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DSST Human/Cultural Geography

1 Copyright © 2009

Peterson's *DSST is a registered trademark of Prometric, which was not involved in the

production of and does not endorse this product.

Time—120 Minutes

100 Questions

For each question below, choose the best answer from the choices given.

1. Plants were most likely first domesticated over 18,000 years ago in

(A) Europe

(B) Peru

(C) Mexico

(D) Africa

2. Climate is best defined as an area’s

(A) average weather

(B) environmental conditions

(C) atmospheric conditions

(D) daily temperature

3. Which of the following has had the greatest impact on the geographical boundaries of people’s space-

time prisms?

(A) Mass transit

(B) Car ownership

(C) Cellular phones

(D) Internet access

4. Which of the following was the site of a major culture hearth that emerged during the Neolithic period?

(A) Canada

(B) France

(C) North China

(D) South Africa

5. When a country is divided by religion, language, ethnicity, or ideology, which of the following is taking

place?

(A) Democracy

(B) Centrifugal forces

(C) Communism

(D) Centripetal forces


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6. Which of the following has the greatest impact on population distribution?

(A) Topography

(B) Climate

(C) Culture

(D) Land availability

7. Convicts sent to British penal colonies in Australia during the 1800s exemplify

(A) interregional migration

(B) intercontinental migration

(C) chain migration

(D) forced migration

8. Linear sand dunes with troughs and ridge crests that are formed where winds blow from a constant

direction are

(A) star dunes

(B) transverse dunes

(C) parabolic dunes

(D) longitudinal dunes

9. Which of the following has benefited from genetic engineering to become one of the world’s most

important crops?

(A) Lentils

(B) Squash

(C) Lettuce

(D) Potatoes

10. Karl Marx is credited with the concept of

(A) evolutionism

(B) cultural diffusionism

(C) pastoral nomadism

(D) historical materialism


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11. All of the following are characteristics of subsistence farming EXCEPT

(A) reliance on human labor

(B) little use of technology

(C) crops for personal consumption

(D) large quantity of land

12. Which of the following is a true statement regarding population distribution?

(A) People prefer to live far away from coastlines.

(B) People prefer to live away from river valleys.

(C) People prefer to live in lowland areas.

(D) People prefer to live along mountainous coasts.

13. Areas of low relief and high elevation that are usually dominated by landforms of horizontal rock layers

are

(A) salt flats

(B) bolsons

(C) plateaus

(D) badlands

14. Groups of people defined by inherited biological characteristics within the human population are a

(A) region

(B) realm

(C) culture

(D) race

15. Which type of dispute occurs most often with antecedent boundaries?

(A) Resource dispute

(B) Territorial dispute

(C) Functional dispute

(D) Positional dispute


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16. Clearing pieces of land with machetes, stripping trees, and setting fires to clear the land for planting crops

is a process known as

(A) swidden cultivation

(B) desertification

(C) deforestation

(D) polyculture

17. Neo-Malthusians believe which of the following will occur in the future?

(A) Periods of population growth followed by innovation

(B) Endless periods of war, disease, and famine

(C) Periods of famine followed by increased productivity

(D) Endless periods of prosperity and innovation

18. According to Rostow’s model of the development process, which of the following occurs in the first

stage?

(A) Trade

(B) Specialization

(C) Diversification

(D) Subsistence farming

19. The dominant form of agriculture in most of the world is

(A) plantation farming

(B) mixed farming

(C) subsistence farming

(D) prairie cereal farming

20. Which type of dispute occurs most often with superimposed boundaries?

(A) Territorial dispute

(B) Positional dispute

(C) Resource dispute

(D) Functional dispute


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21. Houses, musical instruments, furniture, and tools are elements of

(A) culture hearths

(B) material culture

(C) folk customs

(D) nonmaterial culture

22. The Corn Belt of the United States includes which of the following states?

(A) Kansas and Oklahoma

(B) Louisiana and Mississippi

(C) Illinois and Iowa

(D) Virginia and Kentucky

23. Which of the following is a stream in an arid region that is prone to flash floods and characterized by

steep walls and large deposits of alluvium?

(A) Arroyo

(B) Exotic stream

(C) Reservoir

(D) Transverse stream

24. Which of the following geopolitical theories suggests that destabilization in one state should be contained

before it spreads to neighboring states?

(A) Domino theory

(B) Organic state theory

(C) Rimland theory

(D) Heartland theory

25. Over half of the land in Bangkok, Thailand, is used to cultivate crops, This is an example of

(A) shifting cultivation

(B) production controls

(C) urban subsistence farming

(D) extensive commercial agriculture


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26. Which of the following is an international law of the sea?

(A) A coastal state cannot enforce customs or immigration in territorial waters.

(B) An exclusive economic zone extends up to 500 miles from a state’s coastline.

(C) The high seas beyond the EEZ are open to all coastal and landlocked states.

(D) A coastal state cannot participate in a hot pursuit out of its territorial waters.

27. The abundance of stone fences by the late nineteenth century in New England can best be explained by

the

(A) desire to construct aesthetic fencing

(B) scarcity of wood and high cost of lumber

(C) desire to provide strong security for farms

(D) need to clear farmland of glacial fieldstones

28. Which of the following is true according to von Thünen’s model?

(A) Dairy farms are located in the first ring.

(B) Field crops are located in the second ring.

(C) Pastures and livestock are located in the third ring.

(D) Zones of forest are located in the fourth ring.

29. Which of the following is most common in the tropics?

(A) Coriolis effect

(B) Orographic uplift

(C) Frontal uplift

(D) Convection

30. The proximity of sawmills, paper manufacturers, and timber is an example of which of the following

concepts?

