Study Guide Unit 4 Region: Latin America
Chapter 6 Physical Geography of Latin America
Unit Preview (pages 150-164)
1. What specific issues are facing Latin America today?
Unit Atlas (pages 153-160)
2. How much larger is Latin America than the United States?
3. How does the population of Latin America compare with that of the United States?
4. What is the general pattern of landforms in Central America? (Hint: describe where it is flat/mountainous)
5. What is the general pattern of landforms in South America? (Hint: describe where it is flat/mountainous)
6. What three island groups make up the Caribbean?
7. In 1800, which European country controlled most of Latin America?
8. Which European country controlled Brazil in 1800?
9. What religion is practiced by the majority of people in Latin America?
11. Why do you think Indo-European languages do not dominate in all parts of Latin America?
12. What six countries have more than 75% of their population living in cities?
13. What are the three largest cities in Latin America?
14. Which two Latin American countries have the highest gross domestic product?
15. Which three countries have the lowest gross domestic product?
9.1 Landforms and Resources (pages 157-158)
16. How have the Andes Mountains affected settlement patterns in South America?
17. Where are the highlands areas of South America located?
18. What economic activities take place in the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela?
20. What products are associated with the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay?
21. How does Central America differ from South America in terms of river systems?
22. How does the output of water from the Amazon compare to other rivers in the world?
Describe the relative location of each of the following island groups of the Caribbean?
24. The Greater Antilles
25. The Lesser Antilles
26. The Bahamas
27. Many of the mineral resources of Latin America are exported to other parts of the world where they are
made into valuable goods. Why might this make it more difficult for economic development to occur in these
countries?
28. In which parts of Latin America are petroleum resources located?
9.2 Climate and Vegetation (pages 158-159)
29a. Describe the general pattern of rainfall in South America. (See the map on page 158.)
29b. Describe the general pattern of climates in South America. (See page 158)
30. What factors affect the climate and vegetation in Latin America?
31. What types of vegetation are found in the tropical climate zones of Latin America?
32. Which parts of Latin America have dry climate zones?
33. How do the vertical climate zones of Latin America affect agriculture?
9.3 Human-Environment Interaction
34. What is the effect of slash-and-burn agriculture on the rain forest?
35. Why is terracing an important farming technique?
36. What are the push- and pull-factors that have contributed to urbanization in Latin America?
pushpull37. What problems are faced by rapidly growing cities?
38. What are some of the advantages of tourism?
39. What are some of the disadvantages of tourism?
Chapter 10 Study Guide Latin America Human
Region/Nation
Mexico
Problems:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Human
Air Pollution
Unemployment
Location
Housing
Traffic
Father Miguel Hidalgo
Pemex
B. led Mexico
independence
C. use of sugarcane
to produce fuel in Brazil
PEMEX=Government control of oil
industry
Mestizo
NAFTA
Maquiladoras
Native and Spanish
influences Food, language,
religion, and art
Colonias=shantytowns
Central America
Caribbean
CROPS:
Depend less on the rivers
Sugar, coffee, fruit
Tropical climate
Even the maya used slash and burn!
Native influence
Hurricanes disrupt tourism
More African influence
A. communist dictators of
Cuba-CASTRO
South America
Difference in wealth causes unrest
Tierra del fuego -south
Brazil
Sustainable development of the
Portugal
rainforest!
A. destruction of the
rainforest
B. Favelas
C. large gap between
rich and poor
Petrobras-fuel
Rubber in amazon
Favelas=shack towns
11.1 Rain Forest Resources (pages 157-158)
1. Why is the rain forest being cut down?
2. In what way do population pressures contribute to the problem of rain forest depletion?
3. How does the destruction of the rain forest contribute to global warming?
4. Why is the loss of plant species of particular concern?
5. What “juggling act” do Latin American countries face regarding protection of their rain forests?
6. Describe a debt-for-nature swap.
11.2 Giving Citizens a Voice
7. What is the political legacy of colonialism? (Note the vocabulary words.)
8. What is the difference between an oligarchy, a junta, and a caudillo?
8. How were the caudillos able to maintain control in many Latin American countries?
9. Why is economic instability a threat to democracy?
10. What was the goal of land reform and how might this strengthen democratic reform?
Case Study--The Income Gap
In what way is the income gap in Latin America...?
12. ...a moral issue?
13. ...an economic issue?
14. ...a political problem?
How might each of the following provide solutions to the income gap?
15. free market economies?
16. democracy
17. education
18. Which two countries have the highest percentage of their population living in poverty?
19. Which two countries have the lowest percentage of their population living in poverty?