Which term refers to a large urban area consisting of at least two metropolises and their suburbs?

• A. Megalopolis
• B. Gentrification
• C. Redlining
• D. Population shrinkage

Answer: (A)

A large urban region formed when two or more metropolitan areas and their surrounding suburbs grow together into one continuous zone is called a megalopolis. This term captures the idea of a vast, interconnected urban fabric with dense populations and strong economic ties spanning multiple cities—think of a long corridor where distinct metros merge into a single mega-region. The other terms describe different urban phenomena: gentrification refers to wealthier residents moving into historically less affluent neighborhoods; redlining is a discriminatory practice in lending based on neighborhood characteristics; population shrinkage means a decline in the number of people living in a city. Since the question asks for the term describing a sprawling urban area that includes multiple metropolises and their suburbs, megalopolis is the best fit.