SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY

GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

Time: 2 hours Marks: 140

Question 1
1. Answer this question on a new sheet of paper.
1.1. Define the following terms/concepts:
1.1.1. Atmosphere
1.1.2. Volcanologist
1.1.3. Greenhouse effect
1.1.4. Epicentre
1.1.5. Albedo
1.1.6. Igneous rock
1.1.7. Latent heat
1.1.8. Bedding plane
1.1.9. Weather
1.1.10. Seismograph (10)
1.2. Atmosphere
1.2.1. Study the graph below, which shows the temperature changes in the
different layers of the atmosphere, and then answer the questions that follow.

US Standard Atmosphere - 1976

100 D

80
E
Altitude - km

60 C
F
40
B
20 G
A
0
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20

Temperture - ºC

1.2.1.1. Supply labels for the layers/boundaries marked A to G on the diagram. (7)
1.2.1.2. Explain the importance of layer A for the existence of life on Earth. (3)
1.2.1.3. Explain what is responsible for the increase in temperature in layers B and D.  (2)
1.2.1.4. Name the four main gases that make up the atmosphere. (4)
1.2.2. Refer to the figure below, showing the relation of pressure to altitude, and
answer the questions that follow.

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

Atmosphere Pressure Vs Altitude

1100

1000

900

800

700
mbar

600

500

400

300

200
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Meters
http://www.sensorsmag.com/files/sensor/nodes/2010/7896/Figure1.gif

1.2.2.1. What would the pressure reading be of Mount Everest (8 848 m)? (1)
1.2.2.2. Briefly explain what happens to air pressure as altitude increases. (2)
1.2.2.3. Discuss why a sports team from Durban would need to arrive in
Johannesburg a few days prior to playing their match. (2)
1.3. Latitude and aspect are two important factors that affect temperature. In South Africa, the
majority of the houses are built north-facing.
1.3.1. Using a diagram to aid you, explain why most houses in South Africa are
built north-facing. (4)
1.3.2. Tzaneen and Bloemfontein are both found inland. However, their
temperature ranges are vastly different. Explain, by referring to their
latitudinal positions, why their temperatures are so different. (4)
1.3.3. What name do we give to a city with a coastal climate? (1)

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

1.4. Match the letter on the figure below with the name of the volcanic intrusion it represents.
Write only the number and the matching letter, e.g. 1.3.1 B. (5)

1.4.1 Batholith
1.4.2 Laccolith
1.4.3 Sill
1.4.4 Dyke
1.4.5 Volcano
1.5. Refer to the source below and then answer the questions that follow.
Source 1: Syria’s geography

Syria is a nation in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey.
Its capital is Damascus. Its major environmental issues include deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion,
desertification, water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes and inadequate
potable water. Most people live in the Euphrates River Valley, along the coastal plain, and in a fertile
strip between the coastal mountains and the desert.
Volcanism: Syria’s two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the
Turkish border, have not erupted in centuries. Es Safa is a cinder cone located 95 km SE
of Damascus and is the northernmost volcano of the African Rift Valley. A lava lake was
reported at the volcano sometime between 1840 and 1860.
Earthquakes: Syria experiences mild earthquakes every year. Syria is located at the northern end of
the Great African Rift Valley. In 2004 a shallow 4-magnitude quake struck Yabrud at a
depth of 10 km in the Rif Daashq region.
Terrain: Primarily semi-arid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in the west.
The highest point is Mount Hermon (2 814 m) and the lowest point is an unnamed
location near Lake Tiberias (-200 m). Approximately 24.8% of land is arable.
Climate: Mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters
(December to February) along the coast. The most striking feature of the climate is
the contrast. Between the humid Mediterranean coast and the arid desert regions
lies a semi-arid zone extending across three-quarters of the country and bordered
on the west by mountains. Rainfall in the mountainous western region is abundant
with annual precipitation ranging between 750 mm and 1 000 mm. The Al Ghab
depression, located east of these mountains, is in a relatively arid zone with warm, dry
winds and scanty rainfall.
(Source: Collated from various internet sources)

