BUSIA COUNTY

KENYA CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (K.C.S.E)

GEOGRAPHY
Paper - 312/1
JULY/AUGUST 2015
MARKING SCHEME
Section A ii) Describe the rainfall pattern for the station
1). 3mks
a) State the uniqueness of Geography as - Rainfall is received throughout the year/No
compared to other subjects. real dry month.
- It emphasizes distribution of things on the - Highest rainfall received in March 340mm.
earth’s surface and maps them to show their - The lowest rainfall received in December/
relationships / pattern. January 80mm.
2x1=2mks - Double maxima rainfall regime/two rain
seasons per year.
b) List three broad aspects studied under 3x1=3mks
physical geography. b) Give two main reasons why convectional
- Relief rainfall is common in Western Kenya
- drainage region.
- weather/climate - high temperatures that facilitate
- natural vegetation evapotranspiration.
- rocks and soil - Presence of lake Victoria from which
- the earth and the solar system. evaporation takes place.
3x1=3mks - Vast areas under forests for transpiration.
4)
2. Describe the shape of the earth. (4mks) a) Give two types of coastal beaches. (2mks)
- The earth is spherical but not a perfect sphere - Storm beach
- It is slightly flattened at the poles. - Bay head beach
- It is bulged at the equator. - Barrier beach
- Such a sphere is called a geoid/oblate sphere. 2x1=2mks
4x1=4mks
3. The table below shows rainfall and b) The diagram below shows eatures formed
temperature figures for a given station. Study by wave deposition. Identify the features
it and answer questions (a). marked J and K. (2mks)

Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Breaking
Coast K wave
R/fall 80 12 34 15 13 90 10 12 32 12 10 80 J
mm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marsh Sea
Temp. 28 29 32 31 28 28 29 30 31 30 29 28
0
C

a) i) Calculate the annual temperature range

for the station. (1mk) J - lagoon
0 0 0
-32 -28 =4 C K - Off-shore bar
5)
a) What is soil catena? (2mks)
- The sequence of various soil types along a
slope from the hill top to the valley bottom
1x2=2mks
b) Give four ways in which parent material
influence the nature of soil. (4mks)
- Determines the soil colours
- Determines the soil minerals
- Determines the soil texture
- Determines the soil depth
4x1=4mks
SECTION B
6) Study the map provided: Migwani
1:50,000 (Kenya) and answer the following
questions.
a.i) Give two types of scales shown on the map.
- Linear scale
- Representative fraction/ratio scale/R.F Scale.
2x1=2mks.
ii) Describe the relief of the area covered by
the map. (5mks)
- highest point is about 1550m to the south
west.
- The land generally slopes eastwards.
- The area has numerous hills e.g Kitui hills to
the south west.
- The land is gently sloping to the east.
- There are steep slopes to the west.
- There is a valley along R. Ikoo.
- Numerous spurs on Kitui hills.
5x14=5mks.
c) Explain three factors that may make cattle
keeping suitable for the area covered by
the map. (6mks)
- Constant water supply for watering the cattle
from the numerous permanent rivers.
- Plenty of natural pastures for grazing the
cattle from the scrub vegetation.
- Few settlement/scattered settlement gives
room for grazing.
3x2=6mks.

ii) Using the key name two types of roads d) Draw a square measuring 10cm to
found in the area covered by the map. represent the area enclosed by northings
(2mks) 70 to 80 and east of easting .03.
- Dry weather roads (2mks)
- All weather road and bound surface
- Main tracks i) On the square mark and name;
2x1=2mks
iii) Name two human features found at grid - R. Ikoo (1mk)
square 0963. (2mks) - Nzia hill (1mk)
- Dry weather road D 503 (1mk)
- Houses
- Water pipeline iii) Calculate the scale of the square you have
2x1=2mks drawn. (2mks)
b)(i) What is the vertical interval (V.I) of the - map scale ÷ 2= 1 ÷ 2 =1 x ½
map extract. 50,000 1 50,000
- 20m (1x1=1mk)
= 1 (1:100,000)
100,000 2x1mks

