Africa Unit Quiz Questions

The Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel is? a. A group of African countries working to improve food security and manage the region's water, land, and natural resources b. A group of African countries working to bring more hydroelectric plants to the Transition Zone c. A group of investigators who promote tapping freshwater from aquifers d. A group within the United Nations working to reduce the effects of drought and desertification in the Transition Zone

a. A group of African countries working to improve food security and manage the region's water, land, and natural resources

Which action would produce the best results toward combating desertification? a. Adopting agricultural methods that put less stress on the land b. Creating large-scale farms near water sources c. Limiting areas used for livestock grazing d. Restricting agricultural activity to essential crops

a. Adopting agricultural methods that put less stress on the land

The expert _____ weavers of Thana are known for kente, a brightly colored cloth consisting of bands of fabric sewn together. a. Ashanti bb. Ibo c. Yoruba d. Hausa

a. Ashanti

Rapid population growth poses a danger to the environment of West Africa because it has put pressure on the _____, or the population that an area will support without undergoing deterioration of the land. a. Carrying capacity b. Density c. Arability d. Commercial farming

a. Carrying capacity

The year 1960 was called the "year of independence" in Equatorial Africa because during that year? a. Colonial rule ended. b. Slaves were freed. c. Rights for teenagers were written into law. d. Southern Sudan separated from Sudan.

a. Colonial rule ended

Government ____ is an obstacle to change and economic efficiency in West Africa and has a negative impact on social and economic development, as well as on the environment and resource management. a. Corruption b. Wastefulness c. Bureaucracy d. Efficiency

a. Corruption

What has been the impact of the international agreement to ban ivory trade worldwide? a. Elephants still face extinction because demand for ivory has risen and poaching continues b. Elephants still face extinction because suitable elephant habitats have been taken over by agriculture c.Elephants are becoming less endangered because more land is set aside for preserves and antipoaching efforts have improved d. Elephants are becoming less endangered because international food aid has reduced the demand for bushmeat

a. Elephants still face extinction because demand for ivory has risen and poaching continues

The largest sector in East Africa's economy is? a. Export agriculture b. Subsistence agriculture c. Services, including tourism d. Mining/fishing/raw materials

a. Export agriculture

Despite foreign loans to help Equatorial African countries to industrialize and their vast deposits of minerals and other resources that could be used in manufacturing, the region's main economic activity remains? a. Farming b. Poaching big game and ivory c. Extracting and processing petroleum for export d. Local handicrafts

a. Farming

Which of the following countries in West Africa is named after an early trading empire? a. Ghana b. Senegal c. Liberia d. Gambia

a. Ghana

Which example directly relates an economic development issue with an environmental issue? a. Lack of infrastructure means many people must use wood because they don't have access to electricity, resulting dun deforestation b. Persistent drought has led to desertification and loss of arable land c. Poor public health has resulted in lower life expectancy d. Colonial powers favored certain ethnic groups over others, resulting in long-standing ethnic tension, which have led to extremism and genocide

a. Lack of infrastructure means many people must use wood because they don't have access to electricity, resulting in deforestation

What is the largest city in Africa? Lagos, Nigeria b. Accra, Ghana c. Cairo, Egypt d. Nairobi, Kenya

a. Lagos, Nigeria

In general, literacy rates in West Africa are? a. Low compared to most other countries b. High compared to most other countries c. Impossible to determine due to the absence of record-keeping d. About average compared to most other countries

a. Low compared to most other countries

As a whole, the region of Equatorial Africa has the _______ on the continent. a. Lowerst population density b. Highest population density c. Most highly educated population d. Least highly educated population

a. Lowest population density

The lagoons and _____ swamps are important parts of the coastal ecosystem of West Africa because they provide food and shelter for fish, shellfish, mollusks, wildfowl, and marine mammals. a. Mangrove b. Cypress c. Freshwater d. Bamboo

a. Mangrove

In exchange for slaves, European traders gave Africans? a. Manufactured goods b. Books to start their own schools c. Money they could use to buy things from other Africans d. Weapons they could use to conquer neighboring countires

