SE Asia: Geo., Env. Issues, Religion

Why are the Himalayas called the "roof of the world"?

• The world's highest mountains are found in this area.
• The Himalayan Mountain are generally quite easy to travel.
• The Himalayan Mountains are so rugged that no people can live there.
• Little water comes out of this mountain range in the form of river or streams.

Which is the MOST LIKELY reason that some of the largest deserts in this world are found to the north of the Himalayan Mountains and the Tibetan Plateu?

• No water can be found in either the Himalayan Mountains or the Tibetan Plateau.
• The year-round cold temperatures in these areas led to the creation of these deserts.
• Years of poor farming led to erosion of the soil and the gradual development of desert.
• These high mountains and plateau block rains and moisture that would come from the seas further to the south.

Why is the Huang He River referred to as the Yellow River?

• No one really knows where this name came from.
• The river was given this name by order of the Chinese government.
• Yellowish dust from the desert blows into the water and gives it a yellow color.
• Villagers living along this river are famous for producting cloth using a bright yellow dye.

How has India's need to develop more industry ended up creating problems along the Ganges River?

• Factories along the river dump industrial waste and the chemicals into the river every day.
• No one is allowed to cremate dead bodies along the river since the large factories have been built.
• Industries located along the river use so much water that the Ganges is almost dry by the time it reaches the sea.
• Factory owners have refused to allow the Indians living along the river to bathe in the water or use the water for cooking.

How has the Indian practice of cremating their dead been a problem for the river?

• People are not allowed to go near the river when cremations are taking place.
• The banks along the river regularly catch fire and threaten Indian homes built there.
• Factory owners cannot use water once human askes have been thrown into it upstream.
• The bodies of dead  animals, as well as the ashes and/or bodies of human beings, have been placed in the river causing pollution.

What are some of the main causes of high levels of nitrogen in the waters of the Yangtze river?

• The waste is from nuclear power plants.
• The bodies of dead animals are thrown into the river.
• The chemicals used in fertilizers run from the fields into the river.
• The exhaust fumes are from the millions of cars driven in this area of Asia.

What has been the effect of the heavily polluted "brown clouds" that are now common in some parts of India?

• Rainfall has decreased and temperatures are cooler. 
• Heavy rains have led to widespread flooding in India.
• There is an increase in the crops harvested, as they are not burned by the sun. 
• The Indian government has decided to reduce the numer of cars allowed on India's highway.

Which is a leading cause of death in China?

• skin cancer
• respiratory and heart disease
• injuries from automobile accidents
• injuries related to industrial and factory accidents.

The climate of India is affected by seasonal winds called

• typhoons.
• tornadoes.
• hurricanes.
• monsoons.

What is the best way to describe the climate of China?

• hot and dry
• mild and temperate
• rainy and subtropical 
• combination of all of these