Download Basics of Geography Study Guide

The Basics of Geography - Unit 1 Study Guide/Review Sheet
Use what you’ve learned from your notes, readings, and assignments to respond to these questions in complete
sentences in your Geography Notebook.
1- What is the difference between absolute location and relative location?
Absolute location is exact, using longitude and latitude. Relative is a description of where something is
based on its surroundings.
2- What is the difference between a map & a globe?
A map is 2 dimensional, has more detail, and is easier to use, but is distorted. A globe is 3D and is more
accurate, but is more difficult to use and you cannot see all of the earth at once.
3- What is a compass rose and what is it used for?
Shows directions on a map, north, east, south, and west. It is used to determine the location of places on a
globe or map.
4- What is map key and what is it used for?
Also called a “legend” the map key explains symbols, colors, and other features on the map.
5- What is scale on a map and what is it used for?
Scale shows distance on a map and is used to determine distance between places.
6- What is difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short-term, climate is long-term. Weather is what is happening in the atmosphere at any given
point, climate is what happens in the atmosphere over a long period of time.
7- How is a seismograph different from a Richter scale?
Seismograph measures the energy of the earthquake. The Richter scale puts that information on a
numeric scale.
8- What is difference between monarch and dictatorship?
A monarch may share power with an elected body of representatives like the Queen of England shares
power with the Parliament in Great Britain.
9- What is the biosphere? What “spheres” make it up?
Biosphere is where we live, it is made up of the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land) and hydrosphere
(water).
10- How can physical geography affect the economy of an area?
Physical geography determines the available natural resources of an area. For example, Japan has a
large commercial fishing industry because it is surrounded by seas and oceans.
11- Describe “ocean motion” and what it does.
Movement of the ocean waters helps to distribute heat and maintain a moderate climate on the earth.
12- What is a tsunami and how is it caused?
Massive wave of water caused by an earthquake with an epicenter on or near the ocean floor.
13- What is the difference between mechanical weathering & chemical weathering?
Mechanical weathering is breaking rock down by natural and man-made ways. Chemical weathering is
the breaking down of an object due to the interaction between two elements like oxygen and iron forming
rust.
14- Describe human environmental interaction (H.E.I.). Give at least one example.
Anytime people interact with the land. Damming a river for hydroelectric power is a good example.
15- What is culture? List at least five elements that make up culture.
Culture is what people do on a daily basis. Religion, food, clothing, music, education are all parts of
culture. There are many more.
16- What are the layers of the Earth in order? From inside-out.
Inner-core, outer-core, mantle, crust
17- What is the 0 degree line of latitude? What is the 0 degree line of longitude?
Equator & Prime Meridian (Greenwich Meridian)
18- What is the difference between monotheistic and polytheistic religions?
Monotheistic religions believe in one God, polytheistic believe in more than one.
19- What is a dialect?
A version of a language. Different from an accent.
20- What is our climate in North Georgia?
Humid Subtropical
21- Give some examples of renewable, non-renewable and inexhaustible resources.
Trees are renewable, petroleum (oil) is non-renewable, sunlight is inexhaustible.
22- Be able to label the 7 continents and 4 oceans
23- PRACTICE FINDING ABSOLUTE LOCATION!!!