The World

To learn more about the physical and human

geography of the world, view the World Regions

video “Looking at the World.”

World Regions VideoWorld Regions Video

U N I T 11The World

16 U n i t 1

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT—WHY IT’S IMPORTANT—

Entering the twenty-first century, the world is

a much smaller place than it was at the time

of your great-grandparents a hundred years

ago. Advances in technology, communication,

and transportation are responsible for much of

this change.They have narrowed vast distances

and made neighbors of the world’s people.The

Internet, for example, now puts you in immedi-

ate touch with people in other parts of the

world. In the years to come, you and your

generation—here and elsewhere—will be chal-

lenged to work together to use this and other

technology to make the world a better place

for everyone.

Skydivers in formation above patchwork fields, California

NGS ONLINEwww.nationalgeographic.com/education

U n i t 1 17

GeoJournalWrite a journal entry describing the part of the world in which you live—its physicalfeatures, plant and animal life, and people.Think about how your observations are similarto and different from the ways a geographerlooks at the world.

Chapter Overview Visit the Glencoe WorldGeography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.comand click on Chapter Overviews—Chapter 1 topreview information about how geographerslook at the world.

ExploringGeography

A Geographic ViewEarth’s VarietyA small planet in a modest solarsystem, a tumbling pebble in thecosmic stream, and yet . . . [t]hishome is built of many mansions,carved by wind and the fall ofwater, lush with living thingsbeyond number, perfumed by saltspray and blossoms. Here coolin a cloak of mist or theresteaming under a brazen sun,Earth’s variety excites thesenses and exalts the soul.

—Stuart Franklin, “Celebrations ofEarth,” National Geographic, January 2000

How would you describe the world around you?Would it be in terms of people, places, things, or all of these? Geog-raphy is the study of the earth’s physical features and the livingthings—humans, animals, and plants—that inhabit the planet. Geog-raphy looks at where all of these elements are located and how theyrelate to one another. In this section you will gain an understandingof what geography is and why it is important to study it.

The Elements of Geography The root of the word geography is an ancient Greek word meaning

“earth description.” Geographers are specialists who describe theearth’s physical and human features and the interactions of people,places, and environments. They not only describe but also search forpatterns in these features and interactions, seeking to explain howand why they exist or occur. For example, geographers may studyvolcanoes and why they erupt, or they may analyze a city’s location

Guide to ReadingConsider What You KnowThink about where your school islocated and the ways in which aplace’s location can be described.How many different ways can youthink of to describe your school’slocation to another person?

Read to Find Out• What are the physical and human

features geographers study?

• How do geographers describe theearth’s features and their patterns?

• How is geography used?

Terms to Know• location

• absolute location

• hemisphere

• grid system

• relative location

• place

• region

• formal region

• functional region

• perceptual region

• ecosystem

• movement

• human-environment interaction

Places to Locate• Equator

• North Pole

• South Pole

• Prime Meridian

C h a p t e r 1 19

Mt. McKinley, Alaska,United States

Labrador coast, Canada

20 U n i t 1

in relation to climate, landscape, and available trans-portation. In their work, geographers consider:

• The world in spatial terms (location)• Places and regions• Physical systems• Human systems• Environment and society• The uses of geography

The World in Spatial TermsSpatial relations refer to the links that places and

people have to one another because of their loca-tions. For geographers, location, or a specific placeon the earth, is a reference point in the same waythat dates are reference points for historians.

Absolute LocationOne way of locating a place is by describing

its absolute location—the exact spot at which theplace is found on the globe. To determine absolutelocation, geographers use a network of imaginarylines around the earth. The Equator, the line cir-cling the earth midway between the North andSouth Poles, divides the earth into hemispheres,or two halves (Northern and Southern). The PrimeMeridian, the 0° north-south line that runs throughGreenwich, England, and the 180° north-south linerunning through the mid-Pacific Ocean also dividethe earth into hemispheres (Eastern and Western).

