Nature of Human Geography

The governing concept is the use of population statistics in human geography. A census is a systematic enumeration of people and households, usually including variables such as age, sex, literacy, occupation, residence, and sometimes migration or housing conditions. These data help geographers describe population structure, calculate densities, compare regions, and study how people are distributed across space. Therefore option A is correct. The age of rocks belongs to geology, ocean salinity belongs to physical oceanography, and daily pressure changes belong to meteorology. Although census operations may include geographic location, they do not primarily measure rocks, seawater, or atmospheric pressure.

Gender geography studies how gender relations, social expectations, power, safety, work, mobility, and access shape the use and experience of places. If women and men use a park, street, market, workplace, or transport system differently, a geographer may ask who can enter, at what time, for which purpose, and with what level of comfort or risk. Option A is therefore correct because it directly addresses the spatial consequences of gender. Physical geography focuses mainly on natural processes, climatology on atmospheric conditions, and geology on Earth materials and structure. Those fields cannot by themselves explain the stated social difference in public-space use.

Absolute or physical distance is determined by measurable length, such as kilometres between two points, and does not change merely because a traveller feels uncomfortable. Perceived distance is the subjective estimate of how near, far, easy, or difficult a place seems. Safety, lighting, crowding, previous experience, social identity, and route quality can make a physically short journey feel lengthy or inaccessible. Therefore option B is correct: the question explicitly describes a difference between physical length and personal experience. Option A would refer only to the measured route, while spatial equality and functional region are unrelated concepts and do not explain the emotional experience of distance.

A floodplain is the relatively flat land beside a river that may be covered when the river overflows during heavy rain, rapid snowmelt or high upstream discharge. Such areas can be fertile and attractive for settlement, but their natural function is to store and spread excess water. Unplanned buildings, roads and embankments may obstruct flow, reduce storage space and increase water depth or damage nearby. Therefore, option A is correct: flood risk may be higher there. Option B is the opposite of the physical reality, while options C and D confuse floodplain conditions with mountain formation or permanent drought. Hazard mapping, setbacks and resilient planning are needed before construction.