Water & Climate
This process, which happens when water evaporates, forms clouds and later causes precipitation that supports agriculture.
Evaporation/condensation/precipitation cycle (water cycle).
List two examples of natural resources mentioned in the text that the West has.
Forests, minerals, water (also land, plants).
What dark-colored organic material helps build fertile soil and is formed from decayed plants and animals?
Humus
Name three Midwestern states listed in the region.
Examples: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Name one major river system mentioned that helped move goods and supported Midwestern trade.
Mississippi River (and Great Lakes are also correct)
Name one way human construction projects change the natural environment of water systems.
Dams block or redirect rivers, change ecosystems, create reservoirs, affect fish migration.
How have forests and minerals shaped the region’s economy and culture? (Give one specific effect for each.)
Forests provide timber and habitats and support logging industries; minerals (like coal, iron) enabled steel and heavy industry growth.
Name two major crops grown in the warmer, wetter parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.
Corn and soybeans
Which soil type from the list is described as "rich, deep, and fertile" and especially suitable for agriculture?
Prairie soils.
Why did Chicago become important for shipping grain and livestock? Give one transportation reason.
Chicago was a rail hub and river/port center where grain and livestock were gathered, processed, and shipped.
In arid regions, why is water management especially important for towns and farms?
Because water is limited; crops, people, and industry depend on reliable supplies; scarcity causes competition and needs careful planning.
Define the term "ecosystem" in one or two sentences and explain how resource use can change an ecosystem.
Ecosystem = a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting; resource use (deforestation, mining) can reduce biodiversity and change nutrient cycles.
What is a "growing season"? Give the approximate growing-season length for southern Kansas vs. near the Canadian border as described in the text.
Growing season = days between last spring frost and first fall frost; southern Kansas > 200 days, near Canadian border < 120 days.
Give one physical feature that can form a boundary between states (example: between Illinois and Missouri).
Rivers, mountain ranges, large lakes, or other physical features (Mississippi River commonly forms boundaries).
Describe how waterways plus railroad systems worked together to promote industrial growth in the Midwest.
Waterways let heavy goods move cheaply; railroads moved goods quickly inland and to coasts; together they connected raw materials to factories and markets.
Explain how climate change can affect water availability and one consequence for communities.
Climate change can reduce precipitation or change timing, causing droughts or floods; consequence: reduced crop yields, water shortages, or increased flooding.
Explain why access to coal and iron ore helped the growth of heavy industries in the Midwest.
Coal and iron ore provided raw materials and fuel for steelmaking; proximity lowered transport costs and supported steel mills.
Explain two reasons Midwestern farms became very productive (mention soil or climate plus technology or transportation).
Fertile soils from glacial deposits and long growing seasons; plus mechanization and transportation networks increased scale and market access.
Match the soil to the correct environment: "tundra soils", "desert soils", or "prairie soils" — which is found in cold, arid regions; which is found in arid, low‑organic areas; which is rich and deep?
Tundra soils — cold, weakly developed
Desert soils — dry, low organic matter
Prairie soils — rich and deep
Explain how access to water transportation influenced the location of steel mills in northwestern Indiana and Ohio.
Steel mills located near waterways to receive coal/iron ore and ship finished products; water transport lowered costs and supplied necessary inputs.
Describe two ways water availability influences the growth of cities and industries.
Water supplies allow industry cooling/processes and support population growth; reliable water attracts factories and helps agriculture.
Describe a possible conflict between resource extraction (like mining) and preserving the environment; give one real or plausible solution.
Conflict: mining can pollute water and destroy habitats; solution: stricter regulation, reclamation, and sustainable practices.
Describe how farm technology changed the size of farms and the number of farm workers by the end of the 19th century to today.
Mechanization and modern farm technology allowed fewer workers to manage larger farms, increasing farm size and productivity while reducing labor needs.
Explain how variations in climate and soil across the Midwest influence what crops are grown in eastern Illinois vs. the Great Plains to the west.
Eastern Illinois: warmer, wetter, more precipitation → corn and soybeans
Great Plains: drier soils → wheat, oats, sunflowers; soil fertility and precipitation determine crop choice
Analyze how linking transportation and natural resources led to the growth of a specific Midwest industry (for example, automobiles or steel) — include at least two causes and one effect.
Example: Automobile industry grew because steel was available (cause 1), transportation networks let parts and finished cars move easily (cause 2); effect: factories clustered, cities like Detroit expanded, more jobs and economic growth.