GEG Final practice questions

All are true about quaternary sector or the information economy, EXCEPT: A. Its spatial distribution is not fully understood, because it can be based anywhere from New York City to the Bay Area Californian suburb of Silicon Valley. B. Once the digital era began, much of the information-rich services evolved into quaternary activities. C. This sector relies on computer and communication technologies. D. Quaternary sector activities are often confused with primary sector activities, because they both involve the mining of silicon.

D

Australia is dominated by a ______________climate. A. humid temperate B. cold continental C. Mediterranean D. desert and steppe E. tropical rainforest

D

Due to EEZ rules, which country has the largest claim to potential resources in the Arctic Ocean? A. The United States B. Denmark C. Norway D. Russia E. Canada

D

Canada's largest city is: A. Ottawa B. Calgary C. Vancouver D. Montreal E. Toronto

E

China's Outer periphery consists of Xizang and _____. A. Sichuan B. Chongqing C. Shandong D. Yunnan E. Xinjiang

E

A powerful force in Europe today is devolution. What does devolution mean? A. Regions or peoples within a state, through negotiation or active rebellion, demand and gain political strength and sometimes autonomy at the expense of the center B. Established governments are becoming increasingly powerful and therefore government control is becoming more centralized C. Society is breaking down and all the progress of cultural evolution is being reversed D. Europe is ready to become one country with existing countries giving up power to a single European government E. People are moving back to live in rural areas in large numbers

A

Albertaʼs massive "tar sand" operations are boasting the Provinces economy, especially in Calgary, while inflicting great damage to the environment. A. True B. False

A

Although India is still predominantly an agricultural economy, the _____ sector is among the most important for India's emergence as a global economic power. A. IT B. fisheries C. oil D. wood E. financial

A

Chechnya is located in _________. A. Russia B. Azerbaijan C. Armenia D. Georgia E. Dagestan

A

Identify the correct set of matches between Southeast Asian countries with the European powers that occupied them during colonial times. A. Cambodia-France; Malaya-Britain B. Laos-France; Philippines-Dutch C. Burma-Britain; Indonesia-France D. Vietnam-Netherlands; Thailand-France E. Thailand-Britain; Philippines-Spain

A

Islam is becoming increasingly important in today's Europe while Christianity is in decline. A. True B. False

A

South Asia represents roughly ___ percent of the world's population and approximately ___ percent of the world's land area. A. 23; 3 B. 10; 14 C. 14; 10 D. 30; 23 E. 23; 14

A

The AFTA (the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement) has both triggered the lowering of tariffs and encouraged an upsurge in trade within Southeast Asia. A. True B. False

A

The Austral Realm is often considered to be a "giant laboratory for biogeography because ______. A. of its isolation during the breakup of Gondwana B. it is located to the west of Wallace's Line C. of its location in the Southern Hemisphere D. its nearest neighbor is Indonesia E. there are so few people there

A

The Middle American region may be conceptualized as consisting of the Mainland and Rimland. Which statement correctly identifies the cultural heritage of the Mainland and Rimland? A. The Mainland has a European and Amerindian cultural heritage, while the Rimland has a European and African cultural heritage B. The Mainland has a French and British cultural heritage, while the Rimland has a Dutch and African cultural heritage C. The Mainland has a European and Asian cultural heritage, while the Rimland has a European and Amerindian cultural heritage D. The Mainland has a European and African cultural heritage, while the Rimland has a European and Amerindian cultural heritage E. The Mainland has an African and Amerindian cultural heritage, while the Rimland has a Portuguese and Spanish cultural heritage

A

The leading oil-producing region in North America is along the ___________. A. Gulf Coast B. along the shores of the Great Lakes C. Pacific Coast of California D. the northeast Atlantic coast E. Hudson Bay

A

The long standing conflict in Sri Lanka, now quiet though with continued tensions, is between ______ and _______. A. Muslims and Hindus B. Muslims and Sinhalese C. Tamils and Sinhalese D. Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims E. Tamils and Bengalis

A

This country has had no standing army for six decades and has long been considered the most stable democracy as well as the country with the highest standard of living in Middle America. A. Costa Rica B. Guatemala C. Nicaragua D. Panama E. El Salvador

