World Geography Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

1.Geographers use a ____ perspective to study the world. Ans spatial . 2.____ geography is the study of the way people live. Ans Human . 3.There are ____ essential elements in geography. Ans six . 4.The theme of ____ involves the study of how people and things change locations and the effects of those changes. Ans human-environment interaction . 5.A map that connects points of equal elevation above or below sea level is called a ____. Ans contour map . 6.The Moon orbits Earth every ____. Ans . days 7.When does the fall equinox occur in the Northern Hemisphere? Ans September 21 . 8.The shape of Earth's orbit is ____. Ans elliptical . 9.Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78 percent of what gas? Ans nitrogen . 10.What causes the tides on Earth? Ans the gravitational pull of the Sun, Earth, and Moon . 11.Where are the most diverse ecosystems found? Ans in tropical climates . 12.Areas of tropical grasslands, scattered trees, and shrubs are called _____. Ans savanna . 13.What two factors influence the climate of a highland area? Ans elevation and prevailing winds . 14.Which of the following is not a factor in ocean currents? Ans latitude . 15.Where are most desert climate regions located? Ans 30 degrees north and south of the equator . 16._____ is not a renewable energy source. Ans Coal power . 17.Which of the following is not a benefit of recycling? Ans decreased cost of oil . 18.The soil horizon is composed of _____. Ans humus, subsoil, and weathered rock . 19.Where would you be most likely to find an alluvial fan? Ans at the mouth of a river . 20.What are the three processes that create landforms? Ans tectonic processes, erosion , and weathering . 21.The belief in many gods is called _____. Ans Polytheism . 22.Which of the following could be an example of a push factor? Ans a country-wide famine . 23.The increase in connections between cultures around the world is called _____. Ans globalization . 24.How is population density expressed? Ans persons per square mile . 25.Which of the following religions is not an ethnic religion? Ans Catholicism . 26.The division of the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul by the Mississippi River is an example of a(n) _____ boundary. Ans natural . 27.The most basic economic system is a _____ economy. Ans subsistence . 28.The populations of most developed countries _____. Ans are stable or decreasing . 29.Which of the following is not usually an important factor in the site and growth of cities? Ans prevailing wind direction . 30.The _____ is the number of people in a country who can read and write. Ans literacy rate . 31.Which of the following mountain ranges is not part of the Appalachians? Ans Brooks Range . 32.Which of the following factors does not affect the climate of the United States? Ans equatorial latitude location . 33.Which of the following is not a natural hazard? Ans nuclear waste . 34.What type of vegetation is most commonly found in humid areas? Ans forests . 35.Which of the following regions is not a major coal-producing region? Ans Grand Banks . 36.Where were most early colonial settlements located? Ans on natural harbors or navigable rivers . 37.What is the majority religion in the United States? Ans Protestant Christianity . 38.What is the current trend in population movement in the United States? Ans from the Northeast to the South and West . 39.What has been a negative effect of gentrification? Ans increased property taxes in poor urban neighborhoods . 40.What has happened to trade in North America since the signing of NAFTA? Ans It has increased dramatically. . 41.Which of the following was not a major goal of the French in Canada? Ans to stop the British from settling . 42.What country is Canada's most important trade partner? Ans United States . 43.What are the Grand Banks? Ans a commercial fishing ground . 44.Why is farming difficult in the Atlantic provinces? Ans It has thin rocky soil and long cold winters. . 45.Historically, what are the major natural resources of the Atlantic Provinces? Ans timber and fish . 46.Mexico City's stylish urban area is called the _____. Ans Zona Rosa . 47.Which region of Mexico is the most traditional? Ans southern Mexico . 48.Which region of Mexico is the main agricultural center? Ans central Mexico . 49.What does the acronym NAFTA stand for? Ans North American Free Trade Agreement . 50.Which of the following is not a mountain range in Mexico? Ans Sierra Madre del Terra . 51.Which of the following islands was formed from volcanoes? Ans Martinique . 52.Why do the low islands of the Caribbean have limited water resources? Ans They produce no orographic effect and any rainfall quickly sinks into limestone. . 53.Which of the following crops is not an important commercial crop in Central America and the Caribbean? Ans rice . 54.What is the dominant religion in Central America? Ans Roman Catholicism . 55.Why did the indigenous population of Central America decline with the arrival of Europeans? Ans European diseases killed a large portion of the population. . 56.What is La Niña? Ans ocean and weather patterns that occur when Pacific waters are cooler than normal . 57.Taking over the government through force is called a ____. Ans coup. . 58.What is a major cause of poverty and unrest in South America? Ans Inequality in land ownership . 59.Which of the following factors severely limits the growth of many industries in South America? Ans all parts and raw materials must be imported . 60.Which of the following factors is not a challenge for South American countries? Ans lack of natural resources . 61.What is the chief characteristic of a navigable river? Ans It is deep enough and wide enough for shipping. . 62.Which of the following is not a major island in Europe? Ans Denmark . 63.In which region does most of Europe's agricultural activity take place? Ans Northern European Plain . 64.Which of the following is not a major climate in Europe? Ans arid . 65.Where are Europe's main oil and natural gas deposits located? Ans North Sea . 66.The Industrial Revolution began in which country? Ans Great Britain . 67. Which three countries make up the Benelux countries? Ans Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg . 68.Which of the following environmental issues is of particular concern for the Netherlands? Ans rising global sea levels . 69.The region known as Lapland stretches across which three Scandinavian countries? Ans Norway, Sweden, and Finland . 70.Which country has a strong paper- and wood-products industry? Ans Sweden . 71.Which of the following factors was not a result of the collapse of the German economy in the 1920s? Ans drought . 72.What is the largest religious group in Germany? Ans Protestant . 73.The Germans placed which group of people into ghettos in Poland during World War II? Ans Jews . 74.Which two countries form a complementary region? Ans the Czech Republic and Slovakia . 75.What factor contributed to the economic slowdown in the Czech Republic during the 1990s? Ans too much government influence over the economy . 76.The Moors brought all of the following except _____ to Spain. Ans new roadbuilding techniques . 77.The increased tourism in Spain has helped lead to _____. Ans increased pollution, traffic, and overbuilding . 78.The "breadbasket" of Italy is centered around _____. Ans the Po River . 79.Three religious groups that are in conflict in the Balkans are _____. Ans Muslims, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Roman Catholics . 80.The eastern Balkans region is composed of _____. Ans Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova .