Author: pquinlan

GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
(Reading Closure Activity)
Name: ___________________________
The universe is a big place—dark and empty, but we are 1._________. This is Earth—our living planet! We share our beautiful planet with many other living things and it belongs equally to all of us.
Millions of years ago, the pattern of oceans and continents on earth looked very different to now and because of continued change, the pattern will look very different in the future.
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Not so long ago in Earth’s history, there were no humans. From the time the first humans appeared, it took thousands of years for the world population to reach 1 billion. It then took just:
* 100 years to reach 2 billion people . . .
* 23 years to reach 3 billion people . . .
* 21 years to reach 4 billion people . . .
* 13 years to reach 2.__________ people . . .
Today there are well over 6 billion people. How has this happened? Why has this happened? What will happen next?
GEORGAPHY MATTERS!
Our world is a living world. Every day it changes. Some of the changes are natural and some are caused by 3._________. Natural forces are at work shaping our planet and tourists come long distances just to see a beautiful volcano glowing in the night sky. Elsewhere, millions of people choose to live and work in these dangerous locations. Why are they there?
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
We know the Earth used to be covered by millions of 4.___________ of natural forest and grassland. Today, these are gone or rapidly disappearing . . . Does anyone care?
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Many people wonder why 5.___________ spend so much of their time trying to understand how rivers work These people know why!
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Some natural events are fortunately very rare . . . In 6.__________, we remembered why we need to understand and plan for these rare natural events!
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
On our beautiful but complex planet, everything that happens is linked to everything else. When we . . .
* Drop a piece of 7.________* Pour a 8.__________down the sink * Chop down a tree * Burn 9.______* Build a motorway * Catch a fish * Fertilize the fields * Drive to work or school
And our planet knows . . . Natural changes are replaced by changes caused by 10.___________!
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Over 11.__________ people live on Earth. Does everyone have the same basic services? The latest UN Human Development Report stated that: the world’s 500 richest people own more wealth than the world’s poorest 400 million!
However, we know that it would take just 3 billion to provide clean water for the 12.______ of the world that don’t currently have it. TOO MUCH? In Europe, they spend more than that each year on perfume and after shave!! We could all help to change that situation . . .

GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Some of the differences between groups of people around the world need to be better understood and respected. It is the differences in appearance, language, clothing, food and culture that makes the world a fascination place to learn about. Other differences may require action, our help, support or more 13._________. We need to know and understand about these differences and what we can do as individuals to help make the world a better place for everyone. We need to be active and responsible 14.__________—every one of us!
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
When there were fewer humans around, people lived in the countryside and their whole lives had a clear focus on the land, but in 2007, a very important change happened. For the first time ever, over 50% of all human beings were living in towns and cities. Life in the 15._______ is very different. Sometimes it is better . . . Often it is not!
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Change is also happening in our communities. Is it getting better? Is it getting worse? The environment? Our hospitals? Our sports facilities? Our shopping facilities? Our housing? If you could identify and shape the future changes in your local area, what would you change?
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
At the global scale, does our planet have enough 16.__________ for 6 billion people? What about 9 billion people? What about 12 billion people? Now is the time to ask some serious questions. Where are those resources that we will need to live? Oil for example . . . . 17.______in the Middle East and only 2% in W. Europe. Is it important to know and understand this fact?
How fast are we using our resources? When will they run out?
Silver: 9 years
Antimony: 13 years
Uranium: 19 years
18._____________ 20 years
Copper: 38 years
What will we do when all these resources are gone? Will we have enough of these resources to last your lifetime? We all need to learn a lot more about 19.__________________. You can play your part by showing that . . . .
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!
Geography is about the world we live in . . . . The ‘here and now’
Geography is about how the world is changing
Geography is about your world and about my world
Geography is about the future of our world.
20.______________________
Explain (6-8 Sentences) as to why GEOGRAPHY MATTERS
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Answer Key
1. fortunate
2. 5 billion
3. people
4. hectares
5. geographers
6. 2004
7. liter
8. chemical
9. coal
10. human actions
11. 6 billion
12. 50%
13. fair-trade
14. citizens
15. cities
16. resources
17. 66%
18. tantalum
19. sustainable living
20. GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!