Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

What term describes a group of supercities that have merged into one large urban area?

1. Megalopolis

2. Metropolitan area

3. Urban agglomeration

4. City-state

The correct answer is: Megalopolis

The term that describes a group of supercities merging into one large urban area is "Megalopolis." This concept refers to a chain of approximately adjacent metropolitan areas, which have grown and developed to form an extensive and interconnected urban complex. In a megalopolis, the individual cities maintain their identities while contributing to a larger region characterized by high population density, economic interdependence, and extensive transportation networks. An example of a megalopolis is the northeastern corridor of the United States, which stretches from Boston through New York City to Washington, D.C. This region showcases the blending of multiple metropolitan areas into a significant urban expanse. In contrast, a metropolitan area refers to a city and its surrounding suburbs and exurbs, but does not necessarily indicate the interconnectedness of multiple large urban centers. Urban agglomeration also describes a densely populated area consisting of a city and its suburbs but lacks the specific connotation of multiple supercities merging. A city-state, on the other hand, refers to a sovereign city that functions independently, with its governance, rather than a grouping of urban areas.