South Asia Exam Prep

Question 1

What is the religion of most people in Pakistan?

Answer 1

Islam (Muslim)

Question 2

What is the religion of most people in Bangladesh?

Answer 2

Islam (Muslim)

Question 3

Describe place and Human-environment interaction in South Asia.

Answer 3

Place:

India: tropical wet and dry, humid subtropical
Pakistan: arid
Afghanistan: semiarid
Bangladesh: tropical wet, humid subtropical

Human-Environment Interaction:

The Tarbela Dam was built in Pakistan and completed in 1976. It was built to control the extreme seasonal changes of the Indus river, and is one of the world’s biggest producers of hydroelectric power. Since it’s completion, it has turned millions of acres of arid desert into lush cropland.
Another interaction: Embarkment dams, which are made up of soil and rock are also used by farmers for irrigation

Question 4

Where is the Ganges river delta, and what rivers flow into it?

Answer 4

The Ganges river is located in northeastern India and flows south (it empties into the Bay of Bengal). It’s delta is in Bangladesh. The Yamuna and Ghaghara rivers flow into it.

Question 5

Where is the Brahmaputra river located?

Answer 5

The Brahmaputra river is located in East India and flows through Bangladesh (although it starts in China).

Question 6

Describe the ancient Hindu social hierarchy.

Answer 6

People who followed the ancient Hindu social hierarchy were separated into five varnas, or castes: the Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (common people), Sudras (unskilled laborers), and Pariahs (who are “untouchable”). Once you are born into a varna, you cannot change, and social mixing (talking, marriage, etc,) with other classes was discouraged.

Question 7

Describe positive and negative effects of Great Britain’s control over India.

Answer 7

The British East India Company (est. 1600) built trading posts and forts throughout India. When Indian soldiers rebelled against their British commanders (because they did not want Christianity imposed on them), the British government replaced the company in 1858. Now officially under British control, India began to economically develop: the British paved roads, constructed a railway system, installed telegraph lines and irrigation canals, and established schools and universities (so they built up the infrastructure). However, they also grew cotton instead of wheat, which led to severe food shortages and the deaths of millions.

Question 8

What happened to India and Pakistan in 1947?

Answer 8

In August of 1947, the partition of India and Pakistan took place. A total of 10-12 million people moved into the country that supported their religion.

Question 9

When was the partition of India and Pakistan?

Answer 9

August 1947

Question 10

What is civil disobedience?

Answer 10

The refusal to obey laws that are considered unjust

Question 11

What is non-violent resistance?

Answer 11

A way of achieving goals through symbolic protests without violence

Question 12

What is a boycott?

Answer 12

The refusal to purchase or use a product/service as an expression of disapproval (British salt and cloth)

Question 13

Why did Gandhi wear homespun garments?

Answer 13

Gandhi wore homespun garments because he was boycotting British cloth or support the British cloth industry.

Question 14

Why and what year did Hindus and Muslims move around the continent?

Answer 14

1947; so that they could live in a country that support their religion

Question 15

Who was Jawaharlal Nehru?

Answer 15

The first leader of independent India

Question 16

Who was Muhammad Ali Jinnah?

Answer 16

The first leader of Pakistan

Question 17

How does overpopulation affect life in India?

Answer 17

Overpopulation in India has caused increasingly sub-standard conditions for a growing segment of the population. Although it’s economy and middle class is rapidly growing, it is not sufficient for the financial support of many.

Effects:
Hunger
Spread of Disease
Cramped/Squalid Living Conditions
Illiterate Population will grow a generation of unskilled laborers

Question 18

How has economic growth affected life in India?

Answer 18

Economic growth has paved the way for better farming methods, increased irrigation, and higher quality seeds, as well as industrial advances, such as computer production and space exploration. There is a slow increase of literate Indians, and there have also been advances in health care.

Question 19

Roughly how many Indian people live below the international poverty line?

Answer 19

Estimates put 42% of India’s people living below the worldwide poverty line.

Question 20

How do the physical features of Pakistan differ from those of Bangladesh?

Answer 20

Pakistan is located in an arid desert region, so the country has maximized it’s water supply (the Indus). On the other hand, Bangladesh is located in an enormous delta former by the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. Although it has fertile soil, it is also susceptible to flooding because of it’s low sea level.

Question 21

How have Pakistanis modified the natural environment to compensate for their dry climate?

Answer 21

Because of their short wet season, Pakistanis must compensate for their dry climate by building embankment dams and using the Tarbela Dam.

Question 22

Who is Benazir Bhutto and what role has she played in Pakistani politics?

Answer 22

Banter Bhutto was the first woman ever elected to lead a Muslim nation (Pakistan). She was twice removed from office on accusations of corruption, and fled to exile in 1998. In October of 2007, she was granted amnesty on all charges and she returned to Pakistan. In December of the same year, she was assassinated. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility, saying she was America’s greatest asset.

Question 23

Describe the current relationship between India and Pakistan. What is their opinion on Kashmir?

Answer 23

Indian-Pakistani relations are currently peaceful, but strained. Tensions between the two countries are still present, especially over the Kashmir region. Concerns exist that Pakistan may be on the verge of a civil war. India is closely monitoring the Pakistani situation. The Taliban and other insurgents have gained control of parts of Pakistan, although they seem to come and go.

Opinion on Kashmir:
Both countries claim to own the land within the Kashmir region, which is located on the northwestern Indian and northeastern Pakistani borders. Although a series of wars over the possession of the region occurred, no final agreement has been made between the two nations.

Question 24

Where does the majority of the world’s poppy production occur?

Answer 24

Afghanistan

Question 25

Who were the Mujahideen?

Answer 25

In 1979, Afghans rebelled against their communist government, and in response, the government asked the Soviet Union for help. The US and Pakistan armed and trained Afghans to fight against the Soviets. The Islamic guerrilla fighters became known as the Mujahideen. The Soviets left in 1989, and the war ended.

Question 26

Explain the role of the Taliban in the region.

Answer 26

Former members of the Mujahideen, such as Osama bin Laden, became the Taliban, or “the students”. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in the mid-1990s and they imposed a harsh Islamic rule and harbored Osama bin Laden, the former leader of al-Qaeda. After the 9/11 attacks, a US-led international coalition drove the Taliban from power in October 2001. The coalition set up a democracy, but Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces are still prevalent in the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan.

Question 27

How much has the US war on Afghanistan cost?

Answer 27

In 2011, the war costed $443 billion.

Nowadays, it’s probably around $500 billion.

Question 28

Explain the overall tension in the region and the relations between the US and Afghanistan.

Answer 28

Kashmir region:
Pakistan and India both think that they should own the region (most dangerous border)
US backs Afghanistan in its war on terrorism, but they oppose Pakistan, whom they believe has attacked them on multiple occasions.

Question 29

How did the bin Laden raid create tension between the US and Pakistan?

Answer 29

When the US operation to kill bin Laden was successful, the US decided to alert Pakistan after the event that they had crossed into Pakistani territory. This put tensions between Pakistan and the US, as distrust continued to exist.