NSW Education Standards Authority

2021 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Geography
General • Reading time – 5 minutes
Instructions • Working time – 3 hours
• Write using black pen
• Calculators approved by NESA may be used
• A Stimulus Booklet is provided with this paper

Total marks: Section I – 20 marks (pages 2–7)

100 • Attempt Questions 1–20
• Allow about 35 minutes for this section

Section II – 40 marks (pages 9–20)

• Attempt Questions 21–25
• Allow about 1 hour and 10 minutes for this section

Section III – 40 marks (page 21)

• Attempt TWO questions from Questions 26–28
• Allow about 1 hour and 15 minutes for this section

2090
Section I

20 marks
Attempt Questions 1–20
Allow about 35 minutes for this section
Refer to the Stimulus Booklet

Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 1–20.

Refer to Source A on page 1 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Question 1.

1 What challenge of living in a mega city in the developing world does this photograph
best illustrate?

A. Housing
B. Employment
C. Traffic congestion
D. Water and power supplies

Refer to Source B on page 1 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Question 2.

2 What type of photograph is Source B?

A. Ground
B. Satellite
C. Oblique aerial
D. Vertical aerial

3 Which term is defined by ‘the ability to meet present needs without compromising future
needs’?

A. Continuity
B. Interdependence
C. Succession
D. Sustainability

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Refer to Source C on page 1 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Question 4.

4 Which region is expected to have the greatest number of new mega cities by 2030?

A. Africa
B. Europe
C. Asia-Pacific
D. The Middle East

Refer to Source D on page 1 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Question 5.

5 Which urban centre is expected to show the least relative change in population between
2009 and 2025?

A. Delhi
B. Tokyo
C. Mumbai
D. Mexico City

6 A simple Antarctic food chain is shown.

Blue whale

Krill

Phytoplankton

Which row of the table shows the likely results of the removal of large amounts of krill
from the Antarctic ecosystem?

Phytoplankton Blue whale

A. Decrease Decrease
B. Decrease Increase
C. Increase Decrease
D. Increase Increase

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7 The graph shows the allocated budget and actual spending of an economic enterprise.

Sales
60

Administration Marketing KEY

Allocated budget

0 Actual spending
in $ thousands

Information
Development
technology

Customer
support

Approximately how much did the economic enterprise allocate for spending on customer
support?

A. $20 000
B. $25 000
C. $35 000
D. $42 000

8 An environmental agency is researching the impact of agriculture on a creek. Water

quality is measured over a one week period at one end of the creek.

Which line of the table best describes the type of data obtained and the reliability of the
research?

Data Reliability
A. Primary Low
B. Primary High
C. Secondary Low
D. Secondary High

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Refer to Source E on page 2 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Questions 9–11.

9 What is the general aspect of the slope in AR 2659?

A. NE
B. SE
C. SW
D. NW

10 What is the approximate area of land parcel D 93870 centred on GR 257591?

A. 0.4 km2
B. 0.7 km2
C. 1.2 km2
D. 1.5 km2

11 What is the average gradient of the slope between the spot height in AR 2558 and the
spot height in AR 2659?

A. 1 : 0.022
B. 1 : 22
C. 1 : 45
D. 1 : 18 000

Refer to Source E on page 2 and Source F on page 3 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer
Question 12.

12 Which direction was the photographer facing when the photograph in Source F was
taken?

A. E
B. SE
C. SW
D. W

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Refer to Source E on page 2 and Source G on page 3 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer
Question 13.

13 What is the scale of Source G?

A. 1 : 1 300
B. 1 : 3 300
C. 1 : 67 000
D. 1 : 77 000

Refer to the following diagram to answer Questions 14–15.

30°S

10 Rainfall
08

10 10
100 04 04
8

Seaford 35°S

40°S
130°E 135°E 140°E
© Bureau of Meteorology

14 What was the cause of the rain south of Seaford?

A. Tropical cyclone
B. Orographic effect
C. High pressure ridge
D. Low pressure trough

15 What is the wind direction at Seaford?

A. ENE
B. ESE
C. WNW
D. WSW

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Refer to Source H on page 4 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Questions 16–17.