(A) Supply and demand

(B) Market orientation

(C) Material orientation

(D) Ubiquitous industry


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31. Streams in arid regions that flow only after a heavy rain are known as

(A) ephemeral streams

(B) estuaries

(C) perennial streams

(D) tributaries

32. Substances derived from the lithosphere are known as

(A) mineral resources

(B) renewable resources

(C) toxic resources

(D) potential resources

33. Which of the following countries is considered wealthy despite its lack of natural resources?

(A) Saudi Arabia

(B) Japan

(C) Mexico

(D) United States

34. Fine soil components are deposited in the subsoil by gravitational water during the process of

(A) stratification

(B) leaching

(C) eluviation

(D) illuviation

35. English, Portuguese, Persian, and Hindi all descended from

(A) Greek

(B) Indo-European

(C) Germanic

(D) Indo-Iranian

36. Which state territorial configuration applies to Vietnam?

(A) Perforated

(B) Compact

(C) Elongated

(D) Fragmented


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37. Earthquakes that occur underneath the ocean may cause

(A) typhoons

(B) tsunamis

(C) cyclones

(D) monsoons

38. Which of the following is one of the world’s leading sources of foreign direct investment?

(A) Singapore

(B) China

(C) Japan

(D) Taiwan

39. In which of the following non-alphabetic forms of writing does each character represent a syllable?

(A) Chinese

(B) Korean

(C) Vietnamese

(D) Japanese

40. Which of the following is a true statement about exclusive economic zones?

(A) An island’s size determines the size of its exclusive economic zone.

(B) The exclusive economic zone lines have led to overlapping claims.

(C) The Truman Proclamation established exclusive economic zones.

(D) Exclusive economic zones are monitored by an international coast guard.

41. Which of the following is a precise system of grid lines used to describe locations?

(A) Global positioning system

(B) Cartography system

(C) Coordinate system

(D) Physical system


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42. All of the following are characteristics of ecosystems EXCEPT

(A) self-regulating

(B) heterogeneous

(C) adapted to climate

(D) self-contained

43. Which of the following city names in the Soviet Union was used during the Communist period?

(A) St. Petersburg

(B) Lisky

(C) Leningrad

(D) Lugansk

44. One of the potential environmental problems associated with shrimp farming in coastal areas of Africa

and Southeast Asia is the destruction of

(A) coral reefs

(B) mangrove swamps

(C) forested areas

(D) aquaculture

45. Layers in fully developed soils that exhibit distinctive characteristics are known as soil

(A) textures

(B) structures

(C) fertility

(D) horizons

46. The study of place names is known as

(A) toponymy

(B) orthography

(C) etymology

(D) proxemics


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47. Which of the following is NOT a city-state?

(A) Istanbul

(B) Singapore

(C) Monaco

(D) Vatican City

48. Which of the following is a creole language?

(A) Swahili

(B) Singlish

(C) Basque

(D) French

49. Which of the following countries is a member of OPEC?

(A) Mexico

(B) Egypt

(C) Ecuador

(D) Afghanistan

50. The worth of a natural resource is determined by all of the following aspects of a society EXCEPT

(A) political structure

(B) cultural values

(C) available technology

(D) economic system

51. What is the time at 75° west longitude if it is 10:00 a.m. in Greenwich, England?

(A) 5:00 a.m.

(B) 7:00 a.m.

(C) 1:00 p.m.

(D) 3:00 p.m.

52. Regions marked by uniformity in climate, vegetation, soil, and topography are known as

(A) natural landscapes

(B) cultural landscapes

(C) physiographic provinces

(D) geometric boundaries





53. Which of the following religions was the first monotheistic faith closely tied to one ethnic group?

(A) Christianity

(B) Buddhism

(C) Judaism

(D) Islam

54. Which province in Canada exhibits regionalism by focusing on its historical French culture?

(A) Quebec

(B) Ontario

(C) Manitoba

(D) Alberta

55. Which of the following is a major producer of aluminum ore?

(A) Russia

(B) Australia

(C) Canada

(D) Peru

56. A climate that has enough rainfall for significant plant growth during part of the year but also experiences

periods of drought is which of the following?

(A) Humid tropical

(B) Humid subtropical

(C) Semiarid

(D) Tundra

57. Friedrich Ratzel compared the development of a state to which of the following?

(A) Building a structure

(B) Egyptian pyramids

(C) Symphony music

(D) Biological organisms





58. In fully developed soils, the B horizon contains an accumulation of

(A) weathered parent materials

(B) organic matter

(C) clay minerals

(D) regolith

59. Which natural resource is used most often to heat homes in Canada and the United States?

(A) Coal

(B) Electricity

(C) Wind energy

(D) Natural gas

60. Hindu castes are most often determined by which of the following?

(A) Intelligence

(B) Language

(C) Birth order

(D) Occupation

61. Manufacturing identical products on an assembly line with a specialized labor force is based on the

system developed by

(A) Thomas Edison

(B) Karl Marx

(C) Henry Ford

(D) Johann von Thünen

62. The amount of daily insolation received at any specific place on Earth changes with the

(A) climate

(B) atmosphere

(C) wind speed

(D) seasons





63. Christianity was brought to the New World by European settlers through

(A) expansion diffusion

(B) contagious diffusion

(C) relocation diffusion

(D) hierarchical diffusion

64. Which of the following has the greatest control over the world’s soil formation and natural vegetation?

(A) Population growth

(B) Geology

(C) Topography

(D) Climate

65. Which of the following is an example of a military bloc?

(A) NATO

(B) OPEC

(C) NAFTA

(D) EU

66. Which of the following is a true statement about population?

(A) Crude death rates are rising in almost all regions of the world.

(B) Countries with high population growth have low median ages.

(C) Infant mortality rates are low in both wealthy and poor countries.

(D) Countries with the highest rates of population increase are in the Far East.

67. The most common form of mass movement is

(A) mudflows

(B) soil creep

(C) rockslides

(D) slump

68. Which of the following is the world’s leading producer of copper?

(A) Chile

(B) India

(C) China

(D) Indonesia





69. All of the following are factors in the lower crude death rate EXCEPT

(A) income increases

(B) improved food quality

(C) scientific advances

(D) accurate statistics

70. Which of the following is a deposit of sediment that forms where a river enters a still body of water, such

as a lake or an ocean?

