Download MEXICO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY CLOZE NOTES Physical

MEXICO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY CLOZE NOTES
Physical Geography
The Big Idea
Mexico __________ a large country with _________ natural environments in its ________,
central, and southern regions.
Main Ideas
Mexico’s physical ________ include plateaus, mountains, and _______ lowlands.
Mexico’s climate ___ vegetation include deserts, tropical _______, and cool highlands.
____________________ natural resources in Mexico _______ oil, silver, gold, and
____________________ landscapes.
Main Idea 1:
 _________________ shares a long border with the southern ________________
___________________.
 The Rio Bravo, called the __________________ in the _______________ runs along
part of this _____________________.
 The
 The Rio ________________ is one of Mexico’s few major _______________.
Mexico’s Physical Features
Bodies of Water

Bordered ______ the __________ Ocean in the West and the ____ __ ______
in the east.
 Stretching south from ________ ____________ is a _______________, or
piece of land _____________ __ _________ __ _________ sides, called Baja
California.
 The Yucatan Peninsula separates the __________ ____ __________ from the
_____________________________ Sea.
Plateaus and Mountains
 Much of interior is a ___________ called the ______________ Plateau.
 Two ________ ______, the ______ _____ ________ in the east and the ____________
____________ Occidental in the __________, are part of ___ the __________
___________, or “_____________ ______________”. 
 The _________ of __________, where __________ City is located, lies between these
two ____________in the ___________.
 The _________ _______________ of ________________ City include
_________________. Volcanic eruptions and ___________________ are a threat to that
_________________.
Coastal Lowlands
 The land slopes down to the coast from __________in _________ Mexico.
 The Gulf coastal plain is ________ and __________.
-
This region has _______ _________ and _________ for farming.
 The Yucatan Peninsula is mostly _______________.
-
Erosion of _________ _______ caves and ____________ that are often filled
with __________.
Mexico’s climate and vegetation include deserts, tropical forests, and cool
highlands
 The great ____________of _____________ produces different _____________
 Changes in ____________________ cause climates to ________ within short distances.
 The Mexican Plateau can have _____________ _______________..
 The _______________ coastal areas have _________ ___________and summer
__________ _____________that support ________________ ____________ that cover
_____________ ________________ of Mexico.
 The climate in the ______________ ____________ is hot and ______, supporting
____________ _________.
 Most of ____________ Mexico is __________ and made up of ________ and
_______________.
Key natural resources in Mexico include oil, silver, gold, and scenic
landscapes.
•
Mexico has rich _____________________ ________________.
•
The _______________ and ______________ ____________ and the _________ of
________________ have __________.
•
Mexico’s mines yield _____________, ___________, ______________,
______________, and zinc.
•
Mexico produces more ______________ than any other country in the __________.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
The Big Idea
Native American ________________ and ________________ ___________ shaped
Mexican __________________ and ______________.
Main Ideas
 Early cultures of Mexico included the ___________, ____ _________, and the
______________.
 Mexico’s period as a _____________ colony and its struggles ____________
________________ have shaped its ____________.
 Spanish and ________________ ______________ have influenced Mexico’s
____________and _____________today.
Main Idea 1:
Early cultures of Mexico included the Olmec, the Maya, and the Aztec.
 People came to Mexico many _______________ of years ago.
 As early as ___________ ____________ _____________, they were growing beans,
_______________, ________________, and domesticated corn.
 Farming allowed people to ______________ the ________________ ____________ in
America.
Three Civilizations
Olmec
 Lived in _____________ ____________ by about __________BC
 Settled in the _____________ ____________ of the _________ of ____________
 Built _____________ and ___________statues
Maya
 Built big cities in ________________ and ______________ ___________ between AD
250 and 900
 Built ____________temples
 Developed a calendar
 Kept written _______________ that do not reveal the ______________ for their collapse
Aztec
 Moved in from the north
 Built a great capital on an island in ____________
 Established an ______________, a land with different territories and __________ under
one ruler
 Obtained new ___________, ____________, and captives to sacrifice through war
Main Idea 2:
Mexico’s period as a Spanish colony and its struggles since
independence have shaped its culture.
 Despite great _________________ and __________, the Aztec __________ did not last
long after _____________ _____________ arrived with 600 ___________ soldiers.
 The Spanish had better ______________ and _________________.
 The Spanish brought new ______________, such as ______________, which killed
many __________.
 Cortés conquered the empire by ___________.
