Answer :
formal means official or recognized
so the best answer would be the state of Illinois, the others are general areas
so the best answer would be the state of Illinois, the others are general areas
The State of Illinois is a formal region, with a sharply defined boundary.
In principle, with careful enough measurement, you can always find
exactly where any place on its boundary is, and you can stand there
with one foot inside Illinois and one foot outside of it. I have done this
many times.