Social Studies Flashcards
Name one of the main causes why the Mexico City has grown so much
The rural moved to the city as land was purchased around them by wealthy landowners
What are the underground economies?
It is an informal sector where migrants find temporary jobs where is not taxed or regulated by the government
On what type of physical feature is Mexico located
In a land bridge
A climate zone that occurs as elevation increases is known as
Vertical climate zone
What is true of river and lakes in Northern Mexico?
There are fex of them, and they are small
Mexico is the world´s leading producer of
Silver
About how much of Mexico´s electricity is generated by oil and natural gas?
About three fourths
What is Chihuahua in Mexico?
A natural wonder
What is breadbasket?
A major grain producing region of Mexico. The Central Plateau is considered a breadbasket
Which two river form a boder between Mexico and United States
RIo Grande or Rio Bravo
The_______River feed into Lake_______, the largest natural lake in Mexico
Lerma, Chapala
The Gulf of Mexico is famous for________and supplies the fishing industry in Mexico and USA
shrimp
The Gulf of California supports a remarkable diversity of aquatic animals, these include several types of________, endangered leatherback_________the giant Pacific______, and great white___________
whales, sea turtles, mantaray, sharks
Mexicos is leader in________producing countrym and it ranks__in the world for______exports
petroleum, 13, crude oil
________are plant and animal waste used as a soruce of fuel
Biomass
Which civilization was one of the earliest and largest in Mexico, centered in the Yucatan Peninsula?
Maya
Which empire had its capital in Tenochtitlan?
Aztec Empire
Define mestizo
People mixed between european and indigenous descents
Define cash crop
Farm product grown to be sold or trated rather than used by the farm family
- Hernan Cortés:
- 1st spanish territory to win its independence:
- Military dictator:
- Establish the Catholic Church in Mexico:
- Large landowners´estate:
- 78% of Mexican live in:
- Primate city:
- Diego Rivera:
- Conquered the aztecs
- Mexico
- Caudillo
- Spain
- Hacienda
- Cities
- Capital city
- Muralist
Explain the situation of the drug cartels in Mexico
Over the past few decades, drug cartels have come to control different regions of Mexico. New cartels have been forming or breaking away from older and larger cartels. These new cartels compete with old cartels for power and control of drug-producing territories. The result is internal warfare in Mexico. The cartels have increasingly incited street gun battles, massacres in the mountains, and other acts of violence and terror.
Syncretism
The combination of different beliefs into one faith
a) More than a______cross the US-Mexico border every day in both directions
b) In a free trade zone trade restrictions_______
c) Many rural mountain communities have relied for generations on the_______, controlled by_______, that support their families
d) The government has not been able to discourage the growing of theses crops because________can match their cash vayle for these____________
a) More than million
b) Do not apply
c) Poppy and marihuana fields, cartels
d) No legal crop, isolated farmers
Define sustainable development
Technological and economic growth that does not deplete the human and natural resources of a given area
What percentage of Mexico´s population lives below the poverty line?
50%
What is land subsistence affecting Mexico City?
Because the natural reserves of water have been pumped dry, removing the soil, and compacting the clay soil in the empty space. This makes the water reservoirs to collapse
Why is Mexico so polluted?
Because it is located in a valley and can save a major source of pollution
The country of Panama is on
An isthmus
What is an archipelago?
A group of islands
What is the importance of the Panama Canal?
It drastically cuts the transportation time from the Atlantic to the Pacific OCean
The greater the number of different species of animals and plants in an environment, the greather the
biodiversity of the enviornment
Lake Nicaragua is
Central America´s largest freshwater lake
Lake Nicaragua is the only one in the world to contain
Oceanic Life
Lake Managua has commercially viable fish and
alligators
Lempa River is
the only navigable river of El Salvador
Descirbe the relationship between latifundia and minifundia
- Latifundia is a large agricultural estates owned by families or corporations
- Minifundia is a small farm that produce food for the families
Which was the only non-Spanish colony in Central America?
