Presentation Plus! Glencoe World Geography
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Chapter Introduction
Section 1 Exploring Geography
Section 2 The Geographer’s Craft
Chapter Summary & Study Guide
Chapter Assessment
Click on a hyperlink to view the corresponding slides.
Chapter Objectives
• Describe the elements of geography
and the topics geographers study. 
• Identify the tools and applications of
geography and its relationship to other
fields of study.
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Write a journal entry describing the part
of the world in which you live–its physical
features, plant and animal life, and people.
Think about how your observations are
similar to and different from the ways a
geographer looks at the world.
Exploring Geography
Objectives
• Describe the physical and human features
that geographers study. 
• Explain how geographers describe the
earth’s features and their patterns. 
• Discuss how geography is used.
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Exploring Geography
Terms to Know
• location 
• formal region 
• absolute location 
• functional region 
• hemisphere 
• perceptual region 
• grid system 
• ecosystem 
• relative location 
• movement 
• place 
• human-environment
interaction
• region 
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Exploring Geography
Places to Locate
• Equator 
• North Pole 
• South Pole 
• Prime Meridian
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Click the Speaker button
to listen to the audio again.
One of the major goals of ancient
geographers was to measure the size
and shape of Earth. The appearance
of Earth’s shadow on the eclipsing moon
proved to most people that Earth was
spherical. In the 200s B.C. Greek
geographer Eratosthenes used angles
of the sun over a specific distance to
calculate the circumference of Earth.
His estimate was off by only a few
hundred miles.
The Elements of Geography
• Geographers are specialists who
describe Earth’s physical and human
features and the interactions of people,
places, and environments.
(pages 19–20)
The Elements of Geography (cont.)
List some of the tools geographers
might use to describe the features of
Earth and the relationships between
them.
Geographers might use maps, atlases,
charts, measuring devices,
thermometers, and barometers to
describe the features of Earth and the
relationships between them.
(pages 19–20)
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The World in Spatial Terms
Spatial relations means “relations in
space”: how places, people, and features
of the earth are connected because of
their locations. 
• Absolute location The exact latitude
and longitude at which a place is found
on the globe is its absolute location. 
• Relative location Relative location
describes a place’s location in relation to
another place.
(pages 20–21)
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The World in Spatial Terms (cont.)
When is it useful to know the absolute
location of a place? When is it useful to
know its relative location?
Absolute location is useful for a team of
explorers trying to find a ship that had
sunk, like the Titanic, for example.
Relative location is useful for giving
directions to travelers.
(pages 20–21)
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Places and Regions
• A place is a particular space on Earth
with physical and human meaning. 
• A region, larger than a place, is a group
of places that are united by shared
characteristics. 
• A formal region, or uniform region, is an
area defined by a common characteristic.
(page 21)
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Places and Regions (cont.)
• A functional region is a central place
and the outlying areas linked to it by
transit systems, for example. 
• A perceptual region is defined by
popular feelings and images rather than
by objective data.
(page 21)
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Places and Regions (cont.)
Give some examples of a place, a
uniform region, a functional region,
and a perceptual region.
Possible answer: The city of Philadelphia
is a place. The Pennsylvania anthracite
coal region is a uniform region. The
Delaware Valley is a functional region.
Pennsylvania–the Keystone State–is a
perceptual region.
(page 21)
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Physical Systems
• Physical systems–volcanoes, floods, and
hurricanes–shape the earth’s surface.
(pages 21–22)
Physical Systems (cont.)
What kinds of physical systems have
shaped the earth in the region where
you live?
Possible answers: Tornadoes, floods,
erosion, glaciation, hurricanes,
earthquakes, and volcanoes have
shaped the region.
(pages 21–22)
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Human Systems
• People affect the earth by settling it,
forming societies, and migrating. 
• People also move goods and ideas
to new places.
(page 22)
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Human Systems (cont.)
What historical movements of people and
ideas have changed the United States?
Possible answer: Native American societies
were greatly changed when Europeans began
to settle North and South America. Forced
migration of African Americans, waves of
European immigrants in the late 1800s, the
westward movement across North America,
legal and illegal immigrants from Latin
America, and Asian immigration following the
Vietnam War have also changed the United
(page 22)
States.
