SOL Review WS List characteristics for the following physical regions:

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1 SOL Review WS 2 1. List characteristics for the following physical regions: a. Sahara region in Northern Africa with an arid/dry climate receiving less than 10 of rain per year and vegetation consisting of mostly scrub grass and cacti (the Sahara is the largest desert in the world and is continuing to grow through the process of desertification as the Sahel [grassland to the south of the Sahara] continues to be jeopardized) b. Taiga vast strip of coniferous forest found in the subarctic climate region (the largest is Russia, and another is located in northern Alaska and Canada) c. Rainforest area within the low latitudes that hugs the equator in the tropical wet climate region with thick, lush vegetation including a tall canopy of trees, mid-level trees, and shade-loving vines and grasses (this habitat is in danger of deforestation or the clear-cutting of trees so the land can be used for other purposes [like farming, with slash & burn agriculture or mining] or the timber is used for the logging industry) d. Great Plains region of gently rolling land in the central/mid-west United States, known for grain production and cattle ranching hence the regional nickname the Bread Basket. This region also has a humid continental climate and can get cold fronts that meet with strong warm front that can combine to create cyclonic storms hence the regional nickname tornado alley. e. Low Countries area of land that is low in elevation, sits at or below sea level (low countries within the Netherlands are known for the polders or the land that has been reclaimed from the sea) 2. What effect does a high fertility rate have on a country s GDP per capita? A high fertility/birth rate usually indicates a high population. GDP per capita is the total value of goods and services produced in one year reported per person. A high population would lead to a low GDP per capita. Also, a high birth rate is generally an indicator of a developing country which would likely have a low GDP. 3. What is the primary language of Latin America? Spanish is spoken by a majority of the population, although Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, the largest and most populous country. 4. List three countries that are part of the Francophone world (other than France). Canada, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Togo, Luxembourg, Monaco 5. What language is spoken in Brazil? Portuguese, because this land was colonized by Portugal

2 6. What is Kurdistan? Where can you find it? Kurdistan is the loosely defined geographic region of land occupied by an ethnic group known as the Kurds. They are a nomadic tribe of primarily goat and sheep herders that share a common history and language. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims. The Kurds do control considerable wealth and assets but have no control over territory or access to land. Most Kurds have lived in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey, Syria, the Zagros Mountains of Iran, and Iraq. However, they are openly persecuted. They have openly petitioned the United Nations for land access but have yet to be successful. 7. What is a Chinatown? Cultural/ethnic region found within large cities in the United States like New York and Los Angeles. These areas grow up as cultural regions as people migrate to areas within the city where there are family members of people who share ethnic ties or similarities. 8. Why was NATO formed? North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO is a group of countries that share a common purpose: the original treaty was signed to stop the threat of the Soviet era spread of communism throughout Western Europe. Today member countries work to defend against terrorism. Membership has grown to include former communist satellite countries and former countries of the now dissolved Soviet Union. 9. What is the primary religion in the Middle East? Islam 10. What is the primary religion in East and Southeast Asia? Buddhism 11. Where is the Rust Belt and why did it get that nickname? Northeastern U.S. along the Great Lakes; Big business and heavy industry closed down or moved out of the area leaving the factories empty and abandoned. 12. Which religion worships in a. a. Synagogue? Judaism b. Mosque? Islam c. Church? Christian d. Temple? Hindu & Buddhist e. Pagoda? Buddhist & Shinto

3 13. Where might you find the following dwellings? a. Homes with tiled roofs? Mediterranean b. Homes with thatched roofs? Pacific Islands c. Yurts? Mongolia and Central Asia d. Chalets? Switzerland and snow prone mountains e. Castles? Europe 14. Why is Jerusalem holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims? This land is sacred to all three monotheistic religions for different reasons but all are tied back to religious events throughout history. The Jewish people believe that the land of present day Israel was promised to them by God. For Christians, this is the birthplace and crucifixion site of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior. For Islamist, this city is home to the site where Muhammad was divinely instructed to record the teachings in the Koran, the holy text of Islam. 15. Where is oil found as a valuable natural resource? North Africa and Southwest Asia 16. Where can you find the Arab World? The Arab world is a region made up of most of the countries of North Africa and Southwest Asia that speak Arabic except Turkey (Turkish), Iran (Farsi), and Israel (Hebrew). 17. What is globalization? Spreading of ideas, practices, and cultural preferences around much of the world, resulting from the expansion of international trade, travel, and communication; because of the economic and cultural power of the United States, much of the globalizing influence today is American 18. Why is English considered a world language? Lingua franca It is the common language of business and world trade. 19. What do the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kashmir, and Cyprus have in common? They re all areas of civil conflict between ethnic groups. 20. Religion has been a divisive issue in the following areas. List the religious groups that are fighting for each area. a. Kashmir Hindu & Muslims b. Northern Ireland Protestant Christians & Roman Catholic Christians c. Jerusalem Jews, Christians, & Muslims

4 21. List three continents that mostly consist of developed countries. North America, Europe, Australia 22. List two continents that mostly consist of developing countries. South America, Africa, Asia 23. How can China have a high GDP but a low GDP per capita? China has a population of 2 billion. 24. What types of capital resources are necessary to support a large population? 25. If the birth rate is higher than the death rate, what is happening to the population? Birthrate - the death rate = natural increase, therefore natural increase would be negative. You would have a negative population growth and a declining population. The population under the age of 15 would decrease inevitably leading to a shortage of workers. 26. What is overurbanization? Rapid migration to cities from rural areas, usually in developing countries as poor subsistence farmers search for a better way of life 27. What is a push factor? List three. Negative feelings or actions that make a person want to leave or flee their homeland: war; religious persecution, oppressive government; lack of personal freedom; lack of arable/farmable land; lack of job/economic opportunity, natural disasters 28. What is a pull factor? List three. Positive things that make a person want to move into a new homeland: religious freedom; personal freedom; political freedom; economic/job opportunity; land availability; fertile farmland; family or ethnic ties 29. What is a refugee? Person who flees their homeland for safety 30. In which areas have many refugees been forced to leave in the last 50 years? Former Yugoslavia, Middle East 31. What is migration? Movement of people from place to place (Emigration, Immigration, Urbanization) 32. Why do most people live near water? (list 3 reasons) Have to have fresh water to live drinking, farming, etc.; industry; transportation 33. What is urbanization? Migration to urban/city from the rural/country (farming) areas 34. Are urbanized countries usually rich or poor? Wealthy

5 35. Are over-urbanized areas usually rich or poor? Poor