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Worksheetsapgh unit 4 political geography
Total questions: 94
Worksheet time: 24hrs 30mins
Which of the following groups represents a nation without a state?
Kurds
Israelis
Turks
Germans
Albanians
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.
Historically, Iceland had only one period of human migration. The country has never been invaded and possesses a common culture and language. As a result, Iceland is regarded as a good example of which of the following concepts?
Absolute monarchy
Theocracy
Constitutional monarchy
Nation-state
Exclave
Which of the following terms best describes the political entity of the Republic of Ireland?
Stateless nation
Multinational state
Nation-state
Autonomous region
Dependent territory
Which of the following best illustrates the geographical concept of the nation-state?
Canada
Russia
Belgium
Iceland
India
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
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 is NOT part of the definition of a state?
A common language
An organized economy and circulation system
Political sovereignty
A permanent resident population
Defined boundaries
Compare the centralized power of the Soviet Union with the contemporary Russian Federation, in terms of the control of territory. Which of the following statements does the information in the map best support?
Russia is a global power with concentrated power in East Asia.
Russia is a multistate nation made up of numerous sovereign independent entities.
Russia’s autonomous regions illustrate a strategy to counter the difficulty in governing such a large area from a single centralized location.
Russia is an ethnically diverse region with many subnational units.
Russia used to control fifteen additional republics that regained their independence in 1990.
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.
Which of the following best explains the effect of 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 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 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 a notoriety comparable to that of the Spanish capital, Madrid.
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 the 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
Based on the data in the table, which of the following is a possible impact of ethnic and religious diversity in Iraq?
Ethnicity and religion act as centripetal forces in the country by creating a common Iraqi identity among the population.
Ethnicity and religion facilitate democratization in the country by motivating participation in elections.
Ethnicity and religion promote economic development in the country by generating national pride in the country’s accomplishments.
Ethnicity and religion lead to devolutionary pressures in the country by politically dividing regions.
Ethnicity and religion increase cultural cohesion in the country by promoting shared political ideology.
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.
The former international border between East Germany and West Germany is best described as
an open border
a demilitarized zone
a relict boundary
an antecedent boundary
a geometric boundary
Culturally defined political boundaries, such as those determined by the spatial patterns of religion or language, are called
consequent
geometric
relict
natural
antecedent
Which of the following describes an example of a consequent boundary?
The Berlin Wall between East and West Germany no longer exists, but the location is still evident.
European powers divided Africa at the Berlin Conference and drew boundaries across the continent.
The United States–Canadian boundary was set at the 49th parallel by a treaty before the area was settled.
Canada created the province of Nunavut to provide greater autonomy for the First Nations.
The Andes Mountains are used as a political boundary to divide Chile and Argentina.
Which of the following explains why Korea and Vietnam were viewed as shatterbelts 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.
The map above shows the countries in Africa where private investors and foreign governments have leased farmland for large-scale commercial farming. Usually much of the food produced is bound for wealthier nations. This practice is an example of
decolonization
Pan-Africanism
neocolonialism
imperialism
irredentism
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, but people in the former East and West Germany still feel its influence. Geographers would say that where the wall once stood now acts as a
superimposed boundary
relict boundary
fortified boundary
antecedent boundary
natural boundary
Which of the following is an example of a superimposed boundary?
The geometric boundary between the United States and Canada
The border of the European Union
The Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain
The geometric boundary between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
The Great Wall of China
The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 and the partition of India in 1947 changed borders in Africa and South Asia and are reflected in the current world map. Which of the following best describes the type of political border resulting from these events?
Relict boundaries
Antecedent boundaries
Consequent boundaries
Superimposed boundaries
Subsequent boundaries
Which of the following is an example of a shatterbelt region?
Eastern Europe
Western Europe
Siberia
South America
Southern Africa
Examining the countries shown in white on the map of the former Yugoslavia, which of the following explains why the area would be referred to as a shatterbelt region?
The countries comprise a strategically positioned area and have unstable national governments.
The countries have an open-border policy and have abolished all passport and customs controls along their shared political boundaries.
The countries comprise a multiethnic culture region and have strong federal governments.
The countries are outside of the European Union but are inside of the European continent.
The countries are former communist states and remain allied with the Russia.
