HSC Geography · People, Patterns and Processes · 7.2 · Student worksheet
Patterns of Settlement — Activities
Print or work on screen · pairs with the 7.2 study page
Activity 1 — Describe the urbanisation trend
Syllabus link: 7.2.1 · the global rise of urban living
Study the graph below (the same one from the study page). In a short paragraph, describe the trend in the world's urban and rural population shares from 1950 to 2050. Name the approximate values, the point where urban overtook rural, and the direction and rate of change.
Activity 2 — Define the mega-city
Syllabus link: 7.2.2 · the mega-city
Answer in full sentences.
- Define a mega-city (give the exact population threshold):
- Name three real mega-cities:
- In one sentence, why do mega-cities matter to the global economy?
Activity 3 — Explain the distribution
Syllabus link: 7.2.3 · the spatial distribution of cities
Using the mega-city map on the study page, complete the table with two examples for each factor, then write one sentence explaining why the distribution is uneven.
| Factor that attracts settlement | Example(s) |
|---|
| Physical (water, land, harbour) | |
| Economic (trade, jobs, resources) | |
| Historical / political | |
Activity 4 — Evaluate the environmental footprint
Syllabus link: 7.2.4 · environmental footprint of cities
Write 3–4 sentences. Use at least one statistic from the study page (e.g. ~3% of land, ~70% of carbon emissions) and one named strategy.
Prompt: "Cities are the biggest environmental problem we face — but also the best chance of a solution." Evaluate this statement.
Activity 5 — Key concepts
Syllabus link: geographical concepts
For each concept, write one sentence linking it to patterns of settlement.
- Space (uneven distribution of cities):
- Scale (village → mega-city):
- Interconnection (trade & urban growth):
- Change (urbanisation over time):
- Sustainability (urban environmental footprint):
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