Practice explaining how natural resources influence where goods are produced, why places trade, and how geography affects economic decisions.
Read each problem carefully. Use complete sentences and support your answers with geography and economics ideas.
How resources shape production, trade, and economies
Social Studies - Grade 6-8
- 1
Define natural resources and give two examples that people use to make goods or produce energy.
- 2
Explain why countries or regions trade with one another instead of making everything themselves.
- 3
A country has rich soil and a warm climate. Name one product it might produce in large amounts and explain why geography helps.
- 4
A region has large forests but little farmland. Describe one industry that may develop there and one good it could trade.
- 5
How can access to rivers, oceans, or major ports improve trade for a country or city?
- 6
A country has very little fresh water. Explain one way this shortage could affect farming and trade.
- 7
What is the difference between importing and exporting? Use both words in your explanation.
- 8
Copper is an important mineral resource. Describe one way a country with large copper deposits could benefit economically.
- 9
Explain how mountains, deserts, or other physical barriers can make trade more difficult.
- 10
Two countries trade with each other. Country A exports fish and imports wheat. Country B exports wheat and imports fish. What can you infer about the geography of these two countries?
- 11
Describe one positive effect and one negative effect of depending heavily on a single natural resource, such as oil or diamonds.
- 12
Write a short explanation of how natural resources, transportation, and trade are connected in economic geography.