Most of Africa’s political boundaries were originally drawn by
seventeenth-century European explorers
European colonial powers in the late-nineteenth century
the Bandung Conference of 1955
decolonization movements of the 1950s and 1960s
UN peacekeeping missions in the 1950s and 1960s
Which of the following terms refers to an area of instability located between regions with opposing political and cultural values?
Rimland
Heartland
Shatter belt
Enclave
Gerrymandered area
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets the limit of the exclusive economic zone at 200 nautical miles from a country’s coastline. In cases where countries are less than 400 nautical miles apart at sea, which of the following explains how the exclusive economic zone boundary is determined for each country?
Both countries will state their case to the United Nations during a hearing of the Security Council.
Both countries will follow the median-line principle.
Both countries will share all of the water area.
Neither country can claim the area as an exclusive economic zone because the area is considered international water.
Both countries will receive increased territorial sea claims up to 24 nautical miles but will have no exclusive economic zone.
Boundaries based on the median-line principle are generally associated with
major highways
converging ethnic territories
unsettled frontier zones
bodies of water
mountain ridges
Which of the following describes typical characteristics of federal states?
A centralized government and strong centripetal forces
A fragmented land area and a single ethnic group
A small land area and high population density
A compact shape and a primate city
A large land area and multiple ethnic groups
The Philippines and Malaysia lay claim to resources under and around the Spratly Islands. Which of the following best explains how the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) influences claims to the islands by both countries?
The claims to the Spratly Islands by both the Philippines and Malaysia overlap due to exclusive economic zones up to 200 nautical miles from their coasts.
The Philippines and Malaysia both claim the islands lie within their territorial seas up to 12 nautical miles from their coasts.
The claims to the islands by the Philippines and Malaysia overlap due to the median line principle.
The Philippines and Malaysia both claim ownership to the resources based on a historic possession of the islands.
The Philippines and Malaysia both claim the islands lie within their contiguous zones between 12 and 24 nautical miles from their coasts.
The boundaries of congressional districts of the United States are
set according to a process developed by the writers of the United States Constitution
redrawn every ten years
redrawn whenever a member of Congress feels his or her constituency has changed
redrawn after every presidential election
drawn to cross over state boundaries
Which of the following describes a federal form of governance?
A centralized government creates a barrier to local participation in the political process.
Autonomous regions act outside the authority of a central government.
Federal states encourage devolutionary movements and break apart quickly.
Laws are enacted in a single language to promote cultural unity.
Multiple substates have local control and are unified to pursue common goals at the national level.
Which of the following describes a unitary form of governance?
Stronger states and transnational corporations indirectly control weaker states.
A state has a strong central government with no power given to regions.
A collection of independent communities shares government services.
A state’s more powerful central government shares power with its regions.
Which of the following is the correct organizational scale for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)?
Global
Supranational
National
State
Local
Which of the following best explains the governance of the shaded areas shown on the map?
These areas are established as nation-states for indigenous peoples at the local scale.
These areas show territory occupied by indigenous peoples as stateless nations at a local scale.
These areas show territory controlled by indigenous peoples as a single multistate nation.
These areas show where indigenous peoples have a limited amount of self-government at a national scale.
These areas are lands of indigenous peoples that are sovereign independent states at an international scale.
Which of the following best describes the role of the federal state in a country’s political organization?
To act as a system of defense that protects subnational states from threats emerging outside of the country’s international borders
To act as a single centralized economy for a collection of subnational states allied for a common purpose
To act as an overarching government for a collection of subnational states allied for a common purpose
To act as a strong centralized administration that eliminates the need for self-governing subnational or local governments
To act as a virtual public-service provider that eliminates the need for self-governing subnational or local governments
Crossing which of the following borders requires few, if any, formalities and thus encourages the free flow of people and products?
Netherlands-Belgium
India-Pakistan
United States-Canada
Romania-Ukraine
North Korea-South Korea
Which of the following is a likely outcome of gerrymandering?
Splitting areas of majority group voters across a number of legislative representatives' districts
Packing areas of minority group voters into a single legislative representative’s district
Disrupting electronic polling machines or the data networks run by elections officials
Placing a legislative representative’s districts in a row pattern while drawing a new electoral map
Supporting political party candidates with campaign funds intended to be used in particular geographic areas
In 1982 the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established freedom-of-navigation rights and defined territorial waters as a 12-nautical-mile limit from the coast where individual states have political and economic sovereignty. However, Greece and Turkey still only claim a 6-nautical-mile territorial sea.
