Thinking Geographically Overview

Although this section of the course is composed of introductory material and accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of the AP Exam, it can be challenging for AP Human Geography teachers because it contains important geographic concepts: due to its definitional nature, the new geography teacher may have difficulty presenting this material in a manner that students can easily grasp. However, the concepts of location, space, place, scale, pattern, regionalization, and globalization are fundamental to the study of geography, and this section of the course is compulsory. Subsequent sections will provide many opportunities to apply these tools and concepts, thus reinforcing students’ understanding of them. Students learn how to use and interpret maps and to understand the role of mental mapping.

OverviewI. Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives 5–10%

A. Geography as a field of inquiry B. Evolution of key geographical concepts and models associated with notable geographers

C. Key concepts underlying the geographical perspective: location, space, place, scale, pattern, regionalization, and globalization D. Key geographical skills

1. How to use and think about maps and spatial data 2. How to understand and interpret the implications of associations among

phenomena in places 3. How to recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes

4. How to define regions and evaluate the regionalization process 5. How to characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places

E. New geographic technologies, such as GIS and GPS F. Sources of geographical ideas and data: the field, census data

Geography as a field of inquiry

• Interdisciplinary Perspective• Spatial Distributions (knowing)

– Who or what, when, where– Anything that can be mapped

• Spatial Processes (understanding)

– Why/how did it evolve• Spatial Prediction and Decision Making (applying)

– How can distributions be preserved or changed

What Is Human Geography?

The study of •How people make places•How we organize space and society •How we interact with each other in places and across space•How we make sense of others and ourselves in our locality, region, and world

The why of where

Spatial Distribution• Spatial distribution and pattern• Processes that create and sustain a distribution

Map of Cholera Victims in London’s Soho District in 1854

Patterns of victim’s homes and water pump locations key to the source of the disease

Globalization

A set of processes that are• Increasing interactions• Deepening relationships• Heightening

interdependencewithout regard to country

borders

A set of outcomes that are• Unevenly distributed• Varying across scales• Differently manifested

throughout the world

Impact of individual, regional, national scales on processes and outcomes of globalization

Place

Sense of place: Infusing a place with meaning and emotion

Perception of place: Belief or understanding of what a place is like, often based on books, movies, stories, or pictures

Often associated with where we prefer to live, visit etc.

Location

• Absolute location– Precise location using a coordinate system– Latitude and longitude most common– Measured by geographic positioning systems

(GPS)• Relative location– Location in relation to something else– Changes over time with changing circumstances

Regions

Formal region: Defined by a common characteristic, whether physical or cultural, present throughout

e.g., German-speaking region of Europe

Functional region: Defined by a set of social, political, or economic activities or interactions

e.g., an urban area, city and suburbs

RegionsPerceptual Region: Ideas in our minds, based on

accumulated knowledge of places and regions, that define an area of “sameness” or “connectedness”

Cultural LandscapeThe visible human imprint, the material character of a place

Religion and cremation practices spread with Hindu migrants from India to Kenya

Sequent OccupanceLayers of imprints in a cultural landscape reflecting years of differing human activity

Apartments in Mumbai, India Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: African,Arab, German, British, Indian “layers.” Apartments replaced earlier single-family houses

Types of Diffusion

• Expansion diffusion: Idea or innovation spreading outward from the hearth– Contagious: Spreads

to next available person

– Hierarchical: Spreads to most linked people or places first

– Stimulus: Promotes local experiment or change

Types of Diffusion

• Relocation diffusion: Movement of individuals who carry an idea or innovation with them to a new, perhaps distant locale

: A. B. Murphy: H .J. de

Blij

Kenya

Paris, France

Mental Maps Maps we carry in our minds of places we have been and places we have heard of

Activity SpacesThe places we travel to routinely in our rounds of daily activity

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Computer hardware and software that permit storage and analysis of layers of spatial data

Scale

1. All of the following are true about contagious diffusion except:

A. Islam spread this wayB. it is a type of expansion diffusionC. a disease can spread this wayD. AIDS spread this wayE. an idea can NOT spread this way

1. All of the following are true about contagious diffusion except:

A. Islam spread this wayB. it is a type of expansion diffusionC. a disease can spread this wayD. AIDS spread this wayE. an idea can NOT spread this way

