GR100 Introduction of Geography
Fall 2003
Midterm #2
November 13th (15 marks)
The correct answers appear in bold and italisized font. The examination is out of 30. Note that some questions have multiple answers and some have partial answers. There is a bonus mark for question 31.
1. Why was Suriname important to the United States’ World War II efforts?
A) ethnic diversity
B) production of agricultural products directly transported by merchant marines to servicemen
C) sinking of German ship in harbor of the capital
D) production of Bauxite ore used for aluminum
E) dislike of axis forces
2. Who were the Caribs?
A) Native Americans who developed chocolate from cocoa
B) Native Americans who settled the Lesser Antilles
C) Native Americans who developed carob
D) Native Americans who settled the Greater Antilles
E) the ancestors of the Carib Brewing Company
3. Primacy is the fact that:
A) the portion of the population living in urban centres has increased dramatically
B) Native Americans have been forced into the minority due to population declines from disease and mistreatment
C) South American continues to rely on non-renewable and agricultural resources to drive the economy
D) a large portion of a nation’s population lives in the capital city, and only a fraction in the next largest city
E) Middle and South American nations have been ruled by dictatorships after independence.
4. Two important aspects of Panama’s geography are:
A) geological history producing metal deposits and large quantities of fresh water
B) small width of the isthmus and separation from politically unstable nations
C) proximity to South America and proximity to Middle America
D) moderate climate and gentle topography
E) varying climate and extreme topography
5. Suriname has a mixed population consisting primarily of the following ethnicities:
A) Dutch, British and Americans
B) Native Americans, Dutch, Africans, Indonesians and Asians - HALF MARK
C) Africans, Indians, Javanese and Spanish
D) Africans, Indians, Javanese and Portugese
E) Africans, Indians, Javanese and Dutch
6. Which South American nation generates the world’s most electricity from hydropower, while having the world’s worst access to safe water:
A) Brazil
B) Paraguay
C) Uruguay
D) Guinea
E) Bolivia
7. Potatoes have been domesticated by the Native Americans and exported in the form of:
A) manioc to West Africa
B) casava to the Guyanas
C) tarots to China
D) yams to Uzbekistan
E) golds to the Yukon
8. How did the Spanish defeat the Aztecs and Incas?
A) disease
B) superior European military technology
C) superior European civilization
D) A and B
E) A, B, and C
9. The European Union currently has how many member countries?
A) all of Europe
B) 22
C) 15
D) 12
E) 6
10. Economies of scale are:
A) when more goods are produced, the unit price is reduced resulting in more profit per unit
B) the increased access to consumers due to elimination of trade borders
C) moral responsibility of industry
D) finances associated with the magnitude of dimension - HALF MARK
E) finances associated with the size of product
11. Why have the Roman bridges survived for 2000 years?
A) the Romans have maintained them well
B) they have been reinforced
C) the Romans have been lucky
D) the stones survive better in tension
E) the parabolic shape puts the stones completely into compression
12. Whose doctrine did the Bolseviks follow after the overthrow of the Russian Czar in 1917?
A) Karl Popper
B) Karl Marx
C) Vladmir Putin
D) Mikhail Gorbechev
E) Thomas Hobbs
13. What helped the fall of the Soviet Union?
A) exhaustion of natural resources
B) decrease in the natural rate of increase
C) environmental disasters
D) outspending by the military
E) none of the above
14. Potatoes were successfully domesticated by the Incas because
A) they were a valuable export commodity
B) they grew in different sizes
C) they grew in different colours
D) they grew at different elevations<BR>
E) they were suitable for grafting and cross-breeding
15. Who was defeated in part by disease?
A) Aztecs
B) Incas
C) French Panama canal builders
D) Amazon Basin natives
E) all of the above
16. American natives came from:
A) Europe
B) Africa - ANSWER ALSO ACCEPTED FOR FULL CREDIT
C) Asia - PREFERRED ANSWER
D) the Fertile Crescent - ANSWER ALSO ACCEPTED FOR FULL CREDIT
E) America
17. Which country produces significant quantities of zinc, tin and lead?
A) Chile
B) Peru
C) Brazil
D) Suriname
E) Venezuela
18. Why does Argentina have the world’s largest surplus of food?
A) people consume significantly less food than elsewhere
B) natural ocean water desalination
C) mineral extraction to purchase imported food
D) fertile land, adequate water, limited population
E) an abundance of indigenous plants and animals
19. Why do the Venezuelan population consume water at North American levels?
A) increased standard of living due to oil exports
B) increased standard of living due to drug exports
C) increased standard of living due to plantation exports
D) foreign assistance
E) they consume at the same level as other South American nations
20. The European Regional Development Fund was established to:
A) promote development in former colonies
B) help companies reestablish themselves in warmer climates
C) help companies reestablish themselves in areas where wages are lower
D) reduce disparities and inequalities among regions and improve infrastructure
E) promote tourism in regions lacking a proper infrastructure for such endeavours
21. Which of the following Western European countries have not joined the European Union:
A) Ireland, Sweden, Norway
B) Ireland, Switzerland, Norway
B) Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary
D) Iceland, Switzerland, Norway
B) Greenland, Switzerland, Norway
22. Since its inception in January 2002, the European Dollar has:
A) decreased in value by 50% compared to the US Dollar
B) decreased in value by 25% compared to the US Dollar
C) remained constant with the US Dollar
D) increased in value by 25% compared to the US Dollar
E) increased in value by 50% compared to the US Dollar
23. Permafrost is defined as:
A) a cold treeless zone
B) a layer of permanently frozen soil
C) a dry alpine soil
D) a layer of seasonally frozen soil
E) frozen soil to depths of 400 metres - HALF MARK
24. Siberian oils and gas reserves are difficult to extract due to:
A) environmental concerns
B) lack of technology
C) harsh terrain and climate
D) lack of environmental policy
E) lack of labour
25. South America is more diverse than North America due to:
A) number of countries and methods of government
B) more varied environment
C) cultural complexity
D) Native population influences daily life
E) all of the above
26. Subduction is defined as:
A) the separation of tectonic plates to create a rift
B) one tectonic plate sliding over another often creating mountain chains
C) the rotation of tectonic plates creating metamorphic rock
D) the metamorphosis of igneous rock
E) none of the above - ALSO ACCEPTED FOR FULL CREDIT, SINCE THE DEFINITION IS SLIDING UNDER
27. Ecuador and Columbia get their weather from:
A) Atlantic North-east trade winds - ALSO ACCEPTED FOR FULL CREDIT
B) South-east trade winds
C) Antarctic lows
D) El Nino Southern Oscillation
E) the weather channel
28. Temperate climates in which countries assist/enable the local wine industry:
A) Mexico and Costa Rica
B) Chile and Argentina
C) Suriname and Guyana
D) Panama and Columbia
E) Cuba and Jamaica
29. Shifting cultivation has become limited because:
A) only certain crops are considered cash crops
B) forest resources have become depleted as time for regrowth has decreased
C) it is not productive for the resources required
D) it has increased
E) requires too much irrigation
30. The Panamanian economy has been enhanced beyond the canal to include:
A) international banking in Panama City
B) Caribbean free trade zone
C) an oil pipeline across the isthmus
D) international banking, free trade zone, oil pipeline
E) training centers for foreign military personnel
BONUS QUESTION
31. On what European River did the Clash film a video where they played on a barge?
A) Rhine
B) Danube
C) Seine
D) Thames - the video was London Calling
E) Volga
Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship
College of Natural Resources
Colorado State University