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Settlements, cities & migration

Examine settlement hierarchy, push and pull migration factors, greenbelts, brownfield sites and sustainable cities. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
When several neighbouring … · Settlements, cities & migr…
2. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
What do we call the unplan… · Settlements, cities & migr…
3. Which urban transport strategy reduces traffic congestion and air pollution most effectively: investing in frequent electric buses, metro rail and safe cycle lanes, or removing all pavements?
Which urban transport stra… · Settlements, cities & migr…
4. What is the central commercial and financial heart of a city, typically characterised by high land values, tall office buildings and major transport hubs: the Central Business District (CBD) or the rural-urban fringe?
What is the central commer… · Settlements, cities & migr…
5. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
What do geographers call t… · Settlements, cities & migr…
6. In migration studies, negative conditions that drive people to leave their home area (such as drought, unemployment or conflict) are called: push factors or pull factors?
In migration studies, nega… · Settlements, cities & migr…
7. In a flood-prone river valley, a settlement built on slightly higher dry ground above the floodplain is called: a dry-point site or a wet-point site?
In a flood-prone river val… · Settlements, cities & migr…
8. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
What is a protected zone o… · Settlements, cities & migr…
9. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
In human geography, what i… · Settlements, cities & migr…
10. Historically, why were many early settlements founded next to rivers, sheltered harbours or fresh springs (wet-point sites): for a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, fishing and boat transport, or to avoid all water?
Historically, why were man… · Settlements, cities & migr…
11. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
What do we call a person w… · Settlements, cities & migr…
12. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
In urban planning, redevel… · Settlements, cities & migr…

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
Conurbation
A conurbation forms when formerly separate towns grow outward and coalesce.
2. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl consumes agricultural land and increases car dependency.
3. Which urban transport strategy reduces traffic congestion and air pollution most effectively: investing in frequent electric buses, metro rail and safe cycle lanes, or removing all pavements?
Investing in frequent electric buses, metro rail and safe cycle lanes
High-capacity public transit and active-travel infrastructure move far more people per metre of road space with lower emissions.
4. What is the central commercial and financial heart of a city, typically characterised by high land values, tall office buildings and major transport hubs: the Central Business District (CBD) or the rural-urban fringe?
Central Business District (CBD)
The CBD is the most accessible commercial core of a city where retail and office space is concentrated.
5. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
Threshold population
High-order services like hospitals and universities require a much larger threshold population than a convenience store.
6. In migration studies, negative conditions that drive people to leave their home area (such as drought, unemployment or conflict) are called: push factors or pull factors?
Push factors
Push factors encourage or force people to emigrate from an area.
7. In a flood-prone river valley, a settlement built on slightly higher dry ground above the floodplain is called: a dry-point site or a wet-point site?
Dry-point site
Dry-point sites protect buildings and crops from seasonal river flooding.
8. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
Greenbelt
Greenbelt planning policies prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one continuous built-up area.
9. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
Hamlet → Village → Town → City
A hamlet has only a few dwellings; a village adds basic services; a town and city offer progressively larger populations and specialist services.
10. Historically, why were many early settlements founded next to rivers, sheltered harbours or fresh springs (wet-point sites): for a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, fishing and boat transport, or to avoid all water?
For a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, fishing and boat transport
Site and situation factors such as fresh water, bridging points and natural harbours shaped early settlement growth.
11. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
Refugee
Under international law, refugees cross borders seeking safety from persecution or armed conflict.
12. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
Brownfield site
Brownfield sites have been previously developed; reusing them regenerates inner cities and protects rural greenfield land.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
When several neighbouring … · Settlements, cities & migr…
2. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
What do we call the unplan… · Settlements, cities & migr…
3. Which urban transport strategy reduces traffic congestion and air pollution most effectively: investing in frequent electric buses, metro rail and safe cycle lanes, or removing all pavements?
Which urban transport stra… · Settlements, cities & migr…
4. What is the central commercial and financial heart of a city, typically characterised by high land values, tall office buildings and major transport hubs: the Central Business District (CBD) or the rural-urban fringe?
What is the central commer… · Settlements, cities & migr…
5. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
What do geographers call t… · Settlements, cities & migr…
6. In migration studies, negative conditions that drive people to leave their home area (such as drought, unemployment or conflict) are called: push factors or pull factors?
In migration studies, nega… · Settlements, cities & migr…
7. In a flood-prone river valley, a settlement built on slightly higher dry ground above the floodplain is called: a dry-point site or a wet-point site?
In a flood-prone river val… · Settlements, cities & migr…
8. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
What is a protected zone o… · Settlements, cities & migr…
9. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
In human geography, what i… · Settlements, cities & migr…
10. Historically, why were many early settlements founded next to rivers, sheltered harbours or fresh springs (wet-point sites): for a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, fishing and boat transport, or to avoid all water?
Historically, why were man… · Settlements, cities & migr…
11. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
What do we call a person w… · Settlements, cities & migr…
12. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
In urban planning, redevel… · Settlements, cities & migr…

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 13-15

Settlements, cities & migration

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. When several neighbouring cities and large towns expand and merge into one continuous built-up urban region, what is this merged urban area called: a conurbation or an archipelago?
Conurbation
A conurbation forms when formerly separate towns grow outward and coalesce.
2. What do we call the unplanned outward spread of low-density suburbs and roads into surrounding countryside at the edge of a city: urban sprawl or counter-urbanisation?
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl consumes agricultural land and increases car dependency.
3. Which urban transport strategy reduces traffic congestion and air pollution most effectively: investing in frequent electric buses, metro rail and safe cycle lanes, or removing all pavements?
Investing in frequent electric buses, metro rail and safe cycle lanes
High-capacity public transit and active-travel infrastructure move far more people per metre of road space with lower emissions.
4. What is the central commercial and financial heart of a city, typically characterised by high land values, tall office buildings and major transport hubs: the Central Business District (CBD) or the rural-urban fringe?
Central Business District (CBD)
The CBD is the most accessible commercial core of a city where retail and office space is concentrated.
5. What do geographers call the minimum number of customers required to support a particular shop or service (such as a corner bakery vs an international airport): the threshold population or the birth rate?
Threshold population
High-order services like hospitals and universities require a much larger threshold population than a convenience store.
6. In migration studies, negative conditions that drive people to leave their home area (such as drought, unemployment or conflict) are called: push factors or pull factors?
Push factors
Push factors encourage or force people to emigrate from an area.
7. In a flood-prone river valley, a settlement built on slightly higher dry ground above the floodplain is called: a dry-point site or a wet-point site?
Dry-point site
Dry-point sites protect buildings and crops from seasonal river flooding.
8. What is a protected zone of open farmland, woodland or parkland designated around a city to restrict urban sprawl and preserve green space: a greenbelt or an industrial estate?
Greenbelt
Greenbelt planning policies prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one continuous built-up area.
9. In human geography, what is the correct settlement hierarchy in order of increasing population size and services: Hamlet → Village → Town → City, or City → Town → Hamlet → Village?
Hamlet → Village → Town → City
A hamlet has only a few dwellings; a village adds basic services; a town and city offer progressively larger populations and specialist services.
10. Historically, why were many early settlements founded next to rivers, sheltered harbours or fresh springs (wet-point sites): for a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, fishing and boat transport, or to avoid all water?
For a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, fishing and boat transport
Site and situation factors such as fresh water, bridging points and natural harbours shaped early settlement growth.
11. What do we call a person who has been forced to flee their home country across an international border to escape war, violence or persecution: a refugee or a tourist?
Refugee
Under international law, refugees cross borders seeking safety from persecution or armed conflict.
12. In urban planning, redeveloping derelict former industrial land or disused docks inside a city rather than building on untouched countryside uses: a brownfield site or a greenfield site?
Brownfield site
Brownfield sites have been previously developed; reusing them regenerates inner cities and protects rural greenfield land.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification