Key Terms and Definitions

Question 1

Adult literacy

Answer 1

The percentage of the adult (16+) population who can read and write.

Question 2

Afforestation

Answer 2

The planting of trees/vegetation.

Question 3

Bilateral aid

Answer 3

Aid given by the government of one country to the government of another.

Question 4

Biomes

Answer 4

Large ecosystems at the global scale where the climate and vegetation is uniform.

Question 5

Biosphere

Answer 5

The regions of the earth and atmosphere where plants and animals live.

Question 6

Climate change

Answer 6

The long term changes in out climate including temperature and precipitation.

Question 7

Colonialism

Answer 7

The historical practice where countries, like Great Britain went and took over other countries, such as Kenya, occupying it with settlers and exploiting its raw materials.

Question 8

Conserve

Answer 8

To prevent an environment being damaged by exploitation or to repair an environment that has already been damaged

Question 9

Corruption

Answer 9

Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

Question 10

Debt

Answer 10

The money owed by a country or individual.

Question 11

Decomposer

Answer 11

Animals/plants that break down dead plants and animal. They are very important for any ecosystem, as they provide essential nutrients.

Question 12

Deforestation

Answer 12

The cutting down of trees/vegetation.

Question 13

Desert

Answer 13

An area having annual precipitation of less than 250mm a year.

Question 14

Desertification

Answer 14

When the climate of a dry region becomes even drier and vegetation is lost to soil erosion and the spread of the desert ecosystem.

Question 15

Development gap

Answer 15

The difference in wealth between rich and poor countries.

Question 16

Direct jobs

Answer 16

Jobs that are created directly due to an industry. E.g. in tourism, a hotel porter.

Question 17

Economic recession

Answer 17

A period of decline during which some industrial activity closes, people have become unemployed and the negative multiplier effect occurs.

Question 18

Ecosystem

Answer 18

A system of links between the plants and animals and the habitats where they live, including the non-living environment.

Question 19

Ecotourism

Answer 19

A sustainable way to manage an ecosystem, by educating and limiting the amount of tourists that can go into an area, that still allow money/jobs to be created along with conservation.

Question 20

Employment

Answer 20

Work for which some form of payment is given.

Question 21

Employment structure

Answer 21

The number of people working in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.

Question 22

Exploit

Answer 22

To use the natural environment as a resource to make profit.

Question 23

Exports

Answer 23

The movement of goods out of a country.

Question 24

Extinction

Answer 24

The loss of something forever, e.g. animal species due to poor management.

Question 25

Fair-trade

Answer 25

An organised movement that aims to help producers in developing countries to get a better deal for their goods.

Question 26

Food chain

Answer 26

The transfer of energy through an ecosystem from primary producers to consumers and decomposers.

Question 27

Formal work

Answer 27

Jobs that receive a regular wage, do regular hours and have a formally signed contract, E.g. a teacher, nurse, factory worker, farmer.

Question 28

GDI

Answer 28

Gross Domestic Product - the value of all final goods and services made within the boarders of a country in a year. It is also known as GDP.

Question 29

GNI

Answer 29

Gross National Product - the average income in a country. It is also known as GNP.

Question 30

Greenhouse effect

Answer 30

Rise in global temperatures due to certain gases, such as carbon dioxide being trapped in the atmosphere.

Question 31

Globalisation

Answer 31

Flows of people, ideas, money and food are making an increasingly complex global web that links people and places together.

Question 32

Global interdependency

Answer 32

The complex patterns of trade, communication and aid, which links different countries together.

Question 33

Global warming

Answer 33

Increase of the earth's average surface temperature.

Question 34

Habitat

Answer 34

A natural environment in which an organism lives in.

Question 35

Imports

Answer 35

The moving of goods into a country.

Question 36

Interdependence

Answer 36

When a government takes on sole responsibility for making decisions about how to run a country.

