AP Human Geography : Political Organization of Space

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Human Geography

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of these descriptions most accurately describes an exclave?

Possible Answers:

A state whose economy functions almost completely independently of imports and exports.

None of these answers is correct.

A region of a country where the vast majority of the citizens of that country live.

A state that is completely surrounded by another state.

A region of a country that is completely separated from the main body of that country.

Correct answer:

A region of a country that is completely separated from the main body of that country.

Explanation:

An “exclave” is a region of a country that is completely separated from the main body of that country, usually by the borders of another country. One classic example of an exclave is Alaska because it is not part of the contiguous continental United States.

Example Question #11 : Political Organization Of Space

A boundary between two states that is created in an area that is currently not populated is called a(n) ___________.

Possible Answers:

supplementary boundary

complementary boundary

enclave

buffer state

antecedent boundary

Correct answer:

antecedent boundary

Explanation:

An antecedent boundary is the name of a boundary between two states that is created before the area is populated with human society. An antecedent boundary may come to be more relevant in the future if people begin to settle in the area; this is what happened with the boundary between the United States and Canada in Oregon.

Example Question #12 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of these is an example of an elongated state?

Possible Answers:

Bolivia

Chile

Brazil

Germany

Poland

Correct answer:

Chile

Explanation:

An elongated state is a state that is long and narrow. It stretches a long way in one direction (either north-south or east-west) and a very short way in the other direction. Chile is the classic example of an elongated state because it spans thousands of miles top to bottom, but only a few hundred from side-to-side. The opposite of an elongated state is a compact state.

Example Question #11 : Political Organization Of Space

According to Halford Mackinder’s Heartland Theory, a government that controls this region is likely to eventually dominate much of the world.

Possible Answers:

Western Europe

The Middle East

The Mediterranean

The Atlantic Ocean

Central Eurasia

Correct answer:

Central Eurasia

Explanation:

According to the Heartland Theory, a government that controls Central Eurasia (much of Russia, some of Eastern Europe, and the Middle East) is likely to eventually dominate much of the world. Mackinder believed that this region was central to interaction between Europe and Asia and to the rest of the world. Most contemporary geographers disagreed with him.

Example Question #11 : Political Organization Of Space

A perforated state is a state that __________.

Possible Answers:

is completely surrounded by another state

stretches a long way in one direction, but a comparably short way in the other direction

completely surrounds another state

is small and highly centralized

serves as a buffer between two much larger states

Correct answer:

completely surrounds another state

Explanation:

A perforated state is a state that completely surrounds another state. Two classic examples are Italy, which completely surrounds San Marino and the Vatican, and South Africa, which completely surrounds Lesotho. Due to the vulnerability of the surrounded state, it is often vital for that state to maintain good relations with the perforated state that surrounds them.

Example Question #11 : Territorial Dimensions Of Politics

If the political barrier between two states is the 50th parallel on the lines of latitude, then the boundary between those two states is known as a(n) __________.

Possible Answers:

geometric boundary

arithmetic frontier

physical boundary

intermediate boundary

buffer state

Correct answer:

geometric boundary

Explanation:

When a line of latitude or longitude is used to delineate the political barrier between two states we call that boundary a “geometric boundary.” One famous example of a “geometric boundary” is the 49th parallel between the United States of America and Canada.

Example Question #1 : Territoriality

Which of these is an example of a prorupted state?

Possible Answers:

Canada

Australia

Paraguay

Thailand

Belize

Correct answer:

Thailand

Explanation:

A prorupted state is a state that has a primary body of territory that comprises most of the state, but that also has a long extension that can dramatically increase the territorial power and significance of the country. The classic example of a prorupted state is Thailand.

Example Question #181 : Ap Human Geography

A country that is completely surrounded by the territory of other countries and has no access to the sea is said to be __________.

Possible Answers:

landlocked

isolated

stateless

perforated

devolved

Correct answer:

landlocked

Explanation:

The geographic term for a country that is completely surrounded by the territory of more than one other country and has no direct access to the sea is “landlocked.” Being landlocked is generally considered to be a major disadvantage for a country because that country must rely on another country for any goods that are transported by sea. Many wars have been started by landlocked countries seeking to carve a path to the ocean through another country's territory.

Example Question #185 : Ap Human Geography

A fragmented state is a state that __________.

Possible Answers:

is long and narrow or wide and short

acts as a deterrent that prevents conflict between two much larger states

is highly centralized and often appears in the shape of a square

is physically divided into several distinct segments

is completely surrounded by the territory of another state

Correct answer:

is physically divided into several distinct segments

Explanation:

A fragmented state is a state whose territory is physically divided into several distinct segments. This presents a unique set of problems to the government and administration of fragmented states because there are physical barriers that prevent ease of transportation and limit the control that can be wielded by the centralized government. Two classic examples of fragmented states are Indonesia and the Philippines because they are states comprised of a few big islands and dozens of smaller islands.

Example Question #12 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of these is an example of an exclave?

Possible Answers:

Wales

Alaska

Key West

Scotland

Ireland

Correct answer:

Alaska

Explanation:

Alaska is an example of an exclave because it is a region of the United States that is completely separate from the main body of the United States. It can be helpful to think of the prefixes "ex-" and "en-" when considering the meaning of “exclave” and “enclave.” The prefix "ex-" means outside of and the prefix "en-" means inside of.

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