BUSIA COUNTY - MARKING SCHEME - 2015 2 (SW) FORM 4 - GEOGRAPHY - 1


7)
a) (i)Differentiate between river regime and
river discharge. (2mks)
- River regime is the seasoal /annual variations
in the rivers volume/discharge studied over a
long period of time while river discharge is
the amount of water passing a particular
point of a river per second.
1x2=2mks.
ii) State four characteristics of a river in its
youthful stage. (4mks)
- The river has steep gradient.
- The river has high velocity.
- Narrow/V-shaped river valley.
- Interlocking spurs are common.
- Water falls/rapids very common.
- Pot holes, plunge pools on the river bed.
- Deep river channels/river gorges present.
4x1=4mks.
iii) Give two reasons why a river may have a
large river volume in its old stage.
(2mks)
- Low gradient allows accumulation of water.
- Increased amount of water/volume from
tributaries.
BUSIA COUNTY - MARKING SCHEME - 2015
b) Describe three ways in which a river gorge
may form. (6mks)
- When a river flows a long a fault line so that
the river erodes vertically into the fault.
- When a river maintains its direction of flow
as the land undergoes upliftment.
- When a river flows over a region with less
resistant rocks so that there is rapid vertical
erosion.
- When a waterfall retreats up stream so that a
deep valley forms at the point of retreat.
3x2=6mks.
c) Using diagrams, describe how a flood plain
forms (7mks)
- There exists a narrow river valley with a V-
cross - section
bluff bluff
river
- During the rain season the river overflows its
banks and water covers the whole river
valley.
flood water in the valley
- Lateral river erosion extends the bluffs hence
widening the river valley.
laterol erosion
laterol erosion
- As the rains subside, the flood water begin to
retreat back into the river channel.
- As the water retreats, the river deposits
alluvium on the widened river valley.
3 (SW) FORM 4 - GEOGRAPHY - 1
- This leads to a wide, gently slopoing river
valley comprising of alluvium which we call
a flood plain.
Floodplain
river
Text 5x1=5mks
diag 2x1=2mks (N.B diagram 3 & 4).
d) Explain two conditions necessary for river
capture to occur.
- The two rivers must be flowing adjacent each
other to allow easy joining of the valleys.
- The capturing river must be flowing at a
lower gradient to allow the head waters of
the other stream to flow into it by gravity.
- The capturing river must erode head wards
towards the valley of the one being captured
in order to make the two river valleys join
2x2=4mks
8)
a. (i) What is amass wasting?
- The downward movement of weathered rock
materials along a slope unde rthe influence of
gravity.
or
- The movement of weathered rock materials
on the earth’s surface down a slope by
gravity
1x2=2mks.
ii) State three factors that influence mass
wasting. (3mks)
- The nature of the slope in the affected area.
- The amount of rainfall received in the area.
- The size/nature of rock materials involved in
the movement.
- Human activities such as quarrying/road
construction.
BUSIA COUNTY - MARKING SCHEME - 2015
- Tectonic movements trigger movement of
material.
3x1=8mks
b)(i) Name two forms of slow mass wasting
(2mks).
- Soil creep
- Rock creep
- talus creep
- Solifluxicon
2x1=2mks
ii) Explain three causes of landslides (6mks)
- Prolonged heavy rainfall soaks the ground.
- Presence of steep slopes that make material
unstable hence easily slide down slope.
- Tectonic movements/earthquakes make
materials on slopes unstable hence easily
move down slope.
- Human activities such as steepening of slopes
during quarrying/road construction.
3x2=6mks
c) Explain how mass wasting influence the
following:
i) Drainage (2mks)
- Debries blocking river valleys lead to
formation of lakes.
- Debries deposited in lakes lead to siltation
that lead to reduction in the lake depth
1x2=2mks
ii) Soil fertility
- Soil particles deposited in lowlands by mass
wasting lead to deep fertile soil for crop
farming.
- Removal of sol in highlands by mass wasting
lead to thin soil that are unsuitable for crop
farming.
1x2=2mks
d) Your class is planning to carry out field
study on mass wasting in the area around
your school.
i) State three objectives you may have for
such a study. (3mks)
4 (SW) FORM 4 - GEOGRAPHY - 1
- To find out forms/types of mass wasting that Reverse faults
occur in the area around my school.
- To identify the effects of mass wasting in the
area around my school.
- To find out the causes of mass wasting in the
area around my school.
3x1=3mks - The middle block experience upliftment.
ii) name two primary sources of information
you may use during data collection. (2mks)
- Resource persons
- Direct observations
2x1=2mks Up liftment
ii) Give three techniques you will use in order to
collect correct information during oral - This leads to formation of a raised land mass
interviews. (3mks) between two reverse faults which is called a
- Keeping eye contact fault mountain.
- Asking for clarification
Fault mountain
- Asking direct question
- Assuring respondents confidentiality
- Interviewing more respondents for
comparison
3x1=3mks
9(a)
i) Name two examples of relief features text 4x1=4mks
found on the floor of the rift valley. (2mks) diag 4x1=4mks
- Depressions occupied by lakes Total 8mks
- Volcanic mountains b(i) The diagram below represent a region that
- Crater/calderas has undergone faulting. Name the features
- Valleys. marked A,B and C. (3mks)
2x1=2mks A B
ii) Using well labelled diagrams, describe the Rift valley
stages involved in the formation of fault C

