Progressive Geographic Narrowing

When to use

When the question asks about a specific geographic location or landmark, and provides clues about the broader region (country, administrative division, census data, historical context).

Technique

Narrow geographic scope step by step:

1. Country/Region: Use historical events, cultural markers, administrative clues (e.g., "former Yugoslavia" -> Bosnia)
2. City/Town: Use census data, population figures, "largest cities" clues
3. Specific Landmark: Search "[city] monument/structure [features]"
4. Verify: Cross-check with remaining constraints

If the initial assumption contradicts other clues, correct the scope immediately.

Query Templates

• [country/region characteristics] largest cities [census year] population
• [city name] monument museum landmark [feature description] [year]
• museum established [year] renamed [year]

Worked Examples

Example

Question: one of four largest cities in former Yugoslavia country, monument built before 1970, artist born 1928.

• Step 1: "Bosnia largest cities 2013 census population" — determined four cities: Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Zenica
• Step 2: "monument artist born 1928 Bosnia Sarajevo Banja Luka Tuzla Zenica" — narrowed to Zenica
• Step 3: "Zenica Partisan Detachment May 1942 killed perished event" — found specific monument

Example

Question: museum established 1910, renamed 1999, ~602 miles from an aquarium.

• Step 1: "museum established 1910 renamed 1999" — directly located the museum
• Step 2: "Fort Smith Arkansas to Newport Kentucky distance miles" — verified distance constraint

Anti-pattern

Not correcting wrong geographic scope: If your initially assumed location contradicts population data or other constraints, you must revise the assumption rather than ignoring the mismatch.