W.Geo Midterm Review

What is the disadvantage of a map compared to a globe?

A map distorts properties like distance.

Most of the food grown in Mexico comes from the _______, where there is also greater population density.

Central Plateau

Northern Mexico has a _________ biome in which cacti, shrubs, and shrub oak grow.

Chaparral

Which of the following regions experience a mostly Mediterranean climate?

Coastal regions of Greece, Italy, France, and Spain

How does deforestation contribute to the rising of ocean levels?

Deforestation leads to more carbon dioxide, which contributes to warmer climates and melting sea ice.

How did the level of available natural mineral resources affect industrialization in the United States?

It speeded industrialization because the country had abundant and easy access to mineral resources.

Why is landform a misleading term?

Landforms are also found underwater.

In which region might you come across doldrums?

Near the Equator

Which of the following describes some of the landforms in Northern Europe?

Norway and northern Sweden are mountainous, Finland is mostly flat, and all are dotted with many lakes.

As a result of Viking invasions,

Old Norse evolved as the present-day Nordic language.

Why doesn't the total volume of water in the water cycle change?

The amount of water that evaporates is the same as the amount of water that falls back to Earth.

How does the price of gold affect the environment in Peru?

The higher the price of gold, the more pollution and deforestation.

When do the North Pole and the South Pole receive nearly continuous, but indirect, sunlight?

When either the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun.

What keeps humidity levels high in a humid subtropical climate?

Wind patterns and high pressure from nearby oceans

Which type of projection produces relatively accurate shapes on a map?

a conic projection

An industry which employs workers from their home is known as

a cottage industry.

A local form of a language used in a particular place by a certain group is

a dialect.

What is an archiplelago?

a group or chain of islands

Which economy is based on the concept of free enterprise?

a market economy

Why are settlers attracted to the Andean Highlands?

cooler climates and good soil

Mountain ranges that run parallel to each other are

cordilleras.

Which of the following are two causes of deforestation in Mexico?

corporate logging and the clearing of land for agriculture

Which of the following is causing the most harm to biodiversity in South America?

deforestation

The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere can be caused by

deforestation of the boreal forest.

The promotion of recreational travel based on concern for the environment is known as

ecotourism.

Denmark is number one in the world for

electricity generated from renewable sources.

A planar projection map is most useful for

finding the shortest distance between two places particularly at the Poles.

Urban growth puts the most strain on a city's

freshwater supply.

Canada is considered a postindustrial society because of its

high level of employment in the service sector.

California's Silicon Valley; Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas are urban areas that have become leaders in the

high-tech industry.

Canada is the world's third-largest producer of ________ which is an inexpensive source of renewable energy.

hydroelectricity

Mexico City's geography makes air pollution a greater problem because it is located

in a valley, which often traps carbon emissions.

What is the primary cause of desertification?

mismanagement of land by human activities

Vertical climate zones in Mexico are zones in which

natural vegetation and crops vary by elevation.

Which of the following is part of the lithosphere?

ocean basins

The physical processes that create most of Earth's physical features, including mountains, are known as

plate tectonics.

The lands the Netherlands have reclaimed from the sea are known as

polders.

What is the main force behind internal migration in Northwestern Europe?

poverty in rural areas

Which is an example of a command economy?

socialism

What is the area between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains that often experiences the rain shadow effect?

the Columbia Plateau

When discussing places and regions, which is an example of a formal region?

the Corn Belt

Which of the following is most accurately represented on a cylindrical projection map?

the Equator

What joint U.S.-Canadian project reduced pollution in the Nashua River and encouraged the construction of wastewater treatment plants?

the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Who established the first highly developed civilization in South America?

the Inca

Which of the following landforms runs through both the United States and Canada?

the Rocky Mountains

What is natural increase in a population?

the difference between an area's birthrate and its death rate

What are the Great Plains of the United States?

the flat landscape east of the Rocky Mountains

An example of physical geography is

the importance of water to farmers.

What is brain drain?

the loss of highly educated and skilled workers to other countries

What is cultural diffusion?

the spread of knowledge between cultures

What happens to the Poles on a Robinson projection?

they appear to be slightly flattened

Why did the thirteen colonies fight a war for independence from Britain?

to escape Britain's taxes and limits on colonists' freedoms

What is the purpose of the European Union?

to promote economic and political unity

What is the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol?

to reduce greenhouse gases

Which of the following is the predominant climate in eastern South America?

tropical

Which of the following is the most direct cause of water pollution in Northwestern Europe?

using the sea for waste disposal

In condensation, warm air cools and

water vapor becomes liquid.

Because the governments of Northern European countries fund programs that benefit all residents, they are known as

welfare states.

Which two U.S. states have the largest petroleum reserves?

Alaska and Texas

Which is true about subduction?

It involves an oceanic plate moving beneath a continental plate.

To the east of Canada's central region of plains stand the ancient, rounded

Appalachian Mountains.

In which type of government does the power belong to only one person?

Autocracy

Which of the following is an economic activity characteristic of a postindustrial economy?

Biotechnology

A giant core of rock anchoring North America and centered on Hudson Bay and James Bay is known as the

Canadian Shield

Mexico's location on the Gulf of Mexico enabled a large ______ industry to develop.

Fishing

Which of the following countries in Northwestern Europe have the fewest natural resources to use for energy?

France and Germany

Lakes and rivers are part of the

Hydrosphere.

The change in manufacturing from using human labor to using machines occurred during the

Industrial Revolution.

How has soil in Central America and the Caribbean changed in the last 300 years?

It has become less fertile.

The source of power in a theocracy is

Religion.

Like the neighboring Pacific Ranges, the ____ grew as geologic forces heaved slabs of rock upward.

Rocky Mountains

Descendants of nomadic peoples who lived in northern Scandinavia for thousands of years are known as the

Sami.

Of what precious mineral is Mexico the world's leading producer?

Silver

Which of the following statements explains how elevation influences climate?

The Earth's atmosphere thins as altitude increases, producing a colder climate.

places on Earth receive the same amount of direct sunlight at the same place?

The Earth's axis is tilted.

Which of the following statements describes Earth without the greenhouse effect?

The ocean's surface would be frozen solid.

Which of the following explains the impact of latitude on Northern Europe's vegetation patterns?

The region's cold temperatures and frozen ground limit plant growth.

Why were the first factories in the United States located along the fall line in the Northeast?

The waterfalls provided power for factories.

Which of the following is the main reason the oceans are economically important to Northwestern Europe?

There are many ports to access ocean transportation.

Why is it important to protect wetlands and swamps such as Florida's Everglades?

They provide habitats for a great variety of vegetation and wildlife.

Most people in South America make a living in

agriculture or natural resources.

Where are the Central Uplands located?

between the Alps and the Northern European Plain

How do aqueducts help support California's large population?

by bringing freshwater from far away

How does Niagara Falls help contribute to Canada's economy?

by providing a source of hydroelectric power

Where do most indigenous cultural groups live in South America today?

in the Andes region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia

What caused Nordic countries to become more continental in the 1300s?

increased trade

Fragmentation of the landscape puts wildlife at risk of becoming

isolated.

What causes leeward island areas in the Caribbean islands to have an extended dry season?

lack of easterly winds

Groups of languages that have similar roots are known as

language families.

Northern Europe's climate patterns are influenced by proximity to large bodies of water, as well as mountain barriers, wind patterns, and

latitude.