The Equator, the Prime Meridian (also called theMeridian of Greenwich), and other lines of latitudeand longitude cross one another to form a patterncalled a grid system. Using the grid, you can namethe absolute, or precise, location of any place onEarth. This location is generally stated in terms oflatitude, degrees north or south of the Equator, andlongitude, degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian. For example, Dallas, Texas, is located atlatitude 32°N (north) and longitude 96°W (west).

Relative LocationAlthough absolute location is useful, most peo-

ple locate a place in relation to other places, or byits relative location. For example, New Orleans islocated near the mouth of the Mississippi River.Knowing the relative location of a place helps youorient yourself in space and develop an awarenessof the world around you.

North PoleNorthernHemisphere

SouthernHemisphere

WesternHemisphere

EasternHemisphere

Equator

South Pole

PrimeMeridian

DIAGRAMSTUDY

The Hemispheres

1. Interpreting Diagrams What lines of latitudeand longitude divide the globe into hemispheres?

2. Applying Geography Skills In which hemi-spheres do you live?

C h a p t e r 1 21

Places and RegionsA place is a particular space with physical and

human meaning. Every place on Earth has its ownunique characteristics, determined by the surround-ing environment and the people who live there. Onetask of geographers is to understand and explain howplaces are similar to and different from one another. Tointerpret the earth’s complexity, geographers oftengroup places into regions, or areas united by specificfactors. The defining factors of a region may be phys-ical, such as soil type, vegetation, river systems, andclimate. A region may also have human factors that help define it. These may include language,religion, cultural traditions, forms of government, andtrade networks.

Geographers identify three types of regions: for-mal, functional, and perceptual. A formal, or uni-form, region is defined by a common characteristic,such as a product produced there. The Corn Belt—the Iowa-Illinois area in the United States—is aformal region because corn is its major crop. A

South Pole South Pole South Pole

North Pole

Lines of Latitude

North Pole

Lines of Longitude

North Pole

The Global Grid

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Arctic Circle

Equator

180°

E

40°E

60°E

80°E

100°

E

120°

E

140°

E

160°

E

80° N

60° N

60° S

40° N

40° S

20° S

20° N

100°

W

80° W

60° W

40° W

20° W

120°

W

140°

W

160°

W

0°

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Arctic Circle

Equator

80° N

60° N

60° S

40° N

40° S

20° S

20° N

0°

DIAGRAM STUDY

The Global Grid

functional region is a central place and the sur-rounding area linked to it, for example, by a high-way system. Metropolitan areas such as Los Angelesand Tokyo are functional regions. A perceptualregion is defined by popular feelings and imagesrather than by objective data. For, example, the term“heartland” refers to a central area in which tradi-tional values are believed to predominate.

Physical SystemsIn their work geographers analyze how certain

natural phenomena, such as volcanoes, hurricanes,and floods, shape the earth’s surface. The earth’ssystems are endlessly fascinating.

“ Every astronaut loves to take pictures ofthe Earth. To me, that’s the best part offlying in space.”Rick Searfoss, quoted in “Geographica,”

National Geographic, November 1996

1. Interpreting Diagrams Between which lines of latitude is the Arctic Circle located?

2. Applying Geography Skills Approximate theabsolute location of the state of Florida. Explainhow you determined the answer.

22 U n i t 1

Geographers look at how physical features inter-act with plant and animal life to create, support, orchange ecosystems. An ecosystem is a communityof plants and animals that depend upon oneanother, and their surroundings, for survival.

Human SystemsGeographers also examine how people shape the

world—how they settle the earth, form societies, andcreate permanent features. A recurring theme in geo-graphy is the ongoing movement of people, goods,and ideas. For example, migrants entering a long-established society usually bring different ideas andpractices that may transform that society’s traditionalculture. In studying human systems, geographers alsolook at how people compete or cooperate to changeor control aspects of the earth to meet their needs.

Environment and SocietyHuman-environment interaction, or the study of

the interrelationship between people and theirphysical environment, is another theme of geogra-phy. Geographers examine the ways people usetheir environment, how and why they havechanged it, and what consequences result fromthese changes. In some cases the physical environ-

Checking for Understanding1. Define location, absolute location,

hemisphere, grid system, relativelocation, place, region, formalregion, functional region, percep-tual region, ecosystem, movement,human-environment interaction.

