GEOGRAPHY Revision for Leaving Cert: (Less Stress More Success)

· Revises the entire syllabus, i.e. · core · both electives, and · all four Higher Level options · Gives helpful tips on examination techniques · Colour photos and maps included · Laid out with clear headings and developed points · Includes recent exam papers

Table of Contents:
SECTION 1: CORE UNITS (ALL TO BE COVERED) Core Unit 1: Patterns and Processes in the Physical Environment 2 Core Topic 1 Structure of the Earth 2 Core Topic 2 Plate tectonics 3 Core Topic 3 Plate boundaries 5 Core Topic 4 Volcanoes, earthquakes and landforms 9 Core Topic 5 Folding, rocks and landforms 17 Core Topic 6 America’s active and passive plate margins 24 Core Topic 7 Weathering processes 25 Core Topic 8 Surface processes 31 Core Topic 9 Surface processes, patterns and landforms 33 Core Topic 10 The process of isostasy and landforms 53 Core Topic 11 People’s interaction with surface processes 56 Core Topic 12 Ordnance maps and photographs revised 59 Core Unit 2: Regional Geography 82 Core Topic 13 Regions 82 Core Topic 14 Contrasting regions in Ireland and Europe 95 Core Topic 15 A subcontinental region 117 Core Topic 16 Economic, cultural and political processes interact within regions 130 Core Topic 17 The interaction of cultural groups within political regions (countries) 132 Core Topic 18 The future of the European Union 134 Core Topic 19 Changing boundaries in language regions 135 Core Topic 20 Urban growth and city regions 136 Core Topic 21 Changing political boundaries and cultural groups 138 SECTION 2: ELECTIVES (CHOOSE ONE ELECTIVE) Elective 1: Patterns and Processes in Economic Activities (Topics 1–19) 142 Elective Topic 1 Patterns of economic development 142 Elective Topic 2 Changing patterns of Irish and global economic development 144 Elective Topic 3 Changing patterns of economic development in Belgium 145 Elective Topic 4 Colonialism and development 146 Elective Topic 5 Decolonisation and economic adjustment 148 Elective Topic 6 Global issues of justice and development 149 Elective Topic 7 Globalisation 150 Elective Topic 8 The growth of multinationals 150 Elective Topic 9 Multinational companies in the European Union and Ireland 153 Elective Topic 10 Patterns of world trade 156 Elective Topic 11 The international division of labour 157 Elective Topic 12 Trading patterns in the European Union 160 Elective Topic 13 Ireland’s trading patterns within the EU 161 Elective Topic 14 The Common Agricultural Policy and its impact on Ireland 162 Elective Topic 15 The Common Fisheries Policy and its impact on Ireland 163 Elective Topic 16 Renewable and non-renewable resources 165 Elective Topic 17 Renewable energy and the environment 168 Elective Topic 18 Sustainable economic development and environmental issues 171 Elective Topic 19 Conflicts of interest due to resource development 173 OR Elective 2: Patterns and Processes in the Human Environment (Topics 20–36) 177 Elective Topic 20 World population distribution and density 177 Elective Topic 21 Patterns in the growth of population 179 Elective Topic 22 Changing population characteristics 180 Elective Topic 23 Patterns of population change in Ireland 182 Elective Topic 24 The causes and effects of overpopulation 184 Elective Topic 25 Migration and changing migration patterns in Ireland 188 Elective Topic 26 Ethnic, racial and religious issues created by migration 192 Elective Topic 27 Rural-to-urban migration 194 Elective Topic 28 Locational characteristics of Irish settlements 197 Elective Topic 29 Rural settlement patterns 202 Elective Topic 30 The expansion of cities and pressure on rural land use 204 Elective Topic 31 Residential areas and segregation within cities 204 Elective Topic 32 Urban planning and urban renewal 205 Elective Topic 33 Planning strategies in rural areas 206 Elective Topic 34 Urban hierarchy, hinterland and central place theory 208 Elective Topic 35 Changing urban land-use patterns 209 Elective Topic 36 The future of urbanism 211 SECTION 3: OPTIONS (CHOOSE ONE OPTION: HIGHER LEVEL STUDENTS ONLY) Option 1: Global Interdependence (Topics 1–15) 214 Option Topic 1 Models of development 214 Option Topic 2 Images and Eurocentric thinking 217 Option Topic 3 Examining world models and labels 218 Option Topic 4 Some impacts of multinational corporations (MNCs) 219 Option Topic 5 Deforestation, global warming and desertification 221 Option Topic 6 The impact of social and political decisions 227 Option Topic 7 International debt and cycles of poverty 230 Option Topic 8 Types and advantages of aid 232 Option Topic 9 Land ownership patterns and their impact on development in nineteenth-century Ireland 236 Option Topic 10 Human exploitation 237 Option Topic 11 Gender roles 239 Option Topic 12 The sustainable use of resources 241 Option Topic 13 Fair trade 243 Option Topic 14 Justice and minority groups 246 Option Topic 15 Self-help development in third-world and peripheral regions 249 OR Option 2: Culture and Identity (Topics 16–30) 253 Option Topic 16 Racial and ethnic groups 253 Option Topic 17 The impact of Europe on world migration and racial patterns 254 Option Topic 18 Racial conflict 258 Option Topic 19 The impact of colonisation on migration and racial patterns 260 Option Topic 20 Language as a cultural indicator 261 Option Topic 21 The major language families 264 Option Topic 22 Gaeltacht regions 265 Option Topic 23 The distribution of the main religions of the world 266 Option Topic 24 The relationship between church and state 269 Option Topic 25 Religious conflict 270 Option Topic 26 Nationality 273 Option Topic 27 Issues relating to physical and political boundaries 275 Option Topic 28 Cultural groups within nation states 276 Option Topic 29 Cultural groups without nationality 278 Option Topic 30 Identity 280 OR Option 3: Geoecology (Topics 31–36) 283 Option Topic 31 Soil composition and characteristics 283 Option Topic 32 Factors that affect soil formation 286 Option Topic 33 Factors influencing soil characteristics 288 Option Topic 34 Classification of soils 289 Option Topic 35 Human interference with soil characteristics 294 Option Topic 36 Biomes 296 OR Option 4: The Atmosphere–Ocean Environment (Topics 37–42) 303 Option Topic 37 The Earth’s atmosphere 303 Option Topic 38 The oceans 306 Option Topic 39 Moisture in the atmosphere 309 Option Topic 40 Rainfall 310 Option Topic 41 Wind 312 Option Topic 42 World climates 317 Sample Exam Questions 322 2006 Exam Paper 325

About the Author :
Patrick O’Dwyer teaches Geography at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Doon, Co. Limerick. He has written several textbooks for both Junior and Leaving Certificate students.