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Question 3
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The table below shows the climatic data for a station in the Warm Temperate
Eastern Margin Climatic Zone. Study it and answer the questions that follow:
Months |
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
Temperature (ºC) |
12 |
13 |
15 |
20 |
22 |
25 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
20 |
16 |
12 |
Precipitation (mm) |
79 |
82 |
85 |
73 |
85 |
122 |
180 |
168 |
128 |
92 |
63 |
75 |
(a) Calculate:
(i) the temperature range;
(ii) the mean annual rainfall.
(b) Describe the vegetation characteristics and the economic activities
associated with the Warm Temperate Eastern Margin Climatic type.
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This was an unpopular question with the candidates as very few candidates attempted the question. (a) part of the question that required calculation of the temperature range and the mean annual rainfall was correctly answered by most of the candidates that attempted the question. However, many of them failed to describe correctly the vegetation characteristics and the economic activities associated with the Warm Temperate Eastern Margin Climatic type. The expected characteristics of the associated vegetation of the Warm Temperate Eastern Margin type are:
- the vegetation is luxuriant;
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there is a mixture of softwood and hardwood;
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presence of both evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous trees;
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presence of conifers like pines and cypresses;
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there is a rich variety of plant species which include grasses, ferns lianas, bamboos, palm trees etc;
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presence of dense undergrowth;
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presence of exceptionally large trees e.g. the eucalyptus.
The economic activities in the area include:
- intensive farming, especially of cereals like rice in China, corn in the U.S.A. etc;
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mechanized agriculture through the use of irrigation and terraces on hills;
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irrigation agriculture;
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livestock production, i.e animal rearing;
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farming is multi-cropping.
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