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Review for the Virginia SOL Test in World Geography

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Question
Answer
Dams   Built to prevent flooding of rivers and create hydroelectric power  
Flood   More water than the earth can obsorb  
Volcano   A vent through which magna erputs  
Erosion   The wearing away of the Earth's surface  
Reservoir   A place where humans collect water for future use  
Desertification   Grasslands disapper and the land becomes arid (desert)  
Windward   The side of the mountain that receives the wind and has precipitation  
Leeward   The side of the mountain opposite of the wind and has a arid or semi-arid climate  
Doldrums   Area around the equator that experiences no wind activity  
Pull Factor   A condition that attracts a person to a new country or region resulting in migration to that new location  
Portugese   The official language of Brazil  
Push Factor   A condition that forces a person to leave his or her home country and settle in a new country  
Renewable Resources   The earth's resources that can be replenished naturally  
European Union   Economic alliance founded after World War II to reduce trade barriers in Europe  
Per Capita Income   Average income per person per year  
Erie Canal   Manmade waterway that connects Lake Erie with the Hudson River  
Richmond, Virginia   The seat of Virginia's state government; fall line site  
Multinational Corporation   A company that is located throughout the world; example - Coca-Cola  
Rio Grade River   River that forms a boundary between the United States and Mexico  
Archipelago   An island chain  
Atacama Desert   Desert located on the coast of Chile  
Subsistence Farming   Farming just enough for your family  
Eurasia   Huge landmass that contains Europe and Asia  
Madrid   The capital of Spain  
Venice   City in Italy that contains many canals and is facing water pollution  
Berlin   The capital of Germany  
London   The capital of England  
Chunnel   A tunnel that goes beneath the English Channel and connects Great Britain with France  
Ural Mountains   Mountains that seperate Europe from Asia  
Aral Sea   Sea that is shrinking because of irrigation  
Aswan High Dam   Dam located on the Nile River that helps control seasonal flooding  
Landlocked Country   A country that is completely surrounded by land  
Hydroelectric Power   Energy that is created by water  
Hinduism   The main religion of India  
Rice   The major crop of Asia  
Coral Islands   Islands that were formed from the build up of coral reefs  
Maori   The indigenous people of New Zealand  
Great Barrier Reef   Huge coral reef located off the coast of Australia  
Thatched Roof Dwellings   Buildings found in the Pacific Islands  
Ghost Towns   Mining towns that have been deserted due to resource depletion  
Baghdad, Iraq   City located between the Tigres and Euphrates Rivers  
Mental Map   A map in a person's mind using objective knowledge and subjective perceptions  
Equator   0 degrees latitude  
North Pole   90 degrees north  
Relative Location   location in relation to other geographic features  
Absolute Location   a locations latitude and longitude  
Scale   shows measurement on a map  
Kashmir   land conflict between Pakistan and India  
Robinson Projection   general purpose map  
Distorted   all maps are distored  
Satellite Images   accurate pictures of the world  
Cartographer   a person who makes maps  
Islam   the dominant relgion of the Middle East  
Sun Belt   the southern region of the United States that is the fastest growing region of the US  
Great Plains   area of grasslands found in the central area of North America  
Rust Belt   area south of the Great Lakes  
French and English   the languages of Canda  
Arable Land   fertile soil in which crops can be grown  
Thames River   river that London, England, is located on  
Fjords   long, narrow steep-sided inlets carved out by glaciers during the last Ice Age  
Switzerland   country that has limited natural resources but has a huge banking industry  
Castles   architectural structure in Europe  
Ob River   river that flows north into the Arctic Ocean  
English   a world language  
Jerusalem   Jews, Christians, and Muslims claim this city as a heritage site  
Fossil Fuels   oil, coal, natural gas  
Cote d'Ivoire   limited natural resources so it uses its cash crops to exchange for manufactured goods  
Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California   cities that grew up along the Transcontinential Railroad  
Rio de Janerio   the former capital city of Brazil before it was moved to Brasilia  
Rainforests   areas of lush vegetation located in the tropical rainforest climate zones  
Amazon Rainforest   the largest rainforest in the world  
Lincoln Memorial   architectural structure located in Washington DC  
Mosque   religious building of Muslims  
Synagogue   religious building for Jews  
Taj Mahal   famous tomb located in India  
Kurdistan   area in the Middle East that is home to the Kurds, who would like to have thier own country  
Francophone   the French speaking world  
Entrepreneur   a person who creates his or her own business  
Primary Activity   the first step in the economic cycle; deals directly with gathering or collecting natural resources  
Red Cross   international organization that cares for the sick and wounded or helps disaster victims  
Cape Town, South Africa   Important location that served as a supply station before the Suez Canal was built  
