Exploring The World: Fifth Edition (Print)

Coverage and Organization

Exploring the World is divided into 15 chapters. Chapter 1 reviews the fundamentals of geography, both physical and cultural. Chapters 2– 4 are devoted to the United States; Chapters 5– 8 examine Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Middle America, South America, and Antarctica. Chapters 9 –12 explore Europe, and Chapters 13 –15 look at destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific.

To facilitate learning, Chapters 2 –15 follow a similar path. Each chapter

• Begins by giving the reader an overview (“The Environment and Its People”) of the region’s physical environment and historical background.
• Includes sections that describe specific destinations and their attractions, emphasizing what travelers are likely to want to see and do.
• Examines issues in the “Planning the Trip” section that arise during preparation for travel. It emphasizes the need for current documentation information, the best time to travel, information travelers need to know for their safety and security, and choices for transportation and accommodations.

Learning Aids and Special Features

To help students develop an effective learning strategy, each chapter includes

• Objectives to help students identify goals for the chapter.
• Check-Ups at the end of each major section to encourage students to check that they have grasped the section’s major points. In sections on destinations, the Check-Ups outline a region’s key attractions for travelers.
• Chapter Wrap-Ups at the end of each chapter to encourage readers to review what they have learned. Each Chapter Wrap-Up includes (1) a Summary that reviews the chapter’s opening Objectives and (2) Questions for Discussion and Review.

Within the text, key places and terms are emphasized in boldface type when they are introduced. Most destinations that are in bold in the text are featured on the maps, and the definitions of key terms are reviewed in the Glossary at the end of the book.

In addition, pronunciation help is given when commonly used placenames and terms are introduced. The phonetic spellings use Americanized, not native-language, pronunciations. They appear in italic type in parentheses, for example, Jamaica (juh MAY kuh). The syllable or syllables with the most stress are printed in capital letters.

Other special features of Exploring the World 5th Edition include

• Visual aids. This edition includes photographs depicting popular destinations and attractions. There also are figures and tables throughout. Maps provide visual summaries of the cities, attractions, and physical features discussed in the text. 
• Close-Ups. These boxes look at a popular destination within the region and address questions: Who is a good match for a trip? Why would they want to visit? When is the best time to go? Most boxes offer a sample itinerary; each includes an objection or question that travelers often raise and a sample response.
• Profiles. These capsules highlight an area’s cuisine, shopping lures, sports attractions, or activities of special interest.
• Margin notes. Trivia facts and anecdotes are noted in the margin to add to the student’s enjoyment.
• On the Spot. These true-to-life scenarios present challenging face-to-face situations and provide hints on how to deal with concerns that travelers may have.
• Potluck. This feature highlights food and dining specialties that are unique to different destinations.