Geography 106 Practice Questions

Test Three

RUSSIAN DOMAIN REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the 5 basic introductory points to know about the Russian Domain?

2. Explain the Physical Geography of the Russian Domain:

• Explain the general physical geography (the blanks we filled in)
• Describe the specific physical features we noted in class, their formation (where applicable) and their importance
• Be able to locate these important features on a map
• Describe the general climate patterns found throughout the region (explain the basic reasons for the different climates using the 5 variables from class)
• How does the physical geography explain the other themes (e.g. population distribution, agricultural/economic activity, etc.)

3.  Where does the majority of the Russian population reside? What factors explain this pattern? What’s causing the growth of the cities of Siberia today?

4. How has population changed (grown or shrank) pre and post USSR and why?

5. What are the migration patterns pre and post USSR?

6. What does the Russian city model look like and which are the most important cities?

7. Explain the historical “cultural/territorial expansion” of Russia.

8. What is dominant language and religion of the Russian Domain today and how did this change pre and post USSR?

9. Explain the geopolitical development from the Russian empire through the USSR to the current day?

• What were the dominant ideologies? Who were the leaders?
• What political/economic systems and plans were used?
• How did territory expand?
• What’s happening today?

10. How has economic, social, and environmental development of the region changed during and post the USSR? What have been the results?

CENTRAL ASIA REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the 5 basic introductory points to know about Central Asia?

2. Explain the Physical Geography of Central Asia:

• Explain the general physical geography (the blanks we filled in)
• Describe the specific physical features we noted in class, their formation (where applicable) and their importance
• Be able to locate these important features on a map
• Describe the general climate patterns found throughout the region (explain the basic reasons for the different climates using the 5 variables from class)
• What environmental issues does the region face (as a result of what?)?
• How does the physical geography explain the other themes (e.g. population distribution, agricultural/economic activity, etc.)

3. What does the population of the region look like in terms of density and concentration? How has/is migration changing the region?

4. What are the cultural characteristics of the region? Much of the area was united under what empire? What languages are spoken in the different countries? What religions are dominant in the region, where are they clustered, and what are their characteristics?

5. What is the geopolitical history of the region? (the “stans” and Western China)

6. What is the economic development of the region (in the past and since the fall of the USSR)? Are there resources?

7. What social issues are confronting the region (especially since the fall of the USSR and in Tibet?

SOUTH ASIA REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the 5 basic introductory points to know about South Asia?

2. Explain the Physical Geography of the Russian Domain:

• Explain the general physical geography (the blanks we filled in)
• Describe the specific physical features we noted in class, their formation (where applicable) and their importance
• Describe the general climate patterns found throughout the region (explain the basic reasons for the different climates using the 5 variables from class)
• How does the physical geography explain the other themes (e.g. population distribution, agricultural/economic activity, etc.)

3. What stage of the demographic transition theory is the region in? What are the migration patterns in the region? What helped cause the massive urban migration and what have been the results for the rural and urban areas?

4. Religions:

• What is the Caste System, explain the basics. Where did it come from?
• What is Hinduism? The Major tenets, etc. Where is it concentrated?
• What is Buddhism? Major tenets, etc. (how is it related and how does it differ from Hinduism?) Where is it concentrated?
• What is Sikhism? What is Jainism? How are they related to Hinduism
• Where is Islam dominant and how did it get roots in the region?

10. What language families exist? Where is the divide? How are Indian states arranged? How many official languages does India have?

11. Explain the geopolitical history of the region? Who were the Mughals? When was Britain there, how did they leave, how was the region rearranged after they left? What issues face the region today (Kashmir, Punjab, Sri Lanka)?

12. What was the post independence development strategy? How did that change in the 1990’s? What are the development characteristics of the region today?. What social and environmental issues confront the region?

EAST ASIA REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What countries make up East Asia and what are the 5 basic introductory points to know?

2. Explain the Physical Geography of East Asia:

• Explain the general physical geography (the blanks we filled in)
• Describe the specific physical features we noted in class, their formation (where applicable) and their importance
• Be able to locate these important features on a map
• Describe the general climate patterns found throughout the region (explain the basic reasons for the different climates using the 5 variables from class)
• How does the physical geography explain the other themes (e.g. population distribution, agricultural/economic activity, etc.)

3. Where is the population of the region concentrated and why? What stage of the Dem. Trans. Theory is it in? Which places are fully urban? What are the migratory trends?

 4. What is the “cultural history” of the region; what are the languages, writing systems and ethnicities present today?

5. Religion:

• Describe each religion briefly
• Where are the religions distributed?

6. Explain the geopolitical timelines of China, Japan and the recent events in the Koreas

7.Use the Development timeline to answer the following:

• How has Japan developed since WWII (what model of development, with whose help) and what have been the results today (economic/social position)?
• How has China developed since the 1949 civil war (what strategies, ideologies, or plans have been used, were they successful, how have things changed since Mao’s death)?