Geography Unit 3 Short Answers

What makes transportation and communication in Latin America difficult

natural barriers that include rainforests and mountains.

Is French the official language in many Latin American countries?

no

Rapid urbanization has lead to _____ cities that cannot provide _____ and _____, and as a result, some people are forced to move into _____.

overcrowded; enough jobs and adequate housing; shantytowns

What fueled the movement for Latin American independence?

inspiration from the American Revolution and French Revolution

What happens to the media during political unrest?

it is censored

At what level is the standard of living for most people in South America?

low

Educational levels tend to be _____, but they are _____

low; gaining

What is becoming a vital aspect of many regional economies?

tourism

Latin America has what kind of climate?

tropical or subtropical

Today, where do most Latin Americans live? Where did most of them live previously? Why did they move?

urban cities; rural countrysides; to seek a better future for themselves and their children

What are three different groups of islands in the Caribbean?

- Bahamas: an archipelago and country above the Greater and Lesser Antilles - Greater Antilles: an archipelago made up of the four largest islands of the Caribbean - Lesser Antilles: an archipelago shaped like an arc that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean

Why do you think Roman Catholicism has remained the predominant religion in Latin America?

- Church leaders have become involved with political affairs in many Latin American countries. - The Catholic Church has grown to be very wealthy. - The Catholic Church opposes dictatorship, a problem in some countries, such as Cuba and Argentina. - The Catholic Church works to raise the standard of living of disadvantaged people.

What factors make Latin America important to the global economy?

- along the coast of Mexico and the southern Caribbean Sea are mountains that have deposits of coal and oil - northern South America is also abundant in oil - South America is abundant in many different minerals, such as gold, silver, bauxite, copper, and aluminum - Colombia is abundant in some of the world's finest emeralds

What are the environmental effects of slash-and burn cultivation?

- ash puts nutrients into soil - frequent rains wash these nutrients away, leaving soil without fertility - because of this, farmers need to move on to other areas - the new area's soil will then lose its fertility, and the farmers move again - leads to deforestation - grasses dry up

What kinds of economic activities would you expect to find in the grasslands areas of Latin America?

- both commercial and subsistence farming The llanos and pampas are abundant in wheat and corn, but they are also areas of low standard of living.

What circumstances might make environmental protection a low priority for some Latin American governments?

- increasing population - migration to Latin America from other countries - overcrowded cities - developing countries watning to raise their standard of living

Describe the Inca.

- located along the Andes Mountains from Ecuador to Peru - excelled in engineering - built a network of roads that connected the entire empire - no written language; communicated using quipas - polytheistic religion centered around the sun

Describe the Aztec.

- located at the southern end of the Mexican Plateau around the present-day city of Mexico City - excelled in engineering - built a sanitation system that was superior to anything else at its time - written language in glyphs - polytheistic religion centered around the sun

Describe the Maya.

- located in Central America and the Yucatán Peninsula - excelled in math and astronomy - written language in glyphs - polytheistic religion centered around the sun

How are Latin American countries addressing the problems resulting from rapid urbanization?

- new water supply system and expanded public transportation system in Mexico City - cities in Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru, and Brazil have increased in size - abandoned city building have been transformed into affordable housing/commercial space

What obstacles have slowed the development of Latin America's transportation and communication systems?

- unstable governments/political unrest - natural barriers, such as mountains and rainforests - limited technology

What is a third world country?

A nation, usually developing, that is working on catching up to a higher standard of living. - not a country from Europe or North America

Why do some people believe that preservation of the Amazon rain forest is a global concern

Amazon rainforest contains a majority of the world's animals and plants deforestation = mass extinction of animals deforestation = major loss in plants = less plants take in CO2 = CO2 levels in atmosphere rise The Amazon is the home to many medicines. deforestation = loss of medicines = people more vulnerable to disease

Why might political instability in a country discourage investors?

Investors may not want to invest in an enterprise that is in a country with a corrupt or unstable government.

What were the three native groups of Latin America?

Maya Aztec Inca

What are the three regions of Latin America?

Middle America Caribbean South America

Where is most of South America's population located?

Most of South America's population is located on Brazil's eastern coastal plains, the "populated rim".

