4.5 The function of boundaries

Front

The Berlin Conference established the borders of North African countries including Egypt, Libya, and Sudan. The landscape of these countries influenced the types of boundaries imposed by the European colonial powers. Which boundary type best explains the influence of landscape on the political borders of the North African region? Options: Antecedent, Subsequent, Consequent, Natural, Geometric

Back

Geometric, with straight lines, disregarding physical features or tribal cultural differences of the areas

Front

In cases where countries are less than 400 nautical miles apart at sea, how is the exclusive economic zone boundary determined for each country?

Back

Both countries will follow the median-line principle.

Front

Boundaries based on the median-line principle are generally associated with

Back

bodies of water

Front

The Philippines and Malaysia lay claim to resources under and around the Spratly Islands. Which of the following best explains how the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) influences claims to the islands by both countries?

Back

The claims to the Spratly Islands by both the Philippines and Malaysia overlap due to exclusive economic zones up to 200 nautical miles from their coasts.

Answer explanation

Under UNCLOS, states gain resources 200 nautical miles from the coast and so controlling these islands would expand each state’s resources.

Front

Which of the following best explains the governance of the shaded areas shown on the map? Options: These areas are established as nation-states for indigenous peoples at the local scale. These areas show territory occupied by indigenous peoples as stateless nations at a local scale. These areas show territory controlled by indigenous peoples as a single multistate nation. These areas show where indigenous peoples have a limited amount of self-government at a national scale. These areas are lands of indigenous peoples that are sovereign independent states at an international scale.

Back

These areas show where indigenous peoples have a limited amount of self-government at a national scale.

Answer explanation

The lands shown on the map are areas where indigenous groups have limited self-government as semiautonomous regions. Tribal organizations exist as political entities at the national scale within the United States.

Front

Crossing which of the following borders requires few, if any, formalities and thus encourages the free flow of people and products?
Options: Netherlands-Belgium, India-Pakistan, United States-Canada, Romania-Ukraine, North Korea-South Korea

Back

Netherlands-Belgium

Answer explanation

Both countries are part of the EU

Front

The provisions of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea give coastal countries navigational and economic sovereignty over which of the following zones? Twelve-nautical-mile territorial sea zone, Export processing zone (EPZ), 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, Empowerment zone, Continental shelf

Back

Twelve-nautical-mile territorial sea zone

Front

What is the source of dispute between Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark, and the United States over political boundaries in the Arctic Ocean and ownership of the North Pole?

Back

They all claim the right to extract natural resources out to the edge of the continental shelf, beyond their exclusive economic zones.

Front

United Nations recognition of a state's "exclusive economic zone" allows the state to

Back

claim national economic jurisdiction over 200 nautical miles of water extending from its coast

Front

Which type of boundary is most clearly shown in the image? Options: defined, delimited, demarcated, open, natural

Back

demarcated