Homework questions and answers:

Reading Check on 214 - What formed the islands of the West Indies?

       Lots of the West Indian islands are made up of a chain of underwater mountains that were formed by volcanoes. Other islands are are made up of limestone mountains that were pushed up from the ocean floor by pressure below the earths crust.

Reading Check on 215 - What is the major industry in the West Indies?

       The major industry in the West Indies is tourism.

Reading Check on 217 - Where was the first permanent European settlement in the West Indies?

       The first permanent European settlement was in the Western Hemisphere, in the city that is now known as Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

2. Region- What three archipelagos make up the West Indies?

       The three archipelagos that make up the West Indies are The Bahamas which are made up of about 700 islands, the Greater Antilles with includes the the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico, and a group of islands called the Lesser Antilles.

3. History- Name four groups who have influenced the culture of the Caribbean region.

       Four groups that influenced the culture of the Caribbean region are the Spaniards, the English, the French, and the Dutch.

4. Government- How is Cuba different from every other country in the Western Hemisphere?

       Cuba is different from the other countries in the Western Hemisphere because it is a communist state that is controlled by a dictator.