Geographic Understanding

1
Geographic Understanding Latin America Study
Guide

• SS6G1
• Locate on a world map Amazon River, Caribbean
  Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic
  Ocean, Panama Canal, Andes Mountains, Sierra
  Madre Mountains, and the Atacama Desert.
• Locate on a world map the countries of Bolivia,
  Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Panama,
  and Venezuela.
• SS6G2
• Explain the major environmental concerns of Latin
  America regarding the issue of air pollution in
  Mexico City, the destruction of the rain forest
  in Brazil, and oil related pollution in
  Venezuela.
• SS6G3
• Compare how location, climate, and natural
  resources of Mexico and Venezuela affect where
  people live and how they trade.
• Compare how the location, climate, and natural
  resources of Brazil and Cuba affect where people
  live and how they trade.

2

• Identify three regions that make up Latin America.

• Mexico and Central America
• South America
• The Caribbean

3

• What are the two prominent languages spoken in
  Latin America?
• Name four countries in Central America.

• Spanish and Portuguese
• Mexico, Belize, Panama, Costa Rico, El Salvador,
  Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua

4

• Name four countries in South America.

• Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Columbia, Chili,
  Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay,
  Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana

5

• Name four countries in the Caribbean.
• What bodies of water border Latin America?

• Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic,
  Bahamas, etc.
• Pacific Ocean, Atlantic ocean, Gulf of Mexico and
  the Caribbean Sea

6

• Name four physical features of landforms in
  Central America.
• Name four physical features or landforms in South
  America.

• Yucatan Peninsula, Sierra Madre Mountains,
  Isthmus of Panama and Lake Nicaragua
• Pampas, Patagonia, Amazon River, Amazon Rain
  Forest, Andes Mountains, Atacama Desert,
  Brazilian Highlands

7

• How does geography play a role in Mexicos Citys
  air pollution?
• What are the main sources of air pollution in
  Mexico City?

• Mexico is located in a bowl shaped valley that
  traps air pollutants.
• Cars and factories cause most of the pollution.

8

• How is the Mexican government trying to solve
  this problem?

• Drivers have to leave cars home one day a week.
• Citizens are encouraged to ride buses and trains
  or carpool.
• Cars are inspected often.
• Bad exhaust systems must be repaired.
• Factories are asked to close on high pollution
  days.

9

• Why is deforestation of the Amazon Rain Forest a
  major concern? List several reasons.

• 20 if worlds oxygen comes from the rain forest.
• Plants to heal come form here.
• 20 of the worlds fresh water comes from here

10

• Explain why deforestation increases when the
  value of crops and cattle go up.
• What is the main crop in areas of deforestation?

• The farmers think they can make more profit
  selling cattle and crops.
• Soybeans would be the main crop grown.

11

• Explain why oil production in Venezuela is a
  problem.
• What is the Venezuelan government doing to help
  solve this problem?

• There are problems with polluted streams, there
  are breathing problems for the young and the
  elderly.
• The government is building a dike to keep water
  in the lake from flooding the nearby homes and
  towns.

12

• Which metal is mined more in Mexico than anywhere
  else?
• Which country has about three-fourths of the
  trade with Mexico?

• Silver is the metal mined more in Mexico than
  anywhere else.
• The United States is a major trade partner with
  Mexico.

13

• Where do most people in Mexico live and why? Why
  are farmers having a hard time?

• Most people in Mexico live in urban areas in the
  Central Plateau. The people in in the urban areas
  because this is where the factories are located.

14

• How has Venezuelas location helped its trade
  with other countries?
• Why are so few Venezuelans becoming farmers?

• Venezuela is located near the panama Canal and is
  bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic
  ocean.
• The land along the coast is very dry and that is
  why few people want to become farmers.

15

• What are the negative effects of Venezuelas oil
  industry?
• Where do most Venezuelans live and why?

• The oil industry is polluting the Caribbean Sea,
  also when the price of oil goes down the
  government has a hard time paying their bills.
• Most people in Venezuela live in cities located
  along the northern coast. Most of the jobs are
  located in the cities.

16

• Where do most Brazilians live and why?
• What are the major crops grown in Brazil? What
  are the major natural resources found in Brazil?

• Most people in Brazil live in cities located
  along the eastern coast. This is where the jobs
  are located.
• The major crops grown in Brazil is coffee Other
  natural resources in brazil are oranges, papayas,
  soybeans and sugar cane

17

• Why is tourism a major industry in Brazil?
• How has Brazils location helped its trade with
  other countries?

• Tourism is important because you can see things
  in Brazil that you cant see anywhere else.
• Brazil is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is
  close to the Panama Canal.

18

• How has Cubas location helped the country?
• What is a major export for Cuba?

• Cuba is an island on the ocean trade route.
• Sugar cane and cigars are major exports from Cuba.

19

• What product does Venezuela provide to Cuba?
• Describe Cubas government. Why does the Soviet
  Union no longer support Cuba?

• Venezuela sells oil to Cuba at an reduced rate.
• Cuba is a communist government which means the
  government owns or controls most farms and
  businesses. The Soviet Union no longer supports
  Cuba because the Soviet union no longer exists.