Geography Mid-term

The primary difference between weather and climate is that

"Weather" refers to relatively short term temperature and precipitation conditions while "climate" refers to the long-term temperature and precipitation patterns

Recent research suggests that investments in energy conservation, alternative energy, and other measures would cost EU economies 1 of their GDP, but that doing nothing about climate change could shrink their GDP by ________%. Select one: a. 20 b. 33 c. 4 d. .5

20

At the current rate of deforestation, tropical forests in Middle America will be gone in how many years? Select one: a. 5 years b. 20 years c. 100 years d. 250 years

20 years

Between 1960 and 2014, the proportion of Europe's population that is 14 years old and younger went from ____ to _____. Select one: a. 27%, 16% b. 27%, 26% c. 16%, 27% d. 9%, 16%

27%, 16%

Since 1990, the value of exports between Mexico, Canada, and the U.S have increased by approximately ____ percent. Select one: a. 50 b. 100 c. 300 d. 500

300

Approximately how many Europeans are NOT citizens of member states of the EU? (Please note: this number will go up once Britain officially exits the European Union which it is in the process of doing. Since Britain has not yet officially exited, please use the number in your textbook which remains accurate for now.) Select one: a. 10 million b. 40 million c. 80 million d. 120 million

40 million

With only ___ percent of the world's population, North Americans contribute ___ percent of global greenhouse gases. Select one: a. 10, 50 b. 10, 36 c. 5, 45 d. 5, 26

5, 26

The following statements accurately describe the general condition of women compared to men at the global scale

70% of youth who leave school early are girls, Women are less likely to have access to information and paid employment, Even when working outside the home, women tend to continue to perform their domestic duties, resulting in the "double day.", Girls are NOT more likely than boys to receive early medical attention.

In the 150 years following European arrival in Middle and South America, the indigenous population was reduced by: Select one: a. 30% b. 50% c. 70% d. 90%

90%

The Russian Federation is best described as: Select one: a. A loose coalition of 30 independent states. b. A homogenous nation-state with little internal diversity. c. A federation of 30 internal republics, all under the umbrella of the Russian government. d. A regional trade association.

A federation of 30 internal republics, all under the umbrella of the Russian government

All of the following statements accurately describe European colonialism, EXCEPT: Select one: a. Portugal was the first European country to establish overseas colonies. b. Establishing colonies and managing their production and trade is a development strategy referred to as mercantilism. c. The billions of dollars worth of wealth that flowed from the colonies into the European colonial countries spurred and hastened the industrial revolution. d. A positive aspect of colonialism was that the colonial powers paid relatively higher wages to workers in the colonies than local businesses did.

A positive aspect of colonialism was that the colonial powers paid relatively higher wages to workers in the colonies than local businesses did.

The physical geography of Europe is best described as: Select one: a. An island continent with a desert interior. b. A series of peninsulas upon peninsulas with complex patterns of lowlands, uplands and mountains. c. A raised plateau with narrow coastal lowlands and an abrupt escarpment. d. Relatively flat and slowly rising as one heads to the east towards Asia.

A series of peninsulas upon peninsulas with complex patterns of lowlands, uplands and mountains.

Soviet military involvement in which country finally stretched the Soviet Union past the breaking point, leading to its eventual dissolution? Select one: a. Nicaragua b. Angola c. Poland d. Afghanistan

Afghanistan

A recent trend in European transportation is: Select one: a. A significant reduction in the use of container ships due to safety and immigration concerns. b. An increasing focus on multimodal transport linking air, rail, water and car transport. c. An increasing focus on small plane travel within the EU. d. An increasing focus on interstate bus service.

An increasing focus on multimodal transport linking air, rail, water and car transport.

