AP AP Resource Geography & Energy Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'Hubbert curve' or 'peak oil' theory predicts that:
- Oil prices will always increase over time
- Global oil production will follow a bell-shaped curve, peaking and then declining as reserves are exhausted (Correct answer)
- Oil will be replaced entirely by nuclear energy
- New oil reserves will always be discovered to replace depleted ones
Correct answer: Global oil production will follow a bell-shaped curve, peaking and then declining as reserves are exhausted
M. King Hubbert's theory predicts that oil production in any given region follows a bell-shaped curve, with production peaking when roughly half the reserve is extracted and then declining.
Question 2: Which geopolitical concept describes a country's control over vital natural resources within its territorial waters, including oil, gas, and fish?
- Territorial sea rights
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (Correct answer)
- Continental shelf doctrine
- Maritime sovereignty
Correct answer: Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
An Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200 nautical miles from a nation's coastline, granting it sovereign rights over natural resource exploration and exploitation.
Question 3: The concept of 'virtual water' refers to:
- Water stored in underground aquifers
- The water embedded in goods and services traded internationally (Correct answer)
- Desalinated ocean water used for agriculture
- Rainwater harvesting systems
Correct answer: The water embedded in goods and services traded internationally
Virtual water (also called embedded water) is the water used to produce goods and services, so when a country imports food, it is effectively importing the water that grew that food.
Question 4: Which term describes the area of land that drains water into a common outlet, such as a river or lake, and is a key unit of water resource management?
- Aquifer
- Riparian zone
- Watershed (drainage basin) (Correct answer)
- Floodplain
Correct answer: Watershed (drainage basin)
A watershed or drainage basin is an area of land where all precipitation drains into a common body of water, making it the fundamental geographic unit for water resource management.
Question 5: The Ogallala Aquifer is geographically significant because:
- It supplies drinking water to New York City
- It is the world's largest ocean current
- It is a massive underground water reserve underlying the U.S. Great Plains that irrigates a significant share of American agriculture (Correct answer)
- It is the primary water source for the Colorado River
Correct answer: It is a massive underground water reserve underlying the U.S. Great Plains that irrigates a significant share of American agriculture
The Ogallala Aquifer underlies about 174,000 square miles of the Great Plains and supplies roughly 30% of all groundwater used for irrigation in the United States.
Question 6: In the context of resource geography, 'the commons' refers to:
- Public parks in urban areas
- Shared resources like oceans, atmosphere, and groundwater that are collectively owned or unowned (Correct answer)
- Government-owned mineral rights
- Agricultural land held by communities
Correct answer: Shared resources like oceans, atmosphere, and groundwater that are collectively owned or unowned
The commons are resources that are collectively owned or accessible to all, such as fisheries, groundwater, and the atmosphere, which can be depleted through individual overuse.
AP AP Resource Geography & Energy Systems 2
The 'Hubbert curve' or 'peak oil' theory predicts that: