World Regional Geography - Chapter 8

Which of the following was a major determinant of the early industrial regions of Europe? A) availability of coal B) a large labor force C) access to banking and finance D) mild climate E) isolation from war-torn regions of the continent

A) availability of coal

In what part of Europe is Protestantism the dominant religion? A) northern Germany B) Poland C) Ireland D) the Balkan Peninsula (ex. Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia) E) France

A) northern Germany

France depends on more than half of its energy supply from A) nuclear power B) coal C) natural gas D) wind E) solar

A) nuclear power

buffer zone

An array of nonaligned or friendly states that "buffer" a larger country from invasion. In Eurasia, maintaining a buffer zone has been a long-term policy of Russia (and also of the former Soviet Union) to protect its western borders from European invasion.

What was the Cold War?

an ideological struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union that lasted from 1946-1991, and included Soviet occupation of several European countries

Marine west coast climate

A major climate type that is moderate and moist and modified by oceanic influences. Marine west coast climates are found along the west coast of Europe, in the Pacific Northwest in North America, in southern Chile, in Tasmania, and along the western coast of New Zealand's South Island.

mediterranean climate

A mild, dry-summer climate found in the mid-latitude belt on the west sides of continents. Most of the Mediterranean Basin has a Mediterranean climate, as do California, central Chile, the Cape region of South Africa, and the southwestern corner of Australia.

iron curtain

A term coined by British leader Winston Churchill during the Cold War that defined the western border of Soviet power in Europe. The notorious Berlin Wall was a concrete manifestation of the Iron Curtain.

What is the currency of the European Monetary Union? A) the euro B) the franc C) the deutsche mark D) the pound E) the dollar

A) the euro

Economic cooperation in Western Europe at the end of World War II centered on what commodity (commodities)? A) telegraph and telephones B) transportation C) textiles D) computers and information technology E) coal and steel

E) coal and steel

Cyrillic alphabet

A writing system based on the Greek alphabet and used by Slavic languages heavily influenced by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Attributed to the missionary work of St. Cyril in the 9th century.

As of 2016, how many members of the 28-nation strong Eurozone use the euro as their currency? A) 19 B) 22 C) 25 D) 26 E) all 28 members use the euro

A) 19

Which of the following languages is NOT Germanic? A) Basque B) English C) Danish D) Norwegian E) Swedish

A) Basque

In which country of Europe did the Industrial Revolution start? A) England B) Germany C) Spain D) France E) Italy

A) England

What is the second-most widely spoken Germanic language in Europe, with roughly 60 million speakers? A) English B) Swedish C) Danish D) Norwegian E) German

A) English

Which of the following pairings of climate type and regions in Europe is correct? A) Mediterranean Coast: continental climate B) Iberian Peninsula: tundra C) North Sea Coast: dry summer Mediterranean climate D) Northern Europe: dry summer Mediterranean climate E) Atlantic Coast: maritime climate

A) Mediterranean Coast: continental climate

What European mountain range forms the political border between Spain and France? A) Pyrenees B) Alps C) Carpathians D) Dinaric Alps E) Apennines

A) Pyrenees

The most widely practiced religion in contemporary Europe is A) Roman Catholicism B) Protestantism C) Islam D) Eastern Orthodox Christianity E) Judaism

A) Roman Catholicism

Which nation narrowly voted in 2014 to remain a part of the United Kingdom? A) Scotland B) France C) the Netherlands D) Romania E) Catalonia

A) Scotland

What is Europe's longest river? A) Thames B) Rhine C) Loire D) Danube E) Rhone

D) Danube

Warsaw Pact

The Cold War military pact between the Soviet Union and its eastern European satellite countries, formed to counter NATO.

Which was NOT a reason for the present economic crisis in Europe? A) widespread Soviet interference in eastern Europe's economies B) cheap credit available to weaker EU economies (such as Greece) C) the insistence of wealthier EU nations demanding poorer ones engage in fiscal austerity, which had the effect of unemployment in the poorer nations (and thus less tax revenue) D) overspending by governments in weaker EU nations E) the lingering effects of the 2008 global financial crisis

A) widespread Soviet interference in eastern Europe's economies

Which nation has an ambitious goal to meet half of its energy needs through wind power by 2020? A) Albania B) Denmark C) Iceland D) Portugal E) Serbia

B) Denmark

Until recently in which region of Europe were environmental conditions the worst? A) Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) B) Eastern Europe C) Iberian Peninsula D) Scandinavia E) Southern Europe

