Unit 1

Question 1

How many countries are in Central America?

Answer 1

7

Question 2

What are the seven countries in Central America?

Answer 2

Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panamá.

Question 3

What is the most populous country in Central America?

Answer 3

Guatemala

Question 4

What are three characteristics of the geography in Central America?

Answer 4

• It is geologically active, with frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
• It is part of the Mesoamerican Biodiversity hotspot, with 7% of the world’s biodiversity.
• It has many long mountain ranges. Between the mountain ranges lie fertile valleys where farmers grow coffee, beans, and other crops.

Question 5

In terms of language, what separates Belize from the other countries in Central America?

Answer 5

Spanish is the official language of all of the Central American countries except Belize, which has English as its official language.

Question 6

Before European explorers came to Central America, what were two of the most important cultures in Mesoamerican civilization?

Answer 6

The Maya and the Aztecs

Question 7

What was the process of Spain conquering Central America and losing control over it?

Answer 7

Beginning in the 1520s, Spain sent soldiers and explorers to Central America to gain control of Maya lands. Spain then established the Capitanía General de Guatemala, sometimes called the Kingdom of Guatemala, which included all the countries in Central America, with the exception of the land that would become Belize. After Spain lost control of the area, the people in this region formed a republic. The Federal Republic of Central America, or The República Federal de Centroamérica, lasted from 1823 to 1838. After that, the different countries separated again.

Question 8

What is the largest country in Central America?

Answer 8

Nicaragua

Question 9

In terms of size, how does Nicaragua compare to New York State?

Answer 9

It is slightly larger than New York State.

Question 10

What is the geography like in western Nicaragua?

Answer 10

Nicaragua is mountainous in the west, with fertile valleys.

Question 11

How many major lakes are in Nicaragua? What are they called?

Answer 11

The country has two big lakes: Nicaragua and Managua.

Question 12

How do the Pacific coast and the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua compare? What is another name for the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua? Why?

Answer 12

The Pacific coast is volcanic and fertile, but the Caribbean coast is swampy. The Caribbean coastal area is also known as the “Mosquito Coast” because it was named after the local Miskito indigenous group.

Question 13

What is the International Poetry Festival in Nicaragua?

Answer 13

The International Poetry Festival is an event held every February, featuring more than 150 poets from all over the world. It takes place in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. During the event, poets recite their best poetry before a huge audience, including national and international reporters who have come to cover the event.

Question 14

What is the Equestrians of Managua celebration in Nicaragua?

Answer 14

The Equestrians of Managua is a festival that takes place in August. It occurs in the city of Managua, and it honors caballos, or horses, which march through the streets with their riders. People celebrate for two days straight.

Question 15

What is La Gritería in Nicaragua?

Answer 15

La Gritería is a festival that takes place throughout Nicaragua on December 7. People celebrate by gathering in the streets at 6 p.m., singing, and giving thanks to the Virgin Mary. They set off fireworks and shout with joy. It’s one of the noisiest celebrations in Nicaragua!

Question 16

What was the childhood of Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío? How did he get his name?

Answer 16

The Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío (1867–1916) had an unusual childhood. He was born Félix Rubén García y Sarmiento and became an orphan at a very young age. When he was 13 years old, he decided to take the name of his paternal great-grandfather, Rubén Darío. He signed the very first poem he ever wrote with his new name, and he kept it for the rest of his life.

Question 17

What language did Rubén Darío learn as a teenager? When did he publish his first volume of poems? What did he publish at the age of 21? This book marked the beginning of which Spanish American literary movement?

Answer 17

Darío learned French as a teenager, and he published his first volume of poems when he was only 18 years old. In 1888, when he was 21, he published another book of his writings. The book, called Azul, represents the beginning of the Spanish American literary movement called Modernism. This movement became very important throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Question 18

What did Rubén Darío do as an adult? What did he do for the remainder of his life?

Answer 18

As an adult, Darío traveled to Europe as a reporter for a newspaper. He then stayed in Paris for five years. Darío spent the rest of his life traveling between Europe and Central and South America.

Question 19

Who write the poem “A Margarita Debayle”?

Answer 19

Rubén Darío