Natural Resources and Economies of the Middle Ea st

In Saudi Arabia, the economy is most dependent on exporting __________. A. oil B. gold C. iron D. coal

A

Explain the agricultural industry in the Middle East. In what types of areas do herding and farming occur? What are the major animals and crops raised? What methods are used to farm in dry areas? Your answer should be written in four or more complete sentences.

Agricultural economies are still used in some countries of the Middle East, especially where other natural resources are few. These economies are often associated with a lower standard of living. Herding and livestock raising is a common means of income in areas too dry for farming. Animals raised include cattle, goats, and sheep. Farming often occurs along the coasts, but may also occur in drier areas if irrigation watering methods are used. Some people choose to practice subsistence farming methods, growing only enough food to feed their families. With little fertile soil in the region, it is tough to make a living growing and selling large quantities of crops. Major crops in the Middle East include wheat, cotton, and citrus fruit.

Most people in the Middle East who live in rural areas ____________. A. wear western style clothing B. farm or herd for a living C. practice Christianity or Judaism D. have a high standard of living

B

OPEC was formed in the 1960s in response to oil companies __________. A. increasing the oil supply B. lowering oil prices C. raising royalty payments D. stealing oil

B

The most important industry for Saudi Arabia's economy is the __________. A. diamond industry B. oil industry C. textile industry D. technological industry

B

What is the holy day of the week in Islam? A. Monday B. Friday C. Saturday D. Sunday

B

Which of the following statements is true about water access in the Middle East?

B. Most countries depend on outside resources for water.

All of the following statements are true of families in the Middle East except __________. A. it is common to find many generations living together in one home B. family ties and loyalty are very important to people C. extended families are most commonly found in urban areas D. as more people move to cities, extended families are breaking up

C

In the Middle East, oil access is valuable to countries because __________. A. it provides a lower standard of living B. it is only obtained through outside sources C. it can provide a country with great wealth D. there are no other resources available

C

Literacy rates in the Middle East are __________. A. declining for both men and women B. rising for men, but not for women C. improving for both men and women D. remaining the same for both men and women

C

The Middle East has some of the world's largest reserves of __________. A. diamonds B. gold C. oil D. water

C

The religion with the greatest influence on Middle Eastern culture is __________. A. Christianity B. Hinduism C. Islam D. Judaism

C

Which area of the Middle East is at the center of oil production? A. the Sinai Peninsula B. coastal regions C. the Persian Gulf D. desert areas

C

Which industry has allowed the United Arab Emirates to become one of the wealthiest countries in the world? A. farming B. fishing C. oil D. textiles

C

Which of the following is a similarity shared by the economies of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey? A. They are all command economies. B. They are all focused on oil production. C. They all face challenges with resources. D. They all export much more than they import.

C

Which of these challenges is Israel's economy facing? A. It is too dependent on exporting oil. B. It is still an agricultural economy. C. It has limited natural resources. D. It does not have a service industry.

C

One of the main goals of OPEC's members is to __________.

C. settle conflicts over water resources

A dark, natural oil commonly used for fuel and in plastics is known as __________. A. coal B. iron ore C. natural gas D. petroleum

D

Avoiding eating pork or drinking alcohol are religious practices of __________. A. Buddhists B. Christians C. Hindus D. Muslims

D

Because it provides the majority of the world's energy, most countries are dependent on __________. A. coal B. iron ore C. natural gas D. oil

D

How many of the OPEC countries are located in the Middle East? A. three B. ten C. twelve D. six

D

In the Middle East, most people seem to live near sources of __________. A. gold and silver B. lumber and coal C. iron and rare earths D. oil and water

D

In the dry climate of the Middle East, __________ is valuable because there is a limited supply. A. gold B. iron C. oil D. water

D

OPEC helps to make decisions about the price and production of __________. A. coal B. copper C. diamonds D. oil

D

OPEC stands for the __________. A. Organization of Pollution and Environmental Council B. Organization of Production and Economic Cooperation C. Organization of Private Enterprise Countries D. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

D

The most important natural resource in the Middle East is __________. A. coal B. gold C. iron D. oil

D

What is the most important natural resource in the Middle East? A. coal B. lumber C. silver D. oil

D

Which major economic activity in the Middle East occurs largely in the area circled on the map above? A. diamond mining B. farming C. nomadic herding D. oil production

D

Which of the following countries has the lowest standard of living? A. Qatar B. Israel C. United Arab Emirates D. Afghanistan

D

Using four or more complete sentences, discuss how access to natural resources has led to conflict in the Middle East. Which resources are the most important to people? Why are conflicts occurring over these resources?

In the Middle East, an unequal access to natural resources has led to conflict between countries. As the two most important resources in the region, water and oil have caused such conflicts. Oil is the most abundant resource in the Middle East, and many countries' economies are dependent on it. However, oil is not equally distributed between all countries. There is a large difference in standard of living between those countries that have oil and those that do not. Controlling access to oil is often crucial in determining a country's wealth. Water is an important resource in the Middle East because of how limited it is. Most of the region is dry, with few renewable freshwater sources. Many countries are dependent on outside sources, such as rivers and seas, for water. Conflicts have occurred when countries are perceived as using more than their share of the water resources; for instance, by damming a river.

Using complete sentences, compare and contrast urban and rural life in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, people who live in rural areas have very different lives from those who live in urban areas. The region was originally made up of rural communities, making these communities more traditional in nature. However, with 60% of the region's population now living in cities, the Middle East is increasingly moving toward a more urban lifestyle. People in rural areas tend to make a living by working in agriculture as farmers and herders. City residents are focused on the manufacturing and service industries. In rural areas, many people live with their extended families; as more people move to the cities, however, these extended families begin to break apart. Thus, smaller families are more common in the cities. Clothing preferences differ as well, with those in rural areas preferring more traditional clothing and those in cities choosing Western-style clothing. People who live in urban areas also have greater access to advanced technology and communication.