B) Eastern Europe

Where do most immigrants to France come from? A) Eastern Europe B) Former French colonies in North Africa and West Africa C) India and Pakistan D) Hong Kong E) Quebec, Canada

B) Former French colonies in North Africa and West Africa

Which country played a major role in the economy of the countries of Eastern Europe in the decades following WWII? A) China B) Japan C) Soviet Union D) United States E) United Kingdom

C) Soviet Union

The nation at the epicenter of the 2015 European Debt Crisis was A) Belgium B) Greece C) United Kingdom D) Switzerland E) Germany

B) Greece

Which nation does NOT speak a Slavic language? A) Poland B) Hungary C) Serbia D) Slovakia E) Bulgaria

B) Hungary

What was the metaphorical name given to the policy of separation that divided Europe into two separate geopolitical and economic blocs after World War II? A) Berlin Wall B) Iron Curtain C) Kremlin D) Autobahn E) buffer zone

B) Iron Curtain

The Apennines are found primarily in which nation? A) Switzerland B) Italy C) Spain D) Hungary E) Greece

B) Italy

In which European country would you find fjords? A) Greece B) Norway C) Netherlands D) Italy E) Hungary

B) Norway

Which of the following places is the most likely source region for an immigrant to the United Kingdom? A) East Asia B) South Asia (India and Pakistan) C) Turkey D) South America E) Russia

B) South Asia (India and Pakistan)

Which of the following EU member states does NOT use the Euro as its national currency? A) Italy B) Sweden C) France D) Germany E) Spain

B) Sweden

A sizeable percentage of the Muslim population residing in Germany are immigrants from which nation? A) Egypt B) Turkey C) Morocco D) Saudi Arabia E) Iran

B) Turkey

Which two nations reunified shortly after the end of the Cold War? A) Slovakia and the Czech Republic B) West Germany and East Germany C) Bosnia and Kosovo D) Poland and Lithuania E) Austria and Hungary

B) West Germany and East Germany

Europe was the battleground for which wars during the 20th century? A) World War I and the Cold War, but not World War II B) World War I, World War II, and the Cold War C) World War II, but not World War I D) World War I, but not World War II E) World War I and World War II, but not the Cold War

B) World War I, World War II, and the Cold War

The dominant national sport across Europe is A) baseball B) soccer C) basketball D) hockey E) judo

B) soccer

What is the major factor determining whether a particular Slavic language uses the Latin alphabet or the Cyrillic alphabet in its written form? A) the latitude of the country in which the language is spoken B) the dominant religion of the people who speak that language C) the time period over which the language evolved D) the political system of the country E) the economic system of the country

B) the dominant religion of the people who speak that language

What best describes the natural growth rate in contemporary Europe? A) extensive population decline in every country B) there is a lack of natural growth as death rates exceed birth rates C) fast growth in large nations such as Germany but slow growth in most smaller nations D) a moderate rate of growth E) an extremely high rate of growth

B) there is a lack of natural growth as death rates exceed birth rates

Which country of Europe has a large Muslim migrant population? A) Poland B) Ireland C) Lithuania D) France E) Switzerland

D) France

Legal migrants now make up roughly what percent of the total population of the European Union? A) 1% B) 5% C) 10% D) 11.7% E) 25%

C) 10%

The nation often described as the economic engine which drives much of Europe is A) England B) France C) Germany D) Italy E) Switzerland

C) Germany

Which nation has accepted the highest total number of migrants, taking in an estimated 140,000 alone in 2016? A) Denmark B) Italy C) Germany D) Belgium E) Ireland

C) Germany

Which of the following languages is NOT a Romance (Latin-based) language? A) Italian B) Spanish C) Greek D) Romanian E) French

C) Greek

Which two war-torn nations have produced an enormous number of migrants seeking asylum in Europe, most notably Germany, in recent years? A) Morocco and Algeria B) Bosnia and Kosovo C) Iraq and Syria D) Turkey and Saudi Arabia E) Egypt and Jordan

C) Iraq and Syria

The highest GNI per capita in Europe are found in which trio of nations? A) Albania, Kosovo, Serbia B) Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia C) Norway, Sweden, Denmark D) Spain, Portugal, Italy E) Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia

C) Norway, Sweden, Denmark

What plan did Europe introduce in 2005 to help the region fight climate change? A) a program to become the world's leader in solar energy B) a tree-planting plan C) an emission trading scheme D) a research program to perfect carbon sequestration E) a plan to eliminate all usage of fossil fuels by 2020

