Physical Geo
What ocean is west of Latin America?
Pacific Ocean
Which three Indigenous civilizations lived in the Americas before European conquest?
Maya, Aztec, and Inca
Which European country colonized most of Central America?
Spain
What is a cash crop?
A crop grown mainly to be sold for profit
What is a favela?
A community or informal settlement, often with limited access to services and safe housing
What mountain range runs along western South America?
Andes Mountains
How did the Incas adapt to living in the mountains?
They built terrace farms on mountain slopes.
Which religion is most widely practiced in Latin America?
Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism
What is neocolonialism?
When a powerful country or foreign company controls another country's economy without directly ruling it as a colony
What generally happens to temperature as elevation increases?
Temperature generally decreases as elevation increases.
What is an archipelago?
A group or chain of islands
What was the purpose of the Inca quipu system?
To record and organize information, such as numbers, taxes, and supplies, using knotted cords
Why did many Indigenous people die after Europeans arrived?
Europeans brought diseases to which Indigenous peoples had little immunity.
Why is relying on one cash crop risky?
If prices fall, the country may earn less money and experience economic problems.
How can the Amazon River influence where people live?
Rivers can provide water, transportation, fishing, and fertile land for farming.
What is a vertical climate zone?
Climate that changes depending on elevation
How did the Aztecs modify their environment to grow crops near Lake Texcoco?
They built chinampas, or raised farming areas, in the shallow waters around Lake Texcoco.
How does European colonization continue to influence Latin America today?
Spanish and Portuguese remain widely spoken, and Catholicism remains widespread.
How was the United Fruit Company an example of neocolonialism?
The company gained economic and political power in Latin America, influencing local governments and economies for its own benefit.
What is one negative effect of Amazon deforestation?
Answers may include habitat loss, declining biodiversity, increased carbon dioxide, and disruption of the water cycle.
Why does Latin America have many earthquakes and volcanoes?
Much of Latin America is near tectonic plate boundaries, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can occur.
How did Indigenous civilizations adapt to their different environments?
Answers may include the Incas building terrace farms in mountains, the Aztecs building chinampas near lakes, or Indigenous peoples adapting their farming and lifestyles to local climates and landforms.
What were two major reasons Europeans colonized the Americas?
Answers may include gaining wealth and natural resources, finding new trade routes, spreading Christianity, and gaining land and power.
A country earns most of its export income from coffee. What might happen when global coffee prices fall?
The country may earn less export income, which can lead to job losses, lower wages, and less money for public services.
What is one way to protect the Amazon while still supporting economic development?
Answers may include selective logging, replanting trees, creating protected areas, enforcing forest laws, and supporting sustainable farming or ecotourism.