Final answer:
Intervening opportunity is a geographical concept referring to the existence of a closer or more convenient alternative that changes a person's migration plans. An example is an immigrant who changes their destination due to finding a job in a closer country rather than their initially intended distant one.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intervening opportunity refers to a concept in human geography where a closer or more convenient alternative affects the ability of people to migrate to a more distant destination, altering their initial plans. An example in the context of migration could be an immigrant who initially plans to move to a distant country but decides to stay in a closer one because they find employment that meets their needs, effectively changing their intended destination.
Intervening opportunities often arise during migration and can significantly impact rural-to-urban shifts and general migration patterns as individuals seek to take advantage of better economic situations or living conditions. Migrants encounter various opportunities and advantages, leading them to modify their initial migration goals and establish themselves in places different from their final planned destinations.
A historical example involves immigrants in the early 20th century heading to the United States from Europe. Many intended to go to the industrialized cities of the East Coast but ended up settling in the cities where they disembarked, like New York or Boston, due to immediate job opportunities that emerged as an intervening opportunity.