SOCIAL STUDIES VOCAB
LESSON 1
CLIMATE
THE WEATHER OF AN AREA OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS
REGION
A LARGE AREA WITH COMMON FEATURES THAT SET IT APART FROM OTHER AREAS
PRECIPITATION
RAIN, SNOW, OR OTHER MOISTURE THAT FALLS IN AN AREA
HUMID
AREAS WHICH RECIVE MORE THAN 20 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION EACH YEAR
ARID
AREAS WHICH ARE DRY AND RECIVE VERY LITTLE PRECIPITATION EACH YEAR
LESSON 2
MEGALOPOLIS
A GROUP OF CITIES THAT HAVE GROWN CLOSE TOGETHER AND SEEM TO HAVE FORMED ONE CITY
PRAIRIE
FLAT, ROLLING LAND COVERED WITH GRASS
NAVIGABLE
BODY OF WATER WIDE AND DEEP ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE PASSAGE OF SHIPS
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
AN IMAGINARY LINE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS; RIVERS TO THE EAST DRAININTO THE ARTIC OCEAN, ATLANTIC OCEAN, OR GULF OF MEXICO, AND RIVERS TO THE WEST FLOW INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN OR GULF OF CALIFORNIA
CANYON
A DEEP VALLEY WITH STEEP SIDES
LESSON 3
SCARCITY
A SHORTAGE OF AVILABLE GOODS AND SERVICES
ECONOMY
THE WAY A CONTRY’S PEOPLE USE NATURAL RESOURCES, MONEY, AND KNOWLEDGE TO PRODUCE GOODS AND SERVICES
CURRENT
A PORTION OF WATER OR AIR THAT FLOWS CONTINUOSLY IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME PATH
TEMPERATE CLIMATE
MILD WEATHER THAT IS NEITHER TOO HOT OR TOO COLD WITH CHANGING SEASONS
DROUGHT
A LONG PERIOD OF LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL
LESSON 4
MARKET ECONOMY
INDIVIDUALS MAKE ECONOMIC DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO MAKE, HOW MUCH TO PRODUCE, AND WHAT TO CHARGE
STOCK
A SHARE IN THE OWNERSHIP OF A COMPANY
COMPETITION
TRYING TO WIN OR GAIN SOMETHING FROM OTHERS
INTERDEPENDENCE
DEPENDING ON ONE ANOTHER TO MEETS AND WANTS
TRADE SURPLUS
AMOUNT BY WHICH A NATION’S EXPORTS EXCEEDS ITS IMPORTS
TRADE DEFICIT
AMOUNT BY WHICH A NATION’S IMPORTS EXCEEDS ITS EXPORTS
LESSON 5
SUPPLY
AMOUNT OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE FOR SALE
DEMAND
HOW MUCH OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE BUYERS WANT
LESSON 6
INCOME
MONEY EARNED FOR DOING WORK
TAX
MONEY THAT PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES MUST PAY TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS SUPPORT
COST-BENEFIT DECISION
A CHOICE MADE TO BUY A PRODUCT, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE FUTURE BENEFITS THAT WILL RESULT FROM THE PRODUCT
OPPORTUNITY COST
THE VALUE OF THE SECONED BEST CHOICE WHEN CHOOSING BETWEEN TWO THINGS
BUDGET
A PLAN FOR SAVING AND SPENDING MONEY
EXPENSE
A PAYMENT FOR GOODS AND SERVICES