ZERAKI ACHIEVERS 12.

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Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
FORM 3 END TERM ONE
312/1 GEOGRAPHY Paper 1
March 2024
MARKING SCHEME
1. (a) Name two branches of physical geography.
 Geomorphology
 Geology
 Climatology/Meteorology
 Biogeography
 Pedology
 Spatial geography 2×1=2 marks
(b) Give three importance of studying practical geography.

 It gives learners an opportunity to develop skills.

 It enables learners to develop a practical understanding and interpretation of geographical
information.
 It enables learners to clearly bring out the interrelationship between different geographical
events
 It also helps learners to manage time properly. 3×1=3 marks

2. The diagram below shows the soar system. Use it to answer questions (a) and (b).

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 (a) Identify the planets labelled P and Q.
 P – Venus
 Q – Uranus 2×1=2 marks
(b) State three characteristics of the sun.

 It is a star and is the center of the solar system

 It has the planets and all the heavenly bodies orbiting/revolving around it
 It radiates/produces solar energy that is important to plant and animals
 It rotates on its own axis in an anticlockwise direction
 It produces its own light 3×1=3 marks

3. (a) Give two examples of hypabyssal rocks.

 Dolerite
 Porphyry
 Diabase
 Granophyre
 Lamprophyre 2×1=2 marks
(b) State three factors that determine the rate of rock metamorphis m.
 Grain size of original rock
 Hardness of the original rock
 Porosity of the original rock
 Solubility of the minerals in the rock 3×1=3 marks

4. (a) What is folding?

 The process in which crustal rocks bend upwards and downwards due to compressional
forces. 1×2=2 marks
(b) Name three fold mountains that were formed during the Alpine orogeny.
 Himalayas
 Atlas
 Alps 3×1=3 marks

5. (a) Give two internal transfer processes of hydrological cycle.

 Interception
 Runoff

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  Infiltration
 Percolation 2×1=2 marks

(b) State three significance of hydrological cycle.

 Determine the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere for the development of storms.
 The moisture in the atmosphere absorbs terrestrial radiation thereby regulating the heat being lost
 It leads to formation of rainfall which assists in agricultural production and vegetation growth.
 Hydrological cycle leads to the distribution of water on the earth’s crust. 3×1=3 marks

6. Study the map of Mumias 1:50,000 (sheet 101/2) provided and answer the following questions.
(a) (i) Give the title of the map.
 EAST AFRICA 1:50,000 (KENYA) 1×1=1 mark
(ii) Name two districts in the area covered by the map.
 Busia
 Bungoma
 Kakamega
 Siaya 2×1=2 marks
(iii) What is the altitude of the highest point covered by the map?
 1368 metres 1×2=2 marks

(b) (i) What is the bearing of Tingolo school from Indangalasia school?
 3240 ±10 or N360 W 1×2=2 marks
(ii) Identify three physical features in grid square 5829.
 River
 Riverine trees
 Valley
 Scattered trees 3×1=3 marks
(c) Give four types of natural vegetation found in the area covered by the map.
 Scattered trees
 Riverine trees
 Woodland
 Scrub
 Thicket

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  Papyrus swamp vegetation 4×1=4 marks
(d) Describe the drainage of the area covered by the map.
 There are many rivers in the area covered by the map
 The rivers are permanent
 The main river is river Nzoia
 River Nzoia flows from the NE to SW of the area covered by the map
 River Nzoia meanders
 There are seasonal swamps in the area covered by the map
 There are papyrus swamps to the south east
 There are dams in the area covered by the map 5×1=5 marks
(e) Citing evidence from the map, identify three social activities carried out in the area covered
by the map.
 Education – presence of schools/teacher training school
 Health care/medical services – presence of dispensary/hospital
 Religion – presence of a convent 3×2=6 marks

7. (a) (i) Give two types of magma.

 Acid magma
 Basic magma
 Intermediate magma 2×1=2 marks
(ii) State four causes of vulcanicity
 Faulting which creates fissures/cracks through which the materials under high pressure and
temperature escapes.
 High temperatures causing change of solid rocks into molten material/magma.
 High interior pressure getting released during earth movement.
 Water coming into contact with hot materials beneath thereby turning into gaseous form
under pressure.
 Earth movement/plate movements weaken the crust giving way to magma.
4×1=4 marks
(b) The diagram below shows a composite volcano. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

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(i) Identify the parts labelled X, Y and Z.
 X – Crater
 Y – Pyroclasts
 Z – Lava 3×1=3 marks

(ii) A part from composite volcanoes, give three other types of volcanoes.
 Ash and cinder cones
 Basalt dome
 Comulo dome
 Plug dome/spine
 Volcanic plug/neck 3×1=3 marks
(iii) Describe how a composite volcano is formed.

