GEOG&100 9B- Southwest Asia & North Africa (MENA)

Why are western financial institutions often reluctant to lend money to the economies of Mideast countries?

Fear of instability and potential conflict

Which of the following statements about Palestinians and Israelis is TRUE?

Both groups consider Jerusalem a sacred city and are willing to fight for it

Which pair of countries represent the main Sunni and Shite powers in the Mideast that are rivals for influence in this region. (Sunni power first, Shite power second)

Saudi Arabia - Iran

Much of the money acquired from oil sales in the Mideast has been used to improve roads, power lines, and education in these countries, leading to improvements infrastructure and human capital 

False

About 20% of the worlds oil comes from the Mideast.

False

Which country is the biggest producer of oil in the Mideast?

Saudi Arabia

The influence of extreme fundamental Islamic beliefs hurts what type of capital in the economies of the Mideast by restricting the role of women?

Human Capital

Which of the following statements about Islamic Fundamentalism is NOT true?

The majority of the citizens in Muslim countries follow extreme Muslim fundamentalism

Which pairs of religion have NOT had major conflicts in the Mideast in recent years?

Jews and Christians

Oil dependent countries typically suffer from having economies that are not very diverse, and too dependent on one resource.

True

Rural to Urban migration and urban growth lessens the demand for water because people in cities use less water per capita (per person) than rural residents.

False

In addition to conflicts over religion and the sacred place of Jerusalem, Israelis and Palestinians have also had conflicts over both groundwater and water from the Jordan River. 

True

Which country in the Mideast only just recently got rid of its guardianship laws for women, but still represses women in many ways.  Its leader is also waging a brutal war against rebels in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia

Which of the following is the LEAST important as a source of conflict in recent years in the Mideast?

Agricultural Land

Where would one find the GREATEST water scarcity, and thus lowest population, in the Mideast and North Africa?

In coastal Mediterranean counties like Israel, Tunisia, and Lebanona

What is the term used to describe the strategy used by Arab nations to buy farmland in more productive regions of the world to enhance their food security?

Virtual Land

What is the MAIN problem with relying on irrigation in desert areas to enhance food security in the Mideast?

Salinization of cropland

Which of the following statements about Southwest Asia and North Africa (MENA - Mideast and North Africa) is FALSE?

The main ethnic group in this region is Persian

Which of the following is NOT a major theme that identifies North Africa and the Mideast as a Unique Region?

Most countries are in stage 1 of the Demographic Transition for Population Growth

Which of the following statements about desalinization plants is NOT true?

Desalinization plants are not feasible at the present time due to technological problems