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Quizzes > Geography > World & Continents

Migration Quiz: Can You Define an Intervening Obstacle?

Test your knowledge with migration quiz questions on push-pull factors, types of migration, and intervening obstacles!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration with layered map shapes people arrows barriers on coral background quiz on migration push-pull factors

This quiz helps you define intervening obstacle, spot push and pull factors, and make sense of real migration examples. Use it to practice for AP Human Geography and spot gaps before a test; for a quick review, see the intervening obstacle refresher and the push and pull guide.

What is an intervening obstacle in migration?
A factor that attracts migrants to their destination
A barrier occurring along the migration route that hinders progress
A government policy promoting migration
A factor that pushes migrants to leave their origin
An intervening obstacle is any barrier, such as geographic or political constraints, encountered en route that can delay or prevent a migrant from reaching the desired destination. It is distinct from push factors (which drive people away) and pull factors (which draw people toward a place). Understanding these obstacles is key to migration studies. For more details, see .
Which of the following is a push factor?
Welcoming immigration policies
Abundant job opportunities abroad
Armed conflict in the home country
Cultural attractions in the destination
Push factors are conditions that force people to leave their homeland, such as war, famine, or persecution. Armed conflict is a classic push factor because it endangers lives and livelihoods. This drives individuals to seek safety elsewhere. For more on push factors, visit .
Which of the following best exemplifies a pull factor?
Higher wages in developed countries
Political oppression at home
Frequent natural disasters in the region
Limited educational opportunities locally
Pull factors are positive attractions that draw migrants toward a destination, such as employment, political freedom, or better living standards. Higher wages abroad are a strong incentive for economic migration. These opportunities contrast directly with push factors at origin. Further reading at .
Which of these is an environmental intervening obstacle?
Language differences
High unemployment at the destination
Strict visa requirements
A mountain range blocking the migration path
Environmental obstacles include natural barriers such as mountains, deserts, or oceans that make travel difficult or dangerous. A mountain range directly impedes physical movement, fitting the classic definition of an intervening obstacle. These differ from political or social barriers. Learn more at .
Which scenario best represents a political intervening obstacle?
Cultural adjustment challenges
High transportation costs
Harsh desert terrain en route
Strict visa regulations preventing border crossing
Political obstacles include legal or administrative barriers such as visa restrictions, border closures, or permit requirements. Strict visa regulations are a prime example, as they legally bar migrants from continuing their journey. This contrasts with natural or economic barriers. For details see .
Which of these is a cultural intervening obstacle?
Mandatory immunization laws
Flooded roads during rainy season
Inflation raising travel expenses
Language differences that hinder communication
Cultural obstacles encompass language barriers, religious differences, or social norms that can impede migrants' ability to integrate or navigate a new environment. Language differences are a common hurdle that affects access to services, employment, and daily life. They differ from physical barriers like roads or economic costs. Read more at .
Why might distance act as an intervening obstacle?
It weakens political systems in the home country
It guarantees social integration at the destination
It increases travel costs and complexity, deterring migrants
It creates more pull factors at the origin
Greater distance between origin and destination often raises transportation costs, travel time, and logistical challenges, which can discourage migration. This makes distance an intervening obstacle rather than a push or pull factor. It influences the cost - benefit calculation of potential migrants. See .
Which of these is an example of an intervening opportunity that stops a migrant from reaching the intended destination?
Encountering cultural festivals en route
Suffering from severe homesickness
Finding stable work in a city along the migration route
Obtaining a tourist visa for the final destination
An intervening opportunity occurs when a migrant accepts a job or settlement option before reaching the original destination. Securing stable employment mid-route can satisfy economic needs, halting further migration. This concept complements intervening obstacles in migration theory. More info at .
In Ravenstein's Laws of Migration, what function do obstacles serve?
They limit the volume and direction of migration flows
They exclusively attract migrants to urban centers
They explain cultural assimilation processes
They determine birth rates in migrant populations
Ravenstein noted that obstacles - such as distance and political boundaries - restrict how far and where migrants move. These barriers influence both the volume and pathways of migration. Understanding this highlights the interplay of push-pull factors with real-world constraints. Read Ravenstein's original principles at .
How do migrants commonly overcome physical intervening obstacles?
By reducing pull factors at the destination
By accepting permanent settlement at origin
By using advanced transportation and technology solutions
By increasing political push factors
Advances in transportation - such as highways, rail networks, and air travel - have reduced the impact of environmental barriers. Technology also aids navigation and communication across difficult terrain. These innovations help migrants bridge long distances more safely and quickly. For examples, see .
Why are legal restrictions considered political intervening obstacles?
They create natural barriers
They increase physical fitness of migrants
They attract migrants to specific sectors
They legally bar migrants from continuing or entering
Political obstacles include laws and regulations - such as visa caps, border closures, or stringent asylum rules - that can physically or administratively prevent movement. They differ from push factors in origin and pull factors in destination because they occur en route. Such legal barriers are central to migration control policies. See .
