Human Geography final exam
Which of the following is an example of a "formal region"?
"The corn belt" of the US
Which of the following best describes a vernacular region?
'The South', US
In which of the following countries would a Primate City most likely be found
Peru
"creative destruction" is associated with deindustrialization followed by the growth of new investments in new activities. Which of the following places best exemplifies creative destruction
Pittsburgh-the steel industry, followed by health care and medical research activities
Malthus predicted that--
Population growth would exceed food production, hence the result would be world-wide famine
To most equitably compare the relative levels of economic development of different countries, and to adjust for their different currencies, it is best to use:
Purchasing power parity
Which of the following is a characteristic of Fordism
Quantity/mass production/ long run contracts
Globalization, and in particular the predominance of US influence 'all things western' throughout the 20th century has been manifested in many ways. Which of the following has NOT been globally influenced by the US or by western European nations upon the rest of the world
Religion
In terms of land area (square miles) which of the following sequences is correct-- with the largest country first in the sequence
Russia, Canada, US
A large scale map--
Shows a small area in great detail with a representative fraction of 1/24,000
Which of the following is a characteristic of Post-Fordism
Skilled labor
Most industrialized nations in the world have experienced a decline in manufacturing employment. Among the following nations which have NOT experienced a decline in manufacturing employment:
South Korea, Mexico
which of the following region population shifts best explains the post- 1950s trend in the US
South and West
Which of the following countries were the hegemonic states of the early Colonial Period (1500s)
Spain and Portugal
which of the following is NOT considered to be the location of an important cultural hearth?
The east coast of the US, Plymouth Rock
One of the worlds first empires, an important location for the agricultural revolution-wheat, and one of the first locations for urban settlements- a civilization, was?
The fertile crescent, Mesopotamia
Which of the following is true regarding the US national parks?
The first national park was Yellowstone national park established in 1872
Since the turn of the 21st century there has been an increase in the number of 'cottage industries' in core nations. This is primarily due to:
The internet
In 1970 the US passed the National Environmental Policy act. Which of the following is an important aspect of this law
The intervention of the public and proposed projects
Which of the following is true regarding US city models
The majority of US cities conform to the monocentric urban model
The US 'Corn Belt' (an area of family farming) tends to be an agricultural system that in most years is profitable-- farmers make money. In large part this is due to
The region has optimal physical attributes-- soil, climate, etc., hence farmers have options to minimize risk
Sacred religious spaces are important places with special meanings for millions of 'believers'. Which of the following is NOT a sacred place.
The statue of liberty, NY
Select the correct statement regarding cities in the periphery
They usually have a large informal economic sector
Less developed countries have often embraced tourism as an important component for economic development. Which of the following is true?
Tourism provides significant employment-jobs
Approximately 28% of the US population continues to live in the inner city. For example, the 'city of Cincinnati'
True
The internet was created by the US department of Defense in the 1960s for communication to withstand a nuclear attack
True
the majority of petroleum imports to the US comes from neighboring countries, Canada and Mexico
True
In an era of globalization many 'back office' functions have relocated from urban downtowns to many 'off-shore' locations. This is true for many US companies that have relocated these activities to all the following countries except:
Turkey
Many countries have churches recognized by law as the official church of the state. Which of the following countries does not have a recognized state church?
US
The end of WW2 was the beginning of the 'cold war'. Which two countries were the principal protagonist of the Cold War, and when did the 'Cold War' end?
US and Russia/1989
Which of the following nations is most important in terms of value-added manufacturing, but this nation does not lead the world in number of employees in manufacturing:
United States
which of the following countries spends more on the military spending than all other countries combined
United States
One of the problems of the current and future energy generation is the spatial mismatch of the location of energy and the demand for energy-- countries that use a lot of energy. For example, approximately 60% of the worlds coal production is located in two countries, which are:
United States and China
Agribusinesses as exemplified by Cargill, Conagra, Monsanto & Perdue produce and control everything in the food chain from 'seedings to supermarket'. This is a good example of:
Vertical Integration
Which of the following is considered NOT to be a 'world city' ?
