Social Studies Final Exam Study Guide

#1 Which type of government would most likely abolish all opposing political parties, the direct election on leaders, and free speech? Military Dictatorship

#2 What is specialization? A factory focuses on producing one or two goods and leaves the rest for another factory.

#3 In which system of government does the legislative branch elect the leader of the executive branch? Parliamentary Democracy

#4 What type of imaginary line runs parallel to the Equator? Latitude

#5 Which of the following BEST describes a free-enterprise system (market system)? A person can start any legal business and charge any price.

#6 Define the following terms: Quota- limits the amount of trade between countries. Embargo – stops trade between countries

#7 What is the purpose of a tariff? To increase the price of imported goods and protect a country’s own industries from foreign competition

#8 Why did communism collapse in the Soviet Union in 1989? The communist were not able to compete with the appeal of economics and political freedoms of the West.

#9 What was the major purpose of creating the Euro? To make international trade easier for member nations.

#10 In the 1600’s what was the most important reason that European countries established settlements in the New World? To acquire riches and needed raw materials

#11 How does a countries literacy rate impact its gross domestic product? The higher the literacy rate the higher the GDP.

#12 What three things best describe the Cold War? Distrust between the USA and USSR, development of nuclear weapons, and the space race

#13 What was the purpose of the European Union? Promote Trade and economic growth between member nations

#14 How does an entrepreneur contribute to a country’s economy? -Willing to take risks and invest capital resources -Generate new ideas -Help a country adapt to new trends

#15 What was the primary cause of the Russian Revolution of 1917? Differences among social and economic classes in Russia

#16 Why do most of Russia’s people live on the European side of the country? The climate is milder

#17 What Portuguese explorer advanced early exploration by providing money to study navigation, develop boats, and encourage voyage? Prince Henry the Navigator

#18 What empire chartered the East India Company, colonized Australia and most of the east coast of North America? British

#19 After 1986, Chernobyl, Ukraine was abandoned. What caused people to abandon this city> The nuclear power plant exploded and radiation levels were unsafe

#20 What was the primary cause for the outbreak of WWII in Europe? The invasion of Poland by Germany

#21 What is a transportation barrier in Europe? The ALps

#22 Who were the following men? Francisco Pizzaro – defeated the Incas in South America Toussaint L’Overture – Leader of the independence ruler in Haiti Simon Boliovar – Led the independence movement in South America Miguel Hidalgo – Father of Mexican independence

#23 Which is the only Latin America colony that gained independence without a fight? Brazil

#24 Why is Latin America considered ethnically diverse. Blending of Indigenous Americans, Europeans, and Africans

#25 Which Spanish conquistador defeated the Inca civilization? Francisco Pizzaro

#26 What were three major areas that were impacted by the Columbian Exchange? -Decline of indigenous population -Introduction of new crops to Europe and the Americas -Introduction of horses to Latin America

#27 What two countries are landlocked? Bolivia and Paraguay

#28 Why is air pollution a major issue in Mexico City? -Sierra Madre Mountains block the pollution from leaving the Plateau of Mexico. Overpopulation and industrialization have increased the amount of pollution produced. The wind patterns are not strong enough to push the pollution away from Mexico City.

#29 Why were the Aztec and Inca empires so easily conquered by the Spanish conquistadores? -European disease -Horses -Advanced weapons

#30 Why did the Zapatistas not like NAFTA? Cause poor Mexican farmers to charge less for their products and potentially go out of business.

#31 How is Spain’s influence still seen in Latin America? Most of these people in these countries are Roman Catholic

#32 What was a lasting impact of the Cuban Revolution? Less political freedom for Cubans

#33 Describe Canada’s population in relationship to its land size. Canada has a small population compared to the size of its land area.

#34 What are the official languages of Canada? English and French

#35 Why is the USA Canada’s largest trading partner? Location

#36 What is causing some of the people of Quebec to desire independence from Canada? French descendents living in Quebec feel their culture and language is being overwhelmed by the English.

#37 Why is the Canadian Shield important to the economy of Canada? Mining operations look for new deposits of minerals.

#38 The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was designed to promote free trade between what three countries? USA, Canada, and Mexico

#39 What is the leader of Parliament in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom? Prime Minister

#40 What geographic feature in Canada is an area of ancient rugged rock? Canadian Shield

#41 Today, some citizens and elected leaders of Quebec believe their province should take which action? Become an independent country

#42 Who were the first inhabitants of Australia? The Aborigines

#43 What happened to the Aborigines as a result of the British settlement of Australia? Thousands of Aborigines died from various diseases and were forced to live in the Outback.

#44 What was the primary reason the British colonized Australia in the mid 1700’s? They were looking for a location to establish a penal colony.

#45 What type of economic system would the Aborigines have used prior to European colonization? Traditional

#46 Where is the largest concentration of people in Australia? In the southeast region near Sydney.

#47 What physical feature is sacred to the Aboriginal people of Australia? Ayers Rock (Uluru)

#48 Which country’s culture had the greatest effect on Australia’s language and religion? Great Britain

#49 What is the Australian term for the vast desert areas in the interior of the mainland? The Outback