World Regional Geography

GEG 101 ONLINE!

Exam 1 -- Review Questions
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Chapters in this unit:

Introduction (NOTE: This is a very important chapter of the textbook.)
Chapter 6: Subsaharan Africa
Chapter 4: Middle America
Chapter 5: South America

For each realm:

Keep these in mind as you read and study EACH REALM (chapter).

1. Defining a Realm: Know the physical, cultural, economic, and/or historical criteria (characteristics) used to define the realm.
NOTE: THIS WILL BE ON EACH UNIT EXAM. BE ABLE TO DO THIS!
  • Why are the boundaries drawn where they are?
    • Are there any physical barriers (oceans, seas, mountains, deserts, dense forests) at the realm border?
    • Are there physical, cultural, economic, and historical differences on either side of the realm boundary?
    • Do the realm boundaries tend to run through areas of sparse population?
  • How do the physical, cultural, economic, and historical characteristics of the realm differ from these characteristics of neighboring realms?

 

 

  • Here are SOME of the physical, cultural, economic, and historical characteristics that you should consider
    • physical geography
      • landscapes
      • climate
      • major features
      • physical barriers at the realm boundaries like oceans, seas, mountains, deserts, rain forests, etc.
    • cultural geography
      • religion
      • language
      • politics
      • other
    • economic geography
      • level of development - IMPORTANT: SEE TABLE G-1 (pp. 34-41)
      • % labor in primary activities
      • % urbanization
      • other measures of development - IMPORTANT: SEE TABLE G-1 (pp. 34-41)
    • historical Geography
      • culture hearths
      • colonization - who colonized
      • other

 

2. Know where most people live in the realm. What PHYSICAL CRITERIA helps explain where most people in the world live (we discussed five in our online lectures)? Assess how well the 5 reasons explain the population distribution. Do they apply to this realm or not? Describe where most people in the realm live Do not say "in the cities". In which general areas are the cities located?

Apply the "5 reasons" we discussed in our online lectures to the distribution of population in this realm. Do they help us to understand the population distribution in the realm or are there exceptions to the "5 reasons"?

 

3. Know the CONCEPTS, IDEAS, and TERMS listed on the first page of each chapter AND the italicized words within the chapter. ALSO, know EXAMPLES of the terms from the realm being studies. It is strongly suggested that you make a list of these terms with their definitions and examples. Each unit exam will have a question where you DEFINE and GIVE EXAMPLES of these terms.

The textbook website has a webpage that will help you learn the definitions of some of these words. See:
http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=resource&bcsId=2733&itemId=047171786X&resourceId=6921

NOTE: THIS WILL BE ON EACH UNIT EXAM. BE ABLE TO DO THIS!

 

4. You must understand map SCALE. Know the difference between a large scale map and a small scale map. Each unit exam will have a question about map scale.

5. Where in the realm has there been wars or conflicts including international wars, civil wars, guerrilla wars, and cultural conflicts. It is suggested tat you make a list of the conflicts in each realm including "who was fighting whom".

6. It would be useful to review the map quiz locations for each realm.

7. Know the general level of development of the realm .

INTRODUCTION

1. Use this data for the hypothetical country of Harperland to answer the questions that follow.
  • GDP = $375,000,000
  • population =1,000,000
  • urbanization = 25%
  • population growth rate = 2%

 

1. Calculate the GDP per capita for Harperland.
2. About how many years will it take for the population of Harperland to double?
3. Would this country be classified as a less developed country (LDC) or a more developed country (MDC)? Give three reasons why based on the data available.

2. Know the characteristics of More Developed countries (MDCs) and Less Developed Countries (LDCs).

3. In the theory of plate tectonics there are four types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, transform, and plate boundary zones

For each of the following physical features found in the realms studied in this unit:
a. state which type of plate boundary is responsible for the feature
b. briefly discuss the process that formed the feature
(1) The rift valleys found in Subsaharan Africa
(2) The Andes mountains

4. Define "geography". Which two questions do geographers try to answer. Contrast the study of geography with the study of history.

5. What are the "4 themes" that we are using in this course to help us answer the "why there?" question of geography?

6. Why do geographers use "regions (or realms)? ANSWER: to simplify an area.

7. Define and GIVE AN EXAMPLE of :

  • culture
  • cultural-landscape
  • nation
  • State
  • nation-state
  • cold war
  • irredentism
  • balkanization
  • devolution
  • acculturation
  • transculturation
  • centripetal force
  • centrifugal force
  • coup d'etat

8. European colonization has had a lasting impact on the three realms studied in this unit (Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle America, and South America). Discuss several of the effects of colonization that can still be seen today. Be sure to mention WHAT the effect is and WHERE it can be seen today.