Belize
What were the three factors that nearly killed the entire indigenous population by the mid 1600s?
Forced labor, starvation and european diseases
Which year was the Panama Canal open, and who had control over it? Who has control over it today?
1914, controlled by USA. Today, Panama control the zone
Which is the most densely populated country in Central America?
El Salvador
How has Central America´s population changed since the 1950s
It quadruples its population(40 millions)
- Spanish
- Patois
- 80%
- Protestan religions
- Santeria
- Voodoo
- Matriarchal
- The primary language in most countries
- Dialects that blend languages
- Are Roman Catholic
- Common in English speaking countries
- Practiced in Cuba
- Practiced in Haití
- Caribbean
Define cottage industry
A business that employs workers in their homes
Which country has most of its energy produced by hydroelectric plants?
Costa Rica
Tell four examples of how the hydroelectric systems are threatening the natural environment
- It alters the habitas and devastate native fish population
- It blocks fish migrations
- It threaten the survival of the indigenous population
- It also affect water level and velocity
Synonym of shantytown
Slum
List four factors affecting loss and soil erosion
- The clear of forested regions
- The construcition of hotels and other structures to support the tourism industry
- Commercial agriculture
- Intensive plantation agriculture
What are the green business focusing on?
- Environmental friendly organic food production
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable tourism
Name the three weather related disasters most probably to happen in Central America and the Caribbean
- Hurricanes
- Floods
- Earthquakes
Name the world´s longest mountain chain
THe Andes
Which mountains are an extension of The Andes?
Rocky MTS
How high is the Andes´altiplano?
It is the second largest mountain plateau in the world
Where is Patagonia?
In southern Chile and Argentina
Describe the landscape in Patagonia
Dramatic valleys, glaciers and fjords
Name the two most important inland grasslands in South America, and where are they located?
Llanos(Colombia and Venezuela)
Pampas(Argentina and Uruguay)
How long is the Amazon River and how does it flow?
- Western Hemisphere´s longest river and the world´s second largest
- It flows about 4000miles(6400km)
- It begins in the Peruvian Andes
Name the highest large lake in the world
Lake Titicaca
What percentage of South America´s surface is covered by the Amazon rain forest, the world´s largest rain forest?
1/3
Name the desert in South America that in some places no rainfall has ever been recorded
Atacama
Which country in South America have been producing the world´s finest emeralds for more than 1000 years?
Colombia
Who established the first highly developed civilization in South America?
The Inca
What is brain drain?
The loss of highly educated and skilled workers to other countries
The majority of Argentines are descended from
Spanish and Italian immigrants
Where do most indigenous cultural grouos live in South America today?
In the Andes region of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
Whicj of the followijng is causing the most harm biodiversity in South America?
Deforestation
Thick, weathered soil in the tropics that is depleted of nutrients is called
Oxisol
What is the effect of monoculture
The soil becomes depleted of nutrients
How does the price of gold affect the environment in Peru?
The higher the price of gold, the more pollution and deforestation.
Define fjords
Long, steep-sided glacial valley now filled seawater
On which peninsula does the country of Denmark lie?
Jutland Peninsula
Which northrn European country has about 200 volcanoes?
Iceland
Define Geothermal Energy
A form of energy conversion that captures heat energy from within Earth
ICeland has numerous mountains, rivers, glaciers……
waterfalls, small lakes, hot springs, geyser
In which country is located the largest glacier of Europe?
ICeland
Name the world´s largest inland and to which country does it belong?
Greenland. Denmark
Iceland has mild climate thanks to…..
Gulf of Stream
The most important natural resources of FInland are the…., so in 2012 the country exported over…% of the……and paperboard traded on the global market
trees, 10%, paper
Most Northern European countries use……power
hydroelectric
Norway is the largest producer of……..in Europe, and the world’s………..natural gas exporter.