In the push-pull-intervening model, what distinguishes a pull factor from an intervening obstacle?
Pull factors and obstacles both push people away
Pull factors attract migrants, obstacles impede them
Pull factors always impose legal restrictions
Obstacles only occur at the destination
Pull factors are attributes of the destination that draw migrants, such as jobs or safety. Intervening obstacles, by contrast, are barriers en route that delay or stop migration. Recognizing this difference is crucial for migration planning and policy. For more on Lee's model, visit .
Which analytical model is commonly used to assess the impact of intervening obstacles on migration flows?
Gravity model of migration
Sectoral labor demand model
Human Development Index
Comparative advantage theory
The gravity model predicts migration flows based on origin and destination size and distance between them, effectively incorporating distance as an intervening obstacle. It quantifies how barriers affect movement intensity. This model is widely applied in spatial demography. Learn more at .
Which situation illustrates an economic intervening obstacle?
A mountain pass closed due to snow
A border checkpoint enforcing new visa rules
Language barriers in an intermediate city
A migrant running out of money halfway to destination
Economic obstacles arise when migrants lack the financial resources for continued travel or settlement. Running out of funds is a direct financial barrier, forcing many to settle at an interim location. This underscores how economic capacity shapes migration routes. For details, see .
According to Lee's migration model, into which categories are intervening obstacles divided?
Urban, rural, coastal, inland
Legal, illegal, documented, undocumented
Push, pull, transitory, permanent
Environmental, political, economic, and social obstacles
Lee's model classifies intervening obstacles into environmental (natural barriers), political (legal restrictions), economic (financial constraints), and social (cultural or familial) categories. This comprehensive breakdown helps analyze the multifaceted challenges of migration. See Everett Lee's original work at .
In the context of refugee movements, which is a frequent intervening obstacle?
Cultural exchange programs
Heightened border security and patrols
Monsoon season in coastal regions
High urbanization rates
Refugees often face strict border enforcement, including physical barriers and patrols, which serve as political intervening obstacles. These barriers can prevent safe passage and delay asylum seeking. Understanding this is vital for refugee protection strategies. More at .
How can remittances mitigate the effect of intervening obstacles?
By altering geographic features
By providing funds for transportation and accommodation
By changing immigration laws
By creating new natural barriers
Remittances sent by family members abroad can help migrants cover costs such as travel fees, visas, and housing, reducing economic obstacles. They also enable investment in transportation technologies. This financial support can be decisive in overcoming barriers. Read more at .
Which Chinese policy acts as an intervening obstacle in internal migration?
One-Child Policy
Hukou household registration system
Great Leap Forward
Belt and Road Initiative
China's hukou system ties social services and residency rights to one's registered locality, limiting internal migrants' access to education, healthcare, and housing in new cities. This legal-institutional obstacle shapes migration patterns and settlement choices. For an in-depth analysis, see .
What role do social networks play in addressing intervening obstacles?
They enforce border restrictions
They eliminate all economic costs
They provide information and resources that ease migration challenges
They create environmental barriers
Migrants often rely on family and community networks to obtain lodging, guidance, or financial help during transit, thus mitigating social and economic obstacles. These networks can facilitate job leads and housing access upon arrival. The importance of such networks is well documented in migration literature. See .
How might climate change introduce new intervening obstacles?
By reducing visa application fees
By increasing the frequency of natural disasters that block routes
By decreasing travel distances
By improving language proficiency among migrants
Climate change intensifies events like floods, hurricanes, and droughts, creating unpredictable and severe environmental barriers along migration paths. These disasters can destroy infrastructure and make routes impassable. Recognizing this helps in planning resilient migration corridors. Learn more at .
In 19th-century transatlantic migration, what was a major intervening obstacle?
Strict digital identification checks
Language fluency requirements
High cost and danger of oceanic steamship passage
Air travel restrictions
During the 19th century, the expense and peril of crossing the Atlantic by steamship or sailing vessel posed significant physical and economic barriers. Many migrants were forced to delay or abandon plans due to limited funds or perilous weather. This historical example illustrates classic intervening obstacles. More at .
Which theoretical framework explicitly integrates intervening obstacles within the broader migration systems theory?
Human capital theory
World-systems theory
Migration systems theory
Neoclassical economic theory
Migration systems theory examines how origin, destination, and intervening locales are interconnected, explicitly accounting for obstacles and feedback loops. It integrates environmental, political, and social barriers as part of dynamic migration systems. This approach emphasizes network effects and system-level constraints. For an in-depth discussion, see .
What quantitative method can estimate the simultaneous effect of multiple intervening obstacles on migration decisions?
Descriptive case study
Univariate time-series analysis
Multivariate regression analysis
Simple frequency distribution
Multivariate regression allows researchers to include several intervening obstacle variables - such as distance, cost, and legal barriers - in a single statistical model to determine their individual and combined effects on migration flows. This technique controls for confounding factors and quantifies relative impacts. It is widely used in migration studies. Read more at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Define Intervening Obstacles -

