World Geography Midterm Review

All of the following are examples of diffusion except a. the spread of Christianity from Europe to the Americas. b. the introduction of horses to the Americas by the Spanish. c. prohibiting native Indian tribes from teaching their tribal languages. d. bringing movies made in the United States to a worldwide audience.

c

All of the following features are shared by the populations of the United States and Canada except a. a high standard of living. b. cultural diversity. c. a predominantly rural lifestyle. d. a long life expectancy.

c

All of the following landforms are located in both the United States and Canada except the a. Rocky Mountains. b. Great Plains. c. Laurentian Highlands. d. Gulf Atlantic Coastal Plain.

c

All of the following workers are engaged in tertiary economic activities except a. a doctor. b. a waitress. c. a carpenter d. a police officer.

c

Because of the West's natural resources, two important economic activities in the region are a. heavy manufacturing and commerce. b. shipbuilding and trade. c. forestry and fishing. d. oil refining and agriculture.

c

Converting land used for farming into land used for a housing development is an example of which of the following? a. perceptual region b. relative location c. human-environment interaction d. type of ecosystem

c

During the 1970s, the population of the South increased greatly because of a. the discovery of oil in eastern Texas. b. increased farm productivity. c. job opportunities in industries that had moved south. d. the migration of many Europeans to the region.

c

Family farms in the Midwest have been replaced by large farms for all of the following reasons except a. modern machinery. b. push and pull migration factors. c. pressure from foreign competition. d. increase in the yields of the harvest.

c

How were nonrenewable resources formed? a. by intense human labor b. by volcanic eruptions along the tectonic plates c. by geologic forces in the earth's crust over millions of years d. by the power of running water

c

In what areas of the world is geothermal energy a possible alternative to fossil fuels? a. in areas near large rivers or the ocean b. in areas of intense solar radiation c. in areas with volcanic activity d. in areas with rich uranium deposits

c

The Canadian Shield, a vast expanse of ancient rock, is located a. along the Pacific coast of Canada. b. along the banks of the St. Lawrence River. c. around Hudson Bay. d. in the far northern regions of Canada.

c

The Midwest is called "the nation's breadbasket" because a. millions of loaves of bread are produced there every day. b. it is the crossroads of the United States. c. it is the region that produces most of the nation's grain, dairy products, and hogs. d. most of the nation's fruit and vegetables are grown there.

c

The steam engine was important because it a. gave boats the power to travel against both wind and current. b. made possible the building of canals. c. made fishing more efficient. d. created a need for fossil fuels.

a

The two most common climate regions found in Canada are a. subarctic and tundra. b. marine west coast and highlands. c. subarctic and semiarid. d. tundra and highlands.

a

Where do most people in Europe and the United States live? a. Both Europeans and Americans live mainly in urban areas. b. Europeans live on farms, while most Americans live in cities. c. The populations in both Europe and the United States are spread evenly throughout the two regions. d. Most people in Europe and the United States live in the west, where climates are milder.

a

Which of the following is a primary economic activity? a. subsistence farming b. food processing c. manufacturing d. government

a

Which of the following is an accurate statement about energy use in Canada? a. Canada relies more on hydroelectricity than the United States. b. Canada has larger reserves of coal than the United States. c. Canada is a larger energy consumer than the United States. d. Canada relies more on nuclear power than the United States.

a

Which of the following statements refers to a mixed economy? a. Industry and agriculture are both important to the economy. b. All decisions to buy and sell are made in a free market. c. Government owns and operates all major farms and factories. d. Free market and government jointly make economic decisions.

d

A regional metropolis such as Atlanta differs from a city such as Tucson in that a regional metropolis a. has a larger hinterland and a wider range of activities. b. has a smaller hinterland and a narrower range of activities. c. is generally the same size as a smaller city but with fewer activities. d. is generally twice as large and has twice as many activities.

a

All of the following are accurate statements about authoritarian forms of government except: a. In a constitutional monarchy, royalty is elected. b. Until modern times, most countries were ruled by some form of authoritarian government. c. Totalitarianism is the most extreme form of authoritarian government. d. In a dictatorship, power is concentrated in a small group or a single person.

a

Cities in the South and the West have flourished in recent years because of popular preferences to live in cities that a. have mild year-round climates. b. offer a variety of jobs and activities. c. are the site of large industrial centers. d. provide easy access to important waterways.

a

For most of their histories, the United States and Canada have been a. closely tied economically and culturally. b. distrustful neighbors of each other. c. economic competitors. d. linked only by a common landmass.

a

In order to encourage farming in the Great Plains during the 1800s, the government a. gave parcels of land to settlers who agreed to farm. b. cleared the land and offered it for sale at reasonable rates. c. paid immigrants with farming backgrounds to settle in the region. d. encouraged the logging industry to clear land so it could be converted for agricultural use.

a

In the early to mid-1800s, the most efficient means of transporting raw materials and finished goods around the country was the a. steamboat b. covered wagon c. sailing ship d. railroad

a

Industrial development in the South has been influenced primarily by a. the availability of natural resources. b. the region's humid, subtropical climate. c. large areas of rocky soil that made farming too difficult. d. competition from the Midwest, where farming was more profitable.

a

One characteristic common to all the states in the Midwest is. a. productive farmland. b. a mild, predictable climate. c. heavy industry. d. a lush, wooded, hilly landscape.

a

Settlers were originally attracted to the South primarily for which of the following reasons? a. rich soil b. extensive forest areas c. varied climate d. relatively flat landscape

a

The construction of the Erie Canal was important because it a. linked the Hudson River in New York and the Great Lakes in the Midwest, greatly increasing the trade between the two regions. b. helped eastern cities such as Boston and Philadelphia become important port cities. c. allowed eastern crops to be transported faster and more efficiently to cities in the South and the West. d. provided the best access to the Pacific Ocean.

a

The rapid increase of population in the West resulted from the discovery of a. gold and silver deposits. b. a major oil field in Alaska. c. the lush forests of the Northwest. d. plentiful fish off the coast.

a

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the ecosystems of the United States and Canada? a. A large part of Canada is coniferous forest. b. The northeastern regions of Canada are primarily temperate grasslands. c. Part of the southeastern United States is a tropical rain forest. d. Part of both the United States and Canada is a desert scrub region.

a

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the world's religions? a. The Sunni form of Islam is more widely practiced than the Shiite form of Islam. b. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in South America, Australia, and Asia. c. Hinduism is practiced mainly in Asia and Africa. d. Religious differences are the cause of most conflicts between nations.

a

Which of the following is not a reason the Midwest became an industrial center? a. It is where labor costs were most reasonable. b. It has a rich supply of natural resources. c. It has easy access to water transportation routes. d. It is the link, by railroad, of the east and west coasts.

a

Which statement explains why water, forests, and wildlife are renewable resources? a. They can be continually replenished by nature. b. They are not replaced by nature after being used. c. They are essential for life. d. They are not being used up as quickly as nonrenewable resources.

a

All of the following are accurate statements about cottage industries except: a. they are considered a secondary economic activity b. they often involve factory work c. they can be part of a subsistence economy d. they usually involve making a product by hand

b

All of the following are accurate statements about nonrenewable resources except: a. Nonrenewable resources are minerals formed in the earth's crust by geologic forces over millions of years. b. Nonrenewable resources can be replaced when they are used. c. Supplies of nonrenewable resources vary greatly. d. Coal, oil, and natural gas are among the most important nonrenewable mineral resources.

b

An important part of the free enterprise system is a. government regulation of industry in order to protect the interests of consumers. b. the belief that individuals acting in their own interest may also serve the interests of others. c. the belief that privately owned companies should not have to compete with each other for business. d. imposing taxes on all companies that do business in the country.

b

Because Canada is located farther north than the United States, a. interior regions in Canada have a continental climate. b. the climate of Canada is generally colder than that of the United States. c. coastal cities in Canada have a more moderate climate than do coastal cities in the United States. d. eastern Canada is drier than the eastern United States.

b

Canada's climates are generally colder than those of the United States because a. there are no coastal ranges in Canada. b. Canada is located farther north of the Equator than is the United States. c. Canada does not lie near any warm bodies of water. d. the Canadian Shield blocks ocean winds from blowing onto the land.

b

Each country in the world has all of the following characteristics except a. a population that can vary greatly in size, density, and diversity. b. natural borders, such as mountains, that separate it from other countries. c. a government that makes and enforces public policies and provides for common needs. d. the ability to rule itself by establishing its own policies and determining its own course of action.

