The midterms and final exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false, map questions and short answer questions. The multiple choice and true/false questions on the exams will be divided into 4 sections: Definitions; Applications and Importance of Material; Thinking and Logic Questions; and Map Identification. An additional section consists of short answer questions.

Below are some examples of typical multiple choice questions for each section. The first 3 questions in each section cover material during the first half of the course and the final three cover material from the second half of the course. Note however that these questions are taken from past semesters and may or may not address terms, concepts, and issues discussed in class this semester. I have included two map identification questions along with links to two of the maps. These should give you a general idea of the format of the map section of the exams. Two short answer questions are included as well to give you a general sense of what will be asked, but I have not provided answers. Answers to the multiple choice questions may be found at the end of this page.

Remember that exams cover material from lectures, the textbook and discussions, including readings assigned for discussion.

Definitions

1.   In geography, scale may be defined as:
a.   the local effects of global processes.
b.   the difference between perceptual and vernacular regions.
c.   the hierarchical ordering of diffusion processes.
d.   the “size” at which processes (i.e. economic, social, political, etc.) operate.
e.   both b & d are correct.

2. Which of the following is the literal definition of geography?
a. earth-mapping
b. earth-writing
c. earth-study
d. earth-representation

3.   Physiological density is:
a.   the number of farmers per unit area of land.
b.   the number of people per unit area of land.
c.   the number of farmers per unit area of arable land.
d.     the number of people per unit area of arable land.

4.   What is a state?
a.   a people.
b.   an imagined community
c.   a territory legally tied to another.
d.   a government that is sovereign and territorially defined.
e.      a territory legally tied to a sovereign nation.

5.   Which of the following is the worst definition of colonialism:
a.   the establishment and maintenance of rule by a sovereign power of an alien land or people.
b.   the attempt by one country to establish settlements and impose its political, economic, and cultural will over another territory (and the people in that territory).
c.   the establishment of a system of territories legally tied to a sovereign power.
d.   the control of previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land.

6. Subsistence agriculture is agricultural done primarily for:
a.   use-value.
b.   exchange-value.
c.      surplus exchange-value.
d.     none of the above.

Applications and Importance of Material

1. Which type of diffusion is evident in the patterns of AIDS diffusion in Ohio, according to Gould?
a.   hierarchical
b.   contagious
c.   relocation
d.   all of the above
e.   a & b only

2. Demographic transition theory holds that
a.      advanced industrial states will have high rates of population growth
b.      pre-industrial states will have both low birth rates and death rates
c.      high levels of economic production will lower birth rates
d.      periphery and semi-periphery states cannot become core states

3. Edwin Dobb suggests that American consumers are partly to blame for the environmental damage in Butte because:
a.      the people of Butte are American consumers
b.     they failed to legislate controls on mining
c.      they demand and use copper products without paying for the environmental consequences in Butte.
d.     they visit Butte as tourists, not as concerned citizens.

4. Which of the following goods has the lowest range?
a.      grand piano
b.      Sport Utility Vehicle
c.      Professional Baseball Game
d.      Bread
e.      Opera Performance

5.   According to ideals (or ideology) of American politics, who forms “the public”?
a.   homeless people who are always in “the public.”
b.   the wide range of races, ethnicities, classes and genders that constitute the American electorate.
c.   private citizens communicating privately through the mail, e-mail, or faxes.
d.   private citizens voluntarily meeting in public in order to express and debate opinions.

6.   The majority of the Colorado voting population lives in which region?
a.   the counties along the Kansas border
b.   the counties along the Utah border
c.   the Mountain Counties
d.   the “Front Range” counties (along and adjacent to Interstate 25)
e.   the “Back Range” counties (along and adjacent to Highway 50)

Thinking and Logic Questions

1.   Which of the following is not evidence against “race” being a biological fact?
a.   people vary in physical characteristics.
b.   within group variation is greater than between group variation.
c.   phenotypic expression exists on a continuum.
d.   all of the above are evidence against the idea that race being a biological fact.

2. For a neo-malthusian, the solution to the population problem includes:
a.   finding and diffusing more effective means of “death control.”
b.   finding and diffusing effective ways to undermine “surplus population.”
c.   finding and diffusing more effective means of birth control.
d.   finding and diffusing more effective means of resource exploitation.
e.   none of the above.

3. If the United States wanted to resume above ground nuclear testing, which of the following places would be safe enough to avoid harm to humans according to arguments made in class?
a. Nevada
b. The Bikini Atoll
c. The Sahara Desert
d. all of the above are safe
e. none of the above

4. Domino theory, which states that if one country accepts a communist political and economic system, then neighboring countries would be irresistibly susceptible to accepting communism, is a theoretical example of which of the following?
a.      hierarchical diffusion.
b.     contagious diffusion.
c.      relocation diffusion.
d.     morphological diffusion.

5. In the era of sea power, which countries would be the most powerful according to Mackinder?
a. Island Countries
b. Countries in the Heartland
c. Mountainous Countries
d. Countries with many lakes

6.   The Demographic Transition Model and Rostow’s model of development share some assumptions. These assumptions include:
a.   the world is an isotropic plain
b.   all people are rational economic beings
c.   the European case is transferable to the rest of the world
d.   transportation costs are equal in all directions
e.   all of the above

Short Answer Questions

1. Briefly explain why there is really no such thing as a natural disaster.

2. On the whole are women better off in Iraq today than they were a year ago? Provide evidence to support your answer.

Map Identification

A week or so before each exam you will be given a list of locations you will need to know for the exam. Typically the list is drawn from places mentioned or discussed in Lecture, places mentioned or discussed in discussion and in the assigned readings, and places prominent in the news.

