Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

A primate city is defined by its dominant status within a country or region, typically serving as the central cultural, political, and economic hub. This characteristic highlights the city's significant role in influencing various aspects of life, such as governance, finance, education, and culture, not just locally but nationally as well. For instance, cities like London and Paris exemplify primate cities due to their concentration of resources, institutions, and populations which outperform those in surrounding cities.

While the other characteristics mentioned could describe other types of cities or urban centers, they do not embody the hallmark features of a primate city. A primate city is inherently larger and more influential than any other city in the country, which dismisses the idea of it having a lower population than surrounding cities or being located in a rural area. Additionally, a primate city is typically the largest or one of the largest cities, rather than being classified as the third largest. Thus, the correct characterization of a primate city centers on its function as a hub of significant cultural, political, and economic activity.