Unit 8: Human Systems and Resource Use
Topic 8.2: Urban Systems and Urban Planning Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB ESS Topic 8.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1outline2 marks
Figure 1 is a fact file on Levittown, New York, USA.
With reference to Figure 1, outline two reasons why families moved from New York City to Levittown.
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Figure 1 is a fact file on Stockholm.
With reference to Figure 1, identify one type of ecosystem that can be found within Stockholm's urban area.
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2026
Curitiba is often given as an example of sustainable urban planning.
Define the term sustainable urban planning.
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Portland, Oregon, has kept new building inside an urban growth boundary since 1979.
Define the term urban compactness.
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2026
In 1950 less than a third of the world's people lived in towns and cities; by 2025 more than half did.
Define the term urbanization.
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2026
Central Tokyo has paved soils, rivers in concrete channels and nights that are warmer than in the surrounding countryside.
State one abiotic component of Tokyo's urban ecosystem.
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2026
Urban planning aims to meet the needs of all the stakeholders in a community.
State one need of a community that urban planning aims to meet.
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2026
Sustainable urban planning is often judged by the 3 Es.
State what the 3 Es stand for.
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Figure 1 is a fact file on Nairobi.
With reference to Figure 1, identify one type of ecosystem that can be found within Nairobi's urban area.
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Figure 1 is a fact file on the city of Manila, in the Philippines.
Using Figure 1, calculate the population density of the city of Manila.
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2026
Cities, towns and suburbs are all counted as urban areas.
Define the term urban area.
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2026
In 2025 the UN counted 33 megacities, including Jakarta, Dhaka and Tokyo.
State what is meant by a megacity.
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Figure 1 shows how the land in the built-up area of a city is used.
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2026
Since the 1950s many families have left the centres of large cities for the suburbs.
Define the term suburbanization.
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2026
Around many cities, new estates of houses spread over the farmland at the edge.
Define the term urban sprawl.
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2026
In most cities, land values are highest in the CBD.
State what CBD stands for.
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2026
Rotterdam plans its streets, roofs and squares to work with rain and river water.
Define the term ecological urban planning.
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Figure 1 is a fact file on Berlin.
With reference to Figure 1, identify one type of ecosystem that can be found within Berlin's urban area.
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2026
Lagos, Nigeria, is building new railway lines and water pipes for its growing population.
State what is meant by infrastructure.
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2026
Curitiba allowed tall blocks of flats and offices only along its bus rapid transit routes.
State one way this makes the city more sustainable.
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