chapter 5 assesment

Chapter 5, Section 1

1. How have the river systems and landforms of the United States and Canada played important roles in this region’s development? The landforms of Canada and the United States play an important role in the regions development by giving these countries their personalities. For example, in the western United States and western Canada there are multiple mountain ranges that were made by the tectonic plates moving. Also there are many plateaus and dry basins that were also created by lava from the earth moving. River systems have helped develop these countries by making the land fertile. Also the water helped make cities grow.

2. What are some of the major geographical factors and natural resources that have played an important part in the economic development of the United States and Canada? Some of the major geographical features and natural resources that have played a part in the economic development of Canada and the United States are fossil fuels, minerals, timber, and fishing. Fossil fuels and minerals are found mostly everywhere on the North America continent, but there are certain areas that have more than others. Timber is very important for the United States and Canada, but in order to have the resource people need to be responsible about it. Fishing takes place in all the oceans and seas that surround Canada and America, but overfishing has led to decreases in fish population.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph describing the landforms that would be visible from an airplane window if you were flying across North America, from Norfolk, Virginia, to Seattle, Washington. Assume that you are flying low enough to see the ground. When flying over the Untied States there are many different landforms that you could see. Starting out, when you first leave the airport you will probably be flying over the Appalachian Mountains. After an hour you will probably be flying over the Mississippi river. Then for most of the ride you will be able to see the Great Plains, where a lot of food is grown. Then for the remainder of the flight you will be flying over the Rocky Mountains.

Chapter 5, Section 2

1. What climate regions are found in the United States and Canada? Some of the climate regions found in Canada and the United States are warm and wet climates and warm and dry climates. Normally the warm and wet climates are around swamps and wetlands. The warm and dry climates are normally around deserts and mountains, also Southern California is a good example of this weather.

2. What are three of the weather-related hazards found in the United States and Canada? Three of the weather related hazards found in the United States and Canada are supercells, chinook, and blizzards. Supercells are violent spring and summer thunderstorms that create spawn tornadoes in the Great Plains and eastern United States. Chinook is a warm dry wind that blows down snow on the eastern slopes of the Rockies in early spring. Blizzards occur mostly everywhere in the northern North America, blowing snow with little or no visibility.

Creative Writing: Why might two cities at about the same latitude, such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (40.0º N), and Salt Lake City, Utah (40.45º N), have widely differing climates? Write a paragraph justifying your conclusion. Pennsylvania and Utah have different climates because of the different elevations that the two cities are at. For example Salt Lake City is at higher elevation because it is in the Rocky Mountains, also it is around 1,600 to 6,500 feet up. While Philadelphia is around 650 to 1,600 feet high. The different elevations can make the climate differ significantly.