2. Main Ideas In a web diagram, listsix elements in the study of geog-raphy (hint: use the headings inthis section). Then explain howeach is applied.

Critical Thinking3. Categorizing Information Con-

sider the physical and human factors that constitute a region. Identify the differences amongformal, functional, and perceptualregions.

4. Drawing Conclusions How mightgeographers’ knowledge of humansystems benefit people?

5. Making Generalizations Explainhow knowing about the geogra-phy of a particular city mightinfluence your decision to movethere.

Analyzing Diagrams6. Location Study the diagram of

the hemispheres on page 20. In which hemispheres is Africalocated?

7. Relative Location Write aparagraph that describesthe relative location of yourschool in at least five ways.In what instances might rel-ative location be more use-ful than absolute location? In what instances mightabsolute location be moreuseful?

Applying Geography

ment affects human activities. For example, moun-tains and deserts often pose barriers to humanmovement. In other instances human activities,such as building a dam, cause changes in the phys-ical environment. By understanding how theearth’s physical features and processes shape andare shaped by human activity, geographers helpsocieties make informed decisions.

The Uses of GeographyGeography can provide insight into how physi-

cal features and living things developed in thepast. It can also interpret present-day trends toplan for future needs. Governments, businesses,and individuals use geographic information inplanning and decision making. Data on physicalfeatures and processes can determine whether asite is suitable for human habitation or hasresources worth developing. Geographic informa-tion on human activities, such as populationtrends, can help planners decide whether to buildnew schools or highways in a particular place.Geographic information helps determine where tolocate fire stations and shopping malls. As geogra-phers learn more about the relationships amongpeople, places, and the environment, their knowl-edge can help us plan and build a better future.

Elements of Geography

C h a p t e r 1 23

Guide to ReadingConsider What You KnowPeople use different types of mapswhen they need to move from placeto place or learn where something islocated. What kinds of maps haveyou used and for what purposes?

Read to Find Out• What are the major branches of

geography and the topics eachbranch studies?

• What research methods do geog-raphers use at work?

• How is geography related to othersubject areas?

• What kinds of geographic careersare available today?

Terms to Know• physical geography

• human geography

• meteorology

• cartography

• geographic information systems (GIS)

The Geographer’sCraft

A Geographic ViewThe Power of MapsGuyana [in 1966] . . . agreed to giveIndians title to lands traditionallyrecognized as theirs. But in 1982 a tally of “village lands” using out-of-date maps reduced Indianholdings to a few fragments. . . .Local Earth Observation turnedIndian villagers into digitalmappers. Armed with handheld[GPS] . . . units that determinelocation using satellites, vil-lagers named and locatedmore than 4,000 . . . territor-ial landmarks. The data they collectedwere combined with drainage patterns to produce a large-scale map. . . . [T]he power of maps that merge ancient knowledge and modern technology has vastly strengthened their case.

—Allen Carroll, “CartoGraphic,” National Geographic, March 2000

Geography is more than just learning place names. Italso has practical uses—in the example above, using a global posi-tioning system, or GPS, to settle a land dispute. In this section you willexplore the ways in which geographic information applies to real-lifesituations and learn how different types of geographers study the earth.

Branches of GeographyGeography is a discipline that covers a broad range of topics. To make

their work easier, geographers divide their subject area into differentbranches. Two major branches are physical geography and human

Mapping Guyana with GPS

24 U n i t 1

geography. Physical geographyfocuses on the study of the earth’sphysical features. It looks at cli-mate, land, water, plants, and ani-mal life in terms of their relationships to oneanother and to humans. Human geography, orcultural geography, is the study of human activi-ties and their relationship to the cultural and phys-ical environments. It concentrates on political,economic, and cultural factors, such as populationdensity, urban development, economic produc-tion, and ethnicity.

Physical geography and human geography arefurther divided into smaller subject areas. Exam-ples are meteorology, the study of weather andweather forecasting, and historical geography, thestudy of places and human activities over timeand the various geographic factors that haveshaped them.

