Oil and Water Shaping Economies

What unifies Southwest Asia and North Africa?

• Their reliance on oil

• Their reliance on coal

• Their reliance on agriculture

• Their reliance on technology

What has the distribution of oil in the Middle East led to?

• Economic growth in countries with large reserves

• Economic decline in countries with large reserves

• Political instability in countries with large reserves

• Cultural changes in countries with large reserves

What is a major consequence of uneven distribution of oil wealth?

• Economic disparities

• Cultural unity

• Political harmony

• Social equality

Which countries in the Middle East have fresh water?

• Egypt and Iran

• Saudi Arabia and Iraq

• Jordan and Lebanon

• Syria and Yemen

What fraction of the Middle East relies on neighboring countries for water?

• Two-thirds

• One-half

• One-third

• Three-quarters

What is desalination?

• Removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable

• Adding salt to seawater to make it drinkable

• Removing minerals from freshwater

• Adding minerals to freshwater

Why is desalination important in the Middle East?

• There isn't enough fresh water

• There is too much fresh water

• It is a cultural tradition

• It is a political requirement

What is a drawback of desalination?

• It can be expensive to maintain

• It is easy to maintain

• It is environmentally friendly

• It is a quick process

What has the growing global demand for oil boosted in Southwest Asia and North Africa?

• Economies and political influence

• Cultural diversity

• Environmental awareness

• Technological advancements

What has made Southwest Asia and North Africa a key player in global trade?

• Oil

• Coal

• Agriculture

• Technology