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World History, Our World Today
Glenco/MacDougall/Littel Vocabulary
444
History
6th Grade
09/10/2011

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Term
absolute monarchy
Definition
form of government in which king or queen governs with complete power
Term
caste
Definition
social class based on a person's ancestry
Term
constitutional monarchy
Definition
government in which a king or queen is the official head of state, but elected officials run the government
Term
cultural borrowing
Definition
when a group of people adopt another's cultural traits
Term
cultural borrowning
Definition
when one group of people adopts another group's culture traits
Term
cultural diffusion
Definition
process of spreading new knowledge and skills to other cultures
Term
cultural diffusion
Definition
how a culture spreads its knowledge and skills from one area to another
Term
culture
Definition
way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs
Term
custom
Definition
practice handed down from the past
Term
democracy
Definition
form of government in which citizens choose the nation's leaders by voting for them
Term
dictatorship
Definition
government under the control of one all-powerful leader
Term
ethnic group
Definition
people who share a common culture, language, or history
Term
ethnocentrism
Definition
attitude that one's own ethnic group is superior
Term
globalization
Definition
development of a world culture and interdependent world economy
Term
interdependence
Definition
dependence of countries on one another for goods, raw materials to make goods, and markets in which to sell goods
Term
interdependence
Definition
when countries depend on one another for goods, raw materials to make goods, and markets in which to sell goods
Term
limited government
Definition
type of government where, through law, some control is placed on leadership's powers
Term
majority group
Definition
group in society that controls most of the wealth and power, though not always the largest group in numbers
Term
migrate
Definition
to move from one place to another
Term
minority group
Definition
group of people who are different in some characteristic from the group with the most power and wealth in a region
Term
refugee
Definition
person who flees to another country to avoid persecution or disaster
Term
refugees
Definition
people who are forced to leave their homelands because of wars or unjust governments
Term
responsibilities
Definition
duties owed by citizens to their government to make sure it can continue its functions
Term
responsibilities
Definition
duties that people owe to their fellow citizens to make sure that the government continues
Term
rights
Definition
benefits and protections that are guaranteed by law
Term
social scientist
Definition
scientist who studies the interaction of people and society
Term
unlimited government
Definition
government in which leaders rule without any restrictions
Term
urbanization
Definition
when people leave villages and farms and move to cities
Term
acid rain
Definition
rain containing high amounts of chemical pollutants
Term
aquifer
Definition
underground rock layer that stores large amounts of water
Term
aquifer
Definition
underground rock layer that water flows through
Term
canyon
Definition
deep, narrow valley with steep-sides that a river has cut through a plateau
Term
canyon
Definition
steep-sided lowlands that rivers have cut through a plateau
Term
climate
Definition
usual, predictable pattern of weather in an area over a long period of time
Term
conservation
Definition
careful use of resources so they are not wasted
Term
crop rotation
Definition
varying what is planted in a field to avoid using up all the minerals in the soil
Term
crop rotation
Definition
when farmers change what they plant in a field to avoid using up all the minerals in the soil
Term
deforestation
Definition
widespread cutting down of forests
Term
ecosystem
Definition
place where the plants and animals are dependent upon one another and their surroundings for survival
Term
environment
Definition
natural surroundings
Term
erosion
Definition
process of moving water and wind across the earth's surface, leaving the land less fertile than before
Term
erosion
Definition
when wind or water carries soil away, leaving the land less fertile than before
Term
fault
Definition
crack in the earth's crust
Term
geographic information systems (GIS)
Definition
special software that helps geographers gather and use different kinds of information about a place
Term
geographic information systems (GIS)
Definition
software that helps geographers gather many different kinds of information about the same place
Term
geography
Definition
study of the earth in all its variety-land, water, plants, and animals and how they live
Term
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Definition
group of satellites that travels around the earth, which can be used to pinpoint an exact location on the earth
