WGU D199 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL
AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: (LATEST
2026/2027 UPDATE), WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
WGU D199 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL
AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
WGU D199 – Introduction to Physical and Human Geography Exam
Questions and Answers
1. According to the line graph, what pattern emerges in the locations with
the highest gross domestic products (GDPs)?
A. The highest GDPs are consistently ranked in the same order
B. The highest GDPs are in areas with large immigrant populations
C. The highest GDPs are centered around major metropolitan areas
D. The top five GDPs are in coastal metropolitan areas
Answer: C
Rationale:
Major metropolitan areas tend to concentrate economic activity due to dense
populations, advanced infrastructure, financial institutions, and diversified industries.
These urban centers attract investment, labor, and innovation, which increases
productivity and output. As a result, GDP values are highest in and around large cities.
This pattern reflects agglomeration economies commonly studied in human
geography.
2. According to the map above, which region sent the largest number of
immigrants to the United States in the late nineteenth century?
A. Asia
B. Latin America
C. Northern and western Europe
D. Southern and eastern Europe
Answer: C
Rationale:
,During the late nineteenth century, the majority of immigrants arriving in the United
States came from northern and western Europe, including countries such as Britain,
Germany, and Ireland. These migrants were drawn by industrial jobs, farmland, and
economic opportunity. Southern and eastern European immigration increased later,
particularly in the early twentieth century. This shift is a well-documented historical
migration trend.
3. How did the Peace of Westphalia (1648) reinvent the global political
landscape?
A. It established colonial empires as the dominant political unit
B. It eliminated religious conflict in Europe
C. It created the first international trade organizations
D. It established the concept of sovereign nation-states
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Peace of Westphalia introduced the principle of state sovereignty, meaning that
political authority resides within defined territorial boundaries. This agreement
recognized the right of states to govern themselves without external interference. It
marked a shift away from empires and religious authority toward modern nation-
states. This framework continues to shape international relations today.
4. What process is primarily responsible for shaping Earth’s surface through
weathering and erosion?
A. Volcanism
B. Plate tectonics
C. The rock cycle
D. Solar radiation
Answer: C
Rationale:
The rock cycle includes weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation,
all of which shape Earth’s surface over time. Weathering breaks down rocks, while
erosion transports sediments. These processes continuously modify landscapes. The
rock cycle demonstrates the dynamic nature of Earth’s surface.
5. Which type of plate boundary is associated with earthquakes but little
volcanic activity?
A. Divergent
B. Convergent
,C. Transform
D. Subduction
Answer: C
Rationale:
Transform boundaries occur where tectonic plates slide past one another horizontally.
This movement builds stress that is released as earthquakes. Unlike convergent or
divergent boundaries, magma does not typically rise to the surface. The San Andreas
Fault is a classic example.
6. What climatic factor most directly influences temperature differences
between the equator and the poles?
A. Ocean currents
B. Elevation
C. Latitude
D. Precipitation
Answer: C
Rationale:
Latitude determines the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth. Near the equator,
sunlight hits more directly, producing higher temperatures, while near the poles,
sunlight strikes at a lower angle, creating colder climates. Latitude is the primary
factor driving global temperature gradients, shaping biomes and weather patterns.
7. Which term best describes a group of people who share a common
language, religion, and cultural heritage?
A. Ethnicity
B. Nationality
C. Race
D. Civilization
Answer: A
Rationale:
Ethnicity refers to shared cultural traits, such as language, religion, ancestry, and
traditions. Unlike nationality, which is tied to legal citizenship, ethnicity is based on
social and cultural identity. Understanding ethnic groups helps geographers analyze
migration patterns, social cohesion, and cultural landscapes.
8. The Fertile Crescent is significant in human history primarily because:
A. It was the first area to develop industrial factories
B. It had rich soils that supported early agriculture
, C. It was the site of the first European colonies
D. It was completely isolated from other civilizations
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Fertile Crescent, spanning modern-day Iraq, Syria, and surrounding regions, had
nutrient-rich soils and abundant water from rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates.
This environment supported early agricultural practices, enabling the growth of
complex societies. The region is considered the “cradle of civilization” because it
allowed for food surpluses and urban development.
9. What is the primary effect of the Coriolis effect on global wind patterns?
A. It increases the speed of tropical storms
B. It causes winds to curve due to Earth’s rotation
C. It decreases wind speed at the equator
D. It produces ocean tides
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Coriolis effect arises because Earth rotates faster at the equator than at the poles.
This rotation causes moving air masses to deflect to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. It influences large-scale wind
patterns and ocean currents, shaping climate and weather systems.
10. Which type of map projection preserves area but distorts shape?
A. Mercator
B. Peters
C. Robinson
D. Conic
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Peters projection preserves the relative size (area) of landmasses, making it
useful for comparing geographical regions accurately. However, it distorts the shapes
of continents and countries, especially near the poles and equator. Map projections
involve trade-offs between area, shape, distance, and direction, and no single
projection is perfect.
11. Which biome is characterized by low precipitation, extreme
temperatures, and sparse vegetation?
