GEOG Midterm Practice Questions
When the countries of Latin America regained their independence, who were the leaders?
European elites born in the Americas
which European country is a world leader in the use of renewable energy, having over 20% of its power coming from renewables?
Germany
which island chain was created as the result of a hotspot in the Earth's crust?
Hawaii
what volcanic island sits atop the mid-Atlantic Ridge?
Iceland
the vast majority of people residing in Nunavut are
Inuit
the rainy season for the majority of the Caribbean runs from
July to October
in which of the following states would one find a concentrated Cajun Culture?
Louisiana
this is the process in which immigrants were absorbed by the larger host society
cultural assimilation
the tangible, material expression of human settlement, past and present, is known as a
cultural landscape
which of the following statements is FALSE regarding culture?
culture is purely individual
what global wind pattern is found just outside of the equator?
trade winds
a functional region is
where a particular activity or cluster of activities takes place
three forms of renewable energy with great potential for development in the Caribbean are
wind, solar, and geothermal
lack of water access often requires people to travel vast distances to collect water. this task too often falls on
women and children
what is indentured labor?
workers contracted to work on estates for a set period of time
what was the main cause for the demographic collapse of native Carib people in the Caribbean?
disease
a term that refers to the situation in which a group of people with a common background and history identify with one another
ethnicity
computerized data brought together into different layers that produce a map is
geographic information system
several of the volcanically active islands are starting to utilize which form of energy?
geothermal
which vegetation type is associated with the steppe bioregion
grasslands
tropical rainforests typically
have multiple levels of vegetation
lines of latitude
include the Topic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
a food desert
is an area where people do not have easy access to fresh, healthy, affordable food
What was the result of the Treaty of Tordesillas?
it divided South America between Spain and Portugal
what is Puerto Rico's relationship to the Untied States?
it is a common wealth that presented a bill for American statehood
Evergreen forests
keep their foliage throughout the year
which is NOT examined in a physical geography course?
language
what is a major negative outcome associated with fracking?
large amounts of freshwater are required
which of he following is TRUE regarding map scale?
large scale maps have better detail than small scale maps
what percent of Haiti remains forested
less than 3%
what has been the historic policy of most countries regarding indian languages in Latin America?
many countries actively discouraged Indian languages until recently
which of the following factors greatly complicates the climate and vegetation patterns of Western North America?
mountains
which of the following statements is TURE regarding the distribution of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources?
nonrenewable energy sources are not evenly distributed around the world and often require technology to extract
which of the following is a fossil fuel?
oil
the process of moist air rising up and over a mountain range, where it cools and results in condensation and precipitation on its windward side, is known as the
orographic effect
lines of latitude are known as
parallels
which activity has been the primary reason for deforestation of the Caribbean?
plantation agriculture
the geological theory that Earth's surface is comprised of large slow-moving pieces of crust is referred to as
plate tectonics
transform plate boundaries are
plates that are sliding past each other
which sector of the economy is defined by natural resource extraction, including mining and agriculture?
primary
neoliberalism is an economic model which encourages
privatization and free trade
oil, coal, and gas deposits that can be extracted and distributed under current economic and technological conditions are known as
proven reserves
monies sent by individuals working abroad to families in the origin country are known as
remittances
all systematic inquiry in geography must consider
scale
which of the following is a form of renewable energy?
solar energy
the ability (or inability) of a government to control activities within its borders is known as
sovereignty
which of the following is NOT a natural greenhouse gas?
sulfur dioxide
what are two most important components to climate and also the two most important influences on flora and fauna
temperature and precipitation
what sector of the economy is identified with services?
tertiary
what statement is an accurate representation of the core-periphery model
that the developed core achieved its wealth primarily by taking advantage of the southern periphery, through either colonials or imperialism
which of the following will have maritime climate?
the British Isles
the island arc running from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Tobago is called
the Lesser Antilles
which North American region is the transition zone between nearby older mountain slopes and sloping coastal lowlands?
the Piedmont
Cuba's key military ally and trading partner during the Cold War was
the Soviet Union
the dominant foreign power in the Caribbean by the early 20th century was
the United States
Creolization is
the blending of African, European and Amerindian cultures in the Caribbean
what is the rimland of he Caribbean
the coastal zone of the mainland, beginning with Belize and extending along the coast of Central America to northern South America
the economy of goods and services that are outside of government regulation, registration, or taxation is known as
the informal sector
which of the following statements is TRUE about Canada
the political status of Quebec remains a major issue in Canada
what has been most associated with the increase of water delivery costs in the developing world?
the privatization of water systems
the increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) is primarily a result of
the widespread consumption of fossil fuels with global industrialization
what is the major trend in agriculture in North America in recent years?
there are fewer farms, but they are larger in size
Which statement best describes Colombia's FARC and ELN?
they are insurgency groups financed mainly by the global drug trade
which of the following statements about squatter settlements in Latin America is FALSE?
they are usually located in the city center on high-quality land
the settlement of North America by Europeans took place in how many stages?
three
what is the cultural region stretching from coastal Brazil to the southeastern United States
Plantation America
what language is spoken by one-third of the people in Latin America?
Portuguese
what do we call the region that is dominated by tall native grasslands, short grasses, or scrub vegetation in North America?
Prairie
which is NOT a latitude line
Prime Meridian
The "Research Triangle" refers to
Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill in eastern North Carolina
the two largest arms exporters in the world are
Russia and the United States
what is the oldest continuously occupied European city in the Caribbean?
Santo Domingo
which disease brought by europeans has largely caused the loss of indigenous people in Latin America?
Smallpox
what waterway opened up the Great Lakes to improve global trade connections?
St. Lawrence Seaway
the relationship between cooler temperatures at higher elevations and changes in vegetation is
altitudinal zonation
fossil fuels
are in specific geologic formations in specific locations
approximately how many workers are employed in the maquiladoras of today's Mexico?
1 million
the percent of the world's freshwater is accessible as surface water in the forms of lakes and rivers?
1%
today, approximately how many undocumented immigrants live in the Untied States?
11-12 million
the United Nations estimates the total number of global immigrants is
250 million
what percent of the worlds population resides in cities?
54%
the current average life expectancy for the world is
70 years for me, 74 for women
during the 20th century, how many people were estimated to be killed by volcanic eruptions
75,000
the conditional cash transfer program, known as Bolsa Familia, has reduced extreme poverty in
Brazil
what country was the major destination in the region for Japanese immigrants?
Brazil
what countries are members of the North American Free trade Agreement?
Canada, Mexico, and the United States
FARC is a guerilla group operating in what country?
Colombia
the disputed American military base at Guantanamo is located in
Cuba
which country's independence from Spain in 1898 was a result of the Spanish-American War?
Cuba
Boko Haram is largely based within which nation?
Nigeria
which is the most recent addition to the confederation of Canada?
Nunavut
the Itaipu on the Parana generates electricity for which country
Paraguay
what countries are the two largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere?
United States and China
urban primacy occurs when
a country has a city three to four times larger than any other city in the country
what term represents the distinct river and lake systems that water moves within?
a watershed
Silicon Valley is an example of integrated manufacturing operations that locate near each other, which is called
agglomeration economies
maroon societies
allowed for the survival of African traditions
the rich diversity of plants and animals covering Earth's continents and oceans is known as
biodiversity
the projected increase of the Hispanic population in the United States over the next 25 years will most likely be fueled by
births to Hispanics already living in the United States
a coniferous evergreen forest is also known as a
boreal forest
