Which of the following is an example of a functional region?

• A. A country defined by its language.
• B. A metropolitan area centered around a core city and its commuter connections.
• C. A desert region.
• D. A climate zone.

Answer: (B)

A functional region is defined by a central place and the linkages that connect it to surrounding areas, such as people, goods, and information flowing between them. A metropolitan area fits this idea because the core city acts as the hub, with nearby communities connected through commuting, economic activity, and shared services. The other options describe regions by a shared attribute or environment rather than by functional connections: language-based country is a linguistic/formal region, a desert region is a physical geography region, and a climate zone is defined by weather patterns. So the metropolitan area best illustrates a functional region.