question and answer

This Question and Answer examines an AQA AS question on the compulsory Rivers, Floods and Management topic from the May 2009 Unit 1 Physical and Human Geography paper. This particular question focuses on fluvial transport, erosion and rejuvenation. These are common topics for other boards, such as OCR, so this Question and Answer will be useful to many A-level students. The question is in bold type and the students’ answers are in italics. The examiner’s comments are the responsibility of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW and have neither been provided nor approved by the examination board. Cameron Dunn writes here in a personal capacity.

Figure A Sediment transport processes

The question considered here, like most AS questions, is divided into sub-parts, in this case parts (a)–(d). Parts (b) and (c) have a data-stimulus component. Candidates are asked to use information from Figures 1 and 2 as part of their answers. When answering (a) and (d) candidates are more ‘on their own’ as the question does not make reference to a diagram.

1 (a) Outline the ways in which a river transports its load. (4 marks)