APHG Unit 1 Practice Test (Free MCQ and FRQ)

APHG Unit 1 Practice Test (Free MCQ and FRQ) Questions and Answers. Are you preparing for AP Human Geography Unit 1: Thinking Geographically? We’ve got you covered with a comprehensive practice test featuring free multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and free-response questions (FRQ) answers.

Our APHG Unit 1 practice test is designed to help you master the foundational concepts of human geography, including spatial thinking, geographic data analysis, and the interpretation of maps. Enhance your understanding and boost your confidence with our detailed questions and answers, tailored to meet your study needs. Start practicing now to excel in your AP Human Geography exam!

APHG Unit 1 Practice Test – MCQ

APHG Unit 1: Thinking Geographically Practice Test

Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG)
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically Practice Test
Total Items: 23
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1 / 23

Which of the following is true concerning regions?

(A) They are strict functional units.

(B) They are usually defined by a standard mathematical formula.

(D) They are conceptual units.

(E) They all have well-defined boundaries.

2 / 23

Which of the following is a true statement regarding time-space convergence?

(A) Places seem to all look the same.

(B) Places seem to be getting closer together.

(D) Places are making more of an effort to converge activities to save time.

(E) Places are implementing more rapid forms of transportation.

3 / 23

Which of the following is NOT a good example of a barrier to spatial diffusion?

(A) A mountain range

(B) A different language

(D) A highway system

(E) A strict religious system

4 / 23

______________ argued that cultural landscapes should form the basic unit of geographic inquiry.

(A) Ptolemy

(B) George Perkins Marsh

(D) Carl Sauer

(E) W. D. Pattison

5 / 23

According to the gravity model, which two places are most likely to have a high level of interaction?

(A) Two cities with very large populations but separated by the Atlantic Ocean like New York and London

(B) Two cities with medium populations separated by a whole continent like Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Gulf Shores, Alabama

(C) Two cities with small populations that are relatively close together like Richmond, Virginia, and Winchester, Kentucky

(D) Two cities, one with a large population and the other with a medium population that are very close in distance like Seattle and Tacoma, Washington

(E) Two cities with medium populations that are relatively close to each other like Akron, Ohio, and Springfield, Missouri

6 / 23

Stores and restaurants in Oregon that find it cheaper to buy fresh vegetables grown in California than to buy those grown in Florida are taking advantage of

(A) expansion diffusion.

(B) distance decay.

(D) intervening opportunities.

(E) retail gravitation.

7 / 23

Map projections attempt to correct for errors in

(A) transferability.

(B) area, distance, scale, and proportion.

(D) distance, proximity, and topology.

(E) distance, shape, and lines of latitude and longitude.

8 / 23

The Mercator projection preserves

(A) direction.

(B) area.

(D) scale.

(E) distance.

9 / 23

Which of the following is NOT a measure of relative distance?

(A) 2,339 centimeters

(B) 35 seconds

(D) 216 footsteps

(E) 15 minutes

10 / 23

Lines of longitude

(A) never meet.

(B) begin at the equator.

(D) intersect at the poles.

(E) contain the two tropics.

11 / 23

Conserving resources to ensure enough for future generations is called

(A) subsistence agriculture.

(B) sustainability.

(D) environmental determinism.

12 / 23

Even though some cities are far apart in terms of absolute distance, they are actually quite connected economically and socially. This is representative of

(A) topographic space.

(B) cognitive space.

(D) relative location.

(E) situation.

13 / 23

A perceptual region’s boundaries are

(A) determined by a set of uniform physical or cultural characteristics across a particular area.

(B) drawn around the functions that occur between a particular place and the surrounding area.

(D) fuzzy because they allow for individual interpretation.

(E) designated by the inclusion of a particular cultural characteristic.

14 / 23

Seattle is located on Puget Sound in northwestern Washington. It has a large university, a famous downtown market, and a moist, marine climate. Seattle’s primary economic activities include ship and aircraft construction and high-technology enterprises. This information gives us a description of Seattle’s

(A) situation.

(B) cognitive image.

(D) landscape.

(E) relative distance.

15 / 23

Tobler’s First Law of Geography states, “Everything is related to everything else, but

(A) distant things are generally unrelated.”

(B) near things are more closely related than you might think.”

(D) near things are more related than distant things.”

