1. Geography

2. 40% of Exam is Geography – Here is Jan 2015

3. Jan 2015 (cont)

4. Jan 2015 (continued)

5. Jan 2015 (cont)

6. Jan 2015 (and if that wasn’t enough)

7. Jan DBQ

8. Other Essay Topics How has a region’s geography shaped its history?
How has man adapted his environment to shape his needs?
Irrigation (dams, dykes)
Roads (Romans, Silk, Incan – Suspension Bridges)
Walls (Great, Roman)
Terrace Farming (Inca, Japan, Yellow)
Houses (Stilt – Indonesia, Yurts - Mongols)
Chinampas - Aztecs

9. Typical Multiple Choice Questions
Location of countries/physical features – England, India, Vietnam, Japan, Suez Canal, Andes Mountains, Mediterranean Sea etc.
Types of maps – cartographic, physical, political
Geographic feature – archipelago, peninsula, strait, canals, savannah, tundra
Interpreting Maps – trade, migration

10. August 2013
What would a geographer conducting research be most likely to do? (1) use carbon-14 to determine the age of artifacts (2) analyze the reasons women vote for certain candidates (3) observe the effects of wind patterns on regional trade (4) design a survey to determine the online spending habits of young people

11. June 2013
• The Americas are referred to as the “New World.” • Eastern Asia is referred to as the “Far East.” • Southwest Asia is referred to as part of the “Middle East.” Whose perspective is best represented by these regional place names? (1) Chinese (3) European (2) African (4) Indian

12. June 2013
Based on this map of 13th-century world systems, which of these circuits was limited to one continent?
(1) I (3) V
(2) II (4) VI

13. Which letter identifies the peninsula that is home to Mecca, the religious center of Islam?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D
46 Which letter identifies the peninsula that was the site of the Vietnam conflict and the
atrocities of Pol Pot?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D

14. Which of these nations is located closet to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia?
Korea
Vietnam
Somalia
Pakistan

15. August 2013
Which letter represents the location of a country
created in part as a result of the Zionist
movement?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D

16. June 2013
Which geographic feature presented an obstacle to Simón Bolívar’s forces? (1) Sahara Desert (2) Great Rift Valley (3) Andes Mountains (4) Strait of Malacca

17. Jan 2014
Charlemagne’s 9th century empire covered territory which today would include the countries of
(1) Poland and Russia
(2) Spain and Portugal
(3) France and Germany
(4) Ireland and the United Kingdom

18. Which feature would most likely appear on a physical map?
(1) population densities
(2) land usage patterns
(3) climatic patterns
(4) mountain ranges

19. A geographic similarity between Italy and India is that both of these countries are located
(1) on peninsulas
(2) on archipelagos
(3) between two oceans
(4) south of the equator

20. Which geographic factor has often made Korea a key region for those seeking to control East Asia?
(1) long coastline (3) mountains
(2) location (4) climate

21. (1) Timbuktu was a center of trade in West Africa.
11 Which statement about the trip taken by Emperor Mansa Musa is accurate?
(1) The trip extended beyond North African trade routes.
(2) Mansa Musa used the Mediterranean Sea to reach Mecca.
(3) The route primarily followed major rivers.
(4) Mansa Musa traveled to Fez on his way to Mecca.
12 Which conclusion about trade is best supported by the information on this map?
(1) Timbuktu was a center of trade in West Africa.
(2) The Sahara Desert prevented trade.
(3) Cairo and Mecca were trading partners.
(4) West African gold and salt were traded along the Zaire River.

22. Jan. 2014
Which nation is located on a peninsula?
(1) Brazil
(2) Philippines
(3) Saudi Arabia
(4) Austria

23. Egypt

24. Key Terms for Essay on Egypt
Deserts – “Red Lands” – Nubian, Libyan, and Sahara
Nile River – “Black Lands” surround w/silt; floods annually – need to build irrigation, has cataracts (waterfalls), delta (tributaries protect)
Impact – protects, stability of dynasties, need for strong central authority, culture based on Nile “Land of Living” vs. “Land of Dead”, architecture of sandstone, papyrus for books; build Aswan High Dam (no oil); Suez Canal built to capitalize on strategic location btw Mediterranean and Red seas.

