Practice D.2 Geophysical hazard risks with authentic IB Geography exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like physical geography, human geography, and geospatial analysis. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SL & HLPaper 1
The diagram shows the structure of a typical earthquake and its associated features.
1.[4]
- Describe the main features of an earthquake as shown in the diagram.
2.[6]
- Explain the process of earthquake formation.
3.[8]
- Discuss the potential hazards associated with earthquakes and their impact on human settlements.
4.[6]
- Evaluate the effectiveness of various earthquake mitigation strategies.
Question 2
SL & HLPaper 1
The diagram shows the structure and impact zones of a landslide on a hillside.
1.[4]
- Describe the main features of a landslide and its impact on hillside areas as shown in the diagram.
2.[6]
- Explain the processes that lead to the occurrence of a landslide on a hillside.
3.[8]
- Discuss the potential hazards associated with landslides and their impact on human settlements.
4.[10]
- Evaluate the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies used to reduce the impact of landslides on hillside communities.
Question 3
SL & HLPaper 1
The map below shows The Global Distribution of Volcanoes and Plate Boundaries.
Source: BBC
1.[1]
Identify the tectonic plate with the highest concentration of volcanoes.
2.[1]
State the type of plate boundary where most volcanoes are located.
3.[2]
Outline one reason why volcanoes are often located near plate boundaries.
4.[6]
Explain two reasons why volcanic hazards vary in severity depending on tectonic settings.
5.[10]
Examine the relationship between plate boundary types and the occurrence of volcanic hazards.
6.[10]
Evaluate the extent to which human vulnerability contributes to the impact of volcanic hazards.
Question 4
SL & HLPaper 1
The diagram shows the structure and impact zones of a tsunami on a coastal area.
an underwater earthquake causing sea floor displacement, (2) propagation of tsunami waves across the ocean, (3) approach of tsunami waves to the shore, and (4) inundation of coastal areas. Arrows indicate the direction of wave movement. The diagram includes labels for each stage and the affected coastal environment, including buildings, vegetation, and infrastructure. The diagram also shows the impact zones, such as areas affected by wave inundation and flooding.)
1.[4]
- Describe the main stages of tsunami formation and impact as shown in the diagram.
2.[6]
- Explain the factors that contribute to the formation of a tsunami.
3.[8]
- Discuss the potential hazards associated with tsunamis and their impact on coastal communities.
4.[10]
- Evaluate the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies used to reduce the impact of tsunamis on coastal communities.
Question 5
SL & HLPaper 1
The diagram shows the structure of a typical earthquake and its associated features.
1.[4]
- Describe the main features of an earthquake as shown in the diagram.
2.[6]
- Explain the processes that lead to the occurrence of an earthquake.
3.[8]
- Discuss the potential hazards associated with earthquakes and their impact on human settlements.
4.[8]
- Evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies used to mitigate the impact of earthquakes on human societies.
Question 6
SL & HLPaper 1
The diagram shows the structure and impact zones of a volcanic eruption.
1.[4]
- Describe the main features of a volcanic eruption as shown in the diagram.
2.[6]
- Explain the formation process of a volcanic eruption.
3.[8]
- Discuss the potential hazards associated with volcanic eruptions and their impact on human settlements.
4.[10]
- Evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies used to mitigate the impact of volcanic eruptions on human communities.
Question 7
SL & HLPaper 1
The map below shows Cities’ Risk of Exposure to Natural Disasters.
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
1.[1]
Identify one city shown to be at high risk from three or more types of natural disasters.
2.[1]
State the continent with the largest number of high-population cities (over 10 million) exposed to multiple hazard risks.
3.[2]
Outline one reason why urban areas are often more exposed to multiple natural hazards than rural areas.
4.[6]
Explain two ways in which multi-hazard exposure can increase the vulnerability of megacities.
5.[10]
Examine the challenges of managing geophysical hazards in cities located in multi-hazard zones.
6.[10]
Discuss the extent to which population size is the most important factor in determining urban vulnerability to geophysical hazards.
Question 8
SL & HLPaper 1
The map shows global seismic hazard zones, indicating the probability of ground shaking caused by earthquakes.
Source: Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP)
1.[1]
Identify one country that is located in a high seismic hazard zone.
2.[1]
Identify one country that is located in a low seismic hazard zone.
3.[2]
Outline one reason why seismic hazard is higher along plate boundaries.
4.[6]
Explain two reasons why the impacts of earthquakes differ between countries.
5.[10]
Discuss the extent to which earthquake hazards can be managed through prediction and preparation.
6.[10]
Evaluate the reasons why some locations experience more serious consequences from earthquakes than others.
Question 9
SL & HLPaper 1
The map shows global tectonic plates, the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes, and selected tectonic events since 2000.
Source: Oxford University Press (Adapted)
1.[1]
Identify one tectonic plate where there is a high concentration of both earthquakes and volcanoes.
2.[1]
State the type of plate boundary most commonly associated with both earthquakes and volcanoes.
3.[2]
Outline one reason why destructive plate boundaries are associated with high geophysical hazard risk.
4.[6]
Explain two ways in which the characteristics of different plate boundaries influence the severity of geophysical hazards.
5.[10]
Examine how different types of plate boundaries contribute to the occurrence of volcanic and earthquake hazards around the world.
6.[10]
Evaluate the extent to which the impacts of geophysical hazards are influenced more by the characteristics of the hazard than by human vulnerability.
Question 10
SL & HLPaper 1
The diagram shows the structure of a typical earthquake and its associated features.
1.[4]
Describe the main features of an earthquake as shown in the diagram.
2.[6]
Explain the process of earthquake formation.
3.[8]
Discuss the potential hazards associated with earthquakes and their impact on human settlements.
4.[6]
Evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies used to mitigate earthquake hazards.