Chapter 14 Homework

Chapter 14, Section 1

1. How large is the land area of Russia?

Answer:
Russia covers 6.6 million square miles of land.

2. What are Russia’s natural resources?

Answer:
Russia's main natural resources are petroleum, nickel, and natural gases.  Russia also ranks in the top three producers of aluminum, gemstones, and platinum.  The fertile soil on the plains also provides a lot of grains and vegetables.  The forests supply the country with timber from pine, fir, spruce, and ceder trees.  Fish such as salm, herring, cod, and halibut are also major resources.

Creative Writing: Many people are not aware that so much of the world’s forest land lies on Russian soil. Write a paragraph designed to persuade people of the importance of preserving Russian forests.

Answer:
The forests of Russia hold a fifth of the whole world's forest lands.  That is billions of trees.  Every single tree processes tons and tons of carbon dioxide that are produced by humans daily.  These trees make it possible for humans to continue breathing oxygen.  If you take out multiple trees, less carbon dioxide is produced, polluting the air, trapping the sun's heat, and making it dangerous for humans.  In order to save the environment and save ourselves, we must preserve the trees in the forest.

Chapter 14, Section 2

1. What are Russia’s major climates?

Answer:
Russia's major climates are tundra, subarctic, humid continental, and steppe.

2. What kinds of natural vegetation are found in each of Russia’s climate regions?

Answer:
The tundra, due to the acidic soil, only grown mosses, lichens, algae, and drawrf shrubs.
Subarctic region grow coniferous forest.
The Humid Continental region holds fertile soil, resulting in grass lands.
The steppe region is a highly fertile region, resulting in many types of plants and grasses.

Creative Writing: Imagine you are a member of Napoleon’s army invading Russia in 1812. In the form of a journal entry, write a day in your life on the march through Russia’s cold winter.
Answer:
Here is me again, writing while I'm not marching.  I only right when we are resting, sitting, and trying not to freeze to death in the snow.  Russia is colder than Napoleon has expected, and the cold is taking it's toll our machines and our men.  All of the cars and tanks have failed us, frozen in stiff positions.  So make them work, we must melt the snow and snap the gears so that they move.  But this takes too long, and the tanks and cars just freeze up again anyway. 
The men are cold and hungry.  We have long run out of supplies, but Napoleon made us march ahead anyway, thinking that we would find supplies in the towns that we would raid.  When we arrived, we found that the Russians had burned their towns and fields, exterminating all food and shelter.  I must admit, the Russians are smart to deprive us of resources.  Based on the rumors going around camp, Napoleon is thinking of retreating if we cannot find anymore food, or else the men will starve.
Hopefully I will be able to write back, preferaby back in Poland where it is much warmer.
Sincerely,
Julianna

Chapter 13 Homework

Chapter 13, Section 1

1. What are three of the reasons major economic changes are taking place in Europe?

Answer:

Three main reasons that major economic changes are taking place in Europe are the ability to trade freely with other European countries, sharing the same currency, and changing agreements to make each country's economy more productive.

2. Identify changes in the economies, farming techniques, and communications in eastern Europe since the fall of communism in 1989.

Answer:

Economies, for the most part, have grown more productive.  Farming equipment was updated and most of the labor was now done by machines instead of people.  Eastern European countries have also tried to communicate more with the rest of the world, setting up investments and seeking aid.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph agreeing or disagreeing with the statement: As Europe develops a more unified, service-oriented economy, it is more important for nations to develop more efficient communications systems than to develop more efficient transportation systems.

Answer:

I do agree with this statement.  The more that Europe develops into a service country, the more communicating and talking workers will have to do.  The more communicating that must be done, the more a country needs an efficient communications system so the workers can do their job.  If Europe moves away from a trading and agriculture based economy, the less the countries trade.  And the less trade that happens, the less transportation systems that Europe needs.

Chapter 13, Section 2

1. What are three of the ways industry and farming practices have affected Europe’s environment?

Answer:

Bad farming practices such as over faming, removing too much vegetation, and overgrazing livestock have  resulted in the soil eroding and killing the remaining trees.

Industry has also made a huge impact on the environment.  To make new land, companies have hacked down whole forests.  The smoke and gas produced by smokestacks can cause acid rain.  Acid rain can damage forests, poison lakes and rivers and seas, kill of species of mammals, birds, and fish.  Acid rain can also cause health damage to humans.