Term
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Definition
satelites that can tell the exact latidede and longitude of any place
Term
GPS
Definition
satelites that can tell the exact latidede and longitude of any place
Term
greenhouse effect
Definition
buildup of certain gases in the atmosphere that, like a greenhouse, prevent the warm air from escaping into the atmosphere, resulting in increase of the earth's overall temperature
Term
greenhouse effect
Definition
buildup of gasses from the burning of fossil fuels that prevent the warm air from rising and escaping into the atmosphere, causing the overall temperature of the earth to increase
Term
landform
Definition
individual feature of the land, such as a mountain or valley
Term
pesticide
Definition
powerful chemical that kills crop-destroying insects
Term
plain
Definition
low-lying stretch of flat or gently rolling land
Term
plate tectonics
Definition
theory that the earth's crust is not an unbroken shell but consists of plates, or huge slabs of rock, that move
Term
plateau
Definition
flat land with higher elevation than a plain
Term
region
Definition
area that shares common characteristics
Term
tropics
Definition
areas near the Equator that lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
Term
tropics
Definition
low-latitude region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
Term
city-state
Definition
a city and the land around it
Term
city-state
Definition
city and its surrounding countryside
Term
civilization
Definition
a culture that has reached a certain level of development
Term
civilization
Definition
a culture that includes certain elements such as a system of writing, cities, and workers with specialized jobs (p. 82)
Term
Crusades
Definition
holy wars sponsored by the Catholic Church to capture Jerusalem from the Muslims
Term
cuneiform
Definition
Sumerian form of writing using wooden triangular-shaped sticks in the form of hundreds of different wedge-shaped markings on moist clay tablets
Term
delta
Definition
area formed from soil deposited by a river at its mouth
Term
Diaspora
Definition
collective name for scattered Jewish settlements around the world
Term
disciple
Definition
follower of a specific teacher
Term
embalm
Definition
to treat a dead body to protect it from decay; to preserve it for burial
Term
empire
Definition
group of lands or states under one ruler
Term
five pilars of faith
Definition
basic religious obligations of Islam
Term
hieroglyphics
Definition
form of picture writing; ancient form of writing that used signs and symbols
Term
irrigation system
Definition
planned series of ditches to control flooding and to better water land
Term
messiah
Definition
in Judaism and Christianity, a savior sent by God
Term
minister
Definition
to take care of or tend to another's needs
Term
monotheism
Definition
belief that there is only one God
Term
papyrus
Definition
tall plant of the Nile valley, used in making a form of paper
Term
pharaoh
Definition
great ruler of Ancient Egypt
Term
polytheistic
Definition
believing in more than one god
Term
pyramid
Definition
tomb for a pharaoh; huge stone structure that served as an elaborate tomb or monument
Term
scapegoat
Definition
one who is wrongly blamed by others
Term
scribe
Definition
one who records information by writing
Term
theocracy
Definition
form of government in which one individual ruled as both religious leader and king
Term
alluvial plain
Definition
area that is built up by rich fertile soil left by river floods
Term
aquifer
Definition
underground rock layer that stores large amounts of water
Term
Bedouin
Definition
nomadic Arab of the deserts of Southwest Asia
Term
constitutional monarchy
Definition
government in which a king or queen is the official head of state, but elected officials run the government
Term
delta
Definition
area formed from soil deposited by a river at its mouth
Term
desalinization
Definition
process of removing salt to make seawater drinkable
Term
dictator
Definition
all-powerful government leader
Term
embargo
Definition
order that restricts or prohibits trade with another country
Term
hajj
Definition
religious journey to Makkah that Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime if they are able to do so
Term
Islamic republic
Definition
government run by Muslim religious leaders
Term
kibbutz
Definition
settlement or farm in Israel where the people share property and produce goods
Term
moshav
Definition
cooperative settlement of small individual farms in Israel where people share in farming, but also own some private property
Term
mosque
Definition
place of worship for followers of Islam
Term
oasis
Definition
green area in a desert fed by underground water
Term
secular
Definition
nonreligious
Term
shah
Definition
title given to kings who ruled Iran
Term
silt
Definition
small particles of rich soil
Term
terrorism
Definition
systematic use of violence or terror to achieve certain goals
Term
wadi
Definition
