Southwest Asia Review

What does the pattern of land use in Syria indicate about the likely geography of the region?

• hot and dry

• warm and wet

• cold and dry

• cool and wet

The nations of Iran, India, Pakistan, and North Korea continue to raise concerns amongst the international community primarily over which of the following issues?

• Greenhouse emissions

• Rampant deforestation

• Human overpopulation

• Nuclear proliferation

Which of the following were the two primary reasons given by the United States and Great Britain for their invasion of Iraq in 2003?

• Threat of war between Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran; Lack of free and fair elections in Iraq

• Use of chemical weapons on American citizens; Holding of American hostages by the government

• Possession of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq; Government sponsorship of terrorist activities

• Refusal to allow the United States and Great Britain access to oil reserves; Destruction of Kuwaiti oil fields

In the Middle East, a region often torn by conflict and poor relations between neighboring countries, oil and water are the two most important resources. Most Middle Eastern countries are arid and their populations are growing rapidly. Therefore, most of these countries suffer water shortages throughout the year. Since rivers and aquifers run through several countries, fresh water is a shared resource and a frequent source of conflict. Pollution or overuse of the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Turkey, for example, affect Syria and Iraq downstream.

Which of the following is the BEST solution to the problem described above?

• Countries of the region should prosecute countries that pollute rivers.

• Middle Eastern countries should regulate water use through international agencies.

• Middle Eastern countries should take steps to control population growth.

• Countries of the region should cooperate to build shared desalinization plants.

Southwest Asia and North Africa are often studied as a cultural region by geographers because the area is —

• home to vast oil deposits

• located on two continents

• a crossroads of world trade

• linked by religious traditions

One way that wealthy nations in Southwest Asia are able to address the lack of water is by —

• draining wetlands

• trading oil for irrigation

• constructing large dams

• building desalination plants

The arid and semi-arid climate of much of Southwest Asia creates biomes that are characterized by —

• taiga and tundra

• temperate forests

• tropical rainforests

• grasslands and desert

Which event is a daily reminder in Southwest Asia of the significance of religion in the region?

• Ramadan dinners

• Public calls to prayer

• Pilgrimages to Mecca

• Friday store closings

The list is of various territories in Southwest Asia.

the Sinai Peninsula

the Gaza Strip

Golan Heights

the West Bank

East Jerusalem

What do these territories have in common?

• They are disputed territories that Israel lost in the Six-Day War.

• They are disputed territories that Israel gained in the Six-Day War.

• They are territories Israel ceded to the Palestinian Authority through the Oslo Accords.

• They are territories the Palestinian Authority ceded to Israel through the Oslo Accords.

How did the conclusion of World War I, and the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, cause further conflict in Southwest Asia?

• The Ottoman Empire gained control of territories that were previously independent, leading to civil conflict.

• The Austro-Hungarian Empire gained control of territories that were previously independent, leading to civil conflict.

• The Ottoman Empire was divided between the victorious countries with little regard for traditional and cultural boundaries.

• The Austro-Hungarian Empire was divided between the victorious countries with little regard for traditional and cultural boundaries.