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WorldGeographyVocAll
Review for the Virginia SOL Test in World Geography
| 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 |