GCSE Geography | Changes in rural areas in MEDCs, farmers diversify

Geography Quiz - Changes in Rural Areas - MEDCs (Questions)

Rural life in richer countries is changing fast. This GCSE Geography quiz explores why some villages grow, others shrink, and how communities respond.

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Fascinating Fact:

Some rural areas experience depopulation, as young people move to cities for higher education, wider job choices, and entertainment.

In GCSE Geography, pupils study how rural areas in more economically developed countries (MEDCs) are changing. Topics include the loss of traditional farming jobs, growth of commuter villages, the impact of tourism, and how planning policies try to balance housing demand, transport links, local services, and environmental protection.

Key Terms

MEDC: A more economically developed country, where income levels and access to services are generally high compared with poorer countries.
Rural depopulation: A long-term fall in the number of people living in the countryside, often as residents move away and are not replaced.
Counter-urbanisation: The movement of people from towns and cities to the countryside, often seeking quieter lifestyles and more space.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does MEDC mean in GCSE Geography?

In GCSE Geography, MEDC stands for more economically developed country. These countries, such as the UK, usually have higher incomes, better healthcare, and wider access to education and services.

How can rural areas in MEDCs change over time?

Rural areas in MEDCs can lose farm jobs through mechanisation, gain new housing and commuters, develop tourism, and see changes to shops, schools, and transport links as populations rise or fall.

Why do some rural communities in MEDCs face problems?

Some rural communities face problems because falling numbers of residents, second homes, and an ageing population can lead to school closures, fewer bus services, limited healthcare, and rising house prices.

Try These Related Quizzes

Depopulation in remote rural communities leads to businesses closing down. People then notice a lowering of the quality of life and so even more depopulation occurs. This process is called ...

[ ]	a cycle of decline
[ ]	a circuit of decline
[ ]	a circle of decline
[ ]	a pentagon of decline

Which of the following is not a push factor that leads to depopulation in remote rural areas of the UK?

[ ]	No jobs
[ ]	A lack of shopping facilities locally
[ ]	Earn more money in an urban area
[ ]	No social life

Which of the following is not a factor that is likely to lead to rural depopulation?

[ ]	MEDCs import food from abroad
[ ]	MEDCs can afford to invest in rural communities
[ ]	In MEDCs, there is a trend towards increased mechanisation of farming
[ ]	Large farms are more competitive than small farms

In some accessible rural areas, the population is increasing. This is called ...

[ ]	client repopulation
[ ]	rural repopularisation
[ ]	contra-urbanisation
[ ]	counter urbanisation

Counter urbanisation is good for a rural community in many ways but which of these is a disadvantage to local residents?

[ ]	More young people in the community
[ ]	Increases income for local shops
[ ]	Increases traffic
[ ]	Better mobile phone coverage

In what way or ways is counter urbanisation bad for the environment?

[ ]	New housing is built on greenfield sites
[ ]	More fossil fuels are burned because more car journeys are needed
[ ]	More rural air pollution is created
[ ]	All of the above

Which of the following is a reason why housing stock in a national park is usually more expensive than in surrounding areas?

[ ]	Building new homes is restricted in national parks
[ ]	Building new homes is more difficult as the roads in national parks are narrower than outside of the park
[ ]	There are no restrictions on building in national parks
[ ]	Houses in national parks are always bigger than outside of the park

Which of the following are most likely to be involved in counter urbanisation?

[ ]	Young adults
[ ]	People of retirement age
[ ]	Unemployed people
[ ]	All of the above

Why are large retail centres often built on greenfield sites in the rural/urban fringe?

[ ]	It makes shopping more pleasant so they get more customers
[ ]	It makes it easy for people living in town to find them
[ ]	It is better for the environment
[ ]	It is cheaper and easier for the developers

10.

Which of the following could be a push reason for rural to urban migration?

[ ]	Wealthy urban residents buying rural second homes
[ ]	People moving into the area from abroad
[ ]	There are better jobs in urban areas
[ ]	All of the above

Geography Quiz - Changes in Rural Areas - MEDCs (Answers)

Depopulation in remote rural communities leads to businesses closing down. People then notice a lowering of the quality of life and so even more depopulation occurs. This process is called ...

[x]	a cycle of decline
[ ]	a circuit of decline
[ ]	a circle of decline
[ ]	a pentagon of decline

It is very difficult to reverse this cycle of decline, it requires an effort from the community and an investment of money to attract people back to the area

Which of the following is not a push factor that leads to depopulation in remote rural areas of the UK?

[ ]	No jobs
[ ]	A lack of shopping facilities locally
[x]	Earn more money in an urban area
[ ]	No social life

Push factors are disadvantages of staying where they are

Which of the following is not a factor that is likely to lead to rural depopulation?

[ ]	MEDCs import food from abroad
[x]	MEDCs can afford to invest in rural communities
[ ]	In MEDCs, there is a trend towards increased mechanisation of farming
[ ]	Large farms are more competitive than small farms

Investing in local rural communities is more likely to lead to an increase in population

In some accessible rural areas, the population is increasing. This is called ...

[ ]	client repopulation
[ ]	rural repopularisation
[ ]	contra-urbanisation
[x]	counter urbanisation

Accessible rural areas have a population that is increasing as people move out of urban areas to find what they see as a better quality of life

Counter urbanisation is good for a rural community in many ways but which of these is a disadvantage to local residents?

[ ]	More young people in the community
[ ]	Increases income for local shops
[x]	Increases traffic
[ ]	Better mobile phone coverage

An increase in traffic leads to more congestion

In what way or ways is counter urbanisation bad for the environment?

[ ]	New housing is built on greenfield sites
[ ]	More fossil fuels are burned because more car journeys are needed
[ ]	More rural air pollution is created
[x]	All of the above

Farmers sell off land for house building so there is less land available for growing food crops or grazing farm animals. People who have moved out to the country need to drive to work, unless there is a good public transport link. More car journeys mean more fuel is burned and more air pollution is created

Which of the following is a reason why housing stock in a national park is usually more expensive than in surrounding areas?

[x]	Building new homes is restricted in national parks
[ ]	Building new homes is more difficult as the roads in national parks are narrower than outside of the park
[ ]	There are no restrictions on building in national parks
[ ]	Houses in national parks are always bigger than outside of the park

Fewer housing developments mean that more people are trying to buy the same house so the person prepared to pay the most is usually the one who succeeds in buying it

Which of the following are most likely to be involved in counter urbanisation?

[ ]	Young adults
[x]	People of retirement age
[ ]	Unemployed people
[ ]	All of the above

Young adults are more likely to migrate from rural areas to urban areas, as are the unemployed - these are two key reasons for rural depopulation