WGU D199 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND
MIGRATION EXAM STUDY QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
220 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is physical geography?
A: Physical geography is the branch of geography that deals with the physical
features of the Earth’s surface, including landforms, climate, vegetation, and natural
resources.
2. Q: What are the four spheres of the Earth system?
A: The four spheres are the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air),
and biosphere (living organisms).
3. Q: What is the theory of plate tectonics?
A: The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into large
plates that move over the asthenosphere, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and
the formation of mountain ranges.
4. Q: How do volcanoes form?
A: Volcanoes form when molten rock (magma) from the Earth’s mantle escapes to
the surface through cracks in the Earth’s crust, often at tectonic plate boundaries.
5. Q: What is erosion?
A: Erosion is the process by which soil, rock, or other surface materials are worn
away by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice.
6. Q: What is the water cycle?
A: The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below
the Earth’s surface through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation,
and infiltration.
7. Q: What are the major types of climate?
A: Major types of climate include tropical, arid (desert), temperate, polar, and
Mediterranean climates.
8. Q: How do mountains influence weather patterns?
A: Mountains can block air masses, causing different weather patterns on each side.
Windward sides tend to be wetter, while leeward sides are drier due to the rain
shadow effect.
9. Q: What is the difference between weather and climate?
A: Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-
term patterns and averages of weather over a significant period of time.
10. Q: What are ecosystems?
A: Ecosystems are communities of living organisms interacting with each other and
their physical environment, such as forests, oceans, and deserts.
, 11. Q: What is the greenhouse effect?
A: The greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, like
carbon dioxide, trap heat from the sun, warming the planet.
12. Q: What is the difference between a weather front and a warm front?
A: A weather front is a boundary between two air masses, while a warm front is a
type of front where warm air moves over cold air, usually resulting in gentle weather
changes.
13. Q: What causes ocean currents?
A: Ocean currents are caused by wind patterns, Earth’s rotation (Coriolis effect),
temperature differences, and salinity variations in seawater.
14. Q: What is a biome?
A: A biome is a large geographic biotic unit characterized by its climate, flora, and
fauna, such as a desert, tundra, or tropical rainforest.
15. Q: How do humans impact physical geography?
A: Humans impact physical geography through activities like deforestation,
urbanization, mining, and pollution, which alter landforms, ecosystems, and climate.
16. Q: What is the difference between a river and a stream?
A: A river is a large, natural stream of water that flows toward an ocean, lake, or
another river, while a stream is smaller and may be a tributary to a river.
17. Q: What is an earthquake?
A: An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth’s surface caused by the sudden release
of energy in the Earth’s crust, often along fault lines.
18. Q: What is a glacier?
A: A glacier is a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, shaping the landscape
through erosion and deposition.
19. Q: What is the role of the sun in Earth’s climate?
A: The sun provides the energy that drives weather and climate patterns by heating
the Earth’s surface, creating temperature differences that influence wind,
precipitation, and ocean currents.
20. Q: What is a desertification?
A: Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of
drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture practices.
Migration Questions:
21. Q: What is human migration?
A: Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another, often for
reasons such as employment, education, safety, or climate.
22. Q: What is the difference between voluntary and forced migration?
A: Voluntary migration is when people move by choice, while forced migration
occurs due to factors like conflict, natural disasters, or persecution.
23. Q: What is a refugee?
A: A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their country due to fear of
persecution, war, or violence.
24. Q: What factors contribute to migration?
A: Factors include economic opportunities, social networks, political stability,
environmental conditions, and cultural or religious reasons.
25. Q: What is the push-pull theory of migration?
A: The push-pull theory suggests that people migrate due to push factors (such as war
, or poverty) that drive them away and pull factors (such as job opportunities or better
living conditions) that attract them to a new location.
26. Q: What is internal migration?
A: Internal migration refers to the movement of people within a country, such as
moving from rural to urban areas for better job prospects.
