Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

What is the primary goal of urban renewal?

1. To expand urban areas into rural lands

2. To identify and redevelop properties in inner city neighborhoods

3. To decrease residential density in urban areas

4. To promote the growth of suburban communities

The correct answer is: To identify and redevelop properties in inner city neighborhoods

The primary goal of urban renewal is to identify and redevelop properties in inner city neighborhoods. This process focuses on revitalizing areas that may be suffering from decline, disinvestment, or socioeconomic challenges. Urban renewal aims to improve the quality of life for residents by enhancing infrastructure, increasing housing availability, and fostering economic growth. The targeted redevelopment efforts often include refurbishing old buildings, clearing blighted areas, and attracting new businesses, all of which contribute to creating vibrant urban spaces that can better serve the community. In contrast, expanding urban areas into rural lands represents urban sprawl, which typically aims to extend cities further into the countryside, rather than revitalizing existing urban spaces. Decreasing residential density in urban areas contradicts the intentions of urban renewal, which seeks to create more vibrant, densely populated neighborhoods. Promoting the growth of suburban communities also diverges from urban renewal's objectives, as it typically focuses on developing areas surrounding a city rather than improving the inner city itself.