Question 1

The 1970s ecological disaster in Love Canal was caused by an industrial waste landfill that contaminated:&#10;A)A nearby river.&#10;B)Local farmland.&#10;C)The air.&#10;D)The groundwater.

Accepted Answer

The 1970s ecological disaster in Love Canal was caused by an industrial waste landfill that contaminated the groundwater. Over a period of time that ended in 1953, Hooker Chemical buried 21,000 tons of toxic waste on a plot of land that became the Love Canal neighborhood, which was built in the mid- to late '50s. Throughout the '60s and '70s, evidence of severe contamination mounted: puddles of discolored water seeped up from the ground in yards and basements. By the mid-'70s, the residents were experiencing unusually high rates of cancer and birth defects.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a consequence of climate change that is already evident in regional ecosystems?&#10;A)Increase in frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves in Africa.&#10;B)Gradual replacement of tropical forest by savanna in Latin America.&#10;C)Increase in rain-fed agricultural products in North America.&#10;D)Increased risk of inland flashflooding in Europe.

Accepted Answer

Africa has not experienced an increase in the frequency, duration, or intensity of heat waves as a result of climate change. While the average temperatures are climbing everywhere due to climate change, the prevalence of heat waves in Africa-prolonged periods of abnormally hot weather-has not changed. Only North America and Europe have experienced an increase in heat wave intensity and frequency. Intensifying heat in Latin America has made drought more common, leading to deforestation (replacement of tropical forest by savanna). Increased rainfall in North America has caused an increase in agricultural products by five to 20 percent in some areas. For the same reason, flash flooding is becoming more common in Europe.

Question 3

Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, Austin, and New York City are the U.S. cities most afflicted by what consequence of industrialization?&#10;A)Air pollution&#10;B)Traffic congestion&#10;C)Crime&#10;D)Water pollution

Accepted Answer

Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, Austin, and New York City are the U.S. cities most afflicted by traffic congestion, a consequence of industrialization. Honolulu's geographic position-in a small state that is isolated by a vast expanse of ocean and oceanic breezes-should make it easy to rule out air pollution and water pollution, which are more likely to occur in cities and regions with higher population densities. Honolulu is a large city, but the population density in the region is very low compared to the continental United States. Many would be surprised to learn that none of the cities named rank among the top 25 in crime, according to the FBI.

Question 4

The earliest urban civilizations all took shape around what geographic feature?&#10;A)Plains&#10;B)Mountains&#10;C)Rivers&#10;D)Oceans or seas

Accepted Answer

All of the earliest urban civilizations-Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Indus Valley-took rose near rivers. Water was critical for three reasons: general human consumption, agriculture, and trade. Oceans and seas could not have addressed human or agricultural needs because they are saltwater, and humans and crops need freshwater (or, at least, desalinated saltwater). Mesopotamia, which was located in present-day Iraq, was in the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Ancient Egypt was located along the Nile River. Ancient China's urban centers were located along the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. The Indus Valley civilization, in present-day India and Pakistan, was situated in the Indus River valley.

Question 5

What type of natural disaster played a significant role in the ongoing turmoil in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sudan?&#10;A)Earthquake&#10;B)Hurricane&#10;C)Flood&#10;D)Drought

Accepted Answer

Droughts played significant roles in the ongoing turmoil in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sudan. All three war-torn regions are termed "climate conflicts" because climate was a major contributing factor to the conflicts, which were primarily rooted in tribal friction. In all three of these cases, the countries were either impoverished or had great economic inequality prior to the droughts. The water shortage quickly led to food shortages or famines in each case. Prolonged hunger and thirst led to mental fatigue, delusions, paranoia, and emotional instability. In Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sudan, the thirst and hunger lasted excruciatingly long periods, and the people were already armed and battling each other. The hunger compromised their abilities to make rational decisions, and the conflicts intensified as the people fought to gain access to food and water.

