AP HUG Unit 4

Which of the following terms correctly identifies the political entity shaded on the map of North America?

• Nation-state

• Multination state

• City-state

• Province

Answer explanation

A nation-state is a political entity characterized by a defined territory and a permanent population, governed by a single government. The shaded area on the map represents such a political unit, making 'nation-state' the correct choice.

What are the drivers behind the formation of modern states?

• Feudal lords and serfs

• Power and territory

• Laws and language

• Colonialism and explorers

• Globalization and ethnicity

Answer explanation

The formation of modern states is primarily driven by the need for power and control over territory. This centralization of authority allows states to establish governance, enforce laws, and maintain order, distinguishing them from feudal systems.

Which of the following explains a spatial relationship in a territorial force of devolution? (4.2)

• Catalonia's resentment over mandatory filtering of revenues through Madrid, which are gained from Catalonian exports that continue to fuel a push for independence

• Declarations of Independence in Yugoslavia that led to the formation of separate countries based primarily on ethnicity or language

• The movement by ethnic Hawaiians for autonomy from the U.S. government similar to that accorded to indigenous Native Americans

• The separatist movement in Brazil and the formation of the Republic of the Pampas in a dispute over inequalities between the northern and southern parts of the country

• The separatist movement in Czechoslovakia that led to its separation into two countries, Czechia and Slovakia

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights how Yugoslavia's ethnic and linguistic divisions led to declarations of independence, illustrating a clear spatial relationship in territorial devolution, as regions sought autonomy based on identity.

Which of the following is an example of neocolonialism? (4.3)

• European countries control other people and their territories by appointing foreign government officials to rule the territory.

• The United States provides foreign monetary aid to Asian countries in exchange for tariff-free ports for economic gain.

• Wealthy world powers hold extensive influence over less powerful countries through economic and political strategies that increase revenue for the wealthy country.

• Middle Eastern countries supply petroleum products to Indonesian countries at reduced cost for safe passage through the Malacca Strait.

• Two world powers agree to a noninvasion pact in sub-Saharan Africa to protect economic interests in mineral mines.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights how wealthy powers exert influence over poorer nations through economic and political means, characteristic of neocolonialism, unlike the other options which describe different forms of control or agreements.

Which of the following principles in political geography describes Hawaii in relation to the distribution of U.S. national territory?

• Enclave

• Perforated state

• Fragmented state

• Exclave

• Sovereign nation

Answer explanation

Hawaii is considered a fragmented state because it consists of multiple islands separated by water, making it distinct from the contiguous U.S. mainland. This geographical separation characterizes its status within U.S. national territory.

What type of boundary is shown in the map of the Rhineland?

• Relic boundary

• Satellite state

• Consequent boundary

• Buffer state

Answer explanation

A relic boundary is a former boundary that no longer functions as a political border but still holds significance. The Rhineland's historical divisions exemplify this, making 'relic boundary' the correct choice.

Which of the following correctly compares European colonizers’ treatment of indigenous peoples of the New World with their treatment of indigenous peoples in Africa?

• They settled peaceably among indigenous people in the Americas but carried on warfare with people of Africa.

• They formed trading relations with native leaders in both the Americas and Africa.

• They formed a government to control indigenous people in the Americas and allowed each indigenous group in Africa to keep their precolonial governments.

• They allowed indigenous people to keep the boundaries of their own territories in both the Americas and Africa.

• They divided up areas in both the Americas and Africa between five European nations at the Berlin Conference held in 1884–1885.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that European powers divided territories in both the Americas and Africa, particularly at the Berlin Conference, which formalized colonial claims and disregarded indigenous boundaries.

Which of the following describes a person’s assignment to a voting district?

• A person is assigned to a voting district based on place of employment.

• A person is assigned to rotating voting districts depending upon the candidate’s level of office.

• Each person selects a rotating district based on personal political preferences.

• Each person is assigned to a voting district that is located in the capital city of the state of residence.

• A person is assigned to a voting district based on permanent residence.

Answer explanation

A person is assigned to a voting district based on permanent residence, which determines their eligibility to vote in local elections, unlike the other options that suggest arbitrary or non-residential criteria.

Which of the following concepts in political geography can help explain a possible outcome in the shaded states on the map?

• Reapportionment

• Partisan gerrymandering

• Regionalization

• Space and place

• Racial gerrymandering

Answer explanation

Partisan gerrymandering involves manipulating district boundaries to favor a particular political party. The shaded states likely reflect this practice, influencing electoral outcomes by maximizing party representation.

Which of the following compares a defining characteristic between a unitary state and a federal state? (4.6)

• Unitary states are always large and spatially dispersed, while federal states are always small and compact.

• Heads of government in unitary states consist of two military leaders and one elected civilian, while federal states are governed by a single leader elected by popular vote.

• Federal states disperse significant authority among subnational units, while unitary states centralize power with little or no authority dispersed to subnational units.

• Federal states rule with parliamentary procedures with no head of state, while unitary states rule through a dictator with no input from a parliamentary unit.

• Both federal and unitary systems are equally able to reduce centrifugal forces and control public support for separatist groups.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that federal states distribute power among subnational units, while unitary states concentrate authority at the national level, illustrating a key difference in governance structure.