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

1.5.1. Name the scale used to measure:

1.5.1.1. The magnitude of the earthquake. (1)
1.5.1.2. The intensity of the earthquake. (1)
1.5.2. Distinguish between magnitude and intensity when used in reference to an
earthquake.(2)
1.5.3. Describe where the focus of the 2004 earthquake was. (2)
1.5.4. State the name of the instrument used to record earthquakes. (1)
1.5.5. Es Safa volcano is classified as dormant. Account for this classification. (1)
1.5.6. The Es Safa volcano is found in the northern reaches of the African Rift Valley.
1.5.6.1. Draw an annotated diagram to explain how a rift valley forms.  (8)
1.5.6.2. Label Lake Tiberias on your diagram and provide annotations to explain
its altitude.  (2)
1.5.7. Select the correct word to complete the sentences below. Write only the question
number and the correct word.
1.5.7.1. A rift valley is caused by compressional/tensional forces. (1)
1.5.7.2. Tensional forces result in a reverse/normal fault. (1)
1.6. Draw and label a sketch of the internal layers of the Earth.  (4)
1.6.1. Name the two metals that make up the core. (1)
 Sub-total: 70

Question 2
2. Start this question on a new sheet of paper.
2.1. State whether the following statements are true or false. Where false, correct the
statement.(10)
2.1.1. The ozone layer is a protective layer of gases made up of two oxygen atoms.
2.1.2. Metamorphic rocks are easy to break.
2.1.3. Convectional rainfall is most common over the interior of South Africa.
2.1.4. Sandstone is a sedimentary rock.
2.1.5. Cape Town experiences frontal rainfall in the summer months.
2.1.6. The closer you are to the Equator, the warmer it is.
2.1.7. Durban has a maritime climate and Parys has a continental climate.

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

2.2. Match Column A with the correct description in Column B. Write only the question number
and correct letter on your answer sheet. (7)
Column A Column B
This energy is released during
condensation and used during
2.2.1 Terrestrial radiation A
evaporation. It is also known as
‘hidden heat’.
The layer of the atmosphere that
2.2.2 Latent heat B
lies furthest from the Earth
Temperature increases with
2.2.3 C Heat-holding gases
height
Water vapour, carbon dioxide The heat energy that Earth
2.2.4 D
and methane radiates
2.2.5 Thermosphere E Inversion
The amount of energy necessary
2.2.6 Troposphere F to raise the temperature of 1 g
of a substance by 1 °C
2.2.7 Specific heat capacity G The layer of the atmosphere
that contains oxygen and water
vapour
2.3. Study the diagram below and then answer the questions that follow.

2.3.1. Only 47% of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface. What happens to the
other 53%? State three ways in which this energy is lost. (3)
2.3.2. Using an annotated diagram, fully explain the greenhouse effect. (3)
2.3.3. Discuss the validity of the following statement. (3)
“Rapid economic growth has led to the greenhouse effect accelerating and has also
contributed to climate change.”

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

Extract: Global warming

Increasing global temperatures are causing a broad range of changes. Sea levels are rising due
to thermal expansion of the ocean, in addition to melting of land ice. Amounts and patterns of
precipitation are changing. The total annual power of hurricanes has already increased markedly
since 1975 because their average intensity and average duration have increased (in addition, there
has been a high correlation of hurricane power with tropical sea-surface temperature).
Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increase the frequency, duration and intensity
of other extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves and tornadoes. Other
effects of global warming include higher or lower agricultural yields, further glacial retreat,
reduced summer stream flows and species extinctions. As a further effect of global warming,
diseases such as malaria are returning into areas where they have been extinguished earlier.
Although global warming is affecting the number and magnitude of these events, it is difficult to
connect specific events to global warming. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100,
warming is expected to continue past then because carbon dioxide (chemical symbol CO2) has an
estimated atmospheric lifetime of 50 to 200 years.
Source: Adapted from http://timeforchange.org/cause-and-effect-for-global-warming

2.4 Read the case study about global warming and answer the questions that follow.
2.4.1. Explain the concept of global warming. (1)
2.4.2. List three greenhouse gases. (3)
2.4.3. Consequences of global warming include:
• Rising sea levels
• Rural–urban migration
• Desertification
Briefly outline how each of the consequences listed above could affect humanity. (6)
2.5. Taking into account what you have learnt, write a brief report for a tourist pamphlet about
South Africa’s weather and climate. (4)