Exxon Valdez   an oil spill off the coast of Alaska in 1989  
Continental Divide   a point at which fallen precipitation seeps into rivers that flow toward opposite sides of the continent  
Aleutian Islands   island chain off the coast of Alaska  
Hacienda   a large farm in Latin America  
Shantytowns   squatter settlements outside of a major city  
Tikal   ancient Mayan ruins  
Industrial Revolution   movement born in Europe in the 1700's  
Cotton   the main type of crop in Central Asia  
Arabs   the main ethnic group of the Middle East  
Water   the most precious resource of the Middle East  
Machu Picchu   ancient Incan city found high in the Andes Mountains  
China's Sorrow   another name for the Yellow River  
Timbuktu, Mali   city that grew up on the Trans-Saharan trade route  
Monotheistic Religion   believing in one God  
Samovars   Russian pots used to make tea  
Chalets   a-framed houses often found in Switzerland  
Smog   a haze of smoke and fog that often hangs over heavily polluted cities  
Oasis   water and vegetation located in the desert  
Ring of Fire   area in the Pacific that has many volcanoes and has the possibility of experiencing earthquakes  
Low Countries   regions of the world that are at or below sea level  
Mental Maps   A map created from one's memory.  
Temperature   How hot or cold it is at a given time  
Easterlies   Prevailing winds that blow from the east toward the west  
Earthquakes   Tectonic plates meet and pressure builds causing the earth to shake  
Acid Rain   Pollution mixed with air moisture  
Greenland   The world's largest island  
General Purpose Maps   Poltical or physical maps  
Sahara Desert   Large desert found in north Africa; it is growing because of desertification  
Monsoon   Strong winds that bring heavy rain to South and Southeast Asia in the summer  
Polders   Low-lying areas that humans reclaim from the sea; Netherlands  
Mexico City   Capital city of Mexico; suffers from major air pollution  
Sierra Madres   Mountain range located in Mexico  
Middle East   A region that is also called Southwest Asia  
Tropic of Cancer   23 1/2 degrees north  
Yurts   Nomadic people in Mongolia live in these tent like structures  
Korean War   War that divided Korea into two parts, North Korea and South Korea. (1950-1953)  
Desert   Area that recieves between 0 and 10 inches of rain a year  
Natural Resource   Any type of resource that occurs naturally on earth (coal, trees, copper, oil)  
Eiffel Tower   Structure located in Paris, France  
Skilled Labor   Traning is required to acquire a skill; higher wages; seen in developed countries  
Secondary Activity   The second step in the economic process; manufacturing and processing  
Precipitation   Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail  
Latitude   Imaginary lines that measure degrees north and degrees south; also called parallels  
Compass Rose   Directional indicator on a map; shows a map's orientation  
Canal   A manmade waterway that connects two bodies of water; usually created for trade or transportation  
International Date Line   The place on earth that time changes one day; 180 degress longitude  
Mercator Projection   Map projection that shows true direction; often used with ship navigation  
Thematic Map   A map of a particular theme (population, climate, resources)  
Varanasi, India   Hindus often make a pilgrimage to this site  
Tropical Wet Climate   Rainforest climate; warm year round; found at and near the equator  
Wheat Belt   Area in the Great Plains where large amounts of wheat are grown  
Comparative Advantage   The advantage of one country to more efficiently produce a good or service compared to another country  
Boundary Lines   Dark black lines on a map that divide the countries territory  
Hurricanes   A major tropical storm originating in the Atlantic Ocean  
Irrigation   Diverting water to a field for agriculture  
Climate   The weather conditions over a period of time  
Fales   Open sided, thatched roof shelters found in the Pacific  
Igloos   Homes built by the Inuits from ice  
Polar Projection   Map projection that shows either the North or South Pole; Usually used by pilots  
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries   An economic alliance created in 1960 to control the production and sale of oil  
Law of the Sea   United Nations treaty in which the resources of the oceans are regulated  
Syria/Israel   Conflict dating back to 1967 when Israel took Golan Heights  
Antarctica Treaty   Created in 1959 to demilitarize Antarctica and make it a haven for scientists to study  
Nationalism   Strong feelings of pride for ones nation  
Physical Map   A map that shows mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.  
League of Arab States   A political organization created after WWII  
South Pole   Found at 90 degrees south  
Tornadoes   Violent rotating columns of wind; found mostly in the US (Tornado Alley)  
Tradewinds   Winds that blow toward the equator  
Westerlies   Winds that blow from the west toward the east  
Arctic Circle   Found at 66 1/2 degrees north  
Colorado River   Helped carve out the Grand Canyon  
Typhoons   A major tropical storm located in the Pacific Ocean  
Deforestation   When humans cut down trees  
Greenwich, England   Home of the Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude)  
Longitude   Imaginary lines that measure degrees east and west; also known as meridians  
African Union   A political organization created in 2002 to promote economic development, human rights, and democracy in Africa  
