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Question

A map of the United States illustrates population density on the county level. The map includes all state and county border outlines, but they are not labeled. Alaska and Hawaii are not represented. Each county is shaded according to the Key, titled Population per square mile. The key shows four squares, shaded from dark to light, with the following labels: 2,000 or greater, 1,000 to 1,999.9, 100 to 999.9, and 0 to 99.9. The northern and western states show the lightest shading, indicating the lowest population per square mile. There are clusters of the next highest group, 100 to 999.9, in Washington, central and southern California and Arizona, and across the Midwest. This second group is much denser in the eastern third of the country, with the exception of northern New England. Scattered across the country is the next highest population group, 1000 to 1,999.9. These appear in the San Francisco area, one in Utah, a few in the Midwest and Texas, New Jersey and New York, and Florida. The darkest shading, indicating 2,000 or greater, appears in only a few small places on the map, the largest of which is in the Los Angeles region. Others are in Texas, Illinois, Georgia, and the New York City area. The Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean are labeled.

Which option best summarizes the spatial information on this GIS map?

(1 point)
Responses

Population density in the United States is generally lower than in other countries.
Population density in the United States is generally lower than in other countries.

Population densities are higher near coastal areas because people prefer living near bodies of water.
Population densities are higher near coastal areas because people prefer living near bodies of water.

Population densities in the United States are higher near major cities.
Population densities in the United States are higher near major cities.

Areas of dense population are randomly distributed in the United States.

Answer 1

The option that best summarizes the spatial information on the GIS map is:

Population densities in the United States are higher near major cities.

This is because the map indicates higher population densities in urban areas like Los Angeles, New York City, and parts of New Jersey, as well as clusters in other major cities and their surrounding areas.