World Geography 8
Chapter 12 Homework
Europe Today
Name_______________
Date ______ Per.____
Section 1: Northern Europe
1. What is the correct name for the island nation off the northwest coast of mainland Europe?
2. What are the 4 regions that make up this country?
3. What separates Great Britain from mainland Europe?
4. Describe the landscape of the following.
Southern and Eastern UK:
Northern and Western UK:
5. What helped London become a center for world trade?
6. Where are the UK’s leading energy sources found?
7. Where do most people in the UK live?
8. Name the dominant religion of the UK:
9. Name 2 examples of how British culture has spread to other parts of the world.
10. When did the Republic of Ireland gain independence from the UK?
11. What is Ireland’s nickname? Why?
12. What is peat? What use does it have?
13. Why did a million Irish immigrate to the US and other countries in the 1800’s?
14. What group in Northern Ireland would like to unite with Ireland?
15. What group on Northern Ireland would like to remain part of the UK?
16. What five nations make up Scandinavia?
17. What physical features are found in Iceland?
18. What do the fjords of Norway provide to the people?
19. Describe the economies of the Scandinavian countries:
20. Why do people in Scandinavian countries pay some of the highest taxes in the world?
Section 2: Europe’s Heartland
21. Name the 3 Benelux countries:
22. Define specialization:
23. Name two specialized products of France:
24. Name three tourist destinations located in France.
25. How did the French Revolution influence the Western World?
26. Name 4 characteristics that the Benelux countries have in common:
27. What are the people of the Netherlands known as?
28. What are the drained lands of the Netherlands called? (you should know this!)
29. What spring flower blooms in the fields of the Netherlands every year?
30. Name two challenges faced by France and the Benelux countries:
31. Name the 3 Alpine countries:
32. Name the three rivers that are important to Germany’s economy:
33. What is the main use of these rivers?
34. Name two reasons why Germany is a global economic power:
35. Switzerland practices neutrality; what does this mean?
36. What are the four national languages of Switzerland?
37. In the chart below briefly outline the economy of Switzerland and Austria: (1st one done for you)
Switzerland
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Few natural resources
Austria
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Very little farmland
Section 3: Europe’s Heartland
38. What two countries occupy the Iberian Peninsula?
39. What is the name of the dry plateau surrounded by the mountain ranges of Spain?
Spain
40.Leading agricultural products
41.Major Cities
42.Capital
43.Leading seaport and
industrial center
44.Dominant Religion
45.Religion brought by
immigrants from North Africa
46. What are subsidies?
47. How did subsidies help the economy of Portugal?
Italy
48.Name three physical features found in Italy:
Since the mid-1900’s Italy has changed from mainly
agricultural economy to an industrial economy.
49.Name
3 northern manufacturing cities:
50.What is produced here?
51.Name the river valley known for its farming.
52.Why is Southern Italy poorer and less
industrialized than Northern Italy?
53.Official language
54.Dominant religion
55.The Roman Catholic Church is based in Rome.
Where do the pope and other church leaders live?
56.Where is this independent country located?
Greece
57.What natural occurrence is common in Greece?
58.What are the newer industries developed by
Greece?
59.Name two other industries important to Greece:
60. Official language:
61. Dominant religion:
62. Type of government:
Section 4: Eastern Europe
63. Where do most people of Poland live?
64. Why has Poland been an easy target for invading armies?
65. Explain the governmental changes that occurred after WWII and 1989.
66. Name the three small countries that make up the Baltic Republics:
67. The Baltic Republics used to be part of which country?
68. How did the Czechs and the Slovaks settle their ongoing disagreements?
69. Economy of the Czech Republic:
a. Backbone of its economy?
b. What do the factories produce?
c. What has the high level of industrialization caused?
Slovakia:
70.Type of government:
71.Dominant religion:
72.Capital:
73. What is the largest country in Europe?
74.. Describe the economy of the Ukraine:
a. west of the Dnieper River –
b. east of the Dnieper River –
75. How did Romanians drive out the Communists?
76. Which European country is the poorest?
77. Balkan States:
a. Which countries found on the Balkan Peninsula were not on a map until the 1990’s?
b. These countries were all part of which Communist country?
78. Describe ethnic cleansing:
79. What group of people carried out ethnic cleansing? Against whom?
80. How many countries now exist that once made up Yugoslavia?
81. Name some of the economic challenges faced by the Balkan countries: