AP Human Geography : Political Organization of Space

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Human Geography

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Political Organization Of Space

What name is given to a state that is completely surrounded by another state?

Possible Answers:

Fragmented state

Enclave

Exclave

Buffer state

Elongated state

Correct answer:

Enclave

Explanation:

An enclave is the name given to a state that is completely surrounded by another state. Famous examples of enclaves include Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa) and San Marino and Vatican City (which are completely surrounded by Italy).

Example Question #21 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of the following is an example of a landlocked state?

Possible Answers:

Russia

Bolivia

Germany

Saudi Arabia

Sri Lanka

Correct answer:

Bolivia

Explanation:

A “landlocked state” is a state that is completely surrounded on all sides by other countries that has no direct access to the ocean. Of these countries, only Bolivia is landlocked state. Its access to the Pacific Ocean is blocked by the territory of Chile and Peru, something that has been the source of frequent war. Russia and Germany were two famous examples of landlocked states, but they both were able to expand to gain access to the ocean at some point in their history.

Example Question #22 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of these is an example of a perforated state?

Possible Answers:

Lesotho

Switzerland

Thailand

Chile

Italy

Correct answer:

Italy

Explanation:

Italy is the classic example of a perforated state because it completely surrounds two other countries, San Marino and Vatican City. The name given to the region that is surrounded by the perforated state is an “enclave.” So San Marino and Vatican City are both enclaves within the perforated state of Italy.

Example Question #181 : Ap Human Geography

Which of these is not an example of a physical boundary used to separate states?

Possible Answers:

Rivers

Oceans

All of the other answers are examples of physical boundaries

Mountains

Lines of longitude

Correct answer:

Lines of longitude

Explanation:

A physical boundary is something tangible and concrete that is often used as the political barrier between two states. Mountain ranges and rivers are common examples of these throughout the world. A line of longitude, however, is a human construction, not a physical boundary. When a line of longitude or latitude is used to represent the political barrier between two states, this is known as a "geometric boundary."

Example Question #21 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of these is an example of an enclave?

Possible Answers:

Hawaii

Alaska

Poland

Switzerland

Vatican City

Correct answer:

Vatican City

Explanation:

Vatican City is an example of an enclave because it is an independent state that is completely surrounded by the borders of another state, in this case, Italy. Switzerland, although landlocked, is bordered by many countries and is thus not technically an “enclave.”

Example Question #21 : Political Organization Of Space

Which of these is an example of a fragmented state?

Possible Answers:

Mongolia

The United Kingdom

The Philippines

Nepal

The United States

Correct answer:

The Philippines

Explanation:

The Philippines is considered a fragmented state because its territory is physically divided, by the ocean, into several distinct regions that make it harder for a centralized government to wield control. Although the territories of the United Kingdom and the United States are not wholly contiguous they are not usually considered to be fragmented states because the vast majority of their significant territory is contiguous.

Example Question #16 : Territoriality

Which of these is an example of a compact state?

Possible Answers:

Thailand

Russia

Poland

Brazil

Chile

Correct answer:

Poland

Explanation:

A compact state is a state that is reasonably small and centralized; it usually somewhat resembles a square. Compact states are usually easier for a centralized government to manage because every outlying region in the country is roughly equidistant from the center. Poland is the classic example of a compact state. The opposite of a compact state is an elongated state.

Example Question #12 : Territoriality

Which of these terms is used to describe the internationally legal addition of new territory to an existing state?

Possible Answers:

Appropriation

Anschluss

Agglomeration

Conglomeration

Annexation

Correct answer:

Annexation

Explanation:

The term “annexation” is used to describe the internationally legal addition of new territory into an existing state. When we use the phrase “internationally legal” this is of course a dubious distinction, but essentially a nation can “annex” more territory in certain situations without it being considered an act of war. The United States, during its history of westward expansion, consistently annexed new territory, primarily because the Native Americans were not considered legitimate claimants to the land by the international community.

Example Question #1 : Federal & Unitary States

Which of these statements best describes a unitary state?

Possible Answers:

A state where the highest law of the country is the divine law of God.

A state that is divided into several regions that are subject to one federal government, but also have delegated powers of their own.

None of these answers describes a unitary state.

A state where laws are administered uniformly, without regional authorities diluting the power.

A state in which the population is almost exclusively drawn from one religious, ethnic, or cultural group.

Correct answer:

A state where laws are administered uniformly, without regional authorities diluting the power.

Explanation:

A unitary state, as opposed to a federal state like the United States, is a state where laws are administered uniformly by one central government. There are no regional authorities, like the various states in the United States, who compete for power and dilute the authority of the central government.

Example Question #1 : Federal & Unitary States

What name is given to the system of government where power is shared between a centralized government and various regional authorities?

Possible Answers:

Republicanism

Imperialism

Federalism

Fascism

Autocracy

Correct answer:

Federalism

Explanation:

Federalism is a system of government where power is shared (in various arrangements) between a centralized government and various regional authorities. The United States is a federal country because power is shared between the national government and the governments of the various states.

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