Physical Geography
What is the world’s longest mountain chain located in South America?
The Andes Mountains
What ancient empire once ruled much of western South America?
The Inca Empire
What percentage of South Americans live in urban areas today?
About 84%
What country is the world’s largest exporter of coffee?
Brazil
What major environmental issue threatens the Amazon Rain Forest?
Deforestation
What high plateau lies between the Andes in Bolivia and Peru?
The Altiplano
What were the knotted strings the Inca used for record keeping called?
Quipus
What are the large slum neighborhoods on the outskirts of Brazilian cities called?
Favelas
What crop is South America’s fastest-growing agricultural export?
Soybeans
What is monoculture, and why is it harmful?
Growing only one crop repeatedly; it depletes soil nutrients
What dry, windy region lies in southern Argentina in the Andes’ rain shadow?
Patagonia
Who were two major leaders of South American independence?
Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín
What annual celebration is held in Brazil before Lent?
Carnival
What highway connects the Amazon River ports to Peru’s Pacific ports?
The Transoceanic Highway
What process turns productive land into desert?
Desertification
What massive river flows over 4,000 miles through the Amazon Basin?
The Amazon River
What were military dictators called in postcolonial South America?
Caudillos
What is syncretism?
The blending of different religions and cultural beliefs
Which countries are major petroleum exporters in South America?
Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina
What are three main sources of pollution in South America?
Urban waste, industrial pollution, and illegal mining
Why do most Brazilians live along the coast rather than inland?
The escarpment and dense forests make inland development difficult
How did European colonization change indigenous populations?
Disease, enslavement, and harsh labor drastically reduced their numbers
Why is South America one of the world’s most culturally diverse regions?
It blends indigenous, European, African, and Asian influences
Why do some South American economies remain less developed?
Unequal access to resources, infrastructure, and technology
What was Paraguay’s 2004 environmental law called, and what did it do?
The Zero Deforestation Law; it banned forest clearing in eastern Paraguay