| A | B |
|---|
| basin | broad flat lowland area surrounded by higher land |
| selva | thick tropical forests of the Amazon basin in Brazil |
| escarpment | steep cliff separating two fairly flat land surfaces, one higher than the other |
| sisal | plant fiber used to make rope |
| favela | in Brazil, term used for urban slum areas |
| llanos | large, grassy plains regions of Latin America |
| hydroelectric power | electric power generated by falling water |
| altitude | height above sea level |
| caudillo | in Latin American history, a military dictator |
| landlocked | describing a country that has no land on a sea or ocean |
| buffer state | small country located between larger, often hostile, states |
| welfare state | country in which government money is used to provide needy people with health care, unemployment benefits, etc. |
| gaucho | in southern South America, a cowhand on horseback |
| cassava | plant whose roots are ground into flour and eaten; like in tapioca pudding |
