AQA GCSE Flooding and River Management

Which of the following could cause flooding?

• Flat valley

• Impermeable rocks

• Permeable rocks

What are the physical reasons for flooding?

• Urbanisation

• Impermeable geology

• Small drainage basin

• Prolonged rainfall

• Deforestation

Which of the following are human reasons for increased risk of flooding?

• Urbanisation

• Deforestation

• Afforestation

• Changes in farming practices

• Steep valleys

The following image shows a hydrograph, but what factors would increase the lag-time (the difference between peak rainfall and peak discharge)? Tick all relevant answers.

• More vegetation cover in a drainage basin.

• Increased urbanisation.

• Deforestation.

• Permeable geology.

• Saturated soil.

Which of these is an example of hard engineering?

• Washland

• Flood-plain zoning

• River restoration

• Dams and reservoirs

Answer explanation

Dams and reservoirs are examples of hard engineering as they involve the construction of physical structures to control water flow and manage flooding, unlike the other options which focus on planning or natural restoration.

How does deforestation impact flood risk?

• It increases flood risk by reducing water absorption

• It decreases flood risk by reducing water resistance

• It has no effect on flood risk

• It increases flood risk by increasing water temperature

What is soft engineering management?

• Building artificial structures to control rivers

• A natural approach to control rivers

• Using technology to monitor river flooding rates

Which of the following is an advantage of flood warnings?

• They are primarily internet-based and cheap
• They completely eliminate flooding
• They require expensive equipment to implement
• They are only effective in rural areas

What is one disadvantage of flood warnings?

• People may ignore them and not take action
• They are always accurate and reliable
• They require extensive physical infrastructure
• They are costly to implement

What does river restoration aim to achieve?

• To return the river channel to its natural state
• To build more dams and barriers
• To increase agricultural land near rivers
• To create more urban developments