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Environment and Society
• People affect the environment by clearing
or planting forests, building industries
and cities, and hunting animals. 
• Features of the environment such as
mountain ranges and deserts often pose
barriers to human migration.
(page 22)
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Environment and Society (cont.)
How can people overcome the physical
obstacles of their environment?
People can fly planes over mountain
ranges. They can build tunnels through
mountains for roads or railroads. They
can clear paths and build roads
through forests. They can build
bridges, dams, and canals.
(page 22)
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The Uses of Geography
• Geographers provide important
information about the planet’s physical
features and processes, living things,
and human systems. Such information
describes the planet and contributes to
planning for future needs.
(page 22)
The Uses of Geography (cont.)
What can a geographer tell you about
your environment?
Possible answers: Geographers can
describe a place’s land [flat, mountainous]
and water [salt or fresh]. They can also give
the distances between all the places in a
region, and can describe the temperatures
and precipitation levels at different seasons
of the year. Geographers can also interpret
population patterns and explain cultural
relationships.
(page 22)
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Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
M 1. the study of human activities
and their relationship to the
cultural and physical
environments
__
F 2. a particular space with physical
and human meaning
__
B 3. the exact position of a place on
the earth’s surface
__
K 4. the complex community of
interdependent living things in a
given environment
__
L 5. ongoing movement of people,
goods, and ideas
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A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
location
absolute location
hemisphere
grid system
relative location
place
region
formal region
functional region
perceptual region
ecosystem
movement
human
environment
interaction
Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
C 6. half of a sphere or globe, as in
the earth’s Northern and
Southern Hemispheres
__
J 7. a region defined by popular
feelings and images rather than
by objective data
__
I 8. a central point and the
surrounding territory linked to it
__
A 9. a specific place on the earth
__
H 10. a region defined by a common
characteristic, such as
production of a product
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A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
location
absolute location
hemisphere
grid system
relative location
place
region
formal region
functional region
perceptual region
ecosystem
movement
human
environment
interaction
Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
D 11. pattern formed as the lines of
latitude and longitude cross one
another
__
G 12. place united by specific
characteristics
__
E 13. location in relation to other
places
Click the mouse button or press the
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A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
location
absolute location
hemisphere
grid system
relative location
place
region
formal region
functional region
perceptual region
ecosystem
movement
human
environment
interaction
Critical Thinking
Categorizing Information Consider the
physical and human factors that constitute
a region. Identify the differences among
formal, functional, and perceptual regions.
A formal region is defined by a common
feature. A functional region is a central place
and its surroundings. A perceptual region is
defined by an image.
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Critical Thinking
Drawing Conclusions How might
geographers’ knowledge of human systems
benefit people?
Geographers’ knowledge of human systems
might lead to developing resources or
locating structures.
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Critical Thinking
Making Generalizations Explain how
knowing about the geography of a particular
city might influence your decision to move
there.
Knowledge of the climate, landforms,
population, or culture might influence your
decision to move to a particular city.
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Analyzing Diagrams
Location Study the
diagram on the right. In
which hemispheres is
Africa located?
Africa extends into
all four hemispheres:
Northern, Southern,
Eastern, and
Western.
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Applying Geography
Relative Location Write a paragraph that
describes the relative location of your school
in at least five ways. In what instances might
relative location be more useful than absolute
location? In what instances might absolute
location be more useful?
Close
Write a paragraph to introduce geography
to younger students. Reread “A Geographic
View” on page 19 of your textbook as a model
for descriptive language that sparks interest.
The Geographer’s Craft
Objectives
• Identify the major branches of geography and
the topics each branch studies. 
• Describe the research methods geographers
use. 
• Discuss the relationship of geography to other
subject areas. 
• List the kinds of geographic careers that are
available today.
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The Geographer’s Craft
Terms to Know
• physical geography 
• human geography 
• meteorology 
• cartography 
• geographic information systems (GIS)
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to listen to the audio again.
Cartography, or mapmaking, began
to develop in the Age of Exploration.
