GED Social Studies – Geography and the World

Question 1

Which of the following best defines the term 'population density'?

Accepted Answer

The number of people per unit of land area

Answer

Population density measures how crowded an area is by calculating the number of people per square mile or square kilometer. A city like Manhattan has very high density; a rural state like Wyoming has very low density. It is different from total population (how many people) or urbanization rate (what share live in cities).

Question 2

A country that exports more goods than it imports is said to have a trade:

Accepted Answer

surplus

Answer

A trade surplus occurs when the value of a country's exports exceeds the value of its imports. A trade deficit is the opposite — importing more than exporting. An embargo is a ban on trade, and a tariff is a tax on imported goods.

Question 3

Which geographic factor most directly explains why ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt developed along rivers?

Accepted Answer

Rivers offered fertile soil from annual flooding and a reliable water supply for agriculture

Answer

Annual river flooding deposited rich silt that made surrounding land extremely fertile. Rivers also provided a dependable freshwater source for drinking and irrigation, enabling surplus food production and the rise of complex societies. The Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers were central to this process.

Question 4

The term 'globalization' most accurately refers to:

Accepted Answer

the increasing interconnection of economies, cultures, and populations across national borders

Answer

Globalization describes the growing integration of the world's economies, governments, and cultures driven by trade, technology, and communication. It involves the cross-border flow of goods, capital, services, and ideas. It does not require a single currency or democratic governments.

Question 5

On a map, lines of latitude measure distance:

Accepted Answer

north or south of the Equator

Answer

Lines of latitude (parallels) run horizontally on a map and measure degrees north or south of the Equator (0°). Lines of longitude (meridians) run vertically and measure degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian. Elevation is measured in feet or meters above sea level, not by latitude.

GED Practice Test

GED Practice Test

GED Social Studies – Geography and the World