Map of Southwest Asia

Map of Europe

1. Which number is in India?
a. 137
b. 125
c. 108
d. 129

2. Which number is in France?

a. 728
b. 727
c. 732
d. 725

Answers to Sample Questions

Definitions

1. d

2. b

3. d

4. d

5. d

6. a

Application and Importance of Material

1. e

2. c

3. c

4. d

5. d

6. d

Thinking and Logic Questions

1. a

2. c

3. e

4. b

5. a

6. c

Map Identification

1. b

2. d

	GEO 101 World Human Geography Spring 2008 Sample Exam Questions	Geography Matters!
The midterms and final exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false, map questions and short answer questions. The multiple choice and true/false questions on the exams will be divided into 4 sections: Definitions; Applications and Importance of Material; Thinking and Logic Questions; and Map Identification. An additional section consists of short answer questions. Below are some examples of typical multiple choice questions for each section. The first 3 questions in each section cover material during the first half of the course and the final three cover material from the second half of the course. Note however that these questions are taken from past semesters and may or may not address terms, concepts, and issues discussed in class this semester. I have included two map identification questions along with links to two of the maps. These should give you a general idea of the format of the map section of the exams. Two short answer questions are included as well to give you a general sense of what will be asked, but I have not provided answers. Answers to the multiple choice questions may be found at the end of this page. Remember that exams cover material from lectures, the textbook and discussions, including readings assigned for discussion. Definitions 1. In geography, scale may be defined as: a. the local effects of global processes. b. the difference between perceptual and vernacular regions. c. the hierarchical ordering of diffusion processes. d. the “size” at which processes (i.e. economic, social, political, etc.) operate. e. both b & d are correct. 2. Which of the following is the literal definition of geography? a. earth-mapping b. earth-writing c. earth-study d. earth-representation 3. Physiological density is: a. the number of farmers per unit area of land. b. the number of people per unit area of land. c. the number of farmers per unit area of arable land. d. the number of people per unit area of arable land. 4. What is a state? a. a people. b. an imagined community c. a territory legally tied to another. d. a government that is sovereign and territorially defined. e. a territory legally tied to a sovereign nation. 5. Which of the following is the worst definition of colonialism: a. the establishment and maintenance of rule by a sovereign power of an alien land or people. b. the attempt by one country to establish settlements and impose its political, economic, and cultural will over another territory (and the people in that territory). c. the establishment of a system of territories legally tied to a sovereign power. d. the control of previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land. 6. Subsistence agriculture is agricultural done primarily for: a. use-value. b. exchange-value. c. surplus exchange-value. d. none of the above. Applications and Importance of Material 1. Which type of diffusion is evident in the patterns of AIDS diffusion in Ohio, according to Gould? a. hierarchical b. contagious c. relocation d. all of the above e. a & b only 2. Demographic transition theory holds that a. advanced industrial states will have high rates of population growth b. pre-industrial states will have both low birth rates and death rates c. high levels of economic production will lower birth rates d. periphery and semi-periphery states cannot become core states 3. Edwin Dobb suggests that American consumers are partly to blame for the environmental damage in Butte because: a. the people of Butte are American consumers b. they failed to legislate controls on mining c. they demand and use copper products without paying for the environmental consequences in Butte. d. they visit Butte as tourists, not as concerned citizens. 4. Which of the following goods has the lowest range? a. grand piano b. Sport Utility Vehicle c. Professional Baseball Game d. Bread e. Opera Performance 5. According to ideals (or ideology) of American politics, who forms “the public”? a. homeless people who are always in “the public.” b. the wide range of races, ethnicities, classes and genders that constitute the American electorate. c. private citizens communicating privately through the mail, e-mail, or faxes. d. private citizens voluntarily meeting in public in order to express and debate opinions. 6. The majority of the Colorado voting population lives in which region? a. the counties along the Kansas border b. the counties along the Utah border c. the Mountain Counties d. the “Front Range” counties (along and adjacent to Interstate 25) e. the “Back Range” counties (along and adjacent to Highway 50) Thinking and Logic Questions 1. Which of the following is not evidence against “race” being a biological fact? a. people vary in physical characteristics. b. within group variation is greater than between group variation. c. phenotypic expression exists on a continuum. d. all of the above are evidence against the idea that race being a biological fact. 2. For a neo-malthusian, the solution to the population problem includes: a. finding and diffusing more effective means of “death control.” b. finding and diffusing effective ways to undermine “surplus population.” c. finding and diffusing more effective means of birth control. d. finding and diffusing more effective means of resource exploitation. e. none of the above. 3. If the United States wanted to resume above ground nuclear testing, which of the following places would be safe enough to avoid harm to humans according to arguments made in class? a. Nevada b. The Bikini Atoll c. The Sahara Desert d. all of the above are safe e. none of the above 4. Domino theory, which states that if one country accepts a communist political and economic system, then neighboring countries would be irresistibly susceptible to accepting communism, is a theoretical example of which of the following? a. hierarchical diffusion. b. contagious diffusion. c. relocation diffusion. d. morphological diffusion. 5. In the era of sea power, which countries would be the most powerful according to Mackinder? a. Island Countries b. Countries in the Heartland c. Mountainous Countries d. Countries with many lakes 6. The Demographic Transition Model and Rostow’s model of development share some assumptions. These assumptions include: a. the world is an isotropic plain b. all people are rational economic beings c. the European case is transferable to the rest of the world d. transportation costs are equal in all directions e. all of the above Short Answer Questions 1. Briefly explain why there is really no such thing as a natural disaster. 2. On the whole are women better off in Iraq today than they were a year ago? Provide evidence to support your answer. Map Identification A week or so before each exam you will be given a list of locations you will need to know for the exam. Typically the list is drawn from places mentioned or discussed in Lecture, places mentioned or discussed in discussion and in the assigned readings, and places prominent in the news. Map of Southwest Asia Map of Europe 1. Which number is in India? a. 137 b. 125 c. 108 d. 129 2. Which number is in France? a. 728 b. 727 c. 732 d. 725 Answers to Sample Questions Definitions 1. d 2. b 3. d 4. d 5. d 6. a Application and Importance of Material 1. e 2. c 3. c 4. d 5. d 6. d Thinking and Logic Questions 1. a 2. c 3. e 4. b 5. a 6. c Map Identification 1. b 2. d