mountains. (8mks)
- Crustal rock layers are subjected to
compression forces.
Key A -Fault
crustal rock layers B -Fault step
C -Crustal rock layers/strata
Compresional forces 3x1=3mks
ii) State four characteristics of lakes formed
- This leads to formation of two adjacent by faulting. (4mks)
- Most of them are deep
reverse faults in the rock strata. - Most of them are saline /salty
- Most of them are narrow/elongated
- Most of them have steep sides. 4x1=4mks
BUSIA COUNTY - MARKING SCHEME - 2015 5 (SW) FORM 4 - GEOGRAPHY - 1

c) Explain four effects of faulting to human
activities. (8mks)
- Windward sides of fault mountains receive
high rainfall that supports crop farming.
- Fault mountains are sources of river used for
H.E.P generation/fishing industrial use.
- fault mountain areas are thickly forested on
windward sides hence supporting forestry
lumbering.
- Fault steps/rift valleys/escarpments attract
tourists for foreign exchange used to improve
other sectors of the economy.
- Faults form lodes/veins in which minerals
occur hence supporting mining.
- Fault steps form gently sloping areas that
encourage human settlement.
- Lee ward sides of fault mountains receive low
rainfall that limit profitable crop farming.
- Steep slopes on fault mountains/fault difficult
hence discouraging human settlement.
4 × 2 = 8 marks
10(a)i) What is a rock? (2mks)
- The solid substance made up of aggregate of
minerals that forms the earth’s crust.
1x2=2mks.
ii) Name two examples of photonic rocks
(2mks)
- Gabro -Diorite - synenite
- Granite -Periodotite 2x1=2mks
b(i) State three characteristics of sedimentary
rocks (3mks)
- They occur in layers
- Some contain fossils
- Some are elastic 3x1=3mks
ii) Describe how mechanically formed
sedimentary rocks are formed. (4mks)
- Already existing rocks undergo weathering
forming sediments/particles.
- The sediments are transported by running
water/glacier towards the lowland.
- The sediments are deposited in layers in the
lowlands.
- The sediments undergo compaction and
cementation and harden into a rock.
- It is this rock that we call mechanically
formed rocks. 4x1=4mks
BUSIA COUNTY - MARKING SCHEME - 2015
weathering
forms sediments OR
sediments transported
to lowlands
sediments laid in layers,
compacted and harden into rock
c) Explain four ways in which rocks
contribute to the economy of Kenya(8mks)
- Some rocks contain minerals that are mined
to earn income.
- Some rocks attract tourists for foreign
exchange.
- Some rocks are sued to curve artefacts sold
to earn income.
- Some rocks provide mineral food
supplements hence reducing on cost of
buying such supplements.
- Some rocks store water hence are sources of
water for irrigation farming.
- Some rocks weather to form fertile soils for
commercial crop farming.
- Some rock surface are sued for advertisement
hence supporting trade.
- Some rocks are excavated and sued for
building commercial houses. 4x2=8mks
d) You carried out a field study on metamorphic
rocks in the area around your school. (2mks)
- To ask for permission/to notify respondents
- Estimate the time/duration for the study
- Establish the suitability for the study
- Establish the suitability of the area for the
study
- To enable us draw an appropriate time
schedule/working schedule.
- To identify appropriate routes
- Identify suitable tools and equipments
2x1=2mks
ii) State four problems you might have
encountered during the filed study. 4mks
- Steep slopes that made movement difficult.
- Muddy rods that slowed movement
- Few resource / expert persons in
metamorphic rocks.
- Heavy rains that led to delays as we sheltered.
- long distances covered walking that caused
fatigue/tiredness.
- Fear of wild animal attacks from bushes in
the neighbourhood. 4x1=4mks
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