Question | Answer |
What is the Slash and Burn Technique? | Method of clearing land by cutting down trees and brush and lighting the debris on fire |
The South American Rainforest is located primarily in what country? | Brazil |
What is the Llanos of South America? | Grassy, treeless area in Colombia and Venezuela used for farming and livestock grazing |
What is the Pampas? | Grassland/plain located in Argentina and Uruguay often used for growing wheat |
What islands do the West Indies include? | Bahamas, Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles |
What body of water surrounds the West Indies? | The Caribbean Sea |
What body of water is an important trade route for Latin American countries and known for its mild tropical climate and beautiful waters? | The Caribbean Sea |
What is a maquiladora? | it is a factory built along the Mexico-U.S. border that imports material from a neighboring country and then exports the fully assembled product, usually to the country it imported the materials from. |
What is NAFTA | North America Free Trade Agreement. It allows goods to be imported and exported between the United States, Canada, and Mexico without tariffs (taxes). |
What is the largest country in South America? | Brazil |
What is the Panama Canal? | It is a passage way dug through the country of Panama that allows ships to cross between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without going all the way around South America |
What islands are included in the Greater Antilles? | Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica |
What Islands are included in the Lesser Antilles? | The Leeward and Windward islands |
What are the three main regions of Latin America? | Mexico and Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Islands |
What is an isthmus? | It is a narrow strip of land that separates two larger bodies of water and connects two landmasses |
What language is spoken in a majority of Latin American countries? | Spanish |
What language is spoken by the majority of people in Brazil? | Portuguese |
What mountain range dominates South America? | The Andes mountains |
What two mountain ranges are extensions of the Andes? | The Rockies and Sierra Madres |
What economic problem are many Latin American countries struggling with? | A large income gap |
What is an income gap? | It is a large difference in wealth and quality of life between the wealthy(upper class) and the rest of society (lower and middle class) |
What is the Cerrado? | Grassy plains in the Amazon Basin that have good soil for farming and raising livestock |
What is the Debt-for-nature swap? | A solution to prevent the deforestation of the rain forest. Typically involves an environmental group agreeing to pay some of a country's debts in exchange for the government promising to protect a portion of the rain forest |
What is biodiversity? | Term that refers to a wide range of plant and animal species. The Amazon Rain Forest has a great biodiversity. |
What is deforestation? | Refers to cutting down and clearing trees |
What is Angel Falls ? | It is the world's largest, single water fall, standing at 3,200 feet tall. Located in Venezuela |
What is a Caudillo? | it is a term that refers to a military dictator or political boss. Caudillos ruled many Latin American Countries throughout the 20th Century. |
What is the largest river of South America? | The Amazon River |
What two factors resulted in a blended culture in Latin America? | Slavery and European colonization |
What native, Inca language is still spoken by some peoples of Latin America? | Quechua |
What is the most common religion in Latin America? | Roman Catholicism |
What is the most common ethnic group in Latin America? | Mestizo |
What is the Mestizo ethnic group? | Mix of European and Native American ancestry |
What is the Mulatto ethnic group? | Mix of African and European ancestry |
What is Calypso? | its a Caribbean music that combines musical elements from Africa, Spain, and the Caribbean |
What is Capoeira? | Its a mix of dance and martial arts that common in Latin America |
What is a Favela? | Shanty town or slum that lacks government services and regulation |