Vienna
In the US the latitude 36,30 degrees is an important historical designation on the map. This latitude was:
a degree that divided slave holding states from 'free states' i.e. free states did not permit slavery
The original idea of the interstate system in the US was:
a highway system to evacuate cities in the event of war
Cultural nationalism-- is the belief that a nation shares a common culture-- is most likely to be prominent in:
a legion like Scotland, Kurdistan, or Quebec
Which of the following is NOT true?
a. imperialism generally involves military intervention b. colonialism generally involves the physical settlement of a new territory of people from other places c. generally colonialism is a benevolent undertaking with religious intent d. a major intent of both colonialism and imperialism is economic exploitation C
The rate of urban growth, particularly throughout Europe was highest during
after and during the industrial revolution
Henry David Thoreau is best known as
an advocate of living in harmony with nature in an era of increasing technology and industrialization
What percentage of the total land area is owned and managed by the US federal government
approximately 28%
The east/west divide, an international alignment that emerged after WW2 is basically a division based upon
political ideology
The elasticity of demand for many products provides some explanation why many peripheral nations have poor terms of trade. Which of the following products/places has a high elasticity of demand?
prada women's handbags/ Milan, Italy
The territorially-based sense of identity in groups like the Basques, Kurds and Armenians is referred to as
regionalism
In the context of urban systems, basic tenets of central place theory include all of the following except:
settlements of similar population sizes are grouped together
The Robinson map projection is a widely used projection with some distinctive features which are:
shape and size of areas are distorted but less so between 38 degrees north and south of the equator
One of the results of the Industrial Revolution-- the increasing use of steam engines was
deforestation in many parts of Europe
Modernization theory, an economic development model, principally advocates that:
development in largely a function of internal factors, culture for example, and nations should follow the 'lessons from the west'
The expansion of colonialism in the 1500 and 1600s resulted in the rapid conquest of the indigenous population everywhere. What explains how colonial places were conquered in a relatively short time?
disease
The treaty of Tordesillas of 1494--
drew a line along a meridian 370 degrees west of the Cape Verde islands, off the coast of Africa, with Portugal claiming land to the east of the line and Spain claiming land to the West
The introduction of exotic plants and animals into new ecosystems, such as the introduction of African bees to Brazil in the 1950s with the hopes of improving the local bee-keeping industry is an example of
ecological imperialism
Among the following, which contributes the most in terms of adverse atmospheric (air pollution) impacts:
electricity production from coal-fired plants
The "first law" of geography states:
everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than more distant things
Imperialism generally begins with
exploration/exploitation
Canada is a country that is in the second stage of the demographic transition
false
Consistent with its pro-and free-trade positions, the United States no longer subsidizes agriculture
false
English is considered to be a 'romance language'
false
Great Britain, France, and Germany were all part of the First wave of Colonization of countries, while spain and portugal were all part of the 2nd wave
false
Imperialism is the imposition of trade by the semi-periphery upon core nations
false
Most US cities, particularly in the mid-west and east coast, have experienced population growth in the past few decades
false
Organic farming in the US is a highly regulated agricultural system assuring consumers of quality-- pesticide/herbicide free-- fruits and vegetables
false
Shi'ism (Schites) is the largest and most orthodox branch of Islam
false
Globalization and the economic interdependence of major world regions has accelerated in recent years largely due to all the following factors--except one factor. Which of the following is not correct
A major shift to Fordist manufacturing for most manufactured products in core nations
There are 'poor' regions within wealthy nations. In the US Appalachia is a comparative poor region. A major reason for the persistence poverty throughout Appalachia has been
A one resource economy-as exemplified by coal
Which of the following is not true regarding Spanish colonial towns?
