LUOA World Geography: Module 5: Latin America & the Carribean
Which of the following is true about water in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Many rivers have become important in the production of hydroelectric power.
What major indigenous culture influenced the nations of Guatemala and Honduras?
Maya
Which of the following countries are part of NAFTA? (choose all that apply)
Mexico
Air pollution is a significant problem in many parts of Latin America, but it is particularly bad in ___________ due to the city's high elevation and lower oxygen levels.
Mexico City
What city was built upon the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan and is densely populated with over nineteen million inhabitants?
Mexico City
In two or three sentences, explain what NAFTA did. Who benefitted most and why?
NAFTA eliminated tariffs and trade barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It benefited Mexico the most by allowing the country to diversify their economy.
What canal cut crossing times between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and greatly increased trade in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Panama Canal
What is the process by which undeveloped land with thick vegetation is cut down and then burned in order to create a layer of nutrient-rich ash to grow crops?
slash-and-burn agriculture
The growing of food for only oneself and one's family is called _________ farming.
subsistence
If it is summer in the United States, what would the season be in Argentina?
winter
Match each of the following Latin American and Caribbean climates with its description.
- tropical wet-dry: climate of the llanos; high temperatures and rainfall; an extended dry season - humid subtropical: climate of the pampas; temperate climates with mild winters and hot summers - arid: climate of Baja California; created by cool, dry ocean currents and temperatures
What are the two primary reasons for the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest? (choose two)
- a need for more farmland - growing demand for timber
What Latin American nation's name means rich coast? This nation is also known for its tourism.
Costa Rica
What Mexican holiday celebrates those who have passed on?
Dia de Muertos
Which lake is located between Peru and Bolivia and is also the highest lake in the world?
Lake Titicaca
Which of the following is true about the demographics of Latin America and the Caribbean?
Many people are of varied heritage, with European, indigenous, and African ancestors.
What is the most common religion of Latin America and the Caribbean?
Roman Catholicism
What is the series of mountain ranges that encloses the country of Mexico?
Sierra Madres
What military leader helped free many Latin American countries from Spanish rule?
Simon Bolivar
In two or three sentences, explain the benefits of the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal benefited the region by allowing the time to go from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans by sea in half. It allowed countries in the area to ship their products cheaply and effectively.
Which of the following is true about land in Latin America and the Caribbean?
The climate and rich soils are perfect for growing certain tropical fruits and cash crops.
In one or two sentences, define the term altiplano.
The term altiplano translates to "tall plain." It can be talking about any plateau in Central or South America, but it is specifically referring to the high plateau region in South America.
Which of the following is true about the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean?
They have diverse economies and don't rely on a single industry.
A crop grown solely for economic purposes is called a(n) ______ crop.
cash
Which of the following cultural sites reflects European influence in Latin America and the Caribbean?
cathedrals
What type of agricultural activity is prominent in Brazil and Argentina?
cattle ranching
Which of these are tropical, treeless, grassy plains in northern South America?
llanos
Which of these are mild, temperate plains in southeastern South America?
pampas
What type of economic activity is based on the extraction of natural resources?
primary economic activity
What nation has the most Spanish speakers in the world?
Mexico
Match each of the following South American water features with its description.
- Amazon River Basin: largest river system by volume - Rio Bravo: part of the border between the US and Mexico - Orinoco River: tributaries feed the llanos in the region
Match each of the following Caribbean islands with its description.
- Bahamas: composed of many islands; capital is Nassau; English-speaking - Jamaica: birthplace of Bob Marley; capital is Kingston; English-speaking - Puerto Rico: freely associated commonwealth of the United States - Cuba: communist nation formerly led by Fidel Castro
Match each of the following Latin American nations with its description.
- Belize: owned by Spain before taken over by the British Empire - El Salvador- name means "the Savior" - Nicaragua- largest nation in Central America - Panama- narrowest strip of land between Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Match each of the following South American capitals with the correct nation.
- Caracas: Venezuela - Santiago: Chile - Lima: Peru - Buenos Aries: Argentina
Match each of the following cultural landmarks with its description.
- Chichen Itza: Mayan city in Mexico; contains Temple of Kukulcan - Machu Picchu: Incan city that is on a mountain in the Andes - Tikal: Mayan city in Guatemala that has advanced architecture and astronomy
Match each of the following South American nations with its description.
- Colombia: parts of the llanos and Andes; birthplace of Shakira; capital is Bogota - Venezuela: became socialist state under leaders like Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro - Ecuador: on the Equator; owns the Galapagos Islands - Bolivia: landlocked; its capital La Paz is the highest capital in the world
Which of the following are megacities in Latin America? (choose all that apply)
- Rio de Janeiro - Sao Paulo - Mexico City
Which of these cities are located in Brazil? (choose all that apply)
- Sao Paulo - Rio de Janeiro
What landform of Latin America means tall plain and has a unique climate due to its altitude?
Altiplano
What is the largest rainforest in the world?
Amazon
Which of the following would have a tropical wet climate?
Amazon Rainforest
What civilization ruled much of present-day Mexico when the Spanish arrived?
Aztec
What country has the largest population of Portuguese speakers?
Brazil
What is the largest nation in South America?
Brazil
The largest slave revolt in history occurred in what nation?
Haiti
What term describes someone from a Spanish-speaking country?
Hispanic
What isthmus separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from one another?
Isthmus of Panama
What dam located on the Parana River provides power for Paraguay and Brazil?
Itaipu Dam
Crops that are grown to be eaten are called ______ crops.
food
Match each of the following South American nations with its description.
- Peru: home of Inca civilization; diverse climate from Andes - Argentina: largest Spanish-speaking nation in South America; proud heritage of gauchos - Paraguay: landlocked; lost War of the Triple Alliance, deadliest war in Latin American history - Uruguay: 2nd smallest nation in South America; former center of Spanish control in Latin America; mild climate
Which of the following two natural disasters are most damaging to Latin America and the Caribbean? (choose two)
- earthquakes - hurricanes
Which of the following are musical genres of Latin America and the Caribbean that were inspired by African culture? (choose all that apply)
- reggae - calypso
Match each of the following Latin American vertical zones with its description.
- tierra fria: coldest region, highest in elevation, produces potatoes - tierra templada: middle region in temperature and elevation, produces corn - tierra caliente: warmest region, lowest in elevation, produces tropical fruits
In one sentence, explain what the Christ the Redeemer built in the 1920s represents.
The Christ the Redeemer statue, built in the 1920s, represents faithfulness in the time it was built, and now it is a reminder of strong Christian faith in Latin America.
What country in Latin America and the Caribbean has the largest deposits of coal and oil?
Venezuela
Why did foreign investment become a problem in many Latin American and Caribbean countries in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries?
because these investors controlled economic and government policies
