Question
The eastern half of the Loess Plateau is located in these two provinces, which are on either side of the southern flowing section of the Ordos Loop. For 10 points each:
[10m] Name these two provinces whose names in Mandarin are only differentiated by tone. Taiyuan and Xi’an (“shee-ahn”) are the capitals of these two provinces, which are both centers of coal mining.
ANSWER: Shanxi (“shahn-shee”) AND Shaanxi (“shahn-shee”) [or Shānxī AND Shǎnxī]
[10e] The border between Shanxi and Shaanxi is marked by this river. This river’s name comes from the distinctive sediment it carries from the Loess Plateau.
ANSWER: Yellow River [or Huáng Hé]
[10h] The Yellow River turns to flow east at Tong Pass, where it meets this tributary. The city of Xi’an and other capitals of ancient China were located along this river, which begins in Gansu.
ANSWER: Wei River [or Wèi Hé]
<EC, Geography>
Summary
| California | 2025-02-01 | Y | 3 | 13.33 | 100% | 33% | 0% |
| Lower Mid-Atlantic | 2025-02-01 | Y | 6 | 13.33 | 100% | 33% | 0% |
| Midwest | 2025-02-01 | Y | 6 | 16.67 | 100% | 67% | 0% |
| Northeast | 2025-02-01 | Y | 5 | 22.00 | 100% | 80% | 40% |
| Pacific Northwest | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 25.00 | 100% | 100% | 50% |
| South Central | 2025-02-01 | Y | 2 | 20.00 | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Southeast | 2025-02-01 | Y | 1 | 10.00 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Upper Mid-Atlantic | 2025-02-01 | Y | 8 | 17.50 | 100% | 75% | 0% |