LUOA World Geography: Modules 6 & 7: Europe, Russia & Central Asia

Where did the Industrial Revolution begin?

England

Which of the following are languages commonly spoken in Northern Europe?

English, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish

What are the most spoken languages in Central Europe?

French and German

The culture of the Low Countries has been heavily influenced by which two cultures?

French and Germanic

What two people groups have inhabited the British Isles since before the Romans conquered the southern half of Great Britain?

Gaelic and Celtic

What is the effect of the permafrost in the northern parts of Europe?

It prevents any vegetation with the exception of small shrubs and mosses.

The Renaissance of Western culture began during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries in which European nation?

Italy

Which country was the home of the Roman Empire?

Italy

Match the following European seas with their descriptions. (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Mediterranean Sea)

North Sea- east of British Isles, west of Scandinavian Peninsula, and north of the mainland Baltic Sea- surrounded by Sweden, the Baltic States, and Central Europe Black Sea- accessible only by the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits Mediterranean Sea- an exchange & conflict point between European, African, and Middle Eastern cultures

What is the flat stretch of rich soil and multiple rivers that starts in France and moves eastward across Europe?

Northern European Plain

Which of the following forms a barrier between Central Asia and Southwest Asia?

Pamir Mountains

In one sentence, explain why Poland's history has been so turbulent.

Poland's history has been so turbulent because World War ll began here, and because it is prone to flooding due to the Vistula.

In one sentence, explain the role of Russian repression in Central Asia.

Russian repression played a role in Central Asia by forcing its peoples to give up their traditions to make room for Soviet ideals.

Every coronation of every British monarch since William the Conqueror has taken place at _______________.

Westminster Abbey

Polluted water and smog combine to form rain clouds that carry __________, which damages forests and vegetation, especially in Eastern Europe.

acid rain

Which of the following straits separate the Black and Mediterranean seas?

Bosporus Strait & Dardanelles Strait

Which of the following is a cultural area for which Russia is world renowned?

Music

During the early Medieval period, Central Asian architects built which of the following types of buildings that have stood for centuries? (choose all that apply)

Minarets and mosques

What organization created by the United States opposed the expansion of communism?

NATO

What is the most common spoken language in the Low Countries?

Dutch

In one or two sentences, explain which country left the European Union and why they made that decision.

In recent years, the United Kingdom left the European Union over political and economic differences.

Which of the following is a reason why most of Russia has cold temperatures?

Much of Russia's territory lies away from the oceans.

What is the most spoken language in Russia?

Russian

A climatic region that has low temperatures and extensive coniferous forests is called a ____________.

Taiga

A climatic region that has extreme low temperatures with only mosses and shrubs is called a ______________.

Tundra

What natural landform creates a boundary not only within Russia, but between Europe and Asia as well?

Ural Mountains

The roots of Western culture go back to _______________.

ancient Greece and Rome

A _________ economy is one in which the government makes all economic decisions.

command

Southwest and central Russia have vast expanses of unforested flat grasslands called _________.

steppes

How much of Europe is estimated to have been covered in trees before the Industrial Revolution?

4/5 or four-fifths

What form of dance is Russia renowned for?

Ballet

What gas crater in Turkmenistan has been burning since 1971?

Darvaza Gas Crater

What is the currency used by France, Germany, Italy, and other members of the European Union?

Euro

Which nation has control over nearly 2,000 small islands in the Aegean Sea?

Greece

Which of the following are TRUE of the Red Square?

Location of many major political and propaganda parades, and location of Lenin's Mausoleum

Who invaded Russia in the early 1200s and controlled the Russian states indirectly for over two hundred years?

Mongols

The Princes of ____________ served the Mongols but eventually formed the nation of Russia.

Muscovy

World War II began when Germany invaded __________.

Poland

What branch of language is most common in Eastern Europe?

Slavic

What system did Eastern Europe replace with capitalism after the fall of the Soviet Union?

Socialism

Which of the following are true about the climate in Central Asia? (choose all that apply)

Steppes dominate the landscape in the northern part of the region, and the region receives little precipitation.

What serves as a cultural divider between the Christian Iberian Peninsula and Muslim North Africa?