b

In contrast to San Diego and Reno, the city of Seattle has a. far fewer trees. b. a wetter climate. c. a warmer climate despite its more northern location. d. a milder climate because of its coastal location.

b

The Northeast became a leader in commerce because of its a. abundant mineral resources. b. many rivers. c. rolling farmlands and lush forests. d. agricultural diversity.

b

The majority of the people in the United States and Canada live a. on the coastal plains. b. in or near urban centers. c. in the Great Plains region. d. in or near regions with rich mineral deposits.

b

The movement about which geographers talk usually refers to a. environmental changes. b. people, goods, and ideas. c. relative locations of places on the earth. d. birthrates and death rates and family size.

b

Two major landforms stretching across both the United States and Canada are the a. Appalachian Mountains and the Laurentian Highlands. b. Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. c. Canadian Shield and the Interior Plains. d. Gulf Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Sierra Nevada.

b

What kind of government structure does the United States have? a. monarchy b. federation c. unitary system d. capitalist system

b

What would you expect to find in a country with zero population growth? a. a high birthrate and a low death rate b. more or less equal birthrates and death rates c. a low birthrate and a high death rate d. low birthrates and death rates

b

Which of the following are part of a country's nonmaterial culture? a. arts and technology b. religion and language c. styles of food and clothing d. food and architecture

b

Which of the following is an accurate statement about coal? a. Coal reserves will run out by the end of this century. b. Coal deposits are more widely distributed than oil reserves. c. The worlds largest coal deposits are found in Australia. d. Coal is no longer widely used because it creates air pollution and acid rain.

b

Which of the following is an accurate statement about energy sources? a. Over half of the world's known oil supply is located in northern Asia. b. Most industrialized countries import oil to meet their energy needs. c. Renewable sources of energy have replaced fossil fuels as the main source of energy in most industrialized nations. d. Solar energy is now the least popular source of renewable energy.

b

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the lumber industry in the United States? a. Logging in the Northwest was never a profitable industry because of seasonal variations in climate. b. The logging industry moved west when the forests of the east were depleted. c. Strict regulation of logging in the Northeast allowed the industry to thrive in that region. d. Logging has depleted forests to the point where the lumber industry in the United States has all but disappeared.

b

Which of the following is an example of importing? a. American farmers sell wheat to foreign countries. b. American consumers buy cars made in Japan. c. A student from France attends college in the United States. d. A computer programmer from India applies for a job in the United States.

b

Which of the following is not a secondary economic activity? a. processing food b. forestry c. making paper from wood d. making cloth from cotton plants

b

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about energy use in Canada? a. Canada uses more electricity per capita than the United States. b. Canada is the world's leading user of nuclear energy. c. Canada is self-sufficient in its energy needs. d. Canada relies more on hydroelectricity than the United States.

b

Which of the following pairs of cities is located on the Great Lakes? a. New York City and Ottawa b. Chicago and Toronto c. Buffalo and Quebec d. Boston and Vancouver

b

Which of the following statements refers to a pure capitalist economy? a. The government provides goods and services needed by the public. b. The government takes no part in the economy. c. The government regulates businesses to ensure efficiency. d. The government and the free market jointly make economic decisions.

b

Why are people unevenly distributed throughout the world? a. People prefer to live in warm areas near the Equator. b. People tend to cluster in places that have rich soil, fresh water, and mild climates. c. Most people live in regions that have coal and iron ore deposits. d. People generally live in cultural regions that value individual achievement.

b

Why has the country of Poland had a problem maintaining its sovereignty over the centuries? a. Ethnic rivalries periodically escalate into full-scale conflict. b. It lacks natural borders that can help it defend against outside invasion. c. It is surrounded by nations who want access to its rich natural resources. d. A series of totalitarian governments have lacked support from the citizens of the country.

b

Why was the invention of the telegraph important to the economic success of the United States? a. It provided an inexpensive way for businesses to communicate. b. It provided speedy communication across long distances. c. It introduced the technology that led to the invention of the telephone. d. It allowed for confidential business information to be sent without the risk of interception or theft.

