Introduction to Geography

16 Grade 10 Geography questions on Introduction to Geography, with worked marking schemes. 16 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   6 marks

   Explain three ways in which the study of Geography is related to the study of Agriculture.

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any THREE well-explained points, 2 marks each (1 mark for the link, 1 mark for the explanation): - Climate: Geography studies rainfall and temperature patterns, which determine the crops that can be grown in an area, for example tea in the high rainfall highlands of Kericho and sorghum in the drier parts of Kitui. - Soils: Geography studies soil formation, types and fertility, and this knowledge guides farmers on suitable crops and on conservation measures such as terracing on steep slopes. - Relief and drainage: Geography examines slope and water supply, which influence whether land is used for irrigation, for example the flat, well-watered land of the Mwea irrigation scheme used for rice. - Location and markets: Geography studies distance, transport and settlement, which determine where perishable produce such as milk and vegetables can be sold profitably. - Population: Geography studies population distribution and density, which affect land sizes, labour supply and the intensity of farming. (3 x 2 = 6 marks)

2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Which one of the following pairs of topics would both be studied under Physical Geography?

   A. Rural-urban migration and the relief of the Aberdare Ranges

   B. The drainage of the Tana River and tea processing in Kericho

   C. Tea processing in Kericho and rural-urban migration

   D. The relief of the Aberdare Ranges and the drainage of the Tana River

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

3. Question 3

   6 marks

   Describe three ways in which knowledge of Geography can help a county in Kenya to manage the problem of soil erosion on its farmland.

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any THREE well-described points, 2 marks each (1 mark for the measure, 1 mark for how knowledge of Geography is applied): - Identifying vulnerable areas: knowledge of relief and slope enables the county to map the steep areas most at risk, so that conservation effort is directed where erosion is worst. - Advising on farming methods: understanding of rainfall intensity and soil type enables officers to recommend terracing, contour ploughing or grass strips suited to that locality. - Planning tree planting: knowledge of vegetation and climate enables the county to select tree species that survive in the area and to site them along riverbanks and steep slopes where they hold the soil. - Regulating land use: knowledge of settlement and population pressure enables the county to control cultivation of fragile areas such as riverbanks and hilltops. - Educating farmers: fieldwork and data collection skills enable officers to gather evidence of erosion and use it to sensitise farmers on its causes and control. (3 x 2 = 6 marks)

4. Question 4

   1 mark

   A county government wants to decide where to site a new market so that traders from several villages can reach it easily. Which skill gained from Geography is most directly useful in making this decision?

   A. Listing the dates when the villages were founded

   B. Naming the crops that grow in each village

   C. Interpreting the location and accessibility of places

   D. Reciting the names of all the counties in Kenya

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

5. Question 5

   4 marks

   Suggest four careers that a learner who studies Geography may pursue after Senior School.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   Which one of the following statements about the environment is correct?

   A. The environment consists only of non-living things such as air, water, soil and rocks

   B. The environment consists only of structures built by human beings, such as roads and towns

   C. The environment consists of both living and non-living surroundings that influence one another

   D. The environment consists only of living things such as plants and animals

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

7. Question 7

   1 mark

   Which one of the following best explains why Geography is described as a study of spatial relationships?

   A. It examines where features and activities are located and how they relate to one another

   B. It measures the mass and chemical composition of rocks found on the earth

   C. It records the dates on which physical events such as earthquakes occurred

   D. It preserves objects left behind by past communities for display in museums

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

8. Question 8

   1 mark

   Which one of the following best explains why Geography is closely related to Mathematics?

   A. It requires learners to calculate scale, distance, area and gradient

   B. It studies the shapes of buildings designed by engineers

   C. It requires learners to memorise the formulae used in algebra

   D. It describes the beliefs and customs of different communities

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

9. Question 9

   4 marks

   Explain why Geography is regarded as both a science subject and an arts subject.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Two marks for the science side and two for the arts side: Science side (2 marks, any two at 1 mark each): - It uses scientific methods such as observing, measuring, recording and testing, for example measuring rainfall with a rain gauge. - It studies natural processes such as weathering, earth movements and the water cycle, which are also studied in the natural sciences. - It involves calculations such as scale, area, gradient and statistics. Arts side (2 marks, any two at 1 mark each): - It studies human behaviour and activities such as migration, settlement, trade and culture, which belong to the humanities. - It requires description, interpretation and written explanation of places and human activities. - It draws on history, economics and sociology in explaining how societies use their environment. (4 marks)

10. Question 10

    1 mark

    Which one of the following statements best describes the way Geography treats the relationship between people and their environment?

    A. People change the environment, but the environment has no effect on how people live

    B. The environment influences human activities, and human activities in turn modify the environment

    C. People are studied separately from the environment because the two do not affect each other

    D. The environment determines everything that people do, and people cannot change it

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

11. Question 11

    2 marks

    Define the term Geography.

    (2 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

12. Question 12

    3 marks

    Outline three branches of Geography.

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

13. Question 13

    1 mark

    Which one of the following is NOT a reason for studying Geography in Senior School?

    A. It helps learners understand how people adapt to different environments

    B. It prepares learners for careers such as surveying, town planning and meteorology

    C. It develops skills of observing, recording and interpreting information about places

    D. It guarantees that learners will accurately predict future weather without using any instruments

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

14. Question 14

    2 marks

    State two sources of information that a geographer can use to find out about a place.

    (2 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

15. Question 15

    4 marks

    State four reasons why a Grade 10 learner in Kenya should study Geography.

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any FOUR of the following, 1 mark each: - It helps the learner understand the physical environment, such as relief, weather and soils, of their own locality. - It explains how people earn a living in different parts of Kenya, for example pastoralism in Kajiado and tea growing in Kericho. - It develops practical skills such as map reading, measuring distance and collecting data during fieldwork. - It creates awareness of environmental problems such as soil erosion, deforestation and flooding, and how to manage them. - It promotes appreciation of other people's cultures and ways of life, encouraging national unity and international understanding. - It helps learners understand how events in one place, such as drought, affect people in other places. (4 x 1 = 4 marks) Note: career preparation is examined separately in the careers question; do not credit it here.

16. Question 16

    1 mark

    A learner says, "Geography is the same as History because both talk about places and people." Which statement best corrects this learner?

    A. Geography uses maps while History does not use any records

    B. Geography is mainly concerned with where and why things are located, while History is mainly concerned with when and why events happened

    C. History deals with places while Geography deals only with people

    D. History is a science subject while Geography is an arts subject

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

17. 12 more marking schemes are on this page. A free account opens all of them, and lets you build your own paper on the topics you have actually taught, laid out in KNEC format with its full marking scheme.

    Create a free account

More Grade 10 Geography topics