IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 · Topic 6

Natural hazards: past paper questions

53 real questionsasked in 8 of the last 10 exam series2019–2024usually: Describe, Suggest, State, Explain, Calculate

Real questions on natural hazards

The newest 20 of 53 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5b[4]
Explain how tectonic plate movement causes magma to rise to the Earth’s surface.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5c_i[2]
A student concludes that the Mount St. Helens eruption has a greater impact on the atmosphere than the Stromboli eruption. Use the data to suggest if the student’s conclusion is correct. Give reasons for your answer.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5c_ii[1]
State the VEI for Kilauea.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5c_iii[3]
Explain how the magnitude of earthquake A compares to the magnitude of earthquake B.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5c_iv[2]
Suggest why people living in Pasto are worried about the Galeras volcano.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5d[2]
Suggest why many farmers grow crops near volcanoes that can erupt.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q5e[5]
More economically developed countries (MEDCs) use strategies to manage the impact of earthquakes before they happen. Explain these strategies.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q6a[3]
Complete the following statements about a typhoon. A typhoon can only form above the ocean between ………. and ………. degrees north or south of the Equator. The ocean must be at least ………. m deep. The surface temperature of the ocean must reach ………. °C.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q6b_i[1]
State the month when typhoons are most likely to form.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q6b_ii[1]
State between which months typhoons reach land.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q6b_iii[1]
Estimate the percentage of the total number of typhoons formed that reach land in September.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q6b_iv[2]
Many typhoons are predicted to reach Japan. Suggest two reasons why some of these typhoons do not reach Japan.
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0680/11 · May/June 2024 · Q6c_i[2]
Suggest how an El Niño year affects the number of typhoons expected to reach Japan. Give reasons for your answer.
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0680/11 · October/November 2023 · Q4a[3]
reasons why this sign is used in areas at risk from tsunamis.
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0680/12 · October/November 2023 · Q5a(i)[2]
The distance the cyclone moved between 18:30 on Monday and 06:30 on Tuesday.
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0680/12 · October/November 2023 · Q5a(ii)[3]
The impact caused by Cyclone Tauktae over the period shown on the map.
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0680/12 · October/November 2023 · Q5b[4]
The strategies that can be used to manage the impact of tropical cyclones.
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0680/11 · May/June 2023 · Q1a[2]
the letter T on the map in one location where tropical cyclones form.
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0680/11 · October/November 2022 · Q7a[3]
The cause of an earthquake.
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0680/11 · October/November 2022 · Q7b[3]
Three ways that the design of the building reduces the impacts of an earthquake.
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What examiners said

This question required candidates to show on the map the location of a tropical cyclone. This was attempted by many candidates, the majority gaining credit for knowing that tropical cyclones happened at sea.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0680/11 Q1(a) (Cambridge)

Most candidates displayed a clear understanding of the movement of plates and the resultant cause of earthquakes.
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 0680/11 Q7(a) (Cambridge)

Many candidates made good use of the diagram showing the design of an earthquake-resistant building. The relevant building designs were identified and the link made between the design and impact reduction. The label ‘ground level’ was not one of the designs. Weaker responses simply described the designs or did not describe how the designs would reduce the impacts in sufficient detail.
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 0680/11 Q7(b) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise natural hazards

In the syllabus

1 0680.6.1.1 — Describe the structure of the Earth, limited to: (a) crust (b) mantle (c) core.

Describe the structure of the Earth, limited to: (a) crust (b) mantle (c) core.
Identify the Earth’s continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.
Describe and explain the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes, limited to: (a) tectonic plates and their movement (b) hotspots.
Describe how convection currents in the mantle result in plate movements that cause earthquakes and the formation of volcanoes, limited to: (a) divergent or constructive plate boundaries: plates move apart causing volcanic activity and earthquakes (b) convergent or destructive plate boundaries: subduction of one plate beneath another causing earthquakes and a line of volcanoes (c) conservative plate boundaries: plates slide past each other causing earthquakes.
Describe the features of earthquakes, limited to: (a) release of energy (b) focus (c) epicentre (d) magnitude: Moment Magnitude Scale.
Describe the features of volcanic eruptions, limited to: (a) magma rising to the surface to form lava (b) ash (c) gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide (d) acid rain (e) volcanic bombs (f) pyroclastic flows.
Describe and explain the impacts of tectonic events on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss of crops, livestock and habitats (c) evacuation of people and livestock (d) fire (e) tsunamis (f) landslides (g) contamination of drinking-water supplies (h) water-related disease (i) financial losses (j) human health.
Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tectonic event, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) land use zoning (c) structure of buildings (d) disaster preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency rescue teams) (e) evacuation (f) shelters (g) rebuilding of damaged areas (h) international aid.
Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tectonic event.
Describe and explain the opportunities provided by volcanoes to people, limited to: (a) fertile soils (b) extraction of minerals (c) building materials (d) geothermal power (e) tourism.

