:[{"id":"11b3317f-28be-4a71-ae94-94cc0766010d","revisionId":"96871508-713d-4e4b-8666-b00d7f1f2fb7","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"LA","specification":"Figure 1 shows the global distribution of major hot desert ecosystems, alongside lines of latitude and key cold ocean currents.\n\n![Figure 1](https://assets.mathsgenie.co.uk/aqa-qb/13752817-0d9b-4059-bfa4-dfacbdba36dd.png)","difficulty":5,"difficultyBand":"medium","totalMarks":5,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"8d3e9eea-2d0b-414f-8a24-1c2a9f715071","label":null,"content":"Using Figure 1, describe the distribution of hot desert ecosystems.","markscheme":"- Describes the latitudinal range of hot deserts, typically clustered between $15^\\circ$ and $30^\\circ$ north and south of the Equator (or along the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) B1\n- Identifies that they are frequently located on the western margins/coasts of continents (e.g., Atacama in South America, Namib in Africa) B1\n- Identifies their association with adjacent cold ocean currents (e.g., Humboldt, Benguela, or West Australian currents) on western coasts B1\n- Notes the presence of a vast, continuous block across North Africa (the Sahara) and the Middle East (the Arabian Desert) B1\n- Identifies that they are absent in equatorial zones or high latitudes B1","marks":5,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":{"methods":[{"id":"map_evidence","label":"Read the map systematically","steps":[{"type":"text","order":0,"title":"Identify the pattern","content":"Start with the overall pattern shown by the shaded areas. Plan one sentence for latitude, then add where the deserts are found, their relationship with cold currents, the large connected area, and where they are absent. This keeps the response focused on **distribution**, rather than explaining causes.","highlights":[{"text":"Figure 1 shows the global distribution of major hot desert ecosystems, alongside lines of latitude and key cold ocean currents.","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":1,"title":"Read the latitude","content":"The shaded deserts are clustered in the subtropics: roughly between $15^\\circ$ and $30^\\circ$ north and south of the Equator, close to the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This earns **B1** for describing the latitudinal range.","highlights":[{"text":"lines of latitude","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":2,"title":"Locate the coasts","content":"Several hot deserts lie on the **western margins**, meaning the western edges, of continents. For example, the Atacama is on the west of South America and the Namib is on the west of Africa. The location plus a named example earns **B1**."},{"type":"text","order":3,"title":"Link cold currents","content":"Those western-coast deserts are next to cold ocean currents: the Atacama is beside the Humboldt Current and the Namib is beside the Benguela Current. Identifying this association earns **B1**. Describe the map relationship; do not explain why the currents produce dry conditions, because the question asks for distribution.","highlights":[{"text":"key cold ocean currents","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":4,"title":"Spot the largest block","content":"A vast, almost continuous belt extends across North Africa and into the Middle East, formed by the Sahara and Arabian deserts. This regional concentration earns **B1**."},{"type":"text","order":5,"title":"Note the absence","content":"The map shows no major hot-desert areas at the Equator or in high-latitude regions. Stating both absences earns **B1**.","highlights":[{"text":"global distribution of major hot desert ecosystems","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":6,"title":"Synthesize five points","content":"Combine the five distinct distribution features into one concise paragraph. Use named examples where they strengthen a point, and avoid adding causal explanation: this is a description question. A strong final response is:\n\n> Hot deserts are mainly clustered between about $

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