AP Exam Practice Flashcards
What is the definition of ‘geography’?
The study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.
True or False: Human geography focuses exclusively on physical landscapes.
False
Fill in the blank: The three main subfields of geography are __________, human geography, and environmental geography.
physical geography
What is the primary focus of human geography?
The study of human activities and their relationship to the cultural and physical environments.
What does the term ‘cultural landscape’ refer to?
The visible imprint of human activity on the landscape.
Which concept explains how distance affects interaction between places?
Distance decay
True or False: The concept of ‘scale’ in geography refers to the size of a geographic area.
True
What is ‘site’ in geographical terms?
The physical characteristics of a place, including its location, topography, and natural resources.
What does ‘situation’ refer to in geography?
The location of a place relative to other places and its surroundings.
Which model describes urban land use in concentric circles?
Burgess model
What is ‘globalization’?
The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
True or False: Cartography is the art and science of making maps.
True
What is ‘toponymy’?
The study of place names and their origins.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a model that explains the distribution of economic activities in urban areas.
central place theory
What is a ‘push factor’?
A reason that encourages an individual to leave their home country.
What is a ‘pull factor’?
A reason that attracts individuals to a new country.
True or False: The Demographic Transition Model describes changes in birth and death rates as a country develops.
True
What are the four stages of the Demographic Transition Model?
High stationary, early expanding, late expanding, and low stationary.
What is ‘urbanization’?
The process by which an increasing percentage of a population lives in cities.
What does ‘Malthusian theory’ suggest?
Population growth will outpace food production, leading to famine and societal collapse.
Which term describes the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas?
Urban migration
What is ‘cultural diffusion’?
The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.
True or False: Ethnic enclaves are neighborhoods primarily inhabited by one ethnic group.
True
What is the role of ‘language’ in culture?
It serves as a primary means of communication and a key aspect of cultural identity.
Fill in the blank: The __________ model explains how cultures and economies develop in a series of stages.
stages of economic growth
What is ‘sustainability’ in the context of human geography?
The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is a ‘geographic information system’ (GIS)?
A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.
True or False: The term ‘gentrification’ refers to the process of wealthier individuals moving into a low-income neighborhood, resulting in displacement of existing residents.
True
What is ‘agricultural diffusion’?
The spread of agricultural practices and innovations from one region to another.
What is the ‘heartland theory’?
The theory that states that the nation that controls the Heartland (Central Asia) will control the world.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the measure of the number of people per unit area of land.
population density
What is ‘environmental determinism’?
The theory that the physical environment, particularly climate and geography, shapes human behaviors and cultures.
True or False: The term ‘placelessness’ refers to the loss of uniqueness of place in the cultural landscape.
True
What is ‘cultural relativism’?
The practice of judging a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of one’s own culture.
What does ‘ethnocentrism’ mean?
The belief that one’s own culture or ethnic group is superior to others.
What is ‘megalopolis’?
A region where multiple cities and their suburbs have grown together.
Fill in the blank: The __________ refers to the area of land that drains into a river system.
watershed
What is ‘urban sprawl’?
The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into the surrounding rural land.
True or False: A ‘population pyramid’ is a graphical representation of the age and sex distribution of a population.
True
What is the ‘dependency ratio’?
The ratio of the number of dependents (people younger than 15 or older than 64) to the total working-age population.
Fill in the blank: The __________ refers to the movement of people to a new country for permanent residence.
immigration
What is ‘urban renewal’?
The process of redevelopment and revitalization of urban areas.
What does ‘infrastructure’ refer to?
The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
True or False: ‘Cultural landscape’ includes only natural features.
False
What is ‘economic globalization’?
The increasing economic interdependence among countries through trade, investment, and capital flows.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the area around a city that is affected by its economic activities.
hinterland
What is ‘land use planning’?
The process of evaluating and managing land resources to meet the needs of society.
What is ‘segregation’ in urban geography?
The separation of different groups of people within an urban environment.
True or False: The concept of ‘place’ refers to the physical location of a geographical area.
False
What does ‘cultural landscape’ encompass?
The interactions between human beings and their environment, including architecture, agriculture, and land use.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the movement of people, goods, and information across international borders.
global flow
What is ‘socioeconomic status’?
An individual’s or group’s position within a hierarchical social structure.
What is ‘rural-urban migration’?
The movement of people from rural areas to urban areas.
True or False: ‘Urban heat island effect’ refers to urban areas being cooler than their rural surroundings.
False
What does ‘clustering’ refer to in population geography?
The concentration of people or activities in a specific area.
What is ‘ecological footprint’?
A measure of human demand on Earth’s ecosystems, representing the amount of land and water area required to produce the resources consumed.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a tool used to analyze demographic data.
census
What is ‘urban geography’?
The study of how people use space in cities.
True or False: ‘Net migration’ is the difference between the number of immigrants and the number of emigrants.
True
What is ‘cultural syncretism’?
The blending of two or more cultural influences.
What does ‘regionalism’ refer to?
The practice of prioritizing the interests of a particular region over the interests of a larger political entity.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a method used to measure the economic performance of a country.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
What is ‘gentrification’?
The process of wealthier individuals moving into a previously lower-income neighborhood, often leading to displacement of existing residents.
What does ‘spatial analysis’ involve?
Examining the arrangements of various elements across space.
True or False: ‘Cultural imperialism’ is the practice of promoting one culture at the expense of others.
True
What is ‘urban planning’?
The technical and political process of developing land use and infrastructure plans for urban areas.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the transition from an agrarian society to an industrial one.
industrial revolution
What is ‘environmental sustainability’?
The responsible interaction with the environment to avoid depletion or degradation of natural resources.
True or False: ‘Suburbanization’ is the process of people moving from cities to suburbs.
True
What is ‘urban ecology’?
The study of the relationship between living organisms and their urban environment.
What does ‘land cover’ refer to?
The physical material at the surface of the Earth, including vegetation, urban infrastructure, and water.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the geographic area from which a city’s population is drawn.
urban fringe
What is ‘social geography’?
The study of the relationship between society and space.
True or False: ‘Environmental justice’ refers to the fair treatment of all people with respect to environmental laws and policies.
True
What is ‘cultural landscape analysis’?
The examination of the relationships between culture and the landscape.
What does ‘local knowledge’ refer to?
The understanding and insights of local people about their environment and community.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the study of how geographic factors influence the distribution of health and disease.
medical geography
What is ‘climate change’?
Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other elements of the Earth’s climate system.
True or False: ‘Biodiversity’ is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat.
True
What is ‘land use change’?
The alteration of the use of land over time, often due to human activity.
What does ‘rural geography’ study?
The spatial patterns and processes of rural areas.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the total number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.
birth rate
What is ‘urban sociology’?
The study of social relationships and interactions within urban environments.
