Unit 6
Hard Practice Exam

Britain's coal reserves were essential for industrialization — but which factor made coal extraction and distribution actually viable at scale?

The flying shuttle (1733) was invented before the spinning jenny (1764). What does this sequence reveal about technological development during the Industrial Revolution?

Eli Whitney's cotton gin is noted in the lesson as likely prolonging slavery. Which economic logic best explains this?

A student argues: 'The Industrial Revolution improved life for most British people immediately.' Which piece of evidence from the lesson most directly contradicts this?

A company mines bauxite, refines it into aluminum, fabricates aluminum into airplane parts, sells those parts to airlines, and insures the transaction. Which answer correctly identifies all sectors involved in order?

The lesson states that 'manufacturing is a type of industry, but not all industries are manufacturing.' Which of the following best illustrates this distinction?

Which correctly distinguishes quaternary from quinary activities?

Guatemala's coffee sector is dominated by companies like Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, and Philip Morris. This is best described as evidence of which concept?

Only 2% of global coffee is fair trade certified. What does this statistic suggest about commodity chains more broadly?

The lesson describes Zimbabwe's food crisis as stemming from President Mugabe confiscating commercial farms from white Zimbabweans (1995–2008). What broader development principle does this illustrate?

Zambia's economy prospered when the U.S. Mint bought large amounts of copper, then collapsed when the Mint stopped. Venezuela's economy collapsed when petroleum prices dropped. What single development strategy do both cases argue against?

France and the Soviet Union both relied heavily on nuclear power. After Chernobyl (1986), many countries pulled back from nuclear energy. What does this divergence reveal about energy policy?

The lesson states that tree farms are more sustainable than logging virgin forests, but 'do not support full ecosystems like untouched forests do.' What tradeoff does this highlight?

The U.S. service sector makes up about 80% of GDP. The lesson says this means the country has either 'deindustrialized or skipped industrialization.' What is the key difference between these two paths?

Taiwan in the 1960s focused on low-cost electronics. By the 1990s it had a strong banking and finance sector. This progression most closely mirrors which theoretical model?

In 1963, Zimbabwe and South Korea had similar GDPs. By 2002, South Korea's economy was over 120 times larger. Which combination of factors best explains this divergence?

The Gini coefficient is described as measuring income inequality on a scale of 0-100. Norway scores ~25; Colombia ~53.5. What does this NOT tell you?

Angola had an oil boom and a growing middle class, yet the lesson classifies it as third world and notes its high Gini. What concept does this best illustrate?

The lesson classifies Singapore as first world with per capita income over $50,000, despite being a one-party state with strong government control. What does this challenge?

Which of the following most accurately defines a 'failed state' as described in the lesson?

A critic of Rostow argues: 'His model assumes all countries have equal access to the preconditions for development.' Which historical evidence from the lesson best supports this critique?

Iran's 1953 nationalization of its oil industry was reversed by a CIA/MI6-backed coup. What does this episode most directly illustrate about dependency theory?

NAFTA was presented to Mexico as a path to growth through agricultural exports. Instead, the lesson describes cheap U.S. corn flooding Mexican markets and hurting local farmers. This outcome is most consistent with which theory?

Yugoslavia after the 1960s required foreign companies to reinvest some profits locally. Costa Rica's ecotourism is run by local agencies. India developed its own technology sector. All three are examples of

Weber's theory classifies iron ore as 'distance-elastic.' What does this mean, and what is its practical implication for steel plant location?

Bread production is described as a 'ubiquitous industry.' What does ubiquitous mean in this context, and why does it affect location decisions?

Henry Ford initially used vertical integration at the River Rouge factory, then supply chains decentralized as car demand expanded. What economic logic drove this shift?

The Westfield Century City shopping center draws customers from within a 50-mile radius. This large range is explained by which combination of factors?

Silicon Valley experienced deglomeration as tech companies moved toward Austin, Portland, and Atlanta. Which combination of factors best explains this?

Japan's post-WWII recovery was partly funded by U.S. aid. The lesson notes this aid 'may have helped weaken the U.S. car industry.' What is the argument here?

The lesson says India 'is taking a different path' from China — moving more directly into services without as much mass industrialization. What comparative advantage made this path viable for India specifically?

Hong Kong was seized by Britain in 1839, returned to China in 1997, but retained 'some autonomy and capitalist features.' What does this arrangement illustrate about economic development?

The 1997 Asian financial crisis began with a banking crash in South Korea and spread across Asia. Which of the following best explains why the crisis spread so rapidly?

The lesson notes that U.S. car companies moved production from Michigan and Ohio to Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. What is the primary reason for this shift within the same country?

The Marshall Plan (1948–1952) helped rebuild Western Europe. By the 1960s, 'Made in Germany' meant high quality. This trajectory most closely mirrors which of Rostow's stages?

Finland became a telecom pioneer by the 1970s with Nokia, despite being a small Nordic country that previously relied on fishing and farming. Which factor most likely enabled this leap?

The lesson describes garment and clerical factory work in Asia and Latin America as 'often done by women' in 'usually low-paid' positions with 'weak legal protection.' What development concept does this most directly relate to?

A country has: high GNI per capita, low Gini coefficient, strong service sector, and was a former communist state now restructuring. Which classification fits best?

Which pairing of theory and real-world example is INCORRECTLY matched?

Which of the following sequences correctly traces a product from primary to quinary sector?