Social Studies: Chapter 2 Vocabulary

Question 1

ancestor

Answer 1

an early family member

Question 2

theory

Answer 2

an idea based on study and research

Question 3

migration

Answer 3

the movement of people

Question 4

artifact

Answer 4

an object made by a person

Question 5

civilization

Answer 5

a group of people with ways of life, religion and learning

Question 6

tradition

Answer 6

a way of life or an idea handed down from the past

Question 7

class

Answer 7

a group of people in society who have something in common

Question 8

cultural region

Answer 8

an area in which people share some ways of life

Question 9

division of labor

Answer 9

work that is divided so that it is possible to produce more goods

Question 10

palisade

Answer 10

a wall made of tall wooden poles to protect a village from enemies

Question 11

longhouse

Answer 11

a long wooden building in which several families could live

Question 12

confederation

Answer 12

a loose group of governments working together

Question 13

wigwam

Answer 13

a round bark-covered shelter

Question 14

lodge

Answer 14

a large round earthen house used by Central Plain Native Americans

Question 15

sod

Answer 15

a layer of soil held together by roots of grasses

Question 16

scarce

Answer 16

in short supply

Question 17

teepee

Answer 17

a cone-shaped tent made from wooden poles and buffalo skins

Question 18

travois

Answer 18

a device made of two poles fastened to a dog’s harness, used to carry goods

Question 19

council

Answer 19

a group of leaders who meet to make decisions

Question 20

ceremony

Answer 20

a celebration to honor a cultural or religious event

Question 21

adapt

Answer 21

to adjust a way of living to land and resources

Question 22

staple

Answer 22

something that is always needed and used

Question 23

surplus

Answer 23

an extra amount

Question 24

adobe

Answer 24

a brick or building material made of sun-dried earth and straw

Question 25

hogan

Answer 25

a cone-shaped Navajo shelter built by covering a log frame with mud or adobe

Question 26

trade network

Answer 26

a system that allows people to get goods from faraway places

Question 27

harpoon

Answer 27

a long spear with a sharp shell point

Question 28

clan

Answer 28

an extended group of family members

Question 29

economy

Answer 29

the way people in a state, region or country use resources to meet their needs

Question 30

barter

Answer 30

to exchange goods

Question 31

potlatch

Answer 31

a Native American celebration meant to show wealth and divide property among the people

Question 32

kayak

Answer 32

a one-person canoe made of waterproof skins stretched over wood or bone

Question 33

igloo

Answer 33

a house made of snow or ice