What do the maps indicate regarding the political geography of the Aegean Sea?
Turkey controls most of the islands in the Aegean Sea.
Greece controls most of the islands in the Aegean Sea.
Turkey and Greece share control of most of the islands in the Aegean Sea.
Turkey controls all access from the Dardanelles to the Mediterranean Sea.
Greece controls all access from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea.
The provisions of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea give coastal countries navigational and economic sovereignty over which of the following zones?
Twelve-nautical-mile territorial sea zone
Export processing zone (EPZ)
200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone
Empowerment zone
Continental shelf
The shape of North Carolina’s Twelfth Congressional District, shown above, is most likely the result of
watershed boundaries
gerrymandering
county boundaries
decentralization
amalgamation
What is the source of dispute between Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark, and the United States over political boundaries in the Arctic Ocean and ownership of the North Pole?
They all claim the right to extract natural resources out to the edge of the continental shelf, beyond their exclusive economic zones.
They all claim to have had indigenous residents from their countries living on the polar ice pack at sometime in the past.
Each claims the first explorer to reach the North Pole came from their country and planted their flag, signifying ownership.
The northern polar region has the same international treaties that govern land use and resources in Antarctica.
The North Pole is the focal point of all the intersecting boundaries on the map. However, it floats on a constantly moving ice sheet.
In the United States House of Representatives there are a fixed number of 435 seats divided among the states based upon each state’s relative population size. Changes in the number of representatives, as shown on the map, affect politics at which of the following scales?
City
County
State
Regional
National
Which of the following is the name for political redistricting that produces unusually shaped districts to create a political advantage?
Gerrymandering
Consequent borders
Zoning
Politicization
Gentrification
United Nations recognition of a state's "exclusive economic zone" allows the state to
establish economic free trade zones within the sovereign territory of other states
claim national economic jurisdiction over 200 nautical miles of water extending from its coast
limit importation of competitive goods and services from other countries
protect domestic production by imposing tariffs on all foreign-made products
form limited economic alliances with other countries
The examples in the table show states that gained or lost United States House of Representatives districts based on 2010 census data. The states were required to revise district boundaries based on census data.
Using the data in the table and the description, which of the following identifies the scales of analysis that are reflected in this redistricting?
Member state representation in a supranational legislature
Local representation in the state legislature
State representation in the regional legislature
Local representation in the national legislature
Local representation in the regional legislature
In 1982 the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established freedom-of-navigation rights and defined territorial waters as a 12-nautical-mile limit from the coast where individual states have political and economic sovereignty. However, Greece and Turkey still only claim a 6-nautical-mile territorial sea.
If Greece and Turkey adopted the UNCLOS system and expanded their territorial seas to 12 nautical miles, as shown in Map 2, which of the following scenarios best explains the resulting geographic pattern?
Greece would be required to guarantee the right of passage for ships transiting from the Dardanelles to the Mediterranean Sea.
International ships transiting from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea would only be able to sail in Turkey’s coastal waters.
Black Sea countries like Bulgaria would have to ship goods by land through Europe or Russia to participate in international trade.
Greece would only guarantee right of passage to ships from other European Union countries due to the open border policy.
Turkey would be forced to join the European Union in order to participate in international trade and benefit from the open border policy.
In 1982 the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established freedom-of-navigation rights and defined territorial waters as a 12-nautical-mile limit from the coast where individual states have political and economic sovereignty. However, Greece and Turkey still only claim a 6-nautical-mile territorial sea.
If Greece and Turkey adopted the UNCLOS system and expanded their territorial seas to 12 nautical miles, as shown in Map 2, which of the following would be true for a Turkish-owned oil tanker sailing into Greek territorial waters?
The ship and its cargo would be confiscated for violating a United Nations treaty.
The ship could be sunk by the Greek Navy for entering Greece’s territorial waters.
The ship would be charged tolls for sailing through Greek canals and internal waterways.
The ship would be ordered by a Greek naval blockade to turn away as it is considered a threat.
The ship could be stopped by Greece’s Coast Guard for safety and environmental inspections.
What do the states represented above have in common?
