2025-2026 - All Units Exam || Questions
& Answers (100% Correct)
Map - ANSWER - A two-dimensional, or flat, representation of Earth's surface or a
portion of it
Mental Map - ANSWER - An internal representation of a portion of Earth's surface
based on what individual knows about a place, containing personal impressions of what
is in a place and where places are located
Model - ANSWER - A simplified abstraction of reality, structured to clarify casual
relationships and to help geographers explain patterms , make decisions and predict
future behaviors
Networks - ANSWER - A real pattern of sets of places and the routes (links) connecting
them along which movement can take place
Node - ANSWER - The center of a place; the nucleus
Nodal Region - ANSWER - Area organized around a node or focal point/place where
there is a central focus that diminishes in importance outward. Used to display
information about economic areas.
Pattern - ANSWER - The geometric or regular arrangement of something in a study
area
Perception - ANSWER - Your view and idea of a place
Perspective - ANSWER - The way in which you see something (how you percieve
things)
Place - ANSWER - A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character
Projection - ANSWER - The process of transferring data from a spherical reference to a
flat reference. A mathematical method that involves transferring the earth's sphere onto
a flat surface. This term can also be used to describe the type of map that results from
the process of projecting.
Distortion in Projection - ANSWER - There are 4 types of distortion that can occur in
projection:
1. Shape
,2. Distance
3. Size
4. Direction
Formal (or uniform or homogenous) Region - ANSWER - An area in which everyone
shares in one or more distinctive characteristics (can be universal or predominant--
majority)...can explain patterns
ex: language, corn farmers
Sequent Occupance - ANSWER - The notion that successive societies leave their
cultural imprints on a place, each contributing to the cumulative cultural landscape. This
is an important concept in geography because it symbolizes how humans interact with
their surroundings. [Changing attribute of a place]
Site - ANSWER - The physical characters of a place. Can include: soil, vegetation,
latitude, elevation, etc
Situation - ANSWER - The location of a place relative to other places (valuable in
indicating location)
Size - ANSWER - How big something is
Space - ANSWER - The physical gap or interval between two objects
Spatial - ANSWER - Of or pertaining to space on or near Earth's surface. Often a
synonym for geographical and used as an adjective to describe specific geographic
concepts or processes
System - ANSWER - An assemblage of interrelated parts that work together by the way
of some driving force; a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, in
particular
Themes - ANSWER - A general topic that a map could be themed on (income, race,
etc)
Absolute Distance - ANSWER - A distance that is measured with a standard unit of
length, such as mile or kilometer (usually pertaining to coordinates)
Accessibility - ANSWER - The relative ease in which a destination may be reached from
some other place
Concentration - ANSWER - Where things are gathered within a specific space; the
spread of something over a given area
Connectivity - ANSWER - The degree of economic, social, cultural or political
connection between two places
, Density - ANSWER - How many of a certain thing are within a specific area; the
frequency with which something exists within a given unit of an area
Distribution - ANSWER - The arrangement of something across earth's surface
Relative Distance - ANSWER - A measure of distance that includes the costs of
overcoming the friction of absolute distance separating two places. Relative distance
often describes the amount of social, cultural, or economic connectivity between two
places. Distance in terms of cost and time
Dispersion - ANSWER - The pattern of spacing among individuals within geographic
population boundaries
Field Study - ANSWER - Studies geographers conduct by being in the real world
Friction of Distance - ANSWER - The friction of distance is a measure of the difficulty
associated with movement or communication between places
Functional (or Nodal) Region - ANSWER - An area organized around a node or focal
point. The characteristic chosen to define a functional region dominates at a central
focus and diminishes in importance outward.
ex: Post offices, radio stations
Location - ANSWER - The position of anything on earth's surface
Traditions in Geography - ANSWER - 4 Traditions in Geography:
Spatial
Manland
Earth Science
Area
Linear Distance - ANSWER - How far from one point to another point (similar to
absolute distance, but pertaining less to coordinates)
Time Distance - ANSWER - How long it takes to get to a location
Time-Space Convergence - ANSWER - The idea that distance between some places is
actually shrinking as technology enables more rapid communication and increased
interaction between those places
Vernacular (or Perceptual) Region - ANSWER - A place that people believe exists as
part of their cultural identity; "view point"
ex: football fans, the south