AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY UNIT 1 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
spatial approach - Answers considers the arrangement of the phenomena being studied across the
surface of the earth
physical geography - Answers the branch of geography dealing with natural features and processes
human geography - Answers The study of where and why human activities are located where they are
absolute location - Answers Exact location of a place on the earth described by coordinates
latitude - Answers distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees (horizontal lines, also
called parallels)
equator - Answers the imaginary center line of latitude that divides the northern and southern
hemispheres.
longitude - Answers Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees (vertical lines,
also called meridians)
prime meridian - Answers 0 degrees longitude - passes through Greenwich, England
International Date Line - Answers the line of longitude that marks where each new day begins,
centered on the 180th meridian
relative location - Answers the regional position or situation of a place relative to the position of other
places
connectivity - Answers the degree of linkage between locations from one another
accessibility - Answers the relative ease with which a destination may be reached from some other
place
place - Answers A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.
region - Answers An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features.
site - Answers The physical character of a place
situation - Answers the location of a place relative to other places
sense of place - Answers The feeling that an area has a distinct and meaningful character
toponyms - Answers name given to a portion of Earth's surface
proximity - Answers nearness in space, time, or relationship
time-space compression - Answers term for the reduction in time it takes for something to diffuse to a
distant place
spatial interaction - Answers movement of people, goods, info, etc between different places
friction of distance - Answers A measure of how much absolute distance affects the interaction
between two places.
distance-decay - Answers contact diminishing with increasing distance and eventually disappear.
spatial association - Answers The relationship between the distribution of one feature and the
distribution of another feature.
density - Answers The frequency with which something exists within a given unit of area
distribution - Answers The arrangement of something across Earth's surface.
human-environment interaction - Answers The geographic theme that explores how people use,
adapt to, and modify the environment
cultural ecology - Answers the geographic study of human-environment relationships
environmental determinism - Answers the idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical
environment
environmental possibilism (or possibilism) - Answers culture may be affected by geographical or
environmental conditions but is ultimately determined by social conditions and human agency
field observation - Answers a study of a phenomenon in a natural setting
aerial photography - Answers Taking images of the earth from elevated positions as a means of
gathering geographic data
built environment - Answers man-made or constructed parts of a landscape or area
cultural landscape - Answers the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape
patterns - Answers recurring characteristics or events
reference maps - Answers show locations of places and geographic features
political map - Answers A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc.
physical map - Answers A map that shows mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.
thematic map - Answers A map that shows a particular theme
a map that shows specialized information
spatial approach - Answers considers the arrangement of the phenomena being studied across the
surface of the earth
physical geography - Answers the branch of geography dealing with natural features and processes
human geography - Answers The study of where and why human activities are located where they are
absolute location - Answers Exact location of a place on the earth described by coordinates
latitude - Answers distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees (horizontal lines, also
called parallels)
equator - Answers the imaginary center line of latitude that divides the northern and southern
hemispheres.
longitude - Answers Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees (vertical lines,
also called meridians)
prime meridian - Answers 0 degrees longitude - passes through Greenwich, England
International Date Line - Answers the line of longitude that marks where each new day begins,
centered on the 180th meridian
relative location - Answers the regional position or situation of a place relative to the position of other
places
connectivity - Answers the degree of linkage between locations from one another
accessibility - Answers the relative ease with which a destination may be reached from some other
place
place - Answers A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.
region - Answers An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features.
site - Answers The physical character of a place
situation - Answers the location of a place relative to other places
sense of place - Answers The feeling that an area has a distinct and meaningful character
toponyms - Answers name given to a portion of Earth's surface
proximity - Answers nearness in space, time, or relationship
time-space compression - Answers term for the reduction in time it takes for something to diffuse to a
distant place
spatial interaction - Answers movement of people, goods, info, etc between different places
friction of distance - Answers A measure of how much absolute distance affects the interaction
between two places.
distance-decay - Answers contact diminishing with increasing distance and eventually disappear.
spatial association - Answers The relationship between the distribution of one feature and the
distribution of another feature.
density - Answers The frequency with which something exists within a given unit of area
distribution - Answers The arrangement of something across Earth's surface.
human-environment interaction - Answers The geographic theme that explores how people use,
adapt to, and modify the environment
cultural ecology - Answers the geographic study of human-environment relationships
environmental determinism - Answers the idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical
environment
environmental possibilism (or possibilism) - Answers culture may be affected by geographical or
environmental conditions but is ultimately determined by social conditions and human agency
field observation - Answers a study of a phenomenon in a natural setting
aerial photography - Answers Taking images of the earth from elevated positions as a means of
gathering geographic data
built environment - Answers man-made or constructed parts of a landscape or area
cultural landscape - Answers the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape
patterns - Answers recurring characteristics or events
reference maps - Answers show locations of places and geographic features
political map - Answers A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc.
physical map - Answers A map that shows mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.
thematic map - Answers A map that shows a particular theme
a map that shows specialized information
