📚 AS CIE Geography: Key Terminology Quick Memorisation Guide | AS CIE 地理：词汇术语速记指南
Mastering geographical terminology is the bedrock of success in AS CIE Geography. From population dynamics to coastal landforms, precise definitions not only fetch marks in structured questions but also allow you to write sophisticated, analytical essays. This guide organises must-know terms under thematic headings and provides memory hooks, helping you recall them under exam pressure. Use it alongside your case studies to boost both confidence and accuracy.
掌握地理术语是 AS CIE 地理考试成功的基石。从人口变动到海岸地貌，精确的定义不仅在结构化题目中抢分，更能让你写出缜密、深刻的分析性论文。本指南将必考术语按主题分类，并提供记忆线索，帮助你在考场压力下快速提取。配合案例研究一起使用，能同时提升答题信心与准确率。
1. Population and Migration | 人口与迁移术语
Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people per year. To memorise it, think of ‘BR’ as ‘Babies Registered’.
出生率是每 1000 人中每年活产婴儿的数量。可以联想 BR 代表“Babies Registered（婴儿登记）”来记忆。
Death rate (or mortality rate) is the number of deaths per 1,000 people per year. Link ‘DR’ with ‘Deceased Registered’.
死亡率是每 1000 人中每年死亡人数。将 DR 与“Deceased Registered（登记逝者）”挂钩。
Natural increase equals birth rate minus death rate. A positive number means population growth; a negative one signals decline. Visualise a simple scale tipping towards births or deaths.
自然增长率等于出生率减死亡率。正数代表人口增长，负数表示下降。可以想象一架天平倾向出生或死亡一侧。
Fertility rate is the average number of children born per woman of childbearing age. A rate of 2.1 is considered replacement level. Remember the ‘2.1 replacement bridge’ – it keeps population size steady.
生育率是每名育龄妇女平均生育子女数。2.1 被视为更替水平。记住“2.1 替换桥”，它能维持人口规模稳定。
Dependency ratio measures the proportion of the non-working-age population (0–14 and 65+) relative to the working-age group (15–64). The formula is:
抚养比衡量非劳动年龄人口（0–14 岁和 65 岁以上）占劳动年龄人口（15–64 岁）的比例。计算公式为：
Dependency Ratio = (Population aged 0–14 + Population aged 65+) ÷ Population aged 15–64 × 100
A high dependency ratio indicates greater economic pressure on the workforce. Use the image of a seesaw with many dependants on one end and few workers on the other.
抚养比高意味着劳动人口承受更大的经济压力。想象一个跷跷板，一端坐着许多受抚养者，另一端只有少数劳动者。
2. Settlement Dynamics | 定居点动态术语
Settlement hierarchy ranks settlements by population size, range, and number of services. A hamlet sits at the bottom, followed by village, town, city, and conurbation. Chant the chain: ‘Harry Visits Town Coffee’ to recall Hamlet, Village, Town, City, Conurbation.
定居点等级体系根据人口规模、服务范围和数量对聚落排序。小村庄位于最底层，然后是村庄、镇、城市和大都市带。可以念“Harry Visits Town Coffee”来记忆 Hamlet, Village, Town, City, Conurbation。
Sphere of influence is the area from which a settlement draws customers or users. Larger settlements have wider spheres. Picture a magnet pulling people from a distance.
影响范围是指聚落吸引顾客或使用者的区域。大型聚落的影响范围更广。想象一块磁铁从远处吸引人群。
Threshold population is the minimum number of people required to support a particular service or shop. A supermarket needs a larger threshold than a corner shop. Think of a threshold as the population floor a service needs to stand on.
门槛人口是维持某项服务或商店所需的最低人口数。超市的门槛比便利店高。把门槛想象成服务立足必须踩稳的人口地板。
Central place theory, developed by Christaller, explains how settlements of different sizes serve as market centres for surrounding areas. Hexagons are used to represent trade areas because they avoid overlap. Picture a honeycomb of villages and towns.
克里斯泰勒提出的中心地理论解释了不同规模聚落如何充当周边区域的市场中心。六边形用来表示贸易区，因为它能避免重叠。想象由村镇组成的蜂巢。
3. Hydrology and Fluvial Geomorphology | 水文与河流地貌术语
Discharge is the volume of water flowing past a point in a river per unit of time, usually measured in cubic metres per second (cumecs). Formula: Q = A × V (discharge = cross-sectional area × velocity). Remember ‘Quick A-V’ for the multiplier.