2 0680.6.1.2 — Identify the Earth’s continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.

Identify the Earth’s continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.

3 0680.6.1.3 — Describe and explain the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes, limited to: (a) tectonic plates and their movement (b) hotspots.

Describe and explain the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes, limited to: (a) tectonic plates and their movement (b) hotspots.

4 0680.6.1.4 — Describe how convection currents in the mantle result in plate movements that cause earthquakes and the formation of volcanoes, limited to:

Describe how convection currents in the mantle result in plate movements that cause earthquakes and the formation of volcanoes, limited to: (a) divergent or constructive plate boundaries: plates move apart causing volcanic activity and earthquakes (b) convergent or destructive plate boundaries: subduction of one plate beneath another causing earthquakes and a line of volcanoes (c) conservative plate boundaries: plates slide past each other causing earthquakes.

5 0680.6.1.5 — Describe the features of earthquakes, limited to: (a) release of energy (b) focus (c) epicentre (d) magnitude: Moment Magnitude Scale.

Describe the features of earthquakes, limited to: (a) release of energy (b) focus (c) epicentre (d) magnitude: Moment Magnitude Scale.

6 0680.6.1.6 — Describe the features of volcanic eruptions, limited to: (a) magma rising to the surface to form lava (b) ash (c) gases: water vapour, carbo

Describe the features of volcanic eruptions, limited to: (a) magma rising to the surface to form lava (b) ash (c) gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide (d) acid rain (e) volcanic bombs (f) pyroclastic flows.

7 0680.6.1.7 — Describe and explain the impacts of tectonic events on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b

Describe and explain the impacts of tectonic events on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss of crops, livestock and habitats (c) evacuation of people and livestock (d) fire (e) tsunamis (f) landslides (g) contamination of drinking-water supplies (h) water-related disease (i) financial losses (j) human health.

8 0680.6.1.8 — Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tectonic event, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) land use

Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tectonic event, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) land use zoning (c) structure of buildings (d) disaster preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency rescue teams) (e) evacuation (f) shelters (g) rebuilding of damaged areas (h) international aid.

9 0680.6.1.9 — Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tectonic event.

Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tectonic event.

10 0680.6.1.10 — Describe and explain the opportunities provided by volcanoes to people, limited to: (a) fertile soils (b) extraction of minerals (c) buildin

Describe and explain the opportunities provided by volcanoes to people, limited to: (a) fertile soils (b) extraction of minerals (c) building materials (d) geothermal power (e) tourism.

11 0680.6.2.1 — Describe the location and conditions needed for the formation of a tropical cyclone, limited to: (a) tropical cyclones: storms, hurricanes a

Describe the location and conditions needed for the formation of a tropical cyclone, limited to: (a) tropical cyclones: storms, hurricanes and typhoons (b) form between 5 ° and 30 ° latitude north or south of the Equator (c) ocean temperature of at least 27 °C (d) ocean depth of at least 60 m.
Describe and explain the impacts of tropical cyclones on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss of crops (c) livestock and habitats (d) evacuation of people and livestock (e) flooding (f) landslides (g) contamination of drinking-water supplies (h) water-related disease (i) financial losses (j) human health.
Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tropical cyclone, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) structure of buildings (c) disaster preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency rescue teams) (d) evacuation (e) shelters (f) rebuilding of damaged areas (g) international aid.
Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tropical cyclone.

12 0680.6.2.2 — Describe and explain the impacts of tropical cyclones on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure

Describe and explain the impacts of tropical cyclones on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss of crops (c) livestock and habitats (d) evacuation of people and livestock (e) flooding (f) landslides (g) contamination of drinking-water supplies (h) water-related disease (i) financial losses (j) human health.

