Edexcel GCSE Geography

Urban issues and challenges

Edexcel GCSE Geography revision on Urban issues and challenges. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography B 1GB0 specification. This bank has 10 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 10)

  1. Question 1

    A megacity is defined as a city with a population of over...

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    Answer: 10000000

    The UN definition is 10 million people in the urban agglomeration. There are ~33 megacities globally; Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai are the largest. Megacities are growing fastest in lower- and middle-income countries (LICs/NEEs).

  2. Question 2

    In a rapidly growing NEE city, the BIGGEST challenge in informal settlements (shanty towns) is usually...

    • A) Air pollution
    • B) Lack of clean water and sanitation
    • C) Excessive electricity costs
    • D) Too many tourists
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    Answer: Lack of clean water and sanitation

    Self-built housing on illegal land typically lacks piped water, sewerage, electricity, and refuse collection. The water/sanitation gap drives disease (cholera, dysentery) and is the highest-impact problem to fix. Rio's favelas and Mumbai's Dharavi are common case studies.

  3. Question 3

    'Urbanisation' is the process of...

    • A) Cities shrinking
    • B) An increasing % of the population living in cities
    • C) More tourism in cities
    • D) Building underground
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    Answer: An increasing % of the population living in cities

    Globally, urbanisation passed 50% around 2008 and is projected to reach 68% by 2050. Drivers: rural-to-urban migration (jobs, education, services) + natural increase. UK is already 84% urban; most urbanisation now happens in Asia + Africa (e.g. Lagos adding ~50 new residents every hour).

Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?

7 more questions on Urban issues and challenges — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Geography spec.