They are all federal states.
They are all formerly communist states.
They are all mega states.
They are all unitary states.
They are all ethnic states.
The Canadian government created the new territory of Nunavut in order to
re-create the pre-1912 boundary of Quebec
recognize the territorial rights of indigenous people in the area
facilitate the exploration of mineral resources in the Northwest Territories
grant autonomy to the Cree and Mohawk people living in eastern Canada
guarantee Canadian fishing rights in the Atlantic Ocean
Which of the following correctly compares the impact of centripetal forces at the local scale with the impact of centripetal forces at the national scale?
Centripetal forces may cause uneven development at the local scale but not at the national scale.
Centripetal forces at both the local scale and the national scale may lead to increased cultural cohesion.
Centripetal forces may lead to stateless nations at the national scale but not the local scale.
Centripetal forces may result in nationalism at the local scale but not at the national scale.
Centripetal forces at both the local scale and the national scale may lead to failed states.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of devolutionary movements in Spain and Canada?
There is an economic aspect to the Quebecois independence movement, while the Catalans focus mainly on culture.
Both independence movements utilize cultural distinctiveness as their only reason for seeking independence.
Both independence movements focus on religious differences with the nations they currently belong to.
There is an economic aspect to the Catalan independence movement, while the Quebecois focus mainly on cultural differences.
Both independence movements utilize economic power as their main reason for seeking independence.
Which of the following can be an example of a centrifugal political force?
Homogeneous ethnic population
Strong central government
Variation of language within the country
Shift to tertiary economy
Concentrated ownership of media
Which of the following compares the impact of increased global communications technology to the impact of state-controlled media?
Both global communication technology and state-controlled media act as centripetal forces that present a common message, which is utilized by the government to bind citizens together.
Neither global communications technology nor state-controlled media have any impact on the viability of a state when it comes to centripetal or centrifugal forces.
Global communications technology is utilized as a centripetal force to present a common message, whereas state-controlled media may bring in new ideas that act as centrifugal forces.
Both global communications technology and state-controlled media act as centrifugal forces because they give citizens access to concepts or ideas that may inspire dissent.
Global communications technology may bring in new ideas that act as centrifugal forces, whereas state-controlled media is utilized as a centripetal force to present a common message.
A good example of a centripetal force in political geography is
the existence of different language regions
rugged topography
religious diversity and conflict
a primate city
a poorly developed road network
Nunavut in Canada is a semiautonomous region that allows an indigenous group within Canada to maintain their own culture and local government, reducing the threat of fragmentation. Which of the following best compares the impact of the creation of Nunavut at both local and national scales?
It created centrifugal forces at both local and national scales.
It created centrifugal forces at the local scale but not the national scale.
It created centrifugal forces locally and centripetal forces nationally.
It created centripetal forces at the national scale but not the local scale.
It created centripetal forces at both local and national scales.
Which of the following explains why Bosnia and Herzegovina would want to join the European Union (EU)?
To increase the chances of joining NATO and protection against Russian invasion
To benefit from the EU single currency and open borders that exist between their country’s neighboring states
To benefit from the EU single currency and eliminate the cost of currency exchange with the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden
To participate in the EU free trade zone and automatically receive the protection of NATO
To benefit from the EU free trade zone and achieve economic and social stability
Based on the map, which of the following best explains the implications of physical geography as the Kurds continue to struggle for an independent state in their ethnic homeland?
Israel, Turkey, and Russia have voiced their support for an independent Kurdistan in areas with a majority Kurdish population, showing potential validation for Kurdistan.
In September 2017 a public referendum was carried out that demonstrated that a majority of Kurds overwhelmingly support independence.
Most areas with a Kurdish majority population are landlocked and therefore dependent on good relationships with their neighbors in order to access trade and prosper economically.
Even in areas with a Kurdish minority population, Kurdish people have their own unique culture and identity separately from the states in which their nation is located.
Unstable oil prices have created economic problems both in parts of the region with a Kurdish majority population and in parts with a Kurdish minority, leaving the Kurdistan Regional Government weakened and struggling to pay off debt.
Which of the following possible political effects is implied by the data in the table?
The country’s high level of economic development acts as a centripetal force holding the state together.
The high level of economic difference between the regions in Italy acts as a devolutionary force.