(A) Outwash plain

(B) Delta

(C) Drainage basin

(D) Floodplain

71. Which of the following has been credited for lowering the fertility rate in India, China, and Pakistan?

(A) Mass media

(B) One-child policies

(C) Women in the work force

(D) Legalized abortions

72. All of the following are types of movement bias EXCEPT

(A) spatial bias

(B) network bias

(C) distance bias

(D) direction bias

73. Which of the following is equivalent to a scale of one centimeter equals ten kilometers?

(A) 1:10,000

(B) 1:100,000

(C) 1:1,000,000

(D) 1:10,000,000





74. Which of the following refers to the tendency of some air pollutants to lower temperatures on Earth by

reflecting incoming sunlight back into space?

(A) Global warming

(B) Greenhouse effect

(C) Icebox effect

(D) Hydrologic cycle

75. Which of the following is the primary benefit of substitutability?

(A) Utilize environmentally friendly alternatives

(B) Stabilize natural resource prices

(C) Renew natural resources

(D) Recycle products for profit

76. Which of the following is NOT an example of the expanding international nature of manufacturing?

(A) External economies

(B) Outsourcing

(C) Maquiladoras

(D) Transnational corporations

77. Which of the following is expected to account for more than one third of the total world population

growth between 2000 and 2050?

(A) China

(B) India

(C) Africa

(D) Latin America

78. The primary purpose of urban enterprise zones is to

(A) construct public transportation

(B) gentrify residential neighborhoods

(C) subsidize suburban housing

(D) encourage the creation of jobs





79. By 2030, the baby boomer generation in the United States is expected to increase the

(A) total fertility rate

(B) demand for affordable housing

(C) productivity of the labor force

(D) demand for retirement facilities

80. All of the following are farming practices used to prevent soil erosion EXCEPT

(A) organic

(B) fallowing

(C) terracing

(D) rotation

81. Maps of climate, vegetation, population distribution, and earthquake epicenters are examples of

(A) conformal maps

(B) thematic maps

(C) azimuthal maps

(D) topographic maps

82. Very few fish live in forty of Malaysia’s major rivers because of

(A) aquaculture

(B) global warming

(C) overfishing

(D) sewage

83. Which of the following is NOT a problem that deters the expanded use of coal in the United States?

(A) Air pollution

(B) Insufficient reserves

(C) Vegetation damage

(D) Shipment constraints

84. Which of the following is NOT a likely result of a population implosion?

(A) Smaller workforce

(B) High demand for education

(C) Fewer funds for health care

(D) Reduction in taxpayers





85. The demographic transition model was created to explain the history of population growth and decline in

(A) North America

(B) Western Europe

(C) Eastern Europe

(D) Africa

86. Areas with vast water sources are characterized by which two factors?

(A) High runoff and relatively low populations

(B) Low pollution and relatively low populations

(C) Minimal runoff and many mountainous areas

(D) Minimal irrigation and high population

87. All of the following are locational tendencies associated with high-tech industries EXCEPT

(A) near universities and research facilities

(B) proximity to suppliers and market

(C) regions with high quality of life

(D) local access to venture capital

88. The number of people per unit of area is the

(A) physiological density

(B) carrying capacity

(C) arithmetic density

(D) replacement rate

89. The type and rate of weathering depends on all of the following EXCEPT

(A) debris

(B) climate

(C) rock strength

(D) vegetative cover





90. A situation where government-controlled corporations compete under free-market conditions is known as

(A) a planned economy

(B) state capitalism

(C) a market economy

(D) capitalism

91. Which of the following countries is NOT a member of the European Union?

(A) Bulgaria

(B) Switzerland

(C) Finland

(D) Latvia

92. Which of the following has been accomplished if a company grows large enough to justify hiring full-

time employees?

(A) Internal economy

(B) Deglomeration

(C) External economy

(D) Agglomeration

93. The sedate volcanoes on Hawaii erupt fluid lava and are examples of

(A) composite cone volcanoes

(B) subglacial volcanoes

(C) shield volcanoes

(D) supervolcanoes

94. The spatial mismatch hypothesis asserts that central city unemployment is caused by

(A) businesses moving to suburban areas

(B) governments not supporting infrastructure

(C) gentrification of older residential neighborhoods

(D) immigrants clustering in downtown neighborhoods

95. Avoiding the depletion of a renewable resource by balancing harvesting and planting is known as

(A) clear cutting

(B) deforestation

(C) biodiversity

(D) sustained yield





96. Which of the following is a true statement about air?

(A) Winds blow away from areas of high pressure.

(B) Air descends in areas of low pressure.

(C) Winds descend and diverge in cyclones.

(D) Air ascends in areas of high pressure.

97. The first modern urban country developed during the seventeenth century in

(A) Germany

(B) Holland

(C) Russia

(D) England

98. The removal and deposition of rock and weathered debris from upper to lower elevations is known as

(A) exfoliation

(B) mass wasting

(C) slope roughening

(D) mechanical weathering

99. Which of the following is NOT an example of a stateless nation?

(A) Gypsies

(B) Kurds

(C) Basques

(D) Mongols

100. Which of the following is the largest structure at the center of traditional Islamic cities?

(A) Mosque

(B) Markets

(C) Royal palace

(D) Businesses

ANSWER.KEY


ANSWER KEY - Page 20

1. The correct answer is D. Evidence indicates that crops of wheat, barley, dates, and lentils were being

produced in Africa on the floodplains of the Nile River 18,000 years ago. Farming in the Americas most

likely began 5,000 years ago in Mexico, so choices B and C are incorrect. Europe was not a center of

domestication like parts of Africa and Asia, so choice A is incorrect.

