Thinking Geographically Overview
Although this section of the course is composed of
introductory material and accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of
the AP Exam, it can be challenging for AP Human Geography
teachers because it contains important geographic concepts:
due to its definitional nature, the new geography teacher may
have difficulty presenting this material in a manner that
students can easily grasp. However, the concepts of location,
space, place, scale, pattern, regionalization, and
globalization are fundamental to the study of geography, and
this section of the course is compulsory. Subsequent sections
will provide many opportunities to apply these tools and
concepts, thus reinforcing students’ understanding of them.
Students learn how to use and interpret maps and to
understand the role of mental mapping.
Overview
I. Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives 5–10%
A. Geography as a field of inquiry
B. Evolution of key geographical concepts and models associated with notable
geographers
C. Key concepts underlying the geographical perspective: location, space,
place, scale, pattern, regionalization, and globalization
D. Key geographical skills
1. How to use and think about maps and spatial data
2. How to understand and interpret the implications of associations among
phenomena in places
3. How to recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among
patterns and processes
4. How to define regions and evaluate the regionalization process
5. How to characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places
E. New geographic technologies, such as GIS and GPS
F. Sources of geographical ideas and data: the field, census data
Geography as a field of inquiry
• Interdisciplinary Perspective
• Spatial Distributions (knowing)
– Who or what, when, where
– Anything that can be mapped
• Spatial Processes (understanding)
– Why/how did it evolve
• Spatial Prediction and Decision Making (applying)
– How can distributions be preserved or changed
What Is Human Geography?
The study of
•How people make places
•How we organize space and society
•How we interact with each other in places
and across space
•How we make sense of others and
ourselves in our locality, region, and world
Spatial Distribution
• Spatial distribution and pattern
• Processes that create and sustain a distribution
Map of Cholera Victims
in London’s Soho District
in 1854
Patterns of victim’s homes
and water pump locations
key to the source of the
disease
Globalization
A set of processes that are
• Increasing interactions
• Deepening relationships
• Heightening
interdependence
without regard to country
borders
A set of outcomes that are
• Unevenly distributed
• Varying across scales
• Differently manifested
throughout the world
Impact of individual, regional, national scales on processes
and outcomes of globalization
Place
Sense of place: Infusing a
place with meaning and
emotion
Perception of place: Belief
or understanding of what
a place is like, often
based on books, movies,
stories, or pictures
Often associated with
where we prefer to live,
visit etc.
Location
• Absolute location
– Precise location using a coordinate system
– Latitude and longitude most common
– Measured by geographic positioning systems
(GPS)
• Relative location
– Location in relation to something else
– Changes over time with changing circumstances
Regions
Formal region: Defined by a common characteristic,
whether physical or cultural, present throughout
e.g., German-speaking region of Europe
Functional region: Defined by a set of social, political,
or economic activities or interactions
e.g., an urban area, city and suburbs
Regions
Perceptual Region: Ideas in our minds, based on
accumulated knowledge of places and regions, that
define an area of “sameness” or “connectedness”
Cultural Landscape
The visible human imprint, the material character of a
place
Religion and
cremation
practices spread
with Hindu
migrants from
India to Kenya
Sequent Occupance
Layers of imprints in a cultural landscape reflecting
years of differing human activity
Apartments in Mumbai, India
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: African,
Arab, German, British, Indian “layers.”
Apartments replaced earlier singlefamily houses
Types of Diffusion
• Expansion diffusion: Idea
or innovation spreading
outward from the hearth
– Contagious: Spreads to
next available person
– Hierarchical: Spreads to
most linked people or
places first
– Stimulus: Promotes local
experiment or change
Types of Diffusion
• Relocation diffusion:
Paris, France
Movement of individuals who carry
an idea or innovation with them to a
new, perhaps distant locale
Kenya
: H .J. de Blij
: A. B. Murphy
Mental Maps
Maps we carry in our minds of places we have
been and places we have heard of
Activity Spaces
The places we travel to routinely in our rounds
of daily activity
Geographic
Information
System (GIS)
Computer hardware
and software that
permit storage and
analysis of layers of
spatial data
Scale
1. All of the following are true about
contagious diffusion except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Islam spread this way
it is a type of expansion diffusion
a disease can spread this way
AIDS spread this way
an idea can NOT spread this way
1. All of the following are true about
contagious diffusion except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Islam spread this way
it is a type of expansion diffusion
a disease can spread this way
AIDS spread this way
an idea can NOT spread this way
2. The imprint of cultures on the land
creates distinct and characteristic cultural
___________________:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
hearths
landscapes
diffusion
perception
environment
2. The imprint of cultures on the land
creates distinct and characteristic cultural
___________________:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
hearths
landscapes
diffusion
perception
environment
3. The emerging link between physical
and human geography is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
natural science
location theory
environmental theory
cultural geography
spatial perspective
3. The emerging link between physical
and human geography is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
natural science
location theory
environmental theory
cultural geography
spatial perspective
4. All of the following are
characteristics of a region except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
location
scale
area
boundary
A, B and C
4. All of the following are
characteristics of a region except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
location
scale
area
boundary
A, B and C
5. Which of the following is not one of
Pattison's Four Traditions:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Earth-Science tradition
Culture-Environment tradition
Spatial Tradition
Location Tradition
Area-Analysis Tradition
5. Which of the following is not one of
Pattison's Four Traditions:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Earth-Science tradition
