GEOG 310 – Thinking Geographically
Exam 1 Study Guide
Spring 2015
This is a 75-minute exam that is worth 100 points. It is comprised of four sections: 10
image identification questions (1 point each, 10 points total), 55 multiple choice,
true/false, and matching questions (1 point each, 55 points total), 4 definitions (5 points
each, 20 points total), and 2 maps (one worth 10 points, one worth 5 points, 15 points
total). This exam draws exclusively from the PowerPoint lectures. If you haven’t already,
you should review those lectures with your notes at hand. Please bring a #2 pencil with
you for the first 65 questions that will be answered on scantron forms. You will need
your Longwood ID number for inclusion on the form. You may use a pen for the
definitions and maps, but I insist you not use red or pink ink.
Image Identification Questions
 You should be able to match images of landscapes of the five physiographic
provinces to the province they represent
 You should be prepared to match images of natural hazards to the provinces they
represent
Multiple Choice, True/False, and Matching Questions
From Geography Defined PP:
 You should be able to rank the significant images of geographic learning through the
ages in order from oldest to youngest
 You should be prepared to match descriptions of cities in Virginia with the type of
location – site and situation – they describe (this really entails knowing the difference
between site and situation)
 You should know how campus is oriented relative to the cardinal directions (N, S, E
& W)
 You should be able to match definitions and examples of regions with the type of
region – formal or functional – that they represent
 You should be ready to identify the three components of the Mormon culture region
on a map
From Five Physiographic Provinces PP:
 You should be able to match maps of where products are mined to the commodity
that is mined there (I used several locational maps to show the distribution of mining
activities)
 You should be prepared to match the five physiographic provinces to descriptions of
the features found in each
 You should be ready to discern the difference between images of the soils of the
inner coastal plain uplands and lowlands
 You should be able to discern the difference between inner and outer coastal plain
images
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 You should be ready to match the four major Triassic basins to their locations on a
map
 You should be prepared to match descriptions of major geomorphological changes
over time in Virginia to the time period in which they occurred (this essentially asks
you to rank them from oldest to youngest)
This is not a comprehensive list of the subject matter on the exam, only
descriptions of the large blocks of questions. There will be other questions drawn
from the PowerPoints.
Definitions
In definitions, you need to define the term (what is it?), identify which province it’s found
in (if applicable), and what is significant about it (what it relates to in the bigger scheme
of things and NOT because I talked about it). You should be prepared to define four out
of a selection of six of the twelve terms below:
Activity space
Barrier Island
Company town
Fall Line
GIS
Karst topography
Kyanite
Mountaintop removal
Pamunkey soil
Situation
Triassic basin
Vernacular region
Maps
I will provide you with maps showing Virginia elevations and physiography. Using those
as guides, you will be drawing the boundaries of and naming the five physiographic
provinces on a map of Virginia localities. Locations of lines and spelling count – 10
points
On a map of Virginia showing only localities, you will draw the boundaries of and label
five Virginia vernacular regions of my choosing. Locations of regions and spelling count
– 5 points
Your best strategy for all of my exams is to sit down with your notes and go
through the PowerPoint lectures. I gave information and told stories about every
image, map, and diagram on the slides. It is from those details that a large portion
of the exam questions are drawn.
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