Question 37

Indigenous people

Answer 37

Tribal groups who are native to a particular place.

Question 38

Indirect jobs

Answer 38

Jobs that are created indirectly due to industry. E.g. in tourism, a taxi driver.

Question 39

Industrialisation

Answer 39

The growth of manufacturing in a country.

Question 40

Infant mortality rates

Answer 40

The number of children who die before their first birthday, for every 1000 that live.

Question 41

Infrastructure

Answer 41

The structure of communications and services required to support economic development in a particular area.

Question 42

Informal work

Answer 42

Jobs that do not always receive a regular wage, they do not do regular hours. E.g. a babysitter, private cleaner, house keeper, paper boy/girl.

Question 43

Inward investment

Answer 43

Investment into a country usually from MNCs based in another country.

Question 44

Leaching

Answer 44

When nutrients are washed out of the soil by rainfall.

Question 45

LEDC

Answer 45

Less Economically Developed Country, e.g. Somalia.

Question 46

Life expectancy

Answer 46

The average age people are expected to live until.

Question 47

Mechanisation

Answer 47

The increased use of machinery to replace human labour.

Question 48

MEDC

Answer 48

More Economically Developed Country, e.g. USA

Question 49

MNC

Answer 49

Multinational Company - a large company that has its head offices in one country and factories in a number of other countries.

Question 50

Multilateral aid

Answer 50

Aid given by many governments to large international organisations who decided how the aid should be distributed.

Question 51

NGO aid

Answer 51

Non Government Organisation aid - Aid given by independent organisations, often charities such as Oxfam, who collect donations for countries and groups that need help.

Question 52

NIC

Answer 52

Newly Industrialised Country, e.g. Thailand.

Question 53

Nutrients

Answer 53

Material which plants use for food.

Question 54

Per capita

Answer 54

Per person.

Question 55

Photosynthesis

Answer 55

The process by which plants take in the sun's energy with carbon dioxide and water to produce energy, oxygen and plant tissue.

Question 56

Primary employment

Answer 56

The collection and extraction of raw materials from the ground, e.g. fishing/farming.

Question 57

Primary enrolment

Answer 57

Number of children that are attending primary school.

Question 58

Quaternary employment

Answer 58

The development of R&D (Research and Development) departments, e.g. scientists.

Question 59

Quota

Answer 59

Restrictions on the amount of particular goods that can be imported.

Question 60

RIC

Answer 60

Recently Industrialised Countries, e.g. Turkey.

Question 61

Secondary employment

Answer 61

The manufacturing and processing of goods, e.g. factory work/car assembly work.

Question 62

Stewards

Answer 62

People entrusted with the management of the environment to ensure it is useful to future generations.

Question 63

Subsistence

Answer 63

A type of economic activity where very little money is used. E.g. in farming, farmers produce only enough food to feed their families and their is no surplus to sell.

Question 64

Sustainable

Answer 64

Brundtland commission defines this as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" 1987.

Question 65

Sustainable aid

Answer 65

Help given to a country that will last for future generations.

Question 66

Tertiary employment

Answer 66

The providing of a service, e.g doctor, teacher, lawyer, shopkeeper.

Question 67

Tied aid

Answer 67

When one country donates money or resources to another but with conditions attached.

Question 68

Trade

Answer 68

The exchanging of goods and products between countries.

Question 69

Trade agreements

Answer 69

Trading partnerships between different countries, otherwise known as trading groups/blocs. E.g. EU and NAFTA.

Question 70

Trade deficit

Answer 70

When a country has more imports than exports.

Question 71

Trade surplus

Answer 71

Where a country has more exports than imports.

Question 72

Urban heat island

Answer 72

Cities where humans give off heat through buildings and vehicles, making them warmer than their surrounding areas.

Question 73

Work

Answer 73

People's activities that dont involve leisure. The work may be paid or unpaid: you are doing work right now that is unpaid - this is how it differs from employment.