Deck 3: Central America and the Caribbean

Question 1

What is the primary factor that make this region of the world a place of intense geologic hazards?

A) There are four tectonic plates underneath this region.
B) Oil drilling creates instability in the ocean.
C) Volcanoes are extinct.
D) The Panama Canal.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Historically, geologic events can reveal political decisions. For example, in 1771 a massive earthquake destroyed 3,000+ buildings in the capital city of what we now know as ________. At that time the Spanish administrative center moved 30 miles away to present day capital which is still experiencing devastating earthquakes.

A) Mexico
B) Honduras
C) Guatemala
D) Belize

Answer 2

C

Question 3

This region is in the center of a hurricane zone. These storms have gotten worse over the past forty years due to:

A) Climate change
B) Political conflict
C) Increase in population
D) Earthquake frequency

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What weather patterns helped the explorers sail to this region in the 15^th century?

A) Trade winds
B) Azores-Bermuda High Pressure Zone
C) Westerlies
D) All of the above

Question 5

Which of the following were consequences of "The Columbian Encounter".

A) Introduction of African Slave Trade
B) Creation of good jobs
C) Decimation of the indigenous population due to newly introduced diseases
D) A and C

Question 6

What was the crop that became universally produced in this region and exported around the world in the 18^th century?

A) Coffee
B) Bananas
C) Sugar
D) Chocolate

Question 7

As a result of economic challenges to development, the people of this region have had to create an ________ sector to make a modest living.

A) informal
B) internal
C) international
D) incognito

Question 8

Currently there are three economic growth areas that are replacing a predominantly agricultural economy. These include all except

A) Manufacturing
B) Tourism
C) Service-Based
D) Entertainment

Question 9

Tourism is now a core economic strategy for many of this region's countries which creates service jobs and creates destinations and activities for people to

A) Explore archaeological sites
B) Stay in an all-inclusive resort on or near the beach
C) Zip line in the rainforests
D) All of the above

Question 10

The Demographic Transition of all Central American countries has moved from Stage One (high birth and death rates, low natural increase rate) to the second and/or third stages. What is the least likely primary factor below?

A) Improved medical care
B) Access to the internet
C) Reduction in infant mortality rate
D) More employment opportunities for women

Question 11

The mixing of ethnicities since the 15^th century has resulted in an interesting blend of diversity in language, religion, and culture. Some notable examples of this are

A) Aruban creole language Papiamento
B) Syncretic religions such as Vodou
C) Garifuna ethnic and language group
D) All of the above

Question 12

The demographic dividend refers to

A) The common denominator for determining an hourly wage
B) Money earned from a saving account
C) An increase of people who are of working age
D) Investment returns for a multinational company

Question 13

What is at the core of a "land grab"?

A) Commercialization of agricultural as food production for global markets which requires land acquisition for large companies
B) Dispossession of local farmers to particular parcels of land that have been used for a long time
C) Involvement of governments that are pressured by multinational companies
D) All of the above.

Question 14

The Bajo Aguan region, which has been in intense conflict for twenty years, is in which country?

A) Guatemala
B) Costa Rica
C) Honduras
D) Mexico

Question 15

Peasant societies have resisted governments and corporations by doing all of the following except

A) Speaking up against unfair deals
B) Joining the military
C) Invading and occupying land to take back rights to farm
D) Buying back land at affordable rates as a result of protest

Question 16

Urban growth in cities in Central America has been driven by these factors

A) Jobs
B) Urban primacy
C) Fleeing rural poverty
D) A and C
E) all of the above

Question 17

A primate city is defined as

A) the dominant center of national economic and political activity
B) the most museums and cultural attractions
C) a bus system that can assure movement between small cities
D) a skilled workforce in all economic sectors

Question 18

One measure of a city's population and lifestyle is to look at how its low income and poor survive by living in slums or marginal housings. This is called

A) Unequal employment opportunities
B) Poverty statistics
C) Informal urbanism
D) None of the above.

Question 19

There are many holdovers of the colonial legacy in this region which include cultural and political influences of the several of following countries except

A) Spain
B) France
C) Denmark
D) *Canada

Question 20

The role of the United States in Central America was asserted as part of the Monroe Doctrine but it was not effective until

A) 1915
B) 1896
C) 1850
D) 1945

Question 21

Historically, there have been land-border dispute in this regions, but the contemporary dispute that reflects the important natural maritime resources in this region is

A) The Law of the Sea
B) Exclusive Economic Zones
C) NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
D) a & b