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Social Studies Study Guide

Terms in this set (101)

Region
A part of the world that has 1 or more common features
Meteorology
the study of the weather and what causes it
Geography
the study of the world, its people, and the landscapes they create
Latitude
the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator
Longitude
the angular distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian
Relative Location
general description of where a place is
Physical Geography
the study of the world's physical features
Human Geography
the study of the world's people and communities
What is the smallest level at which a geographer might study a place?
local
What is the study of water on Earth?
hydrology
What does GPS stand for?
Global Positioning System
Which of the following best describes the term cartography?
Study of maps
What do Human Geographers study?
People
When geographers study a landscape, what are they studying they studying?
An area's human and physical features
What are globes?w
Spherical or ball shaped model of the entire planet
What type of map shows features such as country borders, capital cities, and other places?
Political Map
What type of map shows elevated areas such as mountain ranges, rivers, oceans, islands, deserts, and plains?
Physical Map
What type of map presents information on a particular topic such as population?
Thematic Map
What is an example of absolute location?
My address
What is an example of relative location?
The USA
Weather
short term temperatures (day to day)
Landforms
shapes on the planet's surface
Rotation
one complete spin of Earth on its axis
Erosion
movement of rock from one place to another
Revolution
an orbit or trip around the sun
Humus
decayed plant or animal matter
Weathering
rocks broken down into smaller pieces
Climate
weather conditions over a long period of time
Environment
surroundings that plants and animals must adapt to
Fossil Fuels
nonrenewable resources that formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals
How much is Earth tilted on its axis during the year?
23 ½ degrees
What do geographers justify the Tropics' seasons on?
Rainfall
What is the result of collision of two ocean plates?
Ocean Trenches
What is the result of collision of ocean and continental plates?
Mountain ranges
What is the result of two plates grinding together?
Earthquakes
What is the theory that the continents have not always been in their present locations but have moved over millions of years?
Continental Drift Theory
What is the theory that pieces of Earth's outer layer are in constant motion?
Theory of Plate Tectonics
What are seasonal winds that bring either dry or moist air?
Monsoons
What are areas of tall grasses scattered trees and shrubs?
Savannas
What are materials found in nature that are used by living things?
Natural resource
What are resources that Earth can replace naturally?
Renewable resource
What are resources that cannot be replaced?
Nonrenewable resource
What is the removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves?
Deforestation
What is the planting of trees to replace lost forestland?
Reforestation
What is the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert?
Desertification
What does it mean if a species completely dies out?
Extinct
Activity or behavior in which people take part like religion or language
culture trait
countries with strong economies and a high quality of life
developed country
value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year
gross domestic product (GDP)
measure of the number of people living in an area
population density
annual number of births per 1,000 people
birthrate
countries with weak economies and a low quality of life
developing country
form of government in which people elect leaders and rule by majority
democracy
moving from one place to another
migration
Which of the following is NOT how culture traits develop?
Development of architecture
Population density is measured in
Square miles/kilometers
Which of the following best describes an area with a high population density?
Roads are crowded
All of the following are reasons why a place might have a low population EXCEPT
Fertile soil
Which of the following is NOT a push factor (push people to move)?
Affordable housing
Which of the following is a type of government in which a single ruler has total control?
Dictatorship
The economic system in which people grow their own food and trade using the barter system is called?
Traditional
Which of the following countries is considered a developed country?
Canada
What is a string of large cities that have grown together?
Megalopolis
Second most spoken language in the U.S.
Spanish
Has an economy that relies on banking and insurance firms.
Northeast Region
Located in California
Sierra Nevada Mountains
What is the main mountain range in the East called?
Appalachian Mountains
Which of the following is a low area on the Eastern coast of the United States that is flat and close to sea level?
Atlantic Coastal Plain
Which of the following rivers is the largest in North America?
Mississippi River
What is a tributary?
small stream or river that flows into a larger river
What is the main mountain range in the West?
Rocky Mountains
What is an area of high ground that divides flow of rivers toward opposite directions?
Continental Divide
How high can elevations in the Rocky Mountains reach?
14,000 feet
What are the 4 major natural resources in the United States?
Oil, Farmland, Forestry, and Minerals
What were TWO reasons why the colonies were upset with King George III?
Couldn't move west and High taxes
Which country were the original 13 colonies ruled by?
Great Britain
What was a main industry of the New England colonies
fishing
What was a main industry of the Middle colonies?
farming
What was a main industry of the Southern colonies?
plantations
What is a plantation?
a large farm that grows mainly one crop
Who were the first settlers that travelled West?
Pioneers
All of the following are reasons why people moved West in the 1800s EXCEPT
New governments
Since 1787, our government has been based on what?
Constitution
Which ethnic group lives primarily in the Western part of the United States?
Asian Americans
People who speak two languages are considered...
bilingual
Most Americans practices which of the following religions?
Christianity
Which of the following regions is the most productive farming region in the United States?
Midwest
Which of the following regions has coal, oil, and gold as their main natural resources?
West
Which of the following cities is considered a megalopolis?
New York
All are physical features of the Interior plains EXCEPT...
Appalachian Mountains
Which of the following people found the French settlement of Quebec in 1608?
Samuel de Champlain
Canada borders all of the following oceans EXCEPT
Indian
Canada's government is similar to England because it has a
Parliamentary system
Which of the following mountain ranges run through the western part of Canada?
Rocky Mountains
Which of the following cities has a port on the Pacific Ocean?
Vancouver
The Canadian Shield, which holds valuable minerals, is primarily located in which 2 provinces?
Quebec + Ontario
Which of the following people created a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador in the year 1000?
Vikings
Which of the following is the capital of Canada?
Ottawa
Which of the following provinces is primarily French in language and culture?
Quebec
The water way that creates access to the interior of Canada is called
Gulf of St Lawrence
Which province wanted to separate from Canada in the 1970s?
Quebec
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