Geography 3025: Geography of the U.S. and Canada
Fall Semester, 2008

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Study Guide for Final Exam:

December 15, 2008

 

This study guide is not comprehensive, but rather focuses on the highlights from the text and lecture.  However, the maps and placename list handed out in class will serve as the lone sources for the map identification section on the exam.

 

Exam Mechanics: (Exam worth 100 points)

The Exam will consist of four sections:

 

One: Short Essays (30 points): Essays will consist of a paragraph each on your choice of 5 questions (out of 7 possible).

 

Two: Multiple Choice and True/False (25 points)

 

Three: Map identification (25 points): Based on features map of the U.S. and Canada WEST of the Mississippi River and placenames listed for western North America.

 

Four: Long Essay (20 points): Long essay will consist of an introduction, body and conclusion.  You will answer 1 of a possible two questions

 

Lecture and Text Summary:

 

Chapter 8-The Great Lakes and Corn Belt:

-Be able to define the region taking into consideration the physical geography (physiographic regions), industrial sectors, agricultural patterns, etc.

-What is the connection between transportation and industrialization in the region?

-Be able to define the Corn (and Soybean) Belt (i.e., what are the core states in the region?)

-Understand the significance of the Dairy Belt

-Understand Chicago’s historical growth

-Be able to discuss the key points of the AAG article on Chicago.

-Video: What are the long term implications of sprawl in Chicagoland?

 

Chapter 11-Great Plains and Prairies:

-Understand the geographic setting and the important geographic landforms and regions from south to north beginning with the Edwards Plateau in Texas to the Parkland region in Canada.

-Understand the basic physical geographic and climatic patterns.

-Settlement history: What is meant by the term “pre-adaptation” and why were some early settlers said to be poorly adapted to life on the Plains?

-What are some of the significant hazards to farming in this region?

-Understand the important extractive industries in this region: agriculture, ranching, mining, petroleum, etc.  Be able to discuss the “vertical integration” model of meat production in the region

-What are some current problems and issues surrounding water availability and use in this region? (For example: the Ogallala aquifer and Pick-Sloan Plan on the Missouri River)

 

Chapter 15-California:

-What are some “superlatives” associated with the state of California?

-Understand the basic topographic regions and climatic regimes in the state.

-Why has California developed into such an agricultural juggernaut?

-How is California’s agricultural sector “organized”?  (i.e., what’s the role of big business and marketing in the agricultural sector?)

-What are some important aspects of California’s settlement history?  Why were the Spaniards originally interested in California?

-Understand the relationship between California’s water policies and the agricultural sector

-Be able to discuss the key points of the video on California

 

Chapter 17-Hawaiian Islands

-What formed and shaped the Hawaiian Islands?

-What is the general climate regime for the islands?

-Understand the basic human settlement patterns from the Polynesian migrations to the present. 

-How is Hawaii’s economy structured and how has this changed over time?

-Be able to discuss the current agricultural and tourism patterns of Hawaii.

- What is the significance and status of the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement? 

 

Chapter 16-The Pacific Northwest:

-How is the region defined in reference to major mountain chains?  Also know where the Willamette Valley and Puget Sound are situated.

-What are the climatic patterns of the region and why do they occur?

-In class, we developed the idea that the region served as a “colony” of the Eastern U.S. until the post WWII era.  What were the key components of this argument?

-Understand the importance and components of the logging, agriculture and fishing industries in this region

-Focus on Alaska: what are some superlatives associated with the state? Be able to discuss the unique physical and economic geography of the state.

-Quiz 6: take a stance on the water, energy and agricultural issues in the region as discussed in the video and highlighted in class discussion

 

Placenames for the Final Exam-

 

Canadian Cities:

Calgary           

Edmonton

Regina

Vancouver

Victoria

Whitehorse

Winnipeg

Yellowknife

 

Placenames:

Arkansas River                                                                                   

Athabaska Tar Sands                                     

Black Hills                                                                                                     

Butte-Anaconda District                               

Canadian River                                              

Cascade Ranges                                             

Central Valley                                                

Coast Ranges

Colorado Plateau/River

Columbia Plateau/River

Death Valley

Gila River

Grand Coulee

Imperial Valley

Llano Estacado (Staked Plains)

Missouri River

Ogallala Aquifer

Peace River District

Pecos River

Platte River

Puget Sound

Rio Grande

San Joaquin Valley

Sierra Nevada

Silicon Valley

Snake River

Willamette Valley

Yukon River