Culture-Environment tradition
Spatial Tradition
Location Tradition
Area-Analysis Tradition
6. What is diffusion?
A. the movement of people from one country to
another
B. the spread of ideas or knowledge from areas
of origin to places where they are adopted
C. the adoption of an idea by an individual
D. the movement of people
E. an area defined by its space
6. What is diffusion?
A. the movement of people from one country to
another
B. the spread of ideas or knowledge from areas
of origin to places where they are adopted
C. the adoption of an idea by an individual
D. the movement of people
E. an area defined by its space
7. How is the spatial perspective
demonstrated?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
through economic geography
through the history of a region
through the use of maps
through religion
through the use of graphs
7. How is the spatial perspective
demonstrated?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
through economic geography
through the history of a region
through the use of maps
through religion
through the use of graphs
8. Arrows are one of the most useful symbols used on
maps but there are limitations to what they can show.
Which of the following could arrows NOT show:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
direction of movement
destination of movement
volume of movement
reason for movement
origin of movement
8. Arrows are one of the most useful symbols used on
maps but there are limitations to what they can show.
Which of the following could arrows NOT show:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
direction of movement
destination of movement
volume of movement
reason for movement
origin of movement
9. The spread of ideas, knowledge, and skills from their
places of origin to other areas where they are adopted
is called:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
diffusion
adjustment
growth
expansion
migration
9. The spread of ideas, knowledge, and skills from their
places of origin to other areas where they are adopted
is called:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
diffusion
adjustment
growth
expansion
migration
10. The location of a place in
relationship to other places or features
around it is called:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
absolute location
site
relative location
actual location
global address
10. The location of a place in
relationship to other places or features
around it is called:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
absolute location
site
relative location
actual location
global address
11. The one problem common to all
map projections is that they:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
will only fit on a certain size paper
distort something
all are copyrighted
require different size lines
can't show enough detail
11. The one problem common to all
map projections is that they:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
will only fit on a certain size paper
distort something
all are copyrighted
require different size lines
can't show enough detail
12. The maximum number of degrees
of latitude that can be measured on
the Earth is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
90'
45'
60'
180'
360'
12. The maximum number of degrees
of latitude that can be measured on
the Earth is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
90'
45'
60'
180'
360'
13. The prime meridian from which
longitude is measured runs through
which of the following cities:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
New York
Greenwich
Moscow
Brussels
Sao Paulo
13. The prime meridian from which
longitude is measured runs through
which of the following cities:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
New York
Greenwich
Moscow
Brussels
Sao Paulo
14. Latitude and longitude may be
used to determine which of the
following:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the site features of a place
the relative location of the place
the absolute location of a place
the situation of a place
the meaning of a place
14. Latitude and longitude may be
used to determine which of the
following:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the site features of a place
the relative location of the place
the absolute location of a place
the situation of a place
the meaning of a place
15. Hierarchical diffusion is a type of:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
expansion diffusion
stimulus diffusion
relocation diffusion
contagious diffusion
independent diffusion
15. Hierarchical diffusion is a type of:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
expansion diffusion
stimulus diffusion
relocation diffusion
contagious diffusion
independent diffusion
16. Which of the following would not
be part of the cultural landscape?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
fences
barns
livestock
roads
rainfall
16. Which of the following would not
be part of the cultural landscape?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