Imagine that you just won a trip to Paris! Assuming that you leave BWI Airport and fly east, what ocean will you fly over on your way to Paris? Select one: a. Pacific Ocean b. Indian Ocean c. Arctic Ocean d. Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Spanish colonized most of Middle and South America, but the Portuguese colonized much the land that today makes up ________. Select one: a. Mexico b. Columbia c. Brazil d. Peru

Brazil

The mountainous region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea is called ________. Select one: a. Caucasia b. Siberia c. Kaliningrad d. Belarus

Caucasia

The economic model of central planning utilized in Central Europe after 1945 can be described by all of the following, except: Select one: a. A central bureaucracy dictates prices and output and allocates resources. b. Central planning was largely unsuccessful at alleviating poverty and illiteracy among the masses. c. Central planning was marked by waste and corruption. d. Central planning was dismantled in the 1990s.

Central planning was largely unsuccessful at alleviating poverty and illiteracy among the masses.

All of the following were important differences between the North and the South in pre-Civil War America, EXCEPT: Select one: a. Northerners had no plantations and few slaves, unlike the South. b. Cities in the South had begun industrializing rapidly, while the Northern economy remained focused on subsistence farming. c. A small percentage of the population in the South controlled most of the wealth while the wealth in the North was more evenly distributed. d. Infrastructure was much more developed in the North than the South.

Cities in the South had begun industrializing rapidly, while the Northern economy remained focused on subsistence farming.

In which climate zone is Moscow located? Select one: a. Steppe b. Midlatitude, moist all year c. Continental, moist all year d. Arctic

Continental, moist all year

Which of the following countries is a member of the EU? Select one: a. Iceland b. Czech Republic c. Switzerland d. Norway

Czech Republic

The large, triangular-shaped plain of sediment that formed where the Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea is called the Nile ________.

Delta

All of the following accurately describe the Soviet Union under Stalin, except: Select one: a. The purpose of the command economy during this period was to promote rapid industrialization to increase the prosperity of the people. b. Stalin instituted a command economy, in which the state owned all real estate and means of production such as factories and farms. c. The government managed all production, pricing and distribution of goods and services. d. Democracy flourished in the Soviet Union under Stalin

Democracy flourished in the Soviet Union under Stalin

The Mediterranean climate of North America's southern west coast is characterized by: Select one: a. Dry, warm summers and cool, moist winters. b. Dry, warm winters and cool, moist summers. c. Dry, arid conditions year round. d. Heavy rainfall for most of the year.

Dry, warm summers and cool, moist winters.

Which statement best describes the relationship between European colonialism and the industrial revolution? a. European countries began to colonize the world only after they had developed strong industrial economies. b. European colonialism happened so far before the industrial revolution that no link can really be made between the two processes. c. Extraction of global resources through colonialism fueled the industrial revolution by providing enormous wealth and raw materials to Europe. d. The industrial revolution happened simultaneously to colonization but the two processes are unrelated.

Extraction of global resources through colonialism fueled the industrial revolution by providing enormous wealth and raw materials to Europe.

All of the following statements accurately describe the feudal period in European history, except: Select one: a. Feudalism originated from the need to protect rural areas against marauders from Scandinavia and the European interior. b. Feudalism dominated Europe until the early 20th century. c. The wealthy nobility lived lavish lifestyles in elaborate castles during the feudal period. d. While feudalism prevailed in the rural areas of Europe, social, economic and political changes were taking place behind the walls of the towns and cities.

Feudalism dominated Europe until the early 20th century.

The city of Norilsk is known primarily: Select one: a. For the highly developed IT industry located there. b. For mining and smelting based on its large mineral deposits. c. As the regional center of global trade. d. As the regional center of commercial agriculture.

For mining and smelting based on its large mineral deposits.

Haciendas were originally created to: Select one: a. Hold captive indigenous people. b. Provide a fortified area where Europeans could be safe from marauding bands of indigenous people. c. Grant land to colonists as a reward for conquering territory d. Grow monocrops for export.

Grant land to colonists as a reward for conquering territory

Which of the following countries is at roughly the same latitude as we are in Maryland? Select one: a. United Kingdom b. Switzerland c. Romania d. Greece

Greece

In which of the following countries does more than half of the population live in poverty? Select one: a. Haiti b. Brazil c. Chile d. Mexico Feedback

Haiti

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the conditions of North America's water resources? Select one: a. In the United States, 40% of the rivers are too polluted for fishing and swimming. b. Rivers in North America are primarily polluted by storm runoff from industrial sites as well as urban, suburban and agricultural areas. c. In North America, rainfall becomes increasingly plentiful the farther west one goes. d. North Americans are pumping water out of the Ogallala Aquifer at rates of 10 to 40 times greater than the natural replenishment rate.

In North America, rainfall becomes increasingly plentiful the farther west one goes.

Which of the following is NOT one of the effects of oil drilling in Ecuador? Select one: a. Leakage of more than 17 million gallons of oil into the Amazon Basin from 1964 to 1992. b. Disruption of indigenous cultures. c. Disappearance of important wildlife species. d. Increase in access to good medical care for the indigenous people.

Increase in access to good medical care for the indigenous people.

The UN Human Development Index is comprised of all of the following measures, except: a. Life expectancy at birth b. Infant mortality rates c. Educational attainment d. Income adjusted for PPP

Infant mortality rates

What percentage of residents of the U.S. work directly in agriculture or farming today? Select one: a. Less than 1% b. 5% c. 10% d. 13%

Less than 1%

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons for the widespread global hunger problem? a. Political instability b. Low rates of agricultural productivity at the global scale c. Problems of distribution of food d. Corruption

Low rates of agricultural productivity at the global scale

Recently, many migrants have been crossing the ________ Sea from North Africa to Europe

Mediterranean

Maquiladoras are found along the Select one: a. Panama Canal b. Mexico-U.S. border c. Amazon River d. Cuban coast

Mexico-U.S. border

Which climate region applies to Hagerstown, Maryland? a. Continental, moist all year. Incorrect b. Steppe c. Midlatitude, moist all year d. Mediterranean, summer dry

Midlatitude, moist all year

Rate of natural increase considers all of the following factors except a. The birth rate b. The death rate c. Relationship between birth and death rates d. Migration

Migration

North America's largest river system is the ________. Select one: a. Columbia b. Mississippi c. St. Lawrence d. Rio Grande

Mississippi

Which of the following is most likely to grow in tundra? Select one: a. Coniferous forests b. Desert scrub c. Mosses and lichens d. Grasslands

Mosses and lichens

Which of the following countries has both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast? Select one: a. Chile b. Brazil c. Argentina d. Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Hagerstown, Maryland is located in the ________ hemisphere and the ________ hemisphere. a. Southern, Western b. Northern, Western c. Southern, Eastern d. Northern, Eastern

Northern, Western

Individuals who are so wealthy that they wield enormous political power are called: Select one: a. Aristocrats b. Oligarchs c. Monarchs d. Dictators

Oligarchs

Approximately how much of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water?

One-sixth

The ________ Ring of Fire is a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes resulting from tectonic activity.

Pacific

Which of the following crops originated in the Americas? Select one: a. Wheat b. Potatoes c. Bananas d. Sugarcane

Potatoes

Which of the following does NOT accurately describe the water situation in Middle and South America? Select one: a. As much as 50% of fresh water piped through cities is lost due to leaky pipes. b. The region receives more rainfall than any other region. c. 80% of the population does not have proper sanitation, leading to pollution of local water from human waste. d. Privatization of water resources is a positive solution that seems to be working well in Bolivia

Privatization of water resources is a positive solution that seems to be working well in Bolivia

About 70% of Europeans now work in which sector of the economy? Select one: a. The Military b. Agriculture c. Services d. Manufacturing

Services

The Alps extend into all of the following countries EXCEPT: Select one: a. France b. Spain c. Italy d. Austria

Spain

In South America, the part of the 10,000 mile mountain chain that runs along the western edge of the American continents is called: Select one: a. The Rocky Mountains b. The Sierra Madre c. The Andes d. The Sierra Nevada

The Andes

The combined effect of the cold Peru Current and the rain shadow of the Andes have created which unique landscape? Select one: a. The Atacama Desert b. Patagonia c. The Pampas d. The Amazon lowlands

The Atacama Desert

The region known as North America's breadbasket is: Select one: a. The Great Plains b. The Basin and Range c. The Coastal Plain d. The Pacific Northwest

The Great Plains

The river that carries more traffic than any other in Europe is: Select one: a. The Rhine b. The Danube c. The Elbe d. The Seine

The Rhine

Which of the following statements is most accurate? Select one: a. The United States and Canada are roughly the same size in terms of total land area. b. The United States and Canada have very similar climates overall. c. Approximately the same number of people live in the United States and Canada. d. The United States and Canada have economies that are roughly the same size.

