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Geography Quiz - Case Study Italy (Comparing North and South) 02 (Questions)

This KS3 Geography quiz is our second on Italy, comparing north and south. South Italy boasts a unique and diverse culture. It has many tourist attractions, in particular the ruins of ancient Pompeii, one of the world's most visited tourist attractions. At its height, the Roman Empire ruled over most of Europe. The culture of northern Italy is more associated with the Renaissance. That was the time that Europe came out of the Dark Ages and both science and the arts became more important to people.

Many of the differences between northern and southern Italy are created by the climate and landscape. The climate of southern Italy is hot and dry in the summer and the soils are very poor. The land of northern Italy is flatter and more fertile. Northern Italy is closer to the rest of Europe so Italian industries were able to sell their goods more easily and cheaply to neighbouring countries. Marshy areas have been drained and trees planted. New dams, irrigation schemes and motorways have been built and slowly, the economy of the south is improving.

1. What name has been given to the poor south of Italy?
[ ] Macho Cornetto
[ ] Mato Grosso
[ ] Mezzogiorno
[ ] Mezzosoprano
2. Which is not a feature of farming in northern Italy?
[ ] Fertile soils
[ ] Highly mechanised
[ ] Plenty of water for irrigation
[ ] Steep slopes eroded by heavy rain
3. The main rock in the south is what?
[ ] Granite
[ ] Limestone
[ ] Sandstone
[ ] Slate
4. Why have trees been planted on hillsides in the south?
[ ] To create picnic areas
[ ] To help squirrels survive
[ ] To provide shade from the hot sun
[ ] To reduce soil erosion
5. What item is not made from farm produce from northern Italy?
[ ] Asti Spumante wine
[ ] Dijon mustard
[ ] Gorgonzola cheese
[ ] Parma ham
6. Which of these is not true of the north?
[ ] Low wheat yields
[ ] Many food processing factories
[ ] Many skilled workers
[ ] Wealthy markets nearby
7. The scheme set up in 1950 to help poorer areas is called what?
[ ] Fund for the South
[ ] Mezzogiorno Regeneration
[ ] Mille Miglia
[ ] Sicilian Salvation
8. Which is a human factor influencing life in the south?
[ ] Drainage
[ ] Old-fashioned farming methods
[ ] Relief
[ ] Rock type
9. Which statement does not apply to industries setting up in the south?
[ ] Few local skilled workers
[ ] High transport costs to market
[ ] Lack of Government grants
[ ] Workers absent, especially at harvest time
10. What has happened to southern Italy's large farming estates?
[ ] They have been burnt
[ ] They have been shared out amongst landless peasants
[ ] They have been sold for housing
[ ] They have been turned into industrial estates
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Geography Quiz - Case Study Italy (Comparing North and South) 02 (Answers)
1. What name has been given to the poor south of Italy?
[ ] Macho Cornetto
[ ] Mato Grosso
[x] Mezzogiorno
[ ] Mezzosoprano
This translates as 'midday'
2. Which is not a feature of farming in northern Italy?
[ ] Fertile soils
[ ] Highly mechanised
[ ] Plenty of water for irrigation
[x] Steep slopes eroded by heavy rain
The north is a well irrigated and flat plain
3. The main rock in the south is what?
[ ] Granite
[x] Limestone
[ ] Sandstone
[ ] Slate
Limestone is permeable so soil is very thin and dry
4. Why have trees been planted on hillsides in the south?
[ ] To create picnic areas
[ ] To help squirrels survive
[ ] To provide shade from the hot sun
[x] To reduce soil erosion
As it is so dry during the summer, grass and other small plants do not grow very well but trees have bigger root systems that can take water from the ground better. The roots hold the thin soils in place
5. What item is not made from farm produce from northern Italy?
[ ] Asti Spumante wine
[x] Dijon mustard
[ ] Gorgonzola cheese
[ ] Parma ham
Dijon is in France
6. Which of these is not true of the north?
[x] Low wheat yields
[ ] Many food processing factories
[ ] Many skilled workers
[ ] Wealthy markets nearby
The land of the Po basin is more fertile than the thin limestone based soils of the south
7. The scheme set up in 1950 to help poorer areas is called what?
[x] Fund for the South
[ ] Mezzogiorno Regeneration
[ ] Mille Miglia
[ ] Sicilian Salvation
In Italian it is called 'Cassa per il Mezzogiorno'
8. Which is a human factor influencing life in the south?
[ ] Drainage
[x] Old-fashioned farming methods
[ ] Relief
[ ] Rock type
The other three are physical factors
9. Which statement does not apply to industries setting up in the south?
[ ] Few local skilled workers
[ ] High transport costs to market
[x] Lack of Government grants
[ ] Workers absent, especially at harvest time
Many companies that operate in southern Italy were attracted by generous grants
10. What has happened to southern Italy's large farming estates?
[ ] They have been burnt
[x] They have been shared out amongst landless peasants
[ ] They have been sold for housing
[ ] They have been turned into industrial estates
This enables them to carry out subsistence farming to feed their families