World Geography Semester Exam Review

______________ automobiles cause less environmental damage than traditional automobiles because they use fuel made from corn and other organic sources. a.) Biofuel b.) Geothermal c.) Hydrogen-fueled d.) Solar-powered

a.) Biofuel

What effect is caused by rain shadow? a.) Drier, warmer areas develop on the leeward side of mountains. b.) Wetter, cooler areas develop on the leeward side of mountains. c.) Drier, cooler areas develop on the windward side of mountains. d.) Wetter, warmer areas develop on the windward side of mountains.

a.) Drier, warmer areas develop on the leeward side of mountains.

How does humidity affect the movement of water in the water cycle? a.) High humidity accelerates condensation and precipitation b.) High humidity levels increase the amount of water on Earth's surface c.) Low humidity levels increase air temperature. d.) Low humidity levels increase water run-off at higher elevations.

a.) High humidity accelerates condensation and precipitation

Water is pumped in large amounts from the Edwards Aquifer to supply the city of ___________________, making preservation of the aquifer an important issue. a.) San Antonio b.) Dallas c.) Houston d.) Lubbock

a.) San Antonio

Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn? a.) The Tropic of Cancer is north of the Tropic of Capricorn. b.) The Tropic of Cancer is south of the Tropic of Capricorn. c.) The Tropic of Cancer is east of the Tropic of Capricorn. d.) The Tropic of Cancer is west of the Tropic of Capricorn.

a.) The Tropic of Cancer is north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

What was the major cause of the 2008 economic downturn in the United States? a.) a crisis in the home mortgage banking sector. b.) a stock market crash c.) a severe drought d.) the collapse of the high-tech sector

a.) a crisis in the home mortgage banking sector.

A solar system consists of a.) a group of planets revolving around the same sun b.) a classification system for different types of suns c.) a process that measures a sun's physical features d.) a group of stars such as our sun.

a.) a group of planets revolving around the same sun

The population density and distribution of Texas can best be described as: a.) an uneven distribution with more people in the eastern areas of the state b.) an even distribution throughout the state c.) an uneven distribution with more people in the southern areas of the state. d.) a mostly even distribution with slightly more people in central areas of the state

a.) an uneven distribution with more people in the eastern areas of the state

Agents or _____________, such as Stephen F. Austin, were contracted with Mexico to settle families in Texas. a.) empresarios b.) maquiladores c.) Northerners d.) confederates

a.) empresarios

Life does not exist on other planets in our solar system due to their a.) extreme temperatures b.) size c.) shape d.) lack of carbon dioxide

a.) extreme temperatures

Even a country in which the birthrate and death rate are equal can experience population growth if it also has a.) immigration b.) emigration c.) a high standard of living d.) long life experience

a.) immigration

In the grid system used to map locations on Earth's surface, lines parallel to the Equator are called a.) latitudinal lines b.) geometric lines c.) barometric lines d.) longitudinal lines

a.) latitudinal lines

A political border that is established by a physical geographic feature such as a mountain range or a river is a a.) natural boundary b.) geometric boundary c.) cultural boundary d.) ethnic boundary

a.) natural boundary

What type of economic activity do coal miners perform in? a.) primary b.) secondary c.) tertiary d.) quaternary

a.) primary

Different maps can accurately show the same place with different a.) scales b.) elevations c.) absolute locations d.) coordinates

a.) scales

Desalination technology has been developed to resolve the problem of a.) scarcity of freshwater b.) dwindling fish populations c.) extreme climate changes d.) global economics

a.) scarcity of freshwater

El Nino is a phenomenon that originates in a.) the Pacific Ocean b.) the Atlantic Ocean c.) the Caribbean Sea d.) the Mediterranean Sea

a.) the Pacific Ocean

Where do the most dramatic variation in the amount of sunlight occur? a.) the Poles b.) the Tropic of Cancer c.) the Tropic of Capricorn d.) the Equator

a.) the Poles

One limitation of geospatial technology is that it cannot provide information about a.) things below the surface b.) why human do things c.) the impact of Industry d.) areas humans cannot safely visit

a.) things below the surface

The main reason for the creation of desalination plants is a.) to provide freshwater to support human activities b.) to promote jobs in high-tech industries and decrease agricultural careers c.) to expands trade exports of excess salt and brine processing d.) to provide economic stability to undeveloped countries

a.) to provide freshwater to support human activities

A Mercator Projection Map has the benefit of showing a.) true direction, which is useful for ocean navigation b.) accurate representation from its center, so it is used to map the Poles. c.) relatively accurate shapes, so great circle maps appear as straight lines. d.) distortions only where it is sliced into an irregular shape like an orange peel.

a.) true direction, which is useful for ocean navigation

A historic activity center built over an older city or town is known as a a.) uptown edge city b.) Greenfield Edge city c.) boomer Edge city d.) entrance edge city

a.) uptown edge city

The Grand Canyon was slowly created by what kind of external force? a.) water erosion b.) glacial movement c.) wind erosion d.) rock erosion

a.) water erosion

How did the level of available natural mineral resources affect industrialization in the United States? a.) It delayed industrialization because the country could just rely on mineral resources for exports. b.) It speeded industrialization because the country had abundant and easy access to mineral resources. c.) It delayed industrialization because of concerns about the environmental damage that mining can cause. d.) It. speeded industrialization because immigrants were attracted to jobs in mining.

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

In what city did the building of levees damage the natural landscape that once protected it from flooding? a.) New York City b.) New Orleans c.) Chicago d.) Atlanta

b.) New Orleans

Since the 1960s, the population of the Manufacturing Belt has declined while the number of business moving to the ________________ has increased. a.) Wheatbelt b.) Sunbelt c.) Rust Belt d.) Volcanic Belt

b.) Sunbelt

Why were the first factories in the United States located along the fall line in the Northeast? a.) The many tributaries provided an abundant source of drinkable water. b.) The waterfalls provided power for factories. c.) The region had a large immigrant population that provided inexpensive labor. d.) They were located near important mineral resources.

b.) The waterfalls provided power for factories.

What effect do large bodies of water tend to have on coastal areas? a.) They cause extreme changes in seasonal temperatures b.) They cause temperatures to be more uniform and moderate c.) They cause year-round high temperatures d.) They cause year-round cold temperatures

b.) They cause temperatures to be more uniform and moderate

What is foreclosure? a.) an agreement by which somebody borrows money and gives the lender the right to take possession of property given as security if the loan is not repaid. b.) a procedure in which a borrower gives up rights to a property due to the inability to repay the loan. c.) an arrangement by which a buyer can take possession of something now and pay for it later or over time. d.) a sign or warning that something bad is going to happen.

b.) a procedure in which a borrower gives up rights to a property due to the inability to repay the loan.

A reading of 36 degrees North latitude and 140 degrees East longitude provides a.) a relative position b.) an absolute location c.) a global reckoning d.) a planar projection

b.) an absolute location

In marine west coast climates, ocean winds cause a.) short, mild winters and nearly year-round rain b.) cool summers and cool, damp winters c.) short, mild winters and nearly year-round rain d.) warm summers and harshly cold winters

b.) cool summers and cool, damp winters

A Mercator Projection is what type of projection? a.) conic projection b.) cylindrical projection c.) planar projection d.) thematic projection

b.) cylindrical projection

__________ is the study of populations by examining trends such as birthrates and death rates. a.) sociology b.) demography c.) polygraphy d.) anthropology

b.) demography

The rain shadow effect causes a.) hurricanes to develop in the Atlantic Ocean b.) dry areas to develop on the leeward sides of mountain ranges. c.) ice caps to develop on the North and South Poles d.) monsoons to develop in the Pacific Ocean

b.) dry areas to develop on the leeward sides of mountain ranges.

California's Silicon Valley; Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas are urban areas that have become leaders in the a.) manufacturing industry b.) high-tech industry c.) offshore industry d.) automotive industry

b.) high-tech industry

Where is Earth's freshwater supply located? a.) in bays, rivers, and underground b.) in glaciers, ice caps, lakes, streams, rivers, and underground c.) in lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, ice caps, and underground d.) in streams, lakes, rivers, seas, and bays

b.) in glaciers, ice caps, lakes, streams, rivers, and underground

Why is urban sprawl considered to be a problem? a.) it preserves green space b.) it increases traffic c.) it preserves the character of the community d.) it causes urban crime rates to rise

b.) it increases traffic

The Mountains and Basins region has a strong Hispanic cultural tradition and close ties with people in New Mexico, California, and Arizona due to its a.) location on the Gulf of Mexico b.) location in the western area of Texas c.) proximity to major cities d.) location in the southern area of Texas

b.) location in the western area of Texas

The doubling time, or the number of years it takes a population to double in size, is typically ____________ in more developed countries than in less developed countries. a.) the same b.) longer c.) shorter d.) faster

b.) longer

The enslavement of Africans who were then shipped to the Americas is an example of cultural change being caused by forced a.) assimilation b.) migration c.) labor d.) diffusion

b.) migration

Knowledge of physical geography would be useful to a weather forecaster in the south who wanted to a.) develop hurricane prevention methods b.) predict precipitation patterns. c.) develop economic projections. d.) help people reduce acid rain.

b.) predict precipitation patterns.