a. Manufactured goods

Which river is known by many names, all of which mean "great river"? a. Niger River b. Senegal River c. Nile River d. Volta River

a. Niger River

Which is a factor that has contributed to the lack of proper management of natural resources within East Africa? a. Poverty b. Pollution c. Deforestation d. Overfarming

a. Poverty

The primary reason environmental laws and policies and preserves have not worked to prevent people from killing animals for ivory and bushmeat is? a. Povertty-the people will do anything to survive b. Illiteracy- the people cannot read the rules and signs c. Greed- the people know there are few other ways to become wealthy d. Ignorance- the people do not understand that many species are already endangered

a. Poverty-the people will do anything to survive

How are escarpments and cataracts related? a. Rivers flowing over the many plateaus of East Africa plunge over steep cliffs to form large waterfalls b. Both are common to the many volcanic regions in East Africa, especially along fault lines where tectonic plates shift deep underground c. Rainwater flooding into the many rift valleys of East Africa forms deep freshwater lakes d. They are both features of the savanna and Sahel that runs along the Great Rift Valley

a. Rivers flowing over the many plateaus of East Africa plunge over steep cliffs to form large waterfalls

Which characterizes the primary population pattern of people in East Africa? a. Rural b. Coastal c. Urban d. Inland

a. Rural

The north and the east of Southern Africa are covered with ______-vast grasslands dotted with small stands of trees. a. Savanna b. Desert c. Plateaus d. Wetlands

a. Savanna

In the savanna of West Africa, a. There is a wet season and a dry season b. There is a dry climate year-round c. There is frequent rain year-round d. There is little plant or animal life

a. There is a wet season and a dry season

About how wide is the Transition Zone at its widest point? a. 3,700 miles b. 250 miles c. 650 miles d. 125 miles

b. 250 miles

Which challenge makes it especially difficult to combat desertification in the Transition Zone? a. Lack of cooperation among countries b. A rapidly growing population c. Religious and cultural traditions d. Lack of international assistance

b. A rapidly growing population

Which factor plays the most important role in determining population patterns of East Africa? a. Proximity to major urban centers and trade routes b. Access to freshwater c. The lasting social impact of borders set by colonial powers d. Access to the fertile coastal Sahel

b. Access to freshwater

Despite the end of _______ many black South Africans still live in crowded, impoverished townships with poor sanitation. a. Pollution b. Apartheid c. Deforestation d. Civil war

b. Apartheid

Much of Southern Africa's coastal plain along the Atlantic coast is a ____ biome. a. Grassland b. Desert c. Savanna d. Forest

b. Desert

South Africa is one of only a few countries in the world that have ____ built into their constitutions. a. Water pollution laws b. Environmental rights c. Equality laws d. Civil rights

b. Environmental rights

Who has been benefiting most from Equatorial Africa's wealth of petroleum and mineral resources? a. Local governments distribute earnings to local people, so international companies do not profit much b. Foreign mine owners and corrupt government officials mismanage income and leave the people with little direct benefit c. Greedy local owners and corrupt government officials prevent other citizens from benefiting d. Nobody has benefited much as the region lacks the ability to extract the resources

b. Foreign mine owners and corrupt government officials mismanage income and leave people with little direct benefit

Since most people in the countryside in Southern Africa do not live near a major river, the increased use of ______ is reducing the amount of water available in the region. a. Hydroelectricity b. Groundwater c. Firewood d. Ash-enriched soil

b. Groundwater

Despite laws that require gender equality in most Southern African countries, traditional laws often prohibit women from? a. Cleaning b. Inheriting property c. Cooking d. Practicing religion

b. Inheriting property

A decade-olds conflict in Sudan that ended in 2005 was based on a dispute over? a. A border between north and south Sudan b. Islamic-oriented governments versus secular governments c. Access to water sources in south Sudan d. Sacred sites in north Sudan

b. Islamic-oriented governments versus secular governments

One of the legacies of the Transition Zone's colonial past is? a. Its healthcare system b. Its countries' political boundaries c. ItsMuslim religion d. its forms of governments

b. Its countries' political boundaries

_____ has been shrinking due to drought, desertification, climate change, and the damming of rivers. a. Lake Malawi b. Lake Chad c. Lake Volta d. Lake Tanganyika

b. Lake Chad

What historical effect did East Africa's access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean have on the subregion that still influences its society to this day? a. The spread of Islam b. Multiculturalism c. An increasing Bantu ethnic majority d. Social isolation

b. Multiculturalism

The _____ River is the main river of West Africa and an important commercial shipping route. a. Nile b. Niger c. Benue d. Zambezi

b. Niger

What is the only West African country that belongs to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)? a. Cotee d'Ivorie b. Nigeria c. Guinea d. Senegal

b. Nigeria

Would a period of heavy rainfalls help the Transition Zone combat desertification? a. Yes, but it would only be a temporary solution b. No, because the ground is too dry to absorb the water c. No, because it would produce floodwaters filled with sand and dirt d. Yes, because the water would be collected in reservoirs

b. No, because the ground is too dry to absorb the water

The ongoing border disputes between Sudan and South Sudan are over who owns? a. Pipelines b. Oil-producing areas c. Sources of freshwater d. Prime agricultural areas

b. Oil-producing areas

Which human-caused problem is most directly related to exceeding an area's carrying capacity? a. Loss of habitat b. Overpopulation c. Poaching d. Desertification

b. Overpopulation

What has prevented the proper management of East Africa's natural resources? a. Fires and droughts caused by climate change b. Overwhelming social problems, including poverty and substandard public health c. Desertification, deforestation, and the loss of arable land d. Local lack of natural resources, or the uneven distribution of resources, such as freshwater and oil

b. Overwhelming social problems, including poverty and substandard public health

Most of Southern Africa's landforms consists of _____ and highlands. a. Escarpments b. Plateaus c. Plains d. Deserts

b. Plateaus

Which of the following describes how South African families who live in poverty spend their leisure time? a. Watch television, surf the Internet b. Play games, sing, and dance c. Listen to music by African artists d. Attend movies, shop in malls

b. Play games, sing, and dance

Choose the word or phrase that best paraphrases the definition of the term carrying capacity. a. Weight limit b. Potential c. Sustainablility d. Environmental harm

b. Potential

The Congo's first inhabitants, the Mbuti, who were once known as ______, still live in the region today. a. Indigenous b. Pygmies c. Aborigines d. Bantu

b. Pygmies

The crops grown on plantations under the colonial economic system in Equatorial Africa? a. Have been rejected in favor of more suitable local species that now form the region's primary agricultural exports b. Remain the primary crops exported by the region today c. Destroyed the soil in the region and forced the closure of most plantations d. Spread as invasive species that overwhelmed and eliminated many native species

b. Remain the primary crops exported by the region today

Though Equatorial Africa has very little large-scale manufacturing or industrialization that could boost international trade and support local economies, a. Foreign companies have built factories there to take advantage of cheap African labor b. Small local entrepreneurs have begun successful trading using the internet c. Local governments are encouraging foreign investment with tax-free status d. Regional transportation systems and the power grid are ready to support major business growth

b. Small local entrepreneurs have begun successful trading using the Internet

Shifting cultivation practices combined with rapid population growth is stressing land, which can lead to? a. Irrigation conflicts b. Soil erosion c. Widespread disease d. Groundwater depletion

b. Soil erosion

The enslaved peoples' trip from Africa to where they were sold in the Americas was called? a. The Endless Journey b. The middle Passage c. The Voyage of Death d. The Long Route

b. The Middle Passage

To create water resources for livestock, boreholes and wells were drilled in areas that were previously unsuitable for livestock. What was the result of this plan? a. Manure from grazing livestock contaminated the water supply in the wells. b. The new areas attracted larger herds than the area could feed, resulting in overgrazing. c. Animals refused to leave their traditional grazing areas for the new areas. d. The wells attracted disease-carrying insects that damaged the livestock.

b. The new areas attracted larger herds than the area could feed, resulting in overgrazing

