Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

What is the primary focus of the sector model in urban land use?

1. To illustrate vertical growth in cities

2. To describe urban growth in concentric circles

3. To represent urban growth in pie-shaped wedges based on transportation improvements

4. To analyze suburban expansion patterns

The correct answer is: To represent urban growth in pie-shaped wedges based on transportation improvements

The sector model fundamentally emphasizes how urban land use is organized around transportation corridors, creating distinct sectors or wedges that extend outward from the city center. Developed by economist Homer Hoyt in the 1930s, this model illustrates that as cities expand, they do so in specific directions determined largely by the development of transportation routes, such as highways and railroads. Each wedge in the sector model typically represents a different type of land use, including residential, industrial, and commercial activities, with transportation infrastructure acting as a significant influence on the evolution and growth patterns of these areas. This approach highlights the importance of accessibility and the socio-economic factors that influence the spatial distribution of communities and businesses within an urban environment, making it a significant perspective for understanding urban planning and development. Other models, such as the concentric zone model, depict growth in circular patterns around a central point, which does not account for the impact of transportation in the same way. The sector model’s focus on transportation as a guiding force in urban growth sets it apart from other theories of urban land use.