Study Guide for Geography Unit Test
#______
Name: ______________________________
Test Date: ___________
1. Continents – major masses of land, sometimes separated by bodies of water.
2. The seven continents are: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and
South America. (Learn to locate them on a map.)
3. The four oceans are: Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Pacific. (Learn to locate them on a map.)
4. The United States of America is bordered by two other countries. Our neighbors are:
Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. (Learn to locate them on a map.)
5. The Caribbean is located below Florida. It includes Puerto Rico, Cuba, Bahamas,
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. (Learn to locate it on a map.)
6. The five regions of the United States are: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and
West.
7. Equator – an imaginary line that runs around the world from east to west; dividing the
earth into northern and southern hemispheres.
8. Prime Meridian - an imaginary line which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole;
dividing the earth into eastern and western hemispheres.
9. Compass Rose – a drawing that shows the north, south, east, and west directions on a map.
10. Scale – a ratio which compares a measurement on a map to the actual distance between
the locations.
11. Legend or Key –a box with the symbols used on a map and what they mean.
Examples: a blue line for a river, a star for a capitol, or an airplane for an airport.
12. Identify major physical features (landforms):
lake- a large inland body of standing water
river- a natural stream of water larger than a brook or creek
ocean- a very large body of salt water
mountain- land elevation higher than a hill
desert- dry land with few plants and little rainfall
plain- a large area of flat, treeless land
grasslands- land covered with grasses and short plants rather than shrubs and trees
13. Map Types: (Be able to name each type and identify the purpose)
Political - shows features made by people, such as cities, capitals and boundary lines.
Physical - shows what the land looks like such as rivers, mountains, lakes, and deserts,
Product - shows the kinds of things are made in, mined, or grown on the land.
Population- shows how many people live in an area, country or state.
Note- These Social Studies concepts are also covered during our unit, but are not assessed on the unit test:
1. Identify natural and man-made landmarks on maps, for example: Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Everglades, Niagara Falls.
2. Identify major differences in the climates and vegetation of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, such as
temperature, humidity, tundra, and soil.
3. Recognize major natural resources—such as water, arable land, oil, phosphate, and fish—in the United States and Canada, and
Mexico and the Caribbean.
4. Identify major ways that environment influences the settlement patterns in the United States, such as settlement near water for
drinking, bathing, and cooking; and settlement near land for farming.
5. Identify contributions from various ethnic groups to the United States. (Native Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Africans, Asians,
Europeans)
Study Questions: Circle the correct answer:
True
False
1. A physical map shows only cities and boundary lines.
True
False
2. The equator is an imaginary line that divides the earth into the north and south
hemispheres.
True
False
3. The Caribbean is located near Hawaii.
True
False
4. The Antarctica is an ocean.
True
False
5. The compass rose is a flower grown in Asia.
My child has correctly answered the above study questions and has studied all the facts.
Parent signs:__________________________________________
I have studied my facts.
Student signs:________________________________________
Please return this study guide on the test date, completed and signed, for extra credit. (NO credit will
be given if returned after the test date.)