1. Central America & The West Indies Vocabulary

2. Central America & The West Indies isthmus - narrow piece of land that links two larger areas of land hurricanes - strong storms with winds of more than 74 miles per hour plantations - commercial farms that grow crops for sale subsistence farms - small farms that grow just enough for farmers to feed their families

3. Central America & The West Indies canopy - top layer of the rain forest that shades the forest floor eco-tourists - people who travel to other countries to enjoy natural wonders literacy rate - percentage of people who can read and write

4. Central America & The West Indies republic - country with an elected president as head of the government parliamentary democracy - form of government in which an elected legislature chooses a prime minister to head the government

5. Central America & The West Indies commercial crops - crops grown to sell, not to be eaten by the grower bauxite - a mineral used to make aluminum cooperative - farm owned and operated by the government

6. Central America & The West Indies communist state - government in which the leaders have strong control of the economy and society embargo - ban on trade free trade zone - area where people can buy goods from other countries without paying extra taxes commonwealth - partly self-governing territory