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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the USSR?
(a) One of the world's two superpowers during the Cold War.
(b) The group that fought for Afghan independence during the 1980s.
(c) The Asian version of the European Union.
(d) An exclave of Russia located along its northern border.

2. What is a fatwa?
(a) A proclamation dictating how Muslims should live.
(b) A holy war.
(c) A religious pilgrimmage.
(d) An extremist Islamic school.

3. What other country supported the mujahideen in Afghanistan?
(a) India.
(b) China.
(c) Saudi Arabia.
(d) Bangladesh.

4. How have Chinese nationalists reacted to American foreign policy decisions?
(a) With economic warfare.
(b) With approval.
(c) With anti-Americanism.
(d) With terrorism.

5. What does de Blij say is the difference between terrorist acts committed by the Corsicans, the Basques, the Tamils, and the Chechens, and terrorist acts committed by al Qaeda?
(a) Al Qaeda uses different methods, such as bombs.
(b) Al Qaeda is based in just one country.
(c) Al Qaeda seems to have no clear objective for its violence.
(d) Al Qaeda does not target civilians or noncombatants.

6. Who was Shamil Basayev?
(a) Russia's first president after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
(b) The leader of an organized crime gang.
(c) A leader in the Chechen independence movement.
(d) An Islamic cleric-teacher with a great deal of influence.

7. Why do the Chechens feel particularly strong about pursuing their independence?
(a) Russia's government is too corrupt for most Chechens.
(b) Chechens were inspired by the independence gained by neighboring countries.
(c) Stalin forced all the Chechens to travel to Siberia during World War II.
(d) Natural resources in Chechnya could more easily be developed after independence.

8. What was Russia like during the early years after the collapse of the Soviet Union?
(a) Chaotic.
(b) Orderly.
(c) Unified.
(d) Peaceful.

9. What geographic challenges does Russia have?
(a) Its territory is very small and cramped.
(b) It has frequent mudslides and earthquakes.
(c) It is landlocked and lies in high latitudes.
(d) It has very few natural resources.

10. What methods did European powers use to subjugate Africa?
(a) Incentives and rewards.
(b) Inspiration and role-modeling.
(c) Foreign aid, food, and public education.
(d) Fear, intimidation, and violence.

11. Which part of Africa has been Islamic since the 7th century?
(a) West Africa.
(b) North Africa.
(c) South Africa.
(d) Central Africa.

12. What river does de Blij refer to as the "Mississippi of West Africa"?
(a) The Niger.
(b) The Nile.
(c) The Zambezi.
(d) The Limpopo.

13. Why did the battle for Chechen independence become an Islamic terrorist movement?
(a) Chechens began getting funding from Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
(b) The Chechens recruit leaders from Muslim countries.
(c) Chechnya is the location of an important Muslim holy place.
(d) Many Chechens converted to Islam after the Soviet Union collapsed.

14. What is a madrassas?
(a) An Islamic holy place.
(b) A Muslim church or temple.
(c) A place where Muslims go on pilgrimmage.
(d) An Islamic extremist school.

15. What organization binds the United States and Europe together?
(a) The European Economic Community.
(b) The European Community.
(c) The North American Free Trade Agreement.
(d) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does de Blij feel that it is appropriate to end Why Geography Matters with a chapter on Africa?

2. In which of the following countries are Muslims and Christians at war with each other?

3. What is the world's largest country in terms of territory?

4. What are China's current territorial claims based on?

5. What is the name for the area in which the cities of Ramadi, Tikrit, Baghdad, and Fallujah lie?

(see the answer keys)

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