Strait of Gibraltar

Which of the following is true about religion in the Low Countries?

Though mostly irreligious, the Low Countries are very tolerant of various faiths and beliefs.

What is the longest railway in Russia?

Trans-Siberian Railway

What group sailed out from the Scandinavian Peninsula during the Middle Ages to raid the rest of Europe?

Vikings

What is Europe's physical geography defined by?

peninsulas and water sources

Which of the following are nations in Central Asia? (choose all that apply) (Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia)

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan

The First World War began when a young Serbian nationalist assassinated the Archduke of Austria Franz Ferdinand. On which European peninsula did this event take place?

Balkan Peninsula

Which body of water served as Russia's primary access to sea trade early in the nation's history?

Baltic Sea

Which of the following are rivers in Central Asia?

Amu Darya & Syr Darya

Which body of water in Central Asia used to be the fourth largest lake in the world but has now shrunk to only a fraction of the size it used to be due to extensive irrigation?

Aral Sea

Which body of water is located just north of the Scandinavian Peninsula?

Arctic Ocean

What region of Russia accounts for most of its agricultural production?

Black Soil Belt

What power plant was the location for the worst nuclear disaster in history?

Chernobyl

The black soil known as ___________ has high nutrient content and produces large agricultural yields.

Chernozem

Foreign countries have begun investing in Central Asia to help the region develop the infrastructure it needs to extract its natural resources and to connect Europe and Asia. Which country is the largest of these foreign investors?

China

What system of transportation connects France and the United Kingdom by rail?

Chunnel or Channel Tunnel

What crop grown in Central Asia was a major factor in the shrinking of the Aral Sea?

Cotton

Which of the following empires or peoples did NOT conquer or control Central Asia?

Incans

What is the most densely populated region of Europe?

Low Countries

A large part of Central Asian culture and a portion of Russian culture is heavily influenced by which two cultures?

Mongols and Turks

Match the following cities with their descriptions. (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Vladivostok)

Moscow- capital of Russia St. Petersburg- "window on Europe" Novosibirsk- located on the Ob River Vladivostok- largest Russian port city on the Pacific coast

Which of the following resources can be found in Central Asia?

Natural gas, minerals, and sulfates

Which of the following are environmental failures of the former Soviet Union? (choose all that apply)

Nuclear Testing, Chernobyl, and the draining of the Aral Sea

Which of the following are Slavic languages that are commonly spoken in Eastern Europe?

Polish, Czech, and Ukrainian

What is the westernmost country on the mainland of Europe?

Portugal

Which countries of Mediterranean Europe reside on the Iberian Peninsula?

Portugal & Spain

Which countries of Mediterranean Europe reside on the Iberian Peninsula? (choose all that apply)

Portugal and Spain

Which of the following is true about the apartment complexes built in the Soviet era?

Rooms were small & confined

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Dutch Republic traded far and wide through _______________.

the Dutch East and Dutch West India companies

Which nation houses the headquarters of the European Union in its capital?

Belgium

Western culture is a complex blend of what three elements?

Christianity, philosophy, and science

What river, the longest in Central Europe, flows through or alongside eleven countries?

Danube

What type of soil is common in the tundra regions of Europe?

Permafrost

What river has significant cultural importance to Germany?

Rhine

Christopher Columbus sailed from which of the following nations in 1492?

Spain

Which of the following was a main characteristic of Soviet rule in Central Asia?

the Soviet government seeking to industrialize and make Central Asia modern

What nation located in the British Isles has Dublin as its capital?

Ireland

Which body of water lies to the west of the Scandinavian Peninsula and has large amounts of oil and natural gas reserves?

North Sea

What phenomenon, a combination of air and water pollution, causes damage to forests and vegetation?

Acid Rain

Which area of Europe is mostly made up of the nations that used to comprise Yugoslavia?

Balkan States

Which of the following is true about industry in Europe?

Banking and software production has become the foundation of Europe's economy.

