Urbanisation
What is urbanisation?
Urbanisation is the increase in the percentage of people living in towns and cities.
Name two reasons why people move to cities.
People may move to cities for better job opportunities and access to education.
What is a biome?
A biome is a large geographical area with a particular climate, vegetation and types of animals.
What are two factors that influence biome distribution?
Temperature and rainfall influence where different biomes are found.
Why do tropical rainforests have such high biodiversity?
Tropical rainforests have warm temperatures and high rainfall throughout the year, creating ideal conditions for many different plants and animals to survive.
What is the difference between a rural area and an urban area?
A rural area is usually countryside with fewer people, while an urban area is a town or city with a larger population and more buildings.
What is population growth?
Population growth is the increase in the number of people living in a particular area over time.
Name the seven major biomes studied in class.
Tropical rainforest
Desert
Grassland
Temperate forest
Taiga
Tundra
Aquatic
What is the main characteristic of a desert biome?
Deserts receive very little rainfall and usually have dry conditions with limited vegetation.
How do plants survive in cold biomes such as the tundra?
Plants in the tundra are usually small and grow close to the ground to protect themselves from strong winds and freezing temperatures.
Explain two reasons why cities grow.
Cities grow because people move there for employment and education. Cities also grow naturally when more people are born than die.
Describe the difference between urbanisation and population growth.
Urbanisation is an increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas, while population growth is an increase in the total number of people.
Describe the climate and vegetation of a tropical rainforest.
Tropical rainforests are hot and wet throughout the year. They have dense vegetation, tall trees and high biodiversity.
Explain the difference between a desert and a grassland biome.
Deserts receive very little rainfall and have limited vegetation, while grasslands receive more rainfall and are mainly covered in grasses.
Identify two positive impacts of urbanisation.
Urbanisation can provide better access to healthcare and education, as well as more employment opportunities.
Explain how rapid urbanisation can affect the natural environment.
Rapid urbanisation can cause deforestation, habitat destruction and increased air and water pollution as more land is developed.
Analyse the challenges faced by a city experiencing rapid urbanisation.
A rapidly growing city may struggle to provide enough housing, transport, clean water, healthcare and schools. This can lead to overcrowding, unemployment and poor living conditions.
Describe the main characteristics of the tundra.
The tundra is extremely cold, has a short growing season and has limited vegetation, such as mosses, grasses and small shrubs.
Compare the climate, rainfall and vegetation of a desert and tropical rainforest.
Deserts are very dry and receive little rainfall, with sparse vegetation such as small shrubs and cacti. Tropical rainforests are hot and receive heavy rainfall, supporting thick forests and many plant species.
Explain how human activities can threaten major biomes.
Activities such as deforestation, farming, mining and pollution can destroy habitats, reduce biodiversity and damage natural ecosystems.
Evaluate whether urbanisation has more positive or negative impacts on society.
Urbanisation can have more positive impacts when it is properly planned because it creates jobs and improves access to services. However, without good planning, overcrowding, pollution and housing shortages can become serious problems.
Discuss how urbanisation can affect people's quality of life.
Urbanisation can improve quality of life through better healthcare, education and employment. However, overcrowding, pollution and expensive housing can make life more difficult.
Analyse how climate change could affect different biomes.
Climate change can increase temperatures and change rainfall patterns. This can cause habitats to change, force animals to move and threaten plant and animal species.
Explain why biodiversity differs between major biomes.
Biodiversity differs because each biome has different temperatures, rainfall and living conditions. Warm, wet environments such as tropical rainforests generally support more species than extremely cold or dry environments.
Explain two negative impacts of rapid urbanisation.
Rapid urbanisation can cause overcrowding and housing shortages. It can also increase traffic congestion and pollution.