WorksheetsMesoamerica and the Olmecs — Study Guide
Total questions: 43
Worksheet time: 22mins
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. How would you describe where MesoAmerica is located?
It extends from the middle of present day Mexico to the central part of Central America
It extends from eastern North America to the central part of South America
It extends from southern North America to the eastern part of Central America
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. Which object is representative of the Olmec civilization?
Pyramids
Long, man-made canals
Giant (football helmeted) heads made from volcanic stone
Canoes made from wood and jade
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. Which of these theories is not true about the reasoning for migration?
They were getting too cold
Food
Conflict
Harvesting of plants
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. What is the purpose of an irrigation system that the Olmecs used?
The way that people planted the food
Moving water from one place to another to use for farming
A river
To pump water into their kitchen sinks
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. MesoAmerica refers to a ______ and ______ area.
Government, religion
Geographic, cultural
Farming, fertile
Western, eastern
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. Tierra Caliente means
Hot land
Temperate land
Rainy land
Cold land
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. The Olmecs existed around
2017 to 2018
1700 BC to 800 BC
1400 BE to 300 BC
1300 BC to 400 BC
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. The Olmecs played a game called
Pok-a-tok
Soccer
Football
Baseball
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. The Sierra Madre Oriental represents
The western side
The eastern side
The southern side
The northern side
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. Where did the Olmecs live?
Oregon
Canada
Asia
Central America
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. Which of the following is an Olmec site?
El Salvador
San Antonio
Texas
La Venta
Directions: Read each question and choose the letter with the correct answer and circle it. The people crossing the Land Bridge came from which continent.
Siberia (Asia)
Europe
South America
Mexico
True or False (1 point each). Glyphs are pictures that were used to represent words.
True
False
True or False (1 point each). The Sierra Madre Occidental represents the Eastern side.
True
False
True or False (1 point each). “Meso” means last.
True
False
True or False (1 point each). Tierra Fria means cold land in Spanish.
True
False
True or False (1 point each). The Sierra Madre is called Mexico’s Plateau because of the mountain ranges shaped in the shape of a “V”.
True
False
True or False (1 point each). The two continents the Land Bridge connected were Australia to South America.
True
False
True or False (1 point each). Some of the Olmec heads weighed about 40,000 pounds.
True
False
Fill in the blank. Scientists believe that people migrated for a couple reasons. Select all that apply.
They were getting too cold
Searching for food
Conflict
Harvesting of plants
The Olmec people had carved the large heads from what type of volcanic stone?
Basalt
Granite
Limestone
Obsidian
What animal represented the rain god?
Jaguar
Eagle
Serpent
Deer
Short Answer: Answer the questions using complete sentences. Why was it helpful for the Olmecs to live near rivers?
Rivers provided fresh water, fertile soil, and transportation for farming and trade
Rivers made the climate colder and discouraged farming
Rivers created tall mountains for protection
Rivers allowed them to mine gold easily
Why do you think the Olmec culture was referred to as the Mother Culture? (Think of what a mother does.) Explain your answer.
Because it influenced later Mesoamerican civilizations by beginning many traditions, ideas, and practices they adopted
Because it was the last ancient civilization to exist in Mesoamerica
Because the Olmec people mostly lived underwater near rivers and lakes
Because it copied most of its customs from other, older cultures
Which term best describes the act of offering something to a deity as part of worship?
Ritual, a planned ceremony order
Demography, study of population traits
Sacrifice, giving an offering to a god
Prestige, status from wealth and success
What is a ritual in the context of ancient cultures?
A large estate or plantation
The order of a religious ceremony
A person with animal features
Moving from one place to another
La Venta is best known as which of the following?
A major Olmec location
A type of hard-shelled fruit
A population study method
A Spanish colonial estate
If a statue looks human but represents a god, which word describes it?
Anthropomorphic, having human-like form
Benevolent, kind and charitable
Zoomorphic, having animal-like traits
Jade, a green hard mineral
Which term refers to the study of population size, growth, and distribution?
Gourds, fruits with hard rinds
Migrate, moving to new places
Prestige, status through success
Demography, study of population traits
What does it mean to migrate?
To move from one place to another
To study population statistics
To plan a formal ceremony
To gain status and influence
Which term describes animal characteristics applied to a god or statue?
Zoomorphic, animal-like qualities
Anthropomorphic, human-like form
Hacienda, large rural estate
Benevolent, charitable actions
Prestige in ancient societies is best defined as which idea?
Large plantation in Spanish regions
Order of sacred ceremonies
Movement of people across regions
Influential status from success or wealth
Which option correctly describes jade in ancient cultures?
A green mineral, nephrite or jadeite
A population mapping method
A ceremonial order list
A fruit with thick hard rind
Gourds are best described as which of the following?
A large estate or plantation
A human-like god statue
A type of religious ceremony
Several vine fruits with hard rinds
If a leader donates food to help others, which word fits their action?
Ritual, order of sacred events
Demography, tracking population data
Prestige, status from success alone
Benevolent, inclined to be charitable
In Spanish-speaking lands, a hacienda is best defined as what?
A large estate or plantation
A study of human populations
A sacred offering to a deity
A statue with animal features
What is the main characteristic of a zoomorphic statue?
It is made from green minerals
It is used for population studies
It displays animal-like features
It represents human-like gods
In ancient societies, what does the term 'anthropomorphic' refer to?
Large plantations for agriculture
Objects or deities with human-like traits
Fruits with hard rinds
Charitable actions by leaders
Name this country
Mexico
Cuba
Puerto Rico
Costa Rica
Name this country
Guatemala
Cuba
Mexico
Costa Rica
Name this country
Belize
Cuba
Mexico
Dominican Republic
Name this country
El Salvador
Bahamas
Mexico
Dominican Republic
Name this country
Honduras
Bahamas
Nicaragua
Dominican Republic
