Chapter 31

Section 1

1. Rice farming is an important agricultural activity in Southeast Asia because it is a staple food and it is the top export of two of the countries in that region, Thailand and Vietnam.

2. The countries of Southeast Asia are industrializing at different rates because the have different products to offer other countries, and because some countries came out of the economic crisis of the 1980s more quickly than others.

Creative Writing: With the help of the Asian Development Bank and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Southeastern countries are quickly weaving themselves into economic interdependence. These organizations promote trade between all countries of the region and make trade much more valuable and worth while for those involved.

Section 2

1. Floods and typhoons kill hundreds of people and ruin millions of dollars of crops every year for the Southeast Asian region. Volcanic eruptions kill hundreds of people and destroy homes, along with blowing gases into the air that affect weather patterns around the world.

2. Economic progression has lead to pollution of land, water, and air, from urban and rural environments and from industrialization.

Creative Writing: While there are man-made issues that need to be dealt with, natural disasters are reeking havoc upon the Southeast Asian region. Typhoons, cyclones, eruptions, and floods cause millions of dollars in damage, as well as deprive us of crops and human lives. Without precautions made to protect ourselves from these disasters, these same effects will be drawn from these problems.