While some of Southern Africa's rivers are useful for generating electricity, they are not suitable for? a. Irrigation b. Transportation c. Accommodationg wildlife d. LifeStraws

b. Transportation

In what part of the Transition Zone are nuclear families rapidly replacing extended families? a. Countries along the eastern coast b. Urban areas c. Countries along the western coast d. Rural areas

b. Urban areas

The Congo Basin is mostly? a. A high, flat area covered by rain forest and surrounded by mountains b. A low, flat area covered by savanna and surrounded by mountains c. A high, mountainous area covered by rain forest d. A high, mountainous area characterized by tropical and steppe climates

c. A high, mountainous area covered by rain forest

The frequent armed conflicts in Equatorial Africa and neighboring countries tend to be primarily? a. Over land ownership b. Family or tribal disputes that have escalated c. Based on ethnic strife d. Related to resource rights

c. Based on ethnic strife

Most of the world's diamonds come from mines near the Witwatersrand, __________, and along the coast near the Namibia-South Africa border. a. Zambia b. Zimbabwe c. Botswana d. Namibia

c. Botswana

Which of the following is an important cash crop-native to Central America and South America-that was introduced to West Africa during the colonial period? a. Taro b. Cacao c. Sugarcane d. Bananas

c. Cacao

Which country is heavily investing in East African trade, natural resources, and infrastructure, fundamentally altering the economy of the subregion? a. Egypt b. The United States c. China d. Saudi Arabia

c. China

Deforestation is a problem in West Africa that is caused primarily by logging and? a. Insect infestations b. Drought c. Clearing land for agriculture d. Desertification

c. Clearing land for agriculture

Which environmental issue has been most directly addressed by East African governments? a. Poaching b. Desertification c. Deforestation d. Water pollution

c. Deforestation

Why are there so many different types of climates and biomes within the East African subregion? a. East Africa covers significant latitude and has long coastlines along the Indian Ocean and Red Sea b. East Africa covers significant longitude and has long coastlines along the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea c. East Africa covers a wide area of latitudes, and has many different elevations d. WEast Africa covers a wide area of longitudes, and has many different landforms

c. East Africa covers a wide area of latitudes, and has many different elevations

Equatorial Africa is unusual in that it has? a. Very little ethnic diversity, but a wide variety of languages, many influenced by European colonialism b. very little ethnic diversity and a small variety of languages, all with the same base language c. Hundreds of ethnic groups and hundreds of languages d. hundreds of ethnic groups, but a small variety of languages, all with the same base language

c. Hundreds of ethnic groups and hundreds of languages

An example of how the Great Green Wall will help to combat desertification is? a. It will add bacteria to sand dunes to harden the sand, which will limit further desertification. b. It will create a huge grazing belt across Africa, which will prevent concentrations of livestock in small areas. c. It will block desert winds, which dry the soil. d. It will plant drought-resistant grasses, which the wind will spread throughout the region.

c. It will block desert winds, which dry the soil

Which of the following is a human-made lake that was created by damming a river and flooding some 700 villages? a. Lake Malawi b. Lake Chad c. Lake Volta d. Lake Victoria

c. Lake Volta

Two wildlife areas on either side of the _____ River recently joined with each other and with several sanctuaries in Zimbabwe to provide a safe haven for various species. a. Zambez b. Okavango c. Limpopo d. Orange

c. Limpopo

Around A.D. 800, a small group of people sailed in outrigger canoes from islands in Southeast Asia to? a. Kenya b. Angola c. Madagascar d. Zimbabwe

c. Madagascar

Identify a way the economy of East Africa is changing. a. A shift from agriculture to a service economy, especially focusing on ecotourism b. A shift from cash crops to subsistence farming c. Rising foreign investment from China, resulting in improved infrastructure and increased trade d. Less reliance on raw materials such as minerals, timer, and agricultural crops in favor of increasing reliance on the manufacturing and industrial sectors

c. Rising foreign investment from China, resulting in improved infrastructure and increased trade

