Aim for FiveHuman Geography

One-stimulus question

Primate cities and the rank-size rule

  • Units 4 and 6
  • 7 points
  • About 25 minutes

Seven short parts (A–G) built around one source, such as a data table, graph, map or image, drawing on ideas from at least two units. Some parts ask you to read the source, others to connect it to course ideas. On the exam: Question 2 of 3 in the 1-hour-15-minute free-response section (Section II). The three questions together are 50% of your exam score, so each is worth about 16.7%; 7 points, one for each part A–G. College Board suggests about 25 minutes per question, including up to 5 minutes to plan. No calculator.

The question and its sources

Country Q was a colony until 1960. Its largest city is both its capital and its main seaport, and Q is a unitary state. Country P is a federal state with no colonial history. Use the source below to answer all seven parts, (a) through (g). Write in complete sentences.

Population of the five largest urban areas, Countries P and Q, 2025 (millions)

RankCountry PCountry Q
112.09.6
26.11.4
33.91.1
43.00.8
52.40.7

Source: Hypothetical data

Suggested time: 25 minutes

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Part (a)

1 point

Using the data in the table, identify the country that has a primate city and support your answer with data.

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Part (b)

1 point

Explain how the data for Country P illustrate the rank-size rule.

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Part (c)

1 point

Explain how Country Q's unitary system of government could contribute to the growth of its primate city.

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Part (d)

1 point

Explain how Country Q's colonial history could have contributed to the dominance of its largest city.

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Part (e)

1 point

Explain ONE challenge that a primate city can create for the rest of its country.

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Part (f)

1 point

Explain how central place theory accounts for the spacing of smaller cities and towns in Country P.

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Part (g)

1 point

Explain ONE strategy a government could use to reduce the dominance of a primate city.

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