You will observe from a close inspection of these figures, that the whole extent of land on our globe is nearly equal to that of a temperate zone; and that if it were possible to unite America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia into one, their united extent would not yet fill one of the temperate zones! You will also perceive that the two temperate zones occupy together the greatest portion of the Earth’s surface, and that the arctic zones occupy comparatively the smallest.
RECAPITULATION OF LESSON VI.
QUESTIONS.
[§ 32.] Do we know anything about the Interior of our Earth? Why not? What does the surface of our Earth consist of? What proportion does the land bear to the water? What are the great lands called? What, the great waters? What are smaller portions of land, surrounded by water, called? What, small portions of water, surrounded by land?
[§ 33.] Into how many continents is all the land of our Globe divided? What are they? Are all the continents of our globe of the same extent? Which is the smallest of them? Which are the largest? Explain Plate, No. XI.
What proportion does the extent of America bear to that of Asia? What relation do these continents bear to Europe or Australia? What is the next greatest portion on our globe? Which continent is the smallest? What relation does the surface of the Moon bear to America or Asia?
[§ 34.] Is the whole Earth equally illumined or heated by the Sun? Why not? What is, therefore, the surface of our Earth divided into? Upon what portion of our Earth do the Sun’s rays fall perpendicular? What portion do they strike more obliquely? What people, therefore, will experience the greatest heat?
[The pupil ought now to explain Plate [XII]. The elder pupils ought to draw a sphere with the Equator, the tropic and arctic circles. They ought also to draw the Diameter of the Earth, and indicate the North and South Pole.]
[§ 35.] If you compare the whole extent of land on our globe to the Contents of one of the temperate zones, what proportion do you find them to bear to each other? If it were possible to unite the five great continents, America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, what zone would they nearly fill? What two zones occupy the largest portion of the Earth’s surface? What two, the smallest?