SDE Sample Items
Latitude on a map is used to determine
A
B
C
D
sea level.
time zones.
distance from the equator.
location of the prime meridian.
Denver, Colorado, is located at approximately
what degree of longitude?
A
B
C
D
40° N
30° N
105° W
110° W
Which map projection causes the most distortion
in the polar regions?
A
C
B
D
Which region exports the most oil?
A North America
B South America
C Southwest Asia
D Northwest Africa
What sets Quebec apart from the
other provinces of Canada?
A
B
C
D
climate
literacy
language
economy
What is the best title for this outline?
______?______
A. Languages
B. Religions
C. Traditions
A
B
C
D
Economic Activities
Political Systems
Climate Types
Cultural Traits
Which best explains why Africa did not
develop as a single-culture region?
A
B
C
D
The Sahara was a natural cultural barrier.
North Africa had more raw materials to export.
The European slave trade disrupted contact between the regions.
Fear of outsiders created a human culture barrier in North Africa.
The United States imports oil from Venezuela.
In return, Venezuela imports food from
the United States.
Which term describes this trading relationship?
A
B
C
D
boycott
embargo
developed
interdependent
What is the main purpose of the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
A
B
C
D
to limit European business profits in North America
to promote economic cooperation in North America
to promote Asian products in North America
to limit immigration into North America
Which statement best explains why the United States
and Canada first worked together on free trade?
Since 1993, a free-trade agreement has existed among the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. However, a similar agreement
between Canada and the United States was established four
years earlier.
A Mexico only wanted to join the group if petroleum was
excluded.
B Canada and the United States produce similar types of
products.
C Mexico only wanted to export natural resources such as
silver, gold, and coal.
D Canada and the United States are similar in language,
culture, and economic development.
What do most countries do if they do not
have enough domestic energy resources to
meet their needs?
A
B
C
D
encourage emigration
lower the price of fuel
trade with other nations
protect the environment
The geographic feature labeled
with an X is a
A
B
C
D
tributary.
delta.
gulf.
lake.
Which number shows the location of Iraq?
A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
By the year A.D. 395, the Roman Empire no
longer bordered what body of water?
A Red Sea
B Black Sea
C Caspian Sea
D Mediterranean Sea
Which country on the map
produces the greatest variety
of manufactured goods?
A Afghanistan
B Sri Lanka
C Pakistan
D India
The landforms in the illustration are
found primarily in
A low latitudes.
B polar regions.
C tropical lands.
D high elevations.
What type of climate is usually found on
the leeward side of a mountain range?
A
B
C
D
arid
arctic
tropical
temperate
What is the correct order of these biomes
from closest to the equator to closest
to the North Pole?
Biome
Characteristics
tundra
permanently frozen subsoil
taiga
long, severe winters; subsoil thaws in summer
tropical forest
heavy rainfall, constant warmth
temperate
moderate rainfall and temperatures
A tundra, taiga, temperate, tropical forest
B tropical forest, temperate, taiga, tundra
C temperate, tropical forest, taiga, tundra
D tropical forest, temperate, tundra, taiga
Compared to the rest of Australia, the
climate of Tasmania is
A drier.
B warmer.
C more tropical.
D more temperate.
What internal force changes the
Earth’s surface?
A glacier movement
B tectonic activity
C weathering
D erosion
Which conclusion can be
drawn from this map?
A Volcanoes and earthquakes
are related.
B Earthquakes do not occur in
the Atlantic Ocean.
C Volcanoes and earthquakes
are linked to the equator.
D Earthquakes do not occur in
the Western Hemisphere.
The areas shaded in
black on the maps are
most threatened by
A floods.
B drought.
C earthquakes.
D desertification.
This table shows that oil is
ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM
EXPORTING COUNTRIES (OPEC)
Algeria
Indonesia
Iran
Kuwait
Libya
Nigeria
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Venezuela
A used to make many products.
B found on several continents.
C an expensive energy source.
D a renewable resource.
Czechoslovakia was
created from land that
once belonged to
A Austria-Hungary.
B Germany.
C Russia.
D Serbia.
Finding a common language, nationality,
and history is most
necessary when identifying
A
B
C
D
ethnic groups.
world religions.
economic systems.
political structures.
The Nile River Valley in Egypt is densely
populated because
A many of ancient Egypt’s monuments are near the Nile.
B the Nile is Egypt’s principal defense against invaders.
C fish from the Nile is the main food source in Egypt.
D the Nile is the major source of water in Egypt.
Most of these countries
are located in
A Asia.
B Africa.
C Europe.
D North America.
Which statement for the years up to 2050 is supported
by the information?
Population of Selected World Regions (millions)
Region
Africa
Europe
Former USSR
North America
Oceania
1992
2050
(estimated)
642
498
289
279
26
2265
486
344
360
41
A No region will decrease in population.
B The total population of the world will decrease.
C All developed countries will increase in population.
D The largest population increase will be in developing
countries.
One way that Nigeria can deal with the
trends shown is
Nigerian Population
Year
1992
2020
Total Population
90.1 million
216.2 million (est.)
World Ranking
10th largest
7th largest (est.)
A to increase access to food.
B to limit international trade.
C to increase immigration from abroad.
D to limit investment by large companies.
In the 1950s and 1960s, most newly
independent countries of Africa
A
B
C
D
relied on the export of natural resources for income.
moved from agricultural to industrial economies.
transformed from urban to rural societies.
encouraged immigration from overseas.
Why does Venezuela have one of the
strongest economies in South America?
A
B
C
D
Its climate allows for multiple growing seasons.
Its work force comes from other countries.
It exports a large amount of oil.
It receives much foreign aid.
Which of these contributes most to
international trade?
A
B
C
D
a fair standard of living in Europe
the strength of economies in Africa
the existence of a single world economy
an uneven distribution of resources in the world
Which developing nation provides the highest
percentage of oil to the United States?
A Nigeria
B Angola
C Mexico
D Venezuela
Which factor is least likely to contribute to
species extinction?
A
B
C
D
pollution
reforestation
climate change
habitat destruction
Which statement is most closely
associated with deltas?
A
B
C
D
Climate is generally temperate.
Cropland is usually fertile.
Population density is low.
Precipitation is heavy.
One solution to desertification is
CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION
• overuse of semiarid land for agriculture
• overgrazing of cattle and goats
• overcutting of trees for firewood
A farming the same crop every year.
B encouraging two plantings per year.
C promoting crop rotation and terracing.
D increasing the number of farms and ranches.
Which kind of map would most likely
show where oil is found?
A
B
C
D
political
resource
physical
relief
The table supports the conclusion that
Important Minerals
Mineral
Annual Demand
Growth Rate
(%)
Annual
Production
(million tons)
Potential
Supply
(million tons)
Iron
2.05
4
550
Copper
2.94
8
2120
Aluminum
4.29
17
3,519,000
A these minerals are renewable resources.
B these minerals are used by many nations.
C the demand for these minerals will increase.
D the supply of these minerals will remain constant.
Which statement is supported by the
information in the chart?
Percentage of the World’s Population Living in Cities
1950
1990
2025 (est.)
Developed Countries
54.3%
72.7%
83.8%
Developing Countries
17.0%
34.3%
56.7%
World
29.3%
41.3%
60.1%
A Most population growth will be in rural areas by 2025.
B Most people lived in developed countries in 1990.
C Most cities were in developing countries in 1950.
D Most people will live in cities by 2025.