Geographers at WorkGeographers use specialized research methods

in their work. These methods include direct obser-vation, mapping, interviewing, statistics, and theuse of technology.

Direct ObservationGeographers use direct observation in studying

the earth and the patterns of human activities that take place on its surface. They will often visit aregion to gather specific information about theregion and its geographic features. Geographersalso employ remote sensing to study the earth, usingaerial photographs and satellite images. For exam-ple, geographers may use aerial photographs orsatellite images to locate mineral deposits or todetermine the size of freshwater sources. They alsomight observe a forest that has been damaged by airpollution.

MappingMaking and using maps are basic activities of

geographers. Geographic specialists who makeand design maps are known as cartographers;their area of work, known as cartography, involvesstudying and making maps.

Many geographic research findings can beshown on maps better than they can be explained

New Orleans,Louisiana Using aerial photography, geographers can examinehow large cities affect the physical environment.

Place How would you describe New Orleans based on the featuresshown in this photograph?

C h a p t e r 1 25

in written text. Cartographers select complicatedpieces of information about an area and presentthem in a more understandable form on a map. Inthis way they easily can show the location, fea-tures, patterns, and relationships of people, places,and things. In addition, maps allow a visual com-parison between places and regions. For example,a geographer might compare population densitymaps of two counties in order to determine whereto build new schools.

InterviewingTo answer a geographic question, geographers

often must go beyond mere observation. In manycases geographers want to find out how peoplethink or feel about certain places. They also maywant to examine the ways in which people’sbeliefs and attitudes have led to changes in thephysical environment. This kind of information isobtained by interviewing. Geographers choose aparticular group of people for study. Instead ofcontacting everyone in that group, however, geog-raphers talk to a carefully chosen sample whoseanswers represent the whole group.

StatisticsSome of the information that geographers use is

numerical. Temperature and rainfall data point to aregion’s climate, for example. Geographers usecomputers to organize this information and presentit in clear, understandable ways. They also analyzethe data to find patterns and trends. For example,census data can be studied to learn about rates ofpopulation growth; the age, ethnic, and gendermakeup of the population; and income levels. Afteridentifying these patterns and trends, geographersuse statistical tests to see whether their ideas arevalid.

TechnologyGeographers often use scientific instruments in

their work. They especially depend on advancedtechnological tools, such as satellites and comput-ers. Satellites orbiting the earth carry remote sen-sors, high-tech cameras, and radar that gather dataand images related to the earth’s environment,weather, human settlement patterns, and vegeta-tion. Geographic information systems (GIS) arecomputer tools that process and organize data and

satellite images with other pieces of informationgathered by geographers and other scientists. GIStechnology is valuable to urban planners, retailers,and local government officials who use this tech-nology to help them determine where to buildroads, stores, and parks.

The development of computer technology has alsotransformed the process of mapmaking. AllenCarroll, chief cartographer of the National Geo-graphic Society, describes the changes in cartographyas “revolutions in mapping.” Technology has created

“ . . . computers that store vast archives ofmap data and render lines with super-human precision, software programs thatturn maps into analytical tools, satelliteimagery that combines photographicbeauty with cartographic precision, globalelectronic networks that enable maps tostream across our ever shrinking globe.”Allen Carroll, National Geographic

Atlas of the World, 1999

Indonesian Surveyors These surveyors are helping plan a road in Borneo, Indonesia.

Human-Environment Interaction How do geographers play a part in our everyday lives?

Geographers study political science to helpthem see how people in different places are gov-erned. They look at how political boundaries haveformed and how they have been changed. Geog-raphers are interested in how the natural environ-ment has influenced political decisions and howgovernments change natural environments. Forexample, the Egyptian government, helped byfinancing from abroad, built the massive

26 U n i t 1

Today, most cartographersrely on computers and com-puter software to make maps.Each type of data on a map iskept as a separate “layer” inthe map’s digital files. Thismethod allows cartographersto make and change mapsmore quickly and easily.

Geography and OtherDisciplines

Geographers study boththe physical and human fea-tures of the earth and alsoanalyze the patterns andrelationships among geogra-phy and other disciplines.Studying subjects such ashistory, government, sociol-ogy, and economics helpsgeographers to understandhow each of these subjectsaffects and is affected bygeography.

