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The amount of matter an object contains Is Its

is a force due to gravity,

, but its

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The physical and human characteristics of a place provide keys to understanding the

interrelationships between people and their environments. This geographic theme

addresses this question: What is the relationship between humans and the

environment? Three key concepts underlie human/environment relationships:

• Humans depend on the environment: The natural environment is

made up of living things and non living things. Humans depend on the

natural environment for their basic needs; food, shelter, and clothing.

• Humans modify the environment: People modify the natural

environment to meet their needs. For example, they build dams, plow and

irrigate fields, and dig mines. They build houses, schools, and shopping

centers on land.

• Humans adapt to the environment: Humans have settled in

virtually every corner of the world by successfully adapting to various

natural settings. For example, people who live in the northeastern United

States use heating units to keep their homes warm in winter People in

the southern part of the country use air conditioning much of the year to

stay cool in the heat. The ways people choose to adapt to their settings

reflect their economic and political circumstances and their technological

abilities. Studying geography furthers appreciation of our natural

environment and of our cultural differences.

Discuss answers to these questions about the human/environment