The low level of economic difference between regions in Italy promotes devolutionary movements in some parts of Italy.
The low level of economic difference between regions in Italy promotes devolutionary movements in some parts of Italy.
The country’s low level of economic development promotes centrifugal forces tearing the state apart.
Which of the following is an example of a supranational organization with the main mission of increasing economic integration?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
The European Union
The United Nations
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The United States Federal Reserve
The European Union, the Arab League, and the United Nations are all examples of
pressure groups
nation-states
centrifugal organizations
supranational organizations
federations
The European Union is an example of
supranationalism
nationalism
a fragmented state
a unitary state
a nation-state
Which of the following events could be a threat to a state’s sovereignty at the national scale, while holding a region together at the global scale?
A natural disaster such as an earthquake or tsunami occurring within the country
A member of the state’s minority political party being elected to lead the country
Admittance into a supranational organization such as the European Union
Decommitment to environmental resolutions established by the United Nations
A shift from a federal system to a unitary system of governance within the state
The area shown with the dark shading is best identified as
a functional region
a supranational organization
a regional free-trade zone
a stateless nation
a special economic zone
Local and regional autonomous governments and a separatist militia group have been established within the Basque region shown on the map. How do these local and regional governments compare with the national governments of Spain and France?
Local and regional governments establish the foundations for new federal states within each of the larger independent states.
Local and regional governments stabilize local communities, aligning the communities with the objectives of the larger independent states.
Local and regional governments create the potential for conflict and act as a centrifugal force within the larger independent states.
Local and regional governments strengthen the unitary systems of government within the larger independent states.
Local and regional governments create a stronger geopolitical region and act as a centripetal force within the larger independent states.
South Sudan gained its independence in 2011, reshaping the boundaries of Sudan. Which of the following best explains the implications of the shaded area shown on the map in Darfur?
Like South Sudan, Darfur has gained its independence and is now a sovereign nation-state.
Devolution is likely in Sudan as the country is a multinational state with no distinct majority group.
Darfur is a region of ethnic difference and political instability where devolution is likely.
Devolution is likely in South Sudan as it is landlocked country with no distinct majority group.
Sudan has a large population with a distinct majority group and further devolution is unlikely.
The map shows the world’s newest country, South Sudan, formerly part of Sudan, and the Islamic region of Darfur, which is seeking some level of political autonomy within Sudan. In comparison with the east-west divide between Darfur and the rest of Sudan, which of the following centrifugal forces led South Sudan to seek independence from Sudan?
South Sudan wanted a larger share of productive oil resources located in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Sudan filed for bankruptcy in the International Court, whereas South Sudan grew wealthy from international trade.
Sudan and South Sudan are home to one homogeneous nation in terms of religion and ethnicity.
Sudan established a military presence in the region of South Sudan following a referendum vote, prompting a conflict.
Sudan and South Sudan’s border is a transition zone between Africa’s Islamic northern region and the Christian and animist regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
In 1993 Belgium divided much of its internal government into three semiautonomous regions. Based on the data shown in the map, which of the following best explains the political divisions within Belgium?
Each region is separated from the others by physical barriers that impede communication and trade among regions.
Regions are delineated based upon the percent of population that speaks French as a first or second language.
Divisions are based on language, providing ethnic groups some self-governance and preserving Belgium as a federal state.
The population is evenly divided between French speakers and Flemish speakers.
Divisions are based on ethnicity, recognizing the country’s linguistic diversity and preserving Belgium as a multistate nation.
Based on the map data, which of the following best explains a factor that has led to ethnic separatism in Belgium?
A multilingual society has emerged, with several languages being spoken by the overall population.
The populations of the three regions are not evenly balanced or equally distributed.
Many who speak French as their first language also speak Flemish, but few people who speak Flemish as their first language also speak French.
Many who speak Flemish as their first language also speak French, but few people who speak French as their first language also speak Flemish.
A multinational state has developed into a multicultural society where language and ethnicity are of little importance to personal identity.
Some communities along the internal border between Flanders and Wallonia are required by Belgian federal law to have bilingual local governments, with road signs and government publications in Flemish and French. Some nearby communities refuse to permit a census of language users because they are concerned that the results will trigger federal requirements for a bilingual local government.
Which of the following geographic concepts best explains the efforts to preserve a single official language in such communities?