13 0680.6.2.3 — Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tropical cyclone, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) structu

Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tropical cyclone, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) structure of buildings (c) disaster preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency rescue teams) (d) evacuation (e) shelters (f) rebuilding of damaged areas (g) international aid.

14 0680.6.2.4 — Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tropical cyclone.

Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a tropical cyclone.

15 0680.6.3.1 — Describe and explain the causes of flooding, limited to: (a) land relief (b) saturated soil, compacted soil and soil erosion (c) deforestati

Describe and explain the causes of flooding, limited to: (a) land relief (b) saturated soil, compacted soil and soil erosion (c) deforestation, agricultural practices and urbanisation (d) climate change: rise in sea level and increase in extreme weather events (e) storm surges and tsunamis.
Describe and explain the impacts of flooding on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss of crops (c) livestock and habitats (d) evacuation of people and livestock (e) landslides (f) contamination of drinking-water supplies (g) water-related disease (h) financial losses (i) human health.
Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after flooding, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) land use zoning (c) structure of buildings (d) disaster preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency rescue teams) (e) evacuation (f) shelters (g) rebuilding of damaged areas (h) international aid.
Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after flooding.
Describe and explain the opportunities provided by flooding to people, limited to: (a) deposition of nutrient-rich silt on farmland (b) recharge of surface water and ground water stores.

16 0680.6.3.2 — Describe and explain the impacts of flooding on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss

Describe and explain the impacts of flooding on people and the environment, limited to: (a) damage to buildings and infrastructure (b) loss of crops (c) livestock and habitats (d) evacuation of people and livestock (e) landslides (f) contamination of drinking-water supplies (g) water-related disease (h) financial losses (i) human health.

17 0680.6.3.3 — Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after flooding, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) land use zoning (

Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after flooding, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) land use zoning (c) structure of buildings (d) disaster preparation (plans, drills, emergency supplies and emergency rescue teams) (e) evacuation (f) shelters (g) rebuilding of damaged areas (h) international aid.

18 0680.6.3.4 — Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after flooding.

Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after flooding.

19 0680.6.3.5 — Describe and explain the opportunities provided by flooding to people, limited to: (a) deposition of nutrient-rich silt on farmland (b) rech

Describe and explain the opportunities provided by flooding to people, limited to: (a) deposition of nutrient-rich silt on farmland (b) recharge of surface water and ground water stores.

20 0680.6.4.1 — Define a drought as a period of dry weather that is longer or more severe than normal.

Define a drought as a period of dry weather that is longer or more severe than normal.
Describe and explain the causes of drought, limited to: (a) lack of rain (b) climate change: increase in global temperatures and increase in extreme weather events.
Describe and explain the impacts of drought on people and the environment, limited to: (a) water sources dry up (b) loss of crops, livestock and habitats (c) soil erosion (d) desertification (e) death of organisms (f) famine (g) increased risk of wildfires (h) decrease in air quality (i) financial losses (j) human health.
Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a drought, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) emergency water supplies (c) water conservation (d) increasing water supply (dams and reservoirs, use of aquifers and wells, desalination and rainwater harvesting) (e) international aid.
Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a drought.

21 0680.6.4.2 — Describe and explain the causes of drought, limited to: (a) lack of rain (b) climate change: increase in global temperatures and increase in

Describe and explain the causes of drought, limited to: (a) lack of rain (b) climate change: increase in global temperatures and increase in extreme weather events.

22 0680.6.4.3 — Describe and explain the impacts of drought on people and the environment, limited to: (a) water sources dry up (b) loss of crops, livestock

Describe and explain the impacts of drought on people and the environment, limited to: (a) water sources dry up (b) loss of crops, livestock and habitats (c) soil erosion (d) desertification (e) death of organisms (f) famine (g) increased risk of wildfires (h) decrease in air quality (i) financial losses (j) human health.

23 0680.6.4.4 — Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a drought, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) emergency water

Describe strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a drought, limited to: (a) monitoring and warning (b) emergency water supplies (c) water conservation (d) increasing water supply (dams and reservoirs, use of aquifers and wells, desalination and rainwater harvesting) (e) international aid.

24 0680.6.4.5 — Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a drought.

Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing the impacts before, during and after a drought.

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