Match each cultural landmark with its description. (Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, and Newgrange)

Big Ben- clock tower in London Westminster Abbey- coronation site of Britain's kings and queens Tower of London- site of many executions/ imprisonments in Britain Newgrange- ancient Gaelic religious site

Which body of water is a vital waterway for Bulgaria and Romania and has received international investment due to new oil deposits and offshore drilling?

Black Sea

Which of the following are major European islands?

British Isles, Crete, Sardinia, Sicily, Balearic Islands, Corsica, Malta, Great Britain, and Iceland

What city in Belgium is its capital and headquarters of the EU or European Union?

Brussels

Which of the following are major branches of Christianity in Central Europe?

Catholicism and Protestantism

Which river flows southward into the Black Sea and has been a source of trade and irrigation in Eastern Europe since the Middle Ages?

Dnieper

Which of the following is true of Northern Europe?

During the nineteenth century, poorer people in rural areas moved into cities to find work, resulting in massive cities.

Match the following European landmarks with their descriptions. (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Louvre)

Eiffel Tower- built as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair Arc de Triomphe- built to honor those who fell during the French Revolution/Napoleonic War Neuschwanstein Castle- built by Ludwig II as an ode to Romanticism Louvre- the world's largest art museum

_______________ is a political and economic governing body in Europe.

European Union

In two or three sentences, describe the fjords.

Fjords are beautiful freshwater rivers formed by the melting and erosion of glaciers. Many are in the Scandinavian Peninsula with some scattered throughout the British Isles, flowing from the mountains to the North and Baltic Seas.

What nation fought and won with the Allied Powers in World War I but was overrun by Germany early in World War II?

France

Match each country to its capital. (France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria)

France- Paris Germany- Berlin Switzerland- Zurich Austria- Vienna

Match the following nations with their capitals. (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and France)

Germany- Berlin Netherlands- Amsterdam Switzerland- Zurich France- Paris

Match the following European climatic regions with their descriptions. (High Latitude, Midaltitude, and Dry Regions)

High Latitude Regions- bitter winters/short, cool summers; coniferous forests Midlatitude Regions- Mediterranean climate in the south; humid continental climate in the east Dry Regions- steppes and grasslands; hot summers and extremely cold winters

Which of these are true of the European economy? (choose all that apply)

High government involvement, highly educated work force, and lots of tourism

Match each European peninsula with its description. (Iberian, Italian, Balkan, and Scandinavian)

Iberian Peninsula- home to Spain, Portugal, and Andorra Italian Peninsula- ancient home to the Roman empire Balkan Peninsula- home to Slavic peoples and the nation of Greece Scandinavian Peninsula- former home of the Vikings; divides North and Baltic Seas

Which of the following is true about religion in Europe?

In general, the Christian faith has waned in recent decades.

Match the following nations with their capitals. (Ireland, Sweden, UK, and Norway)

Ireland- Dublin Sweden- Stockholm United Kingdom- London Norway- Oslo

Match the following nations with their descriptions. (Ireland, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark)

Ireland- aka the Isle of Saints and Scholars Iceland- on the northwest fringes of Europe; its capital is Reykjavik Norway- was under rule of Danish kings for centuries; its capital is Oslo Denmark- on the small peninsula of Jutland

There are a lot of different geographical and political terms used to refer to areas of the British Isles. Match each of the following terms with its description. (Ireland, UK, and Great Britain)

Ireland- island including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland United Kingdom- consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland Great Britain- island including England, Scotland, and Wales

What is the capital of Ukraine?

Kiev

What is the only landlocked nation of the Low Countries?

Luxembourg

Which of the following countries belong to the Low Countries, as it's been defined in this course? (choose all that apply)

Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Belgium

What event in Central Europe fractured the Catholic Church, leading to many religious wars, including the Thirty Years War, and creating many of the theological ideas and divisions we see today?

Martin Luther publishing his 95 theses

Which of the following nations has extensive natural harbors and canals with some of the busiest ports in the world?

Netherlands

Which cultural landmark is shown in the image below?

Neuschwanstein Castle

Which cultural landmark is shown in the image below?

Newgrange

Historically, Northern Europe has followed ___________ Christianity predominantly since the 1500s.

Protestant

Which of the following are true about religion (past and present) in the Low Countries?

