WAEC SSCE - Geography - 2021 (Essay)

(a)(i) Definition of settlement

A settlement is any place where people live, ranging from a single dwelling to a large city, together with the buildings and facilities they use.

(a)(ii) Two types of urban settlement classified by population size

• A town (smaller urban settlement).
• A city or metropolis / conurbation (larger urban settlement).

(b) Five ways urban settlements depend on rural settlements

• Food supply - towns depend on the villages for food crops, meat, fish and other farm produce.
• Raw materials - rural areas supply agricultural and mineral raw materials to urban factories.
• Labour - the rural areas provide the workers who migrate to the towns to fill jobs.
• Water and other natural resources - much of the water, timber and fuel used in towns comes from rural areas.
• Market for urban goods and services - the rural people buy the manufactured goods and use the services (education, health, administration) provided in the towns.
• Rural areas also provide land into which towns expand and sites for recreation.

(c) Three functions of urban settlements

• Administrative function (seats of government).
• Commercial function (trade, banking and markets).
• Industrial function (manufacturing).
• Others: educational, medical, transport and cultural functions.

(a)(i) Four industrial towns in Nigeria and (ii) a type of industrial activity in each

(Others: Aba - footwear and plastics; Nnewi - vehicle spare parts; Enugu - coal and cement.)

(b) Three contributions of industries to economic development

• They create employment and raise the incomes and living standards of the people.
• They add value to local raw materials and reduce dependence on imported goods, saving foreign exchange.
• They diversify the economy and generate revenue for government through taxes.
• They stimulate the growth of towns and the development of infrastructure such as roads and power.

(c) Three problems limiting industrial development in Nigeria

• Inadequate and unreliable power supply, forcing firms to depend on costly generators.
• Shortage of capital and high interest rates, making it hard to finance industry.
• Shortage of skilled manpower and modern technology.
• Poor infrastructure, competition from cheaper imported goods, and an unstable business and policy environment.

(a)(i) Total population of country Z

\(5.5 + 8.0 + 6.7 + 4.8 = 25.0\) million, i.e. 25,000,000 people.

(a)(ii) Total land area of country Z

\(60{,}000 + 105{,}000 + 125{,}000 + 88{,}000 = 378{,}000\ \text{km}^2\).

(a)(iii) Population density of country Z

\[\text{Density} = \frac{\text{total population}}{\text{total land area}} = \frac{25{,}000{,}000}{378{,}000} \approx 66.1\ \text{persons per km}^2.\] The population density is about 66 persons per km².

(b) Four factors responsible for high population densities

1. Favourable climate: moderate temperatures and reliable rainfall attract dense settlement.
2. Fertile soils and gentle relief: lowland plains and river valleys with rich soils support intensive farming and large populations.
3. Availability of water: steady fresh-water supply from rivers, lakes or coasts draws people together.
4. Economic and industrial development: abundant jobs in industry, mining, commerce and services, with good transport and social amenities, pull large numbers of people into an area (urbanisation).

(c) Three advantages associated with countries of high population density

1. Large labour force: plenty of workers are available for farms, factories and services, boosting production.
2. Large home market: the big population creates strong demand for goods and services, encouraging industry, trade and investment.
3. Cheaper provision of services and defence: where people are concentrated, roads, water, electricity, schools and hospitals can be supplied to many people at lower cost per head, and a large population strengthens national defence.

(a) Meaning of tourism

Tourism is the business of travelling to and staying in places away from one's usual home for pleasure, leisure, relaxation, sightseeing or business, and the services provided to cater for such travellers.

(b) Five factors that favour the development of tourism

• Attractive natural features such as beaches, waterfalls, mountains, game reserves and pleasant climate.
• Historical and cultural attractions such as monuments, festivals, ancient sites and traditional arts.
• Good transport and communication - airports, good roads and railways that make the attractions easy to reach.
• Adequate accommodation and infrastructure such as hotels, water, electricity and health facilities.
• Peace, security and political stability that make visitors feel safe.
• Effective advertising and a welcoming, hospitable population.

(c) Four problems created by the tourism industry in developing countries

• Environmental damage - pollution, destruction of vegetation and disturbance of wildlife by large numbers of visitors.
• Undesirable social effects - spread of foreign values, prostitution, drug abuse and crime.
• Over-dependence and seasonal, insecure employment that fluctuates with the tourist season.
• Pressure on local resources and facilities - competition for water, land and services, and rising prices for local people.
• Much of the profit is repatriated by foreign-owned hotels and tour firms, so the host country gains little.