Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

geography

Answer 1

Geography is the study of the earth and its people. People who study geography are geographers.

Question 2

absolute location

Answer 2

Absolute location is the exact spot on earth where a geographic feature, such as a city or mountain, is found.

Question 3

relative location

Answer 3

Relative location describes where that feature is in relation to the features around it.

Question 4

environment

Answer 4

Natural surroundings.

Question 5

decade

Answer 5

A period of 10 years.

Question 6

century

Answer 6

A period of 100 years.

Question 7

millennium

Answer 7

A period of 1,000 years.

Question 8

GPS

Answer 8

Global Positioning System. This system uses radio signals to determine the exact location of places on earth.

Question 9

GIS

Answer 9

Geographic Information Systems are computer hardware and software that gather, store, and analyze geographic information and then display it on a screen. A GIS can display maps, but it can also show information that does not usually appear on maps, such as types of vegetation, types of soil, and even water quality.