A

Which Russian city was built as a forward capital during the reign of Czar Peter the Great? A. St. Petersburg B. Tomsk C. Murmansk D. Moscow E. Vladivostok

A

Which Russian region is politically positioning itself to benefit from the greater access to hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas) and transportation routes this Arctic region has to offer, as a result of climate change. A. Siberia B. Kuznetsk Basin C. Southern Frontier D. Urals region E. Volga region

A

Which of the following is among the major provisions of the Antarctic Treaty signed in 1961? A. Military activity was prohibited. B. Territorial boundaries were permanently drawn. C. Exploration for mineral resources was encouraged. D. All scientific activity was banned due to environmental concerns. E. The United States' claim to a large segment (approximately one-third) of Antarctica was rejected by other countries.

A

Which of the following physiographic features is not aligned in a north-south direction? A. Canadian Shield. B. Rocky Mountains. C. Cascade Mountains. D. Sierra Nevada Mountains. E. Appalachian Mountains.

A

Which of the following statements about Cambodia is CORRECT? A. Cambodia is the home of Angkor Wat. B. Cambodia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia. C. Cambodia is at a geographic disadvantage because of its elongated shape. D. The Khmer Rouge has been a unifying force in Cambodia since the devastation of the Indochina War. E. Cambodia has recently become self-sufficient in food due to the impact of the Green Revolution.

A

Which of the following statements concerning South Asia's physical environment is correct? A. South Asia has significant physiographic variety. B. South Asia is mostly very mountainous in the south. C. South Asia is mostly plateaus and basins, and does not have any significant river lowlands. D. The climate of South Asia is wet and tropical in the north, but drier and more continental to the south. E. Almost 80 percent of peninsular India is low-lying coastal plain.

A

Which of the following statements concerning the Austral Realm's land and environment is correct? A. Geologically, Australia is much older than New Zealand. B. Earthquakes are common in Australia but not in New Zealand. C. There are no active volcanoes in either Australia or New Zealand. D. The landscape in Australia shows greater relief than in New Zealand. E. New Zealand has a larger tropical climate zone than Australia.

A

Which two Canadian provinces are home to sizeable concentrations of French speakers? A. Quebec and New Brunswick B. Ontario and Quebec C. British Columbia and Manitoba D. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick E. Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia

A

Europe's Eastern Boundary has remained fixed historically. A. True B. False

B

The Great Recession of 2008 was primarily the result of: A. The cost of war in Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time. B. Excessive mortgage lending and borrowing and nontransparent trading of mortgages within the banking sector. C. The value of the Euro over the US Dollar D. Climate change and its affect on the southern tier of the United States. E. Rapid urbanization.

B

The Korean Peninsula and nation is currently divided along ____. A. The 38th parallel B. the Cease-Fire Line C. the line that separates Cholla from Kyongsang provinces D. the Rajin-Sonbong Free Trade line E. no line

B

The Maori account for approximately what percentage of New Zealand's population? A. 5 percent B. 15 percent C. 25 percent D. 30 percent E. 40 percent

B

The U.S. Corn Belt is located in which region of this realm? A. The Pacific Hinge B. The Continental Interior C. The Western Frontier D. The Southwest E. The South

B

The natural resources available to Europeans have made living in this realm a challenge. A. True B. False

B

The theory which holds that destabilization from any cause in one country can result in collapse of order in a neighboring country, and can trigger events in other contiguous states is known as the _______ theory. A. Transmigration B. Domino C. Insurgent State D. Bueffering E. Territorial Morphology

B

This Southeast Asian city/state is a leading node in the realmwide economic network, because of its geographic centrality, huge shipping port, modernity, and political stability. A. Jakarta B. Singapore C. Manila D. Hanoi E. Bangkok

B

What is the term used for that portion of the ocean where all the rights of a coastal state prevail? A. High sea B. Territorial sea C. Littoral sea D. Sovereign sea E. Exclusive Political Zone (EPZ)

B

What was a major impetus for Russia's colonial endeavors? A. To conquer lands rich in resources B. To gain access to warm-water ports C. To capture people to work in its agricultural ventures D. To bring Russian culture to Western Europe E. To bring communism to East Asia

B

Which country was the most influential in Micronesia until the mid-1980s, and remains influential today? A. France B. The United States C. New Zealand D. The United Kingdom E. Japan

