AP Human Geography : AP Human Geography

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Human Geography

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Diffusion Patterns

Which of these is not an example of an ancient cultural hearth?

Possible Answers:

The Yellow River Valley

The Indus Valley

The Nile River Valley

Mesopotamia

The Mississippi River Valley

Correct answer:

The Mississippi River Valley

Explanation:

Ancient cultural hearths are places where civilization first sprang up during the agricultural revolution that took place roughly eight to ten thousand years ago. All of these are notable places where the agricultural revolution took place except the Mississippi River Valley, which was not settled in large numbers until much later.

Example Question #3 : Diffusion Patterns

New trends in clothing styles might originate in big cities like Paris, London, or New York. Then, they might spread to smaller cities like Boston, Chicago, or Seattle. From there, they spread to smaller towns.

This would be an example of what type of diffusion?

Possible Answers:

Hierarchical diffusion

Contagious diffusion

Relocation diffusion

Expansion diffusion

Correct answer:

Hierarchical diffusion

Explanation:

While diffusion is the more general movement of ideas, notions, and innovations, it can be broken down in its more specific functions. Contagious diffusion requires direct person-to-person contact, not the influence of trends observed in this question. Expansion diffusion deals with a single population, and so is insufficient for this multi-city movement. Diffusion by relocation is a sequential process in which the ideas are transmitted by their carrier agents (such as immigrants) as they evacuate old areas and relocate to new ones. While more appropriate than the first two, relocation is not quite as accurate an answer as hierarchical: a form of diffusion in which an idea spreads by trickling down from larger to smaller adoption units. Fashion is not being carried by people as they leave the larger cities, but is rather observed and adopted by smaller cities that don't have the means or resources to generate such ideas on their own.

Example Question #12 : Concepts Of Culture

What primarily separates this wave of globalization from previous iterations?

Possible Answers:

Biotechnology and genetic modification

Global diplomatic organizations

All of these answers separate this wave of globalization from previous iterations

Industrialization and commercialization

Instantaneous telecommunication

Correct answer:

Instantaneous telecommunication

Explanation:

Most people understand globalization to be a recent phenomenon - the permeation of American culture and consumerism around the world. However, globalization is a relatively old phenomenon as it only really describes the global homogenization of culture and experience through one dominant cultural tradition. What primarily separates the modern wave of globalization from previous iterations is the instantaneous telecommunication afforded by inventions like the internet. This connects people around the world instantly and has dramatically shortened the time taken to exchange media and ideas.

Example Question #2 : Diffusion Patterns

A religion that started in City A spreads to surrounding regions, but is synthesized with existing spiritual customs. This example is best described in terms of __________.

Possible Answers:

relocation diffusion

contagious expansion diffusion

hierarchical expansion diffusion

stimulus expansion diffusion

Correct answer:

stimulus expansion diffusion

Explanation:

When an idea diffuses from its origin, but is changed or modified as it is adopted in other places, it is characterized as stimulus expansion diffusion, as opposed to being diffused in its original form (contagious expansion diffusion), diffusing from higher levels to lower levels (hierarchical expansion diffusion), or diffused by adherents moving into other regions (relocation diffusion).

Example Question #1 : Diffusion Patterns

A famous celebrity visits a small town in Alabama. During his visit, he only wears Brand X clothing. After he leaves the small town, many of the residents start wearing predominantly Brand X clothing. Which of the following diffusion patterns is described?

Possible Answers:

Independent diffusion

Dependent diffusion

Environmental diffusion

Contagious diffusion

Hierarchical diffusion

Correct answer:

Contagious diffusion

Explanation:

Contagious diffusion involves a form of expansion in which people near the point of origin become adopters of a cultural fad. In the example above, the point of origin is the celebrity, and the townspeople become adopters of the Brand X fad. 

Example Question #1 : Diffusion Patterns

When an idea or concept is spread as people move from one place to another it is called __________.

Possible Answers:

expansion diffusion

spatial perspective

relocation diffusion

hierarchial diffusion

distance decay

Correct answer:

relocation diffusion

Explanation:

Diffusion is the spread of an idea or characteristic over time. When people move, or relocate, they spread ideas along with them. Therefore this is called relocation diffusion. "Distance decay" describes the process whereby interaction between locales decreases as distance increases.

Example Question #11 : Concepts Of Culture

Which of these most accurately describes acculturation?

Possible Answers:

None of these answers accurately describes acculturation

The process by which immigrants adapt to the cultural and social characteristics of the country they have immigrated to

The adoption of cultural and social characteristics of one society that is controlled by another society

The emergence of new cultural trends and their dispersion around the world

The strict and uniform adherence to a particular religious belief or cultural tradition

Correct answer:

The adoption of cultural and social characteristics of one society that is controlled by another society

Explanation:

“Acculturation” is the term used to describe the adoption of certain cultural and social characteristics of one society by another society. It usually occurs when one society is controlled, either politically, economically, socially, or all of these, by another society. And the people are forced to adapt their cultural experiences in order to survive in this new social climate.

Example Question #1 : Acculturation, Assimilation, & Multiculturalism

From which of these countries do the largest number of immigrants arrive in South Florida?

Possible Answers:

Cuba

Brazil

Mexico

Nicaragua

Colombia

Correct answer:

Cuba

Explanation:

Although Mexico sends far more immigrants to the United States than Cuba does in any given year, the majority of Mexican immigrants arrive in the southwest of the United States. Cuban immigrants tend to arrive, almost exclusively, in South Florida. This has contributed a great deal to the ethnic makeup of Miami, as well as its culture.

Example Question #1 : Acculturation, Assimilation, & Multiculturalism

Creole becomes distinct from pidgin when __________.

Possible Answers:

it is used by the government in the official politics of the region

None of these answers are correct; the two words describe the same phenomenon.

it evolves into the primary language of the region

its cultural impact exceeds the geographic range of its speakers

it incorporates more than two languages

Correct answer:

it evolves into the primary language of the region

Explanation:

A “pidgin” language is a language that develops when two or more different languages meet in one geographic region- often when colonizers and the colonized live together in close proximity. The resulting language has elements of both the original languages. When a “pidgin” evolves into the primary language of a region it is called a “Creole” language.

Example Question #2 : Acculturation, Assimilation, & Multiculturalism

The use of Native-American tribal names in American sports is an example of __________.

Possible Answers:

hierarchical diffusion

cultural appropriation

contagious diffusion

economic imperialism

globalization

Correct answer:

cultural appropriation

Explanation:

The term “cultural appropriation” is used to describe a situation where a dominant social or cultural group takes an expression, idea, or product from an oppressed cultural group and uses it for its own benefit. So, the use of Native-American tribal names in American sports (Redskins, Blackhawks, Braves, and so on) is an example of cultural appropriation.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors