Study the map extract on a scale of 1:100,000 and answer the following questions: (a) Draw an outline of the map on a scale of 1:300,000. On your outline, s...

Assessment: WAEC SSCE - Geography - 2008 (Essay) Subject: Geography

Question 1 Report

Study the map extract on a scale of 1:100,000 and answer the following questions: (a) Draw an outline of the map on a scale of 1:300,000. On your outline, show and name:
(i) the settlement of Lariski and Wuna Dole;
(ii) River Lakau and its direction of flow (use an arrow);
(iii) 1,100ft contour.

(b) Calculate the actual distance in kilometres along the railway line from the bridge ne Zangoma to the bridge along River Gaji

(c) (i) Using evidence from the map, state any three occupations of the people in the mapped area
(ii) Identify with reasons, the most important settlement on the map. 

Answer Details

(a) Outline of the map reduced to a scale of 1:300,000

The required scale (1:300,000) is one-third of the original scale (1:100,000). Therefore every length taken from the extract is drawn one-third of its size, while the shape, orientation and relative positions are kept exactly the same. The original frame of 36.6 cm is reduced to \(\tfrac{1}{3}\times 36.6 = 12.2\text{ cm}\), so the outline is a square of about 12.2 cm by 12.2 cm. On this outline the settlements of Lariski and Wuna Dole are each marked with a small circle and named, River Lakau is drawn as a single line with an arrow showing its direction of flow (downstream, from higher to lower ground towards its confluence), and the 1,100 ft contour is traced and labelled.

figure
Reduced outline map (1:300,000) showing Lariski and Wuna Dole, River Lakau with its direction of flow, and the 1,100 ft contour.

(b) Actual distance along the railway line from the bridge near Zangoma to the bridge along River Gaji

A thread is laid along the railway line, following every bend from the bridge near Zangoma to the bridge along River Gaji, then straightened against the linear scale and read off.

  • Map measurement = 25 cm
  • Map scale = 1 : 100,000, so 1 cm on the map represents 100,000 cm = 1 km on the ground.
\[ \text{Ground distance} = \frac{25 \times 100{,}000}{100{,}000}\;\text{cm} = 25\times 100{,}000\ \text{cm} = 25\ \text{km} \]

The actual distance along the railway line is 25 km.

(c)(i) Three occupations of the people (with map evidence)

OccupationEvidence on the map
FarmingPresence of scattered areas of cultivation
Grazing / rearing of animalsPresence of savanna and scrub vegetation
Trade and commercePresence of the market at Bara

(Other supportable occupations include teaching, shown by the schools; transportation, shown by the roads and railway; and fishing, shown by the many rivers.)

(c)(ii) Most important settlement

Bara is the most important settlement in the mapped area. This is because it has a market and a school, and it is a nodal settlement where several roads and the railway line meet. These functions make it the chief centre of trade, services and communication in the area, so it attracts and serves the surrounding population more than any other settlement.

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