South America: how well do you know your neighbor?How much do you know about the world's fourth-largest continent? Rich in natural resources, this vast landmass land·mass n. A large unbroken area of land. landmass Noun a large continuous area of land landmass is home to about 373 million people. Its present-day politics, economy, and culture are rooted in its colonial past. Long before Christopher Columbus and other European explorers reached the New World, South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. was home to many civilizations. The Inca, for example, built a vast empire, which lasted more than a century. In the early 16th century, the Spanish and Portuguese conquered most of the native civilizations. They stole riches and forced many of the people into slavery. The Culture's Colonial Roots Today's South Americans trace their roots to Native American, Words to Know * colonial: related to a colony--territory controlled by another country. * Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. : a geographic and cultural region in the Western Hemisphere Western Hemisphere Part of Earth comprising North and South America and the surrounding waters. Longitudes 20° W and 160° E are often considered its boundaries. , south of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . In most of the region, Spanish, Portuguese, and French are spoken. All three grew out of Latin, the language of ancient Rome Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. . * mestizo mestizo (māstē`sō) [Span.,=mixture], person of mixed race; particularly, in Mexico and Central and South America, a person of European (Spanish or Portuguese) and indigenous descent. : a person of mixed European and Native American ancestry. European, and African ancestors. Mestizos make up a large part of the population. Spanish and Portuguese rule (1492-1825) had the greatest influence on the region. Spanish remains the chief language, except in Brazil. There, most people speak Portuguese. Several ancient languages are still spoken by Native Americans and mestizos. Spanish and Portuguese colonists also brought the Roman Catholic faith, and the church's influence spread. Catholicism is still the dominant religion today. In the early 19th century, South American colonies won their independence. Simon Bolivar (see-MOAN boh-LEE-vahr) is a hero throughout Latin America. His military victories liberated Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. From Dictatorships to Troubled Democracies In the 1960s and 1970s, many South American countries List of American countries Nations:
By the 1990s, most of the dictatorships had been overthrown. But the democracies that replaced them have struggled with widespread poverty and weak economies. South America's natural resources include gold, copper, iron ore, tin, and huge oil reserves Oil reserves refer to portions of oil in place that are claimed to be recoverable under economic constraints. Oil in the ground is not a "reserve" unless it is claimed to be economically recoverable, since as the oil is extracted, the cost of recovery increases incrementally . (Venezuela is the world's fifth-largest exporter of oil.) Yet few of the people benefit from these resources. In Brazil, the wealthiest 10 percent of the population earns 47 percent of the national income. The poorest 10 percent earns less than 1 percent of it. The gap between rich and poor has led to political turmoil and corruption. Military leaders have often seized power. In Ecuador, three elected Presidents have been ousted since 1997. Colombia is mired mire n. 1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog. 2. Deep slimy soil or mud. 3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation: the mire of poverty. v. in a decades-long civil war. South America and the World Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. foreign policy has focused on the Middle East and Asia. Yet South America, right in our backyard Our Backyard was a series for pre-school children which aired at lunchtime on ITV from August 1984 until January 1987.It was produced by Granada Television. The format was simple. , also has a big impact on the U.S. and the world. Besides its wealth of oil and minerals, South America is a major coffee exporter. Brazil alone produces a third of the world's coffee. Another international export is a deadly one. Cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs are produced in several South American countries. Many are sold in the U.S., where demand for them is high. South America's environment also has worldwide importance. The Amazon region is the source of one fifth of Earth's freshwater. The lush plant growth of the world's largest rain forest is a key producer of oxygen, necessary for clean air. Widespread destruction of the forest, caused by logging and farming, harms the planet as a whole. South America's reach is cultural as well. Music in the U.S. and elsewhere has been influenced by Latin American rhythms, such as the samba and bossa nova bos·sa no·va n. 1. A style of popular Brazilian music derived from the samba but with more melodic and harmonic complexity and less emphasis on percussion. 