Question 6

Where does the Gulf Stream originate?&#10;A)The Caribbean Sea&#10;B)The Gulf of Mexico&#10;C)TheGulf Shore, Nova Scotia&#10;D)The South China Sea

Accepted Answer

The Gulf Stream originates in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Florida, upstream of Cape Hatteras. It is the western boundary current of the Atlantic Ocean. After traveling up the Eastern seaboard of the United States, it eventually heads due east across the Atlantic. The current splits mid-ocean; one branch eventually reaches West Africa while the other branch goes to Northern Europe. The warm Gulf Stream waters affect the climate of several European nations-Great Britain among them-making them warmer than other countries at their latitude.

Question 7

Which set of countries all feature snow-capped mountain ranges that tower over 20,000 feet high?&#10;A)Nepal, Pakistan, Austria, and Russia&#10;B)Argentina, China, Nepal, and Pakistan&#10;C)Tanzania, Nepal, Switzerland, and Argentina&#10;D)Switzerland, United States, Chile, and Tanzania

Accepted Answer

Argentina, China, Nepal, and Pakistan all have mountain ranges that tower over 20,000 feet high. Much of the Himalayas lies in Nepal, China, and Pakistan. Each of those countries has at least one mountain peak that is over 28,000 feet high. Argentina is home to the Andes (which also runs through Chile). Argentina's highest peak is over 22,000 feet high. The United States has one mountain over 20,000 feet: Mt. McKinley in Alaska. Though the Alps run through Switzerland and Austria, neither country has a mountain peak anywhere near 20,000 feet. Russia is home to Caucasus Mountains, but its highest peak is about 1,500 miles short of 20,000. Tanzania has Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is less than 700 feet short of 20,000

Question 8

Which region of the United States is geographically small but densely populated and serves as a manufacturing hub?&#10;A)The Mid-Atlantic&#10;B)The Pacific Northwest&#10;C)New England&#10;D)The South

Accepted Answer

New England is a geographically small but densely populated region of the United States that serves as an industrial manufacturing hub. The region is composed of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Its economy has historically been rooted in manufacturing and shipping, but it exports some notable natural resources including stone, blueberries, cranberries, maple syrup, and fish. The region is also unified by its cultural heritage-each state was part of the original 13 colonies (though Maine was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at that time).

Question 9

What type of region was Route 66?&#10;A)Transportation region&#10;B)Formal region&#10;C)Perceptual region&#10;D)Functional region

Accepted Answer

Route 66 was a functional region. A functional region is an area defined by a central point (a hub) and a channel of interaction that crosses formal borders and may even connect various perceptual regions. For example, Route 66 began in Chicago (its hub) and crossed Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Los Angeles. As a functional region, the "Mother Road," crossed eight formal regions (states) and spanned three perceptual regions: the Midwest, Southwest, and West Coast.

Question 10

During the Crusades, Europeans were exposed to and ultimately influenced by Islamic mathematics, science, medicine, and art in a process called:&#10;A)Cultural ecology.&#10;B)Cultural diffusion.&#10;C)Cultural conquering.&#10;D)Cultural integration.

Accepted Answer

During the Crusades, Europeans were exposed to and ultimately influenced by Islamic mathematics, science, medicine, and art in a process called cultural diffusion. Cultural diffusion is the spread of one culture's knowledge, practices, or values to another culture. It may result from trade, migration, or war.

Question 11

Cities such as Detroit, Buffalo and Youngstown, Ohio have experienced severe economic decline in the 21st century due to what phenomenon?&#10;A)Outsourcing&#10;B)Agglomeration&#10;C)Deindustrialization&#10;D)Gentrification

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cities such as Detroit, Buffalo and Youngstown,...

Question 12

When Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany after World War II, the Germans constituted a:&#10;A)Nation.&#10;B)Stateless nation.&#10;C)Multinational state.&#10;D)Multistate nation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Germany was divided into West Germany...

Question 13

Which of the following factors does not contribute to desertification?&#10;A)Livestock grazing&#10;B)Heavy rains on exposed soil&#10;C)Deforestation&#10;D)Droughts

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following factors does not...

Question 14

Why do farmers practice terracing?&#10;A)To purify water that hydrates their crops.&#10;B)To control erosion and protect the water supply.&#10;C)To draw contaminants out of the farmed soil into waterways.&#10;D)To expedite natural soil redistribution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do farmers practice terracing?&#10;A)To purify water...