2. The correct answer is A. Climate is defined as the average weather of a specific area. Climate considers

average temperatures, precipitation, and the likelihood of occurrences such as hurricanes and snowstorms

during the year. Weather is defined as the atmospheric conditions in a particular location, so choice C is

incorrect. Since climate considers more than daily temperatures and environmental conditions, choices B and

D are incorrect.

3. The correct answer is B. Owning a car expands a person's space-time prism by enabling a person to go

virtually anywhere at any time. Mass transit expands geographical boundaries, but people are restricted by

scheduled times and routes. A person's geographical boundaries are not expanded by cell phones or Internet

access.

4. The correct answer is C. North China, Crete, and Mesopotamia were all sites of major culture hearths

during the Neolithic period. Culture hearths existed in Meso-America but not as far north as Canada. Crete's

culture spread towards Italy and France, but France was not a culture hearth during the Neolithic. West Africa

and Egypt were culture hearths that eventually spread towards South Africa.

5. The correct answer is B. Centrifugal forces are those that divide a country internally and usually stem

from differences in language, religion, ethnicity, or ideology. Centripetal forces, such as common faith and

strong national culture, unite countries, so choice D is incorrect. Democracy and communism relate to

government structure and economy, so choices A and C are incorrect.

6. The correct answer is B. Climate plays the greatest role in population distribution as indicated by the fact

that the greatest concentration of the world's population is in the mild midlatitudes. Topography affects

population distribution but less than climate does. Land availability and culture are elements of population

distribution, but climate remains the strongest factor.

7. The correct answer is D. Convicts sent from England to Australia and slaves sent from Africa to America

exemplify forced migration. Choices A and B are voluntary migrations that occur either between two

countries or within one country. Chain migration, choice C, is a migratory process that is taken in steps.

8. The correct answer is B. Transverse dunes are formed in areas where the wind blows from the same

direction all the time and an abundant supply of sand exists. Transverse dunes have troughs and ridges with

peaks perpendicular to the wind direction. Parabolic dunes are hairpin-shaped, while star dunes are formed by

rising air currents into the shape of stars.

9. The correct answer is D. Potatoes have benefited from genetic engineering and are now grown in China,

Russia, and the tropics. Genetic engineering was able to modify potatoes so that they yield larger harvests in

a short period. Choices A, B, and C grow in many places, but potatoes have become the fourth leading crop

behind corn, wheat, and rice.

10. The correct answer is D. The theory of historical materialism is credited to Karl Marx, who suggested

ANSWER.KEY



that humankind had conquered the physical environment in order to increase material abundance. Choices A

and B relate to cultural change and dispersal. Choice C was an idea presented by a Roman general who

asserted that cultures evolve because pastoral nomads move from place to place.

11. The correct answer is D. Subsistence farming relies on human labor rather than animals or machinery.

Unlike commercial farmers, subsistence farmers consume most of the food they grow. Commercial farms are

typically large, and the products grown are sold to large companies that package and distribute the food.

12. The correct answer is C. People tend to settle in lowland areas, and population numbers decrease as

elevation increases. Choices A and B are incorrect because nearly two-thirds of the world population lives

within 300 miles of a coastline or a river valley. Although people like settling near water, mountainous coasts

are sparsely populated, so choice D is incorrect.

13. The correct answer is C. Plateaus are regions with high elevation and low relief, such as those found in

many areas of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Salt flats are dry lakebeds with heavy salt deposits, bolsons

are desert basins surrounded by mountains, and badlands are rugged, barren areas with many steep slopes.

14. The correct answer is D. Race is defined by inherited biological characteristics, such as skin color, blood

type, and genetic makeup. Culture refers to shared beliefs and behaviors, so choice C is incorrect. Regions

and realms are territories with certain cultural uniformity, so choices A and B are incorrect.

15. The correct answer is D. Positional disputes occur most often when boundaries are antecedents, which

means the boundary was drawn before the area was populated. When an area becomes settled, questions are

often raised about the exact position of a boundary. Choices A, B, and C are boundary disputes not typically

associated with antecedent boundaries.

16. The correct answer is A. Swidden cultivation is a type of subsistence farming that uses a slash-and-burn

technique and is popular in tropical areas, such as Brazil and Indonesia. Raising multiple crops, or

polyculture, may occur with this technique. Desertification is the process of an area's soil becoming more

desert-like, but it is usually caused by overgrazing not swidden. Deforestation does not involve planting

crops.

17. The correct answer is B. Neo-Malthusians adhere to the theory of Thomas Malthus who believed that

population growth will always be greater than food production. His theory was that the future would result in

endless periods of war, disease, and famine. Malthus was responding to Jean Condorcet's theory that

technical innovations would help the world keep up with its growing population.

18. The correct answer is D. Subsistence farming occurs in the first stage of the development process.

Rostow's model proposes that most developing countries follow the same steps. Specialization and

international trade occur in the fourth stage, so choices A and B are incorrect. Diversification takes place in

the second stage, so choice C is incorrect

19. The correct answer is B. Mixed farming with livestock is the dominant form of agriculture in the world

today. Mixed farming involves growing crops and raising animals in the same location. Plantation farms,

choice A, focus on growing only one or two crops, such as coffee or sugarcane. Choice C refers to farmers

who grow food for their own benefit rather than selling commercially. Choice D involves growing grains for

ANSWER.KEY



human rather than livestock consumption.

20. The correct answer is A. Territorial disputes are most common when boundaries have been

superimposed over existing cultural landscapes, people groups, and countries, often by a conquering power.

Territorial boundary disputes occur frequently between Ethiopia and Somalia in regards to Somalis living in

Ethiopia. Choices B, C, and D are boundary disputes not typically associated with superimposed borders.

21. The correct answer is B. Material culture consists of physical, tangible things, such as houses, furniture,

cars, tools, and musical instruments. Nonmaterial culture is the intangible aspect, such as legends, songs,

customs, and expected behavior, so choices C and D are incorrect. Culture hearths may share similar tools

and houses, but material culture is defined as the objects themselves, so choice A is incorrect.