The United States and Canada are roughly the same size in terms of total land area.

All of the following statements accurately describe the European Union, EXCEPT: Select one: a. The European Union is a supranational organization. b. Goods, money and people can usually move freely between EU member countries. c. The countries belonging to the European Union are all at the same level of development. d. Some people fear that the EU is causing cultural homogenization.

The countries belonging to the European Union are all at the same level of development.

Immigrants to North America generally compete with which social group for jobs? Select one: a. The lowest paid, least educated workers. b. The modestly educated and skilled working class. c. The highly educated white collar workers. d. The top echelon of corporate management.

The lowest paid, least educated workers.

The North Atlantic Drift is largely responsible for which of the following climatic conditions in Europe? Select one: a. The dry winters of the southern Mediterranean climate. b. The long, cold winters of Central Europe. c. The surprisingly mild and wet conditions of Western Europe. d. The arctic type conditions of northern Scandinavia.

The surprisingly mild and wet conditions of Western Europe.

Which of the following statements best describes the Aztecs at the time of European contact? Select one: a. They were a primitive and barbaric people who practiced cannibalism. b. They were a nomadic, hunter-gatherer people. c. They had built a sophisticated urban society that had a higher quality of life than European societies at the time. d. They were loose bands of families that had little social coherency.

They had built a sophisticated urban society that had a higher quality of life than European societies at the time.

How did the first people arrive in North America? Select one: a. They walked across the Bering Land Bridge from Asia b. They swam across the Rio Grande from Mexico c. They sailed across the Atlantic from Europe d. They rode in hot air balloons from North Africa

They walked across the Bering Land Bridge from Asia

Which of the following temperature-altitude zones has a spring-like climate year-round and was preferred by many indigenous people and Europeans? Select one: a. Tierra caliente b. Tierra templada c. Tierra fria d. Tierra helada

Tierra templada

From 1945 to 2011, the world's population

Tripled

The first British colony in North America was established in 1607 in what is today known as: Select one: a. Massachusetts b. Georgia c. Virginia d. Pennsylvania

Virginia

The primary sources of immigration to North America today include all of the following, except: Select one: a. West Africa b. Middle America c. South America d. Asia

West Africa

The first European country to establish control over a colony in North Africa was: Select one: a. France b. Spain c. Portugal d. Italy

a. France

Which of the following was not one of the achievements of the Soviet style economy? Select one: a. High quality consumer goods were produced in mass quantities. b. Abject poverty was largely eradicated. c. Housing, healthcare and education were all provided free of charge by the government. d. Public transportation was well-developed.

a. High quality consumer goods were produced in mass quantities.

After a decade of economic instability, Russia's economy began to recover, primarily due to: Select one: a. Profits from oil and gas extraction. b. The rising prices of Russia's agricultural products on the global market. c. The significant investments the government has made in developing the post-industrial service economy. d. Enormous amounts of foreign investment, primarily from China.

a. Profits from oil and gas extraction.

The more conservative Islamic countries that favor female seclusion include: Select one: a. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait b. Morocco and Tunisia c. Libya and Egypt d. Iraq and Lebanon

a. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

By the late 1400s, much of the Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Eastern Europe was controlled by: Select one: a. The Ottomans b. The Romans c. The Byzantines d. The Babylonians

a. The Ottomans

People began to arrive in North America thousands of years ago. It is believed by researchers that these early arrivals to North America migrated ________. Select one: a. across the Rio Grande from Mexico b. across the North Atlantic from Greenland c. across the Bering land bridge from Asia d. across the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula

across the Bering land bridge from Asia

All of the following describe European Russia, except: Select one: a. European Russia lies west of the Ural Mountains. b. European Russia is the most sparsely populated area of the entire region. c. European Russia is the economic core of Russia. d. European Russia is the agricultural core of Russ

b. European Russia is the most sparsely populated area of the entire region.