Question 15

Where is subsistence agriculture most commonly practiced in the 21st century?&#10;A)Developed countries that have over two million square miles of land.&#10;B)African countries.&#10;C)Developing countries.&#10;D)South American countries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Where is subsistence agriculture most commonly practiced...

Question 16

The rapid expansion of suburban communities in the late 19th century and early 20th century was spurred by developments in which industry?&#10;A)Service&#10;B)Communication&#10;C)Agriculture&#10;D)Transportation

Accepted Answer

The answer of The rapid expansion of suburban communities in...

Question 17

The majority of 21st century U.S. immigrants have come from:&#10;A)Asia and Latin America.&#10;B)Asia.&#10;C)Latin America.&#10;D)Latin America and Europe.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The majority of 21st century U.S. immigrants...

Question 18

The largest migration in American history took place during:&#10;A)The Industrial Revolution.&#10;B)The Dust Bowl.&#10;C)The Gold Rush.&#10;D)The Civil War.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The largest migration in American history took...

Question 19

Demographic transition describes the relationship between:&#10;A)The native-born population and the immigrant population.&#10;B)All of the qualities of a populace: gender, age, location, ethnicity, level of education, employment, etc.&#10;C)Birthrates and death rates.&#10;D)Ethnicity and location.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Demographic transition describes the relationship between:&#10;A)The native-born...

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of gentrification?&#10;A)The economic profile of a neighborhood changes due to the improved income of its residents.&#10;B)Low-income renters supplant middle class and wealthy homeowners in a suburb.&#10;C)Wealthy homeowners supplant middle class homeowners in a rural area,&#10;D)Middle class homeowners supplant low-income renters in an urban neighborhood.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 21

Afrikaans, the official language of South Africa, is a daughter language of what world language?&#10;A)French&#10;B)Dutch&#10;C)Swahili&#10;D)Arabic

Accepted Answer

The answer of Afrikaans, the official language of South Africa,...

Question 22

Where in the United States would you be most likely to find a Mediterranean forest, woodland, and scrub biome?&#10;A)Hawaii&#10;B)Maine&#10;C)California&#10;D)Florida

Accepted Answer

The answer of Where in the United States would you...

Question 23

Which of the following was not a demographic transition brought on by the Second Industrial Revolution?&#10;A)Death rates declined.&#10;B)Sanitation improved, reducing illness and disease.&#10;C)Child mortality fell.&#10;D)Fertility decreased due to the use of contraception.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following was not a...

Question 24

What is taking place when governments turn away or deport unauthorized immigrants?&#10;A)Intervening opportunity&#10;B)Counter migration&#10;C)Push factors&#10;D)Hierarchical migration factor

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is taking place when governments turn...

Question 25

Which of the following river regions has the lowest human population density?&#10;A)Ganges River&#10;B)Yangtze River&#10;C)Amazon River&#10;D)Nile River

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following river regions has...

Question 26

The worldwide agriculture industry is facing a potential crisis due to the decrease in:&#10;A)Adequate pesticides.&#10;B)Ozone-filtered sunlight.&#10;C)Unobstructed sunlight.&#10;D)The honeybee population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The worldwide agriculture industry is facing a...

Question 27

Which of the following is not a direct result of activity along tectonic plate boundaries?&#10;A)Sinkholes&#10;B)Ocean trench formation&#10;C)Volcanic eruptions&#10;D)Mountain building

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is not a...

Question 28

Which sphere of the Earth and geographic feature are not correctly matched?&#10;A)Atmosphere: cyclone.&#10;B)Hydrosphere: alluvial fan.&#10;C)Biosphere: forest.&#10;D)Lithosphere: sand dune.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which sphere of the Earth and geographic...

Question 29

What type of diffusion has occurred when a product becomes popular because a celebrity endorses it?&#10;A)Cultural diffusion&#10;B)Stimulus diffusion&#10;C)Hierarchical diffusion&#10;D)Contagious diffusion

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of diffusion has occurred when...

Question 30

Which of the following exists at a transform plate boundary?&#10;A)San Andreas Fault&#10;B)Mid-Atlantic Ridge&#10;C)Marianas Trench&#10;D)The boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate, which creates the Himalayas

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following exists at a...

