AP Human Geography : Concepts of Culture

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Human Geography

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Cultural & Vernacular Regions

The cultural geographic theory known as “Conquest Theory” is intended to explain __________.

Possible Answers:

the rise of Christianity and Islam

the importance of Latin in academic circles

the spread of the English language around the world

the dominance of the Indo-European language family

the cultural impact of the United States in the twentieth century

Correct answer:

the dominance of the Indo-European language family

Explanation:

The “Conquest Theory” was developed to explain the dominance of the Indo-European language family. More than half of the world’s population speaks some form of an Indo-European language. According to the Conquest Theory this is because the original speakers of this language group spread westward, rapidly overpowering previous inhabitants of much of Europe and Asia. The people of this region then, several hundred years, spread outwards around the world conquering new territories and spreading their languages to new continents.

Example Question #1 : Cultural & Vernacular Regions

In which of these regions is Slavic culture predominantly found?

Possible Answers:

Southern Europe and the Middle East

Western Europe and North Africa

Eastern Europe and Russia

North America and the Caribbean

East Asia and South Asia

Correct answer:

Eastern Europe and Russia

Explanation:

Some cultural geographers divide the world into a series of macro-cultural regions. The “Slavic” culture is found predominantly in Eastern Europe and Russia. Other "macro-cultural" regions include Anglo-America, Western Europe, South Asia, and East Asia.

Example Question #3 : Cultural & Vernacular Regions

San Francisco's Chinatown, a centralized Chinese community within the city, is an example of a/an __________.

Possible Answers:

ethnic island

gendered space

gentrified neighborhood

forced segregation

Correct answer:

ethnic island

Explanation:

An ethnic island or enclave is an area predominantly populated by a single ethnicity, sometimes in contrast to a city's overall demographic makeup. Forced segregation would mean that populations are legally separated, while a gendered space would divide along gender lines, rather than ethnic or cultural ones.

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