Continental divides: making a comparison chart.

Using the World in Focus tables (pp. 24-33), find the richest and poorest country (in per capita GDP) for each continent. Write each country's name under its continent name. Then fill in the blank data boxes. We have done some for you.

QUESTIONS

1. Which country listed has the most recent date of origin? --

2. Both the richest and poorest nations of which continent became independent in the 1960s? --

3. In which category is the poorest country in Europe the same as three of the richest? --

4. Why is there an asterisk for Malawi? --

5. In which category does the U.S. equal one other rich country? --

6. Half of all females can't read in which country? --

7. Which countries are wealthier than the U.S.? Do they exceed the U.S. in any other category? --

8. The countries of which two continents are significantly less prosperous than the other four? --

9. Check the mops on pp. 13-21 to answer this: On which continent do the richest and poorest countries share a border? --

10. If you had to live in one of the poorest countries shown, which would you choose? Why? --

                                               LITERACY      LIFE
                PER                              RATE     EXPECTANCY
RICHEST       CAPITA                 DATE OF    (M/F,       (M/F,
COUNTRY         GDP     POPULATION   ORIGIN     in %)     in years)

N. America:                                                 75/80
S. America:                           1816
Africa:                                         89/93
Europe:                  500,000
Asia:         $43,400
Oceania:
  Australia

                                               LITERACY      LIFE
                PER                              RATE     EXPECTANCY
POOREST       CAPITA                 DATE OF    (M/F,       (M/F,
COUNTRY         GDP     POPULATION   ORIGIN     in %)     in years)

N. America:                           1804
S. America:   $2,900
Africa:
  Malawi *
Europe:                 4,000,000
Asia:                                                       54/56
Oceania:                                          NA

* Three countries are tied for poorest in Africa. This is the one
with the highest percentage of population under age 15.

1. East Timor (2002)

2. Africa (richest: Mauritius, 1968; poorest: Malawi, 1964)

3. literacy rate Moldova's is the same as those of the U.S., Luxembourg, and Australia.)

4. to explain why Malawi is used, when two other African countries (Comoros and Somalia) have the same lowest per capita GDP ($600)

5. United Arab Emirates; has same life expectancy (75/80)

6. Malawi (poorest in Africa)

7. Luxembourg (richest in Europe) and United Arab Emirates (richest in Asia); Women love one year longer in Luxembourg.

8. South America and Africa (Their richest nations, Argentina and Mauritius, both have per capita GDPs of $13,100, significantly less than the other four continents.)

9. South America (Argentina and Bolivia)

10. Answers will vary. Likeliest: Moldova, because it has highest literacy rate and life expectancy; or Bolivia, because it has highest per capita GDP.