Geography

1500 Unit Test One Study Guide Spring, 2012 Unit test #1 is a multiple choice formatted exam. You will have the entire class time to complete the exam. This study guide is designed to be representative of all the material we have covered that may be on the exam. In other words, if it is not on this study guide it is not on the exam, but not everything from this study guide will necessarily be on the exam. In general many of my multiple choice questions are designed to challenge you to demonstrate your comprehension of the concepts and issues we have covered in class. This means that simple memorization will generally not be enough to do well. The correct answer will not always be obvious, and you should expect to have to work through the possible answers critically and analytically to come to the correct answer. This will not be the case with every question, but certainly enough of them to impact your final midterm exam grade. I have organized this study guide by textbook chapter, lecture, and articles/readings separate from the textbook. Introductory Lectures: Bring Back Geography! We spent time at the beginning of the semester defining geography as a field of study and discussing why geography is an undervalued academic discipline in the United States. Based on these lectures, and the article Bring Back Geography by Jerome E. Dobson. Based on this article you should be able to address the following topics: What is place-name geography? How does Dobsons define geography? Why did geography decline in the United States? How did we attempt to explain this decline? Are there any possible physical geography reasons for low levels of geographic literacy in the U.S.? What are the implications of a country as powerful as ours having a citizenry with such low geographic literacy? What are aliased geographies? Globalization How does the textbook define globalization? What are some of the ways we can understand globalization (based on in-class power point: e.g., global communication systems, global transportation systems, etc.)?

How does a 24-hour look at global air traffic transportation help us understand globalization? What global geographic differences did this 24-hour map demonstrate? What is meant by the term hybridization? How does the development of Senegalese and Chinese forms of hip hop help us understand this concept? What is meant by the term global consumer culture? How does a global phenomenon such as Disney help us understand this concept? When discussing global environmental concerns I spoke of THE BIG PICTURE and HOW WE FIT INTO THE BIG PICTURE. What did I mean? What does the textbook mean by pro and anti-globalization perspectives? What did it mean by a middle position in regards to defining and understanding globalization? Environment Theme What are world climate regions? Be able to read a annual temperature/precipitation chart What are some of the major environmental issues facing the world today? Population and Settlement Theme What are population structures (pyramids) and how do they help us understand the population dynamics of a particular place or country? Be able to recognize the difference between a structure showing rapid, moderate, slow/stagnant and declining growth. What is the demographic transition model? What are some criticisms of this model? What are the characteristics of a proposed fifth stage in this model and which countries/regions in the world may be experiencing this fifth stage? Be able to connect population structures to this model (like we have done in class repeatedly). Know the basic definition of the following demographic variables: Rate of Natural Increase (RNI) Crude Birth Rate/Crude Death Rate (CBR/CDR; why are these rates considered crude? Total Fertility Rate (TFR) Regarding RNI, using the scale presented in class (rapid, moderate, slow/stagnant, decline and no growth), be able to answer questions about these patterns for each region we have covered to this point. What is meant by push/pull factors when discussing patterns of migration?

Why is rural-to-urban migration so important when discussing contemporary human geography? Cultural Coherence and Diversity How does the book define culture and what are its main characteristics (e.g., learned, shared, abstract and material, etc.). From a cultural geography perspective, what is the difference between homogeneity and heterogeneity? What is meant by the terms universal religions, ethnic religions and secularization? What is meant by the term cultural landscape? Geopolitical Framework Be able to define the following terms: State Nation Nation-State Multi-nation State Multi-state Nation What is meant by the terms centripetal and centrifugal forces? What is cultural imperialism and cultural nationalism, and how are these two concepts related? How are the above four concepts related? What is colonialism, and why is the legacy of colonialism so important to understanding contemporary global culture patterns and issues? Economic and Social Development How does the book differentiate between development and growth? What indicators help us understand and rank countries in terms of their levels of development?

