The Peripheral Model (McGee) describes a polycentric city characterized by what feature?

• A. A polycentric city with edge cities around a central city
• B. A single central business district
• C. A rural-urban fringe only
• D. A network of megacities

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the Peripheral Model envisions a metropolitan area with multiple centers of activity rather than one dominant downtown. It describes edge cities—suburban clusters with their own offices, shopping, and housing—that form around a central city and are connected by highways. This creates a polycentric urban region where several centers, not just a single central business district, drive economic and social life.

That’s why the correct description is edge cities around the central city. The other options don’t fit: a single central business district reflects a monocentric layout; focusing only on the rural-urban fringe misses the emergence of new suburban centers; and a network of megacities implies several large independent metros rather than edge cities clustered around one core.