History andGovernment

Geographers use historyto help them understandwhat places looked like inthe past. For example, geog-raphers might want to knowhow Boston, Massachusetts,looked during the colonialyears. They might also wishto look at the changes thathave occurred in Bostonover the past two centuries. Geographers maybegin by gathering information about time periodsin the city’s history. This information could beused to answer such geographic questions as:How have human activities changed the naturalvegetation in the area? Are the waterways differ-ent than they were in the past? Answers to thesequestions can help people make better decisionsand plans for the future.

Jobs in Geography

CHART STUDY

1. Interpreting Charts What does a human geographer study?

2. Applying Geography Skills How might human geographers studyingthe effects of population growth gather information for their research?

GeographyField Description Applications/Careers

Physical Studies Earth’s features Forecasting weather, Geographer and the geographic tracing causes and

forces shaping them effects of pollution, conserving wilderness areas

Human Analyzes human Developing cultural Geographer aspects of culture— policies for interna-

population, language, tional organizations, ethnicity, religion, such as the United government Nations

Economic Examines human Urban planning, focus-Geographer economic activities ing on the location of

and their relationship industries or transpor-to the environment tation routes

Regional Studies geographic Assisting government Geographer features of a particular and business in making

place or region decisions related to a region

Environmental Focuses on the two-way Advising government Specialist interaction between and business on ways

humans and the physical of protecting the environment environment

Geographic Teaches about Teaching geography at Educator geography all educational levels;

serving as consultant to business and government

Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. The dam altered the surface of the earth in profound waysand so has had an impact on the region’s people.

CultureHuman geographers use the tools of sociology

and anthropology to understand the culture of soci-eties throughout the world. They study the relation-ships between the physical environment and socialstructures. They examine people’s ways of life in dif-ferent parts of the world. Human geographers alsoseek to understand how the activities of differentgroups affect their physical environments and howthe environment affects culture groups differently.

EconomicsGeographers use economics to help them

understand how the locations of resources affectthe ways people make, transport, and use goods,and how and where services are provided.

Geographers are interested in how locations arechosen for various economic activities, such as farm-ing, mining, manufacturing, and selling. A desirablelocation usually includes plentiful resources andgood transportation routes. Geographers are alsointerested in the interdependence of people’s eco-nomic activities throughout the world. New devel-opments in communications and transportationmake the movement of information and goodsfaster and more efficient than ever before. A busi-ness can operate globally without depending on anyone specific place to fill all of its needs.

Geography as a CareerAlthough people trained in geography are in

great demand in the workforce, many of them donot have geographer as a job title. Geography skillsare useful in so many different situations that geo-graphers have more than a hundred different jobtitles. Geographers often combine the study ofgeography with other areas of study. For example,a salesperson must know the geographic character-istics of the region in which he or she is sellingproducts. Also, a travel agent must have someknowledge of other places in order to plan trips forclients. Still, as the chart on page 26 shows, becausegeography itself has many specialized fields, thereare many different kinds of geographers.

C h a p t e r 1 27

Checking for Understanding1. Define physical geography,

human geography, meteorology,cartography, geographicinformation systems (GIS).

2. Main Ideas Copy the table belowon your paper, and fill in the waysgeographers study the earth anduse geography.

Critical Thinking3. Predicting Consequences What

might happen if an economic geo-grapher did not interview citizenswhen preparing a city transporta-tion plan?

4. Making Inferences What kinds of geographers might be employedby a manufacturing company?

5. Making Generalizations How does the study of other disciplineshelp geographers in their workas countries become increasinglyinterdependent?

Analyzing Maps6. Place Study the map of the United

States in the Reference Atlas onpages RA6–RA7. What kinds ofinformation can you learn fromthis map? How does the informa-tion on this map differ from themap on pages RA8–RA9?

7. Research Methods As ageographer working on aplan for a new communitycenter, what researchmethods would you use?Explain your choices in aparagraph.

