South Asia: India Subcontinent Review

The Ganges has been considered a sacred river in Hinduism for thousands of years. Millions of

Hindus perform religious rituals, such as purification rites and the disposal of the deceased, in the

river. How have these long-practiced rituals affected the river today?

• The level of the river has dropped due to considerable use.

• The river has become one of the most polluted in the world.

• The river is one of the cleanest rivers in the world since it is considered sacred.

• The course of the river has been altered to feed into temples.

Which of the following best describes the physical process that is responsible for creating flood

zones shown on the map?

• Silt deposits along the major river systems create low lying areas that flood easily during

  spring snowmelt and seasonal rains.

• Tectonic forces in the Indian subcontinent cause upheavals of land which changes the

  course of rivers over time, causing flooding.

• India's growing population has led to the need to build huge dams along these rivers, which

  has led to the flooding of thousands of acres of land.

• High tides along the coast of the Indian Ocean often meet waters flowing from inland valleys

  causing the build-up of excess waters in the river systems.

Which factors most account for the creation of a tropical climate throughout much of the Indian

subcontinent?

• Location in the mid latitudes

• Highland conditions of the Himalayas

• Size in area of the subcontinent landmass

• Proximity to the Indian Ocean and the equator

Which physical process is most responsible for the geographic formations in the northern Indian

subcontinent?

• Deposition

• Weathering

• Tectonic forces

• Hydrologic cycle

While most people in India are practicing Hindus, the region is also home to —

• many large Catholic universities in the major cities

• one of the largest Jewish communities living outside of Israel

• several religious groups including Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs

• a few prominent Christian monasteries in former British colonial territory

Which generalization about economic development in South Asia is best supported by the

information in the table above?

• Levels of development in South Asia do not vary significantly.

• Most countries in South Asia appear to be newly industrialized.

• Bangladesh and Pakistan are more developed in comparison to India.

• Nations such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan are considered less developed.

Based on the information in the map above, India’s largest cities are located in —

• southwest and northeast India

• central and northeast India

• northwest and southeast India

• east and northwest India

Based on the information in the graphs above, which issue is India likely to face in 2050?

• Paying health care and expenses for growing numbers of elderly

• Providing education for a growing demographic of young children

• Finding well-paying jobs for young people entering the workforce

• Avoiding political instability resulting from large population growth

Which prediction about India’s population is supported by the information on the graph above?

• Life expectancy in India will increase in the twenty-first century.

• After the twenty-first century India will experience a zero-growth rate.

• India will surpass the population growth of other nations in the twenty-first century.

• Elderly persons will outnumber younger generations in India during the twenty-first century.

Building in the style shown in the picture above is important in Bangladesh because —

• providing space for large families is important

• adapting to the extensive flooding is necessary

• having storage for surplus crops is important

• increasing tourism has opened new rental markets