22. The correct answer is C. Illinois and Iowa are part of the Corn Belt that extends from southeastern South

Dakota to Ohio. Although named the Corn Belt, the region produces a great deal of meat in addition to

grains. Choice A is the Winter Wheat Belt, and choice B is part of the Old Cotton Belt. Virginia and

Kentucky, choice D, are involved in a mixture of general farming.

23. The correct answer is A. Arroyos, which are also called washes, barrancas, and wadis, are found in arid

regions and have nearly vertical walls and alluvium in the streambed. Choice B originates in humid regions,

and choice D is a stream that cuts through mountains. Reservoirs are artificial lakes that are behind dams, so

choice C is incorrect.

24. The correct answer is A. The domino theory asserts that political destabilization in one state can trigger

problems in a neighboring state. The theory was used to support a policy of containment before the U.S.

became involved in Vietnam. Choices C and D are related to the perceived threat of Eurasia. Choice B asserts

the idea that states grow and expand into other territories to survive.

25. The correct answer is C. Urban subsistence farming is exemplified by the fact that 60% of Bangkok is

used for crop cultivation. Subsistence farming was once primarily based in rural areas, but urban agriculture

is becoming increasingly popular in Asia. Choice D is incorrect because Bangkok is an urban center, and

extensive commercial agriculture requires large areas of land.

26. The correct answer is C. The high seas outside of the EEZ are open to all states for fishing, drilling,

researching, and sailing. Choices A and D are incorrect because coastal states can enforce laws in territorial

waters and participate in hot pursuits outside of those waters. The EEZ extends 200 miles, so choice B is

incorrect.

27. The correct answer is D. Over 250,000 miles of stone fences existed in the latter part of the nineteenth

century because farmers needed to clear their fields of glacial rocks. Although aesthetically pleasing, the

stone fences were mainly built to mark territory and to get rid of rock. Lumber was plentiful in New England,

and rock fences only provide security if they are extremely tall.

28. The correct answer is A. According to von Thünen's model, dairy farms should be placed as close as

possible to the market because milk and cheese are perishable. The second ring is forest, and the third ring is

field crops, such as grains and potatoes. The outermost ring contains pastures and livestock.

ANSWER.KEY



29. The correct answer is D. Convectional precipitation is most common in tropical regions and occurs

when warm air rises, expands, and cools. The Coriolis effect relates to winds and the rotational force of the

Earth, and it is uncommon in areas near the equator. Orographic uplift and frontal uplift are other events that

cause precipitation, but they occur less often in tropical regions.

30. The correct answer is C. The proximity of raw materials and the business that use them is material

orientation. Pulp, paper, and sawmills should have easy access to the timber needed for processing. Market

orientation and ubiquitous industry refer to businesses being near markets they serve.

31. The correct answer is A. Ephemeral streams are those that flow only during rainy season or after a

heavy rain in arid regions. Perennial streams, choice C, flow throughout the year, although the volume and

velocity may vary. Estuaries combine salt and fresh water, so choice B is incorrect. Tributaries are small

streams that feed into large streams, so choice D is incorrect.

32. The correct answer is A. Mineral resources, such as iron, lead, and copper, are in the lithosphere, which

is the solid Earth. Mineral resources are nonrenewable because they take so long to develop, which means

choice B is incorrect. Potential resources are those that are available but not being used, so choice D is

incorrect.

33. The correct answer is B. The small island of Japan lacks natural resources, but it has become a wealthy

nation through trade. Saudi Arabia has plentiful oil, and the U.S. has abundant land. Mexico is not considered

a wealthy nation.

34. The correct answer is D. During the process of illuviation, fine particles, such as clay and silt, are

deposited in the subsoil by gravitational water. Eluviation involves the removal of soil components from the

topsoil, so choice C is incorrect. Gravitational water removes soluble inorganic soil components during

leaching, choice B. Choice A is a characteristic of soil that has been through the process of leaching and

eluviation.

35. The correct answer is B. English, Portuguese, Persian, and Hindi are all descendants of Indo-European.

A protolanguage is the common ancestor of several modern languages as determined by common word roots.

Indo-Iranian-, Greek-, and Germanic-based languages can be traced to proto-Indo-European.

36. The correct answer is C. Vietnam is an elongated state, which means that it is long and narrow.

Elongated states typically have a wider variety of climates, resources, and cultures than compact states. In the

case of Vietnam, Hanoi is located in the far northern region, and Ho Chi Minh City is at the far southern

region.

37. The correct answer is B. Tsunamis, which are extremely large waves, are caused by earthquakes

underneath the sea, and they have been known to cause thousands of deaths among people living in coastal

areas. A typhoon is a hurricane that occurs in the Pacific. Cyclones and monsoons are wind-related and do

not occur because of earthquakes at sea.

38. The correct answer is C. Japan, the European Union, and the United States provide almost 80% of

foreign direct investment (FDI) and are referred to as the Triad. FDI is the investment in enterprises operated

by foreign owners, and it is responsible for economic growth around the world. Choices A, B, and D are

ANSWER.KEY



smaller sources of FDI.

39. The correct answer is D. Each character in Japanese represents a syllable. In Chinese, choice A, each

character represents either a word or a concept. Korean and Vietnamese writings were based on Chinese, so

choices B and C are incorrect. In the eighteenth century, Vietnam switched to the Roman alphabet after

Christian missionaries came to the country.

40. The correct answer is B. The EEZ lines have led to multiple claims to some areas where 200 miles from

the coastline of two islands overlaps. Choice A is incorrect because every island, no matter the size, has a

200-mile EEZ. The Truman Proclamation laid claim to resources on the continental shelf, but it did not

establish EEZs, so choice C is incorrect. Choice D is incorrect because individual countries are in charge of

monitoring their EEZs.

