Be sure to read the suggestions on this page. They were written for the first exam, but certainly apply to this one as well.
This exam covers Chapter 5, 8 and 9. Remember, however, that you should not forget the information from Chapters 1 and 2, as many of the things you learned from those chapters apply here. Not everything on the exam is necessarily covered on this study guide. Not everything in this study guide is directly covered on the exam. This is meant to help you focus your efforts, not tell you what the questions will be.
Know all the key words found on page 403 in the section under "Key Terms." You should know the definition of these words, but you should also know how they fit into the context of the chapter. For example, you should understand if there is a geographic component to them (where are they). Most of these key words do not necessarily do not have a regional aspect to them, but rather refer to Russia and its neighbors in general, but if a term does have one, you should be familiar with it. You should not only know the definition of the word, but why it is important to your study of Russia and its neighbors. I repeat, understand the issue involved, not just the definition.
You should more specifically understand the following terms and their context with regard to the chapter and the region (this list is not entirely the same as that on page 403):
Look at each map and try to understand the main idea. Look for general geographic patterns. Try not to get lost in details.
Figure 9.2. Be aware of the major mountain ranges. Note the location of the plate boundaries, and consider how this might affect seismic activity in the area.
Figure 9.3. What is the unusual feature of the climographs? Note the general pattern of B, C, D, and E climates.
Figure 9.5. Note the presence of Taiga and Tundra and consider what the implications are in terms of agricultural production for Russia.
Figure 9.9. Where is acid rain most prevalent in the region? Read the text accompanying the arrows.
Figure 9.12. Are there any east-west or north-south generalizations you can make about this map?
Figure 9.19. Where are the oldest parts of the Russian Empire? Where are the most recent additions?
Figure 9.21. Where is Russian the most common language? Can you generally describe its location? What is interesting about Belarus? Compare it to Ukraine.
Figure 9.23. This map is rather complicated. Read the caption and be aware of the complexities in the region.
Figure 9.25. It isn't essential to know each of the countries represented on this map. Do read the caption and understand the issues.
Figure 9.26. Read the caption. Realize how much of Europe was under Russian influence during the Cold War.
Figure 9.28. Recognize that most former members of the Soviet Union are part of the CIS. Be sure to read the paragraphs with the arrows. The caption summarizes the general idea of the map well.
Figure 9.31. Know that the Central and Volga regions are the most productive industrial regions. Know their general location.
Figure 9.32. Read the caption.
Figure 9.36. Read the caption.
Be familiar with the following cities in the region. Where are they? Find them on the map. Know where they are. Find them on maps such as the climate map in Figure 9.3 or the population "dot map" in Figure 9.12. Are these cities mentioned in the chapter or notes? What is important about each of these cities? In some cases you may find these cities mentioned several times in the notes and the text. In other cases, you might not find them at all. If not, ask yourself questions as you flip through the maps of the chapter, such as "What's the climate like in Moscow?" and "What environmental challenges in Figure 9.9 apply to Odessa?" "What language group is most prevalent in Yakutsk?" and "What country is Minsk in?" You should be able to answer most of these questions. Particularly, focus in on regions and conditions mentioned in the textbook and in lecture, even when these cities weren't mentioned.
Table 9.1: What is interesting about most of these Rate of Natural Increase numbers? What about the TFRs?
Table 9.2: What is interesting about all of the numbers in the column for "Real Annual Growth % per Capita, 1990-1996"? Compare the PPP numbers to those of Table 8.2. Which countries of Europe are similar?
Table 9.3: How does female labor force participation in this region compare to other regions of the world we have studied? What do you note about the percentage of females attending secondary school compared to males?
You need to read the book and go over your notes. You cannot rely merely on this study guide. It is no replacement for good note-taking and good reading. Not every question on the exam is directly found in this guide. Not everything in this guide is on the exam.
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