All AP Human Geography Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Rural Land Use & Settlement Patterns
Swidden agriculture is a form of subsistence agriculture that is defined by which of the following activities?
Growing one crop exclusively in all fields
Flooding a piece of land to stimulate growth
Planting multiple crops in one plot of land
Rotating crops between different fields depending on the season
Cutting down trees and lighting the remaining plants on fire
Cutting down trees and lighting the remaining plants on fire
"Swidden" or "slash-and-burn" agriculture is a form of subsistence farming practiced all over the world, although it is most widely found in tropical regions such as Amazonia. One of the oldest forms of agriculture, swidden involves clearing the forestation and growth in a desired field with axes, then burning the stumps to eliminate obstructions and enhance the soil. This practice has harmful effects of rainforests in which it is practiced and does not produce high yield for its farmers, causing ecological and economic problems.
Example Question #2 : Subsistence
Which of the following is a subsistence crop?
Corn
Tobacco
Cotton
Papyrus
Rubber
Corn
Corn is the only subsistence crop of the presented options. Tobacco, cotton, and rice are all high intensive plantation crops. Tobacco, cotton, rubber, and papyrus are also not edible, therefore disqualifying them from being considered subsistence crops.
Example Question #1 : Rural Land Use & Settlement Patterns
Which of these most accurately describes subsistence agriculture?
A farmer has only one cow; he trades some of the cow's milk for vegetables at the market.
A small family tends an herb garden, and all of the herbs are used to flavor their home-cooked meals.
An extensive farm with many outside workers produces crops for the entire town.
A local farmer only grows corn; his family consumes some of the corn, but he sells more than half of his crop of corn in a farmer's market.
A small farm is run solely by the family and most (or all) crops produced are consumed by the family.
A small farm is run solely by the family and most (or all) crops produced are consumed by the family.
Subsistence agriculture involves food production mainly for the family. A farmer will grow most everything that the family would consume, and anything leftover will go to the local community rather than to a big market.
Example Question #1 : Agriculture, Food Production, & Rural Land Use
Which of the following crops is a subsistence crop?
Acai berries
Rice
Cocoa
Cotton
Ginger
Rice
By definition, a subsistence crop is a crop that is grown primarily for the purpose of feeding/sustaining farmers and their families, with any surplus going towards trade. Of the following answer choices, rice is the only one that can be characterized as a subsistence crop, as rice is a staple food in many agricultural regions.
Example Question #1 : Agriculture, Food Production, & Rural Land Use
Which of the following is not a feature of an agricultural cash crop?
Only kept by the producer and never distributed
Produced according to market trends
Frequently grown as a monoculture
Not suitable for subsistence farming
Grown for maximum efficiency
Only kept by the producer and never distributed
A "cash crop" is an agricultural crop that is purposely made strictly to be sold in a market environment for as much money as possible. Most cash crops, which include cotton, opium, grains, and many other products, are grown in a monoculture environment, where they are the only product grown on a piece of land. By their nature, cash crops are not a form of subsistence farming, as they are always produced to be used beyond a grower's own home and family.
Example Question #1 : Agriculture, Food Production, & Rural Land Use
Which of the following terms best describes the practices of a group of farmers who rely on one or two economically lucrative crops?
Pastoralism
Aquaculture
Cash Cropping
Ranching
Cash Cropping
When farmers grow a few lucrative crops, they cash cropping. Cash cropping involves growing one or a few crops that can be sold for a relatively high price.
Example Question #3 : Agriculture, Food Production, & Rural Land Use
Most cash crops are grown __________.
in the developed world
on small cooperatives
through aquaculture
through hydroponics
on plantations
on plantations
A cash crop is a crop like coffee or tobacco; something that is grown for profit and to meet some luxury rather than to sustain the population. Cash crops are primarily grown on plantations in the developing world. Cash crops, while generally grown in the developing world, are most often exported to the developed world.
Example Question #1 : Rural Land Use & Settlement Patterns
Plantation agriculture occurs primarily in __________.
the Northern Hemisphere
arid climates
tundra
tropical climates
temperate climates
tropical climates
Plantation agriculture is defined by the production of one or more usually cash crops on a large swathe of land. It is most common in tropical climates where cash crops generally grow more naturally.
Example Question #2 : Rural Land Use & Settlement Patterns
Which of the following types of farming is not historically prevalent in the United States of America?
None of the other answers
Mixed-crop farming
Dairy farming
Livestock ranching
Grain farming
None of the other answers
Mixed-crop farming, livestock ranching, dairy farming, and grain farming are all historically prevalent in the United States of America.
Example Question #1 : Agriculture, Food Production, & Rural Land Use
What name is given to the method of growing crops in nutrient solutions rather than in soil?
Genetic modification
Irrigation
Collectivization
Hydroponics
Salinization
Hydroponics
“Hydroponics” is the name given to the method of growing crops in nutrient solutions instead of in soil. This allows food to be grown in arid climates and increases the geographic range in which many crops can be grown. It is common, for example, in desert climates where the soil is harsh and unforgiving.
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