Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

Which statement best describes a sedentary lifestyle in human geography?

1. A lifestyle driven by mobility and migration

2. A lifestyle characterized by permanent settlement and agriculture

3. A lifestyle solely based on foraging and hunting

4. A lifestyle that combines seasonal migration with farming

The correct answer is: A lifestyle characterized by permanent settlement and agriculture

A sedentary lifestyle in human geography is best described as one characterized by permanent settlement and agriculture. This type of lifestyle emerged with the advent of agricultural practices, allowing communities to establish stable living arrangements and develop social structures around farming. The shift from nomadic foraging and hunting to settled agricultural societies led to the creation of villages and cities, as people began to cultivate crops and raise livestock in fixed locations. This transformation allowed for the development of more complex societal organizations, economic systems, and cultural practices, in contrast to lifestyles focused on mobility or seasonal migrations. In a sedentary lifestyle, individuals invest in their land and resources for long-term use, fostering a sense of community and place that is integral to human geography and spatial organization.