Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Geography for Baccalaureate

English Language Practice Exercises

Why the Leopard Got Its Spots

Grammar Practice

1. They don't pay scientists much.
2. She can't have chosen that dress.
3. Ann is getting more and more scared.
4. I wish I had called him yesterday.

Vocabulary

• Noun from "goal": aim
• Word from the same root as "survive": survivor

Writing Task: Wildlife Protection

Would you like to have a job related to wildlife protection?

Work related to terrestrial life would help preserve it. Nowadays, we should care for it and not end up destroying it. Many people think that nature takes care of itself, but they are wrong, and this attitude will bring consequences in the future.

Firstly, I want to say that this problem should be given much more importance than it currently receives. Caring for species...

Infant mortality: Number of deaths among the population under one year old in a year and place.

Movement and spatial mobility: Transfer of population from one place to another, i.e., migration.

Natural movements: These reflect the growth or decrease in the number of inhabitants of a place, taking into account births and deaths.

Malthusianism: Theory that defends limiting population growth through birth control practices.

Municipal register: Record of inhabitants of a municipality; the data are similar to the census.

De jure population: Sum of present and absent residents in a municipality; this includes registered foreigners and their families.

De facto population: Sum of present residents and passers-by in a municipality at the time of the census,...

The Causes of Imperialism

Key: Europe. The enormous technological development in Europe, led by the Second Industrial Revolution, imposed its economic model, its ideals, and its culture on much of the planet. Between 1873 and 1890, there was an economic crisis, which originated in an agricultural crisis. Wheat from the United States and Russia reduced domestic cereal prices and triggered a general decline in agricultural and industrial prices. Soon, a crisis of overproduction began in all sectors. Reserves of products accumulated, prices declined even more, and many industries closed.

The industrial world emerged from the crisis by greatly expanding its markets. The imposition of protectionist policies made it imperative to find markets and resources...

Key Features of Islamic Architecture

Islamic architecture can be distinguished by several key characteristics:

• Buildings are often regularly sized.
• Brick and wood were the most commonly used building materials.
• Vaults and domes are frequently used, including ribbed vaults, honeycomb (muqarnas), and fluted domes.
• Pillars and columns serve as supporting elements.
• Various arch types are employed, such as the horseshoe, semicircular (half-point), pointed, and polylobed arches.
• Interiors typically feature rich decoration, often contrasting with simpler exteriors.

Islamic architecture can be broadly divided into religious and civil categories.

Islamic Religious Architecture

In religious architecture, the most important building is the mosque, a place created...

Oil: 40% of Global Energy Consumption

Oil represents 40% of global energy consumption. It is found underground and extracted via wells. The oil refining process transforms it from a raw ore into various products, including plastics, gasoline, solvents, waxes, glues, tar, and asphalt.

Major Oil Reserves and Consumption

The largest reserves are in the Middle East, with other significant areas including Mexico, the USA, Venezuela, Nigeria, the Gulf of Guinea, Angola, Norway, Britain, Russia, Europe, and Japan. Consumption is highest in industrialized countries, particularly the USA and Canada. The U.S. oil industry was the first to develop, and during the 1929 stock market crash, the U.S. provided 70% of the world's oil. Other areas in Africa and...

The Paleolithic Age: Early Human Life

Paleolithic Lifestyle and Survival

• Hunter-Gatherers: Paleolithic groups hunted large mammals such as bison, horses, mammoths, and reindeer, from which they obtained meat, skin, and bones. They also fished in rivers and seas and gathered fruits and roots.
• Nomadic Existence: They were nomads, constantly moving to follow animal migrations or search for food.
• Shelter: Early humans lived in caves and constructed simple huts from sticks, skins, and mud, often in protected areas near rivers.

The Discovery and Use of Fire

The use of fire was a pivotal development. Early humans likely discovered fire from natural sources like volcanic lava or accidental fires. They quickly recognized its immense utility for heating, scaring...

Characteristics of Development Challenges

Agricultural development often remained insufficient, combining traditional agriculture with colonial plantation systems. Plantations depleted soils with cash crops such as coffee, tea, and bananas, which reported little benefit for the country and created dependency on international markets.

Key Issues Faced:

• Insufficient Industry: Industry was often non-existent or primarily served richer countries. Final processing of products frequently occurred outside the underdeveloped nations.
• Unfair Trade: Raw materials and agricultural products were sold at low prices, while imported industrial products had skyrocketing prices.
• Population Problems: Strong population growth, high birth rates, and a high percentage

Economic Structure and Labor Market Dynamics

Defining the Workforce and Active Population

The active population (or workforce) considers the whole population of people 16 and over who work in exchange for a salary or are unemployed. The active population is categorized as follows:

• The Working Population: Those who hold a paid job.
• The Unemployed Population: Composed of jobseekers without a paid job.
• The Inactive Population: Made up of people who do not hold a paid job (e.g., students, retirees, homemakers).

The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) estimates activity rates. The labor market participation of the baby boomers and women has led to significant growth in the activity rate in recent years.

Activity Rate Variation by Sex and Region

In...

Defining Poverty: UN Standards and Thresholds

The United Nations (UN) utilizes two distinct meanings when calculating poverty:

Absolute Poverty Line

• This threshold is calculated using estimates of the cost of food needed to meet a person's energy requirements, to which the cost of other basic non-food products is added.
• The absolute poverty line is used by the UN for developing countries.
• Depending on the country, the figure is set at amounts like $1 or $2, representing the money required to prevent hunger in underdeveloped countries of Africa and Asia.

Relative Poverty

• Individuals are considered to be in relative poverty if their earnings are less than half the median income for that specific country.
• This threshold is used by the UN for developed

Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

Architect: Antoni Gaudí
Dated: 1907–1910
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Style: Modernisme

Materials and Construction

Materials used: Stone, brick, pottery, and iron.

Despite its stone appearance, the building features an iron interior—a "soul of iron." The facade is not a load-bearing element; instead, it functions like a curtain wall, supported by a complex system of steel straps. The interior pillars are notably irregular, avoiding straight lines.

The Roof Terrace

The roof is characterized by flat, irregular shapes finished with plaster. It is crowned by sculptural chimneys, ventilation shafts, and lift housings. Many of these elements feature anthropomorphic forms, often described as warriors or abstract, swirling shapes....