Unit 1: Thinking Geographically

Question 1

Reference Map

Answer 1

A map that emphasizes the location of a place without using data.

Question 2

Thematic Map

Answer 2

A map that emphasizes the spacial patterns of places using data.

Question 3

Absolute Distance

Answer 3

Describing distance in quantitative terms (miles, kilometers, etc.)

Question 4

Relative Distance

Answer 4

Describing distance in qualitative terms (30 minutes south, etc)

Question 5

Clustering

Answer 5

Items that are close together and concentrated into one area

Question 6

Dispersal

Answer 6

Items are spread apart over a geographic space.

Question 7

Mercator Projection

Answer 7

Distorts shape and size, but keeps distance.

Question 8

Goode Homolosine Projection

Answer 8

A projection that minimizes distortion, but is interrupted (not an oval or sphere).

Question 9

Fuller Projection

Answer 9

A projection that does not use cardinal directions, but has accurate shape and size.

Question 10

Robinson Projection

Answer 10

A projection that spreads distortion out through size, shape, and direction.

Question 11

Winkel Tripel Projection

Answer 11

A projection that is rounder in shape, but has distortion near the north and south poles.

Question 12

Qualitative Data

Answer 12

Data that is opinion based such as polls and surveys.

Question 13

Quantitative Data

Answer 13

Research that can be replicated such as census or marketing data.

Question 14

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Answer 14

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface.

Question 15

Scale

Answer 15

The ratio of a distance on a map to the actual distance on the ground.

Question 16

Census

Answer 16

An official count of people in an area and also a collection of demographic data.

Question 17

Absolute Location

Answer 17

The exact spot on earth using latitude and longitude lines.

Question 18

Relative Location

Answer 18

Using other objects in the area to describe the particular location.

Question 19

Physical Characteristics

Answer 19

Environmental attributes like rivers, mountains, deserts, climate, etc.

Question 20

Human Characteristics

Answer 20

Human attributes such as religion, language, population, etc.

Question 21

Sense of Place

Answer 21

The feeling people get when going to a particular place in the world.

Question 22

Distance Decay

Answer 22

The further away something is from something else, the less likely they will interact (Tobler’s first law of geography).

Question 23

Space-Time Compression

Answer 23

An increasing sense of connection due to technology that reduces distance decay.

Question 24

Pattern

Answer 24

The geometric arrangement of objects in a space.

Question 25

Space

Answer 25

The physical gap between objects.

Question 26

Flow

Answer 26

The movement of people, goods, or ideas from one place to another.

Question 27

Sustainability

Answer 27

The avoidance of depleting natural resources to maintain ecological balance.

Question 28

Environmental Determinism

Answer 28

The belief that the success of a society is solely based on environmental factors.

Question 29

Environmental Possibilism

Answer 29

The belief that the success of a society can be influenced by the environment, but culture can overcome these factors.

Question 30

Scale of Analysis

Answer 30

Observation of data at the global, national, regional, and local scale.

Question 31

Scale of Inquiry

Answer 31

Asking about which scale of analysis is the best to use for a particular topic.

Question 32

Small Scale

Answer 32

Maps are zoomed out, they show more of the earth’s surface, but in less detail.

Question 33

Large Scale

Answer 33

Maps are zoomed in, they show less of the earth, but in more detail.

Question 34

Formal (Uniform) Region

Answer 34

Geographic area that has common characteristics.

Question 35

Functional (Nodal) Region

Answer 35

Geographic area that is spread around a center point.

Question 36

Vernacular (Perceptual) Region

Answer 36

Geographic area with perceived common characteristics.