A primary function was to provide educational and health services to the native population
Situation refers to the physical attributes of a location; its terrain, soil, vegetation, and water sources. Site refers to the location of a place relative to other places and human activities; its accessibility to route ways, for example, or its nearness to population centers
false
The US produces more energy from renewable sources than any other country
false
The acronym ISIS stands for the Islamic states of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia
false
The definition of a 'food desert' is an arid region or area that has insufficient precipitation/rain to produce any crops
false
With deindustrialization of the 1960s and 1970s, California became the rustbelt.
false
Worldwide, Chinese is the most widely spoken language
false
a MSA consists of at least one urbanized area-a city, that has a population of more than 1,000,000 in a county comprising the core, plus adjacent outlying counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration with the central county
false
the growth and survival of many urban places in the US was dependent on their connection to 'canals' during the mid 1900s
false
the location of the corn belt in the US is largely explained by its proximity to a large market-- population
false
the production of fruits and vegetables from 'urban agricultural' practices is a significant source of food in the United States
false
Shifting cultivation is characterized by the practice of rotating __________ to maintain soil fertility
fields
The most important reason for European voyages of discovery was the desire
for economic gain
Which of the following is NOT true? Compared to US cities, European cities
have lower population densities
The initial goal of Green Revolution scientists was to develop
higher yielding seeds
The most important renewable energy source in terms of electrical power generation is:
hydroelectricity
Pastoral nomadism as an agricultural system continues to decline in importance worldwide. However, this type of 'farming' is still prevalent in:
in cold and arid climates worldwide
In the concentric zone model, which of the following is most likely to locate in the outermost ring?
industries and factories
The separation of Crimea from Ukraine and its annexation to Russia is an example of
irredentism
High population growth
is primarily a problem in Less Developed Countries
The burning of coal:
is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO2
Several counties in the northern Great Plain states, particularly North and South Dakota, have experienced significant recent population growth as noted in the decade 2000-2010. The primary reason for this
jobs
What is the most important factor that explains immigration/migration
jobs/economic opportunities
In the global assembly line, manufacture and assembly is most likely to take place where
labor is cheap
What percent of the US labor force is in the agriculture, and what percent of the worlds labor force is in agriculture?
less than 2% US; about 26% world
What are basic sector activities?
manufacturing and export activities that are dependent upon a transportation system
contemporary 'western culture' in general elevates and values--
material goods
With the emergence of the world-system in the 16th century, European ______ reshaped the world
merchant capitalism
which of the following is not true regarding the manufacturing sector:
most 'core' countries are experiencing large increases in manufacturing employment
The 'North Pole' has been a politically contested region. Which of the following has been officially recognized by the UN as the owner of the North Pole
none of the above
Manufacturing at its peak in the US was located in ________ and has moved with the population to the ________
north east, moved to --south & west
Which of the following is not an element-- a trait of culture?
per capita, gross national product
The major source of energy world-wide is
petroleum
Globalization has become a world-wide phenomenon with important implications- everywhere. The rapid pace and extent of globalization is largely a result of:
space/time convergence
The first Kondratieff industrial cycle--cycles of technological innovations (technological systems)-- was dominated by which of the following innovations/products?
steam engine/ textiles
"The effective settlement of the interior and the growth of American cities did not take place until the development of"--
steam power transportation, river boats but mainly railroads
The supreme court building in DC is a good example of a
symbolic landscape
The area of maximum accessibility in an idealized city located on an isotropic surface is
the CBD
Which of the following regions in the US has been losing population or at best has experienced modest population gains for the past 2 decades
the Great Plains
Which of the following best exemplifies a 'landscape of national identity'
the colosseum in Rome
What is a major difference between the design of European cities and Islamic cities--the most important characteristic:
the comportment of the 'person', privacy is important in Islamic urban places, hence 'inner space,' courtyards are important
The Anthropocene is:
the current geologic era recognizing that human activities have affected the environment
Before colonization, cities were centered around what primary structure?
