No-stimulus question
Sprawl and smart growth
- Units 1 and 6
- 7 points
- About 25 minutes
A real-world geographic situation described only in words, followed by seven short parts (A–G) that ask you to identify, define, describe or explain ideas from at least two units. On the exam: Question 1 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
Since 1950, many metropolitan areas in the United States have spread outward faster than their populations have grown, with low-density housing, shopping centers and office parks built along highways. Planners and residents now debate how future growth should be shaped. Answer all seven parts, (a) through (g). Write in complete sentences; a list of terms will not earn points.
Suggested time: 25 minutes
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Part (a)
1 pointDescribe ONE factor that contributed to suburbanization in the United States after 1950.
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Part (b)
1 pointExplain how low-density development increases dependence on automobiles.
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Part (c)
1 pointExplain how an edge city differs from a traditional central business district (CBD).
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Part (d)
1 pointDescribe ONE limitation of the concentric zone model in explaining land use in a present-day U.S. metropolitan area.
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Part (e)
1 pointExplain ONE environmental consequence of suburban sprawl.
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Part (f)
1 pointExplain how transit-oriented or mixed-use development can make a city more sustainable.
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Part (g)
1 pointExplain ONE criticism of smart-growth policies such as urban growth boundaries.
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