流量是单位时间内通过河流某点的水量，通常以立方米/秒（cumecs）计量。公式：Q = A × V（流量 = 横截面积 × 流速）。利用“Quick A-V”来记忆相乘关系。
Storm hydrograph shows how river discharge changes over time during and after a rainfall event. A short lag time means the peak discharge quickly follows peak rainfall – common in urbanised basins. Visualise a flash flood graph with a sharp rising limb.
暴雨洪水过程线显示降雨期间及雨后河流流量随时间的变化。滞时短意味着洪峰紧跟暴雨峰——常见于城市化流域。想象一幅带有陡峭上升段的暴洪图。
Erosion processes in rivers include hydraulic action, abrasion (corrasion), attrition, and solution. Use the acronym ‘HAAS’ – Hydraulic Action, Abrasion, Attrition, Solution. Abrasion is the river’s sandpaper effect; attrition is clasts knocking together and becoming smaller.
河流侵蚀作用包括水力作用、磨蚀、磨耗和溶蚀。用缩略词“HAAS”记忆——Hydraulic Action, Abrasion, Attrition, Solution。磨蚀如同河流的砂纸效应；磨耗则是碎屑相互碰撞变小。
Meander is a bend in a river channel. On the outer bank, faster flow erodes a river cliff; on the inner bank, slower flow deposits sediment to form a slip-off slope. Picture a race car hugging the outside of a curve – that acts like erosion.
曲流是河道的弯曲段。外侧岸流速快，侵蚀形成凹岸陡壁；内侧岸流速慢，堆积沉积物形成滑走坡。想象一辆赛车紧贴弯道外侧行驶——那就像侵蚀作用。
4. Coastal Environments | 海岸环境术语
Fetch is the distance of open water over which the wind blows to generate waves. A long fetch creates more powerful, destructive waves. Think of the wind having a long ‘fetch stick’ to hit harder.
风区长度是风生成波浪所吹行的开阔水域距离。长风区产生更强的高能破坏浪。想象风持着一根长“风区杖”敲打得更用力。
Constructive waves have low frequency, a strong swash, and a weak backwash, building up beaches. Destructive waves are steep, frequent, with a weak swash and powerful backwash, eroding beaches. Recall: constructive = create; destructive = destroy.
建设性海浪频率低，冲流强、回流弱，能堆积滩面。破坏性海浪陡而频繁，冲流弱、回流强，侵蚀海滩。牢记：建设性即创造；破坏性即毁坏。
Longshore drift is the zigzag movement of sediment along a coast by waves approaching at an angle. Swash pushes material up the beach; backwash pulls it straight down the slope by gravity. Draw a zigzag arrow and label it ‘LSD: Swash In, Backwash Down’.
沿岸漂沙是波浪斜向接近海岸，使沉积物呈之字形沿海岸移动。冲流将物质推上滩，回流因重力沿斜坡直直拉下。画一个之字形箭头并标注“LSD: Swash In, Backwash Down”。
Erosional landforms: wave-cut notch → wave-cut platform; cave → arch → stack → stump. Use the chain ‘CASS’ (Cave, Arch, Stack, Stump) and imagine a headland gradually collapsing into the sea. Stack is a tall rock pillar; stump is a short submerged remnant.
侵蚀地貌：浪蚀凹槽 → 浪蚀平台；海蚀洞 → 海蚀拱 → 海蚀柱 → 海蚀残柱。用链“CASS”（Cave, Arch, Stack, Stump）并想象一个岬角逐步崩塌入海。Stack 是高耸的岩柱；Stump 是矮小的水下残迹。
5. Atmosphere and Weather | 大气与天气术语
Albedo is the proportion of solar radiation reflected by a surface. Fresh snow has high albedo (~0.9), while dark forest has low albedo (~0.1). Think ‘Albino’ – something very white, reflecting light.
反照率是地表反射太阳辐射的比例。新雪反照率高（约 0.9），而暗色森林低（约 0.1）。联想“Albino 白化” – 非常白，能反光。
Insolation is incoming solar radiation. Areas near the equator receive more direct insolation due to the angle of incidence. Visualise a torch beam: directly overhead gives a concentrated circle; at an angle, the same beam spreads over a larger ellipse.
日射是到达地球的太阳辐射。赤道附近因入射角度更直而接收更多日射。想象手电筒光束：垂直照射呈集中圆形；斜射时相同光束分散成较大椭圆。
Relief rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to rise over mountains, cools, condenses, and precipitates on the windward slope. The leeward side lies in a rain shadow. Picture a rain-blocking wall – one side wet, the other dry.
地形雨发生在湿润气流被山脉抬升、冷却、凝结并在迎风坡降水时。背风坡处于雨影区。想象一道挡雨墙——一侧湿，一侧干。
Anticyclone is a high-pressure system bringing settled, dry weather with clear skies. Winds circulate clockwise in the northern hemisphere. In a ‘high’, air descends and warms, suppressing cloud formation. Spell it ‘Anti-cyclone’ – it is the opposite of a cyclone (low pressure).
反气旋是高压系统，带来稳定干燥天气，天空晴朗。北半球顺时针环流。在“高”中，空气下沉增温，抑制云层形成。拆成“反-气旋”——与气旋（低压）相反。
6. Plate Tectonics | 板块构造术语
The Earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates that move on the semi-molten asthenosphere. Convection currents in the mantle drive plate movement. Think of boiling soup carrying bits of crust – that represents convection cells.
地球岩石圈分裂成若干板块，在软流层上移动。地幔中的对流驱动板块运动。想象沸腾的汤带动浮皮——那就像对流环。
Constructive (divergent) plate boundaries are where plates move apart, and magma rises to create new crust, e.g., the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Destructive (convergent) boundaries involve subduction, where denser oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust. Use hand motions: pull apart for constructive; push together for destructive.
建设性（离散型）板块边界是板块拉张处，岩浆上涌形成新地壳，如大西洋中脊。破坏性（汇聚型）边界涉及俯冲，密度较大的大洋地壳俯冲到大陆地壳之下。用手势比划：拉开为建设性；推拢为破坏性。
Conservative plate boundary involves plates sliding past each other, with no crust created or destroyed. Friction causes shallow-focus earthquakes, as along the San Andreas Fault. Think of two hands rubbing past each other and suddenly sticking – that sudden slip is an earthquake.
守恒型板块边界是板块相互滑过，地壳既不生成也不消亡。摩擦引发浅源地震，如圣安德烈斯断层。想象两只手相互摩擦又突然卡住——那猛然滑脱就是地震。
Earthquake focus is the point inside the Earth where the rupture occurs; epicentre is the point on the surface directly above it. ‘Focus begins inside; Epicentre is at the Earth’s surface.’
震源是地球内部破裂发生的点；震中是震源正上方的地表点。“Focus 从内部发生；Epicentre 在地球表面。”
7. Agriculture and Rural Land Use | 农业与乡村土地利用术语
Extensive farming uses large areas of land with low inputs per hectare, e.g., sheep ranching in Australia. Intensive farming applies high inputs of labour or capital per unit area to maximise yield, e.g., market gardening. ‘Extensive = spread out; Intensive = concentrated’.
粗放农业使用大面积土地，每公顷投入低，如澳大利亚绵羊放牧。集约农业在单位面积上投入高劳动力或资本以最大化产量，如商品园艺。“粗放=铺开；集约=集中”。
Pastoral farming is the raising of animals; arable farming is the cultivation of crops. Mixed farming combines both. The word ‘Arable’ links to ‘arable land’ – land ploughed for crops. ‘Pastoral’ suggests pastors (herders) tending animals.
畜牧业是牲畜饲养；耕作农业是农作物种植。混合农业两者兼有。“Arable”与“可耕地”相关——用于耕作的土地。“Pastoral”让人联想到牧师（牧人）放牧。
Green Revolution refers to the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties, chemical fertilisers, and irrigation techniques, primarily in developing countries during the mid-20th century. It increased food production but brought environmental challenges. Think of a ‘green wave’ of new seeds sweeping across fields.
绿色革命指 20 世纪中期主要发生在发展中国家，引入高产作物品种、化肥和灌溉技术的变革。它增加了粮食产量，但也带来了环境挑战。想象一股“绿色浪潮”般的新品种席卷农田。
Von Thunen’s model describes a pattern of agricultural land use around a central market in concentric rings: intensive farming (dairy, vegetables) closest, then forestry, arable fields, and extensive grazing furthest. Remember ‘Veal City’ vibes: Veal (perishable) close, City market centre, then trees and crops, and finally ranching far out.
杜能模型描绘围绕中心市场的同心圆式农业土地利用格局：集约农业（乳制品、蔬菜）最近，其次是林业、耕作区，最外圈是粗放牧场。回忆“小牛肉城市”氛围：易腐品（小牛肉）近、城市市场中心，然后是林木和大田作物，远处是牧场。
8. Industry and Energy | 工业与能源术语
Primary industry extracts raw materials (mining, fishing, farming). Secondary industry processes them into finished goods (manufacturing). Tertiary provides services (retail, education). Quaternary focuses on knowledge and R&D (IT, biotechnology). Use the ‘P-S-T-Q’ ladder: Pick up (primary), Shape (secondary), Trade (tertiary), Quest (quaternary).