B

Which of the following has become Europe's lingua franca? A. German B. English C. French D. Italian E. Spanish

B

Which of the following statements about Mexico is CORRECT? A. Mexico's physiography is dominated by extensive coastal plains, and by a single mountain range that traverses the center of the country from east to west B. Today about 77 percent of Mexicans live in towns or cities as a result of rural-to-urban migration C. The most densely populated part of Mexico is in the north, close to the U.S. border D. Mexican culture shows only a minor heritage form its original Amerindians, but is dominated by more recent European cultural influences E. Most of southern Mexico is very dry and not suitable for agriculture, while the north receives more rainfall

B

Which of the following statements about Russia is correct? A. Russia's land area is smaller than that of the United States B. Russia is about twice the size of Canada in land area C. Russia is about half the size of Canada in land area D. Russia is much larger than India but has a population size similar to India's E. Russia is the second-largest country after Canada and has the world's second-largest population

B

Which of the following statements best describes New Zealand's export economy? A. Most products are sold to Australia and Great Britain. B. It is dominated by the export of wool, meat, and dairy products. C. Most exports are mineral resources such as iron ore and coal. D. Most products are sold to the United States E. New Zealand has almost no export economy and is virtually self-sufficient.

B

Which of the following statements best describes Russia's physical environment? A. Most of Russia is too wet for many types of agriculture B. Russian winters are long and bitterly cold, while summers are short C. Russia has a climate that resembles the climate in the U.S. Southwest D. Russian climate is greatly influenced by the ocean E. Russia is quite flat with virtually no mountains except in the extreme north

B

Which of the following statements would you say best describes Europe's population? A. It is about half urban and half rural B. Europe's native population is shrinking, while the number of immigrants to major cities is on the increase C. Most people live in cities and choose to have large families D. There are a growing number of young people and that is why unemployment is such a severe problem E. It is growing more rapidly than most regions and quickly adding to the world's population problems

B

Which of the subregions of Pakistan is the core area of the country and home to nearly 55 percent of the population? A. Sind B. Punjab C. Kashmir D. Tribal Areas E. Baluchistan

B

Cuba may be on the brink of major changes, because of all these reasons EXCEPT: A. Hugo Chavez has been providing oil and support to the tune of US $3.5 billion a year. B. After Fidel Castro passed power to his brother, Raul Castro has been taking small steps to liberalize business in Cuba and allow more private ownership. C. American tourists have flooded into Cuba visibly changing their cultural and economic landscapes. D. Proximity to North American markets can be transformational should Cuba continue to liberalize economic policy.

C

Identify the country in which an alternative to the Panama Canal, utilizing a navigable river and two large lakes, has long been contemplated. A. Belize B. Guatemala C. Nicaragua D. Honduras E. El Salvador

C

Identify the country that was once part of the Soviet Union, has access to ports on the Black Sea, and has assets that include significant farm production, a skilled labor force, and substantial raw materials. A. Poland B. Estonia C. Ukraine D. Croatia E. Slovakia

C

If you were to travel due north from Lima, Peru, one of South America's westernmost cities, which U.S. city would you pass closest to? A. Seattle B. Denver C. Miami D. St. Louis E. Las Vegas

C

In mainland Europe, a belt of major coalfields extends from east to west, roughly along the margins of the North European Lowland. Which major industrial area is NOT built upon these major coal fields? A. The Ruhr Valley B. Western Bohemia C. Catalonia D. Silesia E. The Donets Basin

C

In the early 1970s, China's population growth rate was about 3 percent, but fell rapidly to about 1.2 percent by the mid-1980s. What was the basic reason for this dramatic drop? A. An increased death rate because of communist abuses B. Education on birth control by Western relief agencies C. Government-sanctioned population policies D. An increased death rate because of epidemics of various diseases E. Infertility problems caused by poor nutrition and pollution

C

Most countries in South Asia are in this stage of the Demographic Transition Model. A. Stage 1 - High birth and death rates. B. Stage 2 - Decreasing death rates with high birth rates. C. Stage 3 - Decreasing birth and death rates. D. Stage 4 - Low birth and death rates. E. India's case is unique and does not fit the model.

