Unit 6 Review

An example of an important physical site characteristic is a

• Major airport

• Grid street pattern

• Major central park

• Natural harbor

• Public sports facility

Answer explanation

A natural harbor is a significant physical site characteristic as it provides safe anchorage for ships, facilitating trade and transportation. Other options, while important, do not have the same fundamental impact on location and accessibility.

A city’s relative location is also referred to as its

• Absolute location

• Latitude and longitude

• Site

• Situation

• Space

Answer explanation

A city's relative location, which describes its position in relation to other places, is known as its situation. This contrasts with absolute location, which refers to specific coordinates like latitude and longitude.

Which of the following was NOT a reason for rapid suburbanization in the United States after World War II?

• Mass production of the automobile

• Reduction in long-distance commuting

• Expansion of home construction

• Expansion of the interstate highway system

• Availability of low down payment terms and long-term mortgages

Answer explanation

The reduction in long-distance commuting was not a reason for suburbanization; rather, it was the increase in commuting due to factors like the expansion of highways and availability of affordable housing that drove people to suburbs.

New downtowns consisting of clusters of business activity that develop in suburbs surrounding a city are

• Colonial cities

• Central cities

• Edge cities

• Urban realms

• Exurbs

Answer explanation

Edge cities are clusters of business activity that emerge in suburban areas around a city, often featuring office spaces, retail, and entertainment, distinguishing them from traditional downtowns.

Decrease in density and the increased size of urban areas that is associated with highways during the second half of the 1900s is known as

• Commercialization

• Exurbanization

• New Urbanism

• Suburbanization

• Urban Sprawl

Answer explanation

Urban sprawl refers to the spread of urban development into rural areas, characterized by decreased density and larger urban spaces, particularly influenced by highway construction in the latter half of the 1900s.

A city with a population of over 20,000,000 people is referred to as a:

• Metacity

• Megacity

• Capital city

• Global city

• Primate city

Answer explanation

A city with a population exceeding 20 million is classified as a megacity. This term specifically denotes large urban areas, making 'Megacity' the correct choice among the options provided.

In the new global economy, an increasing proportion of influential financial decisions are being made in:

• The informal sector

• Regional centers and small towns where fax machines are used

• The field, close to the sources of agricultural production

• National capitals because of the increasing importance of the nation state

• Major corporate centers such as New York, London, and Tokyo

Answer explanation

In the new global economy, major corporate centers like New York, London, and Tokyo are pivotal for financial decisions due to their influence, resources, and connectivity, making them the correct choice.

Which concept is most clearly demonstrated by the population information shown in the chart above?

• Primate city

• Central Place Theory

• Rank-size rule

• World city

• Unitary state

Answer explanation

The rank-size rule is demonstrated by the population data, indicating that the population of cities follows a predictable pattern where the second largest city is half the size of the largest, and so on.

Which of the following best describes a primate city?

• It is economically and politically interconnected to other cities in the world.

• It is disproportionately large in relation to the next largest cities in that country.

• It is surrounded by walls like a fortress.

• It is linked by colonial administrators to an imperial power.

• It is primarily concerned with its role as a religious center.

Answer explanation

A primate city is defined as a city that is disproportionately large compared to the next largest cities in the country, often serving as the political, economic, and cultural hub.

Which of the following businesses/services would have the largest range and threshold? (6.4)

• Grocery store

• Gas station

• Pharmacy

• Yoga studio

• Luxury car dealership

Answer explanation

A luxury car dealership has a larger range and threshold because it caters to a high-end market with fewer customers, while grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies serve everyday needs with higher frequency and lower prices.