Our worldAges 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Examine settlement hierarchy, push and pull migration factors, greenbelts, brownfield sites and sustainable cities. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Why are urban temperatures often 2 °C to 5 °C warmer than the surrounding countryside, especially at night (the urban heat island effect): dark concrete and tarmac absorb heat and buildings trap warmth while releasing waste heat, or cities are closer to the Sun?
2 °C · 5 °C · Settlements, cities & migr…
2. What term describes the increasing percentage of a country’s population living in towns and cities rather than rural areas: urbanisation or reforestation?
What term describes the in… · Settlements, cities & migr…
3. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
What do we call a person w… · Settlements, cities & migr…
4. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
In urban planning, redevel… · Settlements, cities & migr…
5. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
When several neighbouring … · Settlements, cities & migr…
6. What is the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel to buy a good or use a service: the sphere of influence (range) or the contour interval?
What is the maximum distan… · Settlements, cities & migr…
7. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
What is a protected zone o… · Settlements, cities & migr…
8. What is a “sustainable city” (eco-city) designed to achieve: meeting residents’ housing, transport, water and energy needs while minimising waste, pollution and resource depletion, or paving over all parks?
“sustainable city” · Settlements, cities & migr…
9. What is the regular daily journey that workers make between their homes in residential suburbs and their workplaces in the city centre: commuting or international migration?
What is the regular daily … · Settlements, cities & migr…
10. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
What do geographers call t… · Settlements, cities & migr…
11. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
In human geography, what i… · Settlements, cities & migr…
12. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
What do we call the unplan… · Settlements, cities & migr…

12 questions · Seed 51 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Why are urban temperatures often 2 °C to 5 °C warmer than the surrounding countryside, especially at night (the urban heat island effect): dark concrete and tarmac absorb heat and buildings trap warmth while releasing waste heat, or cities are closer to the Sun?
Dark concrete and tarmac absorb heat and buildings trap warmth while releasing waste heat
Impervious dark surfaces, reduced vegetation and energy use create an urban heat island.
2. What term describes the increasing percentage of a country’s population living in towns and cities rather than rural areas: urbanisation or reforestation?
Urbanisation
Urbanisation is the demographic shift from rural to urban living.
3. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
Refugee
Under international law, refugees cross borders seeking safety from persecution or armed conflict.
4. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
Brownfield site
Brownfield sites have been previously developed; reusing them regenerates inner cities and protects rural greenfield land.
5. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
Conurbation
A conurbation forms when formerly separate towns grow outward and coalesce.
6. What is the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel to buy a good or use a service: the sphere of influence (range) or the contour interval?
Sphere of influence (range)
People travel only a short distance for everyday low-order goods (milk, bread) but much further for specialist high-order goods.
7. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
Greenbelt
Greenbelt planning policies prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one continuous built-up area.
8. What is a “sustainable city” (eco-city) designed to achieve: meeting residents’ housing, transport, water and energy needs while minimising waste, pollution and resource depletion, or paving over all parks?
Meeting residents’ housing, transport, water and energy needs while minimising waste, pollution and resource depletion
Sustainable urban design integrates green roofs, solar energy, water recycling, parks and clean transit.
9. What is the regular daily journey that workers make between their homes in residential suburbs and their workplaces in the city centre: commuting or international migration?
Commuting
Commuters travel regularly between home and work by train, bus, ferry, bicycle or car.
10. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
Threshold population
High-order services like hospitals and universities require a much larger threshold population than a convenience store.
11. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
Hamlet → Village → Town → City
A hamlet has only a few dwellings; a village adds basic services; a town and city offer progressively larger populations and specialist services.
12. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl consumes agricultural land and increases car dependency.

12 questions · Seed 51 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Why are urban temperatures often 2 °C to 5 °C warmer than the surrounding countryside, especially at night (the urban heat island effect): dark concrete and tarmac absorb heat and buildings trap warmth while releasing waste heat, or cities are closer to the Sun?
2 °C · 5 °C · Settlements, cities & migr…
2. What term describes the increasing percentage of a country’s population living in towns and cities rather than rural areas: urbanisation or reforestation?
What term describes the in… · Settlements, cities & migr…
3. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
What do we call a person w… · Settlements, cities & migr…
4. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
In urban planning, redevel… · Settlements, cities & migr…
5. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
When several neighbouring … · Settlements, cities & migr…
6. What is the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel to buy a good or use a service: the sphere of influence (range) or the contour interval?
What is the maximum distan… · Settlements, cities & migr…
7. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
What is a protected zone o… · Settlements, cities & migr…
8. What is a “sustainable city” (eco-city) designed to achieve: meeting residents’ housing, transport, water and energy needs while minimising waste, pollution and resource depletion, or paving over all parks?
“sustainable city” · Settlements, cities & migr…
9. What is the regular daily journey that workers make between their homes in residential suburbs and their workplaces in the city centre: commuting or international migration?
What is the regular daily … · Settlements, cities & migr…
10. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
What do geographers call t… · Settlements, cities & migr…
11. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
In human geography, what i… · Settlements, cities & migr…
12. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
What do we call the unplan… · Settlements, cities & migr…

12 questions · Seed 51 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Why are urban temperatures often 2 °C to 5 °C warmer than the surrounding countryside, especially at night (the urban heat island effect): dark concrete and tarmac absorb heat and buildings trap warmth while releasing waste heat, or cities are closer to the Sun?
Dark concrete and tarmac absorb heat and buildings trap warmth while releasing waste heat
Impervious dark surfaces, reduced vegetation and energy use create an urban heat island.
2. What term describes the increasing percentage of a country’s population living in towns and cities rather than rural areas: urbanisation or reforestation?
Urbanisation
Urbanisation is the demographic shift from rural to urban living.
3. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
Refugee
Under international law, refugees cross borders seeking safety from persecution or armed conflict.
4. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
Brownfield site
Brownfield sites have been previously developed; reusing them regenerates inner cities and protects rural greenfield land.
5. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
Conurbation
A conurbation forms when formerly separate towns grow outward and coalesce.
6. What is the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel to buy a good or use a service: the sphere of influence (range) or the contour interval?
Sphere of influence (range)
People travel only a short distance for everyday low-order goods (milk, bread) but much further for specialist high-order goods.
7. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
Greenbelt
Greenbelt planning policies prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one continuous built-up area.
8. What is a “sustainable city” (eco-city) designed to achieve: meeting residents’ housing, transport, water and energy needs while minimising waste, pollution and resource depletion, or paving over all parks?
Meeting residents’ housing, transport, water and energy needs while minimising waste, pollution and resource depletion
Sustainable urban design integrates green roofs, solar energy, water recycling, parks and clean transit.
9. What is the regular daily journey that workers make between their homes in residential suburbs and their workplaces in the city centre: commuting or international migration?
Commuting
Commuters travel regularly between home and work by train, bus, ferry, bicycle or car.
10. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
Threshold population
High-order services like hospitals and universities require a much larger threshold population than a convenience store.
11. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
Hamlet → Village → Town → City
A hamlet has only a few dwellings; a village adds basic services; a town and city offer progressively larger populations and specialist services.
12. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl consumes agricultural land and increases car dependency.

12 questions · Seed 51 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification