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 Current Events Project AP Human Geography T ahasin Z aman
3/2/2013
C hina
F act Sheet
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China has a population of 1,343,239,923 people according to a July 2012 estimate.
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name is believed to have come from the Chinese belief that their country was the center
of the world, and the most advanced. The English name comes from Qin, which is the
name of a Chinese dynasty.
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China has the shape it has by expanding from since the Shang dynasty, which only
covered the east endings of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, to gaining control of
Tibet in the late 1950s.
- China had to expand by getting into conflicts with many of its neighbors such as
Japan. China and Japan had a war in 1937 due to Japanese aggression, and China
fought against Japan in World War II by joining the allies. Although China lost land
in their 1937 conflict with Japan, the Communist Party, then under the Nationalist
Party of China, would gain support from those disappointed by the Nationalists, and
the Communists would bring northern China to its control. The Communist Party of
China would then take over other lands such as the former nationalist lands in the
Chinese Civil War, and Tibet.
- Beijing is the capital of China mainly because it has been the political center of the
country for seven decades straight. (Edmonds)
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China has other cities, whose locations are important.
- +RQJ.RQJRQHRI&KLQD¶VSRSXORXVFLWLHV, was comprised of small fishing and
farming village prior to 1800. It was in 1800 where Hong Kong began to transform
into a trading city. (Tsang)
- Shanghai was built where the Huangpu River and Yangtze River meet and empty into
the East China Sea, which made it an important port and industrial city. (Wakeman)
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Languages spoken in China include Mandarin(standard Chinese), Cantonese, Xiang,
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- China produces more apples, cabbages, cotton, pears, potatoes, tobacco, and wheat
than any other country. Farmers in the south grow tropical crops such as bananas.
- 'HVSLWHRQO\SHUFHQWRI&KLQD¶VODQGEHLQJDUDEOHWKHIDUPHUVKDYHPDQDJHGWR
grow food for the rest of the country¶VKXJHSRSXODWLRQ
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Economy
- &KLQD¶VHFRQRP\UDQNVKLJKLQWHUPVRI*'3EXWIDOWHUVZKHQLWFRPHVWRGDP per
capita. (Edmonds)
- &KLQD¶V*'3LV11 trillion and its GDP per capita is $8,430³&KLQD´
- Economists consider China to be a developing country because of its low GDP per
capita.
- &KLQDLVWKHZRUOG¶VODUJHVWSURGXFHURIFRDODQGRXWUDQNVDOORWKHUFRXQWULHVLQWKH
production of valuable metals such as aluminum, lead, gold, tungsten, copper, and tin.
(Edmonds)
Major Problems in China
All countries in the world cannot be free from problems and this includes China. China,
like other Communist countries, has censored their internet. The censorship was put into place by
Xi Jinping, the chief of the Communist Party of China. Jinping has added rules including that the
people have to sign up with their real names and their network providers so that the Chinese
JRYHUQPHQWFDQFUDFNGRZQRQSDJHVWKH\ILQG³LOOHJDO´ (Macfie) Another problem with China
is that the Chinese people feel very unhappy in their country. There has been an increasing loss
of professional jobs in China; in 2010, more than 508,000 Chinese left for other countries to
work in. This is believed to be caused by the political instability in China, as said by Cao Cong,
associate professor at the University of Nottingham. The main problems in China seem to be
with the people, who are being oppressed under their Communist government. (Johnson)
Works Cited
³&KLQD´ The World F actbook. Central Intelligence Agency, 14 February 2013. 3 March 2013.
