Impact of the Environment and Economy on Southwest Asia Today

How people impact their environment is included in which theme of geography?

• Location

• Place

• Movement

• Human-Environment Interaction

Which of these Southwest Asian nations has the MOST secure and reliable access to water?

• Iraqi

• Kuwait

• Israel

• Turkey

Use the map to answer the question. The Atatürk Dam was built on a major river in Turkey. It was built to provide irrigation for farmland and hydroelectricity. Based on the map, how has the Atatürk Dam MOST LIKELY affected other countries?

• It caused the water level in the Persian Gulf to drop, making it no longer usable for Southwest Asian countries to ship their exports.

• The construction of the dam created many jobs in Southwest Asia, which benefited workers in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

• Iraq was forced to build a canal to bring water from the Persian Gulf so that farmers in northern Iraq could irrigate their crops.

• The damming of the river created water shortages for downstream farmers and industries that rely on the river.

Why is water pollution of great concern in Southwest Asia?

• because clean drinking water is scarce in the region

• because the economy is dependent upon exporting water

• because it prevents ships from traveling along major waterways

• because it reduces the amount of electricity generated by hydropower

Use the map to answer the question. What factor allowed Baghdad, Iraq, to become one of the biggest cities in Southwest Asia?

• Iraq is a politically stable country.

• It is located near two major rivers.

• The climate of Iraq is good for farming.

• It is home to a large port on the Persian Gulf.

A central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been over control of which important source of water in that dry region?

• the Nile River

• the Jordan River

• the Gulf of Aqaba

• the Sea of Galilee

Why does OPEC play a powerful role in the world economy today?

• OPEC membership includes many oil companies owned by firms in the United States

• OPEC builds dams along rivers shared by several countries

• This organization is part of the United Nations

• OPEC controls the price and supply of oil in the world market

What is a major environmental challenge faced by Southwest Asia due to its climate?

• Desertification

• Deforestation

• Glacial melting

• Volcanic eruptions

How does the scarcity of water impact agriculture in Southwest Asia?

• Increases crop yield

• Leads to over-irrigation

• Promotes rain-fed farming

• Encourages crop diversification

Which natural resource is most crucial to the economies of many Southwest Asian countries?

• Gold

• Oil

• Timber

• Coal