Which area experiences the midnight sun? a.) the Equator b.) the Artic c) the Midlatitude Zones d.) the Horse Latitudes

b.) the Artic

What is the term for the generally windless area near the Equator? a.) the prime meridian b.) the doldrums c.) the horse latitudes d.) the midlatitudes

b.) the doldrums

What causes smog? a.) the rain shadow effect in which clouds and pollution combine to darken sides. b.) the interaction of solar radiation and emissions released by burning fossil fuels. c.) the Coriolis effect in which swirling winds keep pollution aloft. d.) emission from plant life, which produces more carbon dioxide than does human activity

b.) the interaction of solar radiation and emissions released by burning fossil fuels.

High latitude climates support only limited plant and animal life because of a.) their extreme aridity b.) the lack of direct sunlight c.) the powerful polar winds d.) the El Nino phenomenon

b.) the lack of direct sunlight

What three areas of Earth work together so life in the biosphere thrives? a.) the lithosphere, mesosphere, and stratosphere b.) the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere c.) the troposphere, mesosphere, and lithosphere d.) the hydrosphere, mesosphere, and atmosphere

b.) the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere

What does human geography examine? a.) the relationship between climate, land, water, plants and animals. b.) the relationship between physical environments and people. c.) the relationship between living and inmate things on Earth. d.). the relationship between the people in the past, present and future.

b.) the relationship between physical environments and people.

Which is the main purpose for global positioning technology? a.) to determine relative locations on Earth. b.) to determine absolute location on Earth. c.) to determine elevations of geographic features on Earth. d.) to determine the physical characteristics of regions.

b.) to determine absolute location on Earth.

About how long does it take for Earth to complete a revolution around the sun? a.) 7 days b.) 31 days c.) 365 days d.) 1,000 days

c.) 365 days

What is the average daily temperature of a tropic wet climate? a.) 32°F b.) 50°F c.) 80°F d.) 100°F

c.) 80°F

What U.S. state includes areas that have a subarctic climate that supports a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, bald eagles, wolves, and bobcats? a.) Maine b.) Idaho c.) Alaska d.) Michigan

c.) Alaska

How has computer technology affected the cultural change in recent decades? a.) It has decelerated cultural change by imposing more uniformity. b.) It has discouraged cultural change because people are distracted by electronic gadgets. c.) It has accelerated cultural change by facilitating the spread of ideas and traditions. d.) It has accelerated cultural change because it has imposed cultural uniformity.

c.) It has accelerated cultural change by facilitating the spread of ideas and traditions.

Why is most of Earth's freshwater supply not available for consumption? a.) It is in polluted lakes and rivers. b.) It is too far underground. c.) It is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. d.) It is trapped in the water cycle.

c.) It is frozen in glaciers and ice caps.

Which is an advantage of using Goode's Interrupted Equal Area Protection Map? a.) It shows accurate distances between land features. b.) It distorts only the less-inhabited areas near the North and South Poles. c.) It shows the true size and shape of landmasses. d.) It clearly shows latitude and longitude lines.

c.) It shows the true size and shape of landmasses.

What effect did the 2008 economic downturn in the United States have on the global economy? a.) Other countries prospered due to lower economic competition from the United States. b.) Other countries balanced their budgets with profits from loaning money to the United States. c.) Other countries also suffered financial distress. d.) Other countries stopped investing in the United States' economy.

c.) Other countries also suffered financial distress.

What does the expression "This year's rain is last year's snow" refer to? a.) Rain in the spring can sometimes freeze due to unreasonable temperatures. b.) Snow consists of water in the frozen state and this water becomes rain when subjected to higher temperatures. c.) The amount of water on Earth does not change and is cycled in an unending process despite its changing physical state. d.) The amount of rain and snow changes due to the changing amount of water that cycles through Earth's atmosphere.

c.) The amount of water on Earth does not change and is cycled in an unending process despite its changing physical state.