C

The major world religion that swept into South Asia from Persia in the late tenth century, and that remains the primary religion of Pakistan and Bangladesh today is _______. A. Buddhism B. Hinduism C. Islam D. Christianity E. Confucianism

C

The population map of North America has been influenced by a number of major migrations. Which of the following is NOT one of those migrations? A. Movement of people from the east to the west and south. B. Movement of African Americans from the rural south to urban north. C. The movement of Native Americans, including the Cherokee and Choctaw, from native lands in the west to eastern areas along the Atlantic coast. D. Movement of people to metropolitan areas. E. Influx of immigrants from Europe, Middle America, and Asia.

C

This country has a major problem with Muslim-inspired violence in its far south. A. Myanmar B. East Timor C. Thailand D. Malaysia E. Vietnam

C

Today's approximate population of Japan is ___ and it is ____. A. 55 million; rising B. 93 million; stable C. 127 million; declining D. 197 million; rising E. 311 million; declining

C

What dominates the physiography of Southeast Asia? A. Tropical plains B. Relative scarcity of coastlines C. High relief D. Glaciated plateaus E. Deserts

C

What is the most populous city in Australia? A. Brisbane B. Canberra C. Sydney D. Perth E. Melbourne

C

Which group within Australian society remains marginalized and proportionally disadvantaged? A. Descendants of the penal colonists B. People who earn their living from livestock C. The indigenous (Aboriginal) population D. People who earn their living in resource extraction industries E. People who live in the extreme eastern areas of the country

C

Which is NOT a characteristic of a neoliberalism in India: A. Privatization of state-run companies B. Lowering international trade tariffs C. High government regulation D. Reduction of government subsidies E. Cutting corporate taxes

C

Which island accounts for more than 80 percent of the realm's population? A. Samoa B. Hawai'i C. New Guinea D. Fiji E. Guam

C

Which of Europe's landscape regions contains important cities such as, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Warsaw? A. The Central Uplands B. The Appennines C. The North European Lowland D. The Alpine Mountains E. The Western Uplands

C

Which of the SEZs is located in the Pearl River Megalopolis? A. Taiwan B. Xinjiang C. Shenzen D. Hainan E. Pudong

C

Which of the following cities is not located in a coastal zone? A. Mumbai B. Chennai C. New Delhi D. Karachi E. Kolkata

C

Which of the following manufacturing regions in Russia are not located in its Core A. The Far East region and the Urals region B. Urals and Kuzbas regions C. Kuzbas and Far East regions D. Central Industrial and Urals regions E. Urals and Volga regions

C

Which of the following statements concerning Middle America is CORRECT? A. Middle America includes all mainland countries from Panama to Guatemala as well as the islands of the Caribbean Basin, but does not include Mexico B. Spanish is the language spoken in all the countries of Middle America C. Middle America can be called a land bridge because it is relatively narrow, connecting the landmasses of North and South America D. In terms of its physical geography, Middle America is rather flat, so movement of people between regions is relatively easy E. Middle America and Latin America are synonymous

C

Which of the following statements concerning the current changing social geographies of Russia is correct? A. Russia is struggling to feed its growing population B. There is very little difference between male and female life expectancies in Russia C. Males are more likely to be affected by alcoholism and related diseases D. Deaths from alcohol poisoning are on the decline E. Population growth in Russia's Far East is significant

C

Within China proper there are four major river basins that contain more than 75 percent of China's population. Within which of these regions is the capital of Beijing located? A. Chang Jiang (Yangzi) Basin B. Inner Mongolia C. The North China Plain (Lower Huang He Basin) D. The Northeast China Plain (Liao-Songhua Basin) E. The Xi (West) and Pearl River Basins

C

East Asia's natural environment displays great diversity in all except one way. A. A predominantly continental climate with great ranges in temperature from hot to cold. B. High plateaus and snowcapped mountains. C. Major rivers and coastal river deltas that have sustained dense human population for millennia. D. Wet and green in the West. E. Vast inland deserts.