2. What steps have been taken by the European Union to protect Europe’s environment?

Answer:

The EU requires all of the countries under it to clean up after their pollution.  The EU also has set emission regulations for industries and vehicles so that the pollution is limited.  It also supports the Kyoto Protocol, which makes countries try to prevent generating and trapping green house gases.  The EU also encourages the use of natural gas and demands that all countries must lower their emissions to 15% lower than 1990's level of green house gases.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph to agree or disagree with the statement: The pollution laws and controls put in place by members of the European Union are all that is necessary to protect the environment in Europe today and in the future

Answer:  I disagree with this statement.  While these rules and regulations are great for the present, more needs to be done to save the environment.  Countries must completely stop using coal and fossil fuels, using hydrogen powered machines which work just as fine and cause less pollution.  Countries also need to stop being so reckless when cutting down the forests.  There is not an infinite amount of trees, and countries must learn that the trees will run out and that pollution will increase without the trees there.

Chapter 12 Homework

Chapter 12, Section 1

1. Over the past 100 years, how has immigration influenced the populations of countries in Northern Europe?

Answer:

Immigrants from other countries have made the populations more diverse.  People within the country usually immigrated to the cities of the country, making the cities have a higher population and the country have a lower population.

2. How has physical geography helped shape the population patterns of northern Europe?

Answer:

The UK, Ireland, and Denmark have mild climates and fertile soil that supported a big population at any place in the countries.  Scandinavia had harsh terrain and a brutal climate, resulting in infertile soil.  this made Scandinavians move and settle along the coasts.

Creative Writing: Although they do not all provide the same benefits to their citizens, all the Countries in northern Europe are welfare states. Education, health-care, unemployment benefits, disability payments, retirement benefits, child care, parental leave, and housing subsidies may be guaranteed by the government. Write a paragraph comparing some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in a country that is a

welfare state.

Answer:

Some benefits of living in a country with welfare are knowing that even if you cannot pay or are poor, your child can still go to school, you can still recieve healthcare, someone will pay for your disability and retirement, and other things.  If you lose your house, then the government garuntees a house for you.  If a child loses his or her parents, the government garuntees that he or she will be taken care of.  If you are laid off of your job, the government will support you until you can find a new one.

Some disadvantages are having to pay extra money to supply the government with the money to have these welfare functions.  To support the welfare, the country may have to borrow from other coutnries, making the country go into debt.

Chapter 12, Section 2

1. What are three ways that religion has helped shaped the history and governments in western Europe?

Answer:

The Crusades (wars between European countries and the Middle East over Palestine) have resulted in new and extended trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean.
Religious wars and Enlightenment ideas have moved the governments away from monarchy and toward democracy and republics

2. How did World War II help shape the population patterns of western Europe?

Answer:

After World War II, Germany and other countries needed more workers because of the people that they lost.  Immigrants from all around the world came for work and settled in the countries.

Creative Writing: The people of western Europe have a high standard of living, and governments provide citizens with medical care, maternity and retirement benefits, and other services. The population in Western Europe is aging, with declining birthrates and death rates. Write a paragraph about some of the social problems Western Europe may face in the next twenty-five years.

Answer:

Because all of the adults are getting older and retiring and there are no more children to work, people will be forced to work longer to provide money for the retired, but still living, old people.  When those people are too old to work and retire, there will be no more people to work for the country, or maybe just less people, and the country's economy might start to decline because people cannot pay for themselves AND other people who are retired.x

Chapter 12, Section 3

1. What are some of the effects on the population patterns and cultures of southern European countries, now that immigration is outpacing emigration?

Answer:

The cultures are becoming richer, blending multiple ideas and customs together. The countries are becoming melting pots for all types of people.  The populations in those countries are becoming more concentrated in the city areas where work is available.

2. What are three of the cultural elements that are shared by most of the people in southern Europe?

Answer:

Three of the cultural elements that are shared by most people in Southern Europe are language (all originating from Latin), religions (most people are Roman Catholic), and soccer.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph describing some of the ways that the culture of ancient Rome still influences southern Europe.

Answer:

Ancient Rome came up with Latin, which all other languages in Southern Europe are based off of.  Every root of every word can be traced back to a Latin word, which came from Romans.  The Romans also started the Roman Catholic Church, which is the church that most South Eurpopeans belong to.  Roman artchitecture carried on into other country's buildings so that the buildings would be stronger and look better.

Chapter 11 Homework

Chapter 11, Section 1

1. Give one example of each of the following European landforms: a landform affected by glaciation; a landform affected by wind; a landform affected by tectonic or volcanic activity.
Answer:

The Alps mountains were created by glaciation.

Teconic activity caused the crust to lift and fold, forming the Pyrenees mountains.

The southern edge of the Northern European Plain is made fertile from the nutrients brought by the wind.

2. Why are rivers vital to Europe’s economy?

Answer:

Rivers provide transportations systems, trade routes, irrigation for inland farms, and electricitty from hydroelectric power.

Creative Writing: The Rhine River flows through three countries from its source in the Swiss Alps, along part of the border between France and Germany, through Germany for most of its length, to its final destination in the North Sea off the Netherlands. Write a paragraph about the political or economic challenges the countries along the river’s course face.

Answer: 

The three countries may fight over who owns wha part of the river.  Whoever owns the river has the right to tax the people crossing and traveling up or down the river.  Ownership also means rights to all the fish in the river.  If one of the countries is highly dependant on fishing, the country's economy may fail if the country is denied fishing rights.

Chapter 11, Section 2

1. What are the major influences on climate in Europe?

Answer:
Europe's high latitude, nearness to water (seas, oceans, rivers, lakes) and the wind blown in from the water affect Europe's climate.

2. How do winds affect the climate regions of Europe?

Answer:
Winds, such as the warm winds from the North Atlantic Current, can warm temperatures.  Countries farther from the Atlantic Ocean do not experience the warm winds, resulting in a colder climate.

Creative Writing: The city of Dublin, Ireland, is at about 53° N latitude, and has an average January high temperature of about 44° F (about 6.6° C). The city of Duluth, Minnesota, is at about 48° N latitude, and has an average January high temperature of about 16° F (about –8.88° C). Write a paragraph explaining possible reasons that the average high winter temperatures are so different although the latitudes are similar
Answer:
One reason that Dublin, Ireland is warmer than Duluth, Minnesota is the warm winds coming from the Atlantic Ocean.  Dublin, Ireland, is closer to the water than Duluth Minnesota, so Dublin experiences more wind, and therefore more heat.

Chapter 10 Homework

Chapter 10, Section 1

1. What is the basis of the economies of many Latin American countries?

Answer:

The basis of many Latin American economies is agricultural goods, such as bananas, sugarcane, and coffee

2. What are the causes and consequences of Latin America’s economically dependent status?

Answer:

A cause of being economically dependant is focusing all efforts on growing, or producing, one thing.  With all of the support, that one product becomes mass produced and distributed at a rapid rate, making lots of money for all that contributed.
A consequence of being economically dependant is when one part of the economy is damaged, the whole thing crashes because each part is so dependant on the other.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph that describes the advantages and disadvantages of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for Mexico.

Answer:

Some advantages of NAFTA for Mexico are more exports from Mexico, investment with international countries, and new jobs.

Some disadvantages of the NAFTA for Mexico are that the poor never are affected by NAFTA benefits.

Chapter 10, Section 2

1. How has development affected Latin America’s forest resources?

Answer:

The development of farms and city areas has caused the depletion of forest resources.  Farms practice slash-and burn farming techniques which kill huge parts of forest for one or two years of fertile soil.  City development has lead to forests being cut down for space and materials.  The depletion of forests affects the whole ecosystem, leading to the death of species found nowhere else.

2. What challenges are posed by the growth of Latin America’s urban population?

Answer:

growth of urban population has resulted in pollution and chemical and pesticide runoff into water, soil, and air.  These pollutants can damage and even kill plants, animals, and humans.

Creative Writing: The countries of Latin America are facing many challenges of regional and international significance. Write a paragraph that describes at least two of these issues and how these might have an impact outside of the region

Answer:

One border dispute of Latin America is the petroleum ownerships along the border of Venezuela and Guyana.  The petroleum mines exist right in the middle of their shared border, and both countries want the benefits.  Depending on who wins, the price of petroleum and the quality may increase or decrease when it is being sold to other countries.

A regional problem that Latin America faces is its unpredictable weather.  Over the years, hurricanes have hit and devastated the land, floods have destroyed cities, and volcanic eruptions have shattered whole islands.  If a disaster strikes Latin America's resources or cities, Latin America's inhabitants would not be able to export their goods, causing every country that it trades with to come to a stand still, lacking the goods from Latin America.

Chapter 8 Homework

Chapter 8, Section 1

1. How do geographers divide the large region that is known as Latin America?

Answer:
Geographers divide Latin America into the Middle American region, the Caribbean region, and the South America region.
 

2. What natural resources make Latin America an economically important region?

Answer:
Latin America's oil, natural gases, gold, emeralds, and copper make it an economically important region
 

Creative Writing: The people of Latin America benefit greatly from their water systems. Write a paragraph that describes how the people use the region’s rivers.

The people of Latin America use their rivers for transportation and energy.  The rivers are used as waterways to transport goods from one part of Latin America to all across the region.  Some waterways, such as the Panama Canal, provide shortcuts where ships and boats can travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean without having to go down the tip of South America.  Fast moving rivers also supply hydroelectric power which powers most of the cities.

Chapter 8, Section 2

1. Which climate regions are represented in Latin America?

Answer
The climate regions represented in Latin America are the Tropical wet climates, the tropical dry climates, the humid subtropical, the desert, the Mediterranean, the marine west coast, and the highland.
 

2. How do Latin America’s location and landforms affect climates even within particular regions?

Answer

The location of the climate affects the temperature.  Places closer to the equator with have hotter climate, while locations farther from the equator will be colder.  Landforms such as mountains and forests can affect the climates as well.  Mountains can either cause more rainfall in a region, or block the rain from a neighboring climate, resulting in a desert area.  Forests help keep climates cool by shading the sun. Another factor that can affect the climate is wind.  Shifting winds and dry coastal winds mixing results in no rainfall which leads to no vegetation, no water, and a desert.

Creative Writing: Pretend you are on a hiking tour of one of the climate regions of Latin America. In the form of a journal entry, write about the area you are hiking by describing its vegetation and climate

Answer:

Wow, today on our hiking tour we hiked in the puna region.  It was so cold!  I think, at warmest, the temperature was maybe 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a lot colder than I'm used to.  As we hiked on, it got colder.  At one point I asked the tour guide what temperature it was, and she said -65 degrees Fahrenheit!  No wonder I was freezing.  I didn't see any trees in the puna zone, or any shrubs.  The only vegetation was a few, non-varied species of grass.  Although the trip sounds bad, I had a lot of fun.  We got to see cute fluffy sheep grazing around  We even saw a group of llamas hanging out, just there in front of us!  On the way down, I could have sworn I saw another creature which looked much like a llama, but it could have easily been an alpaca.

Chapter 7 Homework

Chapter 7, Section 1

1. How has the development of a postindustrial economy in the United States and Canada affected where and how people live?

Answer:

The development of postindustrial economy in the United States and Canada let people have more freedom in choosing where to live.  Postindustrial jobs are jobs in government, educating, health care, and banking which are often located in areas between cities and suburbs all of the countries. The housing for people working in those jobs is not limited by location. The growth of postindustrial economies has led people to have more freedom in where they live

2. How are the economies of the United States and Canada interdependent with each other and with those in other parts of the world?

Answer:

The United States and Canada both export and import goods.  Canada exports goods such as timber to parts of the world that lack timber.  In exchange, those countries trade resources that Canada doesn't have to Canada.  The United States takes in a lot of imports, ranging from electronics to food.  The United States exports air crafts, aerospace equipment, and food to other countries in exchange for the goods.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph about the economies of the United States and Canada that explains how the terms market economy, postindustrial economy, and global economy are related.

Answer:

The market economies in both the United States and Canada allow the people to make decisions about what kind of business they want to own, what they want to do, and how much they profit.  This leads to some people creating businesses that include more high-tech and service jobs which leads into postindustrial economies.  The postindustrial economies provide service jobs and technology jobs in which people help others with technology problems.  People from all around the world seek help from these people, making the postindustrial economies into global economies.

Chapter 7, Section 2

1. What are examples of three or more ways that the United States and Canada could manage their natural resources more responsibly?

Answer:

The countries can start managing their natural resources more responsibly by first stop cutting down so many trees and burning wildlife to make room for more people.  How about we plant more trees and stop expanding urban areas?  We can build our cities upward instead of horizontally and we'll take up less land space and leave more room for forests.  Another way to help the environment and conserve the fossil fuels is to use alternative forms of energy such as electrical energy, hydrogen fuel, and wind power.  the last way we can help conserve nature's resources is to stop killing the natural predators.  Without predators, herbivores will overpopulate and eat away all of their food resources.  Once the food runs out, the herbivores will start dying and their predators will have even less prey.  If we would stop driving out and killing animals, then the environments might have a chance to recover.

2. What are the causes and effects of pollution in the region?

Answer:

the pollution gas of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that come from factories can cause acid rain.  Acid rain is basically liquid rain that can poison water and timber as well as burn skin and kill animals.  Another affect of air pollution is smog.  Smog kill plants and animals and greatly damages people's eyes, throats, and lungs.  Industrial wastes such as fertilizers and pesticides are often dumped in rivers, streams, or leak into ground water.  these toxic chemicals contaminate water and poison all wildlife, whether it be animals, fish, plants, or humans, that drink it.  the water pollution also kill natural alge.  This causes all the fish to die.  Another affect of pollution is immense algae growth which will turn a lake into a marsh and gradually into a dry land.

Creative Writing: The 800-mile (1,300 km) Trans-Alaska Pipeline carries oil from Prudhoe Bay, on the Arctic Ocean, to the port of Valdez, on the Gulf of Alaska. Oil travels through the pipeline at a temperature of over 120° F (80° C). For most of its length, the pipeline is elevated above permafrost to keep the permafrost from thawing. In places the oil is carried in buried, refrigerated pipes. Describe some of the consequences the melting of Arctic permafrost may have on the pipeline over the next 25 years

Answer:

The melting of the Artic permafrost will make the supports for the pipeline loose.  Eventually the permafrost will either melt completely and collapse, which shall break the pipeline and then no oil shall be transported between Prudhoe bay to the port of Valdez.

