World Cultures

Unit III: S.E. Asia

Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________

Physical Geography of South East Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

pgs. 689-692

1.
What is an archipelago and identify an example?
A set of closely grouped islands, like the Malay Archipelago in Asia.
2. What rivers and resources exist in South East Asia? Why is this important?
They provide fish, fresh water, fertile silt, transportation, recreation, and many other essential
functions. Some of these rivers are hao Praya River, Mekong River, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze,
Red River, Salween River, and Godavari River.
3. What is Oceania? About how many islands exist in Oceania?
The group of islands in the Pacific, including Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
4. What are high islands? What are low islands?
High islands are volcanic islands. A low island is, in geology, an island of coral origin. The term
applies whether the island was formed as a result of sedimentation upon a coral reef or of
the uplifting of such islands.
5. What resource problem exists in Oceania?
They have few resources and that creates a problem for the pacific.
6. Describe the difference in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Even though it
Has limited natural resources, what has allowed New Zealand to thrive?
North Island has hilly ranges and a volcanic plateau, North islands have fertile farmland and forest
that support the lumber industry. And southern islands have many rivers running through the
mountains to the sea.
7. How is Australia different from New Zealand? (Be specific. What is found here that is
Not found in New Zealand?)
Pacific lie New Zealand and Australia which are often considered part of Oceania, even though
Australia is a continent, not an island.
8. The 5th largest continent is Antarctica. Compare East and West Antarctica (underneath
The ice).
East Antarctica is a plateau surrounded by mountains and valleys. West Antarctica is group o
separate islands linked only by the ice that covers them.
9. What is interesting about Antarctica's ice sheet? What resources may lie beneath?
Antarcticas Ice sheet is the largest supply of fresh water in the world. Also Geologist believe that
resources such as coal, minerals, and perhaps even petroleum may lie beneath the ice.

Climate and Vegetation

pgs. 694-701
1.
What sort of climate exists in most of South East Asia and Oceania?
Tropical Climates fall into two categories, depending on when it rains during the year.
2. What are the two categories that exist in the climate of South East Asia and Oceania?
Tropical wet climate is found in the coastal parts and Dry tropical climates are found in the south.
3. Describe a monsoon.
Monsoons are winds that cause wet and dry seasons.

4. How does the climate affect the tropical plants and vegetation that exists in South East
Asia and Oceania?
Due to the lack of rain in some parts the plants dont grow so well but in some areas the rain is
too much. They also have a very diverse group of plants growing.
5. Look at the 5 Themes Box (Human-Environment Interaction). What is Terraced
Farming? Why would this be interesting to historians?
It lets people plant on slops allowing them to use other unproductive land. I makes irrigation easier
because gravity causes water to flow from high to low terraces.
6. Describe the climate in Australia and New Zealand. How is Australias climate similar to
South East Asia and also New Zealand?
Australia and New Zealand generally moderate climate.
7. Why is of Australia a dry desert? What is the outback?
Very few people live in the dry interior. Asians call unpopulated inland region the outback
8. What is the White Desert? What sorts of life lives in it?
Located in Antarctica, it is home to plants, mostly sea life and birds.