Aim for FiveHuman Geography

Two-stimulus question

Drawing the lines

  • Units 1 and 4
  • 7 points
  • About 25 minutes

Seven short parts (A–G) built around two sources (data, images and/or maps), drawing on ideas from at least two units. You read each source, compare or connect them, and explain them with course ideas, often across different scales. On the exam: Question 3 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

State S, in the United States, has five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Party Blue and Party Gold are the state's two major parties. Use the two sources below to answer all seven parts, (a) through (g). Write in complete sentences.

Source 1: Results of State S's most recent election for the U.S. House of Representatives (thousands of votes)

DistrictParty BlueParty GoldWinner
127030Blue
2126174Gold
3129171Gold
4132168Gold
5123177Gold
Statewide total7807201 Blue, 4 Gold

Source: Hypothetical data

Source 2: Map of State S's congressional districts (described in words)

City C, the state's largest city, sits in the center of State S. Shading shows that most Party Blue voters live in City C, and Party Gold voters are the majority in the state's suburbs and rural areas.

District 1 is long and narrow. It winds along a river to connect three neighborhoods of City C.

Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5 are wedge-shaped. Each includes a slice of City C and a large suburban and rural area that stretches out to the state border.

Source: Hypothetical map, described in words

Suggested time: 25 minutes

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Part (a)

1 point

Using Source 1, compare Party Blue's share of the statewide vote with its share of the state's seats.

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Part (b)

1 point

Using BOTH sources, identify the gerrymandering technique used to draw District 1 and explain how it works.

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Part (c)

1 point

Using Source 2, explain how Districts 2 through 5 show cracking.

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Part (d)

1 point

Explain how the U.S. census is connected to the redistricting process.

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Part (e)

1 point

Explain how geographic information systems (GIS) have affected the drawing of district boundaries.

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Part (f)

1 point

Explain ONE consequence of gerrymandering for political representation.

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Part (g)

1 point

Explain ONE approach states use to reduce gerrymandering, and how it could change the results shown in Source 1.

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