AP Human Geography Unit 4

Based on the map, which of the following can be identified as a true statement about Northern Ireland?

• It is united with the rest of the island to form a sovereign nation-state.

• It forms its own sovereign nation-state predominately made up of the Irish ethnic group.

• It is a frontier that is not formally part of a state, but the United Kingdom claims the area.

• It is physically separate from the rest of the United Kingdom, a multinational state.

• It is a stateless nation, as the entire island of Ireland is under the control of the United Kingdom.

Which of the following best explains why the region of Catalonia in Spain could be a viable country?

• Catalonia is linguistically distinct compared to other regions in Spain.

• Catalonia is well developed economically compared to other regions in Spain.

• Catalonia's population is ethnically distinct compared to other regions in Spain.

• Catalonia has a large population compared to other regions in Spain.

• Catalonia has a major city, Barcelona, which has notoriety comparable to that of the Spanish capital, Madrid.

Some territories within the Russian Federation are characterized by concentrated populations of ethnic groups and these areas function as autonomous republics. Which of the following best explains the political relationship between the autonomous republics and the central government of Russia?

• The central government of Russia exerts complete control over the autonomous republics to counteract devolutionary pressures.

• The autonomous republics are able to function independently from the central government because of an abundance of natural resources.

• Russia is a multistate nation characterized by contested regional boundaries.

• The autonomous republics provide ethnic groups with some political control over their homelands while preserving Russia’s territorial integrity.

• Russia is a unitary state characterized by many ethnic groups united within a single country.

Which of the following best explains the effect of the French language and culture on the federal state of Canada’s political power?

• French language and culture act as a centripetal force throughout Canada as the majority of Canadians have English as a first language and the government uses both languages in official communications.

• As an expression of political power, the Canadian federal government restricts the French language and culture from media and government proceedings.

• French language and culture act as centripetal forces and unify all of Canada’s people and government into a single nation.

• French language and culture act as a centrifugal force in Canada because independence movements in Quebec have attempted to secede the province from Canada.

• Because French Canadians are spread across the country’s provinces, the Canadian government implemented federal laws to create a common culture and language for all Canadians.

Which of the following explains why Korea and Vietnam were viewed as shelterbelts during the Cold War?

• Korea and Vietnam were politically controlled by regional powers.

• Korea and Vietnam kept two political adversaries geographically separated.

• Korea and Vietnam fragmented into new states due to internal tensions.

• Korea and Vietnam tried to control land and sea areas around their states.

• Korea and Vietnam experienced conflict due to a dispute between global powers.

Which of the following terms identifies the type of regions shown in the dark gray-shaded areas on the map?

• Functional regions

• Urban regions

• Physical regions

• Vernacular regions

• Semiautonomous regions

Based on the information in the map, what is the most likely outcome of the possible establishment of an independent Kurdistan for the Kurdish people?

• The state of Turkey, seeking to connect areas with a substantial Kurdish population into an independent state, might take action against neighboring states.

• The Kurdish people, seeking a state of their own with a majority Kurdish population, might secede from or rebel against the states labeled on the map.

• The Kurdish people would have to migrate into a single country to gain a population majority and would struggle for control of the government.

• In areas with a Kurdish majority population, Kurdish people are politically active among Turks, Iranians, Iraqis, and Syrians and would be able to win an election on a national vote to secede.

• The countries shown on the map will cooperate and work together to address the political situation and needs of people in areas with a substantial Kurdish population. 

Owing to their localized geography or their locations on islands or peninsulas, many small political entities such as those labeled on the political map of the world can be identified as

• federal states

• autonomous republics

• multistate nations

• nation-states

• colonial territories

Which of the following best explains the political pattern shown in the table?

• The devolution of Yugoslavia occurred primarily along national lines, resulting in countries with a defined ethnic majority.

• The breakup of Yugoslavia was the result of a civil war in which ethnic groups fought for control of the capital of Belgrade in Serbia.

• The Balkanization of Yugoslavia resulted in the formation of new ethnic nationalities divided by differences in religion and language.

• The dissolution of Yugoslavia resulted in some ethnic groups being aligned with capitalist Western Europe and others being aligned with communist Eastern Europe.

• The downfall of Yugoslavia was a case of ethnic differences becoming a centripetal force in the formation of a multistate nation.

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 European colonial powers. Which of the following boundary types best explains the influence of landscape on the political borders of the North African region?

• Antecedent, based on tribal cultural boundaries that existed before European colonization

• Subsequent, with smaller buffer states placed between larger states to prevent political conflicts

• Consequent, accounting for local differences in language and religion during European colonization

• Natural, with irregular lines, accounting for regional physical features such as mountains or water bodies

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