discuss question?
- Question 4 · True or false[3 marks]
Complete the task: decide whether each statement about the Thames Barrier is true or false.
1. It has 10 gates across 520 m of the river.
2. It protects London from surge tides coming up the estuary.
3. It was opened in 2004, after the Boscastle flood.
- Question 5 · Sort into groups[4 marks]
Complete the task: sort each response to climate change into mitigation or adaptation.
Replacing a coal power station with an offshore wind farm
Installing sustainable drainage in a new housing estate
Raising a sea wall to cope with sea level rise
Fitting insulation to council homes
- Question 6 · Matching[4 marks]
Complete the task: match each flood event or scheme to its key figure.