16 Which combination of geographical concepts is being demonstrated in Source H?

A. Ecosystems and biodiversity

B. Environments and infrastructure
C. Geographical issues and spatial exclusion
D. Ecological dimension and spatial dimension

17 Approximately how many pieces of small plastics per km2 were found at Location 7?

A. 1200
B. 1600
C. 2400
D. 2800

Refer to Source I on page 4 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer Questions 18–20.

18 The shortest distance along the coast from McMurdo station (US) to Casey station
(Australia) is approximately

A. 3000 km.
B. 5000 km.
C. 6000 km.
D. 7000 km.

19 What is the direction from Casey station (Australia) to Dumont d’Urville station (France)?

A. N
B. NE
C. E
D. SE

20 What is the approximate location of Vinson Massif?

A. 76°S, 86°W
B. 76°S, 97°W
C. 86°S, 86°W
D. 86°S, 97°W

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© 2021 NSW Education Standards Authority
 2021 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Centre Number

Geography
Student Number
Section II Answer Booklet

40 marks
Attempt Questions 21–25
Allow about 1 hour and 10 minutes for this section
Do NOT write in this area.

Instructions • Write your Centre Number and Student Number at the top of this
page.

• Use the Stimulus Booklet and your knowledge of geography to

answer Questions 21–25 in the spaces provided. These spaces
provide guidance for the expected length of response.

• Show all relevant working in questions involving calculations.

• Extra writing space is provided at the back of this booklet.

If you use this space, clearly indicate which question you are
answering.

Please turn over

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2091 15190
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Do NOT write in this area.

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 Question 21 (4 marks)

The diagram shows a cross-section of the Antarctic ice sheet.

4 B
KEY
Ice Land Ocean
3

A
2

1
Elevation (km)

–1

–2
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Distance (km)
Do NOT write in this area.

From the Exploration of Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments: Environmental and Scientific Stewardship
With kind permission of Dr. John Hobbie

(a) Calculate in kilometres the local relief on the ice sheet between point A and 2
point B.
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(b) Calculate the vertical exaggeration of the cross-section. 2

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Question 22 (12 marks)

Refer to Sources E, F and G on pages 2 and 3 of the Stimulus Booklet to answer

parts (a)–(d).

A housing development is proposed for the site indicated in Source F.

(a) Sources E and G are obtained using a Geographic Information System (GIS). 3

With reference to these sources, outline TWO benefits of using a GIS to study
the proposed housing development.

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(b) Justify TWO management strategies that could be used to minimise damage 3
from the housing development process in Seaford to the ecosystems in the
surrounding area.

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 Question 22 (continued)

(c) Describe how the completed housing development in Seaford may affect 3
economic enterprises in the surrounding area.

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(d) Describe how the completed housing development may affect Seaford area’s 3
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culture of place.

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Question 23 (8 marks)

(a) Describe TWO traditional management strategies that can be used to manage 3
ecosystems.

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(b) Explain how variations in climate lead to a diversity of ecosystems. Use 5
examples of ecosystems in your response.

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 Question 24 (8 marks)

(a) Outline the spatial distribution of world cities. 2

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(b) Compare the character of mega cities in the developing world with the character 6
of world cities.

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Question 25 (8 marks)

Answer part (a) with reference to an economic enterprise you have studied.

Economic enterprise: ...............................................................................................

(a) Explain how ONE locational factor affects ONE external linkage of this 3
economic enterprise.

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Question 25 continues on page 17

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 Question 25 (continued)

Answer part (b) with reference to an economic activity you have studied.

Economic activity: ...................................................................................................

(b) Explain how ecological factors influence the nature and spatial patterns of this 5
economic activity.

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End of Question 25

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Section II extra writing space
If you use this space, clearly indicate which question you are answering.

Do NOT write in this area.

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 Section II extra writing space
If you use this space, clearly indicate which question you are answering.
Do NOT write in this area.

