Lesson 1: Physical Geography
How does Brazil's location in the Tropics affect its climate?
They make most of Brazil warm, humid, and wet most of the year.
What kind of agriculture did some indigenous farmers practice?
slash-and-burn (cutting down trees and burning the underbrush)
In what parts of Brazil do most of its population live?
Most Brazilians live in and around cities or within 200 miles of the coast.
The official language of Brazil is...
A. Spanish
B. Brazilian
C. Portuguese
D. English
C. Portuguese
Why is the Amazon Basin a unique region?
It covers almost half of Brazil and contains the world's largest rain forest. It is considered the world's richest biological resource because it is home to several million kinds of plants, animals, insects, and birds.
How did Pedro II feel about slavery?
He opposed it.
How is Brazil's African heritage affected its culture today?
Food, music, dance (ex. Samba)
Brazil's largest metropolitan area is...
A. Brasilia
B. Buenos Aires
C. Sao Paulo
D. Rio de Janeiro
C. Sao Paulo
How do a tropical rain forest climate and a tropical wet/dry climate differ?
Tropical rain forest climates get heavy rain year round. Tropical wet/dry climates have rainy summers and dry winters.
What happened to many indigenous people after European colonists came to Brazil?
They were forced to become slaves, were killed, or died from European diseases.
Why is Brazilian Portuguese quite different from the language spoken in Portugal?
The many different ethnic groups in Brazil have introduced new words and expressions to the language.
Brazil is the world's largest exporter of...
A. beef
B. clocks
C. peanut butter
D. tropical plants
A. beef
What resources are important Brazilian exports?
mahogany, copper, coffee, cassava, beef
What happened in the 1720s that added to the population boom of Brazil?
the discovery of diamonds in the region
How do education issues contribute to economic inequalities in Brazil?
More than half of Brazilians have a 4th grade education or less. The best paying jobs to go high school and college graduates. The top half of society receives most of the country's income while millions of poorly educated Brazilians work long hours for low pay.
Most of Brazil's population lives in...
A. the rain forest
B. the coastal lowlands
C. the Amazon Basin
D. northeastern Brazil
B. the coastal lowlands
In which of Brazil's physical regions would you most like to live? Explain why using three details that you know about that particular region.
Answers will vary.
What are some positive and negative effects of industrial growth that have had an impact on Brazilian society?
Positive: economic stability, growth
Negative: Pollution, overcrowding
Choose one challenge Brazil faces today and provide one suggestion on how to solve it.
Answers will vary (ex. overcrowded favelas- fund public transportation to the suburbs)
When Napoleon invaded Portugal in 1807 and the Portuguese family and government leaders fled to Brazil, which city became the new capital of the Portuguese Empire?
A. Sao Paulo
B. Campinas
C. Rio de Janeiro
D. Brasilia
C. Rio de Janeiro