This study guide provides information about geography, environmental issues, religion, literacy rates, and living conditions in several European countries. For geography, students are asked to label maps of Europe with countries, physical features, and rivers. Environmental issues discussed include air pollution causing smog in the UK and acid rain in Germany. The effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine are also summarized. The three main religions of Europe - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - are identified along with their holy books. Literacy rates and standards of living in European nations are defined. Charts then provide details on the locations, climates, populations, and trade of the UK, Russia, Italy, and Germany.

1. Name: ______________________ Date: ____________ Ntbk #: ______
Study Guide  Common Assessment #2
I. Geography of Europe
A. On the blank map below, label the following political features:
-Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, & the U.K.
B. Also, label and draw in the following physical features:
-Alps Mtns., Danube River, English Channel, European Plain, Iberian Peninsula,
Mediterranean Sea, Pyrenees Mtns., Scandinavian Peninsula, & Ural Mtns.
II. Environmental Issues
A. Name the main environmental concern for each of the following places:
1. United Kingdom – Air pollution, causing smog
2. Germany – Air pollution, causing acid rain
3. Chernobyl, Ukraine – Dangerously high levels of radiation

2. B. What have been the causes of air pollution in the United Kingdom?
Exhaust from factories and cars (used to be burning coal)
C. What have been the effects of air pollution in United Kingdom?
Smog, which leads to blackened buildings, respiratory (lung) diseases
D. What have been the causes of air pollution in Germany?
Exhaust from factories and cars
E. What have been the effects of air pollution in Germany?
Acid rain, which can damage statues/buildings, hurt the environment, and has
destroyed some of the Black Forest
F. What were some of the effects of the Chernobyl disaster?
Many police/fire fighters died on the scene, tons of radiation filled the
atmosphere, land and air was contaminated with radiation,
animals/people/plant were born with deformities
G. Why were other nations concerned about the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl?
Other countries were concerned that the radiation would spread to their
countries, infecting their land and their people
III. Culture (Religion)
A. What are the 3 main religions of Europe? List them in order from oldest to
newest: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
B. What 2 aspects do all three religions have in common?
(1) All were founded in Southwest Asia, and (2) All are monotheistic, meaning
they belief in one supreme God.
C. List the holy book for each of the 3 religions:
1. Judaism – Torah
2. Christianity – Bible
3. Islam – Koran
IV. Literacy Rate & Standard of Living
A. Define:
1. Literacy rate – Percentage of people in a country, age 15 and up, who can
read and write.
2. Standard of living – A measure of how comfortable a life someone or a group
of people live.

3. B. How can literacy rate impact a country’s standard of living?
Generally, the higher a country’s literacy rate, the higher the standard of living.
Also, the lower the literacy rate, usually the lower the standard of living.
V. Locations, Climate, Where People Live, & Natural Resources of European Countries
United Kingdom Russia Italy Germany
Location
Island off the
coast of
mainland
Europe
Huge country
that spans 2
continents –
Asia and Europe
Boot-shaped
peninsula that is
surrounded by
the
Mediterranean
Sea
Located in north
Central Europe
Climate
Mild climate
with rainfall
throughout the
year.
Only 2 seasons –
Summer and
winter
Mild climate
with regional
differences.
Warmer along
the coasts,
cooler in the
mtns
West has more
mild climate due
to the Gulf
Stream, East
more extreme
climate
Where
People
Live
90% of the UK’s
people live in
urban areas
(cities)
Most people live
West of the Ural
Mtns in
European
Russia, better
climate & soil
70% of Italians
live in urban
areas, 50% of
people live in
the northern
1/3 of Italy
85% of Germans
live in urban
areas
Trade
Prime location
for trading due
to its many
ports and many
trading partners
close by
Has difficulty
trading due to
few ports
(landlocked)
and those ports
being frozen
most the year
Prime location
for trade being
on the Med.
Sea, many ports
and easy to get
to Asia & Africa
Many cities and
factories along
the Rhine River
makes it a good
place for trading
goods