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Office Use Only – Do NOT write anything, or make any marks below this line.
5461310291
Section II extra writing space
If you use this space, clearly indicate which question you are answering.

Do NOT write in this area.

– 20 – © 2021 NSW Education Standards Authority

Office Use Only – Do NOT write anything, or make any marks below this line.
9410310299
 2021 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Geography

Section III

40 marks
Attempt TWO questions from Questions 26–28
Allow about 1 hour and 15 minutes for this section

Answer both questions in the Section III Writing Booklet. Extra writing booklets are available.

Your answers will be assessed on how well you:

● demonstrate geographical knowledge and understanding relevant to the question
● communicate ideas and information using geographical terms and concepts
appropriately
● refer to case studies, illustrative examples and the Stimulus Booklet where appropriate
● present a sustained, logical and cohesive response

Question 26 (20 marks)

Analyse both the positive and negative effects of human activities on ecosystems.

Question 27 (20 marks)

‘Suburbanisation and consolidation have the greatest influence on shaping the development of
large cities.’

Discuss this statement with reference to urban dynamics operating in ONE large city from the
developed world.

Question 28 (20 marks)

Evaluate the effects of global changes on ONE economic enterprise operating at a local scale.

End of paper

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© 2021 NSW Education Standards Authority
 NSW Education Standards Authority
2021 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Geography – Stimulus Booklet

Source A – A mega city in India Source B – Central Park, New York
[Link]/Getty Images
Credit: Fruitbat

Global Citizen Festival Central Park, New York

From NYonAir by Anthony Quintano

Source C – The world’s mega cities – existing and expected © The Visual Capitalists

Source D – Population of urban centres Courtesy of Population Education

2009 2025 (expected)

Delhi (India)

Tokyo (Japan)

Mumbai (India)

Mexico City (Mexico)

40 30 20 10 0 millions 0 10 20 30 40

2093 Page 1
Source E – Seaford area cadastral map extract

61

60

59

58

24 25 26 27

Legend N

D 34932 Legal land parcel

Spot height Contour 0 250 500

metres
© Department for Environment and Water, SA.
[Link]

Page 2
Source F – Seaford area © Renewal SA

Onkaparinga River Housing

Recreation Park Shopping centre development site Shopping centre

Train station Secondary college Primary school

Southport Beach

Source G – Seaford area land use layer over topographic map

Land uses

Commercial

Environmental constraint

Industrial

Miscellaneous

Recreation

Residential

Primary production /
mining

© Department for Environment and Water, 2015

Page 3
 Source H – Quantity of plastics found in Antarctic waters

–60 Legend
Small plastic pieces
Medium plastic pieces 8
–61
2
3500 per km
–62 1700 per km2
Latitude (°)

800 per km2 6

–63 7
4
2 5
–64
1 3
–65

–66
–66 –64 –62 –60 –58 –56
Longitude (°)

Lacerda, A.L.d.F., Rodrigues, L.d.S., van Sebille, E. et al.

Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. Sci Rep 9, 3977 (2019).
[Link]

Source I – Scientific research stations in Antarctica

Orcadas (Argentina) Sanae IV

(South Africa)
Neumayer (Germany) Novolazarevskaya (Russia)
Maitri Syowa (Japan)
(India)
Molodezhnaya (Russia)
Antarctic Peninsula
Esperanza Halley (UK)
(Argentina)
Mawson (Australia)
Belgrano II (Argentina)
Zhong Shan (China)
West Antarctic Progress (Russia) Davis (Australia)
Ice Sheet
East Antarctic
90°W Vinson Massif Ice Sheet 90°E
(4897 m) South Pole Mirny (Russia)
Vostok (Russia)

Concordia
Casey (Australia)
80°S (France and Italy)

Scott McMurdo (US)

(NZ)

Year-round research station 70°S Dumont d’Urville (France)

0 500 1000
kilometres

Azimuthal equal-area projection

Page 4 © 2021 NSW Education Standards Authority