Geo Unit 8

Front 1

subcontinent

Back 1

large landmass that is part of a continent but still distinct from it

Front 2

alluvial plain

Back 2

floodplain on which flooding rivers have deposited rich soil

Front 3

mica

Back 3

silicate mineral that typically splits into thin, shiny sheets

Front 4

monsoon

Back 4

in Asia, seasonal wind that brings warm moist air from the oceans in summer, cold dry air from inland in winter

Front 5

cyclone

Back 5

storm with heavy rains and high winds that blow in a circular pattern around an area of low atmospheric pressure

Front 6

jati

Back 6

in traditional Hindu society, a social group that defines a family's occupation and social standing

Front 7

caste system

Back 7

in traditional South Asian society, the division of society into rigid groups, based mainly on occupation, that determined social standing, marriage choice, and other actions

Front 8

dharma

Back 8

in Hinduism, a person's moral duty based on class distinctions, which guides his or her life

Front 9

karma

Back 9

in Hindu belief, the sum of good and bad actions in one's present and past lives, leading to rewards or punishment

Front 10

reincarnated

Back 10

in Hindu belief, being reborn repeatedly in different forms, until one has overcome earthly desires

Front 11

nirvana

Back 11

in Buddhism, ultimate state of peace and insight toward which people strive

Front 12

mantra

Back 12

in Hinduism, a sacred word or phrase repeated in prayers and chants

Front 13

sadhu

Back 13

a Hindu hermit or holy man and teacher

Front 14

raga

Back 14

in Indian classical music, a basic melody on which the player improvises or plays variations

Front 15

tala

Back 15

in Indian classical music, a rhythm pattern, often played on a drum

Front 16

jute

Back 16

plant fiber used to make string and cloth

Front 17

green revolution

Back 17

program, begun in the 1960s, to produce higher-yielding, more productive strains of wheat, rice, and other food crops

Front 18

trekker

Back 18

a mountain hiker; more generally, anyone on a diffucult journey

Front 19

mangrove tree

Back 19

tropical evergreen tree or shrub that usually grows in thick groves near water

Front 20

Chipko

Back 20

in India, en enviornmental movement known by the term for "tree-hugger" aimed at saving forests