GSC 110 – Flashcard

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question
Which of the following factors does NOT explain the environmental diversity of Europe?
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El Niño
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Which part of Europe is the region's unquestionable focus of intensive agriculture, large cities, and major industrial activities?
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The European Lowland
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How does the environment of Eastern Europe compare to that of Western Europe?
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The environment in Eastern Europe was much more polluted than that of Western Europe, until recent efforts to rectify the situation, with the help of the European Union.
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What are the current impacts of climate change in Europe?
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- Sea ice is dwindling. - There is sparse snow cover in arctic Scandinavia - There are frequent droughts in the water-starved Mediterranean region.
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Probably the most striking characteristic of Europe's demography is
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The lack of natural growth
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"One of narrow, winding streets, crowded with three- or four-story masonry buildings with little setback from the street." This describes which of the following?
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The medieval landscape
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One of the major characteristics of Europe's population and settlement patterns is its high level of
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Urbanization
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Which European Romance language contains many Slavic words?
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Romanian
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Besides the division between western and eastern churches, the other great split within Christianity occurred between
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Catholicism and Protestantism.
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What is the word for a state policy of reclaiming lost lands or lands inhabited by people of the same ethnicity in another state?
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Irredentism
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From 1945 until 1990, Europe was divided into two geopolitical and economic blocs, east and west, separated by the infamous
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Iron Curtain
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The term ________ is used to describe the geopolitical processes of small scale independence movements based upon ethnic fault lines.
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Balkanization
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What is the word for an array of nonaligned or friendly states that cushion or protect a larger country from invasion, as happened with the former Soviet Union and its Eastern European neighbors?
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Buffer zone
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Economic cooperation in Western Europe at the end of World War I centered on what commodity (commodities)?
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Coal and steel
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Which of the following languages is NOT Germanic?
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Basque
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The long history of human settlement has transformed and modified Europe's natural landscapes in fundamental ways over thousands of years.
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True
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Because most European governments consider low or no population growth an economic and social liability, programs and policies have arisen to promote population growth, ranging from attempts to ban abortion and the sale of contraceptives to what are commonly called "family-friendly" policies.
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True
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The Schengen Agreement paved the way for the reunification of East and West Germany.
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False
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The collapse of the Soviet Union played a key role in the recent surge of immigration to European countries
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True
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Despite the visibility of female political leaders and the fact that Europe is considered one of the most developed regions of the world, gender equity issues persist in government, business, and domestic life.
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True
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Historically, Europe spread its cultures worldwide through aggressive colonialization.
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True
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As the acknowledged birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Europe in many ways invented the modern economic system of industrial capitalism
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True
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Western Europe has historically been less developed economically than its eastern counterpart.
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False
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Two fundamental innovations associated with industrial revolution is machinery and inanimate energy resources.
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True
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Europe does not have strong ties to surrounding seas.
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False
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What is the greatest potential environmental threat to Oceania?
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Climate change
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Why have countries of Oceania been major supporters of the conventions to limit the production of greenhouse gases?
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Greenhouse gas emissions are directly related to global temperature increase and as sea levels rise, many of the Pacific islands will be drowned if global temperatures continue to increase
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Where is the Great Barrier Reef located?
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Off the northeastern coast of Australia
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Which of the following environmental problems is NOT a major issue in Australia/Oceania?
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Wide-scale burning of forests after they have been cleared is creating smoke pollution
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What is the "Outback"?
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Australia's huge, dry interior
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What land form dominates much of New Zealand?
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Volcanic mountains
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What landform and/or vegetation pattern dominates in Australia?
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Deserts
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Which part of the Australia/Oceania region receives the least amount of precipitation?
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The interior of Australia
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Which of the following factors does NOT influence the climates of New Zealand?
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Rivers
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What part of Australia/Oceania is most susceptible to tsunami hazards?
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Papua New Guinea
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An atoll typically has all of the following characteristics, EXCEPT
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A high central peak
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What event sets off the process that creates an atoll?
