Exploring Earth's Geography and Resources

1. Chapter 1 Learning About Earth’s Geography • Section 1 Discovering the Earth • Vocabulary p. 19 • Geography– The study of the earth, how its features affect human life, and how the earth is affected by human activities. • Environment– All the surroundings of a place, such as land, water, weather, plants, and the changes people have made. • Vegetation– Plant life. • Gazetteer– A list of places of Geographical significance, such as countries, cities, rivers, and deserts. • Questions and Answers (1 - 4) p. 23 • What are environments? • All of the features that make up the surroundings of a place. • What is an isthmus? Name one isthmus. • A narrow strip of land bordered by water and connecting two larger bodies of land. • What is the difference between an ocean and a sea? • An ocean is a large, open body of water; • A sea is a part of the ocean that is largely enclosed by land. • What are the physical features of your environment? • Answers will vary; but should include reference to landforms, bodies of water, and • vegetation

2. Chapter 1 Learning About Earth’s Geography • Section 2 Climates of the World • Vocabulary p. 24 • Climate– The pattern of weather that an area has over a long period of time. • Precipitation– Moisture in the form of rain or snow. • Latitude– The distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees. • Tropical Climate– The climate of the tropics, characterized by intense heat, much rain, and a lack of seasons. • Temperate Climate – Climate characterized by a lack of extremes in temperature. • Polar Climate – The climate of the earth’s polar regions, characterized by short summers and long winters. • Altitude – Height above sea level. • Current – A portion of a body of water or air flowing in approximately the same path. • Questions and Answers (1 - 4) p. 28 • Are temperatures warmer in low latitudes or high latitudes? Why? • Warmer in the low latitudes because of closer distance to the equator. • Why are temperatures generally lower at higher altitudes? • The higher the altitude, the cooler the temperature. • How do ocean currents affect climate? • Cold currents, flowing from the poles, cool the climate. • Warm currents, flowing from the equator, warm the climate. • How does the climate of your region change from month to month? • Answers will vary; but should include reference to latitude, altitude, and presence or absence of • currents.

3. Chapter 1 Learning About Earth’s Geography • Section 3 Earth’s Resources • Vocabulary p. 29 • Natural Resource– Something in nature that is useful or essential to humans, such as water, air, soil, or animals. • Mineral– A natural substance, such as iron, copper, or salt, that is reached by digging into the earth. • Renewable Resource– A natural resource, such as plants or soil, that can be used again and again if used properly. • Nonrenewable Resource– A natural resource that can never be replaced once it is used, such as coal, oil, or metal. • Questions and Answers (1 - 3) p. 31 • What are natural resources? • Natural resources are gifts of nature that help us live – for example: water, air, soil, • sunlight, plants, and animals. • Explain how renewable resources and nonrenewable resources are different? • Renewable resources can replace or rebuild themselves. • Nonrenewable resources cannot. • What are some of the ways you can preserve the world’s resources? • Answers will vary; but might include using resources sparingly, caring for soil, • replanting, caring for animals, and recycling.

4. Chapter 1 Learning About Earth’s Geography • Building Skills Geography Skills • Vocabulary p. 32 • Latitude– The distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees. • Longitude– The distance east or west of the prime meridian, expressed in degrees. • Degree– A unit of measurement indicating the distance between lines of latitude and lines of longitude. • Parallel– Any line of latitude. Lines that are parallel never meet or cross. • Prime Meridian – The line of longitude marked zero degrees on the world map, from which longitude east and west is measured. • Meridian – Any line of longitude west or east of the prime meridian. • Grid – Formed when parallels and meridians cross each other, thus making it possible to pinpoint exact locations. • Questions and Answers (1 - 5) p. 33 • How do lines of latitude and lines of longitude help you to read a map? • They are numbered to show locations north or south of the equator and east or west of • the prime meridian. • Is the line marked 60 degrees south a parallel or a meridian? Why? • A parallel; It is parallel to the equator. • What two cities on the map fall on the same line of latitude? What two cities are on the same line of longitude? • Quito / Nairobi; London / Accra • The location of Buenos Aires is 35 degrees South, 60 degrees West. What letter on the map shows this location? • C • Give the latitude and longitude of the places marked A, B, and X. • A: 35 degrees North 60 degrees East • B: 60 degrees North 35 degrees East • X: 20 degrees South 120 degrees East

5. Chapter 1 Learning About Earth’s Geography • Summary and Review • Ideas to Remember p. 34 • Geography is the study of the earth and its features and how people affect the earth. The earth has many different environments that help shape the way people live. • Climate consists of patterns of weather over a long period of time. The climate of a particular region is highly influenced by such things as latitude, altitude, and ocean currents. • Natural resources are an essential part of the earth and should be preserved. Some resources are renewable; other resources are nonrenewable. • Reviewing Facts p. 34 • True: Geography includes the study of the effects that people have on the earth. • False: Most natural resources are unevenly distributed. • False: Natural resources such as altitude and ocean currents greatly affect how people live. • False: Altitude helps determine the climate of a place. • False: The high latitudes have the coldest climates. • False: Currents in the Atlantic Ocean make parts of Europe’s climate warmer than it would otherwise be. • True: Minerals are natural substances that are reached by digging into the earth. • True: Water covers more than 70 percent of the earth. • False: The low latitudes tend to have hot climates. • False: Climate is the weather of a region over a long period of time.