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1. Physical Geography

• Most of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.

• Mountains, plateaus, and plains are examples of landforms.

• Elevation is the height of land above sea level.

• A plateau is a large, mostly flat area that rises above the surrounding land.

• The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest tropical rain forest in the world.

• Due to an excellent supply of heat, light, and water, thousands of different kinds of plants grow in the rain forest.

• The Andes Mountains is the long mountain chain that runs along the west coast of South America.

2. Climate & Weather

• Weather is the condition of the air and sky from day to day.

• Climate refers to the typical weather conditions of a location over a long period of time.

• Since Canada is a long way from the Equator, the climate tends to be very cold.

• Latin America’s climate is affected by elevation, the Equator, and wind patterns.

(Higher elevations are colder. Nearer the equator is hotter. Winds blow cold air from Arctic, and blow warm air from the Equator.)

• Crops grown on farms in the Andes are influenced by elevation.

• Subsistence farms raise enough food to feed only the farmer’s family.

3. Economy & Natural Resources

• The Economy is a system of producing and distributing products and services.

• When a country depends largely on one resource or crop for income, it is known as a one-resource economy.

• To reduce their reliance on one natural resource or crop, many Latin American nations have begun to invest in new industries.

• Fossil fuels are resources that were created over millions of years from the remains of prehistoric plants and animals (e.g. oil, coal, natural gasses).

• Oil, coal and natural gasses are examples of nonrenewable resources.

• Solar power, hydroelectricity (water power), and wind power are all examples of renewable resources.

4. Migration & Immigration

• Migration is the movement of people from one country or region to another.

• Due to an increase in food supply and better medical care, the world’s population has rapidly increased over the past 50 years.

• Involuntary migration describes when people are forced to move from one location to another.

• Voluntary Migration describes when people move from one location to another by their own choice.

• Researchers use the “push-pull theory” to explain reasons for immigration.

• Many people have moved from rural areas (country/farmland) to urban areas (cities). They did this to give their children more opportunities (health care, education, better paying jobs, etc.).

• Many people leave the rural, country living for the urban, city life in hopes of finding jobs.

• Urban – located in cities and towns.

• Rural – Located in the countryside.

5. Primary and Secondary Sources:

• A primary source refers to an original document, photo, painting, or film that was created by a person living at the given time.

• A secondary source is information based on a previous source that has been interpreted. The provide analysis and summaries to better organize information.

*It is always important to use a variety of sources when acquiring information.

Essay Questions: The following are the six essay questions which will appear on the test. Students will choose three to answer. Use this time to start preparing an answer.

1. What is the difference between weather and climate? Identify three factors that effect climate. (See Climate and Weather section above)

2. Support or refute (disprove, prove false) this conclusion: South America is a region of great variety and many contrasts.

3. Why has relying on one crop or resource presented an economic problem for many Latin American nations? How have these nations been trying to solve this problem?

4. How does the push-pull theory explain immigration? Give two examples of each.

5. How are people influenced by their environment? (e.g. Inuit in the Arctic Tundra).

6. Explain the difference between primary and secondary sources, and how each type is effective for different reasons. Give examples of each.

Climate Regions: The test will have a similar map of a country of South America. Students will need to use the Key, which indicates the climate regions for that country. They will answer the following questions based on the map and key. For this review, I have substituted the test’s country with South America.

1. Which climate region covers the most territory in South America?

2. In what climate zone is X city located? (The test’s map will have cities labeled)

3. Identify some of the climate zones on the Equator. (There should be more than one choice.)

4. Where do you think it is generally colder, in northern South America or southern South America? Why?

Essay Questions: The following are the six essay questions which will appear on the test. Students will choose three to answer. Use this time to start preparing an answer.

1. What is the difference between weather and climate? Identify three factors that effect climate. (See Climate and Weather section above)

2. Support or refute (disprove, prove false) this conclusion: South America is a region of great variety and many contrasts.

3. Why has relying on one crop or resource presented an economic problem for many Latin American nations? How have these nations been trying to solve this problem?

4. How does the push-pull theory explain immigration? Give two examples of each.

5. How are people influenced by their environment? (e.g. Inuit in the Arctic Tundra).

6. Explain the difference between primary and secondary sources, and how each type is effective for different reasons. Give examples of each.

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