Revision Library

revisionlibrary.co.uk

GCSE · AQA

UI2 Urban Issues: A City in a Newly Emerging Economy (NEE) Case Study

AQA 8035 · Calculators not allowed · about 65 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question is about the location of Rio de Janeiro, a named example of a city in a newly emerging economy (NEE).

(a)Name the country in which Rio de Janeiro is located.(1)

(b)Name the continent in which this country is located.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 2 marks)

State TWO push factors and TWO pull factors that cause rural-urban migration to cities in newly emerging economies (NEEs).

(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)

This question is about key urbanisation vocabulary.

(a)State what is meant by urbanisation.(1)

(b)State what is meant by a megacity.(2)

(Total for Question 3 is 3 marks)

Explain TWO reasons for the rapid growth of Rio de Janeiro over the last century.

(Total for Question 4 is 4 marks)

Describe the characteristics of a favela (an informal squatter settlement) in Rio de Janeiro, such as Rocinha.

(Total for Question 5 is 5 marks)

Explain THREE challenges caused by rapid urban growth in Rio de Janeiro.

(Total for Question 6 is 6 marks)

Describe the Favela-Bairro scheme, and explain how it aimed to improve quality of life in Rio's favelas.

(Total for Question 7 is 6 marks)

Evaluate ONE limitation of urban regeneration schemes such as Favela-Bairro in Rio de Janeiro.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Explain how hosting a major international sporting event, such as the 2016 Summer Olympics, can bring both opportunities and challenges to a city like Rio de Janeiro.

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

Suggest TWO differences between the challenges of rapid urban growth in a city in a newly emerging economy, such as Rio de Janeiro, and in a UK city.

(Total for Question 10 is 5 marks)

This question is about Rocinha, a named favela in Rio de Janeiro.

(a)Describe the location of Rocinha within Rio de Janeiro.(2)

(b)State the approximate scale (population) of Rocinha.(2)

(Total for Question 11 is 4 marks)

State the approximate population of the city (municipality) of Rio de Janeiro.

(Total for Question 12 is 2 marks)

State what is meant by the 'informal sector' of employment, and explain why it is common in cities such as Rio de Janeiro.

(Total for Question 13 is 4 marks)

Explain how rapid urban growth can bring economic opportunities to a city such as Rio de Janeiro.

(Total for Question 14 is 4 marks)

Use your case study of Rio de Janeiro, including the Favela-Bairro scheme and the impacts of hosting the 2016 Olympics, to answer this question.

'Urban regeneration schemes have been the most effective way of improving quality of life for people living in the informal settlements of Rio de Janeiro.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?

(Total for Question 15 is 9 marks)

Mark scheme · UI2 Urban Issues: A City in a Newly Emerging Economy (NEE) Case Study

Question 1

(a) B1 Brazil
(a) Answer: Brazil.
(b) B1 South America
(b) Answer: South America.

Question 2

B1 push factor 1, e.g. limited paid work in rural areas / poverty in the countryside, oe
B1 push factor 2, e.g. mechanisation of farming reduces the number of farm jobs available, oe
B1 pull factor 1, e.g. the perception of more/better paid job opportunities in the city, oe
B1 pull factor 2, e.g. better access to services in the city, e.g. healthcare, education, oe
Answer: Push: limited paid work in rural areas; farm mechanisation reducing jobs. Pull: perceived better job opportunities in the city; better access to services such as healthcare and education.

Question 3

(a) B1 an increase in the proportion of a country's population living in urban areas (towns and cities), oe
(a) Answer: An increase in the proportion of a country's population living in urban areas.
(b) B1 a city with a population of over 10 million people, oe
(b) B1 named example, e.g. Rio de Janeiro's wider metropolitan area, or another valid megacity such as Tokyo or Lagos, oe
(b) Answer: A city with a population of over 10 million people, e.g. the wider metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro.

Question 4

B1 rural-urban migration, e.g. large numbers of people have moved to Rio from poorer rural areas of Brazil in search of work and a better standard of living, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. Rio's economy (industry, services, port) offered more perceived opportunities than farming, oe
B1 natural increase, e.g. Rio's population also grows through natural increase (more births than deaths), oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. this is partly because migrants moving to the city tend to be younger adults, who then go on to have children in the city, oe
Answer: Rio has grown through rural-urban migration, as people move from poorer rural areas in search of work; and through natural increase, since many migrants are young adults who go on to have children in the city.