Understand and be able to read the development indicators tables (see p. 30) for all regions covered to this point. Why do developing countries often have higher GDP growth rates than more mature, developed economies? What is the Human Development Index (HDI)? Why is this index considered one of the best measures of overall development? How are the infant mortality rate and child mortality rate different? Why is child mortality one of the best indicators of the overall health of a society? Regions North America What is the main reason the authors give for designating North America as a global region? Is there any controversy regarding the decision on the part of the textbook authors to not include Mexico as part of North America? How does a choropleth map of Spanish speaking people in the U.S. contribute to this discussion? How would you characterize North America in terms of climate zones? In general, based on RNI and TFR data, how would you characterize population trends in this region of the world? WARNING: THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO STUDY FOR THESE QUESTIONSYOU MUST TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE A SENTENCE FOR EACH COLUMN DESCRIBING THE BASIC PATTERNS DISCERNED. REMEMBER, THE KEY IS TO LOOK FOR PATTERNS AND EXTREMES. YOU WILL NOT BE GIVEN THE TABLES ON THE EXAM. THUS YOU MUST COMMIT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES THE PATTERNS/EXTREMES FOR EACH REGION. Where do you find the largest concentrations of population in North America (be able to differentiate between population distributions in Canada and the United States)? How does the textbook define ethnicity in this chapter? What is the difference between an ethnic homeland, ethnic island and ethnic neighborhood? What is the difference between traditional Anglo beliefs and pluralism? The textbook argues that Canada and the United States took two very different paths to statehood. In what way were these paths different? 4

Based on table 3.2 on page 74 how would you characterize Canada and the United States level of development? Be able to answer any question from the section titled A Global Reach from page 73 of the textbook. Be able to answer any question from the section titled Wealth and Poverty on page 77 of the textbook. Latin America What is the main reason the authors give for designating Latin America as a global region? How would you characterize this region in terms of climate zones? In general, using RNI and TFR data, how would you characterize population trends in this region of the world? How would you characterize demographic momentum in this region? Are there any obvious categories for any of the countries that stand out as noticeably different from the regional trends? What are the patterns of indigenous populations in Latin America? Why is this pattern remarkable based on the historical impact that colonialism had on the native population? Are indigenous peoples still a vibrant part of Latin American culture, economics and politics? What is meant by the term neo-Africa and how is this concept linked to the legacy of colonialism? What does blanco, mestizo, indio and negro refer to when considering issues of cultural identity in Latin America? In general, how would you characterize levels of development in Latin America? What does Latin Americas GDP Average Annual %-Growth 2000-07 suggest about levels of development in this world region? Which four countries in Latin America show the most radical change in Under Age 5 Mortality? What do statistics on gender equity in Latin America suggest about this regions future development?

Is there a sub-regional pattern in Latin America linked to lower levels of development (i.e., are there clusters of countries that are wealthier or poorer than the region as a whole)? Sub-Saharan Africa What is the main reason the authors give for designating Sub-Saharan Africa as a global region? How would you characterize this region in terms of climate zones? In general, using RNI and TFR data, how would you characterize population trends in this region of the world? How would you characterize demographic momentum in this region? Are there any obvious categories for any of the countries that stand out as noticeably different from the regional trends? What global disease has had a dramatic impact on Africas population trends? What parts of Africa are suffering the most from this disease? Which two universalist religions are clashing in Sub-Saharan Africa? What major category do all of Africas indigenous religions get put into? Why did it take so much longer for Europeans to colonize interior Africa than it did in other parts of the world? Be able to answer questions from the section titled The Tyranny of the Map (p. 173). In general, how would you characterize Sub-Saharan Africas overall level of development? Which countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have GNI per capita over $10,000? Which country has the highest HDI and which one has the lowest? Which countries have life expectancies over 65 (and is there a geographic characteristic shared by these countries?)? What factors contribute to Sub-Saharan Africas extremely low life expectancies? Which countries in this region show an increase in Under Age 5 Mortality Rates between 1990 and 2007? Which country in this region has the least gender equity? According to the textbook what are some of the roots of African poverty (see pages 175- 177)? Chapter Seven: Southwest Asia and North Africa 6

 What is the main reason the authors give for designating North Africa/Southwest Asia as a global region? How would you characterize this region in terms of climate zones? In general how would you characterize populations trends in this region of the world? How would you characterize urban trends? How would you characterize demographic momentum in this region? Are there any obvious categories for any of the countries that stand out as noticeably different from the regional trends? Why is the term physiological density important when analyzing demographic patterns in many parts of this region? What is meant by the term the ecological trilogy? What factor has contributed to Iran transitioning to more stable fertility rates? In general, how would you characterize Southwest Asia and North Africas overall level of development? What is the colonial legacy in this part of the world (i.e., which European countries colonized this area? what were the strategic interests in this area? Why was the struggle for Algerian independence different from other countries in this region? If one were looking just at GNI per capita PPP in this region what might one conclude in terms of overall development patterns? What is OPEC? What is the Arab Spring and how does this movement connect to the legacy of colonialism?