AP Human Geography Complete CED
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically (8-10% of the Exam) - answer1. Why do geographers
study relationships and patterns among and between places?
2. How do geographers use maps to help them discover patterns and relationships in
the world?
3. How do geographers use a spatial perspective to analyze complex issues and
relationships?
Reference Maps - answer Maps that show the absolute location of places and
geographic features determined by a frame of reference, typically latitude and longitude
Thematic Maps/Special Purpose Maps - answer Show such specific topics as
population density or distribution of world religions as well as physical, social, economic,
political, agricultural, or economic features
absolute distance - answer the distance that can be measured with a standard unit
length, such as a mile or kilometer.
absolute location - answer Exact location of a place on the earth described by global
coordinates
relative distance - answerDistance measured in terms such as cost or time which are
more meaningful for the space relationship in question
relative location - answerwhere a place is located in relation to another place
Clustering - answergrowing or situated in a group
dispersal - answerMovement of individuals away from centers of high population density
or their area of origin.
Elevation - answerThe height of land above sea level
Shape distortion - answermisrepresentation by unequal magnification of the actual
shape of the structure being examined
Area Distortion - answerThe distortion of an area; inaccurate to the actual area; bigger
or small, thinner or wider
Distance Distortion - answerDistance between two points may be longer or shorter than
in reality
,Direction distortion - answerdirection from one place to another is distorted
Geospatial Technologies - answertechnology that provides geographic data that is used
for personal (navigation), business (marketing), and governmental (environmental
planning) purposes
GIS (geographic information system) - answerA computer system that stores,
organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.
satellite navigation system - answera device used to plot the user's position on a map,
using GPS technology to obtain the location
remote sensing - answerA method of collecting data or information through the use of
instruments that are physically distant from the area or object of study.
Online mapping and visualization - answercompilation and publication of web sites that
provide graphical and text information in the form of maps/visuals e.g. homicide
statistics
field observation - answerthe act of physically visiting a location, place, or region and
recording, firsthand, information there
Travel Narrative - answerWritings that describe either the author's journey to a distant
and alien place, or writings which discuss the customs, habits and wildlife of a distant
place. Ex: "Oroonoko" and "Gullilver's Travels"
policy documents - answerspecifies the rules, guidelines and regulations that an
organization requires employees to follow
personal interview - answerdirect, face-to-face conversation between an interviewer and
the respondent
Landscape Analysis - answerusing field observation, spatial data, and aerial
photography to gather data to define and describe landscapes
Photographic Interpretation - answerThe act of examining photographic images for the
purpose of identifying objects and judging their significance
census data - answersystematically acquiring and recording information about the
members of a given population
satellite imagery - answerImages generated at intervals from satellites orbiting the
Earth. Can show visible, infrared, shortwave infrared or water vapor images.
,Personal Decision Making - answerthe right of a citizen to know and participate in a
decision situation when decisions about valued-concerns are being made that affect the
welfare (taken broadly) of those people and places they live in
Business and Organizational Decision-Making - answeran interest in participatory
decision making is growing in importance as more and more people with concerns
about environmental, land use, natural resource, and
transportation issues believe that those who are impacted by decisions should be a part
of the
process
Governmental Decision-Making - answerNational governments use geographic
information system (GIS) technology to manage programs and evaluate policy
outcomes. With GIS, agency staff and leaders integrate diverse types of data to derive
understanding, operationalize solutions, communicate insights, and engage
stakeholders and the public.
spatial relationships - answerspecifies how some object is located in space in relation to
some reference object
space - answerThe physical gap or interval between two objects
place - answerA specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.
flows - answerhave the character of aggregated individual horizontal flows, mobilities
and contacts of persons, goods, finances and information
Distance Decay - answerthe effects of distance on interaction, generally the greater the
distance the less interaction
time-space compression - answerthe rapid innovation of communication and
transportation technologies associated with globalization that transforms the way people
think about space and time
pattern - answerThe geometric or regular arrangement of something in a study area.
Sustainability - answermeeting the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs
natural resources - answerMaterials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and
fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
land use - answerVarious ways humans use the land such as agricultural, industrial,
residential, or recreational
, environmental determinism - answerA doctrine that claims that cultural traits are formed
and controlled by environmental conditions.
Possibilism - answerThe theory that the physical environment may set limits on human
actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a
course of action from many alternatives.
global scale - answerthe level of geography that encompasses the entire world as a
single unified area
regional scale - answerInteractions occurring within a region, in a regional setting.
National scale - answeras viewed across the whole country
local scale - answerthe level of geography that describes the space where an individual
lives or works; a city, town, or rural area
Scales of Analysis - answerthe study of a phenomena globally, regionally, or locally
patterns and processes at different scales - answerreveal variations in, and different
interpretations of, data
region - answerAn area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features.
formal region - answerAn area in which everyone shares in one or more distinctive
characteristics
Functional Region - answerAn area organized around a node or focal point
Perceptual Region (Vernacular) - answerhow people think about or perceive a region
(ex. "the middle east")
Transitional Boundaries - answerboundary line that separates nations that form social
distinctions and divided political areas
Contested Boundaries - answerBoundaries that are disputed for religious, political, or
cultural reasons
Overlapping regional boundaries - answerone local authority may be functionally
located within the sphere of influence of two regional groupings
Regional Analysis at a Local Scale - answerCity with supermarkets highlighted
Regional Analysis at a National Scale - answerA Country color coded based on religion
Regional Analysis at a Global Scale - answerWorld Map of COVID-19 Cases by variant
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically (8-10% of the Exam) - answer1. Why do geographers
study relationships and patterns among and between places?
