This question was not popular among the candidates and most of those who answered the question just got average marks. Many of the candidates could not outline ways in which urban settlements differ from one another. The expected answers include:
-     site (physical location)
-     situation (locational  relationship to other areas)
-     size (area and population)
-     function (administrative, industrial, commercial, etc)
-     plan and layout (structure and pattern)
-     outlook (cleanliness, beauty,)
-     quality of services (high order – ICT, health, insurance, etc)
-     infrastructure/social amenities
The factors that have contributed to the high population density in Japan included:

-     low mortality rate
-     improved medical services
-     availability of natural resources e.g. water
-     advanced industrialization
-     advanced/improved technology
-     practice of intensive agriculture
-     immigration
-     fertile alluvial soils which promote agriculture
-     favourable climate (monsoon)
-     large market
-     presence of social amenities
-     accessibility
-     improved transport
-     advanced communication network
-     availability of minerals (feldspar, granite, limestone, quartzite etc)
-     political stability/good governance
-     high standard of living
-     well developed infrastructure

The Problems resulting from the high population density in Japan include:
-     overcrowding
-     traffic congestion
-     pressure on social amenities
-     high cost of food/insufficient food
-     environmental pollution/degradation
-     high rate of stress (hypertension and other health related challenges)
-     unemployment/underemployment
-     high rate of crime
-     social vices (e.g. prostitution, drug abuse, etc)
-     high cost of living
-     inadequate housing
-     development of slums and ghettos
-     increase in government expenditure
-     pressure on natural resources e.g. land
-     waste management challenges
-     development of slums and ghettos
-     increase in government spending
-     pressure on natural resources
-     waste management challenges