Explorers such as Christopher Columbus
and Ferdinand Magellan drew rough maps
of the lands they found across the Atlantic
Ocean. By the early 1500s, European
maps showed entire unexplored
continents between Europe and Asia.
Branches of Geography
• Physical geography focuses on the
study of Earth’s physical features. 
• Human geography, or cultural
geography, studies human activities
and their relationship to the
environment.
(pages 23–24)
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Branches of Geography (cont.)
What kinds of questions would you ask a
physical geographer? A cultural geographer?
Sample questions:
Physical: Where are the world’s tallest
mountains?
Cultural: Which languages are most
commonly spoken worldwide?
Record your questions and look for
answers as you study various world
regions.
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(pages 23–24)
Geographers at Work
• Direct Observation Going to a
geographic location to see what it
is like is direct observation. 
• Sometimes geographers rely on aerial
or satellite photographs. 
• Mapping Cartographers are people
who design and make maps–graphic
representations of places and regions
and more complicated information about
the relationships of people, places, and
things.
(pages 24–26)
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Geographers at Work (cont.)
(pages 24–26)
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to listen to the audio again.
Geographers at Work (cont.)
• Interviewing Cultural geographers often
interview the people whose activities they
study. 
• Statistics Geographers use statistics
to present data, find patterns, and study
populations.
(pages 24–26)
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Geographers at Work (cont.)
(pages 24–26)
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to listen to the audio again.
Geographers at Work (cont.)
• Technology Geographers use
advanced technology–satellite photos,
radar, and geographic information
systems (GIS)–to study the
environment, the weather, and human
settlement patterns.
(pages 24–26)
Geographers at Work (cont.)
Why do geographers often rely on maps
rather than on verbal descriptions?
Geographers rely on maps because
they can show a great deal of
information quickly. For example, maps
may show relative distances, elevation,
crops, population, and resources at a
glance. Verbal descriptions take much
longer to read.
(pages 24–26)
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Geography and Other Disciplines
• History and Government Geographers
study history and government to
understand changes that have taken
place over time. 
• Culture Human geographers study
sociology and anthropology to learn how
people have interacted with their
environment over time.
(pages 26–27)
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Geography and Other Disciplines
(cont.)
• Economics Geographers study
economics to understand how the
location of resources affects the ways
people make, transport, and use goods
and provide services.
(pages 26–27)
Geography and Other Disciplines
(cont.)
What other areas of study might be
useful to geographers? Explain.
Possible answers: Knowledge of
biology would help a physical or
cultural geographer interested in the
environment. Knowledge of literature,
especially travel diaries and journals,
would provide eyewitness accounts of
how places looked at certain times in
history.
(pages 26–27)
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Geography as a Career
• Knowledge of geography helps people
who work in many other fields.
(page 27)
Geography as a Career (cont.)
Name a job in which it would be helpful
to understand geography. Explain.
Possible answers: A travel agent
needs to inform clients about climates
and weather so they can make the
best travel plans. A director who wants
to shoot a film in the desert needs to
know what access he or she will have
to necessary supplies and housing
and to weather information.
(page 27)
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Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
D 1. the science of mapmaking
__
B 2. the study of human activities
and their relationship to the
cultural and physical
environments
__
E 3. computer tools for processing
and organizing details and
satellite images with other
pieces of information
__
C 4. the study of weather and
weather forecasting
__
A 5. the study of Earth’s physical
features
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A. physical
geography
B. human
geography
C. meteorology
D. cartography
E. geographic
information
systems (GIS)
Critical Thinking
Predicting Consequences What might
happen if an economic geographer did not
interview citizens when preparing a city
transportation plan?
The plan may not reflect the needs and
travel patterns of the citizens and may
be unsuccessful.
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Critical Thinking
Making Inferences What kinds of
geographers might be employed by
a manufacturing company?
A manufacturing company might employ
economic geographers or environmental
specialists.
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Critical Thinking
Making Generalizations How does the
study of other disciplines help geographers
in their work as countries become
increasingly interdependent?
Using many disciplines helps geographers
contribute effective solutions.
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Analyzing Maps
Place Study the map of the United
States in the Reference Atlas on
pages RA6–RA7 of your textbook.