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html>
(GPRQGV5LFKDUG/RXLV³&KLQD´World Book Student. World Book Inc, 2013. 3 March
2013.<http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar111400&st=china&gr=Welcome+Hicks
ville+Middle+School>
-RKQVRQ,DQ³:DU\RI)XWXUH3URIHVVLRQDOV/HDYH&KLQDLQ5HFRUG1XPEHUV´ The New York
Times. The New York Times Company, October 31, 2012. 3 March 2013.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/world/asia/wary-of-future-many-professionals-leavechina.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>
0DFILH1LFN³&KLQDWLJKWHQV,QWHUQHWFRQWUROVOHJDOL]HVSRVWGHOHWLRQ´ Vision. Vision.org,
December 28, 2012. 3 March 2013. <http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=63564>
7VDQJ6WHYH³+RQJ.RQJ´World Book Student. World Book Inc, 2013. 3 March 2013 < http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar261340&st=hong+kong>
:DNHPDQ)UHGHULF³6KDQJKDL´World Book Student. World Book Inc, 2013. 3 March 2013. < http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar504720&st=shanghai>
Multiple Choice Questions
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A. Shanghai
B. Hong Kong
C. Beijing
D. Chongqing
E. Compton
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A
A. China produces the most iron in the world
B. Northeast China has mostly engineering, transportation, and agricultural industries
C. Western China has no industry at all
D. Wu-ham is the leading industrial city in terms of electronics
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3. What is a GLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQ&KLQD¶VSRSXODWLRQWRWKDWRI$IJKDQLVWDQEDVHGRQWKH
population pyramids?
$&KLQD¶VSRSXODWLRQKDVDODUJHcrude death rate
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C. Afghanistan has a low crude death rate
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E. Afghanistan has a stable population growth rate
4. Everything is true about China except?
A. China has had conflicts with Japan
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C. 7KH&KLQHVHFDOOWKHLUFRXQWU\³Zhongguo´ZKLFKPHDQV³0LGGOH&RXQWU\´
D. China has a high GNP per capita
E. China¶VSRSXODWLRQH[FHHGVRQHELOOLRQ
:KLFKRIWKHIROORZLQJEHVWGHVFULEHV&KLQD¶Veconomy?
A. It has a very low GNP per capita
B. ,W¶V*1P is very low
C. &KLQD¶VHFRQRP\GRHVQRWSURGXFHHQRXJKUDZPDWHULDOV
D. The economy is very poor
E. It is dominated by big business
Answers:
1. C
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. A
I raq
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The population of Iraq according to a 2012 estimate is 31,129,225 people. (³Iraq´) x
The toponymy of Iraq is quite interesting. Iraq was known as Mesopotamia for over a
millennium, but its name changed after WWI when Mesopotamia became a British
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Commissioner of MesopotaPLDVHQWDFRGHGPHVVDJHUHIHUUHGDVWKH³,5$4'LVSDWFK´
during an insurgency in 1922. (Frigand) x
The shape of Iraq can be dated back since Sumerian times, where the Sumerian
civilization was located in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Iraq, or Mesopotamia before
the British insurgency, was under the control of many people. Mesopotamia was
controlled by the Persians various times during the 500-100 B.C, and was under the
power of the Arabs after the Persians. It would take many shapes, and took its definite
VKDSHGXULQJWKH%ULWLVKFRQWURORI,UDTXQWLO,UDT¶VLQGHSHQGHQFHLQ,UDT¶VFDSLWDO
Baghdad, was chosen because of its rich history. The Abbasid dynasty founded Baghdad
as its capital, and Baghdad became a world center of trade and civilization by 800. (Haj) x
0RVXOLVRQHRI,UDT¶VODUJHVWFLWLHVDQGVHUYHVDVDQLPSRUWDQWFRPPHUFLDOFHQWHU,W
houses over 1,700,000 people and lies on the west bank of the Tigris River. It has served
as an important trading center in its past and the oil from its region has given it
LPSRUWDQFHLQ,UDT¶VPRGHUQHFRQRP\ (³Mosul´) Basra is another important city in Iraq
and serves as a chief Iraqi port. With a population of 1 ½ million people, it like Mosul is
a very populous city. The reason for its location and growth was because of its formation
as a military outpost in 636 A.D. Basra declined in importance during Ottoman rule, but
became a military center during British control. (³Basra´) Basra and Mosul are both oil