Applying Geography

Student Web Activity Visit the Glencoe World GeographyWeb site at tx.geography.glencoe.com and click on Student WebActivities—Chapter 1 for an activity about careers in geography.

Geography Branches

Geography Methods

Other Disciplines

Jobs in Geography

Understanding GraphsGraphs are visual representations of statistical data. Large

amounts of information can be condensed when presented ingraphs. Studying graphs allows readers to see relationships clearly.

28 U n i t 1

U. S. Population Change Due to Migration

2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

50

40

30

20

10

0

Perc

en

t C

han

ge

U.S. Immigrants by Region of Origin (%)

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

Other 11%

Decade

Asia 11%

Other 5%

Europe40%

Europe13%

LatinAmerica

38%Latin

America52%Asia 30%

1960-1969 1990-1997

Source: United Nations Population Division, 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

Source: U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1999

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Po

pu

lati

on

(billio

ns)

World Population Projections

Low7.9

Medium9.3

High10.9

Year

Take a poll of your classmates about a geographi-cal topic. Design and draw a graph using the data.Consider geographic features, distributions, andrelationships.

The Glencoe Skillbuilder Interactive Workbook,Level 2 provides instruction and practice in key social studies skills.

Learning the SkillThe three main types of graphs present numeri-

cal information. Line graphs record changes in dataover time. The vertical axis (y-axis) shows units ofmeasurement, and the horizontal axis (x-axis) showsintervals of time. Bar graphs use bars of differentlengths to compare different quantities. Circlegraphs show the relationship of parts to a whole aspercentages. To understand a graph:

• Read the graph title to identify the subject.

• Study the labels to understand the numericalinformation presented.

• Study the information presented and the useof colors and patterns.

• Compare the lines, bars, or segments, and lookfor relationships in order to draw conclusions.

Practicing the SkillStudy the graphs to answer these questions.

1. Line graph What is the difference in popula-tion between the low and high projections?

2. Bar graph In which decade did migration causethe least change in population?

3. Circle graph What percent of immigrants to theUnited States in the 1990s came from Europe?

4. What general population trends do the threegraphs show?

C h a p t e r 1 29

Key Points• Geographers study the earth’s physical and

human features and their interrelationships.

• Geographers use absolute and relative locationsas reference points.

• Geographers identify three types of regions––formal, functional, and perceptual.

• Geography contributes knowledge about therelationships among human activities, theearth’s physical systems, and the environmentin order to develop a better future.

Organizing Your NotesCreate an outline using the for-mat below to help you organizeinformation about how geogra-phers study the earth.

Terms to Know• physical geography• human geography• meteorology• cartography• geographic

information systems (GIS)

Key Points• Geographers use special research skills, such

as direct observation, mapping, interviewing,statistics, and technology.

• Studying other social sciences helps geogra-phers analyze the patterns and relationshipsamong these different fields.

• Geographers can specialize and may work in government, business, science, planning, or education.

Organizing Your NotesUse a graphic organizer like the one below tohelp you organize your notes for this section.

Terms to Know• location• absolute location• hemisphere• grid system• relative location• place• region• formal region• functional region• perceptual region• ecosystem• movement• human-environment

interaction

SECTION 1 Exploring Geography (pp. 19–22)

SECTION 2 The Geographer’s Craft (pp. 23–27)

SUMMARY & STUDY GUIDE

I. Elements of GeographyA. World in spatial terms

1. Absolute location

The Geographer’s Craft

MethodsBranches Other Fields

Exploring Geography

A scientist uses a global positioning system.

Critical Thinking1. Summarizing the Main Idea How do

geographers use the elements of geographyto study the earth?

2. Making Inferences What subjects mightyou study in order to become an urban plan-ner? Explain.

3. Predicting Consequences Consider themany ways that technology has affected theway people live and work. Then imagine thatyou have become a geographer of the future.How do you think technology will change theway you work?

4. Categorizing Information Use a web dia-gram like the one below to show five methodsof geographic research.

Reviewing Key TermsWrite the key term that best completes each of thefollowing sentences. Refer to the Terms to Know inthe Summary & Study Guide on page 29.

