AP Human Geography : Population & Migration

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Human Geography

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Push & Pull Factors

Which of the following is not a push factor?

Possible Answers:

Pollution

Economic stability

Scarce land

Low healthcare ability

Famine

Correct answer:

Economic stability

Explanation:

Push factors are factors that encourage people to leave a region or country. These can vary from economic factors to daily lifestyle changes. 

Example Question #1 : Push & Pull Factors

The most important pull factor for the United States is __________.

Possible Answers:

cultural

economic

pollution

None of these

political

Correct answer:

economic

Explanation:

The USA has promising economic and educational pull factors. Many immigrants to the USA come to the country in hopes of starting a new life that is better financially than their last one. Pull factors are the good elements of a nation or region that draw immigrants to that location.

Example Question #11 : Push & Pull Factors

Which of the following is not a pull factor?

Possible Answers:

Educational opportunity

Economic stability

Family connections

Slavery

Healthcare availability 

Correct answer:

Slavery

Explanation:

Pull factors are factors that encourage people to migrate to a region or country. 

Example Question #1 : Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Which of the following is not an example of a political refugee?

Possible Answers:

A person who comes to a new country because her religious beliefs are outlawed in her native country

A family escaping required military service for their children in their native country

A woman fleeing a forced marriage to an undesirous or unacceptable partner in her native country

A student studying a subject in a foreign country because its education system is superior to his native land

A political leader leaving a country when his political opposition takes control of the government

Correct answer:

A student studying a subject in a foreign country because its education system is superior to his native land

Explanation:

A political refugee does not have to be strictly a person whose individual politics are no longer welcome in their native country. Instead, anyone who flees a negative or harmful political situation can be considered a political refugee; however, a student seeking a better education is not likely a political refugee, and is in fact likely to return to his or her native country once he or she has completed his or her education.

Example Question #1 : Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Between 1970 and 2000, the number of refugees worldwide increased by about what multiple?

Possible Answers:

8

4

The number of refugees did not increase during this time period.

6

2

Correct answer:

8

Explanation:

In 1970, there were reported to be 2.9 million refugees worldwide.  In 2000, that number was reported to have increased to 24 million.  Thus, the number of refugees increased by a multiple of about 8.

Example Question #1 : Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Which of these countries is not a major source of refugees?

Possible Answers:

Iraq

These are all major sources of refugees.

Sri Lanka

Syria

Somalia

Correct answer:

These are all major sources of refugees.

Explanation:

Refugees are defined as people who are being forced to leave their traditional lands due to persecution or material hardship within their society. Common causes of major refugee movements are natural disasters, warfare (particularly civil war), and political alienation or persecution. All of these countries listed are major sources of refugees because they are engaged in civil and international wars or because their governments' track records on civil rights are suspect.

Example Question #1 : Refugees & Asylum Seekers

A group of people dispersed from their original homeland into different societies around the world is referred to as a(n) __________.

Possible Answers:

dispersed culture

non-assimilated culture

ghetto

acculturated group

diaspora

Correct answer:

diaspora

Explanation:

A “diaspora” is the name given to a community of people who are dispersed throughout the world, but retain their cultural, religious, or ethnic differences. The term is most commonly applied to Jewish people and to African-Americans in the United States.

Example Question #1 : Population Growth & Decline

Which stage of demographic transition features a high birth rate, high death rate, and low population growth?

Possible Answers:

Stage IV

Stage I

Stage III

Stage II

Stage V

Correct answer:

Stage I

Explanation:

Populations in Stage I of demographic transition have these features. Stage II features a high birth rate, decreasing death rate, and slowly increasing population growth. Stage III features a decreasing birth rate, low death rate, and rapidly increasing population growth. Stage IV features a low birth rate, low death rate, and a stagnating population. Stage V is hypothetical and features the birth rate dropping below the death rate, causing a very slow population decline.

Example Question #1 : Theories Of Population Growth & Decline

The demographic accounting equation considers which of the following when predicting a country’s population growth?

I. Birth rates

II. Death rates

III. Immigration

IV. Emigration

 

Possible Answers:

III and IV. 

I, II, III, and IV. 

I only. 

I and II. 

I, II, and III.

Correct answer:

I, II, III, and IV. 

Explanation:

The demographic accounting equation is used to predict population growth and future population of a country or region. It takes into account birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration and so is seemingly quite thorough. The problem with the demographic accounting equation is that all of these statistics (birth rates, death rates, immigration rates, emigration rates) are subject to dramatic change over time. As a result, using contemporary statistics to project into the future becomes a dubious proposition.

Example Question #1 : Population Growth & Decline

Physiological population density is determined by which of the following?

Possible Answers:

The number of people in a country divided by the size of arable land in that country

The number of people in a country divided by the land area of that country

The number of people in a country divided by the total number of housing available in that country

The total industrial production of a country divided by the number of people in that country

The gross domestic product of a country divided by the number of people in that country

Correct answer:

The number of people in a country divided by the size of arable land in that country

Explanation:

The physiological population density of a country refers to the number of people in that country divided by the size of arable land in that country. It essentially refers to how much land is being used to provide sustenance for the population of a country. It is different from arithmetic population density, which simply refers to the number of people in a country divided by the size of the total land area of that country.

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