25. Which geographic feature had the greatest influence on the development of ancient civilizations?
Dense forests
Mountain passes
Smooth coastlines
River valleys

26. The Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Gibraltar are important because they
prevent attacks on bordering nations
control access to vital trade routes
limit Russian access to warm-water points
prohibit the movement of ships carrying nuclear weapons

27. Mesopotamia

28. Key Term for Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent – two rivers: Tigris and Euphrates
Flood erratically – need to build dams and dykes
Easy to navigate rivers – lots of invasions, cultural diffusion, political instability
Modern – desertification, Oil reserves (Persian Gulf War – 1980s – OPEC)

29. Jan 2014
Which geographic region has the greatest number of members in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
(1) South America
(2) sub-Saharan Africa
(3) Southeast Asia
(4) Middle East (Southwest Asia)

30. August 2013
One way in which the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, and Mayas are similar is that these civilizations developed (1) irrigation systems (2) iron weapons (3) wheeled vehicles (4) block printing systems

31. China

32. Key Terms for China
ETHNOCENTRISM – caused by geographic barriers – Gobi Desert, Tien Shen Mts., Himalayas, Pacific Ocean
Rivers – Yellow (Huange-He) “River of Sorrow” – heavy silt, cut deep into mts; Yangtze – both rivers flow west to east
Adaptations – Silk Road, Great Wall, Grand Canal, terrace farming along Yellow

33. Which statement best describes an impact of geography on the history of the Korean peninsula?
Large deserts have led to isolation
Location has led to invasion and occupation by other nations
Lack of rivers has limited food production.
Lack of natural resources has prevented development of manufacturing.

34. January 2014
China, Korea, and Japan share cultural similarities in part due to their
(1) clashes with Russian imperialists
(2) shared river systems
(3) contacts through trade
(4) unification under Mongol rule

35. January 2014
“River of Sorrows Floods Again” “Thousands Missing After Huang He Overflows” “Over 10 Million Reported Homeless After 1931 Flooding” These newspaper headlines describe the effects of geography on the people of (1) China (3) India (2) Japan (4) Vietnam

36. India

37. Key Terms on India Sub-continent of Asia Peninsula Monsoons
Indus River – navigable (similar to Tigris)
Hindu-Kush mts and Himalayas protect and isolate
Deccan plateau – center – inhospitable
Lots of trade in Indian Ocean
British India - Railroad handy to unite large landmass
Bengal Famine 1943 – Green Revolution
Split in 1948 – Pakistan and India (fight over Kashmir)

39. August 2013
Which statement can best be supported by the information on this 2003 map?
(1) India and Pakistan have agreed on shared borders.
(2) Several borders are in dispute between India and China.
(3) India and Nepal are currently involved in border disputes with each other.
(4) The inhabitants of the territory claimed by both India and China have little voice in the conflict.

40. June 2013
Which geographic feature would have most likely hindered the expansion of the Guptas into what is modern-day China?
(1) Thar Desert
(2) Himalaya Mountains
(3) Deccan Plateau
(4) Bay of Bengal

41. In India, Bangladesh and much of Southeast Asia, agricultural productivity is most affected by the
Seasonal monsoons
Unnavigable rivers
Numerous deserts
Cold climates

42. Jan. 2014
The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra were important to ancient India because they were
(1) high mountain ranges that protected India from invasion
(2) great rivers that flowed through India’s fertile northern plain
(3) Aryan gods to whom the priests prayed for rain
(4) ruling dynasties that united the people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

43. Which generalization is best supported by the information on this map?
(1) No trade occurred between East Africa and the Persian Gulf region.
(2) The monsoon winds influenced trade between East Africa and India.
(3) Trading states developed primarily in the interior of East Africa.
(4) Trade encouraged the spread of Islam from East Africa to Arabia.

44. Jan 2014
What is one way the conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir and the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis in the Middle East are similar?
(1) Both conflicts concern territorial and religious issues.
(2) Hostilities within these regions were provoked by the United Nations.
(3) Both conflicts emerged as a result of the breakup of the Soviet Union.
(4) Tensions in these regions were caused by efforts to remain nonaligned.