41. The correct answer is C. A coordinate system is a precise arrangement of grid lines used to describe

locations. Earth's coordinate system is based on the North and South Poles and the equator. Cartography is

the science of mapmaking, so choice B is incorrect. The Global Positioning System, or GPS, is a high-tech

method of determining location that uses a network of satellites, so choice A is incorrect.

42. The correct answer is B. Ecosystems are small and relatively homogeneous populations of organisms.

Ecosystems, which exist within biomes, are self-regulating, self-contained, and able to adapt to the

surrounding climate. Choices A, C, and D are characteristics of ecosystems, so they are incorrect.

43. The correct answer is C. St. Petersburg changed to Leningrad during the Communist period from 1917

until 1991. After the Communist period ended, Leningrad changed back to St. Petersburg. Lisky and Lugansk

are the current names of Russian cities that were re-named during the Communist period.

44. The correct answer is D. Soil horizons refer to the horizontal layers with distinctive physical and

chemical properties that are found in fully developed soils. Soil horizons develop as water and minerals move

vertically through soil with bedrock at the bottom and organic matter towards the top. Choices A and B refer

to a soil's texture, and choice C is a soil's ability to support plant growth.

45. The correct answer is D. Soil horizons refer to the horizontal layers with distinctive physical and

chemical properties that are found in fully developed soils. Soil horizons develop as water and minerals move

vertically through soil with bedrock at the bottom and organic matter towards the top. Choices A and B refer

to a soil's texture, and choice C is a soil's ability to support plant growth.

46. The correct answer is A. Toponymy is the study of place names, which can provide valuable

information about the origins, values, and history of a location. Choice B is the geography of writing, and

choice C is the study of word origins. Proxemics, choice D, is the study of how people use space.

47. The correct answer is A. Istanbul is the capital of Turkey, so it is a city rather than a city-state. City-

states, such as Singapore, Monaco, and Vatican City, are independent political entities and have only one

city. Very few city-states exist in the world.

48. The correct answer is A. Swahili is a creole language, which means that it developed from a pidgin

language to become a native tongue. Swahili began in East Africa and was a combination of Bantu dialects

ANSWER.KEY



and Arabic. Trade led to Swahili's spread and its eventual adoption as the official language of Kenya and

Tanzania.

49. The correct answer is C. Ecuador is a member of OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries. OPEC is a cartel of twelve countries that attempts to control the international oil market. Mexico,

Egypt, and Afghanistan are not members of OPEC.

50. The correct answer is A. Cultural values, available technology, and economic systems determine the

value of a natural resource. Political structures have less of an impact on the value of a natural resource.

Cultural values determine if a natural resource, such as oil, is desirable. A society needs a certain level of

technology to access the natural resource. The economic system determines whether it is profitable to access

the commodity.

51. The correct answer is A. It would be 5:00 a.m. at 75° west longitude in the eastern United States if it

were 10:00 a.m. in Greenwich, England, which is the location of the prime meridian at 0°. Each of the Earth's

24 time zones averages 15°, and 75° divided by 15° equals 5 hours. Choice D would be the time 75° east of

Greenwich.

52. The correct answer is C. Physiographic provinces are regions that are uniform in climate, vegetation,

soil, and topography. The Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains are North American examples of

physiographic provinces. Cultural landscapes are the buildings and artifacts placed on a natural landscape,

which is the landform, or the earth's surface, so choices A and B are incorrect. Geometric boundaries are

defined political boundaries, so choice D is incorrect.

53. The correct answer is C. Judaism was the first major monotheistic faith, which is a religion that asserts

the existence of only one God instead of many gods. Judaism is also tied to the Jewish people, who were

persecuted by European rulers. Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity developed after Judaism.

54. The correct answer is A. Almost 80% of Quebec's population is French Canadian, and the region is

unified by the history, tradition, and cultures of France. Choices B, C, and D do not exhibit the regionalism

that Quebec does.

55. The correct answer is B. Australia, Guinea, Jamaica, and Brazil are the leading producers of aluminum

ore. Australia produces almost 40% of the world's total aluminum. Russia and Canada produce most of the

Earth's nickel. Peru is a leader in tin production.

56. The correct answer is C. Semiarid climates are transitional regions that experience sufficient rain part of

the year and shortages at other times. Semiarid climates are often able to support grazing but only limited

farming. Choices A and B are characterized by heavy precipitation. Tundra climates, choice D, are

characterized by cool, short summers and extremely cold winters.

57. The correct answer is D. Ratzel compared the development of a state with biological organisms. In

Ratzel's organic theory, he describes how a state, from its birth to its death, is like any other living creature.

He predicted that nations would eventually die just like humans.

58. The correct answer is C. Clay minerals are typical of the B horizon of a soil profile. Organic matter is

ANSWER.KEY



found in various states of decomposition in the O horizon and the A horizon. Weathered parent materials are

found in the C horizon, and regolith, or bedrock, makes up the R horizon.

59. The correct answer is D. Natural gas is the most common resource used for heating homes in Canada

and the United States. Electricity and petroleum are the next most common sources for home heating. Some

businesses burn coal for their manufacturing operations, but coal is no longer a typical source of home heat.

Electricity generated by wind turbines is not a dominant heat source.

60. The correct answer is D. Occupation often determines a Hindu's caste, which is the hierarchy of classes

in Hinduism that ranges from priestly to untouchable. Hindus are expected to stay in the same caste their

entire life, and intelligence and language skills have no effect on the level assigned to a person. Birth order

does not determine a person's caste.

61. The correct answer is C. Henry Ford pioneered assembly line production now known as Fordism.

Fordism is also a term used by Marxists in reference to the promotion of intense labor, but Marx did not

develop the concept of an assembly line. Edison invented the light bulb among other items, and von Thünen

developed a location theory related to agriculture.

62. The correct answer is D. The amount of daily insolation received at any specific place on Earth changes

with the seasons. Insolation is the incoming solar radiation and the main source of energy for the Earth.