Question 31

What is the ratio of land to water on Earth's surface?&#10;A)70 percent land to 30 percent water.&#10;B)30 percent land to 70 percent water.&#10;C)40 percent land to 60 percent water.&#10;D)60 percent land to 40 percent water.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the ratio of land to...

Question 32

What is the ring-shaped body surrounding a lagoon called?&#10;A)Ocean wall&#10;B)Coral reef&#10;C)Atoll&#10;D)Continental shelf

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the ring-shaped body surrounding a...

Question 33

Which mental mapping task should 12th grade students be working on?&#10;A)Identifying how information about current events alters their mental maps.&#10;B)Identifying the formal boundaries of U.S. land acquisitions that occurred after the Revolutionary War, from memory.&#10;C)Identifying patterns of coastal population density, from memory.&#10;D)Identifying the settings from favorite books or movies on a map.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which mental mapping task should 12th grade...

Question 34

The collapse of the Soviet Union into 15 independent states is an example of:&#10;A)Regressionism&#10;B)Dissolution&#10;C)Devolution.&#10;D)Supranationalism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The collapse of the Soviet Union into...

Question 35

Which of the following is a past or present supranational organization?&#10;A)The Soviet Union&#10;B)The United Kingdom&#10;C)TheEuropean Union&#10;D)Latin America

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a past...

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of a perceptual region?&#10;A)The British Commonwealth&#10;B)Sub-Saharan Africa&#10;C)Latin America&#10;D)The U.S. South

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 37

If an American says he is going &#34;out west,&#34; which of the following could be his destination?&#10;A)Wyoming&#10;B)The Pacific Oceanic region (Australia, the Pacific Islands, etc.)&#10;C)Anywhere west of his present location&#10;D)There isn't enough information to determine his destination

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an American says he is going...

Question 38

Rice is most likely to be a major cash crop in what type of biome?&#10;A)Tropical desert&#10;B)Temperate, tropical or subtropical, wet, with broadleaf and/or mixed forests&#10;C)Taiga&#10;D)Chaparral

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rice is most likely to be a...

Question 39

Why is relative location often a better way to communicate geographic information than absolute location?&#10;A)Relative location is reassessed annually, while absolute distances are reassessed once every 10 years.&#10;B)Relative location is more precise than absolute location.&#10;C)Absolute location only measures physical distance, which cannot account for the all of the qualities that define a location.&#10;D)Absolute location is fluid or changeable, whereas relative location is permanent.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is relative location often a better...

Question 40

When a multinational fast food restaurant chain adds regional items or ingredients to a local menu, they are engaged in what process?&#10;A)Agglomeration&#10;B)Globalization&#10;C)Cultural integration&#10;D)Glocalization

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a multinational fast food restaurant chain...

Question 41

The general scientific consensus is that climate change is primarily caused by:&#10;A)Widespread biofuel use.&#10;B)The planet's natural ecological cycles.&#10;C)Decrease in glacier mass, which has caused global temperatures to rise.&#10;D)Rise in sea level.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The general scientific consensus is that climate...

Question 42

A taiga biome is characterized by what kind of plant life?&#10;A)Little to no plant life&#10;B)Conifers&#10;C)Rainforest&#10;D)Grassland

Accepted Answer

The answer of A taiga biome is characterized by what...

Question 43

Which nation borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey?&#10;A)Jordan&#10;B)Saudi Arabia&#10;C)Syria&#10;D)Iran

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which nation borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and...

Question 44

Which continent has the fewest industrialized nations?&#10;A)Africa&#10;B)Asia&#10;C)South America&#10;D)Australia and the Pacific

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which continent has the fewest industrialized nations?&#10;A)Africa&#10;B)Asia&#10;C)South...

Question 45

Which of the following natural resources is renewable?&#10;A)Plastic&#10;B)Cotton&#10;C)Glass&#10;D)Nuclear power

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following natural resources is...

Question 46

What type of natural disaster is most likely to affect Brazil?&#10;A)Earthquake&#10;B)Flood&#10;C)Drought&#10;D)Hurricane

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of natural disaster is most...

Deck 19: Geography