Chapter 4 Homework

Chapter 4, Section 2

1. The different factors that define a culture are language, religion, daily life, history, art, government, and the economy.

2. Recently cultural diffusion has increased because of the information revolution. Now that more people use computers and electronics the worlds cultures are linked more closely than ever before. It is much easier for everyone to find information about whatever they want, especially other cultures.

Creative Writing:
If the information revolution had not occured my life would be extremely different. There would be no cell phones to talk to each other, no computers to find informaton, to emails to get out memos, or not even ways to video chat with friends or family around the world. It would be much more difficult to get messages to people rather than if you see them. We are so lucky and would probably freak out if we werent able to use the technology we have today. How would we keep in contact with each other? Let someone know that theyre soccer pratice was cancelled? Not having these resources would change our live dramaticly... we would also use up so much more paper and kill more trees because how else would we send letters or store information?



Chapter 2, Section 3

1. The differences in the three major types of government we use today are that in an autocracy only one person is authorized to rule and make decisions over a group of people. In an oligarchy there is a group of a few people who rule and in a democracy the area is ruled by many people.

2. There are three main types of economic systems in the world, a traditional economy, a market economy, and a command economy. A traditonal economy is when habit and custom determine rules for all economic activity like, in the Inuit society of northern Canada where the hunter would share the food from the hunt with other families in the villiage. A market economy is where individuals and private groups make decisions about what to produce. For example we use a market economy. There is also a command economy. This is where the government directs the means of production like in China

Creative Writing:
I believe I am very lucky to live under the democratic system because it takes all the peoples' opinions into accout and not just one or a couple people. It is much more fair to make decisons based on the majority of the areas opinion. Although it could be a disadvantage for those who do not agree, or are against the majority of the people. We also get to elect our major official(president) which will hopefully mean that they will make decisions that agree with what you believe. It could always go the other way around though, which would not be good.


Chapter 4, Section 4

1. A countries resources determines its economic development and trade. It depends on what natural resources a country has for it to sell and trade and earn money for and these are the things that regulate an economy.

2. Humans effect the enviornment in a huge way. Mostly because of pollution, which is the release of unclean or toxic elements into the air, water, or land. Humans pollute the Earth by buring and releasing unsafe fuels into the air and dumping wastes and other things into the ocean and other bodies of water.

Creative Writing:
I do not agree that only developed countries are polluting the Earth and need to change. Everyone is at fault and if one country changes it is not going to do anything unless others do too. Plus if other countries become developed in the future they will also need to change to renewable energy sources. They might as well just change now.