fences
barns
livestock
roads
rainfall
17. The situation of a place is best
described by:
A. where it is located in respect to other places
B. where it is located on the grid of latitude and
longitude
C. its physical attributes
D. its economic conditions
E. the political system
17. The situation of a place is best
described by:
A. where it is located in respect to other places
B. where it is located on the grid of latitude and
longitude
C. its physical attributes
D. its economic conditions
E. the political system
18. Which of the following describes
the site of New York City:
A. a large number of people
B. a large number of languages spoken in
schools
C. the bedrock is granite
D. a large percentage of the population is poor
E. a high crime rate
18. Which of the following describes
the site of New York City:
A. a large number of people
B. a large number of languages spoken in
schools
C. the bedrock is granite
D. a large percentage of the population is poor
E. a high crime rate
19. A map of the world on which the lines of latitude
and longitude are straight and intersect at right angles
will:
A. be useful for showing the distribution of the
human population
B. show the correct size of areas on the surface
C. show correct distances on the surface of the
earth
D. show the correct shape of areas on the
surface of the earth
E. exaggerate the size of Africa
19. A map of the world on which the lines of latitude
and longitude are straight and intersect at right angles
will:
A. be useful for showing the distribution of the
human population
B. show the correct size of areas on the surface
C. show correct distances on the surface of the
earth
D. show the correct shape of areas on the
surface of the earth
E. exaggerate the size of Africa
20. A map in which data are assigned to
class intervals and colors or patterns are
used to distinguish magnitude of
occurrences is called a(an):
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
dot distribution map
azimuthal map
choropleth map
topographic map
cartogram
20. A map in which data are assigned to
class intervals and colors or patterns are
used to distinguish magnitude of
occurrences is called a(an):
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
dot distribution map
azimuthal map
choropleth map
topographic map
cartogram
21. Which of the following are formal
regions:
A. the state of Iowa
B. the Near East
C. the area served by the Second Federal
Reserve Bank of the United States
D. Dixie
E. the attendance area of your high school
21. Which of the following are formal
regions:
A. the state of Iowa
B. the Near East
C. the area served by the Second Federal
Reserve Bank of the United States
D. Dixie
E. the attendance area of your high school
22. When certain maps identifying the
physical features of a place or region
include contour lines, their purpose is
to show:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
local boundaries
differences in elevation
variations in population densities
latitude and longitude
distances between places
22. When certain maps identifying the
physical features of a place or region
include contour lines, their purpose is
to show:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
local boundaries
differences in elevation
variations in population densities
latitude and longitude
distances between places
23. Which of the following is the best
example of a transition zone?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The Sahel
Great Lakes Region
Nile River
Appalachian Mountains
San Andreas Fault
23. Which of the following is the best
example of a transition zone?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The Sahel
Great Lakes Region
Nile River
Appalachian Mountains
San Andreas Fault
24. Which of these is an example of a
perceptual region?
A. Northeast Corridor
B. Corn Belt
C. Central Division of the National Football
League
D. Metropolitan Tokyo
E. Dixie
24. Which of these is an example of a
perceptual region?
A. Northeast Corridor
B. Corn Belt
C. Central Division of the National Football
League
D. Metropolitan Tokyo
E. Dixie
25. What does a large scale map
show?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
a large area
an unbalanced area
a small area
an undefined area
an uninhabited area
25. What does a large scale map
show?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
a large area
an unbalanced area
a small area
an undefined area
an uninhabited area
26. Which of these descriptors best
identifies the concept of culture as applied
by human geographers?
A. a civilized pattern of behavior
B. an expression of artistic qualities found in music,
drama and dance
C. a combination of habits relating to such qualities
as personal hygiene and eating habits
D. learned patterns of behavior common to a
group of people
E. the oral tradition on which a society's customs
are based
26. Which of these descriptors best
identifies the concept of culture as applied
by human geographers?