What kinds of information can you
learn from this map? How does the
information on this map differ from
the map on pages RA8–RA9 of your
textbook?
Applying Geography
Research Methods As a geographer
working on a plan for a new community
center, what research methods would you
use? Explain your choices in a paragraph.
Close
Write an employment ad describing your
dream job in the field of geography.
Section 1: Exploring Geography
Key Points
(pages 19–22)
• Geographers study the earth’s physical and
human features and their interrelationships. 
• Geographers use absolute and relative
locations as reference points. 
• Geographers identify three types of regions–
formal, functional, and perceptual. 
• Geography contributes knowledge about the
relationships among human activities, the
earth’s physical systems, and the environment
in order to develop a better future.
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Section 2: The Geographer’s Craft
Key Points
(pages 23–27)
• Geographers use special research skills, such
as direct observation, mapping, interviewing,
statistics, and technology. 
• Studying other social sciences helps
geographers analyze the patterns and
relationships among these different fields. 
• Geographers can specialize and may work in
government, business, science, planning, or
education.
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
absolute location
cartography
ecosystem
formal region
grid system
human geography
physical geography
relative location
geographic information systems (GIS)
1. Plants and animals depend on one another in a(n)
___________________.
ecosystem
grid system
2. Geographers use a(n) ___________________
formed by lines of latitude and longitude to
determine ___________________
.
absolute location
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
absolute location
cartography
ecosystem
formal region
grid system
human geography
physical geography
relative location
geographic information systems (GIS)
3. ___________________
is the study of the human
Human geography
aspects of geography.
4. A(n) ___________________
has boundaries
formal region
determined by a common characteristic.
5. Another name for mapmaking is _____________.
cartography
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
absolute location
cartography
ecosystem
formal region
grid system
human geography
physical geography
relative location
geographic information systems (GIS)
6. ________________
Relative location is expressed in relation to
other places.
7. Computer tools that process data and satellite
images with other pieces of geographic information
geographic information systems (GIS)
are called ________________________________.
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
absolute location
cartography
ecosystem
formal region
grid system
human geography
physical geography
relative location
geographic information systems (GIS)
8. _________________
Physical geography focuses on the study of the
earth’s physical features.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: Exploring Geography
How do geographers determine the
locations of places?
Geographers determine the location of
places by using the latitude/longitude grid
or by locating places in relation to other
places.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: Exploring Geography
What are the three types of regions
identified by geographers?
The three types of regions are formal,
functional, and perceptual regions.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: Exploring Geography
Why do geographers study human systems
and human-environment relationships?
Geographers study human systems and
human-environment relationships to
understand how the earth affects and is
affected by human activity so that informed
decisions can be made.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: Exploring Geography
What are two ways that every place on the
earth can be located?
The two ways every place on the earth can
be located are by describing its absolute
location or its relative location.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: The Geographer’s Craft
How do physical and human geography
differ?
Physical geography is the study of the
earth’s physical features. Human
geography focuses on human activities
in relation to the physical world.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: The Geographer’s Craft
What research methods do geographers use?
Geographers use direct observation,
mapping, interviewing, statistics, and
technology as research methods.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: The Geographer’s Craft
What other subjects do geographers study?
Geographers also study history and
government, culture, and economics.
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Critical Thinking
Summarizing the Main Idea How
do geographers use the elements
of geography to study the earth?
The elements of geography help
geographers organize information about
the earth and learn about geographic
events and patterns.
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Critical Thinking
Making Inferences What subjects might
you study in order to become an urban
planner? Explain.
Possible answer: One might study
geography, statistics, economics,
architecture, and urban design to
become an urban planner.
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Critical Thinking
Predicting Consequences Consider the
many ways that technology has affected
the way people live and work. Then
imagine that you have become a
geographer of the future. How do you
think technology will change the way you
work?
Locating Places
Match the letters on the map with the places and physical
features of the earth.
__1.
North America
B
__2.
South America
A
__3.
Africa
D
__4.
Asia
E
__5.
Europe
C
__6.
Antarctica
G
__7.
Australia
F
__8.
Atlantic Ocean
I
__9.
Indian Ocean
H
__10.
Pacific Ocean
J
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Why are international time zones
determined from the time at the Royal
Naval Observatory at Greenwich,
England (Greenwich Mean Time)?