One of the Bantu peoples, the ________, established a city called Great Zimbabwe. a. Malagasy b. Boers c. Shona d. San

c. Shona

Which water project resulted in the flooding of more than 700 villages, forcing thousands of people to move to new homes? a. The Diama Dam on the Senegal River b. The Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River c. The Akosombo Dam on the Volta River d. The Manantali Dam on hte Barfing River

c. The Akosombo Dam on the Volta River

Which statement about the Transition Zone's population is true? a. While the Transition Zone has one of the largest populations in the world, population growth has begun to decline b. The Transition Zone is the most densely populated area of Africa c. The population of the Transition Zone is expected to double between 2020 and 2050 d. The population of the Transition Zone is distributed evenly between most parts of the region

c. The population of the Transition Zone is expected to double between 2020 and 2050

Habitat loss and poaching are examples of? a. The effect of soil erosion and desertification b. the proper management of resources in East Africa c. The variety of environmental threats East Africa faces d. The effects of deforestation

c. The variety of environmental threats East Africa faces

What was the main impact of European colonial powers in East Africa? a. They introduced multiculturalism and new ideas to the subregion b. They established the slave trade and promoted ethnic conflict among indigenous peoples, resulting in genocide c. They exploited, or unfairly took advantage of, the peoples and natural resources of the subregion d. They allowed greater social freedoms for women and improved the quality of life, especially regarding public health, transportation, and economic opportunity

c. They exploited, or unfairly took advantage of, the peoples and natural resources of the subregion

As part of the early empire of Mali, _____ became an important center of trade and scholarship. a. Djenne b. Songhai c. Timbuktu d. Lagos

c. Timbuktu

What was the purpose of the Berlin Conference of 1884? a. To intervene in a civil war between warring ethnic groups in Africa b. To send humanitarian aid to drought-stricken Africa c. To regulate European colonization in Africa d. To train Africans in water management and agricultural practices

c. To regulate European colonization in Africa

Two of the largest hydroelectric dams in Africa are located on the _____ River. a. Okavango b. Limpopo c. Zambezi d. Orange

c. Zambezi

Most of South Africa's land sits at a high _____, or distance above sea level.. a. Climate zone b. Escarpment c. Delta d. Altitude

d. Altitude

In 2011 the president of ______ signed two presidential decrees in an attempt to improve water quality and reduce damage to the natural environment. a. Zimbabwe b. Swaziland c. Botswana d. Angola

d. Angola

Except for in _______, most Southern African communities do not benefit from mineral and gemstone profits or foreign companies. a. Zambia b. Zimbabwe c. Namibia d. Botswana

d. Botswana

The two dominant religions in East Africa are? a. Christianity and Ethiopian Orthodoxy b. Bantu and Tutsi c. Island and animism d. Christianity and Islam

d. Christianity and Islam

In the late twentieth century, millions of people fled Angola and Mozambique to the relative safety of urban areas due to? a. Poor water quality b. Unemployment c. Pollution d. Civil war

d. Civil War

About 3,500 square miles of _____ are lost each year. a. Coral barrier reefs b. Glaciers in the equatorial mountains c. Good agricultural soil d. Congo Basin rain forest

d. Congo Basin Rain Forest

Identify successful actions implemented by some East African governments that have had both environmental and economic benefits. a. Combating overpopulation, which contributes to desertification, especially along the Sahel b. Regulating industrial and agricultural chemicals that pollute water systems and kill off fish which otherwise may be commercially harvested c. Encouraging commercial cash crop agricultural enterprises to convert back to traditional subsistence farming d. Creating conservation areas and national parks, which draw ecotourists

d. Creating conservation areas and national parks, which draw ecotourists

The Congo's freshwater meets the Atlantic's salt water in a passage known as a(n)? a. Archipelago b. Lagoon c. Arboretum d. Estuary

d. Estuary

At the Berlin Conference in 1844 and 1885, a. Germany was forced to give up its colonial claims in Africa b. Mansa Musa ceded his empire to Songhai c. Liberia was granted independence d. European countries established colonial boundaries in Africa

d. European countries established colonial boundaries in Africa

What geographical factor(s) led to both Christianity and Islam becoming the two most prominent faiths within East Africa today? a. The uniform elevation across the subregion made East Africa vulnerable to colonization by both Arabic and European powers b. The harsh conditions of the Sahel served as a buffer to any cultures attempting to penetrate inland from the coast, leaving East Africa culturally isolated, despite its access to the sea c. Easty travel along the Great Rift Vally river systems brought both trade and new ideas d. Explorers, colonists, and traders had easy access due to East Africa's long Red Sea and Indian Ocean coastlines

d. Explorers, colonists, and traders had easy access due to East Africa's long Red Sea and Indian Ocean coastlines

