South America

Important Vocabulary for this Unit

Biodiversity/biodiverse: Many forms of life in one place

• Tropical rainforests have more biodiversity because their warm climates allow plants and animals to grow and thrive all year long.

Bribery/bribe: Giving money or favors to persuade someone to treat you better

• Some dishonest politicians in South America accept bribes from drug lords who don’t want to be put in jail.

Capitalism/capitalist: An economic system in which trade, business, production are controlled by private individuals and business, not the government; the goal is to encourage competition and make the economy more fair.

• Americans enjoy having a capitalist economy so they have more choices when shopping.

Censorship: When the government controls what the news/media print and what the people know or say on the Internet.

• Unlimited leaders use censorship to control their people so they stay in power.

Chronology/chronological: Dates or events placed in the order in which they happened

• Historians put events in chronological order to study cause and effect.

Civil servant: Someone who works for/is employed by the government, such as a judge, policeman, or congressman

• Many South Americans are currently trying to remove dishonest civil servants from power in their countries.

Civilization: An advanced and organized human social group

• The Inca civilization thrived in South America for over one thousand years.

Colonialism/colonization/colonize: One country taking control over another country/area so it can control its resources and/or people.

• After Spain colonized Mexico, the Aztec civilization lost its power over Mexico.

Communism/communist: An economic system in which the government controls all areas of industry and production with the goal to make everyone equal.

• Fidel Castro led a revolution in Cuba to establish a communist government in order to make Cubans more equal.

Corruption/corrupt: Dishonest actions by those in power; almost always involves money

• Unlimited governments often suffer from high levels of corruption when the leaders keep national funds for themselves.

Deforestation: Clearing the Earth’s forests on a massive scale

• Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest has had negative impacts on the indigenous people who live there.

Developed economy: A wealthy country with quality education, high literacy, good health care, and access to technology.

• I feel very lucky to live in a developed economy where I have access to hospitals and a good education.

Developing economy: A poor country with less educated people, low literacy rates (few people who can read), limited access to health care, and less access to technology.

• Developing economies often have many people who live in poverty due to poor education and low working wages.

Economic development: Actions done to improve a country’s economy

• Ranchers and farmers believe the Amazon should be used for economic development to help their countries earn more money.

Environmental protection: Actions done to protect the natural environment

• Many Brazilians want more environmental protection in the Amazon Rainforest to better defend the plants, animals, and humans that inhabit it.

Export: Send goods or services to another country for sale

• Argentinian gauchos make money by exporting beef around the world.

Immigration/immigrate: To permanently move from one country to another; someone who immigrates is called an immigrant

• Most people who immigrate move somewhere with more opportunities to create a better life for themselves and their family.

Indigenous: The original group to live somewhere, native population

• The indigenous people of South America were conquered by Spain and Portugal.

Multicultural: When there are many different cultures in one society

• Modern Brazil is a multicultural society because it is made up of people with African, European, and indigenous ancestry.

Natural resources: Materials that exist in nature and can be used for economic gain (to make money); examples include fertile land, minerals, forests, and water.

• Many Caribbean nations rely on natural resources to maintain their economy.

Nonrenewable resource: A natural resource that cannot be replaced at the same rate which it is being used

• Venezuela’s economy is dependent on oil, which is a problem because oil is a nonrenewable resource.

Shortage: Not a sufficient amount; not enough of something to go around

• Developing economies suffer shortages of many items, like hospital supplies.

Tourism/tourist: A part of the service industry; providing the organization and operation of vacations and visits to places of interest.

• The economy of Jamaica relies on tourists who spend money on hotels, at restaurants, and on activities.