Answer key

Prepared by: learnloophq@gmail.com

Last edited 9 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 08. North America

⁠

Answer Key

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (5 Marks)

(b) third

(b) Isthmus of Panama

(b) Lake Athabasca

Section B: Fill in the Blanks (5 Marks)

Amerigo Vespucci

Denmark

iron (or nickel, copper, uranium)

river system

winter

Section C: True/False Questions (5 Marks)

False

True

False

True

Section D: Explanations of Terms (6 Marks)

Cordillera: A Spanish word meaning “a rope or chain,” used to refer to a series of parallel mountain ranges that resemble twisted cords.

Intermontane plateau: A plateau which is surrounded by mountains on all sides.

Fall Line: A line or zone marking where rivers descend from a mountain region or plateau edge onto a lowland by means of waterfalls, often used for hydroelectric power.

Lumberjacks: Workers who are engaged in the activity of lumbering, which involves cutting down trees and processing them for various products.

Section E: Short Answer Questions (10 Marks)

Two island nations that are part of the West Indies are Cuba and Jamaica. (Other valid answers: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico).

The four major physical divisions of North America are the Canadian or Laurentian Shield, the Western Mountain System or Western Cordilleras, the Eastern Highlands or Appalachian Mountains, and the Central Lowlands or Great Central Plains.

The Canadian Shield region is known for having many lakes because during the Ice Age, glaciers scraped out deep depressions in the land, which later filled with meltwater when the ice melted.

The Grand Canyon is famous for its immense beauty and majesty, as it is a vast and deep canyon, about 2,000-m-deep and 480-km long, carved out by the Colorado River.

The St Lawrence River is considered a very important inland waterway because it connects and drains the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, providing a route for ocean-going vessels into the heart of the continent.

Section F: Identifying and or Differentiate Concepts (4 Marks)

Gorge vs. Canyon: Both are deep, narrow valleys with a river at the bottom. However, a gorge is generally smaller, steeper, and narrower than a canyon.

Deciduous trees vs. Coniferous trees: Deciduous trees have broad leaves and shed them once a year in the dry season, yielding hardwood. Coniferous trees have needle-like leaves, do not shed them in any particular season (appearing green always), and yield softwood.

Section G: Map-Based Question (5 Marks)

a) The country where Washington D.C. is located: The United States of America

b) The largest island shown: Greenland

c) The country through which the Tropic of Cancer passes: Mexico

d) A country that is part of Central America: Panama (or any other Central American country listed)

e) The capital of Canada: Ottawa

Section H: Long Answers (10 Marks)

North America’s climate is highly diverse due to several geographical factors. Ocean currents play a major role: the warm Alaskan Current keeps coastal Alaska frost-free, while the cold California Current contributes to desert formation in the southwest. The mixing of the cold Labrador Current and warm Gulf Stream off Newfoundland creates rich fishing grounds. The north-south orientation of the Western Cordilleras and Eastern Highlands allows cold winds from the Arctic to penetrate far south in winter, leading to severe cold in the interior. In summer, warm winds from the torrid zone can also raise temperatures in temperate latitudes due to this lack of an east-west barrier.

Lumbering in Canada is a significant economic activity involving cutting trees and manufacturing wood products. It is traditionally done in winter, lasting about 100 days, because the sap in trees is frozen, making them easier to cut, and frozen ground and rivers allow for convenient transport and piling of logs. When the ice thaws in summer, these logs can easily float down rivers to mills. Lumberjacks perform specialized roles: “High Riggers” cut branches and trunks from tall trees, “Sawers or Buckers” cut logs into specific lengths, “Skidders” collect and stack logs, and “Haulers or Transporters” move logs down rivers, often clearing log-jams.

Section I: Environmental Awareness (5 Marks)

In a diverse nation like the United States, being a “melting pot” means many different cultures and groups coexist. The concept of “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” (SDG 16) is crucial because it promotes civil rights, equality, and sensitive interactions among these groups. It helps ensure that despite historical challenges of strained relations, there is a framework for fair treatment, resolving conflicts peacefully, and building inclusive communities where everyone’s dignity is respected, fostering a more harmonious society.

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.