A. a civilized pattern of behavior
B. an expression of artistic qualities found in music,
drama and dance
C. a combination of habits relating to such qualities
as personal hygiene and eating habits
D. learned patterns of behavior common to a
group of people
E. the oral tradition on which a society's customs
are based
27. Which one of these terms does a
geographer use to identify such
human phenomena as roads, ports,
and rail systems?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
infrastructure
functional specialization
centripetal forces
mercantilism
theoretical models
27. Which one of these terms does a
geographer use to identify such
human phenomena as roads, ports,
and rail systems?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
infrastructure
functional specialization
centripetal forces
mercantilism
theoretical models
28. A researcher for a non-governmental relief agency
is developing a data base on the human geography of
equatorial Africa. What is an example of a correct
column label that he should include on the chart?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Gross Domestic Product per Capita
Key Categories of Vegetation
Annual Precipitation Totals
Major Landforms
Acreage of National Parks/Game Preserves
28. A researcher for a non-governmental relief agency
is developing a data base on the human geography of
equatorial Africa. What is an example of a correct
column label that he should include on the chart?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Gross Domestic Product per Capita
Key Categories of Vegetation
Annual Precipitation Totals
Major Landforms
Acreage of National Parks/Game Preserves
29. Which of geography's five themes
examines the arrangement of road
networks?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
location
place
region
movement
human/environment interaction
29. Which of geography's five themes
examines the arrangement of road
networks?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
location
place
region
movement
human/environment interaction
30. Transplanting rice as a labor intensive
activity done by hand in Sichuan Province in the
People's Republic of China best represents the:
A. theme of absolute location
B. application of Pattison's cultureenvironmental tradition
C. similarities among the world's agricultural
regions
D. method of rice production used universally
E. relationship between humans and their
physical environment
30. Transplanting rice as a labor intensive
activity done by hand in Sichuan Province in the
People's Republic of China best represents the:
A. theme of absolute location
B. application of Pattison's cultureenvironmental tradition
C. similarities among the world's agricultural
regions
D. method of rice production used universally
E. relationship between humans and their
physical environment
31. A set of processes that are increasing interactions and interdependence without regard to country borders
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
culture complex
culture trait
contagious diffusion
spatial distribution
globalization
32. The study of how people make places,
organize space, and interact with each
other
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Human geography
Physical geography
Cultural landscape
Cultural diffusion
Globalization
33. The physical arrangement of a
geographic phenomena across space
A. Contagious diffusion
B. Spatial distribution
C. Physical geography
D. Cultural landscape
E. Mental Map
34. The origin of a particular way
of life
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Culture Complex
Culture Hearth
Diffusion
Inception
Epicenter
35. The movement of ideas from one
culture to another
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Migration
Incorporation
Assimilation
Acculturation
Diffusion
36. The distance-controlled spreading of an
idea, innovation, or some other item through a
local population by contact from person to
person is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Distance Decay
Movement of ideas
Globalization
Contagious Diffusion
Glocalization
37. Which of the following is NOT
one of the five themes of
geography?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Religion
Place
Location
People-Environment
Region
38. Which is false about latitude and
longitude?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
latitude lines run east – west
Longitude lines measure north- south
They help people locate exact location
They form an imaginary grid system
They are listed with latitude stated first
39. What is the difference between a
topographic map and a toponym?
A. The topographic map shows political placenames, while the toponym explains how a
place is named.
B. The topographic map shows population
statistics through the use of varying sizes of
dots, the toponym identifies size of population
by size of dot.
C. The topographic map shows changes in
elevation, while the toponym is a place name.
D. The topographic map identifies physical
features, a toponym categorizes features.
40. What does a large scale map
show?
A. A large amount of land with great detail.
B. A large amount of land with scant detail.
C. A small amount of land with scant
detail.
D. A small amount of land with great
detail.
41. Which is an example of a
perceptual region?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Northeast Corridor
Dairy Belt
Dixie
Northeast Division of the American Hockey League
Metropoitan Mexico
42. Which is not a type of map scale
A.
B.
C.
D.
Regional
Linear
Representative Fraction
Verbal
43. When you picture your activity
space in your mind, this is called a …
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Physical Map
Special Purpose Map
Thematic Map
Mental Map
Topographic Map
44. Which of the following sets of maps would help
explain how scale of inquiry affects truth?
a. maps showing the area of France before and after
surveying
b. maps of Hudson Bay drawn by Native Americans and
by the earliest European travelers
c. maps showing Michigan’s population density by
counties and the United States population density by
state
d. maps showing the number of auto thefts per block in
Seattle in the decades before and after the Great
Depression
e. maps of gang graffiti in Philadelphia
44. The “why of where” refers to
a. geography’s emphasis on
landscape features.
b. spatial patterns on the
landscape.
c. a definition of geography
that is simply locational.
d. the idea that the
explanation of a spatial
pattern is crucial.
e. the depiction of a region’s
physical features
Matching of Regions
45. formal region
46. functional region
47. vernacular region
a. Milwaukee
b. the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel
c. Wisconsin
d. the South
e. an airline hub
f. Rust Belt
What type of map Projection?
Matching…
48. a computer system that stores, organizes,
retrieves, analyzes, and displays geographic data
a. cultural diffusion
49. the forms superimposed on the physical
environment by the activities of humans
b. cultural ecology
50. the spread of an idea or innovation from its source
51. interactions between human societies and the
physical environment
c. cultural landscape
d. environmental determinism
52. a space-based global navigation satellite system
e. GIS
53. the physical environment, rather than social
conditions, determines culture
54. the small- or large-scale acquisition of
information of an object or phenomenon, either in
recording or real time
f. GPS
g. remote sensing