 Due to the earth movements, the rocks of the crust were disturbed leading to formation of
a vent/ a central hole.
 Violent vent eruptions which first ejected solid materials (dust, cinder)/ pyroclasts which
settled around the vent.
 A successive eruption ejected huge masses of acidic/intermediate lava which cooled and
solidified over the layer of pyroclasts to form an alternate layer of lava.
 The magma in the vent solidified, followed by a period of calm.
 When another eruption occurred, the pressure inside caused the solidified magma in the
vent to break into pieces which were thrown out settling to form another layer of
pyroclasts.
 A mass of lava followed and spreads over the pyroclasts.

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  This process is repeated several times resulting in the formation of a volcanic cone with
alternating layer of pyroclasts and lava. 5×1=5 marks
(d) Explain four significances of volcanic features.
 The resultant volcanic features such as volcanoes, geysers, volcanic plugs, etc. offer scenic
beauty which attracts tourists and earns foreign exchange.
 Hot springs/geysers can be harnessed to produce geothermal power for domestic and
industrial use.
 Vulcanicity leads to rock metamorphism and produces valuable minerals for mining.
 Volcanic rocks weather to produce fertile volcanic soils suitable for crop farming (Tea,
coffee, horticulture).
 Volcanic rocks e.g. Phonolites are valuable as building stones and road construction material.
 The windward sides of volcanic mountains receive heavy orographic rainfall thus encourages
settlement and farming.
 Some volcanic mountains are forested and ice capped e.g. Mount Kenya forming catchment
areas for rivers that provide water for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes.
4×2=8 marks
8. (a) (i) Differentiate between weather and climate.
 Weather is the state/ condition of atmosphere of a given place at a given time/ over a short
period of time while Climate is the average weather conditions of a place observed over a
long period of time/ over 30 years. 1×2=2 marks
(ii) Explain how the following factors influences the climate of an area
 Altitude
 Temperature is higher at low altitude/ lower at higher altitude because the air is heated from
below and not directly from the sun.
 Atmospheric pressure is higher at low altitude/ lower at high altitude because the weight of
atmospheric air at low altitude is more than at high altitude 1×2=2 marks
 Human activities
 Construction of dams creates large human-made lakes. Evaporation from the lakes increase
humidity and amount of rainfall received in the surrounding areas.
 deforestation cause a drop in rainfall leading to semi-arid conditions.
 Gases like CO 2 emitted from burning of fossil fuels and chlorofluorocarbons causes
greenhouse effect raising temperature 2×2=4 marks
(b) (i) A part from Lake Victoria, give two other factors that have modified the Kenyan climate .
 High altitude/relief
 Indian ocean
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  Continentality 2×1=2 marks
(ii) State four characteristics of the modified equatorial climate of the lake basin.
 High relative humidity due to increased moisture and evaporation
 Rain falls throughout the year
 Rainfall mainly convectional and falls in the afternoon
 The rainfall is high
 Experiences double maxima rainfall regime
 Small annual range of temperature
 High temperatures throughout the year 4×1=4 marks
(c) Explain three natural causes of aridity and desertification.
 Very low rainfall limits vegetation growth causing aridity.
 High temperatures lead to high evaporation rates causing aridity.
 Cold ocean currents trap moisture from onshore winds blowing over them reaching adjacent
coastland as dry winds causing aridity.
 Continental dry winds constantly blowing over some regions may cause a drying effect to the
regions they are blowing over leading to aridity.
 location of places far away from the sea receives dry onshore winds leading to desertification
 High pressure system makes the air compressed, gets warmer increasing its dryness leading
to aridity.
 The rain shadow effect on the leeward sides of mountains where dry winds descends leading
to aridity. 3×2=6 marks
(d) Members of your class plan to conduct a field study in a nearby weather station.
(i) Give two methods you would use to collect data.
 Observation
 Interviewing
 Photographing
 Taking measurements
 Administering questionnaires 2×1=2 marks
(ii) State three problems you are likely to experience during the fieldwork.
 Accidents /injuries may occur.
 Sudden/heavy rain disrupting the field study
 Scorching sun causing fatigue
 Inadequate time for data collection
 Uncooperative/unwilling/absent respondents 3×1=3 marks