D

Having developed a world-class shipbuilding industry, a vibrant high-tech sector, and lucrative natural gas operations in the North Sea, this United Kingdom nation is seeking full independence by 2014. A. England B. Northern Ireland C. Wales D. Scotland E. Ireland

D

Identify the river that is NOT an important river in Southeast Asia. A. The Red River B. The Chao Phraya River C. The Irrawaddy River D. The Ganges River E. The Mekong

D

In Southeast Asia the ______are a people who have been far more important than their modest numbers suggest, through their domination of retail trade, and their significant involvement in banking, industry, and shipping. A. Japanese B. Hindus C. Sinhalese D. Chinese E. Buddhists

D

In continental Middle America, climate and other environmental conditions vary by altitudinal zone. What is the correct sequence of these zones, from lowest to highest? A. Tierra templada; Tierra fria; Tierra helada; Tierra nevada; Tierra caliente B. Tierra nevada; Tierra fria; Tierra helada; Tierra caliente; Tierra templada C. Tierra nevada; Tierra templada; Tierra fria; Tierra helada; Tierra caliente D. Tierra caliente; Tierra templada; Tierra fria; Tierra helada; Tierra nevada E. Tierra helada; Tierra nevada; Tierra fria; Tierra caliente; Tierra templada

D

New Caledonia remains a colony of _______. A. Australia B. New Zealand C. Papua New Guinea D. France E. the United Kingdom

D

The American Manufacturing Belt contains some of the largest cities in North America in this massive urban complex. Which city is not part of this Belt? A. New York B. Boston C. Chicago D. Kansas City E. Philadelphia

D

The number of Hispanics in the USA is now around _______, outnumbering African-Americans. A. 6% B. 13% C. 14% D. 16% E. 21%

D

This region on the border of India and Pakistan remains beset by political tension and possible confrontation. A. The Punjab B. Sikkim C. Sindh and Rajasthan D. Jammu and Kashmir E. The Tribal Areas

D

What civilization, centered in the intermontane zone of Mexico, grew rich by conquering people and collecting taxes, but was toppled by Spanish invaders? A. The Maya B. The Incas C. The Mestizos D. The Aztecs E. The Montezumans

D

When comparing China and the United Sstate's contiguous 'Lower 48', which statement concerning China's size and location is correct? A. China is about double the size of the U.S. and has similar longitudinal extent. B. China is about two-thirds the size of the U.S. but has greater longitudinal extent. C. China is slightly bigger than the U.S. but has slightly less latitudinal extent. D. China is about the size of the U.S. in area but has greater latitudinal extent. E. China is slightly smaller in size than the U.S. and has almost identical latitudinal and longitudinal extent.

D

When did the Chinese communists proclaim the birth of the People's Republic of China, and where did the defeated Nationalists flee to? A. The Chinese communists proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1911, and the defeated Nationalists fled to Manchuria. B. The Chinese communists proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1995, and the defeated Nationalists fled to Japan. C. The Chinese communists proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1971, and the defeated Nationalists fled to Tibet. D. The Chinese communists proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and the defeated Nationalists fled to Taiwan. E. The Chinese communists proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1976, and the defeated Nationalists fled to Hong Kong.

D

Where is Australia's core area located? A. The west B. The southwest C. The north D. The east and southeast E. The center of the country

D

Which country is described by the following statement? "The country consists of over 17,000 islands and has the largest population of any country in Southeast Asia. The population consists of more than 3000 ethnic clusters that speak over 250 languages. All major world religions are practiced but the majority of the population is Muslim." A. Malaysia B. Philippines C. Brunei D. Indonesia E. Papua New Guinea

D

Which of the following characteristics makes the Austral Realm unique? A. It spans the equator. B. It lies entirely within the tropics. C. It forms a land link with peninsular Southeast Asia. D. It lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. E. It lies directly astride the Ring of Fire.

D

Which of the following is NOT part of Polynesia? A. Hawai'i B. Tahiti C. Samoa D. Northern Mariana Islands E. Tonga

D

Which of the following statements about Papua New Guinea is correct? A. Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 20 million. B. Most people in Papua New Guinea live in the capital city of Port Moresby. C. Papua New Guinea is very ethnically and culturally homogeneous. D. The majority of Papua New Guinea's population survives by subsistence farming. E. Papua New Guinea has no natural resources that could aid development.