Provided refuge for the Pilgrims

What mountain range separates France from the Iberian Peninsula?

Pyrenees

Match the following European mountain ranges with their descriptions. (Pyrenees, Alps, and Carpathian Mountains)

Pyrenees- located between France & Spain Alps- highest & longest mountain range in Europe Carpathian Mountains- defines much of southeastern Europe

Which of the following countries belong to Eastern Europe, as it's been defined in this course? (choose all that apply) (Luxembourg, Romania, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Iceland)

Romania, Poland, & Czech Republic

Which artistic style prominent in Central Europe depicts scenery and mystical ideas?

Romanticism

Match each of the following European rivers with its location. (Seine, Po, Dnieper, and Vistula)

Seine- France Po- Italy Dnieper- Ukraine Vistula- Poland

From what countries did European exploration begin?

Spain & Portugal

What landlocked nation is located in the Alps and is famous for its neutrality?

Switzerland

Which of the following are in Eastern Europe? (choose all that apply) (Lithuania, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, and Greece)

Ukraine, Romania, and Poland

Which of the following were famous artists from the Low Countries? (choose all that apply)

Van Gogh and Rembrandt

Which river flows northward into the Baltic Sea and has many major cities on its banks despite being susceptible to flooding?

Vistula

What is land reclaimed from the sea or river in the Low Countries?

polders

What Russian toy sculpture had specific reverence in Russian culture?

Matryoshka dolls

What Parisian site embodies the French spirit and name means "Our Fair Lady?"

Notre Dame

What Parisian site embodies the French spirit and took over one hundred years to build?

Notre Dame

Which of these are considered to be Romance languages? (Serbian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish)

Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish

What island is pictured in red in the image below?

Sicily

How did the Low Countries get their name?

Due to their overall altitude being at or below sea level.

In one sentence, explain the difference between tundra and taiga in Russia.

The main difference between tundra and taiga regions in Russia is that tundras have little to no vegetation, while taiga regions are almost completely covered in coniferous forests.

__________ is the most commonly spoken language in Northern Europe.

English

In what year was the European Union founded?

1993

Which of the following are TRUE of the Aral Sea?

Fed by the Syr Darya and Amu Darya, and been shrinking since the 1960s

Which of the following countries belong to Central Europe, as it's been defined in this course? (choose all that apply) (Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Belgium, and Austria)

Germany, France, and Austria

___________ are prison work camps made by Soviet leaders in Siberia.

Gulags

Which of the following are TRUE about the Russian economy? (choose all that apply)

Has multitude of different sources of energy and rich farmland

Who believed that communism should be adopted by the entire world and said, "Experience has proved that, on certain very important questions of the proletarian revolution, all countries will inevitably have to do what Russia has done"?

Lenin

In one or two sentences, explain Lenin's beliefs about communism.

Lenin's beliefs about communism were that it should be practiced worldwide.

Which of the following countries belong to Northern Europe, as it's been defined in this course? (choose all that apply) (United Kingdom, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Denmark, Norway)

United Kingdom, Denmark, and Norway

Which of the following is a major difficulty in the Russian economy?

difficult transportation

What is the greatest enduring legacy of the Soviet Union in Central Asia?

environmental damage in the region

What are rivers that result from melting and erosion caused by glaciers that can be found on the Scandinavian Peninsula and the British Isles

fjords

What is the largest inland body of water in the world?

Caspian Sea

What type of climate exists in the areas of Europe below the Alps and the Pyrenees?

A Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters

What geographical feature forms Central Asia's western border?

Caspian Sea

Why have the characteristics of Western culture spread across the globe?

European exploration, colonization, and imperialism

All of the following are TRUE of Russia's resources EXCEPT:

Limited reserves of fossil fuels.

Which of the following are true about the high-latitude regions of Russia? (choose all that apply)

The winters are long, and the summers are very short, and the weeks around the summer solstice are bright nearly twenty-four hours a day.

Who started the Reformation in 1517 in Wittenberg, Germany?

Martin Luther

The Solidarity movement in ________ hastened the fall of the Soviet Union.

Poland

What is the capital of Greece?

Athens

What peninsula was controlled by the Ottomans and saw the beginning of the First World War?

