What term describes a state that completely surrounds another state?

• A. Perforated state
• B. Fragmented state
• C. Compact state
• D. Elongated state

Answer: (A)

In political geography, a perforated state is one whose land completely surrounds another independent state. This means the surrounding country has a hole in its territory where another country sits entirely enclosed. A classic example is Lesotho, which is entirely surrounded by South Africa, making Lesotho an enclave within a perforated state.

This idea differs from terms that describe a country’s shape rather than its relationship with another country. A compact state is roughly round or square, efficiently shaped; an elongated state is long and narrow; a fragmented state consists of separate pieces. None of these describe one state completely surrounding another, which is what makes perforated state the best fit here.