Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

What comprises the nonmaterial aspects of culture, such as beliefs, practices, and institutions?

1. Material Culture

2. Nonmaterial Culture

3. Cultural Artifacts

4. Cultural Landscape

The correct answer is: Nonmaterial Culture

Nonmaterial culture encompasses the intangible elements of a society's culture, including beliefs, practices, values, norms, and institutions. These aspects shape how a group of people perceive the world, interact with one another, and express their identities. For example, religious beliefs, cultural traditions, languages, and social behaviors all fall under the nonmaterial culture umbrella. In contrast, material culture refers to the physical objects, artifacts, and technology that a society creates and uses, such as tools, buildings, and clothing. Cultural artifacts are specific items produced or used by a culture that reflect its identity and values, but they still belong to the domain of material culture. The cultural landscape refers to the visible imprint of human activity on the environment, which includes how societies transform their physical surroundings through agriculture, architecture, and urban planning. Therefore, the correct answer captures the essence of the intangible components that define a community's way of life.