Question 5

B1 favelas often develop on land that is not wanted or used for formal housing, e.g. steep hillsides above the city, oe
B1 housing is often built informally, without official permission or planning, oe
B1 homes are often built from whatever materials are available, and are gradually improved and extended over time, oe
B1 many favelas historically lacked reliable access to services such as clean water, sanitation (sewers) and electricity, oe
B1 Rocinha, one of Brazil's largest favelas, is estimated to be home to well over 70,000 people, on steep hillsides in Rio's South Zone, oe
Answer: Favelas like Rocinha are often built informally on land not used for formal housing, such as steep hillsides, using whatever materials are available; they have historically lacked reliable water, sanitation and electricity. Rocinha itself is home to well over 70,000 people.

Question 6

B1 challenge 1, e.g. a shortage of affordable, formal housing has forced many people to live in informal favelas, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. these homes can be unstable, e.g. built on steep slopes at risk of landslides, oe
B1 challenge 2, e.g. some favelas have lacked reliable clean water and sanitation, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. increasing the risk of the spread of disease, oe
B1 challenge 3, e.g. severe traffic congestion, and high levels of crime linked to inequality between wealthy areas (e.g. Copacabana) and poorer favelas, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. this inequality has historically made some favelas difficult and dangerous for the authorities to provide services in, oe
Answer: For example: a shortage of formal housing has forced many into favelas, some on unstable, landslide-prone slopes; some favelas have lacked reliable water and sanitation, raising disease risk; and stark inequality between wealthy areas and favelas has been linked to traffic congestion and crime.

Question 7

B1 Favela-Bairro was a housing and infrastructure improvement (urban regeneration) programme launched in Rio de Janeiro in 1994, oe
B1 it was funded partly by the Inter-American Development Bank, oe
B1 it aimed to integrate favelas into the formal city, rather than clearing/demolishing them, oe
B1 it improved infrastructure such as roads, water supply, sanitation and street lighting, oe
B1 it also built community facilities, such as community centres, sports facilities and health posts, oe
B1 explains the aim/effect, e.g. this improved residents' access to services and safety, and gave legal recognition/security to the settlement, without displacing existing communities, oe
Answer: Favela-Bairro was an urban regeneration programme launched in Rio in 1994, funded partly by the Inter-American Development Bank, that upgraded infrastructure (roads, water, sanitation, lighting) and built community facilities in favelas, aiming to integrate them into the formal city rather than clear them.

Question 8

B1 identifies a limitation, e.g. funding was limited, so not every favela in the city could be covered by the scheme, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. so many residents outside the improved areas continued to lack reliable services, oe
B1 or an alternative limitation, e.g. investment tied to hosting major international events (e.g. the 2016 Olympics) was criticised for displacing some favela residents rather than helping them, oe
B1 reaches a linked evaluative comment, e.g. showing that regeneration alone may not solve inequality across the whole city, oe
Answer: For example, funding limits meant not every favela was covered by Favela-Bairro, so many residents outside the improved areas continued to lack reliable services; this shows regeneration schemes alone cannot solve inequality across an entire city.

Question 9

B1 opportunity, e.g. hosting the Olympics can bring investment in transport infrastructure, such as new Bus Rapid Transit lines, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. improving connections across the city and raising its international profile for future tourism/investment, oe
B1 challenge, e.g. building venues and infrastructure has been criticised for displacing some favela residents from their homes, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. and the huge cost of hosting the event competed for funding that could otherwise have been used for wider social programmes, oe
Answer: Hosting the Olympics brought investment in transport infrastructure (such as new Bus Rapid Transit lines) and raised Rio's international profile; but building venues has been criticised for displacing some favela residents, and its huge cost competed for funding with wider social programmes.

