which of the following explains urban hierarchy

A: a way to measure the longevity of a city
B: a way of ordering cities with the largest populations
C: A way to rank the greatest ancient cities
D: A way of ordering cities to their surrounding market

D: A way of ordering cities to their surrounding market.

D: A way of ordering cities to their surrounding market

To determine which option explains urban hierarchy, we need to understand what urban hierarchy means. Urban hierarchy refers to the way cities are organized and ranked in terms of their size, importance, and functions within a region.

Now, let's analyze each option and see if it relates to the concept of urban hierarchy:

A: "A way to measure the longevity of a city": This option does not directly relate to urban hierarchy. It focuses on the lifespan of a city, rather than its size, importance, or ranking.

B: "A way of ordering cities with the largest populations": This option aligns with the concept of urban hierarchy. When cities are ranked based on population size, it helps understand their relative importance and hierarchy within a region.

C: "A way to rank the greatest ancient cities": This option does not accurately describe urban hierarchy. It focuses on ranking ancient cities based on their greatness, which is subjective and unrelated to urban hierarchy.

D: "A way of ordering cities to their surrounding market": This option matches the concept of urban hierarchy. It refers to the relative importance of cities based on their proximity and connections to surrounding markets.

Based on the analysis above, options B and D are potentially valid explanations for urban hierarchy. However, option B, "A way of ordering cities with the largest populations," directly relates to urban hierarchy, as the size and population of a city are key factors in determining its ranking and importance within a region. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.