Download World Geography Fall Final 2010 Review

World Geography Fall Final 2010 Review
Terms to Know:
Relative location-describes the location of a geographic feature in relation to other nearby
features. Ex. On the west bank of Lake Michigan, south of Houston
Equator-imaginary line that divides the earth into Northern and Southern halves
Latitude lines-set of imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator
Prime Meridian-imaginary line that divides the earth into Eastern and Western halves
Hemisphere-term used to name each half of the earth, divided either north and south or
east and west
Core-the solid, metallic center of the earth
Seismograph-instrument that measures the relative strength of an earthquake
Epicenter-the location on the earth’s surface directly about the focus of an earthquake
Chemical weathering-causes rock or metal to change into a new substance, Ex. Rust
Delta-a landform that develops when a river deposits sediment as it flows into the ocean
Hurricane-type of extreme weather that results from air moving across warm ocean
waters
Biome-a regional ecosystem
Deciduous trees-broad leafed trees
Coniferous trees- needle leaf trees
Savanna- prairie grassland located in a tropical region
Acculturation-society’s acceptance and adoption of a custom or innovation created by
another society
Population density-the average number of people who live in a measurable area, such as a
square mile
Carrying capacity-the number or organisms a piece of land can support
GDP-term used to measure the total annual value of all goods and services produced
within the boundaries of a nation
Infrastructure-basic support systems that a nation needs to keep its economy running
smoothly
Free enterprise-and economy in which the government exerts little control over resources
and technology, and businesses are owned and operated by private individuals for profit
Columbian Exchange-caused the exchange of plants, animals, and diseases to be
distributed between the Eastern and Western hemispheres
Sectionalism-caused the tensions that developed and grew between the north and the
south regions of the United States in the 1800’s
Service industries- Many manufacturing industries are diminishing in favor of service
industry in the Midwest indicating a change of economic traditions
The West- Region of the United States where you will find half of the land area and one
fifth of the population
Hydroelectric power- electricity that is produced by flowing water. Brazil is very rich in
this natural resource because of its many rivers and waterfalls.
Push factors and pull factors-reasons that people leave rural areas and move to cities. Ex.
Access to better education and high paying jobs
Rain forest-a tropical forest, usually of tall, densely growing, broad-leaved evergreen
trees in area of high annual rainfall. Much of the more than 2 million square miles of the
Amazon rainforest is located in the Brazil.
Maquiladoras-factories along the US-Mexico border that assemble imported materials
into finished goods to be exported
Capoeira-Angolans brought to Brazil by the Portuguese brought this martial art and dance
form with them
Spanish conquest-the defeat of the Aztec empire by Hernan Cortez and his army
NAFTA-the trade agreement between that is expected to contribute to the economic
prosperity of the US, Mexico, and Canada
Reggae-a form of music that started in the Caribbean and spread to other parts of the
world.
Uplands- hills or very low mountains found on the European continent
Arctic Circle-area of the world that experiences winter days during which the sun does
not rise
Zuider Zee-changed from an arm of the sea into a fresh water lake
North Atlantic Drift-flows near Europe’s west coast and contributes to its mild climate
Mediterranean Sea-runs along the coast of France and North Africa. Many tourists are
attracted to its sunny beaches
Peninsula-an area of land almost completely surrounded by water except for an isthmus
connecting it to the main land. Ex. Balkan Peninsula. The Scandinavian Peninsula is
surrounded by the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea.
Absolute location-the exact place on earth where a geographic feature is found.
Relief-the difference in elevation of a landform from the lowest point to the highest point
Ex. Mountains
Tectonic Plates-an enormous moving shelf that floats on top of molten magma under the
earth’s surface
Tsumani-a giant ocean wave, caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.
Krakatau in Indonesia erupted in 1882 and caused a tsunami with waves almost 130 feet
tall. 36,000 people drowned as a result of the wave.
Convection-the transfer of heat in the atmosphere by the upward movement of air
Tornado-an extreme weather condition that forms quickly over land, often without
warning
Seminoles-tribe forced to travel the farthest distance during the forced migration of
Native Americans
Oklahoma-current state that occupies most of the former Indian territory
Mississippi River-the river that most Native American tribes had to cross in order to
reach Indian territory
Nunavut-home to the Inuit people in Canada
Dominion of Canada-a confederation between Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick
British Columbia-Canada’s westernmost province, located within the Rocky Mountain
range
Tierra del Fuego-southernmost tip of Latin America
Andes Mountains- range that runs down the Pacific coast of South America
Llanos-grassy, treeless plains of Columbia and Venezuela
Slash and burn-technique used by native peoples of Latin America to clear fields to grow
crops
Tenochtitlan-capital of the Aztec empire
Important Details:
Most terrorist acts in the world have taken place in Southwest Asia.
The Inca built their civilization by altering their environment.
Spain and Portugal gained control of the land in South America as a result of the Treaty
of Tordesillas.
Food, language, religion, and art are all examples of how modern Mexico is a blend of
native and Spanish influence.
One of Mexico’s economic challenges has been to develop a modern industrial economy.
Panama was an excellent location to build a canal because of its geography.
Hurricanes are very devastating to the economies of Caribbean countries because they
disrupt tourism, a major source of income.
A variety of crops are produced in abundance on the Northern European Plain.
Italy did not industrialize as early as France because it had fewer resources
Results of Europe having many peninsulas:
Very long coastline to its size
Nearness of the ocean and seas has promoted travel and trade
Inhabitants of the various peninsulas have developed into separate cultural groups