(E) distance is relative.”

16 / 23

Human-induced environmental change is often referred to as

(A) anthropomorphic.

(B) anthropocentric.

(D) unsustainable.

(E) environmental determinism.

17 / 23

Cartography is the art and science of

(A) demographics.

(B) mapmaking.

(D) cognitive imagery.

(E) making visualizations.

18 / 23

Geographic scale refers to

(A) the ratio between distance on a map and distance on Earth’s surface.

(B) a conceptual hierarchy of spaces.

(D) the many ways that people define regions.

(E) the level of aggregation at which geographers investigate a particular process.

19 / 23

A thematic layer is

(A) a method used in cartography to produce mathematically accurate map projections.

(B) a map portraying a particular feature that is used in a GIS.

(D) a map used by early explorers to find particular resources in new regions of the earth.

(E) used as a method to analyze thematic regions.

20 / 23

The ratio between distance on a map and distance on Earth’s surface is called the

(A) projection.

(B) resolution.

(D) azimuth.

(E) aggregation.

21 / 23

If a geographer performs a study on people’s perceptions of the Deep South using interviews as the primary data source, the geographer’s method is

(A) quantitative.

(B) systematic.

(D) qualitative.

(E) idiographic.

22 / 23

Which of the following is the oldest field of geography?

(A) Cultural ecology

(B) Conservation biology

(D) Environmental geography

(E) Physical geography

23 / 23

Rap music first appeared in New York in the 1970s. Later it spread to large cities with vibrant African American populations—such as Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit—without being absorbed by the smaller cities and rural areas in between. This type of spatial diffusion is called

(A) relocation potential.

(B) hierarchical diffusion.

(D) cultural diffusion.

(E) cascade diffusion.

Your score is

APHG Unit 1 Practice Test – FRQ

1. Geography is unique from other disciplines because it applies a spatial perspective to different phenomena and processes occurring on Earth’s surface.

(A) Define the spatial perspective. Include in your definition what it means to think geographically. Also, describe the types of data that geographers analyze.

Answer:

Spatial Perspective: The spatial perspective in geography involves observing and analyzing the locations, patterns, and relationships of phenomena on Earth’s surface. It means understanding how different places and features are positioned relative to each other and how they interact. Thinking geographically entails considering the spatial distribution and arrangement of various elements, whether natural or human-made and interpreting the significance of their locations and interconnections.

Thinking Geographically: Thinking geographically means approaching problems and questions with a focus on space and place. It involves asking where things are located, why they are there, how they got there, and how they interact with other locations. Geographers use this perspective to explore population distribution, land use, environmental changes, and urban development patterns.

Types of Data Analyzed by Geographers:

Quantitative Data:
- Population Data: Census records, demographic statistics, birth and death rates.
- Economic Data: GDP, income levels, employment statistics.
- Environmental Data: Climate records, precipitation levels, soil types.
Qualitative Data:
- Cultural Data: Ethnographic studies, language distributions, religious practices.
- Historical Data: Historical maps, migration patterns, settlement history.
Spatial Data:
- Maps: Topographic maps, thematic maps, political maps.
- Remote Sensing Data: Satellite images, aerial photographs.
- GIS Data: Geographic Information Systems data layers, spatial databases.

(B) Provide an example of a problem that can be solved only from a spatial perspective.

Answer:

Example of a Spatial Problem: One problem that can be solved only from a spatial perspective is the analysis and mitigation of urban heat islands (UHIs). Urban heat islands are areas within cities that experience significantly higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and built environments.

Spatial Analysis for Urban Heat Islands:

Identifying Hotspots: Using satellite imagery and thermal mapping to identify specific locations where temperatures are highest in a city.
Understanding Causes: Analyzing land use patterns to determine the causes of UHIs, such as the density of buildings, lack of green spaces, and types of materials used in construction.
Proposing Solutions: Develop strategies to mitigate UHIs, such as increasing urban greenery, implementing reflective building materials, and enhancing urban planning practices to improve airflow and reduce heat accumulation.

Importance of Spatial Perspective: Addressing urban heat islands requires a spatial perspective to understand the heat distribution within the city, identify the most affected areas, and develop targeted interventions. By mapping and analyzing spatial data, geographers can provide insights that lead to more effective urban design and policies to reduce the impact of UHIs on residents’ health and well-being.

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