Southwest Asia Geography and Environmental Issues

1. What is desalination?

• The process of bringing water to dry land, especially for growing crops.

• The process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater.

• The process of collecting water from underground aquifers

• The process of flooding rivers to help crops grow

What is irrigation?

• The process of bringing water to dry land, especially for growing crops

• The process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater

• The process of collecting water from underground aquifers

• The process of flooding rivers to help crops grow

What does OPEC stand for?

• Official Petroleum Expecting Continents

• Oil and Petroleum Exporting Continents

• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

• Oil Planning and Environmental Committee

Why does OPEC play a powerful role in the world economy today?

• OPEC membership includes many oil companies owned by firms in the United States

• OPEC builds dams along rivers shared by several countries

• This organization is part of the United Nations

• OPEC controls the price and supply of oil in the world market

How have the citizens of oil-rich countries benefitted from their oil supplies?

• Citizens of oil rich countries no longer have to work to earn a living

• Having oil has made very little difference in the lives of citizens in oil-rich countries

• Oil wealth has improved their standard of living, leading to better education, housing, and health

• They no longer have to be a member of OPEC

Which countries are the most oil-rich in Southwestern Asia?

• Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

• Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon

• Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Lebanon

• Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel

How has the discovery of oil in some Southwest Asian countries affected the economic development of this area?

• The discovery of oil has meant that no other industries have developed in the region

• Those countries with oil reserves are much richer than those countries that have not found oil in their territory

• Having oil has made very little difference in the economy of this region

• Those with oil need less water than the other countries around them

How much of the world’s oil supply is found in Southwest Asia (Middle East)?

• 25 percent

• 75 percent

• 40 percent

• 50 percent

What are the two most valuable natural resources in Southwest Asia (Middle East)?

• water and cotton

• phosphates and oil

• oil and natural gas

• sulfur and natural gas

How has the use of chemical fertilizers affected water supplies in many countries in Southwest Asia (Middle East)?

• The use of chemical fertilizers means crops must be watered constantly

• Water supplies have been contaminated by the chemicals through runoff from the fields

• Chemical fertilizers help take the salt out of water supplies in Southwest Asia (Middle East)

• Enormous amounts of water must be used to produce chemical fertilizers