2. The imprint of cultures on the land creates distinct and characteristic cultural ___________________:

A. hearthsB. landscapesC. diffusionD. perception E. environment

2. The imprint of cultures on the land creates distinct and characteristic cultural ___________________:

A. hearthsB. landscapesC. diffusionD. perception E. environment

3. The emerging link between physical and human geography is:

A. natural scienceB. location theoryC. environmental theoryD. cultural geographyE. spatial perspective

3. The emerging link between physical and human geography is:

A. natural scienceB. location theoryC. environmental theoryD. cultural geographyE. spatial perspective

4. All of the following are characteristics of a region except:

A. locationB. scaleC. areaD. boundaryE. A, B and C

4. All of the following are characteristics of a region except:

A. locationB. scaleC. areaD. boundaryE. A, B and C

5. Which of the following is not one of Pattison's Four Traditions:

A. Earth-Science traditionB. Culture-Environment traditionC. Spatial TraditionD. Location TraditionE. Area-Analysis Tradition

5. Which of the following is not one of Pattison's Four Traditions:

A. Earth-Science traditionB. Culture-Environment traditionC. Spatial TraditionD. Location TraditionE. Area-Analysis Tradition

6. What is diffusion?

A. the movement of people from one country to another

B. the spread of ideas or knowledge from areas of origin to places where they are adopted

C. the adoption of an idea by an individualD. the movement of peopleE. an area defined by its space

6. What is diffusion?

A. the movement of people from one country to another

B. the spread of ideas or knowledge from areas of origin to places where they are adopted

C. the adoption of an idea by an individualD. the movement of peopleE. an area defined by its space

7. How is the spatial perspective demonstrated?

A. through economic geographyB. through the history of a regionC. through the use of mapsD. through religionE. through the use of graphs

7. How is the spatial perspective demonstrated?

A. through economic geographyB. through the history of a regionC. through the use of mapsD. through religionE. through the use of graphs

8. Arrows are one of the most useful symbols used on maps but there are limitations to what they can show. Which of the following could arrows

NOT show:

A. direction of movementB. destination of movementC. volume of movementD. reason for movementE. origin of movement

8. Arrows are one of the most useful symbols used on maps but there are limitations to what they can show. Which of the following could arrows

NOT show:

A. direction of movementB. destination of movementC. volume of movementD. reason for movementE. origin of movement

9. The spread of ideas, knowledge, and skills from their places of origin to other areas where they are adopted is called:

A. diffusionB. adjustmentC. growthD. expansion E. migration

9. The spread of ideas, knowledge, and skills from their places of origin to other areas where they are adopted is called:

A. diffusionB. adjustmentC. growthD. expansion E. migration

10. The location of a place in relationship to other places or features around it is called:

A. absolute locationB. siteC. relative locationD. actual locationE. global address

10. The location of a place in relationship to other places or features around it is called:

A. absolute locationB. siteC. relative locationD. actual locationE. global address

11. The one problem common to all map projections is that they:

A. will only fit on a certain size paperB. distort somethingC. all are copyrightedD. require different size linesE. can't show enough detail

11. The one problem common to all map projections is that they:

A. will only fit on a certain size paperB. distort somethingC. all are copyrightedD. require different size linesE. can't show enough detail

12. The maximum number of degrees of latitude that can be measured on the Earth is:

A. 90'B. 45'C. 60'D. 180'E. 360'

12. The maximum number of degrees of latitude that can be measured on the Earth is:

A. 90'B. 45'C. 60'D. 180'E. 360'

13. The prime meridian from which longitude is measured runs through which of the following cities:

A. New YorkB. GreenwichC. MoscowD. BrusselsE. Sao Paulo

13. The prime meridian from which longitude is measured runs through which of the following cities:

A. New YorkB. GreenwichC. MoscowD. BrusselsE. Sao Paulo

14. Latitude and longitude may be used to determine which of the following:

A. the site features of a placeB. the relative location of the placeC. the absolute location of a placeD. the situation of a placeE. the meaning of a place

14. Latitude and longitude may be used to determine which of the following:

A. the site features of a placeB. the relative location of the placeC. the absolute location of a placeD. the situation of a placeE. the meaning of a place

15. Hierarchical diffusion is a type of:

A. expansion diffusionB. stimulus diffusionC. relocation diffusionD. contagious diffusionE. independent diffusion

15. Hierarchical diffusion is a type of:

A. expansion diffusionB. stimulus diffusionC. relocation diffusionD. contagious diffusionE. independent diffusion

16. Which of the following would not be part of the cultural landscape?

A. fencesB. barnsC. livestockD. roadsE. rainfall

16. Which of the following would not be part of the cultural landscape?

A. fencesB. barnsC. livestockD. roadsE. rainfall

17. The situation of a place is best described by:

A. where it is located in respect to other placesB. where it is located on the grid of latitude and

longitudeC. its physical attributesD. its economic conditionsE. the political system

17. The situation of a place is best described by:

A. where it is located in respect to other placesB. where it is located on the grid of latitude and

longitudeC. its physical attributesD. its economic conditionsE. the political system

