Which term describes a state with a long, narrow shape?

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

Answer: (C)

State shape describes how a country’s land area is laid out. When a country has a long, narrow footprint, its geography is described as elongated. This shape often creates challenges for governance and cohesion because distant parts along the length must be connected by infrastructure and administration, making transport, communication, and political unity more difficult. The other shapes refer to different configurations: a prorupted state has an extended arm or projection from a compact main area; a perforated state surrounds another country; and a fragmented state consists of two or more disconnected pieces. But the term that best captures a long, narrow form is elongated.