D

Which of the following statements about the European Union (EU) is correct? A. The United Kingdom began the original organization that became known as the EU in 1986 so that it would be easier to export a wide range of high-tech products B. Today every European country is a member of the EU because membership is essential to economic survival C. Membership in the EU provides great opportunities for trade, but does not mean that countries have to give up any of their sovereignty D. Since 2009, the EU has been in a state of financial crisis, characterized by low economic grow, high unemployment, and bailouts of weaker member states E. The EU not only enjoys the support of every European government, but is also overwhelmingly supported by ordinary people in Europe

D

Which of the following statements best describes Russia's political geography? A. Russia has maintained a strong commitment to a unitary state system where centralized government holds all the power B. Russia has eliminated all the internal political divisions that were in place during the communist era C. Russia is now a dictatorship led by President Vladimir Putin D. Russia has chosen to adopt a federal system of government to accommodate its great economic and cultural diversity E. Russia has made great progress in establishing good relationships between Moscow and the distant Republics and Regions that remain part of Russia

D

Drug violence in Mexico can be attributed to all these reasons EXCEPT for _____________. A. demand in the United States B. territory disputes between various cartels C. failure of Mexican authorities to maintain control in contested areas D. cartels' exploitation of high unemployment amongst younger men in border region to recruit E. record high illegal border crossing into the United States, between 2010 and 2011

E

Europe may be described as: A. physically diverse but culturally homogeneous B. both physically and culturally homogeneous C. linguistically homogeneous D. physically homogeneous but culturally diverse E. both physically and culturally diverse

E

Europe's territorial size is about __ the size of the United States. A. 10 percent B. 20 percent C. 30 percent D. 50 percent E. 60 percent

E

Identify the Australian city that is NOT located on the coast. A. Perth B. Melbourne C. Sydney D. Brisbane E. Canberra

E

In the early years of the Soviet Union, the official policy toward the many non-Russian nationalities that had been part of the Czarist Russian Empire was that _______________________. A. these nations were to be immediately given their own independent states whether they wanted them or not B. any nations that expressed a desire for autonomy were guaranteed an independent state. C. the issue of independence for these nationalities never came up. D. some more remote areas were given independence under a five-year plan if they could show they were ready for it E. despite rhetoric about self-determination, the communists were determined to keep control and make these nationalities part of the USSR

E

Southeast Asia is a realm in which stresses and pressures from without and within have fractured the political geography. The term used to describe such a region is: A. fallen domino B. buffer zone C. proruption D. choke point E. shatter belt

E

Surface water patterns in North America are dominated by two major drainage systems that lie between the Rockies and Appalachians. What are these two systems? A. The Colorado River system and the Ohio River system B. The Columbia River system and the five Great Lakes C. The five Great Lakes and the Columbia River system D. The Mississippi River system and the Colorado River system E. The five Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system

E

What are maquiladoras? A. Small plots of land owned by communities rather than individuals B. Large estates held by Amerindian landowners that are relatively unproductive but bring social prestige C. People who are a racial mix of European and Amerindian traits D. 'Factory-in-the field' operations that concentrate on growing a single crop mostly for export E. Factories that assemble imported, duty-free components and raw materials into finished industrial products

E

What is the primary language family of southern India? A. Niger-Congo B. Aryan C. Sino-Tibetan D. Indo-European E. Dravidian

E

What is the term used for the type of boundary that evolves as the cultural landscape of an area takes shape? A. A superimposed boundary B. A tertiary boundary C. A relict boundary D. An antecedent boundary E. A subsequent boundary

E

Which Russian leader combined 83 Regions, Republics, and other political entities into seven administrative units in the year 2000? A. Khrushchev B. Brezhnev C. Stalin D. Putin E. Gorbachev

E

Which country does not hold control over any islands in the Caribbean? A. The United States B. The Netherlands C. The United Kingdom D. France E. Spain

E

Which country has the most powerful economy in Europe? A. France B. the United Kingdom C. Italy D. Greece E. Germany

E

Which of the following best explains the location and purpose of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in China? A. They are located in remote interior areas so that they are secure from any attempt at attack from outside China. B. They are located in areas with substantial minority ethnic populations, to aid the development of these economically depressed areas. C. They are located in the most fertile agricultural areas, so that a market economy within agriculture can be promoted. D. They are located in the areas where natural resources such as oil and natural gas are plentiful, so that export of these resources can be facilitated. E. They are located on the coast so that China can participate in the global market economy, while at the same time minimizing outside influence in the political arena.

E