A. Tundra
AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: (LATEST
2026/2027 UPDATE), WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
WGU D199 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL
AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
WGU D199 – Introduction to Physical and Human Geography Exam
Questions and Answers
1. According to the line graph, what pattern emerges in the locations with
the highest gross domestic products (GDPs)?
A. The highest GDPs are consistently ranked in the same order
B. The highest GDPs are in areas with large immigrant populations
C. The highest GDPs are centered around major metropolitan areas
D. The top five GDPs are in coastal metropolitan areas
Answer: C
Rationale:
Major metropolitan areas tend to concentrate economic activity due to dense
populations, advanced infrastructure, financial institutions, and diversified industries.
These urban centers attract investment, labor, and innovation, which increases
productivity and output. As a result, GDP values are highest in and around large cities.
This pattern reflects agglomeration economies commonly studied in human
geography.
2. According to the map above, which region sent the largest number of
immigrants to the United States in the late nineteenth century?
A. Asia
B. Latin America
C. Northern and western Europe
D. Southern and eastern Europe
Answer: C
Rationale:
,During the late nineteenth century, the majority of immigrants arriving in the United
States came from northern and western Europe, including countries such as Britain,
Germany, and Ireland. These migrants were drawn by industrial jobs, farmland, and
economic opportunity. Southern and eastern European immigration increased later,
particularly in the early twentieth century. This shift is a well-documented historical
migration trend.
3. How did the Peace of Westphalia (1648) reinvent the global political
landscape?
A. It established colonial empires as the dominant political unit
B. It eliminated religious conflict in Europe
C. It created the first international trade organizations
D. It established the concept of sovereign nation-states
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Peace of Westphalia introduced the principle of state sovereignty, meaning that
political authority resides within defined territorial boundaries. This agreement
recognized the right of states to govern themselves without external interference. It
marked a shift away from empires and religious authority toward modern nation-
states. This framework continues to shape international relations today.
4. What process is primarily responsible for shaping Earth’s surface through
weathering and erosion?
A. Volcanism
B. Plate tectonics
C. The rock cycle
D. Solar radiation
Answer: C
Rationale:
The rock cycle includes weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation,
all of which shape Earth’s surface over time. Weathering breaks down rocks, while
erosion transports sediments. These processes continuously modify landscapes. The
rock cycle demonstrates the dynamic nature of Earth’s surface.
5. Which type of plate boundary is associated with earthquakes but little
volcanic activity?
A. Divergent
B. Convergent
,C. Transform
D. Subduction
Answer: C
Rationale:
Transform boundaries occur where tectonic plates slide past one another horizontally.
This movement builds stress that is released as earthquakes. Unlike convergent or
divergent boundaries, magma does not typically rise to the surface. The San Andreas
Fault is a classic example.
6. What climatic factor most directly influences temperature differences
between the equator and the poles?
A. Ocean currents
B. Elevation
C. Latitude
D. Precipitation
Answer: C
Rationale:
Latitude determines the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth. Near the equator,
sunlight hits more directly, producing higher temperatures, while near the poles,
sunlight strikes at a lower angle, creating colder climates. Latitude is the primary
factor driving global temperature gradients, shaping biomes and weather patterns.
7. Which term best describes a group of people who share a common
language, religion, and cultural heritage?
A. Ethnicity
B. Nationality
C. Race
D. Civilization
Answer: A
Rationale:
Ethnicity refers to shared cultural traits, such as language, religion, ancestry, and
traditions. Unlike nationality, which is tied to legal citizenship, ethnicity is based on
social and cultural identity. Understanding ethnic groups helps geographers analyze
migration patterns, social cohesion, and cultural landscapes.
8. The Fertile Crescent is significant in human history primarily because:
A. It was the first area to develop industrial factories
B. It had rich soils that supported early agriculture
, C. It was the site of the first European colonies
D. It was completely isolated from other civilizations
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Fertile Crescent, spanning modern-day Iraq, Syria, and surrounding regions, had
nutrient-rich soils and abundant water from rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates.
This environment supported early agricultural practices, enabling the growth of
complex societies. The region is considered the “cradle of civilization” because it
allowed for food surpluses and urban development.
9. What is the primary effect of the Coriolis effect on global wind patterns?
A. It increases the speed of tropical storms
B. It causes winds to curve due to Earth’s rotation
C. It decreases wind speed at the equator
D. It produces ocean tides
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Coriolis effect arises because Earth rotates faster at the equator than at the poles.
This rotation causes moving air masses to deflect to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. It influences large-scale wind
patterns and ocean currents, shaping climate and weather systems.
10. Which type of map projection preserves area but distorts shape?
A. Mercator
B. Peters
C. Robinson
D. Conic
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Peters projection preserves the relative size (area) of landmasses, making it
useful for comparing geographical regions accurately. However, it distorts the shapes
of continents and countries, especially near the poles and equator. Map projections
involve trade-offs between area, shape, distance, and direction, and no single
projection is perfect.
11. Which biome is characterized by low precipitation, extreme
temperatures, and sparse vegetation?
A. Tundra
