Study questions for the first midterm:

• In addition to these questions, study the vocabulary definitions and main points listed at the end of each chapter.

Chapter 1

• In order to fully understand the geography of a place, why is it necessary to zoom from one scale to another?
• Explain how limitations in technology can lead to distance decay effects in mapping. What else accounts for distance decay effects?
• Define 'topology' and explain how it is related to relative distance and space.
• Define Geographic Information Systems and describe how it can be used in marketing.
• What is the difference between a formal and functional region? How would each look on a map?
• What is the difference between hierarchical and contagious diffusion? How would each look on a map?
• Define and give examples of the term "globalization."

Chapter 2

• People first concentrated and urbanized in the floodplains of major river valleys. Explain why the first civilizations developed there. How does this differ from the various factors that affect population distribution of today?
• Describe the five waves of industrialization in terms of the locational requirements of each. Where do cores develop?
• Discuss the development and use of the various forms of transportation technology used to increase economic development in the core countries of the world-system.
• The Manufacturing Belt in the United States is an example of a core within a core. Why did it develop where it did? Why have many of the traditional industries now declined?
• How did changes in manufacturing allow corporations to become more footloose, flexible, and global in scope?
• A resident of a Third World country is more likely to belong to the slow world than the fast world. Define, discuss, and analyze this as it relates to the "digital divide."

Chapter 3

• How can the information from an age-sex (population) pyramids necessary in predicting its future growth or decline?
• What kind of population structure (pyramid shape) has the greatest potential for future growth?
• What kind of population structure (pyramid shape) has the most stable dependency ratio?
• What are all the various reasons behind why people choose to have children?
• Decisions about procreation are made within a particular geographic and cultural context. Explain.
• Improving the status and role of women is considered the most successful strategy in controlling population growth. Why?