45. Greece

46. Key Terms on Greece Polis/Poleis will be divided by mountains
Great natural harbors for fishing and trade; strength of military is triremes for Athens not hoplites
Few natural rivers/springs – need to import food – colonies
Volcanic area – angry gods (land and sea – Zeus/Poseidon)
Rich volcanic soil good for olives and grapes

47. Which was one cause of the development of many small independent city-states in ancient Greece?
Greece and Rome were often at War
The mountainous terrain of Greece resulted in widely scattered settlements
Military leaders found small Greek settlements easy to control
The Greek people had many different languages and religions

48. August 2013
Which geographic factor contributed to the formation of independent city states in ancient Greece? (1) tropical rainforests (2) fertile farmland (3) navigable rivers (4) mountainous topography

49. Roman Empire

50. Key Terms for Roman Empire
Italy is Peninsula
Expanded over three continents around Mediterranean Sea
So large – Roman legions need to build roads, aqueducts, bridges, walls

51. August 2013
At the height of its power, which ancient civilization controlled the entire coastal region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea? (1) Phoenician (3) Roman (2) Persian (4) Carthaginian

52. Byzantine Empire

53. August 2013
The strategic location of the Byzantine Empire allowed control of the key trade routes between the (1) South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca (2) Caspian Sea and the Indian Ocean (3) North Sea and the English Channel (4) Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea

54. Incan Empire

55. Key Terms for Inca Andes Mountains Incan Trail w/suspension bridges
Terrace farming

56. Aztec Empire
Chinampas

57. An effect of a mountainous topography on Inca and Chinese civilizations was the development of
industrialization
single-crop economy
desalinization projects
terrace farming

58. Which generalization about geography of Latin America is accurate?
geographic features prevented foreign imperialism
harsh climatic conditions have prevented the development of large-scale agriculture
the lack of geographic barriers facilitated the development of transportation and communication systems
great variations in latitude and landforms resulted in a diversity of climates

59. January 2014
The Encounter occurred as a result of European explorers crossing the
(1) Atlantic Ocean
(2) Sahara Desert
(3) Andes Mountains
(4) Mediterranean Sea

60. Africa

61. Key Terms for Africa Deserts – Sahara (north), Kalahari in south
Continent is plateau – all rivers (Nile and Congo) have cataracts
Savannahs – high grasses where animals live – hard to farm, little urbanization, dispersed tribes
Rainforest (Congo)
Natural resources – gold, diamonds, rubber (Congo – King Leopold) – needs salt
Livingstone will map out country
Cape to Cairo Railroad – Cecil Rhodes
Berlin Conference – strategic breakup
Pan-Africanism – impossible to unite
Desertification – Sahara growing causing famine in Ethiopia

63. August 2013
Which area of the world was most directly affected by the decisions made at the Berlin Conference? (1) Africa (3) India (2) China (4) South America

64. June 2013
What was a major reason European nations competed for control of Africa during the second half of the 1800s? (1) Africa had a wealth of natural resources. (2) Slave labor was needed in the Americas. (3) African nations offered religious and political freedom. (4) Europeans needed land for their excess population.

66. Which statement about the geography of Africa is most accurate?
Much of the land in Africa is below sea level
The variety of geographic barriers had served to promote cultural diversity
Africa had an irregular coastline with many natural harbors
Much of the land in Africa is tundra and forest.

67. In Africa, an effect of topography and climate has been to
encourage rapid industrialization of the interior
prevent the development of kingdoms
promote large-scale trade between African and Asia
promote the growth of diverse societies

68. June 2013
Which conclusion about the geography of these continents is best supported by this passage? (1) Europe and Africa have the same climate. (2) Europe and Africa have many deep major ports. (3) Waterways are a geographic blessing in both Europe and Africa. (4) River systems have helped development in Europe and hindered it in Africa.

69. Japan

70. Key Terms on Japan Archipelago
Mountains (Fuji) – forced to terrace farm
Volcanic/Tsunami – nature spirits (kami) worshiped in Shinto religion
Protected by location and kamikaze winds (Mongols)
Used Korea as landbridge to China
Lacks natural resources – forced to imperialize to gain resources during Meiji Restoration

71. In Japan, a major economic problem has been the lack of
natural resources
investment capital
skilled labor
experienced management

72. August 2013 • Sino-Japanese War 1894–1895
• Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905
• Annexation of Korea 1910
These events in the history of Japan reflect its
(1) resistance to trade
(2) abundance of natural resources
(3) vulnerability to attack by neighbors
(4) emergence as an imperialistic country

73. England

74. Key Terms on England
Great natural harbors – makes it prime for naval supremacy (Armada, WW2), and imperialism
Natural resources – coal, tin, timber – sparks Industrial Revolution

75. January 2014
Which geographic feature most aided England during the Industrial Revolution?
(1) desert climate
(2) natural harbors
(3) mountainous terrain
(4) monsoon winds

76. Russia

77. Key Terms on Russia EurAsia – two continents Lacks warm water port
Blocked by Turkey/Ottomans from Black Sea entrance to Mediterranean
Cold and Large – difficult to conquer (Napoleon, Hitler) – center area is vast steppe
Used scorched-earth policy to deter invaders
Lacked sufficient oil and natural resources – build Tran-Siberian Railroad to get to Asia; fought Afghanistan War 1979 for oil; refuse to let Chechnya go because of oil need

78. Which geographic factor has most strongly influenced Russia’s foreign policies and economic development?
lack of natural resources
vast desert regions
limited access to warm-water ports
extensive mountain ranges

79. The Russian steppe is most similar in topography to the
mountains in Switzerland
deserts in the Middle East
rainforests in South America
savannas in Africa

80. August 2013 – trick one
One reason the Russian Empire was difficult to unite was that it (1) had many diverse ethnic groups (2) possessed limited natural resources (3) served as a crossroads for trade (4) lacked a navy

81. IMPACTS OF MOUNTAINS
DIVIDE PEOPLE – creates cultural diversity (Andes Mts for Incas, Greece) even isolation (China)
PROTECTS PEOPLE – Alps for Italy, Himalayas for China and India, Andes for Inca
DIFFICULT TO FARM – have to introduce terrace farming – Japan, Incan, Yellow River (China)

82. IMPACTS OF RIVERS
UNITES PEOPLE – unifies cultures, ease of communication, increases trade
HELPS FARMING – creates fertile soils (early river civs – Nile (Egypt), Mesopotamia, Indus, and Yellow (China), may need to build dams/dykes/irrigation
SACRED – Ganges (Hindus)

83. IMPACTS OF DESERTS
DIVIDES PEOPLE – hard to cross, creates cultural diversity and isolation (Sahara in Africa)
LACK OF RESOURCES – no food can cause famines, need for trade

84. IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
MONSOONS – India, China, Indonesia need rains to make food grow – if drought – famine, if floods – famine (build houses on stilts to protect from floods) // monsoon winds also help sailboats to travel Indian Ocean
COLD – Russian steppes frozen (permafrost) – can not farm, need special houses, need access to warm water ports

85. IMPACTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES
OIL – needed by many countries like US and Russia – will have to import from Middle East (OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) – wars will take place over accessing oil (Afghanistan War, Iran-Iraq War, Persian Gulf War, etc), Suez Canal will be used to access region.
LACKING IT – Japan will have to imperialize China because lacks natural resources and wants to industrialize
HAVING IT – England will dominate Industrial Revolution early on because of access to water, timber, and coal.

86. Environmental Concerns
Deforestation due to logging, farming, development and acid rain in Amazon (Brazil) and Congo rainforests
Desertification – spreading of deserts – especially in Sahara – due to farming along savannahs, causes famine in Ethiopia
Global Warming, Acid Rain, Pollution (outgrowth of Industrial Revolution) – attempts to handle with Kyoto Accords

87. August 2013
Which global issue is a primary threat to biodiversity in the tropical regions of Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Amazon basin?
(1) deforestation (3) acid rain
(2) oil spills (4) drought