Region: South Asia

Question 1

Draw a map of South Asia

Showing at least 5 countries

Answer 1

See map

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Question 2

What are the 8 countries of South Asia?

Answer 2

Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal

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Question 3

South Asia has 3 of top 4 countries of Muslims in the world. Name them

Answer 3

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh

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Question 4

The largest Muslim country in the world in 2050 will be

Answer 4

India

(even though 80% of India is Hindu)

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Question 5

Soon the most populous country in the world will be

Answer 5

India

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Question 6

Sout Asia is responsible for –(%) of world GDP, yet contains –(%) of the world’s population

Answer 6

4%
25%

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Question 7

What are the five countries of Central Asia?

Answer 7

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

(King Kong Teaches Tap Urgently)

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Question 8

Most of South Asia was formerly a colony of which country?

Answer 8

Britain

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Question 9

Trade between states in South Asia is: high/medium/low?

Answer 9

Low

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Question 10

Tension in South Asia is mostly between which two countries?

Answer 10

India and Pakistan

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Question 11

When did the countries of Central Asia arise?

Answer 11

Fall of Soviet Union in 1991

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Question 12

Which two countries are closely tied with Central Asia?

Answer 12

China and Russia

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Question 13

Which sea borders Central Asia?

Answer 13

Caspian Sea

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Question 14

Is Central Asia democratic or authoritarian?

Answer 14

Authoritarian

(partial exception of Uzbekistan)

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Question 15

India’s economy is the —– largest

Answer 15

Fifth

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Question 16

What is the recent economic growth rate of India?

Answer 16

7%

(World GDP growth, typically around 3%)

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Question 17

How much bigger is China’s economy vs. India’s?

Answer 17

5x

(Even though populations are similar size)

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Question 18

Why has India’s economy lagged (e.g. vs. China)?

Answer 18

Slow to adopt market-oriented reforms (only in 1991)
China did so 13 years prior

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Question 19

What is India’s GDP per capita?

Answer 19

$2,000

Not even in top 100. World average is about $13K

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Question 20

When did India acheive independence?

Answer 20

1947

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Question 21

Which 2 parties have dominated politics in India?

Answer 21

Mostly the Indian National Congress (center-left)
This century: Bharatiya Janata Party (right-wing)

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Question 22

How many Indians don’t have access to electricity?

Answer 22

200m

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Question 23

Is Pakistan a democracy?

Answer 23

In name only
Real power is with the army

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Question 24

What is Pakistan’s GDP per capita?

Answer 24

$1,500

(Bottom 25% of countries)

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Question 25

Who is the current President of Pakistan?

Answer 25

Arif Alvi ## Footnote (Google)

Question 26

Bangladesh is second to China in the export of what?

Answer 26

Ready-made garments ## Footnote p98

Question 27

Describe Bangladesh's population and country size (in refernece to USA)

Answer 27

Half the population of USA, crammed into an area smaller than Wisconsin ## Footnote p98

Question 28

Which minority group have moved to Bangladesh, b/c of persecution in Myanmar?

Answer 28

The Rohingya ## Footnote p98

Question 29

Why is Bangladesh ground zero for climate change impacts?

Answer 29

Densest population areas are at sea level on the coast ## Footnote p101

Question 30

Who was behind Pakistan's indepence from India?

Answer 30

Mohammed Ali Jinnah ## Footnote p102

Question 31

What is the world's most denesely populated region?

Answer 31

South Asia ## Footnote p102

Question 32

What are the 3 biggest cities in India and where are they on the map?

Answer 32

* Mumbai - mid-vertical to the west * Delhi - North * Bangalore - South | (see map)

Question 33

What two tensions carried over from the independence of Pakistan?

Answer 33

* Disputes with India over Kashmir * Its separation into East Pakistan and West Pakistan | The latter resolved in 1971 war, and indepenced of East into Bangladesh

Question 34

What happened in South Asia in 1971?

Answer 34

Bangladesh independence from Pakistan (in the wake of political repression, military action, refugee crisis) ## Footnote p103

Question 35

Did India, on its independence, align with US or Soviet Union?

Answer 35

* Non-alignment * In practice, close to Soviet politics (large government role, mistrust of Pakistan, with whom US had close relationship) ## Footnote p103

Question 36

Who has nuclear weapons in South Asia?

Answer 36

India and Pakistan ## Footnote p103

Question 37

How many states in the world have nuclear weapons?

Answer 37

Nine ## Footnote p103

Question 38

When did Afghanistan declare independence?

Answer 38

1919 ## Footnote p106

Question 39

Why did the Soviets get involved in Afghanistan in 1979?

Answer 39

To help a left-wing, secular government against radical Islamic guerilla movement ## Footnote p106

Question 40

What were the Islamic guerilla fighters in Afghanistan (1979) called?

Answer 40

Mujahideen ## Footnote p106

Question 41

Why was the Afghanistan war of 1979 expensive for both US and Soviets?

Answer 41

* Soviets: cost and unpopularity led to break up of the Soviet Union * US: Mujahideen ended up attempting to take over country, with radical version of Islam ## Footnote p106

Question 42

Who took over Afghanistan in 1996?

Answer 42

Taliban ## Footnote p106

Question 43

When was monarchy overthrown in Afghanistan?

Answer 43

1973 ## Footnote p106

Question 44

What is the Taliban's doctrine?

Answer 44

Sunni fundamentalists, adhering to extreme orthodox version of Islam ## Footnote p106

Question 45

What happend on September 11th?

Answer 45

* 4 planes hijacked * by al-Qaeda * Two crashed into twin towers * Third into Pentagon * Fourth in Pennsylvania * 3,000 died ## Footnote p107

Question 46

What's the Afghanistan link to September 11th?

Answer 46

Taliban provided a home to Al-Qaeda ## Footnote p107

Question 47

Why did USA invade Afghanistan in 2001?

Answer 47

In the wake of Sep-11 Taliban's refusal to hand over al-Qaeda members ## Footnote p107

Question 48

Why was there Civil War in Afghanistan following the toppling of the Taliban (2001)?

Answer 48

Unity govt. with US/Nato forces vs. Taliban - suport in South + harboured in Pakistan ## Footnote p107

Question 49

When did the USA leave Afghanistan (in the war that started in 2001)?

Answer 49

2021

Question 50

What is the capital of Afghanistan?

Answer 50

Kabul

Question 51

What is the Belt and Road Initiative?

Answer 51

* China policy * Launched in 2013 * promotes infrastructure and development projects in the region * to increase Chinese influence abroad .... * and support high levels of economic activity at home ## Footnote p109

Question 52

What are the superpowers doing in the South Asia region?

Answer 52

USA supporting India China growing closer with Pakistan and other countries (part of Belt and Road Initiative) ## Footnote p109

Question 53

How does India treat its Muslim minority?

Answer 53

Increasingly discriminatory Eg Citizenship Act (fast tracks non Muslim immigrants from neighboring Muslim majority countries)