Oil, second largest
Denmark is the number one country in the world for………generated from……..
Electricity, renewable resources
……..is the least densely populated country in Europe.
Iceland
- The Vikings were also known as………., and their language,………….., is the base of the Nordic languages spoken nowadays.
Norsemen, old norse
All the Nordic countries provide……….for senior citizens.
Retierment income
80% of the residents of Sweden live in or around……
Stockholm
- The Danish women (from Denmark) are among the best….and…… in Europe.
Educated and highest paid
The capital of Denmark has been called
The Singapore of the Baltic
What is an entre pot?
A port where goods are received and then reshipped
Finland is the only nordic country without an……
official religion
In Northern Europe, school is mandatory for children for at least
10 years
The………rates are nearly………
Literacy, 100%
All children are required to know at least…..other than their own.
One language
The Nordic countries have programs of……for all residents that are founded by their…….
Well being, governments
The Nordic countries are militating for achieving equal status for………, that’s why nearly as many women as men are elected to serve in the…….of Northern Europe.
Women, parliaments
The famous fairy tales author……..was from Denmark.
Hans Christian Andersen
Fish and fish products consitute more than…..of exports in Iceland
70%
Norway has conditions for both wild and farmed Norwegian…….
Salmon
Define invasive species
A non-indigenous or non-native species that threatens ecosystems, habitats, or other species.
Why would the deposits of sediment left behind by glaciers be rich and fertile?
As glaciers moved across the land, they collected sediment and other debris that was then deposited along the sides or the front of the glacier as the ice melted. These deposits contained top soil and were rich in nutrients and minerals.
What make up the British Isles?
Great Britain and Ireland.
Name the highest peak in the Alps and its location.
Mont Blanc, at the border between France and Italy.
…..of the Netherlands lies below the………. Since the………., the Dutch have built……, or large banks of earth and……., to hold back the…….. With dikes as protection, they have……..land from the……. These reclaimed lands, called……., once were drained and kept……..by the use of……… Today, other power sources run…….to remove……. Polders provide hundreds of thousands of acres of land for ……….and settlement……….is known as the city below the sea, and it’s one of the most important JUNCTIONS OF GOODS in the world. The city is ranked #…..port in EUROPE and #…. port in the world…………..consumers in the………..market are served by the port of Rotterdam.
25% Sea Level Middle Ages DIkes Stone Water Reclaimed Sea Polders Dry Windmills Pumps Water Farming Settlement Rotterdam Junctions of Good #1 port in Europe and #5 port in the world 350 million European
Name the only major river in Northwestern Europe that flows directly in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Rhone River.
The Danube River: starting and ending points.
It runs from southern Germany’s Black Forest into the Black Sea.
Why is it cold in southern France?
Because of the mistral.
Define the Crusades and explain their goal.
A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslim, in order to regain the Holy Land.
Which country became the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution? When and why?
Great Britain, in the 1700s, because at the time it had:
- The labor
- Capital
- Technology
- Natural resources
- Access to waterways for transporting goods
Define industrial capitalism and communism.
Industrial capitalism is an economic system in which business leaders use profits to expand their companies, while communism is the idea that society should be based on public ownership and communal control of property.
Why did the WWI start?
- Because of the rivalries and alliances among the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France and Russia)
- The assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir by a Serbian nationalist
- Germany invaded Belgium and France
The years the WWI took place
1914-1918
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
It was a treaty signed at the end of the war, where Germany was blamed for starting the conflict and demanded that it take reparations, or payment for damages.
What country was divided during the Cold War into two parts: communist and democratic?
Germany
Name the first female prime minister of Great Britain.