Seasonal temperature changes are the result of variations in insolation. Atmosphere, choice B, affects the

amount of insolation that reaches the surface of the Earth, but the effect is minimal. Climate and wind speed

have little impact on insolation, so choices A and C are incorrect.

63. The correct answer is C. Relocation diffusion brought the Christian faith to the New World with

European settlers. Expansion diffusion occurred when missions were established in the early years of the

faith. Hierarchical diffusion occurred when Rome was the main center of Christianity. Contagious diffusion

spread Christianity throughout Europe from rural monasteries.

64. The correct answer is D. Climate has the greatest control over soil formation and natural vegetation. In

most parts of the world, vegetation and soil patterns mirror the climate. Choices B and C affect local

vegetation and soil but to a lesser extent than climate does. Population growth, choice A, increases food

demands, but climate remains the biggest influence over soil and vegetation.

65. The correct answer is A. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949

during the Cold War. The military bloc was formed to protect Europe from the threat of the Soviets. The bloc

brought together the U.S., Italy, Canada, France, Norway, and England among other countries. The

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA), and

the European Union (EU) are not military blocs.

66. The correct answer is B. Countries with high population growth, such as Africa, have low median ages.

Choice A is incorrect because crude death rates are falling almost everywhere. Choice C is incorrect because

infant mortality rates are low in wealthy countries but remain high in poor countries. The countries with the

highest rates of population increase are in Africa and the Near East, so choice D is incorrect.

67. The correct answer is B. Soil creep is the most common type of mass movement. As implied by the

ANSWER.KEY



name, soil creep is the gradual movement of material down a hill. Soil creep may occur when a small animal

digs a hole or an insect pushes soil aside. Mudflows and rockslides are more dramatic but less common than

soil creep. Slump, which involves the backward rotation of soil, is also less common than soil creep.

68. The correct answer is A. Chile produces over 30% of the world's copper, and Indonesia produces about

8%. India has a supply of iron ore and aluminum, and China produces aluminum, cadmium, gold, iron ore,

lead, tin, and zinc.

69. The correct answer is D. The lower crude death rate is best explained by improvements in medicine and

science, which in poor countries refers to a better understanding of hygiene. Increases in income and

improved food quality also help lower the death rate. Although data is probably more accurate and thorough

than in the past, statistics fail to reduce the number of deaths.

70. The correct answer is B. The place where a river enters a lake or a sea is the delta, and it is characterized

by a large area of deposited sediment because of the sudden drop in water velocity. A floodplain, choice D, is

the almost flat surface at the bottom of a valley, and a drainage basin, choice C, is an area that provides runoff

into a stream. Choice A relates to glacier deposits.

71. The correct answer is A. Mass media has played a major role in reducing the fertility rate in countries

such as India, China, Pakistan, and Kenya. Government sponsored television programs educate citizens about

birth control and family planning. China's one-family/one-child policy ended after it showed no success, so

choice B is incorrect. Women are working longer and having children later, but not always in developing

countries, so choice C is incorrect. Abortions are legal in India, but sterilization is the most popular option, so

choice A is incorrect.

72. The correct answer is A. Movement bias is any regularity of movement of people, commodities, or

communication. Network bias, distance bias, and direction bias are aspects of movement bias. Movement

bias is an aspect of spatial interaction, but spatial bias is a distractor.

73. The correct answer is C. The representative fraction 1:1,000,000 is the equivalent of one centimeter to

ten kilometers. Choice A shows that one centimeter equals 10,000 centimeters, which is one hundred meters.

Choice B indicates that one centimeter on a map equals 100,000 centimeters, which is the same as one

kilometer. Choice D shows that one centimeter on a map equals 10,000,000 centimeters, which is the same as

one hundred kilometers.

74. The correct answer is C. The icebox effect refers to the tendency of some air pollutants to lower

temperatures on Earth by reflecting incoming sunlight back into space. Dust storms, forest fires, and

volcanoes naturally spew aerosols into the air, which can trigger cooling cycles. Choices A and B relate to the

warming of the Earth rather than the cooling of it. The hydrologic cycle, choice D, is the natural system of

water evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

75. The correct answer is B. Substitutability occurs when one substance is used to replace another. In most

cases, substitutions help to stabilize natural resource prices when the resource becomes scarce or expensive.

Choices A, C, and D are not primary benefits of substitutability.

76. The correct answer is A. Outsourcing, maquiladoras, and transnational corporations exemplify the

ANSWER.KEY



growing tendency for international manufacturing and services. External economies is another name for

agglomeration economies, which is when businesses group together to save on utilities, transportation, and

social services.

77. The correct answer is C. The population increase of Africa between 2000 and 2050 will most likely

account for one-third of the total world population increase. In the past, China contributed heavily to

population growth, but in recent years, China has tried to curb its population growth. The population of India

has reached 1 billion and is projected to grow even more, but Africa will account for more of the world's

population growth in the near future. Latin America will contribute approximately 10%.

78. The correct answer is D. Urban enterprise zones were established to encourage the creation of jobs in

inner cities. The Federal Budget Act of 1993 designated enterprise zones, and some have been successful but

others have not. Moving poor people to subsidized suburban housing and expanding public transportation

have been implemented in many cities to overcome spatial mismatch, but neither is a goal of urban enterprise

zones.

79. The correct answer is D. Baby boomers, who were born between 1946 and 1964, will need retirement

facilities and elderly healthcare in 2030. Choice C is incorrect because baby boomers would be retired by

2030. Baby boomers are already past the childbearing years, so choice A is incorrect. No correlation exists

between affordable housing and aging baby boomers, so choice B is incorrect.

80. The correct answer is A. Fallowing, terracing, and crop rotation are farming practices used to prevent

soil erosion. Fallowing involves leaving a field idle for at least one year, and rotation involves alternating

crops to prevent stress on the soil. Terracing creates layered fields in steep areas to help with soil retention.

Organic farming does not minimize soil erosion.

