AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1 (2025) Questions And Answers Solved
100% Correct!!
Question 1
Which of the following is an example of a tectonic hazard?
A) Hurricane
B) Flood
C) Earthquake
D) Drought
E) Wildfire
Correct Answer: C) Earthquake
Rationale: Tectonic hazards are those caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis are all examples of tectonic hazards.
Question 2
What is a natural hazard?
A) Any natural event that occurs on Earth.
B) A natural process that poses a potential risk of damage to property and loss of life.
C) A man-made event that causes destruction.
D) A weather event that is unusual for a particular region.
E) A geological feature like a mountain or a river.
Correct Answer: B) A natural process that poses a potential risk of damage to property and
loss of life.
Rationale: A natural event only becomes a hazard when it has the potential to interact with
and harm human populations and their infrastructure.
Question 3
What is the focus of an earthquake?
A) The point on the surface directly above where the earthquake starts.
B) The point underground where the earthquake starts and the greatest energy is released.
C) The measure of the strength of the earthquake.
,D) The area that experiences the most damage.
E) The fault line along which the earthquake occurs.
Correct Answer: B) The point underground where the earthquake starts and the greatest
energy is released.
Rationale: The focus, or hypocenter, is the origin point of the earthquake within the Earth's
crust where the rock ruptures.
Question 4
The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake is the:
A) Magnitude
B) Epicentre
C) Fault line
D) Subduction zone
E) Trench
Correct Answer: B) Epicentre
Rationale: The epicentre is the surface location directly above the focus. The seismic waves
radiate outwards from the focus, and the epicentre is typically the location of the most
intense shaking and damage.
Question 5
What happens at a destructive (convergent) plate margin?
A) Two plates move apart, and magma rises to form new crust.
B) Two plates slide past each other, causing friction and earthquakes.
C) A denser oceanic plate is forced to sink (subduct) beneath a less dense continental plate.
D) Two continental plates collide and crumple to form fold mountains.
E) Plates are stationary, and no activity occurs.
Correct Answer: C) A denser oceanic plate is forced to sink (subduct) beneath a less dense
continental plate.
Rationale: At a destructive margin, oceanic and continental plates converge. The denser
, oceanic crust is subducted, leading to the formation of ocean trenches, volcanoes, and
earthquakes as it melts and is destroyed.
Question 6
Which of the following is a reason why people continue to live in areas at risk from a tectonic
hazard?
A) Tectonic hazards are easy to predict with 100% accuracy.
B) The land is always infertile and unsuitable for other uses.
C) People may not be able to afford to move, or jobs and resources make it worth staying.
D) Governments provide free, safe housing for everyone in hazard zones.
E) Tectonic hazards only occur in uninhabited areas.
Correct Answer: C) People may not be able to afford to move, or jobs and resources make it
worth staying.
Rationale: People live in hazardous areas for a combination of economic, social, and
perceptual reasons, including poverty (can't move), economic opportunity (jobs, fertile soil,
tourism), and a lack of awareness or optimism about the risk.
Question 7
Which of the following is a key difference between oceanic and continental crust?
A) Oceanic crust is thicker and less dense than continental crust.
B) Oceanic crust is made mainly of granite, while continental crust is mainly basalt.
C) Oceanic crust is permanent, while continental crust is constantly renewed.
D) Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
E) There are no significant differences between them.
Correct Answer: D) Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
Rationale: Oceanic crust is typically 5-10 km thick and made of dense basalt, whereas
continental crust is 30-50 km thick and made of less dense granite. This density difference is
why oceanic crust subducts.
Question 8
What are the primary driving forces behind the movement of tectonic plates?
100% Correct!!
Question 1
Which of the following is an example of a tectonic hazard?
A) Hurricane
B) Flood
C) Earthquake
D) Drought
E) Wildfire
Correct Answer: C) Earthquake
Rationale: Tectonic hazards are those caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis are all examples of tectonic hazards.
Question 2
What is a natural hazard?
A) Any natural event that occurs on Earth.
B) A natural process that poses a potential risk of damage to property and loss of life.
C) A man-made event that causes destruction.
D) A weather event that is unusual for a particular region.
E) A geological feature like a mountain or a river.
Correct Answer: B) A natural process that poses a potential risk of damage to property and
loss of life.
Rationale: A natural event only becomes a hazard when it has the potential to interact with
and harm human populations and their infrastructure.
Question 3
What is the focus of an earthquake?
A) The point on the surface directly above where the earthquake starts.
B) The point underground where the earthquake starts and the greatest energy is released.
C) The measure of the strength of the earthquake.
,D) The area that experiences the most damage.
E) The fault line along which the earthquake occurs.
Correct Answer: B) The point underground where the earthquake starts and the greatest
energy is released.
Rationale: The focus, or hypocenter, is the origin point of the earthquake within the Earth's
crust where the rock ruptures.
Question 4
The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake is the:
A) Magnitude
B) Epicentre
C) Fault line
D) Subduction zone
E) Trench
Correct Answer: B) Epicentre
Rationale: The epicentre is the surface location directly above the focus. The seismic waves
radiate outwards from the focus, and the epicentre is typically the location of the most
intense shaking and damage.
Question 5
What happens at a destructive (convergent) plate margin?
A) Two plates move apart, and magma rises to form new crust.
B) Two plates slide past each other, causing friction and earthquakes.
C) A denser oceanic plate is forced to sink (subduct) beneath a less dense continental plate.
D) Two continental plates collide and crumple to form fold mountains.
E) Plates are stationary, and no activity occurs.
Correct Answer: C) A denser oceanic plate is forced to sink (subduct) beneath a less dense
continental plate.
Rationale: At a destructive margin, oceanic and continental plates converge. The denser
, oceanic crust is subducted, leading to the formation of ocean trenches, volcanoes, and
earthquakes as it melts and is destroyed.
Question 6
Which of the following is a reason why people continue to live in areas at risk from a tectonic
hazard?
A) Tectonic hazards are easy to predict with 100% accuracy.
B) The land is always infertile and unsuitable for other uses.
C) People may not be able to afford to move, or jobs and resources make it worth staying.
D) Governments provide free, safe housing for everyone in hazard zones.
E) Tectonic hazards only occur in uninhabited areas.
Correct Answer: C) People may not be able to afford to move, or jobs and resources make it
worth staying.
Rationale: People live in hazardous areas for a combination of economic, social, and
perceptual reasons, including poverty (can't move), economic opportunity (jobs, fertile soil,
tourism), and a lack of awareness or optimism about the risk.
Question 7
Which of the following is a key difference between oceanic and continental crust?
A) Oceanic crust is thicker and less dense than continental crust.
B) Oceanic crust is made mainly of granite, while continental crust is mainly basalt.
C) Oceanic crust is permanent, while continental crust is constantly renewed.
D) Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
E) There are no significant differences between them.
Correct Answer: D) Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.
Rationale: Oceanic crust is typically 5-10 km thick and made of dense basalt, whereas
continental crust is 30-50 km thick and made of less dense granite. This density difference is
why oceanic crust subducts.
Question 8
What are the primary driving forces behind the movement of tectonic plates?
