AP Human Geography ALL TERMS
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Human geography - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a branch of geography that focuses on the
study of patterns and processes that shape human interaction with the built environment, with
particular reference to the causes and consequences of the spatial distribution of human
activity on the Earth's surface
Physical geography - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the study of physical features of the earth's
surface
Absolute location - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The exact position of a place on the earth's
surface.
Relative location - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the location of something in relation to
something else
Spatial perspective - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- they way geographers look at everything-- in
relation to space
Map - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
Mental map - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A map which represents the perceptions and
knowledge a person has of an area
Distribution - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the frequency or occurrence of something
Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a consistent or characteristic arrangement
Formal region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a region marked by uniformity
,Functional (nodal) region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a group of places linked together by
some function's influence on them
Perceptual (vernacular) region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a region defined by people's
beliefs
Remote sensing - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- technique of obtaining information about
objects through the study of data collected by special instruments that are not in physical
contact with the objects being analyzed
Geographic Information Systems - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a computer program that
stores geographic data and produces maps to show those data
Diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the spread of a culture element or some other
phenomena
Expansion diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a form of diffusion in which the cultural
component spreads outward to new places while remaining strong in its original hearth
Relocation diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a form of diffusion that involves the actual
movement of the original adopters from their point of origin to a new place
Acculturation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- occurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts
traits from the more dominant culture
Assimilation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- in cultural convergence, this occurs when the
original traits of the weaker culuter are completely erased and replaced by the traits of the
more dominant culture
Transculturation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- occurs when two cultures of just about equal
power or influence meet and exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in
acculturation and assimilation
,Contagious diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a form of expansion diffusion in which
numerous places or people near the point of origin become adopters
Hierarchical diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- occurs when the diffusion innovation or
concept spreads from a place or person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled
pattern
Independent invention - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- in which many hearths invent similar
innovations without knowing about each other
Environmental determinism - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the idea that human behavior is
controlled by the physical environment
Possibilism - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the idea that the natural environment places limits
on the set of choices available to people
Culture - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual
behavior patterns shared and transmitted by the members of society
Cultural diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the spread of culture
Cultural landscape - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- tangible result of a human group's
interaction with its environment
Culture hearth - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- area where innovations in culture began and
from which such cultural elements spread
Culture trait - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
Culture complex - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a unique combination of culture traits for a
particular culture group
, Culture realm - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A cluster of regions in which related culture
systems prevail.
Culture region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A region within which common culture
charecteristics prevail
Culture system - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- collection of culture complexes that shaper a
group's common identity
Sequent occupance - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- theory that a place is occupied by different
groups of people, each group leaving an imprint on the place from which the next group
learns
Folk culture - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- isolated group that has had long-lasting culture
traits that have not changed substantially over time
Popular culture - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- mass culture that diffuses rapidly
Commodification - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the process though which something is given
monetary value
Stimulus diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- expansion diffusion in which the innovative
idea diffuses from its hearth outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
adaptive strategies - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the unique way in which each culture uses its
particular physical environment
architectural form - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the look of housing, effected by the available
materials, the environment the house is in, and the popular culture of the time
authenticity - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the truthfulness of origins, attributions,
commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions; the quality of being authentic
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Human geography - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a branch of geography that focuses on the
study of patterns and processes that shape human interaction with the built environment, with
particular reference to the causes and consequences of the spatial distribution of human
activity on the Earth's surface
Physical geography - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the study of physical features of the earth's
surface
Absolute location - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The exact position of a place on the earth's
surface.
Relative location - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the location of something in relation to
something else
Spatial perspective - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- they way geographers look at everything-- in
relation to space
Map - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
Mental map - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A map which represents the perceptions and
knowledge a person has of an area
Distribution - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the frequency or occurrence of something
Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a consistent or characteristic arrangement
Formal region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a region marked by uniformity
,Functional (nodal) region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a group of places linked together by
some function's influence on them
Perceptual (vernacular) region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a region defined by people's
beliefs
Remote sensing - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- technique of obtaining information about
objects through the study of data collected by special instruments that are not in physical
contact with the objects being analyzed
Geographic Information Systems - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a computer program that
stores geographic data and produces maps to show those data
Diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the spread of a culture element or some other
phenomena
Expansion diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a form of diffusion in which the cultural
component spreads outward to new places while remaining strong in its original hearth
Relocation diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a form of diffusion that involves the actual
movement of the original adopters from their point of origin to a new place
Acculturation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- occurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts
traits from the more dominant culture
Assimilation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- in cultural convergence, this occurs when the
original traits of the weaker culuter are completely erased and replaced by the traits of the
more dominant culture
Transculturation - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- occurs when two cultures of just about equal
power or influence meet and exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in
acculturation and assimilation
,Contagious diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a form of expansion diffusion in which
numerous places or people near the point of origin become adopters
Hierarchical diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- occurs when the diffusion innovation or
concept spreads from a place or person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled
pattern
Independent invention - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- in which many hearths invent similar
innovations without knowing about each other
Environmental determinism - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the idea that human behavior is
controlled by the physical environment
Possibilism - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the idea that the natural environment places limits
on the set of choices available to people
Culture - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual
behavior patterns shared and transmitted by the members of society
Cultural diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the spread of culture
Cultural landscape - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- tangible result of a human group's
interaction with its environment
Culture hearth - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- area where innovations in culture began and
from which such cultural elements spread
Culture trait - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
Culture complex - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a unique combination of culture traits for a
particular culture group
, Culture realm - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A cluster of regions in which related culture
systems prevail.
Culture region - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A region within which common culture
charecteristics prevail
Culture system - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- collection of culture complexes that shaper a
group's common identity
Sequent occupance - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- theory that a place is occupied by different
groups of people, each group leaving an imprint on the place from which the next group
learns
Folk culture - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- isolated group that has had long-lasting culture
traits that have not changed substantially over time
Popular culture - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- mass culture that diffuses rapidly
Commodification - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the process though which something is given
monetary value
Stimulus diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- expansion diffusion in which the innovative
idea diffuses from its hearth outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
adaptive strategies - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the unique way in which each culture uses its
particular physical environment
architectural form - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the look of housing, effected by the available
materials, the environment the house is in, and the popular culture of the time
authenticity - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the truthfulness of origins, attributions,
commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions; the quality of being authentic