Why are Mercury and Venus scalding hot? a.) They are made of hot gasses b.) They are made of semi-solid magma c.) They are the closest to the sun d.) They have thin atmosphere

c.) They are the closest to the sun

What classifies our solar system's four inner planets as terrestrial? a.) They are closest to the sun b.) They have atmospheres c.) They have solid, rocky crusts d.) They have solid, dense cores

c.) They have solid, rocky crusts

The __________ is an international organization dedicated to fostering cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and aspirations to achieve world peace. a.) North Atlantic Treaty Organization b.) World Trade Organization c.) United Nations d.) International Freedom of Nations

c.) United Nations

What is the equinox? a.) a day on which the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer b.) a day on which the sun is directly over the prime meridian c.) a day on which the sun is directly over the Equator d.) a day on which the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn

c.) a day on which the sun is directly over the Equator

Which is the best example of the geographic term, "site"? a.) a specific clime zone, such as the arctic tundra. b.) a general region, such as the Grain belt. c.) a specific physical setting, such as Baja California's location on a peninsula west of mainland Mexico. d.) a general setting, such as Detroit's situation as an industrialized port city along the Great Lakes.

c.) a specific physical setting, such as Baja California's location on a peninsula west of mainland Mexico.

Which is the best example of the geographic term "site"? a.) a general region, such as America's Heartland. b.) a specific climate zone, such as the tropical lowlands. c.) a specific physical setting, such as Miami's location on Florida's southeastern tip. d.) a general location, such as Seattle's position in the rainy northwest coastal area.

c.) a specific physical setting, such as Miami's location on Florida's southeastern tip.

How does the demographic transition model explain change over time in the population of a country or region? a.) by tracking life expectancy b.) by measuring the annual number of live births per 1,000 people c.) by tracking birthrates and death rates d.) by measuring the immigration rate

c.) by tracking birthrates and death rates

Scientists theorize that Earth's largest physical features are created by a.) erosion from mountain meltwater. b.) widening of continental shelves. c.) collisions between landmasses. d.) softening of the mantle.

c.) collisions between landmasses.

Imaginary lines that follow Earth's curate to identify the shortest distance between two points are called a.) conical protections b.) geometric meridians c.) great circle routes d.) longitudinal circle lines

c.) great circle routes

The ____________ includes all liquid and frozen surface water, ground water, and water vapor. a.) lithosphere b.) biosphere c.) hydrosphere d.) atmosphere

c.) hydrosphere

What type of music developed in the United States during the early 1900s that combined African rhythms with European harmonies? a.) mambo b.) rock 'n' roll c.) jazz d.) meringue

c.) jazz

Temperatures at higher elevations are __________ compared to temperatures at lower elevations. a.) more variable b.) less variable c.) lower d.) higher

c.) lower

__________ or the belief that the individuals loyalty to the nation or state surpasses other interest can lead to war and its most extreme forms. a.) autocracy b.) democracy c.) nationalism d.) socialism

c.) nationalism

Mexico is an example of a(n) _____________, because it is transitioning from primarily agricultural economy to an economy primarily focused on manufacturing and industrial activities. a.) industrializing country b.) more developed country c.) newly industrialized country d.) less developed country

c.) newly industrialized country

The three major ways the round Earth is presented on a flat map include _____________ projections. a.) geometric, longitudinal, and latitudinal b.) directional, spatial, and spherical c.) planar, conic, and cylindrical d.) regional, topographic, relief

c.) planar, conic, and cylindrical

Humans are most likely to heavily populate a _____________ area. a.) mountaintop b.) desert c.) river delta d.) tundra

c.) river delta

What type of economic activity do teachers perform? a.) primary b.) secondary c.) tertiary d.) quaternary

c.) tertiary

What is the area between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains that often experiences the rain shadow effect? a.) the Continental Divide b.) the Great Plains c.) the Columbia Plateau d.) the Atlantic Coastal Plain

c.) the Columbia Plateau

The blending of Spanish-Mexican ranching heritage with European and American livestock practices have become Texas's strongest cultural tradition as seen in _________________. a.) the art and architecture b.) family and religious practices c.) the popular entertainment and everyday clothing d.) the food and language

c.) the popular entertainment and everyday clothing

What is the key function of geographic information systems? a.) to link places to one another when rugged terrain makes communication difficult. b.) to link resource providers and potential markets. c.) to link images and data from satellites and other sources. d.) to link computers in different geographic areas.

c.) to link images and data from satellites and other sources.

Geographers who focus on human or cultural geography consider a.) economic and social issues, but not how they relate to water systems. b.) politics and languages. but not how landforms impact trade. c.) urban development and consumption, but not how many islands are formed. d.) religion and race, but not how climate is connected to population growth.

c.) urban development and consumption, but not how many islands are formed.

Rapid growth of cities that result in scattered development that increases traffic, drains local resources, and destroys open space is known as a.) smart growth b.) suburbanization c.) urban sprawl d.) the multiple nuclei model

c.) urban sprawl

When geographers acquire geographic information by direct observation, they a.) conduct interview and surveys. b.) look for evidence on the Internet. c.) visit a place or use information from remote sensing devices. d.) look at various maps created by cartographers over different time periods.

c.) visit a place or use information from remote sensing devices.