dry riverbed filled by rainwater from rare downpours
Term
cottage industry
Definition
home- or village-based industry in which family members supply their own equipment to make goods
Term
cyclone
Definition
intense storm system with heavy rain and high winds
Term
dzong
Definition
Buddhist center of prayer and study
Term
green revolution
Definition
great increase in food grains production due to the use of improved seeds, pesticides, and efficient farming techniques
Term
jute
Definition
plant fiber used for making rope, burlap bags, and carpet backing
Term
monsoon
Definition
seasonal wind that blows for months at a time, often affecting a region's climate
Term
pesticide
Definition
powerful chemical that kills crop-destroying insects
Term
prime minister
Definition
official who heads the government in a parliamentary democracy
Term
reincarnation
Definition
rebirth of a soul in a new body
Term
subcontinent
Definition
large landmass that is part of a continent but distinct from it
Term
calligraphy
Definition
art of beautiful writing
Term
communist state
Definition
country whose government allows little or no private ownership of property and has strong control over the economy and society as a whole
Term
consumer goods
Definition
goods people buy to use for themselves, such as household products, clothing, and cars
Term
dike
Definition
high bank of soil built along a body of water to control floods
Term
dynasty
Definition
line of rulers from the same family
Term
empire
Definition
group of lands under one ruler
Term
exile
Definition
unable to live in one's own country, usually because of political beliefs
Term
fault
Definition
crack in the earth's crust
Term
free enterprise system
Definition
economic system that operates on free competition, in which people start and own businesses with limited government intervention
Term
high technology industry
Definition
industry that produces computers and other kinds of electronic equipment
Term
human rights
Definition
basic freedoms and rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, that all people should have (p. 171)
Term
invest
Definition
to put money into a business
Term
nomad
Definition
person who moves from place to place with herds of animals
Term
one country, two systems
Definition
China's policy of blending capitalism and some Western freedoms with Chinese communism
Term
pagoda
Definition
many-storied Buddhist temple
Term
pope
Definition
head of the Roman Catholic Church
Term
steppe
Definition
partly dry, treeless grassland often found on the edges of a desert
Term
typhoon
Definition
hurricane that occurs in Asia
Term
yurt
Definition
large, circle-shaped tent made of animal skins that can be packed up and moved from place to place
Term
archipelago
Definition
group of islands
Term
clan
Definition
family, or group of related people
Term
constitutional monarchy
Definition
government in which a king or queen is the official head of state, but elected officials run the government
Term
dynasty
Definition
line of rulers from the same family
Term
famine
Definition
extended, usually widespread, severe lack of food
Term
intensive cultivation
Definition
growing crops on every available piece of land
Term
megalopolis
Definition
huge urban settlement made up of several large cities
Term
monsoon
Definition
seasonal wind that blows for months at a time, often affecting a region's climate
Term
samurai
Definition
powerful land-owning warriors in Japan
Term
shogun
Definition
military leader in Japan
Term
tsunami
Definition
huge sea wave caused by an earthquake on the ocean floor
Term
civil war
Definition
fight between different groups within a country (pp. 438)
Term
deforestation
Definition
widespread cutting of forests
Term
delta
Definition
area formed from soil deposited by a river at its mouth
Term
free port
Definition
place where goods can be loaded, stored, and shipped again without import taxes
Term
monsoon
Definition
seasonal wind that blows for months at a time, often affecting a region's climate
Term
plate
Definition
huge slab of rock that makes up the earth's crust
Term
precious gems
Definition
valuable gemstones, such as rubies, sapphires, and jade
Term
socialism
Definition
economic system in which many businesses are owned and run by the government
Term
strait
Definition
narrow body of water between two pieces of land
Term
terraced field
Definition
strips of land cut out of a hillside like stair steps so the land can hold water and be used for farming
Term
apprentice
Definition
young worker who learned a trade or skill from a master teacher
Term
bishop
Definition
official of the Christian Church
Term
charter
Definition
written agreement guaranteeing privileges and freedoms
Term
classical
Definition
relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world
Term
Columbian Exchange
Definition
process in which people, diseases, ideas, and trade were distributed around the world from the Americas
Term
common law
Definition
unwritten set of laws based on local customs