Using four or more complete sentences, discuss three ways in which Islam has influenced the culture of the Middle East.

Islam is the most common religion in the Middle East, with a regional population of over 90% Muslim. Having such a large influence in the region, Islam greatly impacts the culture there. Examples include Food: Religion may dictate what people eat and how it's prepared. Muslims' religious practices forbid them from eating pork or drinking alcohol. Clothing: Islam promotes modest dressing, so many traditional Muslims make sure to cover their bodies, especially in public. For example, women may be required to cover their faces with veils. Language: Many people learn the Arabic language to read the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an, in its original form. Government: Muslim religious principles are part of the governmental systems and laws in most countries. Rituals: Muslims practice certain rituals each week, such as praying 5 times a day and not working on Fridays because they are holy days. Family: Many Muslims live in extended families, as family is seen as the foundation of society.

Identify four of Jerusalem's holy sites. To which religion is each site sacred, and why is it considered important?

Jerusalem holy sites are the biggest attractions in Israel. This city has the greatest number of sacred sites than anywhere else on earth, places important to several major religions. Jews, every denomination of Christians, Samaritans, Muslims - all of them hold Jerusalem dear.

Many Middle Eastern countries are dependent on oil for income. Why is this a problem? What is a possible solution? Your answer should be written in four or more complete sentences.

Many countries of the Middle East depend on oil as their primary source of income. In the short term, the economies of these countries are doing well, making a good profit from selling oil to other countries. However, in the long term, oil-dependent economies may suffer. Oil is a limited, nonrenewable resource, meaning that when reserves run out, they are gone forever. The oil-rich nations of the Middle East will have struggling economies if their oil supply ever runs out. The solution to this problem is to plan ahead. Countries are starting to focus their economies on other industries, such as banking and tourism. They are restructuring their economies to focus on multiple profitable industries.

Using four or more complete sentences, discuss the standard of living in Afghanistan. Consider such factors as development levels, life expectancy, literacy rates, and the economy.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Afghanistan is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the Middle East. Most people live in rural areas, with some of the poorest living conditions in the world. The economy of Afghanistan is based around agriculture, with little else to provide income. The country is dependent on foreign aid to get by due to housing, food, and water shortages and a lack of medical care and employment opportunities. These shortages cause Afghanistan to have by far the lowest life expectancy in the Middle East, at 45 years. Literacy rates are also among the lowest in the region, with men at 43% and women at 13% literacy.

Explain the economic challenges faced in Turkey. Your answer should be written in three or more complete sentences.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Turkey has rich resources, but they are not distributed evenly across the country. Farmland and other resources are located in western Turkey, while the rest of the country has little to make a living on. Imports and exports are about even, and the country is able to produce enough food to sustain its people. To begin to overcome some of its challenges, Turkey is exploring other industries, and is becoming less dependent on agriculture. OR Agricultural economies are still used in some countries of the Middle East, especially where other natural resources are few. These economies are often associated with a lower standard of living. Herding and livestock raising is a common means of income in areas too dry for farming. Animals raised include cattle, goats, and sheep. Farming often occurs along the coasts, but may also occur in drier areas if irrigation watering methods are used. Some people choose to practice subsistence farming methods, growing only enough food to feed their families. With little fertile soil in the region, it is tough to make a living growing and selling large quantities of crops. Major crops in the Middle East include wheat, cotton, and citrus fruit.

Using complete sentences, compare and contrast the economies of Israel and Turkey. Explain what type of economy each country has and what industries each focuses on.

The economies of Israel and Turkey share many of the same characteristics in terms of structure, industries, and challenges. Both Israel and Turkey have mixed economies, meaning that their governments once played a large role in their economies, but are now becoming less involved as private businesses grow. The countries have significant manufacturing industries - technological products and diamond cutting in Israel, and textiles and food products in Turkey. Israel, however, has more established industries than Turkey. Turkey has a rich agricultural industry, but is trying to become less dependent on it. With imports and exports almost even, the country is extending its economy into other industries in order to promote growth. Israel has a smaller agricultural industry, and most of its people work in service jobs, such as tourism. Without much to trade, Israel must import more products than it exports to support its people.

What are OPEC's three goals?

The purpose of OPEC is to "coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those investing in the

Using four or more complete sentences, identify and describe the significance of the two major Middle Eastern holy sites that we studied.

The two most significant religious sites in the Middle East are the cities of Jerusalem and Mecca. Jerusalem, located in Israel, is considered to be one of the holiest cities in the world. The city is unique in that it's sacred to three major world religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jews have ancient historical and political roots in the city, Christians value the city for the role it played in Jesus' life, and Muslims believe that Muhammad rose to heaven there. Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, is a holy site for Muslims, and only Muslims are permitted to enter the city. Mecca is believed to be the birthplace of Muhammad. If they are able, all Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives.

Using complete sentences, identify and describe the four major ethnic groups of the Middle East.

There are four main ethnic groups living in the Middle East. The Arabs are the largest, making up 75% of the region's population. Their ancestors were tribal members from the Arabian peninsula. The Persians reside mainly in Iran; their ancestors came to the region from Central Asia. The Kurds live in a rural, mountainous area between Iraq and Turkey. Many of them make a living as farmers or herders. Like the Persians, the Turks also have ancestors from Central Asia. This group lives in Turkey.