Deck 1: Why Study the City

Question 1

The poet Carl Sandburg described the city of Chicago with a variety of labels. Which of the following is NOT one of these characterizations?

A) "big shoulders"
B) "stormy"
C) "mature"
D) "brawling"

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Historically, cities served as

A) magnets.
B) deflectors.
C) containers.
D) both a and c above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The text cites numerous ways in which authors have referred to urban phenomena. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) exurbia
B) metropolis
C) urbanized area
D) metropolitan statistical area

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The text observes that, in many areas, cities over the last few decades appear to be growing together, losing the clearly defined spaces that characterized cities in the last few centuries. William Whyte refers to this recent phenomenon as

A) exurban expansion.
B) urban sprawl.
C) edge cities.
D) suburbanization.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is cited in the text as suggesting the vital role the city played in the ancient world?

A) "The whole world is a stage."
B) "The die is cast."
C) "All roads lead to Rome."
D) "Head for the country."

Question 6

The text suggests that the most commonly used definition of cities focuses on

A) population characteristics.
B) socioeconomic status.
C) racial and ethnic composition.
D) physical dimensions.

Question 7

The most typically used measure of urbanization is the

A) proportion of the population living in rural areas.
B) percentage of residents in cities of 100,000 or more.
C) concentration of human beings in metropolitan regions.
D) ratio of urban versus rural dwellers.

Question 8

The __________ is a core area containing a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core.

A) urbanized area
B) city
C) community
D) metropolitan area

Question 9

Sometimes, metropolitan statistical areas blend together, or spatially consolidate, as urban sprawl obliterates the distinctions between areas. These are referred to as __________ areas.

A) consolidated statistical
B) general metropolitan
C) urbanized
D) city-state

Question 10

Today, __________ of Americans live in urban areas.

A) one-third
B) one-half
C) two-thirds
D) three-fourths

Question 11

As late as 1920, __________ percent of the global population was urban.

A) 4
B) 6
C) 9
D) 14

Question 12

Today, __________ of the world's population lives in cities.

A) less than half
B) 65 percent
C) 75 percent
D) almost 90 percent

Question 13

In the next twenty-five years, it is estimated that __________ of the 134 urban areas in the world will be in developing countries.

A) 54
B) 74
C) 94
D) 114

Question 14

The emphasis in your textbook is on providing knowledge for

A) budding urban scholars.
B) undergraduate sociology majors.
C) urban users.
D) graduate students in urban studies.

Question 15

The original meaning of the word __________is "to translate from secret characters into intelligible form . . . to read as words, to detect, reveal or unfold."

A) interpret
B) decipher
C) decode
D) translate

Question 16

All urban areas possess a potential for dualism.

Question 17

With over three-fourths of the earth's population living in cities, the world is experiencing an urban crisis of immense proportions.

Question 18

Urban sprawl is recognized as a serious problem in lesser-developed countries.

Question 19

In reality, cities are far less complicated than machines.

Question 20

The systematic knowledge offered by analysis of a particular thing is quite different from personal knowledge or acquaintance.

Question 21

Based on the text's discussion, address the question, "What is the city?"

Question 22

Based on the text's discussion, what is the importance of understanding cities?

Question 23

What are the major urban problems facing the world community today?