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9. (a) Give three agents of weathering.
 Heat/Temperature
 Water
 Plants and animals
 Man 3×1=3 marks
(b) Describe the following processes of weathering.
 Unloading
 Deeply seated igneous and metamorphic rocks are under pressure from the overlying
rocks.
 With time, denudation may remove the overlying rock layers and expose the
underlying rocks at or near the earth’s surface
 The upper parts of the exposed rocks expand slightly due to the reduced pressure.
 This leads to big shells rock breaking away from the parent rock. 4×1=4 marks
 Carbonation

 This involves rain water dissolving carbon dioxide in the atmosphere forming a weak
carbonic acid.
 The carbonic acid reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone rocks to form calcium
bicarbonate solution.
 This leads to the weakening/disintegration of the rock. 3×1=3 marks
(c) (i) Differentiate between mass wasting and mass movement.

 Mass wasting is the movement of weathered material down the slope under the influence of
gravity while mass movement is the movement of weathered materials down the slope after
lubrication by rain water or snow melt. 1×2=2 marks
(ii) Give three processes of rapid mass wasting.
 Earthflows
 Mudflows
 Landslides
 Avalanche 3×1=3 marks
(d) Explain three causes of soil creep.
 Temperature change causes soil particles to expand and contract hence they shift position
downslope.
 Alternate wetting and drying of the soil whereby when it rain, the soil wet becoming
compact and upon drying, soil particles become loose and shift their position down slope.
 Moisture/rainwater acts as lubricant to soil particles causing their movement down slope.
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  Trampling and burrowing of animals have a trigger effect on soil particles on the upper
part to shift downslope.
 External forces such as shaking by earthquakes/explosives/heavy vehicles have a trigger
effect which causes down slope movement of soil particles.
 Human activities like ploughing down the slope causes soil particles to shift their position
downslope since the soil is disturbed and loosened.
 Freezing of soil water expands the soil pores and when water thaws, the soil particles fall
by gravity and may shift position downslope. 3×2=6 marks
(e) State four negative effects of mass wasting.
 Soil creep may destroy walls built across the slope when creeping soil exerts pressure on
them.
 It leads to destruction of vegetation.
 It leads to blockage of rivers/disruption of flow of rivers reducing volume of water
downstream.
 It leads to exposure of land to agents of soil erosion.
 It leads to loss of life when people are buried under large quantities of rock waste.
 It leads to formation of scars on the land/derelict land destroying the beauty of land.
 Earthflows/mudflows cause siltation of dams reducing its capacity to hold more water.
4×1=4 marks
10. (a) (i) Differentiate between a river tributary and confluence.
 A tributary is a small river/stream flowing into the main river while confluence is a point at
which a tributary joins the main river. 1×2=2 marks
(ii) Give three sources of rivers.
 Lakes
 Melting ice/ snow
 Springs
 Swamps
 Surface run-off
 Oceans/ sea
 Mountains/ highlands
 Marshes 3×1=3 marks
(b) Describe three process of river erosion.
 Hydraulic action/quarrying - this is where a river uses the force of the moving water to
remove loose rock materials from the river banks and river beds.
 Corrasion/abrasion - this is where a river uses its load as a tool of erosion
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  Solution/ corrosion - this is where the running river water dissolves soluble minerals in rocks
found in the river banks over which it flows. 3×2=6 marks
(c) The diagram below illustrates river capture. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

(i) Identify the parts marked A, B and C.

 A – pirate river/powerful river
 B – elbow of the capture
 C – wind gap 3×1=3 marks
(ii) Name one example of river capture in Kenya.
 R. Miriu captured to form R. Sondu.
 R. Galana (Athi) captured by River Tira into River Tana 1×1=1 mark
(iii) State four conditions necessary for river capture to occur.
 The pirate and Misfit River must flow in adjacent valleys.
 The pirate river should have a wider valley than the misfit river.
 The pirate river must have more active headward erosion than Misfit River.
 The pirate river must be flowing at a lower level than the misfit river.
 The pirate river must be flowing on soft rocks to be eroded more easily 4×1=4 marks
(d) Members of your class intend to carry out a field study on the lower course of a river.
(i) Give three features you’re likely to identify during the study.
 Distributaries/ deltas.
 Natural levees.
 River terraces.
 Flood plain.
 Braided channel.
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  Meanders.
 Ox bow lakes.
 Bluffs/ meander scar. 3×1=3 marks
(ii) State three reasons why you would prepare a working schedule.
 It helps in carrying out the field activities systematically.
 It helps in estimating the total time required for the study.
 It ensures all areas of study are adequately covered.
 It helps in assessing progress of the study.
 It enables for proper use of available time.
 It confines one to the scope of the study. 3×1=3 marks

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