The primary aim of the Global Water Initiative is to? a. Implement reforestation plans b. Halt the advance of desertification c. Stop over fishing in ecologically vulnerable areas d. Improve access to clean water and sanitation

d. Improve access to clean water and sanitation

Why is English widely spoken in Nigeria and the official language? a. Nigeria is a dominion of the United Kingdom b. The language of Nigeria's former colonizers, the French, ahs been banned c. There are more than 500 languages spoken in Nigeria d. It was once a British colony

d. It was once a British colony.

What is the topography of the Sahel? a. Mainly flat with numerous deep basins and depressions b. Mainly flat with a few rolling hills along the east coast c. Mainly flat with a series of low rugged mountains along the east coast d. Mainly flat with a series of plateaus

d. Mainly flat with a series of plateaus

When does most rain fall in the Transition Zone? a. November to January b. September and October c. February to April d. May to August

d. May to August

Which country has some of the world's largest deposits of uranium, as well as oil, gold, and coal? a.Senegal b. Chad c. Sudan d. Niger

d. Niger

Which of the following rivers runs southeast from central Angola to northern Botswana and ends inland? a. Orange b. Limpopo c. Zambez d. Okavangoo

d. Okavango

Which part of the Transition Zone receives the most rainfall? a. Western coast b. North c. Eastern coast d. South

d. South

Gabon is the most urbanized country in Equatorial Africa, while _____ is the least urbanized. a. The Republic of the Congo b. Sao Tome c. Cameroon d. South Sudan

d. South Sudan

Most people in the Transition Zone make their living by? a. Farming and working in manufacturing plants b. Farming and mining c. Subsistence farming and oil production d. Subsistence farming and semi-nomadic herding

d. Subsistence farming and semi-nomadic herding

Properly managing resources for long-term sustainability has been a lower priority in Equatorial Africa than? a. Developing industry and market share, as each country works to improve economically b. Resoling ethnic conflicts, as each group has a different opinion about resource use c. Acquiring territory, as each country wants to control areas rich in resources d. Surviving, as poverty and hunger are more immediate concerns

d. Surviving, as poverty and hunger are more immediate concerns

The largest, poorest, and perhaps most ethnically diverse and environmentally challenged country in Equatorial Africa is? a. The Central African Republic b. Sudan c. Cameroon d. The Democratic Republic of the Congo

d. The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Why is the lingua franca of many parts of East Africa not an indigenous language? a. Trade activity with Arabic-speaking peoples over hundreds of years made Arabic commonly understood by most people throughout East Africa b. Because Portugal introduced Christianity, which since spread throughout East Africa, Portuguese has spread across the region as a language understood by both believers nad non-believers c. Most people in East Africa speak Bantu today because there is too much ethnic tension associated with Tutsi and Hutu languages d. There are many native languages, but dominant colonial languages such as English or French were commonly understood by most people, and so are still used today

d. There are many native languages, but dominant colonial languages such as English or French were commonly understood by most people, and so are still used today

When Europeans drew colonial boundaries for Africa at the Berlin Conference? a. They established the Congo as an independent state b. They divided territory according to the dominant religious faith of a region c. They established Liberia as an independent state d. They mostly ignored existing African ethnic boundaries

d. They mostly ignored existing African ethnic boundaries

Cheetahs, lions, and other wildlife roam for part of the year? a. To flee hunters during the peak hunting season b. To escape the high temperatures in the north c. Because they are migratory by nature d. To find water and vegetation when an area dries up

d. To find water and vegetation when an area dries up

What is the climate in the southern part of West Africa? a. High-latitude b. Dry c. Midlatitude d. Tropical

d. Tropical