Latin America
The Native American empires of Latin America were the...
Maya, Aztec, and Inca.
What is the second largest river system in Latin America?
Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers
Which Caribbean islands have political links to the United States?
Puerto Rico and some Virgin Islands
The ______ in Mexico are a continuation of the Rocky Mountains of North America.
Sierra Madre
Latin America includes Middle America, the Caribbean, and...
South America.
In addition to farming and ranching, _______ also contribute to deforestation in the Amazon.
commercial logging operations
About what percentage of Mexico's population lives in Mexico City?
20%
About what percentage of Mexico's population is urban?
77%
Hundreds of smaller rivers join the Amazon River as it flows to the Atlantic Ocean to form the...
Amazon Basin.
The _________ is the Western Hemisphere's longest river.
Amazon River
The mountains located along the western edge of South America are the...
Andes.
Shifting winds and the cold Peru ocean current have combined to create the....
Atacama Desert.
The Panama Canal allows ships to travel between which 2 bodies of water?
Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean
Which of these countries is the most densely populated in South America?
Ecuador
What natural resource attracted Spanish settlers to Hispaniola?
Gold
Which of the following statements about tropical dry regions in Latin America is TRUE?
Grasslands flourish in many tropical dry areas.
____________ was the first Latin American country to gain is independence.
Haiti
Mild climate, fertile soil, and adequate rainfall have attracted people to the ______ for thousands of year.
Mexican Plateau
Most present-day descendants of the Maya live in...
Mexico and Central America.
The Rio Bravo forms part of the border between...
Mexico and the United States.
Which tectonic plate is pushing against the western edge of the South American Plate?
Nazca Plate
Which statement best describes why the Brazilian Highlands are important to farmers?
Open spaces are ideal for raising livestock.
In Peru and Bolivia, the Andes encircle the ______, or "high plain."
altiplano
Parallel mountain ranges are called...
cordilleras.
What ongoing problem are many countries in Central America and the Caribbean struggling to end?
corrupt politics
What is a major risk Latin American countries take by depending on one or two export products?
destruction of the cash crop by natural disasters
Latin America's natural resources are unevenly distributed due to...
diverse landforms.
The plateau of Patagonia is...
dry, barren, and windy.
The 5 vertical climate zones in the highlands of Latin America are determined by...
elevation.
The eastern highlands of South America plunge to the Atlantic Ocean, forming a steep slope called an...
escarpment.
The Rio de la Plata is a large _________ where 3 rivers meet the Atlantic Ocean.
estuary
The pampas consists primarily of...
grasslands.
South America's inland grassland areas, the llanos and the pampas, are a source of...
grazing for cattle.
Service industries, such as banking, communications, or retail sales,....
have not increased in Latin America in recent decades.
According to the Mexican government, NAFTA has...
helped boost exports and increased international investments.
Steppe climate in Latin America has...
hot summers, cold winters, and light rainfall.
The Colombian Exchange involved plants, animals, and the transmission of...
infectious disease.
What are latifundia?
large, mechanized farms
In some Latin American countries, growing cities have absorbed surrounding cities and suburbs to create ______.
megacities.
Where was the Aztec city of Tencochititlan located?
on what today is Mexico City.
The tropical climate of the Amazon Basin results from its location on the Equator and ...
prevailing wind patterns.
The Amazon Basin contains the world's largest...
rain forest.
Many rural migrants in Latin America are forced to live in _____________ when they reach the city.
shantytowns
Humid subtropical climates in South America have...
short winters with cool to mild temperatures and long, hot, humid summers.
What do canopies in the Amazon rainforest stop from reaching the forest floor?
sunlight
When did most Latin American countries gain their independence?
the 1800s
Minifundia are farmers...
whose small plots of land feed rural families.
Located in the Andes, Lake Titicaca is...
the world's highest navigable lake.
Which 2 vertical climate zones are above the tree line?
tierra helada and puna
Which vertical climate zone is the most densely populated?
tierra templada
Many Caribbean islands are actually..
volcanic peaks.
Minifundia are generally held by _______ or _________.
wealthy land owners, the government