2. How do geographers use maps to help them discover patterns and relationships in
the world?
3. How do geographers use a spatial perspective to analyze complex issues and
relationships?
Reference Maps - answer Maps that show the absolute location of places and
geographic features determined by a frame of reference, typically latitude and longitude
Thematic Maps/Special Purpose Maps - answer Show such specific topics as
population density or distribution of world religions as well as physical, social, economic,
political, agricultural, or economic features
absolute distance - answer the distance that can be measured with a standard unit
length, such as a mile or kilometer.
absolute location - answer Exact location of a place on the earth described by global
coordinates
relative distance - answerDistance measured in terms such as cost or time which are
more meaningful for the space relationship in question
relative location - answerwhere a place is located in relation to another place
Clustering - answergrowing or situated in a group
dispersal - answerMovement of individuals away from centers of high population density
or their area of origin.
Elevation - answerThe height of land above sea level
Shape distortion - answermisrepresentation by unequal magnification of the actual
shape of the structure being examined
Area Distortion - answerThe distortion of an area; inaccurate to the actual area; bigger
or small, thinner or wider
Distance Distortion - answerDistance between two points may be longer or shorter than
in reality
,Direction distortion - answerdirection from one place to another is distorted
Geospatial Technologies - answertechnology that provides geographic data that is used
for personal (navigation), business (marketing), and governmental (environmental
planning) purposes
GIS (geographic information system) - answerA computer system that stores,
organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.
satellite navigation system - answera device used to plot the user's position on a map,
using GPS technology to obtain the location
remote sensing - answerA method of collecting data or information through the use of
instruments that are physically distant from the area or object of study.
Online mapping and visualization - answercompilation and publication of web sites that
provide graphical and text information in the form of maps/visuals e.g. homicide
statistics
field observation - answerthe act of physically visiting a location, place, or region and
recording, firsthand, information there
Travel Narrative - answerWritings that describe either the author's journey to a distant
and alien place, or writings which discuss the customs, habits and wildlife of a distant
place. Ex: "Oroonoko" and "Gullilver's Travels"
policy documents - answerspecifies the rules, guidelines and regulations that an
organization requires employees to follow
personal interview - answerdirect, face-to-face conversation between an interviewer and
the respondent
Landscape Analysis - answerusing field observation, spatial data, and aerial
photography to gather data to define and describe landscapes
Photographic Interpretation - answerThe act of examining photographic images for the
purpose of identifying objects and judging their significance
census data - answersystematically acquiring and recording information about the
members of a given population
satellite imagery - answerImages generated at intervals from satellites orbiting the
Earth. Can show visible, infrared, shortwave infrared or water vapor images.
,Personal Decision Making - answerthe right of a citizen to know and participate in a
decision situation when decisions about valued-concerns are being made that affect the
welfare (taken broadly) of those people and places they live in
Business and Organizational Decision-Making - answeran interest in participatory
decision making is growing in importance as more and more people with concerns
about environmental, land use, natural resource, and
transportation issues believe that those who are impacted by decisions should be a part
of the
process
Governmental Decision-Making - answerNational governments use geographic
information system (GIS) technology to manage programs and evaluate policy
outcomes. With GIS, agency staff and leaders integrate diverse types of data to derive
understanding, operationalize solutions, communicate insights, and engage
stakeholders and the public.
spatial relationships - answerspecifies how some object is located in space in relation to
some reference object
space - answerThe physical gap or interval between two objects
place - answerA specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.
flows - answerhave the character of aggregated individual horizontal flows, mobilities
and contacts of persons, goods, finances and information
Distance Decay - answerthe effects of distance on interaction, generally the greater the
distance the less interaction
time-space compression - answerthe rapid innovation of communication and
transportation technologies associated with globalization that transforms the way people
think about space and time
pattern - answerThe geometric or regular arrangement of something in a study area.
Sustainability - answermeeting the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs
natural resources - answerMaterials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and
fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
land use - answerVarious ways humans use the land such as agricultural, industrial,
residential, or recreational
, environmental determinism - answerA doctrine that claims that cultural traits are formed
and controlled by environmental conditions.
Possibilism - answerThe theory that the physical environment may set limits on human
actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a
course of action from many alternatives.
global scale - answerthe level of geography that encompasses the entire world as a
single unified area
regional scale - answerInteractions occurring within a region, in a regional setting.
National scale - answeras viewed across the whole country
local scale - answerthe level of geography that describes the space where an individual
lives or works; a city, town, or rural area
Scales of Analysis - answerthe study of a phenomena globally, regionally, or locally
patterns and processes at different scales - answerreveal variations in, and different
interpretations of, data
region - answerAn area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features.
formal region - answerAn area in which everyone shares in one or more distinctive
characteristics
Functional Region - answerAn area organized around a node or focal point
Perceptual Region (Vernacular) - answerhow people think about or perceive a region
(ex. "the middle east")
Transitional Boundaries - answerboundary line that separates nations that form social
distinctions and divided political areas
Contested Boundaries - answerBoundaries that are disputed for religious, political, or
cultural reasons
Overlapping regional boundaries - answerone local authority may be functionally
located within the sphere of influence of two regional groupings
Regional Analysis at a Local Scale - answerCity with supermarkets highlighted
Regional Analysis at a National Scale - answerA Country color coded based on religion
Regional Analysis at a Global Scale - answerWorld Map of COVID-19 Cases by variant
