Latin America Test Review

Life in the Central Andes

Use your notes and the Geography Alive textbook to answer the following:
Illustrate the 4 Elevation climate zones. Complete with the names of each level, elevation
ranges and crops grown.

Tierra Helada - 12,000-15,000

Extreme environment; cold windy climate; often freezes at night; snow falls at the
highest elevations; snow line lies at the upper edge of this zone; trees are rare; the most
common plant life are low-lying shrubs and hardy grass; crops: quinoa, certain types of
potatoes.
Tierra Fria - 6,000-12,000
Average temps vary from 55-65; night temperatures dip below freezing at higher
elevations; steep, rugged mountains, flat basins and plateaus lie between the
mountains; a high plateau, the Altiplano, lies between Peru and Bolivia and contains
Lake Titicaca; pines and other conifers grow where is enough rain; only shrubs and
grasses grow in dry areas; crops: potatoes, wheat, barley, corn, apples, and pears.
Tierra Templada - 3,000-6,000
Climate is temperate; temperature range from 65-75; frost is rare; pleasant weather
lasts all year; palms, bamboo, and jungle vines are common at lower elevations;
broadleaf evergreen forest is typical at higher elevations; crops: farmers choose crops
based on elevation. Lower level bananas and oranges. Higher level corn, beans,
and other vegetables. Flowers for export. The main commercial crop coffee.
Tierra Caliente - 0-3,000
Climate is generally hot and humid; average temps range from 75-80; broadleaf
evergreen forests cover the eastern slopes of the Andes; natural vegetation on the
western slopes ranges from lush rainforest to tropical grassland; Perus coast gets little
rainfall and is a desert; crops: farmers plant crops that do well in the heat- bananas,
rice, & sugarcane

Where is the tree line found? Tierra Helada

What is vertical trade? Trading of crops between different elevations. Lowland and highland
areas trade.

Physical Geography/Regions
According to the map, which current states
were once part of Mexico?
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California,
Nevada, Utah, Colorado
Label the following on the map above:
Andes Mountain
Amazon River

Amazon Rainforest
Panama Canal
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean

South America
Mexico
Middle America
Central America

Caribbean
Greater Antilles
Lesser Antilles

Where are the Andes Mountains located? West coast of South America
What countries do the Andes Mountains run through? Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru,
Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina
What two oceans does the Panama Canal connect? Atlantic and Pacific
What is the longest river in South America? Amazon River
What areas make up Latin America? Middle America, South America, Caribbean
What areas make up the Caribbean? Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and Bahamas
What countries in South America are landlocked? Paraguay and Bolivia
Spatial Inequality in Mexico City
Use your notes and the Geography Alive textbook to answer the following:
What is spatial inequality? The unequal distribution of wealth or resources in a geographic area,
so that some places are richer than others.
What is a major cause of rural decline in Mexico? Poverty and unemployment
What happened in Mexico because of rural decline? People moved to cities increase
urbanization
What are the pull factors that draw farm families to Mexico City? Economic opportunities, better
school, higher standard of living.
With population growth in Mexico City, what are some other things that have increased? Crime rates,
air pollution, poor slum neighborhoods.
What is urbanization? The movement of people from rural to urban areas, resulting in the
growth of urban areas.
What is rural? Countryside. Urban? City.
Human Environment Interaction/Key Vocabulary
Use your notes, chart and the Geography Alive textbook to answer the following:
Describe sustainable development and why is it important? Using resources in ways that meet the
needs of people today without hurting the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. This mean finding ways to use resources without using them up.

What is slash and burn farming? A way of clearing land for farming that involves cutting down
and burning trees and other plants. What group is most likely to use it to clear land? Subsistence
farmers
What are indigenous people? Natives of an area who have been conquered or dominated by
others who came later
What is terrace farming? What does terracing allow you to do? Illustrate terracing.
Creating flat surfaces on mountain slopes for the purpose of farming. Allows you to farm on
steep hillsides.
Describe the Difference between subsistence farming and commercial farming. Illustrate both types
of farming.
Subsistence farming farming carried out mainly to provide food for farm families.
Commercial farming raising crops for sale, often on large farms.
What is landlocked? Surrounded entirely by land. What is the significance of a country being
landlocked? Typically poorer countries because of lack of exporting abilities and access to
water.
What is life expectancy? The average age that a person in a given population can expect to live.
The current destruction of rainforests is primarily due to what? human demand for timber
and farmland
What is adaptation? A change in a way of life to suit new conditions.
Latin America as a Region
What countries colonized Latin America? Spain and Portugal What influences did they leave
behind? Language Spanish and Portuguese; Religion Roman Catholicism.