Chapter 12 Quiz

How have Brazilian government policies affected the economy?

• Brazil began building steel mills oil refineries, and hydroelectric dams. • Economy grew as manufacturing increased and Brazilians began to move from rural to urban areas • The government began a program to develop the interior, "planting" Brasilia in the Brazilian Highlands. • A massive road-building project, with Brasilia at its center connected many areas of the country. • New roads and land grants attracted many settlers

What effects has economic growth had on the labor force in Brazil?

• Brazil ranks among the world's leading industrial nations • The development of gasohol a mixture of gasoline and alcohol that is used as fuel, meant Brazil no longer needed to import expensive foreign oil. • The majority of the work force has moved from agriculture to manufacturing and service industries. • Brazil now has a growing skilled, educated middle class

How has economic development contributed to environmental change?

• Found that only the thick vegetation kept the soil from washing away. • In order to continue farming, farmers needed to clear more land. • Deforestation threatens the biological diversity of the Amazon region. • The Brazilian government is working to combat deforestation and to promote ecotourism, tourism that encourages environmental awareness

What economic challenges are faced by the urban and rural poor?

• Many parents in favelas cannot afford to feed or house their children • Many people in rural areas work on plantations or become subsistence farmers. • The harsh conditions of the sertao contribute to the poverty of farmers living there.

How has urbanization affected the southeast region?

• Rural Brazilians migrate to cities looking for a better life. • Many find no jobs or low paying jobs and most end up in slum communities called favelas • Some favelas are being torn down and replaced with affordable public housing

What environmental and economic challenges exist in the Northeast?

• Sugar plantations on the coastal plain have made Brazil the world's largest exporter of sugar • The sertao has hard soils and bakes through year-long droughts. • Life expectancy is short because of low incomes and poor nutrition.

What are the main characteristics of the Amazon River basin ecosystem?

• The amazon River basin is the and least explored region in Brazil • The Amazon River basin spreads across more than half of Brazil • The region receives heavy rainfall: more than 80 inches per year • Temperatures are constant at 80F or higher • The rain forest is home to a wide variety of plants and animals.

Why has the government encourage urban growth and economic development in the Brazilian Highlands?

• The national government hoped to boost development of the interior region. • The Brazilian government also hoped to draw people away from the crowded coastal cities. • The new capital of Brasilia, located 600 miles inland, was officially "inaugurated" in 1960