Chart, Graph, and Map Skills Activity

Name ______Date ____ Class _____

Physical Geography of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica

Creating a Venn Diagram Learning the Skill A Venn diagram is used to compare and contrast information or to show similarities and differences among various objects or subjects. In your studies, you may be asked to compare two items-two individuals, religions, cultures, and so on. A Venn diagram consists of two or more overlapping circles. You can see at a glance what is the same and what is different about the items. To create a Venn diagram, follow these steps: • Decide which two items or main ideas you are going to compare. • Draw a circle for each item and overlap the circles slightly. Write a title above each circle. • In the outer part of the two circles, list the identifying features of each item. • Compare the two lists to determine what features are similar. • In the area where the circles overlap, write the similar features and then remove them from the outer parts of the circles. The remaining features in the outer circles are the differences. vrI Practicing the Skill Directions: Study the Venn diagram below, and then answer the questions that follow.

Australia Oceania

• Desert • Located mostly • Warm climate most • Dry steppe south of the of the year • Warm summers Equator • Tropical wet climate • Mild, cool winters with heavy seasonal • Continent rainfall • Volcanic islands or coral atolls

43 Name ______Date ____ Class _____

Chart, Graph, and Map Skills Activity continued

1. Describing What is the typical Oceanic climate?

2. Identifying What is a primary characteristic of most of Australia's climate?

3. Identifying What is a unifying feature of Australia and Oceania?

(J Applying the Skill Directions: Use information from this chapter in your textbook to create your own Venn diagram of this region.