Quiz: Key Notes, 4.1 Introduction to Political Geography

Which of the following has been a major factor in reshaping the world map over the last few centuries?

• Empires and Kingdoms

• Global forces

• Wars

• Changing ideas about political power, economics, and self-rule

Answer explanation

The correct answer is D. Changing ideas about political power, economics, and self-rule. This is because the passage states that these forces, wars, and changing ideas have reshaped the world map over the last few centuries.

What is the smallest political unit in the United States?

• Town

• County

• State

• Country

Which of the following is required for a political unit to have sovereignty?

• A. Defined borders that have been legally established

• A permanent population within its borders

• The people living in a territory for generations

• Several ethnicities and nationalities

Answer explanation

The correct answer is A. Defined borders that have been legally established. In order for a political unit to have legitimacy over its domestic and international affairs, it must maintain sovereignty over its own land. This requires defined borders that have been legally established.

Why is Taiwan not a member of the United Nations?

• It is not recognized by enough other countries

• It has not declared independence

• It is not considered a legitimate state by China

• It does not meet all four criteria to be recognized as a state

Answer explanation

The correct answer is A. It is not recognized by enough other countries. Largely because of China's opposition, Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations (UN), and the case can be made that Taiwan does not fully meet the third and fourth criteria to be recognized as a state listed on the previous page.

What is generally true about a nation?

• It is a group of people with a common cultural heritage

• It has a desire to establish their own state

• It is always identical to a country

• It is hardly ever identical to a country

Answer explanation

A nation is generally considered to be a group of people with a common cultural heritage, a set of beliefs and values that unify them, a traditional claim to a particular space as their homeland, and a desire to establish their own state or express self-rule in another way. Nations may have a few hundred to several thousand members, and some political entities combine aspects of nationhood and statehood.

Which of the following statements is true about Iceland and Japan?

• Icelanders make up 99 percent of its total population and Japan has no indigenous population.

• Icelanders make up 94 percent of its total population and Japan has no indigenous population.

• Icelanders make up 99 percent of its total population and Japan has 128 million permanent residents.

• Icelanders make up 94 percent of its total population and Japan has 128 million permanent residents.

Answer explanation

Icelanders make up 94 percent of its total population of 360,000 and that Japan has no indigenous population. Therefore, the correct answer is B) Icelanders make up 94 percent of its total population and Japan has no indigenous population.

Which of the following is true about the Canadian government's efforts to grant more autonomy to smaller nations?

• The Canadian government created the territory of Nunavut in 1999.

• The Canadian government granted full independence to Quebec.

• The Canadian government granted legal status to over 600 indigenous groups as First Nations.

• The Canadian government allowed smaller nations to control all political power.

Answer explanation

This is the correct answer because the passage states that the Canadian government created the territory of Nunavut in 1999 as part of its effort to grant more autonomy to smaller nations.

Which of the following best describes Åland?

• A group of islands in the Baltic Sea that is part of Sweden

• A group of islands in the Baltic Sea that is part of Finland

• An autonomous region of Finland

• A non-militarized, largely self-governing entity

Answer explanation

Answer: B) A group of islands in the Baltic Sea that is part of Finland. The passage states that Åland is part of Finland but lies near Sweden, and that the people of Åland submitted a request to the League of Nations to join Sweden after World War I. However, the League ruled that Åland should remain part of Finland, but as a non militarized, largely self-governing entity, which it still is today. Thus, the correct answer is B).

What is the largest stateless nation?

• Palestinians

• Basques

• Kurds

• Hungarians

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Navajo reservation and the United States?

• The United States has exclusive rights to the Navajo reservation

• The Navajo reservation has complete sovereignty from the United States

• The Navajo reservation has some self-government and exemption from some taxes

• The United States has complete control over the Navajo reservation

Answer explanation

The correct answer is C. The Navajo reservation has some self-government and exemption from some taxes. This is because the Navajo reservation is a semiautonomous region, meaning that it has a degree of, but not complete, self-rule. This reservation possesses tribal sovereignty, providing them exclusive rights, such as local self-government and exemption from some state and federal taxes. However, the United States does not recognize complete sovereignty or independence of the Navajo or other Native American reservations.