1. Plants and animals depend on one another ina(n) __________.

2. Geographers use a(n) __________ formed bylines of latitude and longitude to determine__________.

3. __________ is the study of the human aspectsof geography.

4. A(n) __________ has boundaries determinedby a common characteristic.

5. Another name for mapmaking is __________.

6. _______ is expressed in relation to otherplaces.

7. Computer tools that process data and satel-lite images with other pieces of geographicinformation are called __________.

8. __________ focuses on the studyof the earth’s physical features.

Reviewing FactsSECTION 1

1. How do geographers determinethe locations of places?

2. What are the three types ofregions identified by geogra-phers?

3. Why do geographers studyhuman systems and human-environment relationships?

4. What are two ways that everyplace on the earth can belocated?

SECTION 25. How do physical and human

geography differ?

6. What research methods dogeographers use?

7. What other subjects do geogra-phers study?

Locating PlacesThe World: Physical Geography

Match the letters on the map with the places and physical features of the earth.Write your answers on a sheet of paper.

1. North America2. South America3. Africa4. Asia

5. Europe6. Antarctica7. Australia

8. Atlantic Ocean9. Indian Ocean

10. Pacific Ocean

A

B C

D

E

F

G

H

I

JJ

0˚

60˚E60˚W 120˚E120˚W 0˚

30˚N

30˚S

60˚S

60˚N

EQUATOR

TROPIC OFCANCER

TROPIC OFCAPRICORN

Winkel Tripel projection2,000

2,0000

0

mi.

km

N

ASSESSMENT & ACTIVITIES

30 U n i t 1

Geographers’Methods

C h a p t e r 1 31

Study the information shown on thecircle graph for the areas of the earthcovered by land and by oceans. Then

compare the relative sizes of the different graph seg-ments. By comparing the segments you will be ableto determine the correct answers.

Self-Check Quiz Visit the Glencoe WorldGeography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.comand click on Self-Check Quizzes—Chapter 1 toprepare for the Chapter Test.

Thinking Like a GeographerImagine that you are an urban planner. Whatkinds of data might you want to assemble inorder to plan a location for a new school? Whatmethods would you use to collect the data? Howwould you use the data to determine the locationfor the school?

Problem-Solving ActivityContemporary Issues Case Study Look atnewspapers and magazines to identify one of thefollowing issues:

• a local issue that involves land use.• a local issue that involves economic

development.• a national issue that involves water resources.

Choose one issue, and research to learn moreabout its history, the various points of view sur-rounding the issue, and the final outcome. Usethis information to prepare an outline. Then writean essay describing the influence of physical andhuman geography on the issue.

GeoJournalDescriptive Writing Refer to the entry youwrote in your GeoJournal and the information inthis chapter. Then imagine you are a physicalgeographer and write a paragraph describinganother part of the earth’s surface. For example, ifyou live in a plains area, describe how the geog-raphy of the mountains or the seashore would bedifferent from your location. Include as many con-crete details as you can to describe the physicaland human geography of the place you chose.

Technology ActivityUsing the Internet for Research

Search the Internet for Web sites that provideinformation about geography to the public. Spon-sors may include government agencies, scientificorganizations, or special-interest magazines. Pre-pare a list of the five best sites, write a brief descrip-tion of the kinds of information each one contains,and explain why you included it.

Use the circle graph below and your knowl-edge of geography to answer questions 1 and 2.

1. Which ocean covers the smallest area ofthe earth’s surface?

A Atlantic C PacificB Indian D Arctic

2. Which ocean covers about as much ofthe earth’s surface as land does?

F Indian H ArcticG Pacific J Atlantic

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Land29.1% of Earth’s surface

Water70.9% of Earth’s surface

EARTH’S LAND AND WATER

4

1

3 2

1 Pacific Ocean 64,169,000 sq. mi. (166,241,000 sq. km)2 Atlantic Ocean 33,411,00 sq. mi. (86,557,000 sq. km)3 Indian Ocean 28,342,800 sq. mi. (73,427,000 sq. km)4 Arctic Ocean 3,661,200 sq. mi. (9,485,000 sq. km)