C) an emission trading scheme

What term describes the fragmented geopolitical processes involved with small-scale independence movements and the phenomenon of mini-nationalism as it develops along ethnic fault lines? A) feudalism B) gastarbeiter C) balkanization D) irredentism E) secularization

C) balkanization

What is the word for an array of nonaligned or friendly states that cushion or protect a larger country from invasion, as happened with the former Soviet Union and its Eastern European neighbors? A) Balkan region B) homelands C) buffer zone D) convection cells E) distributaries

C) buffer zone

The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985, meant that A) crossing a European border required passport and auto insurance documentation. B) crossing a European border was not possible without government permission. C) crossing a European border required neither paperwork nor government approval. D) crossing a European border became more difficult for the ethnic minority Roma. E) crossing a European was only available to people from countries that were EU members.

C) crossing a European border required neither paperwork nor government approval.

Large number of French-speaking Africans and Arab Muslims live in what areas of the cities of western Europe (most notably Paris)? A) close to the central city in upscale enclaves B) in highly integrated and diverse inner-city neighborhoods C) in high-density apartment buildings in the suburbs with little diversity D) in single-family homes within suburban neighborhoods E) in highly segregated inner-city neighborhoods

C) in high-density apartment buildings in the suburbs with little diversity

Which of the following was a geopolitical result of WWII? A) reassertion of power by the Ottoman Empire B) the creation of a Third Reich which ruled mainland Europe from 1945 to 1989 C) the formation of an "Iron Curtain" separating a democratic Western Europe from a communist Eastern Europe D) the dissolution of Yugoslavia E) the formation of a military alliance between the United Kingdom, Germany and the Soviet Union

C) the formation of an "Iron Curtain" separating a democratic Western Europe from a communist Eastern Europe

The most densely populated region of Europe tends to be A) the Balkan Peninsula (ex. Greece, Macedonia and Bulgaria) B) Spain and Portugal C) Scandinavia (ex. Norway, Sweden and Finland) D) Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg E) The Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)

D) Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg

In which nation(s) of Europe do Muslims comprise a majority of the population? A) France B) France and Germany C) Germany D) Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania E) Poland and Lithuania

D) Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania

How does Europe compare in size (area) to the United States? A) It is roughly two-thirds of the United States. B) It is about the size of the state of Texas. C) It is the same size as the United States. D) It is equal in size to the continental United States plus Alaska and Hawaii. E) It is the largest continent on the planet, far larger than the United States.

D) It is equal in size to the continental United States plus Alaska and Hawaii.

Why did the population of Jews in Europe drop from 9.5 million before World War II to less than 2 million today? A) Their birth rates dropped as their urbanization rate increased, and the creation of Israel caused most to emigrate to the Middle East. B) The creation of Israel caused most Jews to emigrate from Europe to the Middle East. C) Their birth rates dropped as rates of urbanization increased. D) Nazis and their sympathizers murdered approximately six million Jews in the Holocaust. E) The vast majority of Jews emigrated to the United States.

D) Nazis and their sympathizers murdered approximately six million Jews in the Holocaust.

What do the letters in NATO stand for? A) National Anti-Terrorism Organization B) North Austrian Transportation Organization C) Norway-Austria Treaty Organization D) North Atlantic Treaty Organization E) Netherlands Against Terrorism Organization

D) North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Where is there still currently an internecine Christian conflict between Protestants and Catholics? A) Italy B) Romania C) Bosnia D) Northern Ireland E) Germany

D) Northern Ireland

Which of the following European countries is NOT a member of the European Union? A) Austria B) Denmark C) Portugal D) Switzerland E) United Kingdom

D) Switzerland

Which set of nations is landlocked? A) Norway, Sweden and Finland B) Spain, Greece and Italy C) Switzerland, Italy and Poland D) Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary E) Austria, Switzerland and Hungary

E) Austria, Switzerland and Hungary

The European population is characterized by which stage of the demographic transition? A) First B) Second C) Third D) Fourth E) Fifth

E) Fifth

The fastest growing nation currently in Europe is A) Poland B) Iceland C) Greece D) Portugal E) Kosovo

E) Kosovo

Which European country has the highest representation of women in parliamentary offices? A) Cypress B) the United Kingdom C) Germany D) Denmark E) Sweden

E) Sweden

Which two nations have accepted the largest number of asylum seekers on a PER CAPITA (i.e. as a percent of their total population)? A) Germany and France B) Germany and Belgium C) Belgium and the Netherlands D) Norway and Sweden E) Sweden and Denmark