FHQWHUVVRLW¶VQRVXUSULVHthe reasons for their locations are due to oil. x
Languages in Iraq include Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen, and Assyrian. (³Iraq´) x
,UDT¶VDJULFXOWXUHLVJURZQSULPDULO\QHDUWKH7LJULVDQG(XSKUDWHVULYHUV7KHPDMRU
crops grown are dates, grapes, rice, wheat, and tomatoes. Farmers raise cattle, chicken
and sheep. Although Iraq produces its food, Iraq mostly imports its food. x
,UDT¶VHFRQRP\LVEDVHGRQWKHYLWDOUROHRIRLO,UDT¶VRLODFFRXQWVIRUDODUJHDPRXQWRI
its GDP. Oil refining and chemical production help make up an important industry
although several oil and chemical plants have been damaged or destroyed by war. Oil is
the most important export of Iraq, but Iraq also exports aluminum, copper, electronics,
and parts for electronics. (Haj) ,UDT¶V*13LVELOOLRQDQGLWV*13SHUFDSLWDLV
$3,700 per capita. (³Iraq´) Major Problems in Iraq
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Violence between the two seems unavoidable. The former government was run by
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control of the government. An example of their violence happened in Northwestern
Baghdad. There were two roadside bombs detonated, and the police believed it was the
6XQQLV$QRWKHUSUREOHPLQ,UDTLVWKHIDFWWKDWPRVWRIWKHSRSXODWLRQGRHVQ¶WVXSSRUW
the government in place. The prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki is accused of corruption in
RIILFHE\6XQQL0XVOLPV7KH6XQQLVFODLPKHLVFRUUXSWZKLOH6KL¶LWHVDQGWKHFRXQWULHV
such as the U.S. show support of al-Maliki. The protests from the people are about equal
job opportunities, an end to the death penalty, and an end to corruption.
Works Cited
&DSXWL5RVV³,UDTLSURWHVWVGHI\WKH0DOLNLUHJLPHDQGLQVSLUHKRSH´ The Guardian. Guardian
News and Media Limited, 2013. 17 March 2013.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/17/iraq-protest-defy-maliki-regime>
)ULJDQG6LG³+RZ,UDT*RW,WV1DPH´ The Columnists. The Columnists, 2003. 17 March 2013.
<http://www.thecolumnists.com/frigand/frigand5.html>
+DM6DPLUD³%DVUD´World Book Student. World Book Inc, 2013. 17 March 2013.
<http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar010910&st=iraq>
+DM6DPLUD³,UDT´World Book Student. World Book Inc, 2013. 17 March 2013.
<http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar280960&st=iraq&gr=Welcome+Hicksville+M
iddle+School>
+DM6DPLUD³0RVXO´World Book Student. World Book Inc, 2013. 17 March 2013.
<http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar724899&st=mosul>
³,UDT´ The World F actbook. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 February 2013. 17 March 2013.
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iz.html>
0RKDPPHG7DZIHHT³7ZLQEODVWVNLOOLQ,UDT´ CNN. Cable News Network, 2013. 17
March 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/20/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html>
Caputi, Ross. ³,UDTLSURWHVWVGHI\WKH0DOLNLUHJLPHDQGLQVSLUHKRSH´ The Guardian. Guardian
News and Media Limited, 2013. 17 March 2013.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/17/iraq-protest-defy-maliki-regime>
Multiple Choice Questions
1. All of the following are exports of Iraq except?
A. Oil
B. Copper
C. Aluminum
D. Electronic parts
E. Silk
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A. It is driven by oil
B. It is slow due to the violence and war in Iraq
C. It is based mostly on agriculture
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E. Iraq mostly imports its energy
3. What can be said about Iraq based on the map?
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%,UDT¶VODUJHDPRXQWRIRLOH[SDQGVWRHQHUJ\FRPSDQLHVDURXQGWKHZRUOG
&,UDT¶VFKLHIH[SRrt is steel
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(,UDTGRHVQ¶WKDYHVLJQLILFDQFHWRPRVWRIWKHZRUOG
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Pyramid?
A. Iraq has a high crude birth rate
B. Iraq is on stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model
C. Iraq has a low crude death rate
D. Iraq is on stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model
E. Iraq has a very low population
5. What two groups have an internal conflict in Iraq?
A. The Sunni Muslims and the Jews
%7KH6KL¶ite Muslims and the government
C. College Board and AP Students
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E. The government and oil exporters
Answers:
1. E
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. D