AP Human Geography : Primate Cities
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Cities & Urban Land Use
In Mexico, the population of Mexico City metropolitan area is over 20 million people. The next largest metropolitan area, Guadalajara, has approximately 4.5 million people. This disparity in population sizes makes Mexico City an example of __________.
a world city
a capital city
a primate city
a mercantile city
an alpha city
a primate city
Mexico's population distribution is an example of a primate city. Mexico City has a population that is more than double the population of Guadalajara, therefore not qualifying the population to be under a rank-size rule. Cities can be world cities, alpha cities, or capital cities and not have the population disparities found in countries like Mexico.
Example Question #1 : Primate Cities
A country has a population of twenty million, with a capital city with a population of nine million. That capital city is an example of a __________.
urban jungle
primate city
decaying city
gentrified city
megalopolis
primate city
The term “primate city” is used to refer to a city that functions as by far the largest city in the country it inhabits. It may have a population between a third and a half of that of the whole country. Classic examples of primate cities include Bangkok in Thailand and Seoul in South Korea.
Example Question #3 : Primate Cities
Primate cities have typically arisen in __________ environments.
poor and impoverished
peaceful and vibrant
wealthy and modern
post-colonial
war-torn and violent
post-colonial
A “primate city” is a city that serves as by far the biggest city in the country that it inhabits. It’s population is exponentially greater than the population of the next largest city in that country. These types of cities typically arise in “postcolonial” settings because during the colonial era it was common for the European governments to carry out all their political and economic activity through one regional center. This led to infrastructure being disproportionately developed in one centralized area. After decolonization this infrastructure remained in place.
Example Question #1 : Primate Cities
What is a mercantile city?
a city which has a major train route
a city which focuses mainly on exporting goods
any city that is composed of many industries
any coastal city
a city designed by trade routes
a city designed by trade routes
By definition, mercantile refers to anything of or relating to trade. A mercantile city is a trade city which developed because of the trade routes. Most of these cities benefit from being on the coast because they can have a port, but after train transportation became prominent, having a port was no longer an essential element to being a mercantile city.
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