Question 3
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Write explanatory notes on the following:
- Three characteristics of ocean transportation;
- Three advantages of water transportation;
- Four ways in which poor transportation network can hinder economic development of a country.
Few candidates attempted the question & the performance of those who answered the question was moderate performance. Quite a good percentage of the candidates who answered the question wrote on the importance of ocean transportation rather than the characteristics of ocean transportation which include:
- most prominent form of water transport;
- carrying bulky goods;
- large vessels/ships are used;
- important for international trade;
- requires seaports and harbours;
- use natural and established waterways;
- relatively safe;
- extends over long distances across countries;
- suitable for long distance trade;
- not flexible;
- relatively slow;
- examples of routes are North Atlantic, Cape of Good Hope and South Atlantic etc.
- relatively cheap.
The advantages of water transportation was also poorly outlined by the candidates. The expected answers were:
- can cover distance across continents;
- enhances international trade;
- can move bulky goods;
- national integration;
- links different part of the world;
- accessibility to the hinterlands;
- limited cost of construction except that of seaports and harbours;
- boost tourism;
- cheapest means of transportation;
- routes are free for all to use;
- relatively safe;
- conveys large passenger traffic;
- suitable for large freight
The ways in which poor transport network can hinder economic development of a country was adequately answered by the candidates.