When it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Northern Hemisphere? a.) summer b.) autumn c.) winter d.) spring

c.) winter

How can desalination plants negatively affect the environment? a.) Desalination plants emit salt into the atmosphere. b.) Desalination plants will eventually cause lowering of sea levels. c.) Desalination plants produce water that can destroy arable land. d.) Desalination plants burn fossil fuels that contribute to pollution.

d.) Desalination plants burn fossil fuels that contribute to pollution.

______________ refers to the movement of people form rural areas to cities. a.) Suburbanization b.) Modernization c.) Destabilization d.) Urbanization

d.) Urbanization

Which is the best comparison to the geographic term "situation"? a.) a socially-important location b.) a specific site in a certain time period c.) a latitude and longitude location where something happens. d.) a position relative to other places or features

d.) a position relative to other places or features

___________ is an environmental problem in the United States because it corrodes stone and metal building, damages crops and pollutes the soil. a.) agricultural runoff b.) smog c.) ozone depletion d.) acid rain

d.) acid rain

A continental shelf a.) a landform that connects continents b.) a landform that separates continents c.) an underwater extension of alluvial sediment d.) an underwater extension of a costal plain

d.) an underwater extension of a costal plain

Different places on Earth receive different amounts of direct sunlight at the same time a.) because volcanic eruptions cloud the sky. b.) because of climate variations. c.) because the greenhouse effect blocks the sun's rays. d.) because earth is tilted on its axis.

d.) because earth is tilted on its axis.

__________ is the spread of culture traits, both material and non-material from one culture to another. a.) cultural dissonance b.) cultural dispersion c.) cultural assimilation d.) cultural diffusion

d.) cultural diffusion

What of the following terms refer to early centers of civilization whose ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas? a.) language family b.) ethnic enclave c.) urban core d.) culture hearth

d.) culture hearth

Longitude lines indicate a.) distante north and south of the Equator. b.) distance north and south of the Prime Meridian. c.) distances east and west of the Equator. d.) distances east and west of the Prime Meridian.

d.) distances east and west of the Prime Meridian.

An urban are might turn into a _______________ if its key industry is no longer needed and the population moves on in order to seek a livelihood. a.) world city b.) suburb c.) tourist trap d.) ghost town

d.) ghost town

Which external force most likely formed the Great Lakes? a.) Plate seperation made the ground sink. b.) strong winds wore down the ground c.) rivers eroded the ground d.) glaciers scarped the ground

d.) glaciers scarped the ground

The term permafrost refers to a.) glaciers that form at the North and South Poles b.) the first time the temperature stays below the freezing point, causing trees to drop their leaves. c.) the snowy areas that form on the leeward side of mountains. d.) permanently frozen soil beneath the ground.

d.) permanently frozen soil beneath the ground.

When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere? a.) spring b.) winter c.) autumn d.) summer

d.) summer

What was the series of safe houses that helped thousands of African Americans escape slavery before the Civil War? a.) the Mason-Dixon Route b.) the Northwest Passage c.) the Washington Express d.) the Underground Railroad

d.) the Underground Railroad

The three layers of Earth are a.) the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere b.) the plates, crust, and the ocean basins c.) the surface, the inner core, and the outer core. d.) the core, mantle, and the crust.

d.) the core, mantle, and the crust.

Earth's lithosphere consists of a.) all the land and water on Earth's surface b.) molten rock and toxic gases c.) a mix of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen d.) the crust, continents, and ocean basins

d.) the crust, continents, and ocean basins

What are the Great Plains of the United States? a.) the flat, desolate area in central Alaska. b.) the flat area between the Pacific Ranges and the Rocky Mountains c.) the flat region surrounding the Great Lakes. d.) the flat landscape east of the Rocky Mountains

d.) the flat landscape east of the Rocky Mountains

What causes solar radiation to warm Earth? a.) the Coriolis effect b.) the lunar effect c.) the shadow effect d.) the greenhouse effect

d.) the greenhouse effect

Which of Earth's layers is thickest? a.) the biosphere b.) the crust c.) the core d.) the mantle

d.) the mantle

In addition to direct observation, geographers gather information through a.) interviewing, analyzing statistics, and participating in ecotourism. b.) attending cultural events, mapping, and interviewing. c.) mapping, analyzing statistics, and participating in ecotourism. d.) using technology, analyzing statistics, and mapping.

d.) using technology, analyzing statistics, and mapping.