AP Human Geography
Unit 3 FRQs
1. Consider the impact of colonialism on the world’s cultural geography. Explain how colonialism affected global
patterns of language and religion using specific examples to support your argument.
2. Language extinction, both currently and throughout history, has been a major concern for cultural geographers,
linguists, anthropologists, and other academics.
a. What are some of the causes of language extinction?
b. What kind of repercussions exist as a result of the loss of linguistic diversity?
c. Discuss some current trends to revive endangered or extinct languages.
3. Religions exhibit several different patterns for diffusing across the globe.
a. Describe the major diffusion mechanisms for two dominant world religions: Buddhism and Christianity.
b. How has the difference between how these two religions are spread affected the current distribution of
these two religious traditions.
4.
European countries have experienced an increase in Muslim population in recent decades. The map above shows the
distribution and proportion of Muslims by country.
a. Identify Countries X, Y, and Z on the map above.
b. Explain two reasons for the increase in Muslim immigration to one of these countries since 1950.
c. For the country you selected in part b, discuss the impacts of the Muslim population increase on the country’s
i.
urban
spatial
organization ii. population
structure iii. social relations
5.
The map above shows the distribution of three religious groups in the contiguous United States. A. Using
the letters in the legend, name the three religious groups shown on the map.
B. For ONE of the three religious groups, first identify and then explain TWO factors that have influenced the
distribution shown on the map.
C. Explain how the map as presented at this scale is an incomplete representation of the geography of religion in the
United States.
6. At the same time that English is solidifying its role as the world’s premier lingua franca, lesser used minority
languages (such as Welsh, Basque, and Inuktitut) are undergoing revival.
Discuss three distinct factors promoting the revival of minority languages in the face of globalization.
7.
The chart above shows major religions as a percentage of world population.
a. Define universalizing religion. Define ethnic religion.
b. Identify one universalizing religion and explain one specific reason why it is a universalizing religion.
c. Identify one ethnic religion and explain why it is an ethnic religion.
8. English is the most widely used language in the world, thus becoming the world’s lingua franca.
a. Define the term “lingua franca.”
b. Identify and describe ONE historical factor that contributed to the worldwide use of English.
c. Identify and explain TWO examples that show how globalization is contributing to English becoming the
world’s lingua franca.
9. Folk Culture and pop culture are both important defining elements of American society today.
a. Define folk culture and pop culture in the United States today.
b. Give one example of folk culture and one example of pop culture in the United States today.
c. Explain how folk culture and pop culture can both unify and divide a society.
10. Explain one current religious conflict in the world today. Include the following:
a. A brief history of the conflict
b. How the conflict relates to place
c. How the conflict relates to political organization and control