Question 10

B1 difference 1, e.g. NEE cities often have large areas of informal, unplanned housing (favelas/squatter settlements), which is far less common in UK cities, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. because UK cities generally have stronger planning laws and more affordable formal housing provision, oe
B1 difference 2, e.g. NEE cities often lack reliable basic services (clean water, sanitation) for all residents, oe
B1 linked detail, e.g. whereas UK cities generally have near-universal access to these services, so urban challenges there tend to focus more on issues like traffic congestion, housing affordability or urban sprawl, oe
B1 any further valid, distinct point, oe
Answer: NEE cities such as Rio have large areas of informal, unplanned housing with unreliable basic services, because planning laws and formal housing provision are weaker; UK cities generally have near-universal services and stronger planning, so their urban challenges tend to centre more on issues like traffic congestion and housing affordability.

Question 11

(a) B1 Rocinha is located on steep hillsides, oe
(a) B1 in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, close to wealthy neighbourhoods such as Sao Conrado, oe
(a) Answer: Rocinha is located on steep hillsides in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, close to wealthy neighbourhoods such as Sao Conrado.
(b) B1 estimated to be home to well over 70,000 people, oe
(b) B1 making it one of the largest favelas in Brazil, oe
(b) Answer: Estimated to be home to well over 70,000 people, making it one of the largest favelas in Brazil.

Question 12

B1 over 6 million people, oe
B1 with the wider metropolitan area home to over 12 million people, oe
Answer: Over 6 million people in the city itself, with the wider metropolitan area home to over 12 million.

Question 13

B1 the informal sector is unregistered, untaxed work, e.g. street vending or informal recycling, oe
B1 often without formal contracts, regular wages or legal protections, oe
B1 it is common because there are not enough formal jobs for the large number of people who have moved to the city, oe
B1 and because many residents lack the qualifications, contacts or documentation needed to access formal employment, oe
Answer: The informal sector is unregistered, untaxed work (e.g. street vending), usually without formal contracts or protections. It is common because there are not enough formal jobs for the number of migrants, and many lack the qualifications or documents for formal work.

Question 14

B1 a larger population provides a bigger workforce, oe
B1 which can attract more businesses and industry, creating a wider range of jobs, oe
B1 a larger city also creates a bigger market of consumers/services, e.g. supporting growth in retail, transport and tourism, oe
B1 this can increase the city's overall wealth and its importance in the national/regional economy, oe
Answer: A larger population provides a bigger workforce and consumer market, which can attract businesses and support growth in industry, retail, transport and tourism, increasing the city's overall wealth and economic importance.

Question 15

Level 4 (7-9): A detailed, well-balanced assessment that uses accurate, detailed reference to named schemes and events in Rio de Janeiro (e.g. Favela-Bairro, the 2016 Olympics); weighs their effectiveness against limitations or alternative explanations, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion on the extent of agreement.
Level 3 (5-6): A clear assessment that uses accurate reference to at least one named scheme in some detail; both strengths and limitations are considered, and a conclusion is reached, though the balance of the argument may be less developed.
Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant points about urban regeneration in Rio de Janeiro are made, with limited or generalised use of named detail; a simple conclusion is given with little justification.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two isolated relevant points about Rio de Janeiro's urban challenges or improvement schemes are made, with little or no evaluation.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- Favela-Bairro (from 1994) upgraded infrastructure (roads, water, sanitation, lighting) and built community facilities in many favelas, integrating them into the formal city rather than clearing them, and is widely regarded as improving residents' access to services.
- Limitations of Favela-Bairro: funding constraints meant not every favela was covered, so improvements were uneven across the city.
- Investment linked to hosting the 2016 Olympics brought transport improvements (e.g. new Bus Rapid Transit lines) but has been criticised for displacing some favela residents, suggesting event-driven investment does not always prioritise existing communities' quality of life.
- Pacifying Police Units (UPPs), introduced from 2008 to reduce gang violence, initially improved safety in some favelas around the time of the Olympics, but their long-term success has been mixed, with security in some areas declining again after 2016.
- Agrees with the statement: targeted infrastructure schemes like Favela-Bairro directly improved daily living conditions (water, sanitation, safety) in a way that broader city investment did not always achieve.
- Disagrees with the statement: the scale of Rio's favela population means no single scheme has reached everyone, and factors outside any single scheme (national economic conditions, crime, inequality) also strongly affect quality of life.
- A well-supported conclusion should state a clear judgement, backed by specific evidence, on how far regeneration schemes specifically (rather than other factors) explain improvements in quality of life.

Urban Issues: A City in a Newly Emerging Economy (NEE) Case Study - Worksheets, Questions and Revision