Colonial Times
Culture
 After the ___________, the separate ____________ and _____________ mixed.
 ___________ are people of mixed _______________ and _______________ Indian
ancestry.
 ________________ are people of mixed _______________ and _____________descent.
 Africans and American Indians also ________________
Religion
 The Roman _________________ __________________ had great influence.
 The church ruled over large areas of _____________ _____________.
 The church established _________________, or church outposts.
 Priests learned native ______________ and converted the _________________
____________________ to Catholicism.
Colonial Times Economy
 The Spaniards searched for ______________ and _____________.
 The American Indians and the enslaved ______________ labored in the mines.
 As a result, many died from _________________ and __________________.
 The Spanish monarch granted _______________, or huge expanses of _____________
or _________________ _____________, to some Spanish people who became wealthy.
 Peasants, usually __________, lived and worked on ____________
Main Idea 3:
Spanish and native cultures have influenced Mexico’s customs and
traditions today..
Spanish
 Most Mexicans speak _____________.
 About ________ percent of Mexicans are _______________ _____________.
American Indian
 Many people speak an _________________ _____________ ______________ that ties
them to their ______________ group.
 These languages ___________ a person as Indian.
Spanish and American Indian
 ______________ have unique practices that result from the mixing of ______________.
 For example, Mexicans celebrate the _______________ of the __________ to remember
dead _____________________.
 This holiday is held on ____________ ____________ ______________, but reflects
native ____________ and _____________.
Mexico Today
The Big Idea
Mexico has four culture regions that all play a part in the country’s government and
economy.
Main Ideas
 _________________ has traditionally played a large role in Mexico’s economy.
 Mexico has ______________ distinct culture regions.
Main Idea 1:
Government has traditionally played a large role in Mexico’s economy.
 Mexico is a ________________, but the same party ruled for _______ years.
 A different ____________ _________ came to power in _______when Vicente
________ was elected president.
 Mexico’s government controlled most ________________ ____________ for many
years, but today that has changed.
 As a developing country, Mexico has challenges.
–
______________ to ____________ _______________
–
Unemployment
–
_____________, a rise in prices that occurs when ______________ loses
___________ power
 Mexico’s economy has been growing since _____________when the North American
Free Trade Agreement (______________) made trade with the ____________ and
_______________ easier.
Mexico’s Economy
Agriculture
 ______________ have long been a part of Mexican economy.
 Only _____ ___________ of the land can be _________.
 Farmers practice ________ - ____ - __________ ___________, burning forests to clear
land for planting.
 Farmers grow ___________ ___________, crops that farmers can sell for a profit
Industry
 Major industries include ___________, __________, and manufacturing.
 Many ___________ companies have built _________ along the U.S. __________
because labor is cheaper.
 Some Mexican _____________ come to the U.S. to look for jobs
Tourism
 Tourists visit old _______________ ___________and _________ and ___________
monuments.
 Coastal cities are popular with tourists
Main Idea 2:
Mexico has four distinct culture regions.
 All Mexicans share cultural characteristics.
 Yet, four regions differ in _____________, ______________, resources, and
________________:
–
______________ ________________ ______________
–
____________ ________________
–
____________ ________________
–
____________ ________________
Mexico’s Culture Regions
Greater Mexico City
 Includes the _______________ and _____ smaller cities
 Has a population of more than ___________ ___________.
 ____________ largest city in ________
 Huge, dense _____________ causes problems.
–
__________, a mixture of smoke, _________, and __________, created by
factories and cars
– Poverty
Central Mexico
 _____________ of Mexico City
 Many cities established for _____________ or __________ during the colonial period
 Colonial heritage: church near ___________ ____________ _______________, or plaza
 Small family farms that grow _____________, ______________ and wheat
 Mining centers
 New industries leading to rapid growth of cities
Northern Mexico
 One of the country’s __________________ and most ____________ regions
 Trade with U.S. helping ______________ _______ _______________
 Has many _______________, U.S. and foreign-owned factories
 Influenced by American ________________, __________________, and culture
 Residents crossing into the U.S. to ___________, _____________, or _____________
 United States tries to prevent ________________ _______________
Southern Mexico
 Least ______________and ______________ region
 Many _____________________________language speakers
 ______________ farming and slash-and-burn agriculture
 Two major export crops: __________________ and _______________
 Increased __________ production along the ____________ ____________
 Yucatán Peninsula: ______________to Maya ruins and _______________
 Tiny fishing towns transformed to booming ______________ ______________