Balkan

Which mountain range in southwestern Russia contains the nation's highest peak, Mount Elbrus?

Caucasus Mountains

According to our definition, what European region would Germany be considered to be a part of?

Central Europe

What areas in Europe would benefit from the North Atlantic Drift (or North Atlantic Current)?

Countries on the Atlantic Ocean & the British Isles

Why has much of Europe's soil weakened? (choose all that apply)

Cutting away of vegetation, overfarming, and overgrazing of livestock

Match the following nations with their descriptions. (Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine)

Czech Republic- the capital Prague is one of the most important cultural cities in Europe Hungary- located in the Carpathian Basin just south of the Carpathian Mountains Romania- the inspiration of Dracula and Transylvania Ukraine- conflicted with Russia over the Crimean Peninsula

Which of the following are major environmental issues in Russia and Central Asia? (choose all that apply)

Deforestation, overfishing, and river pollution

What nation located on the Jutland Peninsula controls access between the North and Baltic Seas?

Denmark

What is the most common religion in Central Asia?

Islam

Why does the Volga River have such importance for the Russian people?

It's a source of drinking water, it helps produce hydroelectric energy, and it's an irrigation source.

Why has interest increased in investing in Central Asia? (choose all that apply)

Its geographical location and natural resource wealth

The most nuclear-bombed area on Earth is the Semipalatinsk Test Site. In which country is it located?

Kazakhstan

What region of Central Asia was used as a testing ground for the nuclear arsenal of the Soviet Union?

Kums (deserts)

What is the deepest freshwater lake in the world?

Lake Baikal

Which philosophers helped shape Western culture?

Locke, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and Hume

The Greek island of Crete is located in the _____________.

Mediterranean Sea

What Soviet leader decided to relax government control of the economy and allowed for limited market economy?

Mikhail Gorbachev

What soil layer prevents agriculture in north and east Russia?

Permafrost

What is the largest country on earth by landmass?

Russia

What city in Uzbekistan dates back to the eighth century BC and became a center of trade and learning because of its location on the Silk road?

Samarkand

What harsh landscape accounts for two-thirds of Russia's total landmass?

Siberia

Which cultural landmark is shown in the image below?

St. Basil's Cathedral

What site is the home of the papacy?

St. Peter's Basilica

What leader of the Soviet Union helped to defeat Hitler and brutally repressed his people?

Stalin

What is the saddest legacy that the Soviet Union created for both Russia and Central Asia? [answer in one or two sentences]

The Soviet Union's saddest legacy for both Russia and Central Asia is the immeasurable damage that nuclear testing and industry have brought to the region.

During the Cold War, many Eastern European countries were forcibly organized into ____________.

The Warsaw Pact

In one sentence, explain the difference between the Russian grasslands and the Kazakh Steppe.

The difference between the Russian grasslands and the Kazakh Steppe is that the Kazakh Steppe is drier than the Russian grassland.

Match each Central Asian landform with its description. ( Tian Shan Range, Pamir Mountain Range, Ustyurt Plateau, and Kazakh Steppe)

Tian Shan Range- means "Heavenly Mountains" Pamir Mountain Range- forms a barrier between Central Asia and Southwest Asia Ustyurt Plateau- clay desert with salt marshes and multiple caverns Kazakh Steppe- incredibly flat grasslands that go on for thousands of miles

Which of the following is true about the Scandinavian Peninsula?

Warm water and air from the ocean makes the western portions wetter than the eastern part of the peninsula.

What area of Russia sprawls eastward from the Ural Mountains and is one of the world's largest areas of flat lands?

West Siberian Plain

Although Central Asia has a variety of climates, most of the region is covered with _____________.

arid deserts

What two primary crops were grown in Central Asia under Soviet rule but have begun to decline today?

cotton and wheat

In recent years, heavy rains in Europe have resulted in major flooding in certain areas, particularly along rivers and in ______________.

the Low Countries

One major environmental concern in Europe is the fear of an oil spill in ___________.

the North Sea

What is the most overriding characteristic of Russian religious life?

the promotion of atheism and repression of religion by the Soviet Union