Geography and Culture of Southwest Asia Test Study Guide
Key Terms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Desalination
Water Rights
OPEC
Strait of Hormuz
Suez Canal
Arabian Sea
Red Sea
Black Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Persian Gulf
11. Gaza Strip
12. Afghanistan
13. Iran
14. Iraq
15. Saudi Arabia
16. United Arab of Emirates
17. Oman
18. Yemen
19. Qatar
20. Bahrain
21. Kuwait
22. Jordan
23. Lebanon
24. Israel
25. Turkey
26. Syria
27. Egypt
28. Tigris River
29. Euphrates River
30. Jordan River
Key Ideas:
1. What do Syria, Israel, and Jordan share? Jordan River
2. How has building dams on rivers in Southwest Asia caused problems between countries that
share rivers?
While dams have given power to some countries, it has blocked water and caused rivers to lose
their power, leading to many arguments.
3. What are the two valuable natural resources used for energy found in SW Asia?
Crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas
4. How much of the world’s oil supply is found in SW Asia?
About 50%
5. How has the discovery of oil affected the economy of those countries?
It has increased the wealth of many and given them global economic power/influence.
6. Countries located around which body of water have the most oil reserves?
Persian Gulf
7. Most cities in SW Asia are located near what?
Rivers and Seas (sources of water)
8. What is the climate like in SW Asia?
Arid, dry and hot with little rainfall
9. Much of SW Asia is what type of geographical feature?
Desert and Steppe
10. Which river has caused conflict in SW Asia because of water rights?
Jordan River (between Palestine, Jordan, Israel and Syria) and Euphrates River (between Turkey,
Syria and Iraq)
11. What is OPEC? What is OPEC’s major role?
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries: controls the sale (price) of petroleum world
wide
12. How has the presence of oil in some SW Asian countries affected the standard of living?
Oil has raised the standard of living in some countries; while others remain in poverty due to
government control of the oil industry.
13. The world largest sandy desert (Arabian Desert or Eastern Desert) is found on the Arabian
Peninsula.
14. Saudi Arabia’s lack of water has forced it to do what to survive?
Import water and agricultural goods