27. Q: What is international migration?
A: International migration refers to the movement of people across national borders,
often for reasons like employment, safety, or family reunification.
28. Q: What is urbanization?
A: Urbanization is the process by which people move from rural areas to cities, often
driven by the search for better employment, education, and healthcare.
29. Q: What is a migrant worker?
A: A migrant worker is someone who moves from one place to another, typically
within a country or between countries, to find employment.
30. Q: How does climate change impact migration?
A: Climate change can lead to displacement through rising sea levels, drought, and
extreme weather, pushing people to migrate in search of more stable living conditions.
31. Q: What is a remittance?
A: A remittance is money sent by migrants back to their families in their home
countries, often used to improve living standards.
32. Q: What is a diaspora?
A: A diaspora is the scattering of a particular group of people across the world, often
due to migration or historical events.
33. Q: What is a refugee camp?
A: A refugee camp is a temporary settlement for displaced people who have fled their
country due to conflict, persecution, or disaster.
34. Q: What are some challenges faced by migrants?
A: Challenges include language barriers, lack of legal status, economic hardship,
discrimination, and cultural adjustment.
35. Q: What is the concept of brain drain?
A: Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly educated or skilled individuals from
their home country to another country, often in search of better opportunities.
36. Q: How does migration impact the economy of a country?
A: Migration can provide economic benefits through remittances, labor force
contributions, and diversification, but it can also strain resources and create
competition for jobs.
37. Q: What is a sanctuary city?
A: A sanctuary city is a city that adopts policies to protect undocumented immigrants
from deportation, often by limiting cooperation with federal immigration
enforcement.
38. Q: What is a migration corridor?
A: A migration corridor is a path or route taken by migrants over time, often
influenced by factors like geography, politics, and economics.
39. Q: What is chain migration?
A: Chain migration is a process where migrants from a particular area follow others
who have already moved to a new destination, often due to family ties.
40. Q: What is the term for the involuntary movement of people due to natural disasters?
A: This is known as environmental migration or disaster-induced migration.
Physical Geography Questions:
MIGRATION EXAM STUDY QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
220 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is physical geography?
A: Physical geography is the branch of geography that deals with the physical
features of the Earth’s surface, including landforms, climate, vegetation, and natural
resources.
2. Q: What are the four spheres of the Earth system?
A: The four spheres are the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air),
and biosphere (living organisms).
3. Q: What is the theory of plate tectonics?
A: The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into large
plates that move over the asthenosphere, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and
the formation of mountain ranges.
4. Q: How do volcanoes form?
A: Volcanoes form when molten rock (magma) from the Earth’s mantle escapes to
the surface through cracks in the Earth’s crust, often at tectonic plate boundaries.
5. Q: What is erosion?
A: Erosion is the process by which soil, rock, or other surface materials are worn
away by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice.
6. Q: What is the water cycle?
A: The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below
the Earth’s surface through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation,
and infiltration.
7. Q: What are the major types of climate?
A: Major types of climate include tropical, arid (desert), temperate, polar, and
Mediterranean climates.
8. Q: How do mountains influence weather patterns?
A: Mountains can block air masses, causing different weather patterns on each side.
Windward sides tend to be wetter, while leeward sides are drier due to the rain
shadow effect.
9. Q: What is the difference between weather and climate?
A: Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-
term patterns and averages of weather over a significant period of time.
10. Q: What are ecosystems?
A: Ecosystems are communities of living organisms interacting with each other and
their physical environment, such as forests, oceans, and deserts.
, 11. Q: What is the greenhouse effect?
A: The greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, like
carbon dioxide, trap heat from the sun, warming the planet.
12. Q: What is the difference between a weather front and a warm front?
A: A weather front is a boundary between two air masses, while a warm front is a
type of front where warm air moves over cold air, usually resulting in gentle weather
changes.
13. Q: What causes ocean currents?
A: Ocean currents are caused by wind patterns, Earth’s rotation (Coriolis effect),
temperature differences, and salinity variations in seawater.