Term
constitution
Definition
formal agreement that establishes the basis for a country's laws
Term
constitutional monarchy
Definition
government in which a king or queen is the official head of state, but elected officials run the government
Term
consul
Definition
elected chief official of the Roman Republic
Term
convent
Definition
place where nuns live, pray, and study
Term
democracy
Definition
form of government in which citizens choose the nation's leaders by voting for them
Term
divine right of kings
Definition
belief that royalty ruled by the will of God
Term
emperor
Definition
absolute ruler of an empire
Term
feudalism
Definition
political and social system in which a lord gave land to a noble to work, govern, and defend, in return for the noble's loyalty
Term
guild
Definition
medieval workers' organization
Term
indulgences
Definition
pardons for sins, given or sold by the Catholic Church
Term
manor
Definition
feudal estate made up of a manor house or castle and land
Term
missionary
Definition
teacher of Christianity
Term
monastery
Definition
place where monks live, pray, and study
Term
Parliament
Definition
supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and other countries
Term
philosophy
Definition
term derived from Greek, meaning "love of wisdom"
Term
polis
Definition
Greek term for "city-state"
Term
Protestant
Definition
person who "protested" Catholic practices; today, a member of a non-Catholic Christian church
Term
reform
Definition
to improve by changing
Term
republic
Definition
nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
Term
revolution
Definition
great and often violent change
Term
Senate
Definition
legislative body of government; the supreme council of the ancient Roman Republic
Term
serf
Definition
peasant laborer
Term
tenant
Definition
farmer or other who pays rent to another for the use of land or property
Term
vassal
Definition
noble in medieval society who swore loyalty to a lord in return for land
Term
airlift
Definition
system of carrying supplies by aircraft
Term
alliance
Definition
political agreement between countries to support each other in disputes with other countries
Term
blockade
Definition
to forcibly prevent entry to an area
Term
capitalism
Definition
economic system that allows private ownership and open competition of businesses
Term
Cold War
Definition
conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union dating from the late 1940s to the late 1980s, when the two superpowers competed for world influence without declared military action at each other
Term
communism
Definition
economic, social, and political system based on the teachings of Karl Marx, which advocated the elimination of private property
Term
cottage industry
Definition
home- or village-based industry in which family members supply their own equipment to make goods
Term
deterrence
Definition
maintenance of military power for the purpose of discouraging an attack
Term
Euro
Definition
common currency adopted by countries in the European Union
Term
European Union
Definition
trade alliance among many European countries, formally called the Common Market
Term
genocide
Definition
mass murder of a people because of their race, religion, ethnicity, politics, or culture
Term
glasnost
Definition
Russian policy of "openness," which permitted Soviet people to criticize the government without punishment
Term
Holocaust
Definition
systematic murder by Adolf Hitler and his followers of more than 12 million people, including 6 million European Jews, during World War II
Term
human resources
Definition
supply of people who can produce goods
Term
imperialism
Definition
system of building foreign empires for military and trade advantages
Term
nuclear weapon
Definition
weapon whose destructive power comes from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction
Term
perestroika
Definition
Soviet policy that loosened government controls and permitted its economy to move towards capitalism
Term
productivity
Definition
measurement of the amount of work accomplished in a given time
Term
satellite nation
Definition
nation politically and economically dominated or controlled by another more powerful country
Term
strike
Definition
a refusal to work, usually by a labor organization, until demands are met
Term
textiles
Definition
woven cloth
Term
union
Definition
labor organization that negotiates for improved worker conditions and pay
Term
autobahn
Definition
German, Swiss, or Austrian superhighway
Term
bog
Definition
low swampy land
Term
coalition government
Definition
government in which two or more political parties work together to run a country
Term
continental divide
Definition
mountainous area from which rivers flow in different directions
Term
dry farming
Definition
method in which the land is left unplanted every few years so that it can store moisture
Term
federal republic
Definition
form of government in which the national and state governments share powers
Term
fjord
