HKDSE Geography Practice Paper: Population Dynamics, Urbanisation And Sustainable Development (12 Questions, 100 Marks, 75 Minutes)

HKDSE Geography Practice Paper: Population Dynamics, Urbanisation and Sustainable Development (12 Questions, 100 Marks, 75 Minutes)

2026-11-04

HKDSE Geography: Population and Urbanisation

HKDSE Geography practice paper: 12 questions, 100 marks, 75 minutes on population structure (32), urbanisation and migration (36) and sustainable development (32), with full worked answers.

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Paper details　Level: S6 | Subject: Geography | Time: 75 minutes | Marks: 100 | Questions: 12

Section A: Population Structure and Growth

Short-answer and calculation questions

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
1	A territory had a mid-year population of 7,500,000, with 72,000 births and 53,250 deaths during the year. (a) Calculate the crude birth rate and crude death rate per 1,000. (b) Find the rate of natural increase as a percentage. (c) Explain why migration is excluded from this measure.	(a) CBR = 72,000 / 7,500,000 x 1,000 = 9.6 per 1,000; CDR = 53,250 / 7,500,000 x 1,000 = 7.1 per 1,000. (b) RNI = (9.6 – 7.1) / 10 = 0.25% (2.5 per 1,000). (c) Natural increase counts births and deaths only; migration is a separate component of change.
2	In the same population, 850,000 people are aged 0-14, 5,300,000 are aged 15-64 and 1,350,000 are aged 65 or above. (a) Calculate the total dependency ratio. (b) Calculate the youth and old-age dependency ratios separately. (c) State one effect of a rising old-age dependency ratio on public finance.	(a) Total dependency ratio = (850,000 + 1,350,000) / 5,300,000 x 100 = 41.5%. (b) Youth = 850,000 / 5,300,000 x 100 = 16.0%; old-age = 1,350,000 / 5,300,000 x 100 = 25.5%; the two sum to the total. (c) Higher spending on healthcare and elderly welfare with a relatively smaller tax base.
3	A city has an annual population growth rate of 1.4%. (a) Use the rule of 70 to estimate the doubling time. (b) How does the answer change if growth falls to 0.7%? (c) State one limitation of the rule.	(a) Doubling time = 70 / 1.4 = 50 years. (b) 70 / 0.7 = 100 years, so halving the growth rate doubles the doubling time. (c) It assumes a constant growth rate and ignores age structure, migration and policy change.
4	Of the 7,500,000 residents, 6,900,000 live in urban areas. (a) Calculate the level of urbanisation. (b) Distinguish the level of urbanisation from the rate of urbanisation. (c) Give one symptom of over-urbanisation.	(a) Level of urbanisation = 6,900,000 / 7,500,000 x 100 = 92.0%. (b) Level is the urban share at one point in time; rate is the annual change in that share. (c) E.g. growth of squatter settlements, traffic congestion or services unable to keep up with demand.

Section B: Urbanisation and Migration

Data-response questions

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
5	The territory covers 1,110 km2 with a population of 7,500,000. (a) Calculate the population density in persons per km2 (nearest whole number). (b) Explain why an average density can hide internal variation.	(a) Density = 7,500,000 / 1,110 = 6,757 persons per km2. (b) The average pools hills, country parks and built-up districts together, so the real urban figure can be far higher; district data are needed.
6	During the year there were 72,000 births, 53,250 deaths, 18,000 arrivals and 9,500 departures. (a) Find net migration. (b) Find the total population change in persons. (c) Find the growth rate as a percentage to three decimal places.	(a) Net migration = 18,000 – 9,500 = 8,500. (b) Natural increase = 72,000 – 53,250 = 18,750; total change = 18,750 + 8,500 = 27,250. (c) Growth rate = 27,250 / 7,500,000 x 100 = 0.363%.
7	A 12,000 ha forest grows 4.5 m3 of timber per hectare per year; the licensed cut is 68,000 m3 per year. (a) Find the sustainable yield. (b) Find the excess cut. (c) State one long-term consequence of continued over-cutting.	(a) Sustainable yield = 12,000 x 4.5 = 54,000 m3 per year. (b) Excess = 68,000 – 54,000 = 14,000 m3 per year, about 25.9% above the sustainable yield. (c) Falling timber stock, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
8	A city generates 11,400 tonnes of municipal solid waste a year and recycles 3,420 tonnes. (a) Calculate the recycling rate. (b) How many more tonnes must be recycled to reach 40%? (c) Suggest one waste-reduction measure at source.	(a) Recycling rate = 3,420 / 11,400 x 100 = 30.0%. (b) 40% target = 11,400 x 0.40 = 4,560 tonnes, so 1,140 more tonnes are needed. (c) E.g. charging by weight, producer responsibility schemes or less packaging.

Section C: Resources and Sustainable Development

Case-analysis questions

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
9	An urban site records 33.8 C in the afternoon while a nearby rural site records 29.6 C. Each extra percentage point of green cover lowers surface air temperature by 0.18 C; the urban green cover is 12%. (a) Find the heat-island intensity. (b) Find the green cover needed to cut 1.8 C. (c) Give two causes of the heat-island effect.	(a) Intensity = 33.8 – 29.6 = 4.2°C. (b) 1.8 / 0.18 = 10 percentage points, so cover must reach 12 + 10 = 22%. (c) Heat storage in concrete and asphalt, lack of evapotranspiration from vegetation, anthropogenic heat and reduced ventilation.
10	A household uses 4,800 kWh of electricity a year (0.70 kg CO2 per kWh) and drives 12,000 km (0.12 kg CO2 per km). (a) Find the annual carbon footprint in kg and in tonnes. (b) How much is saved if public transport halves the distance driven?	(a) Electricity = 4,800 x 0.70 = 3,360 kg; transport = 12,000 x 0.12 = 1,440 kg; total 4,800 kg = 4.80 tonnes. (b) 6,000 x 0.12 = 720 kg saved, leaving 4,080 kg (4.08 tonnes).
11	A district had 4,200 ha of farmland ten years ago and has lost 6.5% since. (a) Find the area lost and the remaining farmland. (b) Give two causes of farmland loss. (c) Explain one effect on food security.	(a) Loss = 4,200 x 6.5% = 273 ha; remaining = 4,200 – 273 = 3,927 ha. (b) Peri-urban development, conversion to container yards or brownfield uses, and abandonment when farming is unprofitable. (c) Lower local self-sufficiency means greater reliance on imports and more exposure to supply shocks.
12	A territory has 2.4 x 10^9 m3 of renewable water a year and a population of 7,500,000. (a) Find the water available per person per year. (b) Compare it with the 1,000 m3 scarcity threshold and classify the situation. (c) Suggest one measure to improve water security.	(a) Water per person = 2.4 x 10^9 / 7,500,000 = 320 m³ per person per year. (b) 320 m3 is far below the 1,000 m3 threshold, so the territory faces absolute water scarcity. (c) E.g. reclaimed water reuse, desalination, demand management or reducing network leakage.

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