Choke points, because local communities are defining themselves as exclusively Flemish or French.
Protectionism, because these communities exclude services and international trade conducted in different languages.
Shatterbelts, because linguistic divisions are the result of different political-economic systems at the national and international scales.
Relict boundaries, because cultural divisions have become irrelevant in these local communities.
Territoriality, because communities are expressing power and political control over the landscape.
Which of the following identifies the primary building blocks of the world political map shown?
Nations
Multinational states
Independent states
Autonomous regions
Multistate nations
Based on the information shown in the map, Nigeria can be identified as a
multinational state
nation-state
colonial power
choke point
multistate nation
FALKLAND ISLANDS
United KingdomName: Falkland IslandsDistance to the United Kingdom: 6,250 nautical milesDates of Control: 1765–1767, 1771–1774, 1833–1982, 1982 to present
ArgentinaName: Islas MalvinasDistance to Argentina: 182 nautical milesDates of Control: 1770–1881 (as Spanish Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata), 1829–1831 (Argentina, onward), 1832–1833, three months in 1982
Source: Britannica.com
The Falkland Islands War took place in 1982 between Argentina and Great Britain, when Argentina’s military invaded the small British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. British forces reclaimed the islands after a short war.
Using the information shown, which of the following geographic principles explains the conflict in the Falkland Islands?
Irredentism and the desire to form a nation-state
Overlapping claims of sovereignty
A political independence movement against the ruling colonial power
The establishment of territorial seas
Ethnic and religious differences that led to the devolution of a state
Which of the following best explains why the countries shown in the table experienced increases in economic productivity?
Irredentism in former communist states and political divisions among ethnic and religious groups
Dissolving of the Warsaw Pact and economic alliances made with former republics of the Soviet Union
The rise of Russia as an emerging world economy and the economic impacts on its nearby trading partners
Independence following the end of the Cold War and admission to the North American Treaty Organization (NATO)
Self-determination following decline of communism and admission as member states to the European Union
Despite the rise of supranationalism in Europe from 1955 to 1993, the number of independent political entities increased. Based on a comparison of the two maps shown, which of the following processes occurred in Europe during that time period?
Devolution of large states into smaller nation-states
Cultural globalization reducing ethnic differences
Annexation of smaller states into larger states
Redistricting the internal boundaries of federal states
Territorial expansion of imperial states
The geopolitical setting of which of the following countries can be explained by its membership in the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War and its location along the European shatterbelt?
France
Bulgaria
Italy
Switzerland
Belguim
The map shows the Taiwan Strait. Which of the following best explains the global geopolitical significance of the Taiwan Strait?
The Taiwan Strait is a cultural boundary that separates populations of Chinese people who speak different languages.
The Taiwan Strait serves as a major international shipping route that serves large economies, such as South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
The Taiwan Strait is a militarily strategic chokepoint that China and Taiwan claim as territory.
The Taiwan Strait creates an obstacle to trade between Taiwan and China and hinders the region’s economy.
The Taiwan Strait is a remnant of the colonial relationship between China, Taiwan, and European countries.
Which of the following statements is helpful in explaining why Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are able to assert some control over the export of oil from the Persian Gulf oil-production region?
Both Iran and the UAE have coastlines along the Arabian Sea and thus have the easiest access to global markets.
Their location along the choke point of the Strait of Hormuz allows them to influence ship movement into and out of the Persian Gulf.
Both Iran and the UAE border the Persian Gulf, a location of large oil deposits, and thus have the greatest offshore oil claims.
Their close proximity to the large Asian markets of Japan and China give them an economic advantage over other OPEC countries.
As the founding members of OPEC, they hold the largest influence over OPEC policies and decisions.
The political boundaries of North Africa and the Middle East can best be described as the product of which of the following processes?
Devolution
Imperialism
Self-determination
Democratization
Supranationalism
Which of the following types of political boundaries best describe the border between the United States and Canada?
Relict
Militarized
Geometric
Open
Gerrymandered
In locations such as the Caribbean Sea, international borders between island states are determined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. These maritime boundaries can best be described as
relict borders
superimposed borders
subsequent borders
antecedent borders
consequent borders
Which of the following best explains the primary function of international political boundaries?
Boundaries define national identity and encourage a patriotism that make local cultures recognizable.
