Chapter 7
mestizo
a person of mixed indigenous and European ancestry
vertical climate zone
a climate area that occurs as elevation increases, with its own natural vegetation and crops
Northern Mexico has what kind of climate?
Dry
Why is water scarcity a growing issue in Mexico?
It has a large and growing population and only a few major rivers and lakes.
isthmus
a narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas
a former federation that included the present-day countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
United Provinces of Central America
What are two leading causes of deforestation in Central America?
slash-and-burn cultivation and commercial logging
cordillera
parallel chains or ranges of mountains
Titicaca
the world’s highest navigable lake
In many places throughout South America, Carnival is celebrated in the week before the ____________________ observance of Lent.
Catholic
conquistador
a Spanish soldier who participated in conquest of indigenous peoples of Mexico
seismic
relating to or caused by an earthquake
___________________ led the Spanish forces that invaded and conquered the ____________________ in Mexico.
Hernán Cortés; Aztec
The mayor of Mexico City launched programs to reduce pollution in the city by doing what?
encouraging more use of bicycles
minifundia
a small farm that produces food chiefly for family consumption in Latin America
What is the correct term for the transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases that began when Europeans arrived in the Western Hemisphere?
the Columbian Exchange
Many small islands in the Caribbean have been used for intensive plantation agriculture for centuries. What problem has this caused today?
The islands are suffering from soil erosion.
favela
a slum on the outskirts of a Brazilian city consisting of crudely built shacks
What causes Patagonia to be dry, barren, and windy?
the rain shadow effect caused by the Andes
Which of the following are major crops exported from South America?
grains, soybeans, and coffee
free trade zone
an area of a country in which trade restrictions do not apply
cash crop
a farm product grown to be sold or traded
Northern Mexico has a ____________________ biome in which cacti, shrubs, and shrub oak grow.
chaparral
patois
a dialect used in everyday speech that blends elements of several languages
a transportation route opened in 1914 and once controlled by the United States
Panama Canal
The islands of the Caribbean typically have a _________________________ climate.
tropical wet/dry
pampas
the grassy, treeless plains of Argentina & Uruguay
Machu Picchu
an ancient Inca town in the Andes
Who were leaders of the South American wars for independence?
Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín
In the Amazon rain forest in Brazil, ____________________ is the leading cause of deforestation.
cattle ranching
deforestation
the loss or destruction of woodlands, mainly for logging or farming
gross domestic product
the value of goods and services produced within a country in a year
Of what precious mineral is Mexico the world’s leading producer?
Silver
archipelago
a group or a chain of islands
sedimentation
the action or process of forming or depositing eroded material
Because of its location on the Ring of Fire, much of Central America is
mountainous with active volcanoes.
brain-drain
the loss of highly educated and skilled workers to other countries
Amazon
the longest river in the Western Hemisphere
In South America, most people live where?
near the coasts and along major rivers
How does monoculture affect soil?
It depletes it of nutrients.
land subsidence
the downward shifting of land in response to various natural and human-caused factors
What contributes to desertification in northern Mexico?
an increase in drought in recent years
Mexico is also a leading ____________________ producer, which is used to produce much of Mexico’s power supply.
petroleum
latifundia
a large agricultural estate owned by a family or corporation in Latin America
a country that won its independence in 1804, following a revolt led by François Toussaint-Louverture
Haiti
Which vertical climate zone is a hot temperature zone where bananas and sugarcane are grown?
tierra caliente
oxisol
a thick, weathered soil of the humid tropics that is largely depleted of fertility and nutrients
escarpment
a steep cliff or slope between a higher and lower land surface
Most Argentinians today are descended from
Spaniards and Italians
Due to its location, the predominant climates of South America are
tropical wet and tropical wet/dry.