GCSE Geography Flashcards
6 cards from real GCSE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 GCSE Geography flashcards as text
What is the 'poverty trap' in development geography?
Answer: A cycle where poverty prevents development, making it difficult for people to escape deprivation
The poverty trap describes a self-reinforcing cycle: lack of education → low income → poor health → low productivity → continued poverty. Without external intervention or investment, countries/communities struggle to break this cycle.
What is sustainable development?
Answer: Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainable development (Brundtland definition, 1987) balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection so current needs are met without depleting resources that future generations will need.
What is the difference between a refugee and an economic migrant?
Answer: A refugee flees persecution or conflict; an economic migrant moves for better economic opportunities
A refugee is a person forced to flee their country due to war, persecution, or natural disaster and cannot return safely. An economic migrant moves voluntarily to improve their living standards or find work.
What causes acid rain?
Answer: Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from burning fossil fuels dissolving in rainwater to form weak acids
Acid rain is caused by sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) released by burning fossil fuels and industrial processes. These gases dissolve in atmospheric water to form sulphuric and nitric acids, which fall as acid rain.
What is the 'multiplier effect' in geography?
Answer: When initial investment or jobs in an area attract further investment and create additional economic activity
The multiplier effect occurs when new economic activity (e.g., a factory opening) creates jobs, which increases local spending, which supports more businesses and jobs, multiplying the original economic benefit.
What is a floodplain and why does it flood?
Answer: The flat land on either side of a river that is formed by deposition and floods when the river overflows its banks
A floodplain is the flat land adjacent to a river, formed over time by the deposition of sediment during floods. It floods when the river's discharge exceeds its channel capacity and water spills out over the banks.