b

A geographer would most likely use sonar to do which of the following tasks? a. map the population density of an area b. prepare a detailed road map c. map a section of the ocean floor d. identify changes in land use over time

c

The average per capita GDP of a nation refers to a. the trade balance of one nation with another b. the total income of workers divided by the total population c. the total value of goods and services produced in a year divided by the total population d. the amount of tax dollars collected in a given year divided by the average income of works in that year

c

The entire United States and the rest of the world serve as the hinterland for all of the following cities except a. New York b. Chicago c. Tuscon d. Los Angeles

c

The growth of industry in the South was not affected by a. the discovery of oil in Texas. b. its access to ocean ports along the Gulf of Mexico. c. the rich natural resources in Appalachia. d. the abundance of fast-moving streams in the Carolinas.

c

The jagged shoreline of the Northeast a. has hindered farming in the region. b. makes fishing nearly impossible. c. provides many excellent harbors. d. contains few sandy beaches.

c

The major landforms of North America generally extend a. from east to west. b. along the coasts. c. from north to south. d. in all directions.

c

The primary reason the earth's population is unevenly distributed is that a. most climates cannot support life. b. people tend to form restrictive groups. c. natural obstacles greatly restrict where people can live. d. in order to survive, people must live near a body of water.

c

To be identified as a country, an area must have a. a population that shares a common language. b. a sovereign government and a sound economy. c. a clearly defined territory, population, and sovereign government. d. an economic and political system, a common language, and clearly defined water and land boundaries.

c

Today the majority of the American population lives in a. a suburb. b. a small city. c. or near a major city. d. a small town or rural area.

c

Which of the following did not contribute to the growth of the suburbs? a. the availability of automobiles b. the building of the interstate highway system c. the availability of inexpensive land in major cities d. the availability of public transportation

c

Which of the following factors did not influence the economic development of the United States? a. an abundance of land b. transportation technology c. strict immigration laws d. an economic system based on capitalism

c

Which of the following is an accurate description about the use of land in the United States? a. The lumber industry is centered primarily in the East, where forests are plentiful. b. Coal mining in the United States provides about half of the world's coal resources. c. While only a small percentage of the population works on farms, nearly half of the land is devoted to agriculture. d. Drilling for oil and natural gas takes place primarily in the Northeast and Southwest.

c

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the population distribution of Canada? a. Most Canadians live in the northern two thirds of the country. b. The Canadian population is evenly distributed throughout the country. c. Most Canadians live within 200 miles (322 km) of the United States. d. About half of all Canadians live in the province of Nova Scotia.

c

Which of the following is an example of cultural convergence? a. Under Communist rule, most people in Russia were not allowed to travel outside of the country. b. Because the African slaves brought to the Americas spoke many different languages, it was difficult for them to communicate with each other. c. Because the United States was once a British colony, English is the language spoken by the majority of its inhabitants. d. In some countries, only one religion is officially recognized.

c

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about the climate of the United States and Canada? a. Part of the United States has a humid subtropical climate. b. A large region of Canada has a subarctic climate. c. The dominant climate in the United States is semiarid. d. Both the United States and Canada have tundra regions.

c

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about the effects of the transcontinental railway system? a. It made it easier to transport goods and people across the country. b. It helped make Chicago an important center of business. c. It signaled the decline of major east and west coast cities. d. It contributed to the growth of the suburbs.

c

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about traditional economies? a. They are most common in rural parts of less developed nations. b. They generally produce little surplus goods. c. Decisions on what to charge for goods are made by the local government. d. Most goods produced are consumed by the people who produce them or within a small geographic area.

c

Which of the following is not an example of a primary economic activity? a. fishing b. mining c. house painting d. raising crops

c

Which of the following resources was not vital to the economic success of the United States? a. land b. coal c. lead d. forests

c

Why is it important to conserve renewable resources? a. The sun's energy will keep the earth warm for only 2 million more years. b. The environment does not continue to supply or replenish renewable resources after they are used. c. Since natural growth takes time, it is possible to use up renewable resources before they can be renewed. d. It takes millions of years for the earth to replenish its supply of minerals.

c

After the Civil War, which ended in 1865, Chicago grew to become the largest city in the Midwest because a. many people from the South and the West migrated to the area. b. the construction of the Erie Canal made the city an important center of trade. c. most of the agricultural industries were located near the city. d. Chicago had the best location along the railroad network, located centrally between the coasts.

