AP Human Geography
Chapter 1 - Reading Questions
In preparing for the exam, you should be familiar with the Geographic Concepts on page 34.
I. What is Human Geography? The study of the spatial and material characteristics of the human made places
and people found on the earth’s surface. 9
1. What does the field of human geography focus on? How we make places, organize space/society, how
we interact across space, 8
2. What is Globalization? The increasing interdependence and relationships across international borders. 8
3. Why do Geographers use scale? To understand individual, local, regional, national, and global
interrelationships.8
II. What are Geographic Questions?
1. What are the two types phenomena that Geographers study? Human phenomena (language, religion,
identity) and physical phenomena (landforms, climate, env. Change) 9
2. A spatial perspective is used by both types of Geographers to study the earth. 9
3. What is usually key to understanding a spatial distribution of a phenomenon. Mapping the spatial
distribution of the phenomena 9
What did Dr. John Snow do to end an outbreak of Cholera in London in 1854. Mapped cases of Cholera
in London’s SOHO district and found most of the cases of cholera were near a certain water pump. 9-10
III. The Spatial Perspective
1. What are the 5 themes of Geography? Location, Human-environment interactions, region, place,
movement 11-15
2. Give an example of each of the themes.
Location – where something is (absolute location), what something is near (relative loc.) los angeles is near
the ocean.
Human-environment interactions- building of the Hoover dam
Region – the middle east consists of Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria, Jordan, etc.
Place – unique human/physical characteristics. Home is a place. School is a place.
Movement – people flying to other places for business or vacation. Cargo. Trade.
3. How do Geographers use the term landscape? To refer to the material character of a place, the man made
and natural things that interact. 13
4. Which Geographer is most associated with the Cultural Landscape concept? Carl Sauer. CL are forms
superimposed on the physical landscape from human activity. 13
5. What is sequent occupance and who came up with it? Derwent Whittsley 1929. Human activity that is
layered on top of each other. 14
6. What is an example of sequent occupance other than the Tanzanian example? Think of Egypt, with the
5000 year old tombs, monuments, and shrines that are located amongst the modern homes and business areas.
IV. Why do Geographers us maps and what do maps tell us?
1. What is the difference between a reference map and a thematic map? Reference shows locations/geo.
Features. Thematic tells a story. Degrees, attributes, movement of things. 16
2. What allows us to locate things on the surface of the Earth with extraordinary accuracy? Global
Positioning System 16
3. Our most accurate mental maps of places come from our activity centers 17
4. Generalized maps helps us see general trends, but we cannot see all cases of a given phenomenon. 17
5. Give one example of how Geographers use GIS. Using remote sensors, geographers can track the
shrinking of sea ice in the northern pole area.