Boundaries limit international trade and improve regional economies within the country.
Boundaries limit sovereignty and determine the extent of a state's power within the global political system.
Boundaries promote international relations between neighboring states and encourage peace.
Boundaries resolve disputes over water resources and determine which countries have the right to extract water.
The cultural composition of the Philippines and its constituent islands affects the political stability of the country. Which of the following patterns is best explained by the data in the tables?
An even dispersal of Muslims around the country, leading to assimilation
An even dispersal of Muslims around the country, leading to ethnic separatism
An even dispersal of Muslims around the country, leading to irredentism
A concentration of the majority of the country’s Muslim population on one island, leading to assimilation
A concentration of the majority of the country’s Muslim population on one island, leading to ethnic separatism
The photograph shows guards at the Truce Village of Panmunjom within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides the Korea Peninsula into North Korea and South Korea. The DMZ border was agreed upon as part of Korean Armistice Agreement at the end of the Korean War in 1953. Which of the following best explains the effect of the DMZ on the Korean Peninsula as a culture region?
North and South Korea are divided into two distinct nations that have separate cultures and heritages.
North and South Korea constitute one sovereign state that have two separate regional governments.
The Korean people are divided into a multistate nation that has a common heritage and ethnicity.
North Korea is a semiautonomous region of South Korea that has self-governance over its military.
North Korea is a stateless nation within South Korea that does not have a representative government.
The population counts shown in the table would most likely be used for which of the following purposes?
The reapportionment and redistricting of the United States Senate that occurs every 10 years
The reapportionment and redistricting of the of the United States House of Representatives that occurs every 10 years
The redistricting of the electoral college that occurs every 10 years
The reapportionment of the United States Congress when members of Congress change their political party affiliation
The reapportionment of the United States Congress when members of Congress move from one state to another
Residents of Maryland’s Third District could legally challenge the redistricting of the area shown on the map because they identify it as being
a sovereign boundary created to promote the establishment of an independent state
part of the federal state, which grants proportional representation in the United States House of Representatives
a maritime boundary that extends out into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay
a gerrymandered boundary that guarantees a political party’s seat within the United States House of Representatives
part of an autonomous region that limits the State of Maryland’s control over the district.
Which of the following identifies the scale of governance that would be most affected by an individual local voter in Purcellville?
Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia Senate
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
President of the United States
Which of the following describes a typical spatial relationship between federal and unitary states?
Federal states tend to be smaller than unitary states.
Unitary states tend to be smaller than federal states.
Unitary states tend to be more densely populated than federal states.
Federal states tend to have a more urban population than unitary states.
Federal states are more likely to be landlocked than unitary states.
Which of the following features is a common characteristic of unitary states?
A primarily agricultural society
Dispersed power centers
Specific physical geographical features
A weak hold on power over territory
A strong central capital
Which of the following describes a unitary state?
An ethnically homogeneous state where all citizens identify as members of the same nation
A state in which government decisions are made at the national level and applied uniformly across the state
A state in which one leader and one party have complete political, economic, and social control
A state in which subunits are granted independent constitutional authority
A state that is geographically contiguous with no fragmented land areas separated from the rest of the state
Which of the following statements accurately compares the processes of devolution and supranationalism that challenge the sovereignty of Canada?
Centripetal forces are present in Quebec, whereas the free-trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico is a centrifugal force on a national level.
Centripetal forces are present in Quebec, whereas the free-trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico challenges the Canadian government’s independence on a national level.
Centrifugal forces are present in Quebec, whereas the free-trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico challenges the Canadian government’s independence on a national level.
Centripetal forces are present in Quebec, whereas the free-trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico is a governance issue at the provincial scale.
Centrifugal forces are present in Quebec, whereas the free-trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico is a governance issue at the provincial scale.
Which of the following technological examples is best used to compare the effects of local-scale and global-scale political challenges to state sovereignty?
Laptop computers used by aid agencies in nation-building
Social media Web sites supporting supranational organizations
Internet filters restricting the spread of globalization
Cell phone use weakening corrupt governments
Satellite image analysis contributing to devolution
Which of the following is the best example of centrifugal forces operating at the local scale as compared to the national or international scale?
A failed state
Increased cultural cohesion
Increased social equity
A stateless nation
Uneven development