Time zones are determined at the Royal
Naval Observatory because the Prime
Meridian passes through Greenwich.
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Explore online information about the topics
introduced in this chapter.
Click on the Connect button to launch your browser and go to the
Glencoe World Geography Web site. At this site, you will find
interactive activities, current events information, and Web sites
correlated with the chapters and units in the textbook. When you
finish exploring, exit the browser program to return to this
presentation. If you experience difficulty connecting to the Web
site, manually launch your Web browser and go to
http://geography.glencoe.com
Use the circle graph below and your knowledge
of geography to answer the following questions.
1. Which ocean covers the smallest area of the earth’s surface?
A Atlantic
B Indian
C Pacific
D Arctic
Test–Taking Tip Study the information shown on the circle graph for
the areas of the earth covered by land and by oceans. Then compare
the relative sizes of the different graph segments. By comparing the
segments you will be able to determine the correct answers.
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2. Which ocean covers about as much of the earth’s surface as land
does?
F Indian
H Arctic
G Pacific
J Atlantic
Test–Taking Tip Study the information shown on the circle graph for
the areas of the earth covered by land and by oceans. Then compare
the relative sizes of the different graph segments. By comparing the
segments you will be able to determine the correct answers.
Click the mouse button or press the
Space Bar to display the answer.
Nighttime photographs taken from space capture
population patterns by showing blazes of light
where people live.
Saving Ecosystems with Maps Scientists show
habitat loss and endangered species on color-coded
maps that can be used to convince individuals,
corporations, and politicians to support conservation
and preservation efforts.
Global Culture Music, food, and entertainment are
crossing traditional boundaries. “World Music” is a
growing musical category, and new “fusion” cuisines
blend foods from different countries.
Understanding Graphs
Graphs are visual representations of statistical data. Large
amounts of information can be condensed when presented
in graphs. Studying graphs allow readers to see
relationships clearly.
Understanding Graphs
Learning the Skill
The three main types of graphs present numerical information.
Line graphs record changes in data over time. The vertical axis
(y–axis) shows units of measurement, and the horizontal axis
(x–axis) shows intervals of time. Bar graphs use bars of
different lengths to compare different quantities. Circle graphs
show the relationship of parts to a whole as percentages. To
understand a graph: 
• Read the graph title to identify the subject. 
• Study the labels to understand the numerical information
presented.
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Space Bar to display the information.
Understanding Graphs
Learning the Skill
The three main types of graphs present numerical information.
Line graphs record changes in data over time. The vertical axis
(y–axis) shows units of measurement, and the horizontal axis
(x–axis) shows intervals of time. Bar graphs use bars of
different lengths to compare different quantities. Circle graphs
show the relationship of parts to a whole as percentages. To
understand a graph: 
• Study the information presented and the use of colors and
patterns. 
• Compare the lines, bars, or segments, and look for
relationships in order to draw conclusions.
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Understanding Graphs
Practicing the Skill
Study the graphs to answer these questions.
1. Line graph What is the difference in population between
the low and high projections?
The difference between low and high projections is
three.
2. Bar graph In which decade did migration cause the least
change in population.
Migration caused the least change in population during the
1930s.
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Understanding Graphs
Practicing the Skill
Study the graphs to answer these questions.
3. Circle graph What percent of immigrants to the United
States in the 1990s came from Europe?
Thirteen percent of immigrants to the United States in
the 1990s came from Europe.
4. What general population trends do the three graphs show?
The graphs show an increase in world population, a
growing effect of migration on population change, and
growing numbers of Asian and Latin American immigrants
to the United States.
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Charts
The Hemispheres
The Global Grid
Jobs in Geography
Click on a hyperlink to view the corresponding slide.
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Space Bar to display the answer.
Click the mouse button or press the
Space Bar to display the answer.
End of Custom Shows
WARNING! Do Not Remove
This slide is intentionally blank and is set to auto–advance to end custom
shows and return to the main presentation.