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AP Human Geography Practice Quiz: Types of Diffusion

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 7 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 7

According to the provided text, which of the following are the two primary categories of diffusion?

All Questions (7)

According to the provided text, which of the following are the two primary categories of diffusion?

A) Contagious and Hierarchical

B) Stimulus and Relocation

C) Relocation and Expansion

D) Hierarchical and Stimulus

Correct Answer: C

The content explicitly states that 'Relocation and expansion...are types of diffusion,' positioning them as the main categories under which other types (contagious, hierarchical, stimulus) fall.

The spread of a new internet meme that becomes popular almost overnight among social media users is a classic example of which type of diffusion?

A) Relocation diffusion

B) Contagious diffusion

C) Hierarchical diffusion

D) Stimulus diffusion

Correct Answer: B

Contagious diffusion is the rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population, similar to how a virus or an internet meme spreads from person to person without regard to social status.

A new high-fashion trend starts in major global cities like Paris, Milan, and New York. It is then adopted by celebrities and fashion influencers before eventually reaching the general public in smaller cities. This pattern best illustrates:

A) Relocation diffusion

B) Contagious diffusion

C) Hierarchical diffusion

D) Stimulus diffusion

Correct Answer: C

Hierarchical diffusion is the spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places. In this case, the trend spreads from top-tier cities and influential people down the social and geographic hierarchy.

The historical spread of Christianity from the Middle East to Europe primarily through the movement of missionaries and converts who settled in new lands is an example of:

A) Relocation diffusion

B) Contagious diffusion

C) Hierarchical diffusion

D) Stimulus diffusion

Correct Answer: A

Relocation diffusion involves the spread of an idea through the physical movement of people from one place to another. When people move, they carry their culture, including religion, with them.

The concept of drive-thru restaurants, which originated in the United States, has been adopted by many cultures worldwide. However, companies like McDonald's often change their menus to appeal to local tastes, such as offering a McSpicy Paneer burger in India. This adaptation is a hallmark of:

A) Relocation diffusion

B) Contagious diffusion

C) Hierarchical diffusion

D) Stimulus diffusion

Correct Answer: D

Stimulus diffusion occurs when an underlying principle of a characteristic spreads, even though the characteristic itself is modified. The basic idea of a drive-thru (the stimulus) spread, but the specific product (the menu) was adapted to fit the new culture.

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of expansion diffusion based on the provided content?

A) Contagious

B) Hierarchical

C) Stimulus

D) Relocation

Correct Answer: D

The content explicitly lists contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus as types of expansion diffusion. Relocation diffusion is identified as a separate, distinct category of diffusion.

The key distinction between expansion diffusion and relocation diffusion is that in expansion diffusion, the feature spreads in an additive process, while in relocation diffusion, it spreads through:

A) The influence of political or social leaders

B) Rapid, wavelike contact between people

C) The physical movement of people from one place to another

D) The adoption of an underlying principle with local modifications

Correct Answer: C

Expansion diffusion (contagious, hierarchical, stimulus) involves a feature spreading outward from a hearth while the number of people with the feature grows. Relocation diffusion is fundamentally different because it is tied to the bodily movement of people who carry the feature to a new location.