Geography and Culture
Why do Siberian nomads move from place to place?
To find food according to the season
Who were the primary groups that built the railroad?
Peasants convicts and soldiers
What event caused Communists to lose control of Eastern Europe?
The fall of the Berlin Wall
What is currently Russias greatest source of wealth?
Oil and natural gas
Why did the Chernobyl disaster hurt Belarus so badly?
Wind pushed a radioactive cloud there
Who do Russian peasant farmers work for today?
Corporations or individuals who own farms
What world record does the Trans-Siberian Railroad hold?
It is the world longest railroad
What system of government did the 1993 Russian constitution set up?
A federal system
Why is the area near the Caspian Sea so valuable?
Much oil and gas is found there
What lesson did France learn from the Chernobyl disaster?
To use more advanced nuclear technology
What parts of a peoples culture does climate affect?
Food clothing and shelter
How does the railroad help the world economy?
It links East Asia to Europe for trade
Which part of the US government is most like Russias Federal Assembly?
Congress
How is most of the oil from the Caspian Sea moved to other countries?
Pipelines
What happened to the Soviet republics after the collapse in 1991?
They became independent countries
What is the main occupation for many people in Central Asia?
Livestock herders
About how many years did it take to build the railroad?
25 years
What was one of Mikhail Gorbachevs major ideas for reform?
To reduce government control of the economy
What country holds the world rank of number one in natural gas reserves?
Russia
What were the long term effects of the Chernobyl disaster?
Health problems and environmental damage
What two factors help promote farming on the steppes?
Rich soil and a moderate climate
Why did Peter the Great choose the location for St Petersburg?
It is near the Baltic Sea and Europe
What was a major cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union?
The separate republics wanted independence
In 2003 what did Vladimir Putin want St Petersburg to become?
A center for world diplomacy
How many people are estimated to die from cancers caused by radiation exposure from the accident?
4,000