The living world
AQA GCSE Geography revision on The living world. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Geography 8035 specification. This bank has 50 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 50)
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Question 1
In a tropical rainforest, most nutrients are stored in...
- A) The soil
- B) The biomass (plants)
- C) Underground rock
- D) Rivers
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Answer: The biomass (plants)
Rapid decomposition + heavy rainfall leaches nutrients from the soil. The result: most nutrients are locked in living plants. Cutting down rainforest releases nutrients briefly, then rain washes them away — that's why rainforest land is poor farmland after a few years.
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Question 2
In a hot desert, plants like cacti have shallow but wide root systems mainly to...
- A) Reach groundwater deep below
- B) Absorb rainwater quickly before it evaporates
- C) Support their tall stems
- D) Reduce competition with other species
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Answer: Absorb rainwater quickly before it evaporates
Desert rain comes in short, heavy bursts. Wide shallow roots grab the surface water before evaporation removes it. Other cactus adaptations: thick waxy stems to store water, spines (reduced leaves) to minimise transpiration, CAM photosynthesis (stomata open at night).
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Question 3
Why are tropical rainforests considered hotspots of biodiversity?
- A) They have low temperatures
- B) Stable warm + wet climate supports many species
- C) There are few predators
- D) They are mostly underwater
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Answer: Stable warm + wet climate supports many species
Rainforests have stable temperatures (25°C year-round), heavy + consistent rainfall, and have existed for millions of years undisturbed by ice ages. This stability allows many species to evolve specialised niches. Rainforests cover ~6% of Earth's land but hold ~50% of species.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
47 more questions on The living world — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Geography spec.