18. Which of the following describes the site of New York City:

A. a large number of peopleB. a large number of languages spoken in

schoolsC. the bedrock is graniteD. a large percentage of the population is poorE. a high crime rate

18. Which of the following describes the site of New York City:

A. a large number of peopleB. a large number of languages spoken in

schoolsC. the bedrock is graniteD. a large percentage of the population is poorE. a high crime rate

19. A map of the world on which the lines of latitude and longitude are straight and intersect at right angles will:

A. be useful for showing the distribution of the human population

B. show the correct size of areas on the surfaceC. show correct distances on the surface of the

earthD. show the correct shape of areas on the

surface of the earthE. exaggerate the size of Africa

19. A map of the world on which the lines of latitude and longitude are straight and intersect at right angles will:

A. be useful for showing the distribution of the human population

B. show the correct size of areas on the surfaceC. show correct distances on the surface of the

earthD. show the correct shape of areas on the

surface of the earthE. exaggerate the size of Africa

20. A map in which data are assigned to class intervals and colors or patterns are used to distinguish magnitude of occurrences is called a(an):

A. dot distribution mapB. azimuthal mapC. choropleth mapD. topographic mapE. cartogram

20. A map in which data are assigned to class intervals and colors or patterns are used to distinguish magnitude of occurrences is called a(an):

A. dot distribution mapB. azimuthal mapC. choropleth mapD. topographic mapE. cartogram

21. Which of the following are formal regions:

A. the state of IowaB. the Near EastC. the area served by the Second Federal

Reserve Bank of the United StatesD. DixieE. the attendance area of your high school

21. Which of the following are formal regions:

A. the state of IowaB. the Near EastC. the area served by the Second Federal

Reserve Bank of the United StatesD. DixieE. the attendance area of your high school

22. When certain maps identifying the physical features of a place or region include contour lines, their purpose is to show:

A. local boundariesB. differences in elevationC. variations in population densitiesD. latitude and longitudeE. distances between places

22. When certain maps identifying the physical features of a place or region include contour lines, their purpose is to show:

A. local boundariesB. differences in elevationC. variations in population densitiesD. latitude and longitudeE. distances between places

23. Which of the following is the best example of a transition zone?

A. The SahelB. Great Lakes RegionC. Nile RiverD. Appalachian MountainsE. San Andreas Fault

23. Which of the following is the best example of a transition zone?

A. The SahelB. Great Lakes RegionC. Nile RiverD. Appalachian MountainsE. San Andreas Fault

24. Which of these is an example of a perceptual region?

A. Northeast CorridorB. Corn BeltC. Central Division of the National Football

LeagueD. Metropolitan TokyoE. Dixie

24. Which of these is an example of a perceptual region?

A. Northeast CorridorB. Corn BeltC. Central Division of the National Football

LeagueD. Metropolitan TokyoE. Dixie

25. What does a large scale map show?

A. a large areaB. an unbalanced areaC. a small areaD. an undefined areaE. an uninhabited area

25. What does a large scale map show?

A. a large areaB. an unbalanced areaC. a small areaD. an undefined areaE. an uninhabited area

26. Which of these descriptors best identifies the concept of culture as applied by human geographers?

A. a civilized pattern of behaviorB. an expression of artistic qualities found in

music, drama and danceC. a combination of habits relating to such

qualities as personal hygiene and eating habitsD. learned patterns of behavior common to a

group of peopleE. the oral tradition on which a society's customs

are based

26. Which of these descriptors best identifies the concept of culture as applied by human geographers?

A. a civilized pattern of behaviorB. an expression of artistic qualities found in

music, drama and danceC. a combination of habits relating to such

qualities as personal hygiene and eating habitsD. learned patterns of behavior common to a

group of peopleE. the oral tradition on which a society's customs

are based

27. Which one of these terms does a geographer use to identify such human phenomena as roads, ports, and rail systems?

A. infrastructureB. functional specializationC. centripetal forcesD. mercantilismE. theoretical models

27. Which one of these terms does a geographer use to identify such human phenomena as roads, ports, and rail systems?

A. infrastructureB. functional specializationC. centripetal forcesD. mercantilismE. theoretical models

28. A researcher for a non-governmental relief agency is developing a data base on the human geography of equatorial Africa. What is an example of a correct column label that he should include on the chart?

A. Gross Domestic Product per CapitaB. Key Categories of VegetationC. Annual Precipitation TotalsD. Major LandformsE. Acreage of National Parks/Game Preserves

28. A researcher for a non-governmental relief agency is developing a data base on the human geography of equatorial Africa. What is an example of a correct column label that he should include on the chart?

A. Gross Domestic Product per CapitaB. Key Categories of VegetationC. Annual Precipitation TotalsD. Major LandformsE. Acreage of National Parks/Game Preserves

29. Which of geography's five themes examines the arrangement of road networks?

A. locationB. placeC. regionD. movementE. human/environment interaction

29. Which of geography's five themes examines the arrangement of road networks?

A. locationB. placeC. regionD. movementE. human/environment interaction

30. Transplanting rice as a labor intensive activity done by hand in Sichuan Province in the People's Republic of China best represents the:

A. theme of absolute locationB. application of Pattison's culture-environmental traditionC. similarities among the world's agricultural regionsD. method of rice production used universallyE. relationship between humans and their physical environment

30. Transplanting rice as a labor intensive activity done by hand in Sichuan Province in the People's Republic of China best represents the:

A. theme of absolute locationB. application of Pattison's culture-environmental traditionC. similarities among the world's agricultural regionsD. method of rice production used universallyE. relationship between humans and their physical environment

31. A set of processes that are increasing interactions and inter-dependence without regard to country borders

A. culture complexB. culture traitC. contagious diffusionD. spatial distributionE. globalization

32. The study of how people make places, organize space, and interact with each

other

A. Human geography B. Physical geographyC. Cultural landscape D. Cultural diffusionE. Globalization

33. The physical arrangement of a geographic phenomena across space

A. Contagious diffusionB. Spatial distributionC. Physical geography

D. Cultural landscape E. Mental Map

34. The origin of a particular way of life

A. Culture ComplexB. Culture HearthC. DiffusionD. InceptionE. Epicenter

35. The movement of ideas from one culture to another

A. MigrationB. IncorporationC. AssimilationD. AcculturationE. Diffusion

36. The distance-controlled spreading of an idea, innovation, or some other item through a local population by contact from person to person is:

A. Distance DecayB. Movement of ideasC. GlobalizationD. Contagious DiffusionE. Glocalization

37. Which of the following is NOT one of the five themes of geography?

A. ReligionB. PlaceC. LocationD. People-EnvironmentE. Region

38. Which is false about latitude and longitude?

A. latitude lines run east – westB. Longitude lines measure north- southC. They help people locate exact locationD. They form an imaginary grid systemE. They are listed with latitude stated first

39. What is the difference between a topographic map and a toponym?A. The topographic map shows political place-

names, while the toponym explains how a place is named.

B. The topographic map shows population statistics through the use of varying sizes of dots, the toponym identifies size of population by size of dot.

C. The topographic map shows changes in elevation, while the toponym is a place name.

D. The topographic map identifies physical features, a toponym categorizes features.

40. What does a large scale map show?A. A large amount of land with great detail.B. A large amount of land with scant detail.C. A small amount of land with scant

detail.D. A small amount of land with great

detail.

41. Which is an example of a perceptual region?

A. Northeast CorridorB. Dairy BeltC. DixieD. Northeast Division of the American Hockey LeagueE. Metropoitan Mexico

42. Which is not a type of map scale

A. RegionalB. LinearC. Representative FractionD. Verbal

43. When you picture your activity space in your mind, this is called a …

A. Physical MapB. Special Purpose MapC. Thematic MapD. Mental MapE. Topographic Map

44. Which of the following sets of maps would help explain how scale of inquiry affects truth?

a. maps showing the area of France before and after surveyingb. maps of Hudson Bay drawn by Native Americans and by the earliest European travelersc. maps showing Michigan’s population density by counties and the United States population density by stated. maps showing the number of auto thefts per block in Seattle in the decades before and after the Great Depressione. maps of gang graffiti in Philadelphia

44. The “why of where” refers to

a. geography’s emphasis on landscape features.b. spatial patterns on the landscape.c. a definition of geography that is simply locational.d. the idea that the explanation of a spatial pattern is crucial.e. the depiction of a region’s physical features

Matching of Regions

45. formal region46. functional region47. vernacular region

a. Milwaukeeb. the Milwaukee Journal Sentinelc. Wisconsind. the Southe. an airline hubf. Rust Belt

What type of map Projection?

Matching…48. a computer system that stores, organizes,retrieves, analyzes, and displays geographic data

49. the forms superimposed on the physicalenvironment by the activities of humans

50. the spread of an idea or innovation from its source

51. interactions between human societies and thephysical environment

52. a space-based global navigation satellite system

53. the physical environment, rather than socialconditions, determines culture

54. the small- or large-scale acquisition ofinformation of an object or phenomenon, either inrecording or real time

a. cultural diffusion

b. cultural ecology

c. cultural landscape

d. environmental determinism

e. GIS

f. GPS

g. remote sensing