AP Human Geography Test: Agriculture & Rural Land-Use

The correct answer is (C). All three are forms of subsistence agriculture — they provide enough food for a family and not much more. While subsistence agriculture is on the decline, it is still practiced in a few parts of the world.

The correct answer is (E). Wheat was probably first domesticated in southeastern Turkey, which is in Southwest Asia.

The correct answer is (B). Cultural hearths are sites of significant developments in agricultural techniques, tool development, religious beliefs, or social structures, which spread outward via migration.

Barley was domesticated in Israel; millet comes from the Sahel region of Africa or northern China; rice was domesticated in China; and sorghum probably comes from Ethiopia. The inclusion of the Spanish word for “corn” is a clue that (B) is the correct answer, because Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country.

The correct answer is (D) Terracing is the formation of sloping land into a number of flat areas resembling a series of steps. It decreases erosion and surface runoff.

The correct answer is (B). Modern agribusiness produces large quantities of food, so answers (A) and (C) are incorrect. Plantations (D), while found in less-developed countries, are also part of agribusiness because they grow large quantities of food. Agribusiness also relies on transportation (E) networks to bring food from all over the world to market. Agribusiness does not typically use subsistence techniques, so that is the correct answer.

The correct answer is (D). The Green Revolution refers to the use of modern science to grow large quantities of food. It includes all the choices except organic farming.

The correct answer is (E). According to Von Thünen, land costs and transportation costs have an inverse relationship. Von Thünen was not concerned with labor or machinery costs.

The correct answer is (C) and involves memorizing the Von Thünen model.

The correct answer is (A) and this is another memorization question.

The correct answer is (A). Americans eat a lot of meat compared to people in other countries, and animals are typically fed grain, usually corn.

The correct answer is (B). As countries achieve developed status, their people demand more meat, which causes ranchers to clear rainforests for grazing purposes (E). Shifting cultivation (D) is synonymous with slash-and-burn agriculture in rainforests. The removal of root system and interruption of the natural rainforest cycle may negatively impact soil quality (C). Most scientists agree the destruction of the rainforests is one cause of global warming (A).

The correct answer is (E). Chickens do not do well in cold weather, but they thrive in the southern climate. Chicken farmers also depend on nearby immigrant labor. Answer (C) is plausible, but the other three are completely false.

The correct answer is (C). Beef is taboo in the Hindu religion, which is the dominant religion in India/South Asia.

The correct answer is (B). Stage 1 countries no longer exist, so answer (A) can be eliminated. A high percentage of people employed in agriculture indicates a lack of technology, which indicates stage 2.

The correct answer is (B). Mediterranean agriculture is practice in the area around the Mediterranean Sea, but the other shaded areas also have Mediterranean climates, and Mediterranean agriculture is practiced in all of them.