the dwelling of the ruler/the lord/ etc
Which of the following is true with regard to the formula I=PAT
the formula PAT attempts to gage different societies impact upon the environment
Dependency 'theory' is one of the models purporting to explain economic development. This model continues to be in vogue, i.e. as an explanation for economic underdevelopment largely due to the model's emphasis on:
the increasing importance of transnational corporations
American culture has diffused world-wide largely due to
the internet/movies/tv
According to urban planners what factors were most important in the shaping of the 21st century US city-- the polycentric metropolitan city with expanding urban sprawl
the interstate highway system and cheap mortgages
One of the most important impacts of the Columbian Exchange was:
the introduction of disease in the New World resulting in demographic collapse
Topophilia is
the love of a place
The specialization of peripheral countries in raw materials and foodstuffs, the decentralization of manufacturing to areas of low labor costs, and the emphasis of core regions on high-tech manufacturing and services describes--
the new international division of labor
The fastest growing MSAs in the US are generally located in
the south west-- western states
Whereas environmental preservationists advocate that certain habitats, species, and resources should be off-limits and left entirely alone, conservation approaches encourage:
the sustainable use of natural resources, a responsibility for future generations
What percent of the US labor force is engaged in manufacturing, and what percent of the world's labor force is employed in manufacturing?
Approximately 10% US; 23% world
Which of the following is not indicative of global warming?
the timing of tides of the worlds oceans
the location of wheat farming in the US or most other wheat producing regions of the world, is largely due to:
Aridity, wheat is the most adaptive crop
Agriculture in most of the world has followed agricultural trends in the US. Which of the following is true?
Both the number of farms in the US and number of farmers is decreasing
Deforestation is a major problem; it disrupts the carbon dioxide/oxygen cycle, contributes to global warming, loss of biodiversity etc. However, it is a major problem in only certain parts of the world. In some countries there are reforestation programs currently underway. Among the following countries which group continues to experience large-scale deforestation
Brazil and Indonesia
Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs) are best exemplified by:
Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, and Taiwan
The world's religions originated in a fairly small region of the world. Which of the following is false:
Buddhism originated in Indonesia
Which state in the US has the most electoral votes
California
Which of the following centers of early global civilization was NOT linked by the Silk Road
Central Andes and Mesoamerica
Which of the following country boundaries marked by the crest of mountains-- is correct
Chile/Argentine, the Andes
In terms of population which of the following sequences is correct-- from the largest country to smallest
China, India, US, Indonesia, Pakistan
Primate cities continue to grow in peripheral places and in the semi-periphery for all the following reasons except:
the very good job market-- many employment opportunities
Christianity, Islam and Judaism share little in common with one major exception-- which of the following is true:
they are monotheistic-- believing in one God
Increased global demands for meat, particularly beef-cattle production, has led to an increased use of the worlds grasslands. In many cases this has led to acute overgrazing-- land degradation. And this is particularly the case on the edge of grasslands-- where grasslands merge with another biome. This acute overgrazing-- land degradation has often resulted in
Desertification
Which set of regions/countries is currently experiencing a population decling?
Europe- Italy, Greece
Which of the following best characterizes 'triangular trade'
European trade for slaves in north Africa-slaves to the Caribbean-sugar shipments to Europe
Hogs, cattle and sheep were indigenous to the new world (The Americas)
False
Many of North America's important cities were once Roman settlements
False
Which of the following nations generates more than 75% of its electricity from nuclear power
France
Which of the following is an important characteristic of extensive subsistence agriculture?
this type of agriculture is adaptive of the environment and can only support low population densities
Culture is sometimes a 'two way street' i.e. there is an exchange of cultural traits between disparate places. Among the following, which place has adopted cultural traits from another 'trait/place'
French clothes, USA
There are more than 6900 languages spoken in the world today-- and many of these are 'fusion languages'. which of the following is an example of a fusion language
Garifuna
The invasion of older, centrally-located working-class neighborhoods by higher-income professionals in search of character and convenience is called
Gentrification
The Industrial Revolution began in one location-- and this was?
Great Britain
What was a major flaw in Malthus' conclusions?
He failed to predict agricultural expansion and mechanization
Which of the following is a characteristic of import-substitution industrialization
High Tariffs on imported goods and the stimulation of domestic manufacturing
What characterizes the first stage of demographic transition?
High birth rates, high death rates
Which of the following is an important characteristic of intensive, subsistence agriculture?
High yields, principally rice, and high labor inputs
Which of the following is correct regarding population growth of US cities?
In the last few decades, many urban areas have experienced a decline in the central city population, but population growth in the suburbs
The US has experienced much immigration throughout its history. And historically most immigrants came from different source regions. Which of the following is true?
In the late 1800s and until the 1st world war most immigrants to the US came from western Europe
Which of the following is NOT one of the major changes occurring globally in agriculture (the 3rd agricultural revolution) ?
Increase in the number of people employed in agriculture
Among the following countries which has the greatest array of languages
India
Among the following plants and animals which was indigenous to the 'new world'
tomatoes and corn
And with reference to question 7(above) most of this energy-- the most important source of energy is used for
transportation
A major difference between imperialism and colonialism is that imperialism is often associated with conflict-- the imposition of state authority on the life of other territories
true
According to the demographic transition, societies are more quickly willing to adopt measures that reduce death rates than those that reduce birth rates
true
An organism that has had its DNA modified in a laboratory rather than through cross-pollination or other forms of evolution is known as GMO
true
Fashion trends are an example of spatial diffusion
true
Fiber optics is best at point to point coverage, whereas satellites is best at point to area
true
Immigration is the act of moving to a place and Emigration is the act of moving from a place
true
In european cities, the poor-- the marginalized populations tend to be concentrated in the suburbs
true
Intertillage is a common practice in swidden (milpa) agriculture
true
Labor migration is the dominant form-- in terms of numbers-- of international migration
true
One of the results of the rapid pace of globalization has been the spread of western culture worldwide
true
Over the Rhine (Cincinnati) is an example of a toponym
true
Seed agriculture began to replace hunting and gathering with the advent of the first agricultural revolution
true
Several urban places in the US were named after railroads because the city helped finance and build railroads
true
The effective settlement of the interior and the growth of American cities did not take place until the development of steam powered transportation
true
The north/south divide is an economic divide
true
The term 'ethnicity' refers to national origins-- perceived commonalities, language for example.
true
Worldwide the most important economic activity in terms of employment are tertiary activities;
true
Identify the cluster of words that would be useful in a definition of the concept of cognitive space
values, feelings, beliefs, perceptions, behavioral space
The domino theory
was the rationale behind stopping the spread of communism
Most middle eastern countries are culturally alike: for example they are Muslim nations, but not all Middle Eastern countries are Arab nations. Which of the following pair of countries are NOT considered to be Arabic countries (predominant spoken language is Arabic)
Iran and Turkey
Which of the following is correct (true) regarding Neocolonialism
Is associated with transnational corporations
With regard to 'environmental determinism' which of the following is true?
Nature limits and shapes society, i.e. the environment largely dictates human activity
Which of the following best exemplifies the "friction of distance/distance decay"
Neighborhood grocery stores
Colonialism rapidly declined in the post WW2 era. Many argue that Colonialism was replaced by
NeoColonialism, led by transnational corporations
Some proponents of economic development maintain that the current lack of development in peripheral nations is largely a result of the domination of a country's economy by foreign corporations-transnational corporations. This is referred to as:
Neocolonialism
The Erie Canal was an early important canal link that connected:
New York City with Buffalo on Lake Erie
Which of the following countries has the highest 'fertility rate', a harbinger of population growth
Nigeria, Liberia, Sudan
Which area of the world was the least impacted by feudalism, in fact never experienced feudalism
North America
Approximately 80% of the worlds manufacturing is principally located in:
North America; Europe/Russia; SE Asia- China, Japan
Which of the following trade-facilitating organizations is structured around a commodity rather than a world region?
OPEC
Which of the following is true regarding food resources?
world food population has been increasing faster than population
U.S. immigration has always been significant sometimes numbering in the millions during most decades. Among the following which decade was the most important in terms of numbers of immigrants to the US
2000-2010
Following the rank-size rule, if the population of the largest city in a country or region is 1 million, the fourth-largest city should contain about this many people
250,000
The United States population is approximately
331 million
Legal immigration to the US currently accounts for what percent of US population growth?
40%
the boundary between the US and Canada from approximately Minnesota to the Pacific Ocean is:
49 degrees north latitude
The President and Vice president of the US are not elected by popular vote, rather by the electoral college. How many members of the electoral college are there? and how many electoral votes are needed to win the presidential election?
538 and 270
What percent of the worlds population lives in urban places, i.e. urbanized?
55%
World population is estimated
7.8 Billion
What percent of the US population lives in an urban place?
82%
'Lingua Franca' is:
A common language in a country whose language is different-- the language of business for example
When a population pyramid has a broad base and a narrow top, what does that likely indicate?
A developing country, most 3rd world places
In general most nations experience a transition of economic development that progresses through 'sector stages'; that is, the dominance of one economic sector that transitions to another economic sector. Studies have shown that typically these stages are:
Agriculture, manufacturing, services-the tertiary sector
World systems theory advocates
All of the above
The world's last 'frontier' is considered to be
Antarctica
What is sustainable development?
Balance between economic growth, environmental impacts, and social equity
Different users that are prepared to pay different amounts for locations at various distances from the city center is known as what?
Bid-rent
The worlds largest religion, the religion with the highest number of adherents is:
Christianity
In contrast to the first agricultural revolution, the second and third agricultural revolutions originated in:
Core nations-- Britain and the US
comparative advantage explains which of the following country/products
Costa Rica/ bananas
The percent land in the major vegetation biomes in both the world and the US is about the same. For example, the percent in grassland for the world and the US is about 25%. There is, however, one important exception--the US has more land in one biome (vegetation zone) than the world. This biome/vegetation zone is:
Cultivated land/land used for agriculture
Among the following countries which one is considered to be 'uni-national' i.e. composed of one ethnic group
Iceland
Which of the following nations is a major consumer of energy but not a producer
Japan
According to Central Place Theory, which of the following functions would most likely NOT be found in either a small urban place, or neighborhood shopping district?
Jewelry Story
Among the following pairs of individuals which were instrumental in preserving unusual landscapes for future generations-- National Parks
John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt
Among the following places which one would most likely experience a 'digital divide' ?
Kabul, Afghhanistan
The evolving global geography of Nike shoe manufacturing is based on changing patterns of
Labor costs
The cost savings and/or advantages that individual firms get when they are located in the same area as other firms of the same industry is known as an ______ economy
Localization
which of the following nations has adopted and best exemplifies export-led industrialization (maquiladoras) as a strategy for economic development?
Mexico
The most important invention and the catalyst for the industrial revolution was?
Steam Engine
Because its buildings are modeled after those of the relatively democratic Greek city-states of ancient times, the landscape created by the federal government in Washington DC is best thought of as
Symbolic Landscape
Which of the following countries has recently exited the EU (european union)?
The UK
Religiosity can be defined as those who have a belief in God or a belief in a 'higher being' but who are not an adherent to a particular faith/religion or practice a religion. In fact church attendance shows a downward trend particularly in wealthy-developed nations. There is one major exception-- a country that is wealthy and developed by has a high number of people who believe in God-- and who may or may not practice a religion. This country is:
The US
Which of the following best describes a cultural region?
The US South
Many African nations, and in particular most of the countries south of the Sahara derive most of their energy (90% in many cases) from which of the following energy sources
biomass
Since the late 1880s global temperatures have been kept. How much have global temperatures increased since the 1880s (F)
by approximately 1.8 degrees
Gentrification is most likely to be found in
central city zones of transition
Land, and particularly forest-rainforest in the tropics has been increasingly cut/burnt and then cultivated/utilized for higher value products as exemplified by
cocoa production
Which of the following is correct regarding The New International Division of Labor?
companies can take 'advantage' of a country's comparative advantages-cheap labor for example