Fertile Triangle   An area rest of the Ural Mountains; farming and industrial area  
Cattle/Sheep Stations   Commonly found in Australia  
Gauchos   Latin American cowboys  
Delta   An area where the river fans out  
Ruhr Valley   An area of coal and iron deposits in southwestern Germany  
Oral Tradition   Passing down stories by word of mouth  
Matrioskha Dolls   Nesting dolls found in Russia  
Languages in Canada   English and French  
Sydney Opera House   Architectural structure found in Sydney, Australia;designed to look like boat sails  
Po Valley   Area of coal and iron deposits in Italy  
Warsaw   Capital of Poland  
Gross Domestic Product   The amount of goods and services produced in a country in one year  
Wadis   A dry streambed that can fill up with water when there is a large amount of precipitation  
Caste System   A part of the Hindu religion; illegal in India  
Green Revolution   Following WWII, Asians began experimenting with agriculture  
Coral Islands   Ring shaped islands that formed from coral reefs and volcanoes  
Bagdad, Iraq   Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers  
Tierra Caliente   In vertical zonation, it is the lowest elevation zone  
People's Republic of China   The correct political name for China  
Yellow River   River in China that has killed thousands in floods; also known as China's Sorrow  
Antarctic Circle   66 1/2 degrees south  
Great Dividing Range   Mountain range located on the eastern coast of Australia  
Political Map   A map that shows national boundaries;  
Subarctic Climate   Cold winters; cool summers; permafrost; taiga  
Virginia State Capital Building   Located in Richmond, Virginia  
Mount Fuji   Mountain located in Japan  
Association of Southeast Asian Nations   Economic alliance created in 1976 to reduce trade restrictions in Southeast Asia  
China/Taiwan   Conflict since the Chinese Revolution (1949); The Nationalists fled China and went to Taiwan when the communists took over  
Aborigines   The native inhabitants of Australia  
Sudan   The site of a civil war between the Islamic government and rebels  
Peace Corps   Created in 1961 to help developing countries and promote peace  
Developing Country   Limited technology; poorly trained workers; high population; low GDP; low per capita income; few natural resources; low life expectantacy; susbsistence agriculture  
Imperialism   A country rules over another country or region; European countries over African countries in the late 1800s  
Latin America   Spainsh speaking countries  
Per Capita Income   The average income per person for one year  
Teritary Sector   Service industry  
Site   The actual location of a city  
Literacy Rate   The percentage of people that can read and write  
North Atlantic Treaty Organization   A military alliance that supports democracy  
Tierra Templada   Middle zone in vertical zonation that experiences a mild climate  
Tiaga   Russian word for coniferous forest  
Suez Canal   Manmade waterway that connects the Mediterrean Sea with the Red Sea  
Archipelago   A group of islands  
Situation   Another name for relative location  
Languages in Switzerland   Multiple languages  
Prision Colony   Australia was colonized by the English  
Tropic of Capricorn   23 1/2 degrees south  
Fall Line   A division in the Pedimont and Coastal Plains regions of Virginia; Richmond  
New York Stock Exchange   The center of the world's financial markets; located in New York City  
Angkor Wat   Ancient building found in Cambodia  
Chinatowns   A major city may have an area where mostly Asians live  
Chernobyl   Site of a nuclear explosion in the former Soviet Union  
Managerial Skills   The ability to manage others  
United Nations   A political organization created in 1945 and is made up of over 190 countries; works for internation peace  
Commonwealth of Nations   An organization of 53 nations including the UK and some former British colonies that are now independent  
Quebec   Canadian provience that speaks French  
St. Lawrence River   Narrows at Quebec City, Quebec  
Copper   Chile has an abundance of this mineral  
Pampas/Llanos   Grassland areas found in South America  
Panama Canal   Connects the Atlantic to the Pacific  
Black Forest   Forest area located in Germany that is dying as a result of acid rain pollution  
Rome   Capital of Italy; originally built on a hill  
Mediterranean Climate   Climate region that borders the Mediterranean Sea; experiences hot, dry summers; date and olive trees  
Northern Ireland   Conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics  
Arabian Gulf   Sometimes called the Persian Gulf  
Istanbul, Turkey   Command of Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits; land bridge to Europe  
Cyprus   Conflict between the Turks and the Greeks  
Bazaars and Suqs   The outdoor markets of North Africa  
Escarpments   Huge cliffs  
Cataracts   Large waterfalls located in Africa  
Khartoum, Sudan   Site where the Blue and White Niles meet  
Burundi and Rwanda   Conflict between the Tutsis and Hutus  
Western and Eastern Ghats   Mountains found in India  
Burma   Also known as Myanmar  
Continental Islands   Islands formed by rising and folding of ancient rock on the ocean floor  
Preserves and National Parks   Most of these in Africa are found in the tropical wet and dry climate region  
Xi'an, China   Located on the Silk Road  


   


 

 

 

 

 

 
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