Lesson 5: Urban Sprawl in North America

Which of the following is a major concern of people who oppose urban sprawl?

• A. habitat loss

• B. affordable housing

• C. subsistence farming

• D. point-source pollution

The dark places on the map below are best defined as which of the following?

• A. urban cores

• B. rural fringes

• C. metropolitan areas

• D. transportation districts

Where is the suburb of a city most likely to be located?

• A. on the urban fringe

• B. inside the urban core

• C. in a mixed-use neighborhood

• D. outside the urban growth boundary

Which of these is not part of Portland's smart growth approach to land use planning?

• A. mixed-use developments

• B. a well-planned transit system

• C. a pedestrian-friendly downtown

• D. single-family homes on large lots

In 1973, Oregon placed growth boundaries around its urban areas. What was the main purpose of these boundaries?

• A. to expand public transit systems

• B. to make housing more affordable

• C. to stop development of farmland

• D. to reduce traffic jams on highways

Toronto's Official Plan encourages infill instead of urban sprawl. Which of these is an example of infill?

• A. constructing a new airport on farm fields

• B. building a transit system to link city suburbs

• C. filling in wetlands to create space for a new shopping mall

• D. replacing an abandoned factory with a new apartment building

Atlanta has been called "the fastest-spreading human settlement in history." Where has most of this settlement taken place since the 1990s?

• A. on the rural fringe

• B. within the urban core

• C. inside the growth boundary

• D. near hiking and biking trails

What does the term "old walking city" refer to?

• A. urban core

• B. suburbs

• C. urban fringe

• D. rural fringe

What was the biggest problem created by urban sprawl in Atlanta in the 1990s?

• A. habitat loss of endangered species

• B. rising taxes in small towns outside the city

• C. traffic jams and air pollution

• D. hidden costs in new developments

What were the three goals of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority?

• A. reduce traffic jams, reduce air pollution, reduce poorly planned development

• B. reduce poorly planned development, reduce the costs of construction, reduce taxes

• C. reduce air pollution, promote sustainability, protect the habitats of endangered animals

• D. promote all new development, attract new businesses to the city, reduce environmental protections