AP Human Geography : Housing & Insurance Discrimination

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Human Geography

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Example Questions

Example Question #70 : Cities & Urban Land Use

Which of the following best describes the government policy that the Federal Government is referring to when it uses the term environmental justice?

Possible Answers:

All people deserve to be treated equally with regard to environmental laws, regardless of where they live

The American government has a duty to take the lead in environmental awareness and the battle against climate change

All of these

None of these answers are accurate; the Federal government does not use the term environmental justice, instead it is used by political action groups who are protesting the actions of the Federal government

Corporations need to be held accountable for the detrimental impact that they have on the environment

Correct answer:

All people deserve to be treated equally with regard to environmental laws, regardless of where they live

Explanation:

The Federal Government defines environmental justice as the official government policy that all American citizens deserve to be treated equally with regard to the passage and application of environmental laws— regardless of where they live. This policy emerged out of fear that environmental issues like pollution were disproportionately affecting lower-income communities.

Example Question #1 : Housing & Insurance Discrimination

The real estate practice, commonly practiced throughout the twentieth century, of scaring white residents into selling inner city property and moving to the suburbs by promoting fears of minorities moving into the neighborhood is called __________.

Possible Answers:

trust busting

whitefighting

blackballing

fear selling

blockbusting

Correct answer:

blockbusting

Explanation:

The term “blockbusting” is used to refer to a common practice in the real estate business in the twentieth century (in some places it persists to this day). It involves a realtor trying to intimidate a white property owner into selling inner city property and moving to the suburbs. The realtor convinces the white property owner that the neighborhood is “in decline” due to the large numbers of minorities moving into the area. This process accelerated the rate of suburbanization in the twentieth century. Due to its obviously racist implications and manipulative nature “blockbusting” has long been controversial.

Example Question #1 : Contemporary Urban Issues

Why do squatter settlements exist in poorly developed nations? 

Possible Answers:

The government sets aside areas for new migrants to live. 

None of these answers

New migrants prefer to live in squatter settlements with other new migrants.

New migrants want to live near the center of the city.

Affordable housing is unavailable for new migrants.

Correct answer:

Affordable housing is unavailable for new migrants.

Explanation:

By definition, a squatter settlement is a collection of buildings aimed to provide housing and shelter for poor people in a city. The people who live in squatter settlements do not have legal rights to the land upon which they are built; therefore, they are living there illegally. Squatter settlements are a housing alternative when affordable housing is otherwise hard to come by in a city. 

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