Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Temperate Climate
|
The climate in most of the United States. Characterized by cool winters and warm summers. Extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures are rare.
|
|
|
Population Density
|
The number of people who live in one area. In the United States, the areas with the highest population density are in metropolitan areas or cities. Low density areas include western states like Montana and Wyoming.
|
|
|
Export
|
A good that is shipped OUT of a country for money or to trade with other countries. In the U.S. farm products (wheat, corn, etc) are our most important export.
|
|
|
Import
|
Goods that are brought IN to the country from somewhere else. In the U.S. clothing, cars and household goods are examples of items that are imported.
|
|
|
Market Economy
|
Individuals and businesses make the majority of buying and selling decisions. A market based economy is the opposite of a trade economy where goods and services are traded or grown. The United States has a market economy.
|
|
|
Diplomacy
|
The process of making decisions through discussion. This is used to describe the discussions that take place between different countries. The U.S. uses diplomacy to talk with other countries, try to settle disputes and try to promote and protect its interests.
|
|
|
New France
|
The explorer Jacques Cartier arrived in Eastern Canada in 1534 and claimed the land for France and gave the area the name "New France". This is why there is a large population of French speaking Canadians in this part of Canada (like Quebec)
|
|
|
Dominion
|
A territory that governs itself but is still tied to its colonizing country. Unlike a province, which is tied to Canada, a dominion is tied to another country completely, like France or England as an example.
|
|
|
Province
|
A territory in Canada that is under the control of the larger country. It is very much like a state in the U.S.
|
|
|
Remittances
|
Some of Mexico's workers are poor and can not find work in their home country. They travel to the U.S. to work and send part of their earnings back home to support their families. These are called remittances and are an important part of Mexico's economy.
|
|
|
Diaspora
|
The spread of people of one place to many others. For example, due to widespread poverty in the Caribbean people have moved to North America and Europe in search or work and better opportunities.They sometimes send money home in the form of remittances. Also, they spread their food, culture and beliefs to the new area.
|
|
|
Isthmus
|
A strip of land with water on both sides that connects two larger bodies of land. Central America is an example of an isthmus and is divided by the Panama Canal.
|
|
|
Tourism
|
The business of providing food, places to stay, and other services to visitors from other places. It is the fastest growing part of the Caribbean economy.
|
|
|
Hurricanes
|
Powerful wind and rainstorms that form over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Central America and the Caribbean are very susceptible to hurricanes during the summer and early fall months.
|
|
|
Biodiversity
|
A variety of living things living in one ecosystem. The best example is a coral reef, which over time becomes an underwater island and is the home to many different types of tropical fish and marine life.
|
|
|
Deforestation
|
The clearing of a large number of trees due to ranching. farming and the need for timber. This is a big problem in Central AMerica due to the clearing of the tropical forests. It also causes environmental problems like soil erosion, land cannot be used for farming and the loss of important plant and animal life.
|
|
|
El Dorado
|
A legendary gold-rich king that was hunted by Spanish explorers in the rain forests of South America.
|
|
|
Caudillos
|
Another name for dictators in South America. After South American countries gained their independence from Spai and other conquering countries, the caudillos emerged to control the governments. (late 1800's and early 1900's)
|
|
|
Paramilitaries
|
Armed forces, or an Army, that is not supported or funded by the government. These groups were often funded by the illegal drug trade.
|
|
|
Nationalize
|
When a government takes control or ownership over an industry and makes it part of the government. For example, in 1976 Venezuela took ownership over the oil industry and started funding social programs with oil money.
|
|
|
Austerity measures
|
Policies implemented by a government in order to save money. For example, Venezuela decided to make cuts to social programs in order to save money for the government.
|