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

2.6. Study the figures and fact files below before answering the following questions.

Puyehue-Cordón Caulle

Puyehue Volcano as seen from the south side of

Puyehue Lake
Elevation 2 236 m (Puyehue)
Location
Range Andes
Geology
Type Complex volcano
Last eruption 2011 (ongoing)
FIGURE 1: Fact file

FIGURE 2: Position of Puyehue-Cordón Caulle

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

FIGURE 3: Topography of the region

Text 1 Background
The 2011 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption is a volcanic eruption that began in the Puyehue-Cordón
Caulle volcanic complex in Chile on 4 June 2011. At least 3 500 people were evacuated from nearby
areas, while the ash cloud reached cities all around the Southern Hemisphere within days, including
Buenos Aires, Cape Town and Auckland, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of international and domestic
flights. Although the eruption is referred to as coming from Puyehue volcano, it actually came from a
vent in the adjacent Cordón Caulle volcano located some few kilometres northwest of the Puyehue
stratocone. Cordón Caulle is a volcanic fissure and has erupted many times in recorded history, most
recently in 1960, whereas Puyehue has remained dormant. Cordón Caulle’s last eruption occurred in 1960
following the Valdivia earthquake days earlier.
Text 2 Eruption
On 4 June 11:30 local time, a new round of eruption in the Puyehue volcano began. For a six-hour period
on 4 June, seismic activity increased to an average of 230 earthquakes per hour, at depths of 1 to 4 km.
About 12 events were magnitudes greater than 4 of Richter magnitude, and 50 events were magnitudes
greater than 3. The alert level was raised to 5, red.
Text 3 Evacuation
A ‘red alert’ was declared pre-emptively by the National Emergency Office (ONEMI) for regions near the
volcano: Puyehue, Río Bueno, Futrono and Lago Ranco; initially 600 persons were evacuated. The red
alert was later extended for a number of areas, increasing the number to at least 3 000 total evacuated
people. It was reported that, at first, large land and farm owners in Chilean rural areas near the volcano
did not allow workers to be evacuated. People also resisted evacuation mainly because they had to leave
their livestock behind.
Text 4 Ash cloud
The eruption was reported to have produced lightning and strong thunderstorms. On 5 June the ash rain
in Bariloche ceased. There were reports that the ash had caused power outages and prompted the local
airport to be closed. On 17 June 2011, OVDAS reported that the ash-and-gas plume reached 3 kilometres
above sea level.

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

FIGURE 4: Plate boundaries

2.6.1. Illustrate, with the help of a simple sketch, the type of plate boundary found near
Chile and explain how it is formed. (3)
2.6.2. Cordón Caulle Volcano is a volcanic fissure. What does this mean? (1)
2.6.3. Discuss why farmers cultivate crops on slopes of volcanoes. (2)
2.6.4. Explain what causes tectonic plates to move. (2)
2.6.5. With reference to Figure 4, describe the process at:
2.6.5.1. A destructive plate boundary (2)
2.6.5.2. A constructive plate boundary (2)
2.6.6. Text 2 refers to seismic activity and Richter magnitude. Provide definitions for
seismic activity and Richter magnitude. (4)
2.7. Explain the meaning of the following terms:
2.7.1. Stratified rock (1)
2.7.2. Porous rock (1)
2.7.3. Massive rock (1)
2.7.4. Igneous rock (1)

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES - GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
MID-YEAR MOCK EXAMINATION

2.8. Study the figure below and then answer the questions that follow.

2.8.1. What is the epicentre of an earthquake? (1)

2.8.2. What is the focus of an earthquake? (1)
2.8.3. What are isoseismal lines? (1)
2.8.4. Discuss what happens to isoseismal lines the further away they get from the
epicentre of an earthquake. (2)
2.8.5. Where would the greatest damage occur? Give a reason for your answer. (2)
2.8.6. List three ways in which people could protect themselves during an earthquake. (3)
 Sub-total: 70

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