UK physical landscapes overview
Edexcel GCSE Geography revision on UK physical landscapes overview. 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 lines generally divides the UK into upland areas in the north and west, and lowland areas in the south and east?
- A) The Tees-Exe line
- B) The Pennine divide
- C) The Greenwich Meridian
- D) The Highland boundary fault
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Answer: The Tees-Exe line
This line runs from the mouth of the River Tees in the north-east to the mouth of the River Exe in the south-west. Areas to the north and west of this line are typically composed of older, harder rocks forming upland landscapes, while areas to the south and east consist of younger, softer rocks forming lowland landscapes.
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Question 2
What is the primary geological reason for the existence of upland landscapes in the north and west of the UK?
- A) Presence of thick layers of sedimentary clay
- B) Presence of ancient, resistant igneous and metamorphic rocks
- C) High levels of modern coastal erosion
- D) Persistent volcanic activity in the Scottish Highlands
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Answer: Presence of ancient, resistant igneous and metamorphic rocks
The upland areas are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks formed millions of years ago, which are highly resistant to the forces of weathering and erosion. Because these rocks do not break down easily, they remain as elevated mountainous terrain compared to the softer sedimentary rocks found in the south and east.
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Question 3
Name the mountain range often referred to as the backbone of England.
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Answer: The Pennines
The Pennines consist of a series of hills and mountains that run from the Peak District in the south up to the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border. They are formed mainly of carboniferous limestone and gritstone, which have been shaped by glacial and fluvial processes over geological time.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
7 more questions on UK physical landscapes overview — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Geography spec.