Raw material

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/raw-material

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the processing categories?Unprocessed, minimally processed, intermediate goods, finished goods, secondary raw materials (recycled)
2. What is the geographical distribution?Unevenly distributed globally, influencing regional economies and geopolitics
3. What are raw materials and why are they important?Raw materials are natural resources like stone, wood, metals, and oil that we use to make toys, food, and buildings. They are the starting ingredients for almost everything we use.
4. Where can we find the most oil, iron ore, and coal?Oil is mostly found in the Middle East, iron ore in Australia and Brazil, and coal in China and the United States.

Primary Commodity: A basic good in its natural or unprocessed state, often traded internationally.
Intermediate Goods: Products that are used as inputs in the production of other goods, not for final consumption.
Secondary Raw Material: Waste material that has been recycled and reintroduced into the production process.
Resource Curse: A phenomenon where countries with abundant natural resources experience slower economic growth than resource-poor countries.