Definition
steep-sided valley cut into mountains by the action of glaciers
Term
geothermal energy
Definition
electricity produced by natural underground sources of steam
Term
geyser
Definition
spring that shoots hot water through a crack in the earth's crust
Term
heavy industry
Definition
industry that produces goods such as machinery, mining equipment, and steel
Term
multilingual
Definition
able to speak several languages
Term
multinational company
Definition
firm that does business in several countries
Term
navigable
Definition
describes a body of water wide and deep enough to allow the passage of ships
Term
neutrality
Definition
refusing to take sides in disagreements and wars between countries
Term
parliamentary democracy
Definition
system of democratic government where the executive power is held by a cabinet composed of members of the legislature; headed by a prime minister
Term
parliamentary power
Definition
government that also has a president, who acts as head of state
Term
peat
Definition
wet ground with decaying plants that can be dried and used for fuel
Term
polder
Definition
area of land reclaimed from the sea
Term
republic
Definition
nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
Term
reunification
Definition
bringing together the two parts of Germany under one government
Term
sauna
Definition
wooden room heated by water sizzling on hot stones
Term
sirocco
Definition
hot, dry winds from North Africa that blow mainly across Italy
Term
welfare state
Definition
country that uses tax money to provide social services for sick, needy, jobless, or retired people
Term
acid rain
Definition
rain containing high amounts of chemical pollutants
Term
bauxite
Definition
mineral used to make aluminum
Term
consumer goods
Definition
goods people buy to use for themselves, such as household products, clothing, and cars
Term
ethnic cleansing
Definition
forcing people from a different ethnic group to leave their homes
Term
landlocked
Definition
not bordering a sea or an ocean
Term
mosque
Definition
place of worship for followers of Islam
Term
pope
Definition
head of the Roman Catholic Church
Term
potash
Definition
type of mineral salt that is often used in fertilizers
Term
refugee
Definition
person who flees to another country to avoid persecution or disaster
Term
spa
Definition
resort that has hot mineral springs that people bathe in to regain their health
Term
steppe
Definition
partly dry, treeless grassland often found on the edges of a desert
Term
communism
Definition
economic, social, and political system based on the teachings of Karl Marx, which advocated the elimination of private property
Term
consumer goods
Definition
goods people buy to use for themselves, such as household products, clothing, and cars
Term
elevation
Definition
height of land above sea level
Term
ethnic conflict
Definition
dispute between two or more ethnic groups
Term
Eurasia
Definition
region that lies on both the European and Asian continents
Term
heavy industry
Definition
industry that produces goods such as machinery, mining equipment, and steel
Term
light industry
Definition
industry that produces goods such as clothing, shoes, furniture, and household products
Term
majority culture
Definition
dominant or main culture of a region
Term
minority culture
Definition
culture other than the majority culture in a region
Term
nomad
Definition
person who moves from place to place with herds of animals
Term
oasis
Definition
green area in a desert fed by underground water
Term
rural
Definition
relating to the countryside
Term
Slav
Definition
person from the ethnic group originating in northeast Europe whose native tongue is a Slavic language
Term
steppe
Definition
partly dry, treeless grassland often found on the edges of a desert
Term
suburb
Definition
smaller community located in the area surrounding a city
Term
taiga
Definition
huge forests of evergreen trees that grow in subarctic regions
Term
tundra
Definition
vast, rolling, treeless plain in high latitude climates in which only the top few inches of ground thaw in summer
Term
urban
Definition
relating to the city
Term
Cold War
Definition
conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union dating from the late 1940s to the late 1980s, when the two superpowers competed for world influence without declared military action at each other
Term
communist state
Definition
country whose government allows little or no private ownership of property and has strong control over the economy and society as a whole
Term
czar
Definition
title of Russian emperor
Term
federal republic
Definition
form of government in which the national and state governments share powers
Term
free market economy
Definition
economy driven by forces including competition, supply, and demand
Term
glasnost
Definition
Russian policy of "openness," which permitted Soviet people to criticize the government without punishment
Term
industrialize
Definition
to change an economy to rely more on manufacturing and less on farming
Term
nuclear energy
Definition
power created by a controlled atomic reaction
Term
serf
Definition
peasant laborer
Term
canopy
Definition
umbrella-like covering formed by the tops of trees in a rain forest
Term
cassava
Definition
plant with roots that can be ground to make porridge
Term
clan
Definition
family, or group of related people
Term
coral reef
Definition
structure formed by the skeletons of small sea animals
Term
deforestation
Definition
widespread cutting of forests
Term
drought
Definition
long period of extreme dryness and water shortages
Term
ecotourist
Definition
person who travels to another country to view its natural wonders
Term
endangered species
Definition
plant or animal under the threat of completely dying out
Term
free enterprise system
Definition
economic system that operates on free competition, in which people start and own businesses with limited government intervention
Term
habitat
Definition
type of environment in which a particular animal species lives
Term
hydroelectric power
Definition
electricity generated by flowing water
Term
plate
Definition
huge slab of rock that makes up the earth's crust
Term
poaching
Definition
illegal hunting of protected animals
Term
refugee
Definition
person who flees to another country to avoid persecution or disaster
Term
savanna
Definition
broad grassland with few trees, found in the tropics
Term
sisal
Definition
plant fiber used to make rope and twine
Term
tsetse fly
Definition
type of fly found in Africa south of the Sahara, whose bite can kill cattle or humans with a disease called sleeping sickness
Term
bauxite
Definition
mineral used to make aluminum
Term
cacao
Definition
tropical tree whose seeds are used to make chocolate and cocoa
Term
civil war
Definition
fight between different groups within a country
Term
compound
Definition
group of houses surrounded by walls
Term
desertification
Definition
process by which grasslands change to desert
Term
drought
Definition
long period of extreme dryness and water shortages
Term
harmattan
Definition
dry, dusty wind that blows south from the Sahara
Term
mangrove
Definition
tropical tree with roots that extend both above and beneath the water
Term
overgraze
Definition
to allow animals to strip areas so bare that plants cannot grow back
Term
phosphate
Definition
mineral salt used in fertilizers
Term
savanna
Definition
broad grassland with few trees, found in the tropics
Term
subsistence farm
Definition
small plot where a farmer grows only enough food to feed his own family
Term
apartheid
Definition
system of laws that separated racial and ethnic groups and limited the rights of blacks in South Africa
Term
Boer
Definition
South African of Dutch ancestry
Term
copper belt
Definition
large area of copper mines
Term
cyclone
Definition
intense storm system with heavy rain and high winds
Term
deforestation
Definition
widespread cutting of forests
Term
enclave
Definition
small territory entirely surrounded by a larger territory
Term
exclave
Definition
small part of a country that is separated from the main part
Term
industrialized country
Definition
country in which a great deal of manufacturing occurs
Term
slash and burn farming
Definition
method of clearing land for planting by cutting and burning forest
Term
sorghum
Definition
tall grass with seeds that are used as grain
Term
township
Definition
South African neighborhood created for the housing of people of non-European descent
Term
autonomy
Definition
right of self-government
Term
bilingual
Definition
having or expressed in two languages
Term
colony
Definition
overseas territory or settlement tied to a parent country
Term
dominion
Definition
self-governing nation that accepts the British monarch as head of state
Term
glacier
Definition
giant, slow-moving sheet of ice
Term
indigenous
Definition
native to or originating from a place
Term
Nunavut
Definition
Canadian province created in 1999 from land that was part of the Northwest Territories
Term
overfishing
Definition
taking fish from the ocean so fast that it threatens their existence in that region
Term
parliamentary democracy
Definition
system of democratic government where the executive power is held by a cabinet composed of members of the legislature; headed by a prime minister
Term
prime minister
Definition
official who heads the government in a parliamentary democracy
Term
province
Definition
regional political division similar to a state
Term
service industry
Definition
industry that provides services like banking, education, and tourism to people rather than producing goods
Term
tundra
Definition
vast, rolling, treeless plain in high latitude climates in which only the top few inches of ground thaw in summer
Term
amend
Definition
to change the basic laws of a government
Term
contiguous
Definition
areas that are joined together inside a common boundary
Term
coral reef
Definition
structure formed by the skeletons of small sea animals
Term
ethnic group
Definition
