Which of the following types of states might have difficulty in communication or transportation due to their shape?

Fragmented states are characterized by being composed of several pieces of territory, which can be separated by water or other states. This discontinuity can create challenges in terms of communication and transportation, as movement between the various parts of the state may require navigation around other territories or across bodies of water. Consequently, the state may face difficulties in implementing cohesive policies, providing services, or fostering national unity because the separation of land can impede the flow of goods, people, and information.

The other types of states—compact, perforated, and prorupted—have their own unique geographical features but generally do not experience the same level of communication and transportation issues as fragmented states. Compact states are more centralized, making it easier for communication and transportation; perforated states, while having an inner territory that can complicate governance, still maintain a cohesive geographical form; and prorupted states have extensions that can enhance access to resources or coastlines, thereby facilitating communication despite their irregular shape.