第一产业开采原料（采矿、渔业、农业）。第二产业将原料加工成成品（制造业）。第三产业提供服务（零售、教育）。第四产业聚焦知识与研发（信息技术、生物科技）。用“一采二造三服四研”阶梯来记忆。
Footloose industry is not tied to raw materials or local markets and can locate anywhere, often in pleasant environments. High-tech companies are footloose because their products are lightweight and high-value. Imagine a company ‘wearing footloose shoes’, free to move.
灵活型产业不受原料或本地市场束缚，可定址任何地方，常选址于宜人环境。高科技公司属于灵活型，因其产品轻便且高值。想象一家公司“穿着自由鞋”，随处可移。
Energy mix refers to the combination of different energy sources a country uses, e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables. Diversifying the energy mix increases energy security. Picture a pie chart of coal, oil, gas, wind, and solar slices.
能源结构指一个国家使用的各种能源组合，如化石燃料、核能、可再生能源。能源结构多元化可提高能源安全。想象一张包含煤、石油、天然气、风能和太阳能切块的饼图。
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap outgoing long-wave radiation, warming the planet. Key GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Anthropogenic sources amplify the natural greenhouse effect. Remember: ‘Human = enhanced’.
温室气体捕获逸出长波辐射，使地球变暖。主要温室气体包括二氧化碳（CO₂）、甲烷（CH₄）和氧化亚氮（N₂O）。人为排放加剧了天然温室效应。记住：“人为 = 增强”。
9. Development and Globalisation | 发展与全球化术语
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year. GDP per capita divides this by population. It is a widely used but crude indicator because it ignores income distribution. Think ‘GDP shows the size of the economic pie, but not how it is sliced.’
国内生产总值（GDP）是一国一年内生产的全部最终商品和服务的总价值。人均 GDP 将此除以人口。它虽被广泛使用但不精确，因为忽略了收入分配。想象“GDP 显示经济蛋糕的大小，但未显示如何切分”。
Human Development Index (HDI) combines life expectancy, education (mean and expected years of schooling), and GNI per capita to rank countries’ development levels. Remember ‘L-E-E-G’: Life expectancy, Education (2 measures), and GNI per capita.
人类发展指数（HDI）将预期寿命、教育（平均受教育年限和预期受教育年限）和人均国民总收入综合起来，对各国发展水平排序。记住“L-E-E-G”：预期寿命、两项教育指标和人均 GNI。
Globalisation is the increasing interconnectedness of countries through flows of trade, investment, technology, and culture. TNCs (Transnational Corporations) are key agents. Visualise a shrinking world where goods, people, and ideas zoom across digital and physical highways.
全球化是指通过贸易、投资、技术和文化流动使各国之间的联系日益紧密的过程。跨国企业是主要推动者。想象一个缩小的世界，商品、人员和思想在数字与实体高速公路上飞驰。
Trade deficit occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds exports; trade surplus is the opposite. A chronic deficit can lead to external debt. Use a simple scale: imports heavier → deficit; exports heavier → surplus.
当一个国家的进口价值超过出口时出现贸易逆差；相反则为贸易顺差。持续逆差可能导致外债积累。用简单天平：进口更重 → 逆差；出口更重 → 顺差。
10. Memorisation and Exam Tips | 记忆与应试技巧
Create acronyms and mnemonics for lists. For example, for coastal erosion landforms, use ‘CASS’ (Cave, Arch, Stack, Stump). For river erosion processes, recall ‘HAAS’ (Hydraulic action, Abrasion, Attrition, Solution). Personal codes stick better.
为术语列表创建缩略词或助记句。例如海岸侵蚀地貌用“CASS”（海蚀洞、拱、柱、残柱），河流侵蚀作用记“HAAS”（水力作用、磨蚀、磨耗、溶蚀）。个人编码记得更牢。
Draw simple sketch diagrams alongside definitions. A quick label drawing of a meander showing river cliff and slip-off slope uses visual memory. The brain recalls images faster than words alone.
在定义旁画简单示意图。快速画出带凹岸和滑走坡的曲流简图，利用视觉记忆。大脑对图像的提取速度快于纯文字。
Use connectives when explaining terms in essays: ‘in contrast’, ‘consequently’, ‘meanwhile’, ‘moreover’. These signpost high-level analysis and show the examiner you understand causal links.
在论文中解释术语时使用连接词：“相比之下”、“因此”、“同时”、“此外”。这些词标出高层次分析，向考官展示你理解因果联系。
Practise exam-style definitions: read the syllabus glossary, cover the explanation, and write it from memory in your own words. Then compare. Repetition embeds terminology in long-term memory.
练习考试风格的定义：阅读大纲词汇表，遮住解释，用自己的话默写出来，然后对照。重复能将术语刻入长时记忆。
Published by TutorHao | Geography Revision Series | aleveler.com
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