Cold environments
Edexcel GCSE Geography revision on Cold environments. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography B 1GB0 specification. This bank has 10 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 10)
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Question 1
Which of these is a defining characteristic of a polar environment?
- A) High annual precipitation
- B) Average temperatures below freezing
- C) Dense evergreen forests
- D) Rapid soil development
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Answer: Average temperatures below freezing
Polar regions, such as Antarctica and the high Arctic, experience very low solar intensity due to the Earth's curvature. This results in permanent ice cover and temperatures that rarely rise above freezing point, preventing the growth of most vegetation.
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Question 2
What is the name given to the permanently frozen layer of subsoil found in tundra regions?
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Answer: Permafrost
Permafrost acts as a barrier to plant roots and prevents water from draining away during the summer melt. This leads to waterlogged surface conditions and the formation of bogs in tundra landscapes.
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Question 3
Which of the following is an example of a plant adaptation to cold environments?
- A) Broad leaves to catch sunlight
- B) Deep taproots to find water
- C) Low-growing, cushion-like shapes
- D) Large, fleshy leaves to store water
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Answer: Low-growing, cushion-like shapes
By growing close to the ground, plants are protected by a layer of warmer air trapped near the soil surface. This shape also helps them avoid being damaged by ice crystals carried by high-velocity winds.
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7 more questions on Cold environments — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Geography spec.