Five Themes of Geography
This theme answers "Where is it?" and can be given as coordinates or an address.
Location (absolute location) — e.g., coordinates or address.
This part of a map shows what the symbols mean (e.g., roads, parks, rivers).
Map key or legend.
Which branch of the U.S. federal government makes the laws?
Legislative branch (Congress).
The basic economic problem that arises because resources are limited and wants are unlimited is called __________.
Scarity
The basic economic problem that arises because wants exceed resources.
Scarity
This theme describes connections between people and places, such as trade, migration, or communication.
Movement
The set of lines that show direction on a map — usually with north at the top — is called the __________.
Compass rose (or simply "compass").
Which branch interprets laws and decides if they are constitutional?
Judicial branch (Supreme Court and federal courts).
Goods or services produced for sale and consumption by consumers are called __________ goods.
Consumer goods.
The amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a given price is called what?
Demand
Name the theme that describes the natural and human-made features that give a place its personality (landforms, climate, architecture).
Place
This map element explains the scale (for example, "1 inch = 50 miles"). What is this called?
Scale
Which branch enforces laws and carries out government policy?
Executive branch (President and administration).
Define "opportunity cost" and give a 1-sentence example relevant to a student deciding how to spend an afternoon.
Opportunity cost is the next best alternative you give up when making a choice. Example: If a student works a part-time job instead of studying for a test, the opportunity cost is the higher test score they might have earned.
Define "supply" and explain how an increase in supply (all else equal) affects price.
Supply — increased supply tends to lower price (if demand constant).
Explain the difference between absolute location and relative location using a short example.
Absolute location gives exact coordinates (e.g., 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W); relative location describes where a place is compared to other places (e.g., "north of the river").
A map that shows elevation using contour lines or color shading is called a __________ map.
Topographic map.
Name one power given to Congress in the Constitution.
Examples: the power to tax and spend, regulate commerce, declare war, make laws.
Explain the difference between a market economy and a command economy in 1–2 sentences.
Market economy: buyers and sellers determine production/prices through supply and demand. Command economy: the government makes most production and pricing decisions.
What is "opportunity cost"? Provide a classroom-related example showing the trade-off.
Opportunity cost: the next best alternative foregone (e.g., choosing to study instead of playing video games — cost = leisure time lost).
Give an example of how a region can be defined by a formal characteristic and another example of a functional region.
Formal region example: countries or states defined by political boundaries; Functional region example: a metropolitan area served by a single transit system.
You have a map with latitude and longitude lines. Describe how you would find the coordinates for a city shown on that map.
Find the horizontal (latitude) line and the vertical (longitude) line that intersect at the city; read latitude first (°N or °S), then longitude (°E or °W).
Explain how checks and balances work by giving one example of how the president can be checked by the courts and one example of how Congress can be checked by the president.
Example: The courts can declare a presidential action unconstitutional (judicial review). The president can veto legislation passed by Congress; Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.
Describe how supply and demand affect price: what happens to price when demand increases but supply stays the same? Provide a clear explanation.
When demand increases while supply stays the same, price tends to rise because more buyers compete for the same amount of goods; producers may raise prices and/or increase production if possible.
Distinguish between a market economy and a command economy; give one advantage and one disadvantage of each.
Market economy: decisions by individuals/firms (advantage: efficiency/innovation; disadvantage: inequality).
Command economy: government makes decisions (advantage: coordinated planning; disadvantage: inefficiency, lack of incentives).