people who share a common culture, language, or history
Term
federal republic
Definition
form of government in which the national and state governments share powers
Term
fossil fuel
Definition
fuel formed in the earth, such as coal, oil, or natural gas
Term
free enterprise system
Definition
economic system that operates on free competition, in which people start and own businesses with limited government intervention
Term
free trade
Definition
trade without barriers like tariffs or quotas so that goods flow freely between countries
Term
landfill
Definition
area where trash companies dump the waste they collect
Term
megalopolis
Definition
huge urban settlement made up of several large cities
Term
recycling
Definition
reusing materials instead of throwing them away
Term
representative democracy
Definition
government where the people are represented by elected leaders
Term
rural
Definition
relating to the countryside
Term
suburb
Definition
smaller community located in the area surrounding a city
Term
urban
Definition
relating to the city
Term
adobe
Definition
sun-dried clay bricks
Term
altitude
Definition
height above sea level
Term
colony
Definition
overseas territory or settlement tied to a parent country
Term
federal republic
Definition
form of government in which the national and state governments share powers
Term
hacienda
Definition
large ranch
Term
hieroglyphics
Definition
ancient form of writing that used signs and symbols
Term
hurricane
Definition
tropical storm with winds of more than 74 miles (119 km) per hour and heavy rains
Term
industrialize
Definition
to change an economy to rely more on manufacturing and less on farming
Term
jade
Definition
shiny, usually green gemstone
Term
land bridge
Definition
narrow strip of land that joins two larger landmasses
Term
latitude
Definition
location north or south of the Equator, measured by imaginary lines (parallels) numbered in degrees north or south
Term
maize
Definition
Native American name for corn
Term
maquiladora
Definition
factory that assembles parts made in other countries
Term
mestizo
Definition
person with mixed European and Native American ancestry
Term
migrant worker
Definition
person who travels from place to place when extra help is needed to plant or harvest crops
Term
mural
Definition
wall painting
Term
NAFTA
Definition
free trade agreement among United States, Mexico, and Canada
Term
national debt
Definition
money owed by a nation's government
Term
obsidian
Definition
hard black glass created by the cooled molten lava of a volcano
Term
peninsula
Definition
piece of land with water on three sides
Term
plantation
Definition
large farm that grows a single crop for sale
Term
plaza
Definition
public square
Term
service industry
Definition
industry that provides services like banking, education, and tourism to people rather than producing goods
Term
subsistence farm
Definition
small plot where a farmer grows only enough food to feed his own family
Term
vaquero
Definition
cowhand
Term
bauxite
Definition
mineral used to make aluminum
Term
canopy
Definition
umbrella-like covering formed by the tops of trees in a rain forest
Term
commercial crop
Definition
crop grown for purpose of selling
Term
commonwealth
Definition
partly self-governing territory
Term
communist state
Definition
country whose government allows little or no private ownership of property and has strong control over the economy and society as a whole
Term
cooperative
Definition
farm owned and operated by the government
Term
ecotourist
Definition
person who travels to another country to view its natural wonders
Term
embargo
Definition
order that restricts or prohibits trade with another country
Term
free trade zone
Definition
area where people can buy goods from other countries without paying import taxes
Term
hurricane
Definition
tropical storm with winds of more than 74 miles (119 km) per hour and heavy rains
Term
isthmus
Definition
narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land
Term
literacy rate
Definition
percentage of people who can read and write
Term
parliamentary democracy
Definition
system of democratic government where the executive power is held by a cabinet composed of members of the legislature; headed by a prime minister
Term
plantation
Definition
large farm that grows a single crop for sale
Term
republic
Definition
nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
Term
smog
Definition
thick haze of fog and chemicals
Term
subsistence farm
Definition
small plot where a farmer grows only enough food to feed his own family
Term
altitude
Definition
height above sea level
Term
basin
Definition
low area surrounded by higher land
Term
caudillo
Definition
military ruler
Term
deforestation
Definition
widespread cutting of forests
Term
escarpment
Definition
steep cliff between higher and lower land
Term
estancia
Definition
huge ranch
Term
favela
Definition
slum area
Term
gaucho
Definition
cowhand
Term
hydroelectric power
Definition
electricity generated by flowing water