Chapter 6 Homework

Chapter 6, Section 1

1. How are population patterns in the United States influenced by the region’s physical geography and by the development of industry and technology?

Answer:

Population increased where there was water and fertile land to farm.  Later as industry and technology started to increase in areas of trade such as the North East of the United States, population largely increased because of people looking for work

2. What are four cultural elements influenced by the immigrant roots of the United States?

Answer:

Four cultural elements that are influenced by immigrant roots are Language, Religion, the Arts, and Education

Creative Writing: Write a biography of an early settler in the United States from the time he or she arrives in New York harbor in 1845, at the age of 20, until his or her death at the age of 70.

Answer:

Antonio arrived in the United States when he was age 20.  New York, the place of his arrival, was bustling with work and factories, so he quickly took up a job at one of the factories.  Antonio spent more of his life working for the factory.  At around age 30, Antonio married and had many children, as was custom in the United States in the mid 1800's.  At age 60, Antonio quit work and his children, who now worked at the factory and other, higher paying, jobs took care of him.  Antonio died at age 70 of old age, having lived a long life for most of the people living in the United States

Chapter 6, Section 2

1. What are two economic factors that encouraged growth of Canada’s western population?

Answer:

Two economic factors that encouraged population growth in western Canada are the discovery of oil and natural gas and the many waterways to support agriculture and trade.

2. How do the country’s religious practices and languages reflect the immigrant history of Canada?

Answer

The mix of British and French settlers with the indigenous Native American population has resulted in the two official languages being English and French.  Many Canadians also speak Cree and Inuktitut, the original languages of Canada.  The religion s practiced is massively affected by the diverse immigrants in Canada  The practiced religions are Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Sikhism

Creative Writing: Imagine that the American colonies did not separate from Great Britain and remained a part of the British Empire. How might the history and development of Canada have been affected

Answer:

If the American colonies didn't separate from Great Britain, then Canada would probably still be part of Britain.  The American colonies breaking free of Great Britain might have inspired Canadians to take control of their country.  Canada would also have a smaller French-speaking population and would still have all of its rules made by Britain.

Chapter 5 Homework

Chapter 5, Section 1

1. How have the river systems and landforms of the United States and Canada played important roles in this region’s development?

Answer:

Landforms such as plateus and mountains have greatly affected how regions develop.  Cities and settlements often avoid plateus and mountains because it is harder to grow food and find water.  Rivers, lakes, and streams on the other hand attract settlements because it provides a steady source of water and vegetation.  Other landforms that might drive people away and prevent development are deserts and barren valleys.

2. What are some of the major geographical factors and natural resources that have played an important part in the economic development of the United States and Canada?

Answer:

Some major geographical factors and natural resources that helped the economic development of the United States and Canada are the Appalachian Mountains, the Mississippi River, The Canadian Shield, fossil fuels, timber, and minerals.  The Appalachian Mountains and the Canadian Shield offer natural borders.  The Mississippi River and other rivers serve as trade routes and ports.  Both United States and Canada use fossils fuels for their factories and transportation.  Timber and minerals are both staple exports for Canada and the United States and bring in a lot of money to supply their economies

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph describing the landforms that would be visible from an airplane window if you were flying across North America, from Norfolk, Virginia, to Seattle, Washington. Assume that you are flying low enough to see the ground.

Answer:

As you fly over North American, you can see many land features.  First you see the Mississippi River, a huge blue-brown snake weaving through the mountains.  We pass by the huge peakes of the Appalachian mountains.  Once we pass the peaks, we see the endless plains of the Midwest.  We pass over a few more raised bumps of mountains that mark the Grand Canyon, Sierra Nevada, and other mountains.

Chapter 5, Section 2

1. What climate regions are found in the United States and Canada?

Answer:

Climate regions of the United States and Canada are warm and wet climates, warm and dry climates, interior climates, and coastal climates

2. What are three of the weather-related hazards found in the United States and Canada?

Answer:

Three weather related hazards are hurricanes in warm and wet climates, tornadoes in interior climates, and blizzards in high-latitude climates

Creative Writing: Why might two cities at about the same latitude, such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (40.0º N), and Salt Lake City, Utah (40.45º N), have widely differing climates? Write a paragraph justifying your conclusion

Answer:

The two cities of the same latitude have different climates because of their longitude.  Philadelphia, Pennslvania is located in a cooler, wet area that experiences varying temperatures and rain.  As a result, Philadelphia has a lot of vegetation that requires water to live.  Salt Lake Coity, Utah, is located in a warm and dry climate.  As a result, it is hotter there, has barely any shrub or rainfall, and is very dry.  Because of how far each place is from water and the coast, the two places differ in temperature, rainfall, and vegetation

Chapter 4 Homework

Chapter 4, Section 2

1. What factors define a culture?
Answer:

Factors that define a culture are language, religion, social groups, government, economy, and their region

2. What developments have affected interaction between cultures in recent years?

Answer:

In recent years, the development of more modern technology and computers has affected interaction between cultures.  Computers make it possible to store and look up lots of information and send it anywhere, letting people of other cultures observe and learn about cultures different from their own

Creative Writing: Imagine what your daily life would be like if the information revolution had not occurred, and there were no personal computers, information storage devices, or Internet. Write a paragraph describing what your day would be like, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep.

Answer:

When I get up in the morning, I'll probably get ready just like I normally do.  My parents would watch the news, but it would all be local news because nothing else can get to the stations fast enough.  When I get to school, I have to look through several text books and research books to find answers.  Later, at home, I'd have to scan through each and every page of a book to find an answer, or try to guess what something means because that is the only way I can 'Look things up.'  If I was curious about something I read, I'd have to go to the library and read through various books to find little snippets of information.  Most of the time, I wouldn't be able to find everything I would need and would leave the library with more questions than answers.

Chapter 4, Section 3

1. What are the differences between the major types of national government in the world today?

Answer:

Some of the differences between major types of national government is who rules and how important the citizens are in the government. 

In an autocracy, the ruler is an individual who receive their position through inheritance or forceful use of military power.  The people have absolutely no voice in this type of government

The second kind of government is an oligarchy.  The leaders of this government are a small group of people who get their power from wealth, military power, social position, or religion.  Some examples can be the Chinese government or the leaders of the Communist party.  The people have a little voice in the government sometimes.  The people will elect others for government positions, but in the end all the power still lies within the leading group.

The third kind of government is a democracy.  Strangely enough, here the people rule the rulers.  The people have a lot of say in what goes on in their country.  The people elect representatives to speak for them and then vote on what laws and propositions they want passed.

2. Give examples of the major types of economic systems in the world.
Answer:

Some major types of economies are Traditional economies, market economies, and command economies.  Traditional economies and governed by the traditions and customs of the people's ancestors.  Market economies, such as free enterprise or capitalism, say that individuals and private groups should make their own decisions about what they are to produce.  The shoppers will choose what to buy, and the businesses will make more of what the shoppers want.  The last major economy is a command economy.  This means that the government tells everyone what they are to do, make, purchase, and sell.  The citizens are taxed, but they never know where their money goes

Creative Writing: You live within a democratic government system and a market economy. Write a paragraph explaining some of the advantages to you under this government and economic system, as well as the some of the disadvantages.

Answer:
Some advantages to this are that I get to vote on who I want in charge, what laws I want passed, and who I want to represent me and my state.  I also get to purchase whatever I want from wherever I want without limit except for how much money I have.  I'll also be able to make and sell whatever I want.  Some disadvantages would be that everyone else has the same rights.  If I want one thing, and the majority wants another thing, then I'll lose in the vote and what I want to happen will probably not happen.  Another disadvantage is that the company that makes my favorite things might decide not to manufacture that product anymore because it isn't popular among the general public

Chapter 4, Section 4

1. What is a major factor in determining a country’s economic development and trade relationships?

Answer:

A major factor of how a country's economy develops and how it trades with other countries is what resources are available to the country and how they use them

2. How do human economic activities affect the environment?

Human economies can hurt the environment.  For example, a country might rely on lumber and paper production for most of it's economy.  To get lumber and paper, the country will have to chop down whole sections of forests that can never be replaced.  A country that relies on oil can mine the earth until there simply are no fossil fuels left to feed it's economy.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph agreeing or disagreeing with the statement: “Only developed countries need to replace their dependence on fossil fuels with the use of renewable energy resources.” Explain your reasoning.

I think that all countries need to replace their dependence on fossil fuels with the use of renewable energy resources.  Not only will it be cheaper for all the countries, but it'll be easier.  What's easier: Trekking it to the nearest city (which could be miles away) for a gallon of gas that won't last long, or just having a solar panel that can generate electricity and energy for all your needs in a blink of an eye?  If all countries would stop using fossil fuels, it would also decrease the amount of pollution in the atmosphere and humans might actually have a shot of helping our planet recuperate from the abuse we have dealt to her.

Chapter 3 Homework

Chapter 3, Section 1

1. How does Earth’s position in relation to the sun affect temperatures on Earth?

Answer:

Because the Earth is tilted slightly on it's side, not all surfaces of the Earth receive the same amount of sun.  The parts that experience more sunlight and hotter than places that don't.

2. How might global warming affect Earth’s air, land, and water?

Answer:

Global warming causes a rise in CO2 levels and temperatures.  This causes the weather patterns to be more extreme, the soil dehydrating faster, and the water from the oceans and seas will evaporate faster.

Creative Writing:  “Global warming is a natural process and there is nothing we can do to affect the severity or effects of global warming on the environment.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Write a paragraph explaining your reasoning.

Answer:

I disagree with this statement.  We can do things to limit the CO2 in the atmosphere, and kind of stop global warming, or at least slow it.  If humans would stop creating so much pollution and carbon waste, stop cutting down forests and using up so much oil, and start recycling what we already have, then we could decrease how much waste we're dumping into our atmosphere, which includes CO2. 

Chapter 3, Section 2

1. How do latitude and elevation affect climate?

Answer:

Latitude can majorly affect the climate of an area.  Low Latitude areas usually receive direct rays of light and have warm to hot climates, whereas high latitudes receiver indirect sunlight that barely heats up the land.  Elevation can also affect the climate.  The higher a certain area is, the less atmosphere there is to retain heat, thus making the climate colder.  Likewise, the lower a certain area is, the more atmosphere retains heat and the hotter the area is.

 

2. What role do wind patterns, ocean currents, and landforms play in Earth’s climates?

Answer:

Wind patterns blow warm winds at lower latitudes and colder winds at higher altitudes.  The ocean currents affect the climate of the land with their temperatures.  Cold ocean currents cool lands when the pass, but warm currents bring warmer temperatures.  When the winds and the currents come together and heat up, the water in the oceans turns into clouds.  When both cool down, it causes rain to fall. 

Once in a while of pressure of the atmosphere drops and cit causes the precipitation to increase along the coasts, increasing risks of floods and changing the climates all over the world.

Land forms can also affect the climate.  Large bodies of water cool down coastal areas and protect them from much climate change.  Big mountains cause air to cool and lose their precipitation on the mountain.  This makes the air hot and dry which causes the dry deserts and valleys on the other sides of the mountains.

Creative Writing: The North Atlantic Current, which warms the shore of western Europe as much as 10˚C in some places, came to a halt for ten days in November of 2004. Researchers are unsure of the cause of the shutdown. What might be some of the consequences for the European climate if the current weakened or shut down permanently?

Answers:

If the current stopped completely, it would be disastrous to the climate.  The currents would no longer bring in cool water or cooler winds, and the coastal areas would experience more change in their weather than they are used to.  The mountain areas would receive less perticipation, killing some fragile wildlife there and damaging economies.  Even the deserts would suffer, receiving even less water than they did before.

Chapter 3, Section 3

1. How do geographers classify the climate regions of the world?

Answer:

Geographers classify the climate regions as tropical, dry, mid latitude, high latitude, and highland based on their soil, vegetation, and temperatures

2. How do recurring phenomena influence climate patterns over time?

Answer:

Recurring phenomena such as volcano eruptions and ice ages can alter the climate drastically.  Volcano eruptions can create dust clouds that reflect sunlight back into space, cooling the atmosphere.  Ice ages can also affect an area.  They carve out valleys and seas, and provide water where there once were dry places.  The water created can cool down an area, or the lower elevations can make the climate warmer. 

Creative Writing: Describe the climate region where you live, including its characteristic soils and natural vegetation. Remember that natural vegetation is the plant life growing where the natural environment is unchanged by human activity

Answer:

Huntington Beach's climate is mild.  The city is built by the beach which cools the land down with frequent ocean currents and  cool wind blown in.  The elevation is near sea level, which means that Huntington Beach has a lot of insulation of heat.  The soil is naturally filled with nutrients since Huntington Beach used to be a swamp where sediment and minerals would stop by before being deposited into the sea.  Unfortunately, since humans have settled down here, the soil where it used to be swamps is now littered with human waste and garbage.  The natural vegetation are ferns, wild grasses, and shrubs.  Everything else you see in Huntington Beach are either alien plants (i.e. clover, daisies) that have attack the natural foliage, or garden plants such as which are planted by house owners.

Chapter 2, Sections 1 and 2 Homework

Chapter 2 Section 1

1. Describe the different surfaces and geographical areas found on Earth.

Answer:
The main different surfaces of earth are land, water, and air.  Land is made of continents, islands, and the land beneath the oceans called ocean basins.  Water makes up 70 percent of the planet's surface and consists of oceans, lakes, rivers, and any other bodies of water.  Air is the last surface.  It's called the atmosphere and extends from the planet's surface.  Air is made up of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and one percent other gases.

2. What point on Earth is the greatest distance from sea level?

Answer:

The greatest distance above sea level is Mount Everest.

Creative Writing: Agree or disagree with the statement: When small objects in space, such as meteoroids and comets, enter Earth’s atmosphere, they have no long-term effect on Earth’s lithosphere, atmosphere, or biosphere. Justify your conclusion.

Answer: 

I think that meteoroid and comet landings do have long term affects in the lithosphere, atmosphere, and the biosphere.  If the meteoroid or comet is big enough, they'll leave a dent in the lithosphere forever.  Trees and animals may live in that crater, but the crater will always be there.  I think that comets and meteoroids may affect the atmosphere too.  When the go through the atmosphere the catch fire because of friction with our atmosphere.  If the falling object suffers from the friction, why shouldn't our atmosphere?  The landings of the comets and meteoroids can also affect the biosphere for the worse.  If it were big enough, it could annihilate a whole species in a certain area, or damage the environment they live in.

Chapter 2, Section 2

1. How do Earth’s layers contribute to the planet’s physical characteristics?

Answer:

The mantle, or the second layer of the earth, affect the planet's characteristics a whole lot.  The mantle oozes out currents of very hot rock below the crush, causing the plates to move around slowly.  Sometimes whole continents collide with one another, creating huge mountains and valleys.  The mantle also bursts magma through the cracks at the bottom of the ocean, gradually forming underwater mountains that emerge as islands.  One these islands, and even on continents, magma will continue to flow periodically, causing a volcanic eruption and shaping the surface even more by adding more rock and fertile soil for new plants.

2. How do internal forces of change affect Earth’s surface differently from external forces of change?

Answer:
Internal forces of change usually just change the earth and create mountains, volcanoes, and new features.  The external forces weather away at the surface, destroying rather than creating.

Creative Writing: Describe how internal forces may have changed the surface of what is now North America over the past 225 million years.

Answer:

Over time the mantle's flow has moved the plates under North America around, shifting and shaping it into the way it is formed today.  Multiple collisions with other continents and islands have bunched up the land, forming it into mountains and valleys.  Earthquakes throughout the continent have pushed land masses around and snap pieces of land apart.  Volcanic eruptions have dotted the surface of North America, providing more soil and rebirth of plants and nature.

Chapter 1 Homework

Chapter 1, Section 1

1.  What are at least two of the concerns cartographers have when they select a map projection?  Explain your reasoning.
Answer:
Two things that cartographers must think of when they make maps are the size of the area they are mapping and what the map will be used for.  If it's a bigger area of land, the cartographer knows that it will be more distorted than it would be if it were a small area of land.  If the map is used to navigate then it should be as accurate as possible to avoid pople getting confused or lost.
2.  Identify two physical features, two human-made features, and two political features that could be shown on a typical urban-area map.
Answer:
Two physical features on a map would be bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes, and mountains.  Two human-made features would be roads and cities.  Two political features would be coutry boundaries and state borders.

Creative Writing:  Imagine that you are a city planner in a fast growing urban area, and you are using a GIS to create a map to help choose locations for new elementary schools.  What types of information would be useful?  Write a paragraph about the features to be shown on the map.
Anwer:
If I were a city planner trying to map a location for a new elementary school on a GIS  I would look for four things: Location, population, roads, and other schools.  The location of the school, or at least the desired one, would be important because it's the first thing to enter in the GIS in order to analyze the surroundings.  The population would also be important because we need to see how many people could possibly have children that they would enroll in the school.  Roads is very important...we wouldn't want to build a school in the middle of the street or have a part of a building plan incompleted because there's a street in the way, now would we?  The last important factor is other schools.  If there are many other elementary schools around the new school, the school might not have as many children enroll.  However, if there is a nearby nursery or preschool, parents and teachers will note the building and might enroll their kids in the new school.
Chapter 1 Section 2

1.  What are the major branches of geography, and what topics does each branch study?
Answer:
There are two main branches of geography are physical and human geography.  Physical geography tells us about climate, land, bodies of water, native plants and animals, and their relationships with one another as well as their relationships with humans.  Human geography studies political borders, economy, population growth, city development, and the import and export of goods.
2.  How is geography used?
Answer:
Geography is used to help people navigate.  When I say navigate, I don't mean just direction, or just their place in a big city.  I mean how to navigate the businesses around them, the people, the climate, how to change their lives or surroundings to create harmony in their enviorment,

Creative Writing:  Consider the place where you live.  Write a paragraph describing its site, situation, and a type of region in which it belongs.  Include examples of how the movement of people has affected its culture and how human enviorment interaction has changed the enviorment.
Answer:
Huntington Beach is located near the coast line of Southern California.  The  location used to be a marshland, but since many people moved here and set up businesses all the marshes are gone, replaced with sidewalk and streets and buildings.  Lot's of different people live in Huntington Beach, but the population is mostly Caucasian or Asian.  The weather is mild beach weather with a marine layer in the morning that burns off by noon.  The seasons don't change that much, just with a couple of exceptionally cold weeks or exceptionally hot weeks.