E) Sweden and Denmark

Catalan is a language primarily spoken A) in the region around Rome, Italy B) in the region around Bucharest, Romania C) in the region around Brussels, Belgium D) in the region around Lisbon, Portugal E) in the region around Barcelona, Spain

E) in the region around Barcelona, Spain

The former Yugoslavia has fragmented into how many independent nation-states? A) three B) four C) five D) six E) seven

E) seven

Which of the following has NOT been mentioned as a potential result of Brexit? A) the emboldening of far-right wing (and anti-immigrant) political parties across Europe B) the increased likelihood of Scottish independence from England C) the increased likelihood of Northern Ireland opting to join the Republic of Ireland in order to remain part of the EU D) the breakup of the United Kingdom E) stronger economic ties between England and the European Union

E) stronger economic ties between England and the European Union

What event was an important cause of the surge of immigration to European countries (such as Germany) in the early 1990s? A) the release of the last German colony in Africa in 1989 B) the expulsion of many foreign-born immigrants from France C) war in Syria and Iraq D) Germany's mild climate E) the collapse of the Soviet Union

E) the collapse of the Soviet Union

Which of the following was a prime factor for the economic collapse in Eastern Europe immediately following the end of the Cold War? A) the removal of Soviet troops translated into a major loss of revenue from soldiers spending their paychecks in the local economy B) the markets of Western Europe stopped buying products from Eastern European nations C) the nations of Eastern Europe were forced to pay back massive loans which they had taken out from Germany, France and England D) the devastation of bombing from the Cold War between 1945-1989 had reduced Eastern Europe into ruins E) the loss of subsidized natural gas and oil from the Soviet Union coupled with the collapse of Soviet markets made it impossible for Eastern European industries to operate and compete

E) the loss of subsidized natural gas and oil from the Soviet Union coupled with the collapse of Soviet markets made it impossible for Eastern European industries to operate and compete

What percentage of Europe's population lives in urban areas? A) one-fifth (20%) B) one-third (33%) C) one-half (50%) D) two-thirds (66%) E) three-fourths (75%)

E) three-fourths (75%)

Which of the following is NOT a future challenge facing Europe because of low (or zero) population growth? A) a reduced tax base B) a reduced labor force C) large segments of society in need of social services with too few young people to support such programs D) smaller internal markets for local goods E) widespread unemployment

E) widespread unemployment

family-friendly policies

Established in places such as Germany, France, and Scandinavia, these are policies that address concerns about population loss by offering full pay maternity and paternity leaves, guarantees of continued employment once these leaves conclude, extensive child-care facilities for working parents, outright cash subsidies for having children, and free or low-cost public education and job training for their offspring.

balkanization

Geopolitical process of fragmentation of larger states into smaller ones through independence of smaller regions and ethnic groups. The term takes its name from the geopolitical fabric of the Balkan region.

NATO

Initially NATO was a group of North Atlantic and European allies who came together in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat to western Europe. NATO today is a member alliance of 28 member states in North America, Europe, and Southwest Asia (Turkey) pledged to common defense in the event of war.

Brexit

The June 2016 referendum by United Kingdom voters to leave the European Union, which passed by a vote of 52 percent to 48 percent. Energizing the "Leave" vote were an array of anti-EU feelings ranging from unemployment allegedly caused by industry shifting to other EU countries, restrictive EU market regulations, "too many foreigners" because of EU free movement policies, and concerns about the EU's inability to deal with the increase of extra-legal immigration into Europe.

asylum laws

Protection for refugees who are victims of ethnic, religious, or political persecution in other parts of the world.

Schengen Agreement

The 1985 agreement between some—but not all—European Union member countries to reduce border formalities in order to facilitate free movement of citizens between member countries of this new "Schengenland." For example, today there are reduced border controls between France and Germany, or between France and Italy.

Latin alphabet

The alphabet devised by the ancient Roman that is used today for writing most European languages, including English

devolution

The breaking apart or separation within a political unit such as a nation-state.

European Union

The current association of 28 European countries that are joined together in an agenda of economic, political, and cultural integration.

cold war

The ideological struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union that occurred between 1946 and 1991.

Industrial Revolution

The period of time in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when European factories first changed from using animate power (human and animals) to inanimate power (water and coal) to power machines.

Indo-European language family

The world's largest group of languages that are descended from a common ancestral language. Most languages of Europe, northern and central South Asia, and Iran belong to this language family.

euro

the basic monetary unit of most members of the European Union (introduced in 1999)

eurozone

the group of European Union nations whose national currency is the euro.