The country in the region of North Africa and Southwest Asia that has the most plentiful water resources is: Select one: a. Israel b. Turkey c. Iran d. Morocco

b. Turkey

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run through _______ before draining in to the Persian Gulf. Select one: a. Russia b. Saudi Arabia c. Iraq d. Egypt

c. Iraq

The shrinkage of the Aral Sea was caused primarily by: Select one: a. Rapid industrial development in the region. b. Rapid urbanization in the region. c. Irrigation for the production of cotton. d. Irrigation for golf courses and suburban lawns.

c. Irrigation for the production of cotton

North Africa and Southwest Asia is the cultural hearth for which three major monotheistic religions? Select one: a. Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity b. Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity c. Islam, Judaism and Christianity d. Islam, Christianity and Shinto

c. Islam, Judaism and Christianity

Islam originated in Select one: a. Iran b. Israel c. Saudi Arabia d. Egypt

c. Saudi Arabia

All of the following accurately describe the ancient Slavs, except: Select one: a. The Slavs emerged in what is now Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. b. The Slavs created Kiev in 480 and Moscow in 1100. c. The Slavs remained very isolated until the 19th century. d. The Slavs developed powerful kingdoms in Ukraine and European Russia.

c. The Slavs remained very isolated until the 19th century.

The Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are connected by ________. Select one: a. The Panama Canal b. The Persian Gulf c. The Suez Canal d. The Silk Road

c. The Suez Canal

The world's worst nuclear disaster took place at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in: Select one: a. Russia b. Georgia c. Ukraine d. Kyrgyzstan

c. Ukraine

What percentage of Saudi Arabia's water is produced by desalination plants? Select one: a. 10% b. 20% c. 40% d. 70%

d. 70%

All of the following statements describe approaches to water management in the region, except: Select one: a. People in this region are better at conserving water than most people in the world. b. Ancient underground canals for moving water are called qanats. c. Public bathing is one way people in the region conserve water. d. Because of strong water conservation measures, this region does not face the problem of future water shortages.

d. Because of strong water conservation measures, this region does not face the problem of future water shortages

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the agricultural sector experienced all of the following changes, EXCEPT: Select one: a. A drop of 20 to 30% in yields in the 1990s. b. Large farms could not get the equipment, fuel or fertilizers they needed. c. Collective farms were broken up into smaller, private farms. d. In the Central Asian states, farming was reorganized to emphasize export crops.

d. In the Central Asian states, farming was reorganized to emphasize export crops.

The most diverse economy of the region is: Select one: a. Iran b. Turkey c. Egypt d. Israel

d. Israel

Lake Nasser is formed by a dam on the ________. The dam prevents seasonal flooding from replenishing nutrients along the river bank. Select one: a. Tigris River b. Euphrates River c. Jordan River d. Nile River

d. Nile River

All of the following statements accurately describe events in the North Africa/SW Asia region at the end of WWI, except: Select one: a. The Ottoman Empire was dismantled by the Allied Powers. b. Only Turkey remained an independent country. c. Nomadic Bedouins were consolidated under Sheik Ibn Saud. d. The State of Israel was created

d. The State of Israel was created

The climate of the region of North Africa and Southwest Asia is accurately described by all of the following, except: Select one: a. This is the driest region on earth. b. Temperatures in the Sahara can reach 130 degrees F in the shade. c. Lack of vegetation contributes to the aridity of the region. d. There are no areas in this region that receive enough rainfall for farming

d. There are no areas in this region that receive enough rainfall for farming

The Earth's largest remaining expanse of tropical forest is located Select one: a. in the Amazon Basin b. in the Andes Mountians c. in Patagonia d. west of the Andes Mountains

in the Amazon Basin

The distance (in degrees) north or south of the equator is called

latitude

Orographic precipitation falls ________.

on the windward side of mountains