WAEC Geography 2001 Theory question 102

Theory question 102

Settlement

(a) Highlight any four characteristics of urban centres. (b) Explain four ways in which urban centres depend on their surrounding rural areas. (c) Describe three problems facing rural areas.

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Model answer

(a) Large, dense population; most people in secondary and tertiary jobs; built-up area with many amenities (hospitals, banks, schools); mixed (heterogeneous) population; administrative and commercial centres; congestion and pollution.
(b) Food supply (grain, tubers, vegetables, meat); raw materials for industries (cotton, cocoa, timber); labour from rural migrants; market for manufactured goods; fuelwood and herbs; recreation and retirement homes.
(c) Rural-urban migration and loss of labour; lack of amenities (water, electricity, health care); poor roads and transport; low farm output and poverty; unemployment and underemployment; poor housing.

Explanation

Part (b) is about what towns get from villages.