2. A lively Brazilian dance that is similar to the samba. . The wooden pipes and the songs of Andean Indian folk music folk music: see folk song. folk music Music held to be typical of a nation or ethnic group, known to all segments of its society, and preserved usually by oral tradition. Knowledge of the history and development of folk music is largely conjectural. are heard far and wide. Brazil's annual Carnival draws millions of tourists to Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, city, Brazil Rio de Janeiro (rē`ō də zhänā`rō, Port. rē`  thĭ zhənĕē`r every year.SKILLS MASTER 1 HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SOUTH AMERICA After reading the article on South America and studying the map, answer these questions. Then rate your knowledge of our neighboring continent. THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE * Write the letter of the correct answer on the line before each question. --1. Which religion has the greatest influence in South America? A. Buddhism B. Catholicism C. Islam --2. Which leader is honored for his part in South America's independence movement? A. Simon Bolivar B. Christopher Columbus C. George Washington --3. Besides Spain, which of these European countries was a major colonizer col·o·nize v. col·o·nized, col·o·niz·ing, col·o·niz·es v.tr. 1. To form or establish a colony or colonies in. 2. To migrate to and settle in; occupy as a colony. 3. in South America? A. Austria B. Portugal C. the United Kingdom --4. Mestizos are people of mixed European and which other ancestry? A. Native American B. Latin C. Mexican --5. Who had an empire that was conquered by Europeans in the early 16th century? A. the Falkland Islanders B. the Inca C. Roman Catholics THE GEOGRAPHY * Fill in the blank in each of the following sentences. 6. The southernmost point of South America is called --. 7. All of Brazil's long seacoast borders the Ocean --. 8. The oxygen produced by South America's -- is environmentally important to the rest of the world. 9. The major river system of Brazil is the --. 10. The Andes mountain chain runs along most of South America's -- coast. THE POLITICS * Decide whether each sentence is true, false, or an opinion. Write your answer on the blank line (Print.) a vacant space of the breadth of a line, on a printed page; a line of quadrats. See also: Blank provided. --11. Colombia is in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a civil war. --12. Many South American countries became dictatorships after winning their independence from colonial rule. --13. The wealth controlled by a small minority of South Americans should be evenly divided among all the people. --14. U.S. foreign policy should be more focused on South America. --15. The gap between South America's rich and poor has led to political stability and strong economies. MIXED BAG * Write the correct answer after each question. 16. What are two major exports of South America? -- 17. Which South American city draws millions of tourists to its Carnival each year? -- 18. Venezuela is the world's fifth-largest exporter of what? -- 19. Which South American country is connected to North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. by a narrow strip of land? -- 20. Which South American country has two capitals? -- Your teacher has the answers. Give yourself 5 points for each correct answer, then rate your knowledge of South America. * 100 to 75 points: Excelente (Excellent)! * 74 to 50 points: Muybueno (Very good)! * 49 to 25 points: Hagalo otra vez (Do it again). * fewer than 25: Muy triste triste adj. Sad; wistful. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin tristis.] triste Adjective Old-fashioned sad [French] (Very sad)! SKILLS MASTER 2 COMPARING ECONOMIES Brazil is South America's largest country by far. Is its economy the largest too? How do South America's 12 countries compare economically? Some have abundant natural resources. Venezuela, for instance, has rich oil reserves. Yet many of the countries struggle with widespread unemployment and poverty. This chart gives you three economic indicators Economic indicators The key statistics of the economy that reveal the direction the economy is heading in; for example, the unemployment rate and the inflation rate. for each country in South America. It also includes the U.S. for comparison. Study it, then answer the following questions.
Country Per Unemployment Population
capita rate below
GDP the poverty
line
Argentina $12,400 14.8% 44%
Bolivia $2,600 9.2% 64%
Brazil $8,100 11.5% 22%
Chile $10,700 8.5% 21%
Colombia $6,600 13.6% 55%
Ecuador $3,700 11.1% 45%
Guyana $3,800 9.1% NA
Paraguay $4,800 15.1% 36%
Peru $5,600 9.5% 54%
Suriname $4,300 17.0% 70%
Uruguay $14,500 13.0% 21%
Venezuela $5,800 17.1% 47%
United States $40,100 5.5% 12%
SOURCE: THE WORLD FACTBOOK 2005
(CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY)
QUESTIONS Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Which South American country has the most money per capita [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. (per person)? 2. Which has the least? 3. Does the country with the lowest per capita GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. have the largest percentage of people in poverty? 4. Do any countries have a poverty rate of more than half their population? If so, which? 5. Compare the per capita GDP of the U.S. with that of the richest South American country. Whose is higher, and by how much? 6. Which South American country has an unemployment rate closest to that of the U.S.? 7. What is the difference in per capita GDP of that country and the U.S.? 8. If Peru tripled its per capita GDP, would it be higher or lower than that of the U.S.? 9. What is the unemployment rate of the country with the highest percentage of people living in poverty? 10. In which country do 55 percent of the people live above the poverty line? |
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