d

All major American cities during the first 50 years of independence were located a. near the Great Lakes. b. along the Erie Canal. c. along the Mississippi River. d. along the Atlantic Coast.

d

All of the following are accurate statements about global trade patterns except: a. excessive imports can damage a nation's economy b. throughout history, one factor that has influenced trade routes is the quality of the relationship between two countries c. modern technology has made it easier to conduct trade across national borders d. a trade imbalance causes a nation's debt to domestic manufacturers to rise

d

All of the following are accurate statements about the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system except: a. They aided the growth of industry in the Midwest. b. They are still important trade routes today. c. Cities connected by this transportation network are home to heavy manufacturing. d. They have helped the region become the nation's center of business and finance.

d

All of the following are nonrenewable resources vital to the energy supply and economy of the United States except a. coal. b. oil. c. natural gas d. forest

d

How are natural resources distributed throughout the world? a. Most natural resources are found in developed nations. b. Most natural resources lie beneath the ocean floor. c. Natural resources are distributed evenly among all nations. d. Natural resources are spread out unevenly around the earth.

d

Industry and trade grew rapidly in the Northeast during the nineteenth century because a. the region is rich in mineral resources. b. people were eager to move from the farm to the suburbs. c. a well-planned system of roads connected the major cities. d. rivers provided transportation routes and water power for factories.

d

Residents of the West have adapted to their environment in all of the following ways except by a. building aqueducts. b. working in forestry. c. surmounting distances by traveling by boat and airplane. d. moving from the cities to the countryside.

d

The most common ecosystem found in the South is a. tropical rain forest. b. coniferous forest. c. temperate grassland. d. mixed forest.

d

The most densely populated region of Canada lies along the St. Lawrence River and in the a. Canadian Shield b. interior plains c. northwest territories d. great lake regions

d

The peaks of the Rocky Mountains are higher and more jagged than the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains because a. glaciers moved across the Rockies during the last ice age. b. the tectonic forces that created the Rockies were very strong. c. volcanoes formed the peaks of the Appalachians. d. the Appalachians have been worn down by rain, ice, and wind over time.

d

What factor has helped make commercial farming in developed countries more successful than subsistence farming in developing countries? a. longer growing seasons b. better climates c. greater numbers of farmers d. modern techniques and equipment

d

What is our most important renewable energy source? a. soil b. fossil fuels c. coal d. the sun

d

What is the primary reason the South and the West have increased in population in recent years? a. new systems of transportation b. new methods of communication c. newly discovered natural resources d. popular preference for warmer climates

d

Which of the following has been responsible for the declining death rate in many of the world's less industrialized nations? a. a declining birthrate b. migration to rural areas, where living conditions are better c. absence of diseases prevalent in industrialized nations d. improved health

d

Which of the following has not been a problem for the northeastern megalopolis? a. a decline in population. b. an inadequate water supply. c. a trash disposal problem. d. a decline in professional-level jobs.

d

Which of the following is an accurate statement about countries with high taxes? a. They are usually countries dominated by a subsistence economy. b. They are usually unstable governments with unstable economies. c. They are more likely to have a free market economy than a command economy. d. They are countries that usually provide many social services to the population.

d

Which of the following is an accurate statement about fossil fuels? a. Over half of the world's coal deposits are found in the United States. b. Supplies of oil are larger and more widely distributed than supplies of coal. c. Most nations that depend on fossil fuels have an adequate supply within their own borders to last another century. d. The world's greatest reserves of natural gas are found in Northern Eurasia.

d

Which of the following is not a reason many industries moved south from northern cities? a. Land was cheaper in the South. b. Industrial plants were often newer, in better condition, and more efficient than those in the North. c. Labor unions were less common in the South. d. The South had a more diverse population.

d

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about the nature of culture? a. Religions and languages often overlap political boundaries. b. In all cultures, the family is the most important unit of society. c. The influence of ancient China on most of East Asia is an example of a culture hearth. d. Written language is one element shared by all cultures.

d

Which of the following statements describes the general trend in world population since 1950? a. World population has grown slowly over the past 50 years. b. There are fewer people in the world today than there were before 1950. c. Most countries have reached zero population growth since 1950. d. World population has grown rapidly since 1950.

d