Margaret Thatcher
a) Acid pollution damages buildings made of……
b) The…….aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by specific countries.
a) Limestone
b) Kyoto Protocol
c) The………….connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea.
d) ……..is a small country located high in the Pyrenees.
e) ………run down the spine of the Italian Peninsula.
f) ……… is Europe’s tallest active volcano.
g) ……….are the two major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula.
h) …………is located at the mouth of the Po River.
i) …….. is an extremely rare heavy-metal element essential in high-tech industry.
j) Renaissance began in………in the 1300s.
k) …….. is the most densely populated state in Southern Europe.
l) …………is home to the Roman Catholic Church.
m) ………is a very famous architect from Spain.
c) Gibraltar
d) Andorra
e) The Apennines Mts.
f) Mount Etna
g) Tagus and Ebros
h) Venice
i) Tungsten
j) Italy
k) Vatican City
l) Vatican City
m) Antonio Gaudi
What countries were part of Yugoslavia?
Member countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia.
…….terrain is characterized by caves, sinkholes,…… rivers, and the absence of…….rivers, streams, and lakes.
Karst, underground, surface
The Carpathian Mountains run from
Slovakia to Romania
The……..River divides the city of Budapest into………
Danube, Buda and Pest
The……..Canal connects the North Sea with the Black Sea.
Main Danube
During the Cold War (1945-1991) Eastern Europe was dominated by the…….
Soviet Union
…….is the least populous contry in Europe
Montenegro
Which countries are considered to make up the Russian Core?
Belarus, Ukraine and Russia
Name Russia’s major mountain ranges.
The Urals and the Caucasus.
The highest peak of the………. and actually the highest mountain in Europe is……..
Caucasus Mts
Mt. Elbrus
What is a Chernozem?
Chernozem is a rich, black, topsoil found in the Northern European Plain, especially in Russia, and Ukraine.
How many lakes are in Belarus?
11,000
Which is the longest river in Europe?
Volga River
Describe Lake Baikal
- 25 million years old, one of the oldest in the world
- The deepest lake in the world
- It holds 1/5 of all unfrozen freshwater found on the planet
- Known as the “Galapagos of Russia” because of its age and isolation
- It’s very important for scientists in order to evaluate how marine species evolve.
Define permafrost
Permanently frozen layer beneath surface and found in tundra
…..of the world’s forest are found in Russia. Russia cannot access its biggest resources of coal because they……..in eastern Siberia. Natural gas is another leading resource, but much of it it’s located in…… Russia is one of the…….producers of aluminum,……, and platinum-group metals.
1/5 lie in remote areas leading resources northern siberia top 3 gemstones
What were the people required to know or do to during the Russification process?
To speak Russian and to become Christian Orthodox
How did the philosophy of Karl Marx lead to the creation of the Soviet Union?
He is considered the founder of modern communism, as he believed in two principles which were applied when the Soviet Union was great in 1917: the public ownership of all land and means of production, and a classless society with an equal sharing of wealth
What were the satellites under the Soviet Union, and how many were they?
A satellite was a country controlled by the Soviet Union; there were 15 in total.
Which were the two reform plans that started to move the Soviet Union toward a market economy, and who established them?
Perestroika and glasnost, established by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985.
Why was Russia unwilling to let Chechenya become an indepdendent nation?
Because of the oil and gas pipelines that run through Chechen lands and are vital to the Russian economy.
Between 1949 and 1987, more than 600 nuclear explosions took place because:
they were testing to improve the technology and weapons
What did the Soviets do with the nuclear weapons they were producing?
they stockpiled them
What happens with the nuclear wastes:
they can remain radioactive for thousands of years
What happens with the radioactive materials who were not placed in storage facilities?
were dumped directly into the Barents, Baltic, and Bering Seas
A fire at a nuclear reactor in the town of _______, in _________ represented the first significant environmental disaster.
Chernobyl, 1986
Why is the previous incident so significant?
the radioactivity was 400 times more than the nuclear bomb dropped in Hiroshima
As the Soviets officials were slow to alert the public to the crisis and did not evacuate people soon enough:
millions were exposed to deadly levels of radiation
