South and Middle America differs from North America in which of the following ways? 

a. The gap between the rich and the poor is much narrower in South and Middle America.
b. There are fewer indigenous people in South and Middle America.
c. South and Middle America is much larger and has more diverse physical environments.
d. South and Middle America has fewer independent nation-states than North America.

Which of the following does not accurately describe the physical characteristics of the region of Middle and South America? 

a. The region extends from the mid-latitudes to Antarctica.
b. The region is characterized by a continental divide running from the Sierra Madre to the Andes Mountains.
c. The highlands are prone to volcanoes and earthquakes.
d. The entire region is a raised plateau.

The Amazon River basin is known for all of the following features EXCEPT: 

a. The Basin has amazing biodiversity.
b. 20% of the Earth's flowing surface water is contained here.
c. The Amazon River is amazingly shallow, making boat traffic difficult.
d. The Amazon Basin contains the largest remaining rainforest on the planet.

Temperatures are highest in which of the following temperature-altitude zones? 

a. Tierra fria
b. Tierra helada
c. Tierra templada
d. Tierra caliente

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the indigenous peoples of Middle and South America? 

a. They probably arrived over the Bering Strait land bridge 25 14,000 years ago.
b. They left the natural environment untouched.
c. There were between 50 and 100 million indigenous people in the region when Columbus arrived.
d. They perfected the system of shifting cultivation.

Which of the following was not one of the aspects of civilization possessed by the Aztecs? 

a. Urban sewage systems
b. The wheel
c. Urban water supplies
d. Marketing systems

The exchange between indigenous peoples and Europeans resulted in all of the following EXCEPT: 

a. Transfer of rice, sugarcane and wheat from outside the region
b. Decimation of the native population from disease
c. Introduction of the potato into European diets
d. Adoption of indigenous American languages by Europeans

Following independence from colonialism, many of the countries in Middle and South America experienced which of the following changes?

 
a. Radical restructuring of society for greater equality.
b. Purging of all people of European descent from society.
c. The installation of military dictatorships.
d. The establishment of a new elite from among the Creole and Mestizo populations.

Which of the following was NOT a country that colonized Middle and South America? 

a. Spain
b. Denmark
c. Germany
d. The Netherlands

All of the following statements accurately describe income distribution in Middle and South America except: 

a. With the exception of a few countries in Middle America, the gap between the rich and the poor is the greatest in the world.
b. The income gap has been declining in Brazil, Venezuela, Chile and Mexico.
c. Because of socialist policies, the income gap in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, the income gap has significantly decreased.
d. In Haiti and Guatemala, more than half the population lives in poverty.

All of the following statements accurately describe the informal economy except: 

a. Business activities in the informal economy are not officially recognized.
b. Businesses in the informal economy do not pay taxes.
c. Businesses in the informal economy never become legitimate.
d. Businesses in the informal economy often involve recycled materials.

Which of the following is not one of the goals of NAFTA? 

a. to reduce barriers to trade
b. to create an expanded market for the goods and services produced in North America
c. to establish clear and mutually advantageous trade rules
d. to gradually reduce agricultural production in Middle America

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the political situation in Middle and South America over the past 150 years? 

a. The U.S. supported undemocratic and unelected leaders, some of them military dictators, in many countries in the region.
b. The U.S. has funded armed interventions intended to overthrow governments in at least five countries in the region.
c. In recent years, military coup d'etats have threatened several countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia.
d. Little progress toward democracy has been made in the region to date.

The influence of the Catholic Church on society in the region can be seen in all but which of the following? 

a. The spread of liberation theology among the poor of the region.
b. Marianismo emphasizes the woman's role in charity, motherhood and service.
c. The complete abandonment of indigenous religions such as Obeah and Voodoo in favor of a pure Catholicism.
d. The democratization of the Church in response to demands of the people.

While tourism seems like a logical economic development strategy for the island nations of the Caribbean, it comes with problems. Which of the following is not one of the negative impacts associated with tourism in the sub-region of the Caribbean? 

a. Large cruise liners pollute the local waters.
b. Host countries find it hard to regulate tourism because it is a complex multinational industry controlled by the wealthier countries.
c. Tourists bring foreign exchange into the country which diminishes the value of local currency.
d. Large numbers of people coming for "sun, sand and surf" tourism can overrun the small port towns and trample the environment.

Which of the following statements does not accurately describe Mexico's maquiladoras? 

a. Maquiladoras are plants that hire people to assemble manufactured goods, such as clothing or electronic devices, usually from duty-free imported parts.
b. Thousands of maquladoras are located just south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
c. Historically, the maquiladoras have preferred to hire men, but have recently turned to women to fill job openings.
d. The rise of drug cartel activity along the border has interfered with the growth of the maquiladoras.