14. Q: What is a biome?
A: A biome is a large geographic biotic unit characterized by its climate, flora, and
fauna, such as a desert, tundra, or tropical rainforest.
15. Q: How do humans impact physical geography?
A: Humans impact physical geography through activities like deforestation,
urbanization, mining, and pollution, which alter landforms, ecosystems, and climate.
16. Q: What is the difference between a river and a stream?
A: A river is a large, natural stream of water that flows toward an ocean, lake, or
another river, while a stream is smaller and may be a tributary to a river.
17. Q: What is an earthquake?
A: An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth’s surface caused by the sudden release
of energy in the Earth’s crust, often along fault lines.
18. Q: What is a glacier?
A: A glacier is a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, shaping the landscape
through erosion and deposition.
19. Q: What is the role of the sun in Earth’s climate?
A: The sun provides the energy that drives weather and climate patterns by heating
the Earth’s surface, creating temperature differences that influence wind,
precipitation, and ocean currents.
20. Q: What is a desertification?
A: Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of
drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture practices.
Migration Questions:
21. Q: What is human migration?
A: Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another, often for
reasons such as employment, education, safety, or climate.
22. Q: What is the difference between voluntary and forced migration?
A: Voluntary migration is when people move by choice, while forced migration
occurs due to factors like conflict, natural disasters, or persecution.
23. Q: What is a refugee?
A: A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their country due to fear of
persecution, war, or violence.
24. Q: What factors contribute to migration?
A: Factors include economic opportunities, social networks, political stability,
environmental conditions, and cultural or religious reasons.
25. Q: What is the push-pull theory of migration?
A: The push-pull theory suggests that people migrate due to push factors (such as war
, or poverty) that drive them away and pull factors (such as job opportunities or better
living conditions) that attract them to a new location.
26. Q: What is internal migration?
A: Internal migration refers to the movement of people within a country, such as
moving from rural to urban areas for better job prospects.
27. Q: What is international migration?
A: International migration refers to the movement of people across national borders,
often for reasons like employment, safety, or family reunification.
28. Q: What is urbanization?
A: Urbanization is the process by which people move from rural areas to cities, often
driven by the search for better employment, education, and healthcare.
29. Q: What is a migrant worker?
A: A migrant worker is someone who moves from one place to another, typically
within a country or between countries, to find employment.
30. Q: How does climate change impact migration?
A: Climate change can lead to displacement through rising sea levels, drought, and
extreme weather, pushing people to migrate in search of more stable living conditions.
31. Q: What is a remittance?
A: A remittance is money sent by migrants back to their families in their home
countries, often used to improve living standards.
32. Q: What is a diaspora?
A: A diaspora is the scattering of a particular group of people across the world, often
due to migration or historical events.
33. Q: What is a refugee camp?
A: A refugee camp is a temporary settlement for displaced people who have fled their
country due to conflict, persecution, or disaster.
34. Q: What are some challenges faced by migrants?
A: Challenges include language barriers, lack of legal status, economic hardship,
discrimination, and cultural adjustment.
35. Q: What is the concept of brain drain?
A: Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly educated or skilled individuals from
their home country to another country, often in search of better opportunities.
36. Q: How does migration impact the economy of a country?
A: Migration can provide economic benefits through remittances, labor force
contributions, and diversification, but it can also strain resources and create
competition for jobs.
37. Q: What is a sanctuary city?
A: A sanctuary city is a city that adopts policies to protect undocumented immigrants
from deportation, often by limiting cooperation with federal immigration
enforcement.
38. Q: What is a migration corridor?
A: A migration corridor is a path or route taken by migrants over time, often
influenced by factors like geography, politics, and economics.
39. Q: What is chain migration?
A: Chain migration is a process where migrants from a particular area follow others
who have already moved to a new destination, often due to family ties.
40. Q: What is the term for the involuntary movement of people due to natural disasters?
A: This is known as environmental migration or disaster-induced migration.
Physical Geography Questions:
