GED Geo 1

The field of physical geography is best described as belonging to which category of academic discipline?

• Applied sciences

• Formal sciences

• Earth sciences

• Humanities

Answer explanation

Physical geography, which is one of the two sub-fields of geography, deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere (as opposed to the cultural or built environment, the domain of human geography, which is considered a social science). Because it deals with the earthly environment, it is considered an earth science.

Which term best fits this definition: "Imaginary lines that cross the surface of the Earth, running from north to south, measuring how far east or west of the prime meridian a place is located."

• Longitude

• Latitude

• Altitude

• GPS coordinates

Answer explanation

This is the definition of Longitude On the other hand, latitude describe imaginary lines that cross the surface of the Earth parallel to the Equator, measuring how far north or south of the Equator a place is located. A location's longitude and latitude together give you its coordinates.

Which of the following is a man-made waterway?

• Lake

• River

• Ocean

• Canal

Answer explanation

Canals are dug by humans, most commonly in the 1800s as modes of travel. While some lakes may be human made (sometimes referred to as "artificial lakes"), many are naturally occurring.

What do the small boxes, labeled in black, represent?

• Counties

• Cities

• States

• Townships

Answer explanation

The outline of the image (which will likely be recognizable) is the states of Florida; the divisions marked in black represent counties, in contrast to two major cities, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, labeled in red.

Please refer to this image when answering the question.

What do the red lines with arrows show on the map above?

• The migration patterns of birds

• The pattern of cooling during the Ice Age

• The migration patterns of early humans

• The directions of wind currents

Answer explanation

The arrows indicate the directions of migration for early homo sapiens, whereas the shaded areas distinguish those settled by earlier homo erectus and homo neanderthalenesis. The legend (bottom left corner) gives you this information.

Please refer to this image when answering the question.

While there is no label to indicate this, what information do the numbers scattered across the map give us? Study the map carefully!

• The total number of migrants to each location

• The time period (approximate number of years before the present) in which humans first migrated to an area.

• The exact date at which humans first migrated to an area.

• The distance in kilometers that each location is from the prime meridian.

Answer explanation

By tracing the arrows and noticing that they decrease as you move away from the heavily shaded part of Africa, you can ascertain that these are time periods-measured in years before the present-that the first humans migrated to each region. This should be consistent with what you already know about the map, i. that it depicts early human migration.

Please refer to this image when answering the question.

From which of the seven continents did early human migration begin?

• Europe

• Asia

• North America

• Africa

Answer explanation

Most scholars agree that early humans originated in Africa, and the map depicts all migrations as having begun their You will need to be familiar with the shape of the African continent and/or with theories about human origins to answer this question.

What continent is located directly south from Europe?

• Asia

• Africa

• South America

• Australia

Answer explanation

Africa is located direct south from Greece. Knowledge that Greece is in Europe is key. See the marked map below.

To travel in the shortest route from Russia to the United Kingdom, one would fly

• Southeast

• South

• West

• North

Answer explanation

West (perhaps southwest, depending on from where in Russia you leave). See the marked map below.

Iceland is geographically closest to which continent?

• North America

• South America

• Europe

• Asia

Answer explanation

North America. While Europe is politically considered part of Europe, it is closer to North America (Greenland). See the marked map below.