    Grasp the concept of an intervening obstacle and how it hinders or redirects migration flows in geographic contexts.

  2. Analyze Push-Pull Migration Factors -

    Examine the social, economic, and environmental push-pull factors that influence individuals' decisions to migrate.

  3. Distinguish Types of Migration -

    Differentiate between internal, international, voluntary, and forced migration based on real-world criteria and examples.

  4. Evaluate Migration Examples -

    Assess diverse migration examples to understand patterns, causes, and outcomes across historical and contemporary case studies.

  5. Apply Knowledge via Migration Quiz Questions -

    Use targeted migration quiz questions to reinforce concepts and test your understanding of migration terminology and factors.

  6. Interpret Quiz Results for Improvement -

    Reflect on quiz performance to pinpoint areas for further study and strengthen your grasp of migration principles.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Define Intervening Obstacle -

    An intervening obstacle is any environmental, political, or economic barrier that hinders migration (e.g., strict visa policies or mountain ranges). Remember the mnemonic "R.O.P.E." (Regulatory, Organizational, Physical, Economic) to categorize common hurdles. Understanding this core definition sets the foundation for acing migration quiz questions.

  2. Push-Pull Migration Factors -

    Push factors (like war or unemployment) and pull factors (like job opportunities or political freedom) work together to influence migration decisions. Lee's migration model quantifies this: Net Migration = Pull Strength - Push Strength - Intervening Obstacles. Reviewing real case studies - such as economic migrants moving for higher wages - helps cement the push-pull framework.

  3. Types of Migration -

    Migration can be classified by distance (international vs. internal), duration (permanent vs. temporary), or motive (voluntary vs. forced). Use the mnemonic "D-VMD" (Distance, Voluntary, Motive, Duration) to remember the four categories. This overview aligns with UN reports and academic sources on global migration patterns.

  4. Migration Examples -

    Case studies - like rural-to-urban moves in China or refugee flows from Syria - illustrate how push-pull factors and obstacles interplay. Comparing these examples to academic data (e.g., World Bank migration statistics) sharpens your ability to identify real-world trends. Practice with sample quiz questions: "Which obstacle best describes visa refusals?" to boost recall.

  5. Overcoming Intervening Obstacles -

    Migrants use strategies like social networks, legal advice, or technology (e.g., digital remittances) to bypass barriers. Think "N-E-T" (Networks, Expertise, Technology) as a quick formula for success tactics. Recognizing these methods is crucial for migration quiz questions on solutions and policy implications.

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