81. The correct answer is B. Thematic maps are designed to focus attention on the distribution of a few

specific features, such as vegetation, climate, and population. Conformal maps maintain the true shape of

small areas. Azimuthal projection maps preserve the direction from the map's central point. Topographic

maps indicate natural and man-made features on the ground.

82. The correct answer is D. Untreated raw sewage is frequently dumped into rivers in parts of Asia,

including Malaysia. Many rivers and lakes are devoid of aquatic life because of pollution, not because of

overfishing, so choice C is incorrect. Aquaculture is fish farming, so choice A is incorrect. Global warming is

irrelevant to the lack of fish in Malaysian rivers, so choice B is incorrect.

83. The correct answer is B. Coal is an abundant natural resource, and it is estimated that the world has

enough coal to last almost 400 years. Burning coal releases harmful particles into the air, and surface mining

harms vegetation and soil, so choices A and C are incorrect. Since coal is a bulky solid, it is difficult to ship

and has limited uses, so choice D is incorrect.

84. The correct answer is B. Population implosions can be problematic for nations because of the reduction

in the workforce. Fewer young workers means a lower tax base, so the funds required to pay for the

healthcare needs of the aging population are not readily available. Fewer children means that demands on the

education system are reduced.

ANSWER.KEY



85. The correct answer is B. The demographic transition model was formulated to explain the population

history of Western Europe. The model reviews the effect of economic development on population growth in

wealthy countries. North America, Eastern Europe, and Africa were not the focus of the demographic

transition model.

86. The correct answer is A. High runoff and relatively low populations are the two factors that improve

water availability in areas. Low populations put less stress on a water supply; however, pollution affects the

quality, not the quantity, of water, which means choice B is incorrect. Choice C is incorrect because water

runoff is necessary for the continuation of the hydrologic cycle. High populations deplete water supplies, so

choice D is incorrect.

87. The correct answer is B. High-tech industries have the tendency to locate facilities near universities and

research facilities, which provide access to a technical labor pool. Regions with a highly desirable quality of

life, such as San Francisco and Austin, and local venture capital, typically draw high-tech firms. Most high-

tech firms have separated stages for research and manufacturing, and markets are worldwide, which means

proximity to suppliers and the market is not necessary.

88. The correct answer is C. The arithmetic density is the number of people per unit of area. Physiological

density is the density of a population for every unit of cropland. Carrying capacity is the ability of an area to

support its population. Replacement rate is a total fertility rate of 2.1, which stabilizes a population.

89. The correct answer is A. Weathering refers to the different processes that cause rocks near the Earth's

surface to disintegrate and decompose. The rate of weathering depends on rock strength, climate, vegetative

cover, and land surface configuration. Debris has little impact on the rate of weathering, so choice A is the

correct answer.

90. The correct answer is B. State capitalism, as implemented in South Korea, involves government control

of corporations that compete in free-market conditions. In a planned economy, choice A, the government

makes all decisions about the production and consumption of goods without involving the free market.

Choices C and D have very little government intervention.

91. The correct answer is B. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union (EU). Switzerland has

been involved in negotiations with the EU many times and has economic relationships with member

countries. Bulgaria, Finland, and Latvia are EU members, so choices A, C, and D are incorrect.

92. The correct answer is A. A company that has grown large enough to hire full-time employees or to buy

its own equipment has achieved internal economy. External economies are goods and services that a

company hires or rents on a temporary basis. Deglomeration occurs when a company moves out of an urban

area because the costs of the location exceed the benefits. Agglomeration is the grouping together of people

and businesses.

93. The correct answer is C. Each island of Hawaii is a large shield volcano erupting fluid lava that is not

particularly dangerous unless inhabited areas are threatened. Composite cone volcanoes are explosive

volcanoes that can devastate areas with their thick magma and eruptions of ash and glassy cinders. Subglacial

volcanoes develop beneath icecaps, and supervolcanoes are the most dangerous kind of volcanoes.

ANSWER.KEY



94. The correct answer is A. The spatial mismatch hypothesis proposes that central city unemployment is

caused by businesses moving to suburban areas and by the concentration of the poor in inner cities.

Economist John Kain proposed the concept in 1968. Choices B, C, and D are not aspects of the spatial

mismatch hypothesis.

95. The correct answer is D. Sustained yield refers, for example, to the method of renewing fiber resources

by balancing the planting of trees with their harvesting. Choices A and B refer to the forestry practice of

cutting down all trees in a large area. Choice C is the amount of variety of plants and animals in a specific

environment.

96. The correct answer is A. Winds blow away from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Choice

B is incorrect because air descends in areas of high pressure. Choice C is incorrect because winds converge

and ascend in cyclones. Choice D is incorrect because air ascends in areas of low pressure.

97. The correct answer is B. Holland was the world's first modern urban country in the seventeenth century

at which time over half of the population lived in towns and cities. Holland's international shipping, banking,

and trading spurred the development of urban centers. Urbanization in England occurred during

industrialization in the eighteenth century, so choice D is incorrect.

98. The correct answer is B. Mass wasting is the removal and deposit of rock and weathered debris

downwards towards lower elevations. Gravity is the primary force behind mass wasting, which is also known

as mass movement. Choice A refers to the progressive breaking away of curved rock shells parallel to the

surface. Slope roughening can occur on mountainsides because of frost, so choice C is incorrect. Choice D is

a weathering process that causes rocks to disintegrate.

99. The correct answer is D. Mongols are primarily located in Mongolia, China, and Russia, and they are

not an example of a stateless nation. A stateless nation occurs when a group of people does not have an

official state. The 20 million Kurds live in a region known as Kurdistan; however, it is not a nation but an

area overlapping Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Similarly, Basques and Gypsies are stateless nations.

100. The correct answer is A. In traditional Islamic cities, the mosque is located in the center of the town

and is typically the largest building. Near the mosque are markets, businesses, and shops. The royal palace is

typically at the other end of town and not in the center.

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