Term
llanos
Definition
grassy plains
Term
pampas
Definition
vast treeless, grass-covered plains of South America
Term
republic
Definition
nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
Term
selva
Definition
tropical rain forest in Brazil
Term
altiplano
Definition
large highland plateau
Term
campesino
Definition
Latin American farmer or farm laborer
Term
cash crop
Definition
crop grown to be sold for export
Term
cordillera
Definition
group of mountain ranges that run side by side
Term
empire
Definition
group of lands under one ruler
Term
foothills
Definition
hilly region at the base of a mountain range
Term
landlocked
Definition
not bordering a sea or an ocean
Term
llanos
Definition
grassy plains
Term
mestizo
Definition
person with mixed European and Native American ancestry
Term
navigable
Definition
describes a body of water wide and deep enough to allow the passage of ships
Term
republic
Definition
nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
Term
sodium nitrate
Definition
chemical used in fertilizer and explosives
Term
subsistence farm
Definition
small plot where a farmer grows only enough food to feed his own family
Term
boomerang
Definition
Australian weapon shaped like a bent wing that either strikes a target or curves back toward the hunter
Term
bush
Definition
rural areas of Australia
Term
coral reef
Definition
structure formed by the skeletons of small sea animals
Term
fjord
Definition
steep-sided valley cut into mountains by the action of glaciers
Term
geothermal energy
Definition
electricity produced by natural underground sources of steam
Term
geyser
Definition
spring that shoots hot water through a crack in the earth's crust
Term
hydroelectric power
Definition
electricity generated by flowing water
Term
immigrant
Definition
person who moves to a new country to make a permanent home
Term
manuka
Definition
small shrub of New Zealand
Term
marsupial
Definition
mammal that carries its young in a pouch
Term
outback
Definition
inland regions of Australia
Term
station
Definition
cattle or sheep ranch in Australia
Term
atoll
Definition
low-lying, ring-shaped island that surrounds a lagoon
Term
cacao
Definition
tropical tree whose seeds are used to make chocolate and cocoa
Term
copra
Definition
dried coconut meat
Term
crevasse
Definition
deep crack in the Antarctic ice cap
Term
high island
Definition
Pacific island formed by volcanic activity
Term
ice shelf
Definition
layer of ice above water in Antarctica
Term
iceberg
Definition
chunk of a glacier that has broken away and floats free in the ocean
Term
krill
Definition
tiny, shrimp-like animal that lives in the waters off Antarctica and is food for many other animals
Term
low island
Definition
Pacific island formed of coral and having little vegetation
Term
ozone
Definition
type of oxygen that forms a layer in the atmosphere and protects all living things on the earth from certain harmful rays of the sun
Term
phosphate
Definition
mineral salt used in fertilizers
Term
pidgin language
Definition
language formed by combining elements of several different languages
Term
trust territory
Definition
area temporarily placed under control of another nation
Term
axis
Definition
horizontal (bottom) or vertical (side) line of measurement on a graph
Term
bar graph
Definition
graph in which vertical or horizontal bars represent quantities
Term
chart
Definition
graphic way of presenting information clearly
Term
circle graph
Definition
round or pie-shaped graph showing how a whole is divided
Term
climograph
Definition
combination bar and line graph giving information about temperature and precipitation
Term
contour line
Definition
line connecting all points at the same elevation on a contour map
Term
diagram
Definition
drawing that shows steps in a process or parts of an object
Term
elevation
Definition
height of land above sea level
Term
elevation profile
Definition
cutaway diagram showing changes in elevation of land
Term
hemisphere
Definition
one-half of the globe; the Equator divides the earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres; the Prime Meridian divides it into Eastern and Western Hemispheres
Term
latitude
Definition
location north or south of the Equator, measured by imaginary lines (parallels) numbered in degrees north or south
Term
line graph
Definition
graph in which one or more lines represent changing quantities over time
Term
longitude
Definition
location east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured by imaginary lines (meridians) numbered in degrees east or west
Term
pictograph
Definition
graph in which small symbols represent quantities
Term
relief
Definition
differences in height in a landscape; how flat or rugged the surface is
Term
scale
Definition
relationship between distance on a map and actual distance on the earth
Term
scale bar
Definition
on a map, a divided line showing the map scale, usually in miles or kilometers
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