Download Common Assessment 1

Name: ________________________ _____ Date: _________________
Period # __
Texas History Geography Test Study Guide
1. Analyze some of the ways the location in which you live can affect how you live.
 Food, clothing, and shelter
2. Explain the effects the Gulf of Mexico has on the climate of the four regions of Texas.
 Ocean breezes, rainfall, destructive storms (like hurricanes).
 Texas gets most of its moisture from the Gulf of Mexico
 The Gulf of Mexico also makes summers cooler and winters warmer
3. What is the biggest problem faced by the Ogallala Aquifer?
 Over irrigation
4. How does absolute location affect climate?
 The further north you go, the colder it gets
 The closer to the equator, the warmer it gets
 Texas is in the middle latitudes
5. How does relative location affect climate?
 The regions closest to the Gulf of Mexico have more moisture, warmer winters, and
cooler summers
 The regions furthest from the Gulf of Mexico have less moisture so they are prone to
more droughts.
o These regions generally have colder winters and hotter summers
6. How does elevation affect climate?
 Increased elevation means cooler temperature (think about snow-capped mountains in the
summer
7. Explain the two purposes of windmills and name the region where windmills are most common.
 Two purposes: Irrigation (pumping water from aquifers), and wind power
 Windmills are most common in the Great Plains region
8. Name the major cities in each region (refer to the Texas Travel Guide).
 Coastal Plains: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin
 North Central Plains: Fort Worth
 Great Plains: Amarillo, Lubbock
 Mountains and Basins: El Paso
Name: ________________________ _____ Date: _________________
Period # __
9. Describe the geographic features and physical appearance of each region.
 Coastal Plains: Low, flat plains, green vegetation, good farmland, forest in east Texas
 North Central Plains: Rolling hills and prairies, higher elevation than the Coastal Plains,
tornadoes, drought
 Great Plains: High, flat plains, drier climate and yellow grass, windy
 Mountains and Basins: Rocky soil, desert-like climate, highest elevation in Texas, St.
Elena Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains, Big Bend National park
10. Describe the major economic activities and resources in each region (refer to the Texas Travel
Guide).
 Coastal Plains: Oil, shipping, farming, ranching
 North Central Plains: Farming, ranching, manufacturing
 Great Plains: Farming, ranching, oil, granite
 Mountains and Basins:
11. Explain why you can grow crops year-round in south Texas, but not in the Panhandle.
 The close relative location to the Gulf of Mexico, and the fact that the area is in the lower
latitudes, gives south Texas a sub-tropical climate with mild winters.
 The great distance from the Gulf of Mexico, the location in the upper latitudes, and the
higher elevation, means the Panhandle has very cold winters and even blizzards.
12. Identify the landform that separates the Coastal Plains from the other regions in Texas.
 Balcones Escarpment
13. Identify the highest mountain range in Texas.
 Guadalupe Mountains, Guadalupe Peak
To prepare for the test:
1. Use this study guide
2. Review the Texas Travel Guide
3. Review the chapter 1 fill-in-the-blank notes
4. Read chapters 1-2 in the book
5. Refer to Google Earth or Google Maps satellite view
6. Flash cards