Geography of Latin America

Brazil's rain forest is threatened by 

• drilling for oil
• building dams
• cutting down trees
• draining swamps

When the value of crops and cattle go up, why does deforestation increase? 

• The value of timber goes up
• Laws to protect the rain forest are not enforced
• People think they can make more profit selling cattle and crops
• Environmental groups work with the government only when prices are down

What is the most populated region of Brazil?

• Northern Brazil because it is close to the equator
• Central Brazil for arable farmland
• Northern Brazil for manufacturing along the Amazon
• Urban areas along the eastern coast 

What country is Mexico's main trading partner?

• Brazil
• Guyana
• Venezuela
• USA

Why do most people live in urban areas? 

• Rural areas do not have good climates
• There is much arable land in these countries
• There are more jobs in cities
• Rural areas have more opportunity for good education and health care.

How does physical geography play a role in Mexico City's air pollution problem?

• The hot dry air of Mexico has pollutants
• The land is close to the equator which contains smog
• The land is a bowl-shaped crater which captures smog
• The people of Mex

What helps Brazilian businesses trade with other countries in the world? 

• There are seven major seaports along Brazil's Atlantic coast
• The Amazon River allows ships to travel inland to the Andes
• Brazil shares a border with very few South American countries
• Brazil is able to purchase goods made in other countries that it cannot make on its own

Which country is NOT a profitable trading partner with the United States and why? 

• Cuba, because of the long distance between US and Cuba
• Cuba, because of the embargo USA placed against Cuba
• Mexico, because it is easier to trade overseas than across land borders
• Venezuela, because of the oil-polluted waters which harm fresh fish

Most of Brazil's people have to live near the coast because 

• the rain forest surrounds the Amazon River
• The rain forest surrounds the Atacama Desert
• People want to live in the rain forest
• People want to live near the equator

A natural resource that is an important export to Brazil is

• gasoline
• automobiles
• sugar cane
• iron ore