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Volcanic eruption
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The Hawaiian Islands were formed by
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An active hot spot beneath the moving Pacific Plate
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Which country of the region of Australia and Oceania signed the Kyoto Protocol in 2007, leaving the U.S. as the only industrialized country that has not signed the agreement
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Australia
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What caused the dramatic decline in Guam's native bird species?
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The accidental introduction of the non-native brown tree snake
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New Zealand is the largest country (in terms of land area) in the region encompassing Australia and Oceania
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False
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Deserts dominate in Australia
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True
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Volcanic mountains dominate much of New Zealand
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True
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High islands are present throughout much of Oceania
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True
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High islands receive less rainfall and often experience water shortage
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False
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Papua New Guinea is very susceptible to tsunami hazards
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True
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Australia and Oceania are defined by shared elements of indigenous and colonial history
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True
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Desertification is not one of the environmental issues in Australia
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False
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Global warming impacts only will be noticed in low-lying islands
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False
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New Zealand consists of two islands
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True
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Kyoto Protocol
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European Union established collective goals of emission reductions while still promoting growth and industrial development
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What is the Schengen Agreement?
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This is an agreement that was established in 1985 to permit the free movement of people and goods within Europe. Members to the agreement do not have to be members of the European Union; nor do members of the EU have to be members of the Schengen Agreement.
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Name the three stages of historical urban development still commonly found in European urban landscapes.
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Medieval - 900 to 1500 renaissance/baroque - 1500 to 1800 industrial - 1800 to modern
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What factors must be considered in describing eastern Europe's postwar economic geography?
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A key factor to be considered is the fact that most eastern European states have to undergo a transition from a socialist-based economy to a capitalist-based economy. Other key factors include the possibly membership to the European Union and/or the European Monetary Union.
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Balkanization
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describe geopolitical processes of small-scale independence movements based on ethnic fault lines—term originated because of events in the Balkans.
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buffer zone
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consisted of extensive bloc of satellite countries, along borders between 'east' and 'west', military forces stood guard. bordering countries 'cushioned' something else from invasions.
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List the pro-growth policies in Europe aimed at increasing the natural growth rate?
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- Full-pay maternity and paternity leaves - Extensive child-care facilities; - Cash subsidies - Free or low-cost public education and job training
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How are atolls and barrier reefs formed?
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Barrier reefs are formed through the growth of coral in shallow areas surrounding islands. Atolls are formed as an extinct volcano erodes, coral reefs expand, and sand spits are established surrounding a central lagoon.
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What are Australia and Oceania environmental issues?
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Desertification in Australia. Introduction of the brown tree snake Many islands are vulnerable to see level rise Tropical forest deforestation in the Islands
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Breifly explain Oceania environment?
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Much of Melanesia and Polynesia is part of the seismically active Pacific Basin, thus volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis are common to these islands. Most of the islands originated from volcanic activity on ocean floor—larger active and recently active volcanoes form high islands. Many high islands are ringed by coral reefs that grow in shallow waters near shore. Many Pacific islands receive abundant precipitation and the high islands are noted for heavy rainfall and dense tropical forests. Low-lying atolls usually receive less rainfall and often experience water shortages.
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Briefly describe the current pattern of regional differences in the economic and social geography of Europe
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There are remarkable regional differences in the social and economic levels of European countries. Historically, western countries have exhibited higher levels of economic growth and development, and more equitable levels of social indicators as compared to eastern European countries; southern European countries, likewise, have generally fared poorer than western European countries. In recent years, however, some western countries have endured economic hardships.
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Briefly describe Australian and New Zealand Environments
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New Zealand consists of rolling foothills and rugged mountains Three major landform regions dominate Australia's physical geography: The Western Plateau The Interior Lowland Basins, The forested and mountainous East Coast. Off the eastern coast lay the Great Barrier Reef. New Zealand is volcanic in origin and consists of two main islands: The North Island, The South Island. Pacific Ring of Fire
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