Where did Latin America get its name?

Most of the people in Latin America speak Spanish and Portuguese, which derive from Latin.

Where do most South Americans live? Why?

Most people live on the continent's coastal edges, or the "populated rim". The area provides favorable climates, fertile land, and access to transportation systems.

What organization encourages trade among the US, Canada, and Mexico?

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Why might parties-fiestas and festivals-be so popular in Latin America?

Parties, fiestas, and festivals are events that encourage excitement and enthusiasm. So, making them a part of what may not seem as exciting, such as friend gatherings or family dinners, makes them even more energizing and, therefore, fun.

Why do border disputes slow the economic development of the Latin American region?

Resources that can be used for economic development are diverted when countries compete over them.

How do maquiladoras work? What has made maquiladoras successful?

They provide foreign companies labor for a low price and, in return, receive exports with no tax. The NAFTA, signed by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, has increased the flow of goods among these countries, helping maquiladoras become successful.

On what do the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean rely heavily?

agriculture

What is an important means of travel in Latin America?

air travel

What three cash crops supply much of Latin America's income?

bananas, sugar cane, and coffee beans

Slash-and-burn, a farming method of _____ and _____ when dried (the ash puts _____ in the soil, but rainstorms wash them away), has lead to deforestation. Now, people are practicing new methods of framing to _____ the life of plants after clearing land, which will result in reforestation.

cutting down plants and setting them on fire; nutrients; replenish

To protect Latin America's environment, some _____ countries practice sustainable development, where increasing the _____ does not _____ human or natural resources in the area.

developing; standard of living; eliminate

As a result of colonization, what kinds of governments exist in Latin America?

dictatorships and democracies

What natural disasters occur in Latin America. How has the region protected people from these disasters?

earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions The region practices anticipating emergencies rather than reacting after they happen.

You need _____ to get _____, raising the _____ as a result

education; healthcare; standard of living

Name some natural resources that are abundant in Latin America.

forests (timber), minerals (gold, silver, copper, tin, aluminum), and oil

Redefine "standard of living".

how well people meet their needs, the quality of life

Environmental laws have not kept up with the growth of _____ and _____. Air and water pollution have _____. Chemical run-off is now crossing borders are _____ neighbor countries.

industry and commercial farms; increassed; threatening

What were the results of colonization of Latin America?

influence of Christianity and Roman Catholicism languages of Spanish and Portuguese

Overcrowded cities create _____ and _____ due to a lack of _____ or _____. Also _____ is a serious problem for people in these cities.

poor living conditions and diseases; sanitation systems or running water; air polution

Health care is generally _____, but it is _____

poor; improving

Several countries depend on one main crop. What is this called? Give examples. Why is this risky?

single crop economy coffee beans, bananas, sugar cane weather conditions, crop is off-season, demand of crop is low, disease

Many _____ workers who might otherwise remain in their home countries and help address many problems are _____ from Latin America

skilled; emigrating

What kind of farming do most people of Latin America practice?

subsistence farming

What two forms of technology are not plentiful in many countries of Latin America?

telephones and computers

When did most countries in Latin America win their independence from colonial powers?

the 1800s

What is the largest river system in Latin America?

the Amazon River

What is the largest mountain range in Latin America?

the Andes Mountains

What are three very important man-made structures in Latin America? Why?

the Panama Canal the Trans-Andean Highway the Pan-American Highway These structures encourage travel and trade in the region as well as provide access to the outside world. The Panama Canal provides a shortcut for ships sailing between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

By whom was most of Latin America colonized? For what were they looking?

the Spanish and Portuguese; gold and silver

Who were the first people to settle in Latin America? What are their descendants called?

the ancestors of the Native Americans; indigenous people (yeah, I know, kind of vague)

Many territorial disputes have occured in Latin America, usually over what?

the right to natural resources that lie on the border between two or three countries

How is Latin America trying to maintain its rainforests?

through sustainable development

Farmland has been unevenly distributed into two groups: latifundia, estates of _____ farmers where _____ farming is practiced, and minifundia, _____ plots of land where _____ practice _____ farming.

wealthy; commercial; small; campesinos; subsistence