9. Understand the characteristics of the the major climatic zones (A, B, C, D, and H) and have a good idea of where are found in the realms studied.

10. Have a good idea of where different religions are practiced and where different languages are spoken in the realms studied.

11. You must understand map scale. Know the difference between a large scale map and a small scale. It may be helpful to remember that a "large scale" map shows "large detail", but a small area. A "small scale" map show "small detail", but a larger area.

12 Know the "rule of 70" and how to use it.

13. Name and locate the world's ancient culture hearths.

14. Where are the world's major population clusters?

 

SUBSAHARAN AFRICA 

1. In what ways is the physical geography of the African continent UNIQUE? Why does Africa have this unique physical geography?

2. Characterize the colonial practices of the major European colonial powers in Subsaharan Africa (Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Belgium)

3. Conflicts

  • South Africa - Boer War through Apartheid
  • Rwanda
  • Sudan and Darfur, Sudan
  • West Africa: Sierra Leone, Liberia
  • Others

4. What is the "sahel" Where is it located?

5. Where are the major oil producing areas of Subsaharan Africa?

6. AIDS in Africa.

7. What is unique about the traditional system of land tenure in much of Subsaharan Africa as compared to that found in Europe and the Americas?

8. What are the problems encountered by "landlocked" states? Which states are landlocked in the realms?

7. Examples of:

  • landlocked states
  • nation-states
  • exclaves
  • separate development

 

MIDDLE AMERICA

1. What is "Latin America"? Why is it called "Latin"? What is "Iberia"?

2. Why do the authors of our textbook divide "Latin America" into two separate realms? What are the significant differences between Middle America and South America that support having two separate realms?

3. What is the difference between: Middle America and Central America?

4. Most World Regional Geography textbooks have a chapter on "Latin America" which consists of our Middle America and South America. Why did our authors divide "Latin" America into two realms? What are the significant differences between the two realms?

5. Mainland / Rimland

  • Compare and contrast Middle America's "Mainland" and Rimland".
  • In your comparison discuss haciendas and plantations

6. Conflicts

  • Chiapas, Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • El Salvador and Guatemala
  • The Cuban Revolution
  • The Mexican Revolution
  • Other

7. What is a land bridge and where are they, or have they been, located around the world? What is the importance of land bridges?

8. What are "ejidos"?

9. Other:

  • Main characteristics of the Central American countries.
  • What are the islands that constitute the “Greater Antilles”?
  • What is a Maquiladora?
  • What is NAFTA? Which countries do belong to NAFTA?
  • Name the country in Central America where English is spoken
  • Why is Costa Rica different from the rest of the Central American countries?
  • What is the political status of Puerto Rico?
  • Who are the Sandinistas?
  • What is the status of the Panama Canal?

 

 SOUTH AMERICA

1. Briefly describe each of South America's Culture Spheres.

2. Know the generalized model of a Latin American City. Be able to locate and name each sector on the diagram.

  • Commercial/Industrial/CBD
  • Elite Residential Sector
  • Zone of Maturity
  • Zone of IN SITU Accretion
  • Zone of Peripheral Squatter Settlements

3. List characteristics of each of the altitudinal zones found in continental Middle America and along the western margin of South America

4. Conflicts

  • Colombia: "La Violencia" and the "insurgent state"
  • Argentina: Falklands War
  • Paraguay / Argentina / Brazil : "Triple Frontier"
  • Peru: Sendero Luminoso
  • Other

5. Where are the major oil producing areas of South America?

6. What are the problems encountered by "landlocked" states? Which states are landlocked in the realms?

7. Other

  • Main characteristics of the South American countries.
  • Colombia: Main export products.
  • Brazil: Main exports. NE vs. SE. Number of people and size area of Brazil.
  • Define the term “altiplano”.
  • Give an example of an elongated country in South America.
  • Give an example of a landlocked country in South America.
  • Primate City. Percentage of Urban Population in South America.
  • Venezuela: Main export products.
  • Guianas: Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. What is the language spoken there? Who colonize these countries?
  • Compare and contrast the two following trade associations: NAFTA (in North America) and Mercosur or Southern Cone Common Market (in South America).