World Geography Sub-Saharan Africa Quiz

Match each of the following rivers with its description. Nile Zambezi Niger Congo

longest river on Earth originates in Zambia and flows eastward to the Indian Ocean located in West Africa and has a boomerang shape deepest river on Earth

Which of the following is true about cities in Sub-Saharan Africa?

A sizeable portion of the population lives in modern cities.

In South Africa, the Dutch settlers' native language adapted and became known as ________.

Afrikaans

What European country owned much of Central Africa and lost its colony due to its violent practices?

Belgium

What tropical rainforest in Western Africa is considered the Earth's "second lung"?

Congo

What city was one of the largest trade ports during the Atlantic Slave Trade and is now the capital of Senegal?

Dakar

What European power established a permanent settlement in Southern Africa before European colonization began in earnest?

Netherlands

What sea is bordered by the Suez Canal and feeds into the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden?

Red Sea

What climatic region of Sub-Saharan Africa is a transitional boundary between the Congo Basin and the Sahara?

Sahel

A recent civil war in ___________ has led to instability in the Horn of Africa.

Somalia

Most people living in Sub-Saharan Africa are ______________.

Subsistence farmers

In one sentence, explain the region of Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of boundaries.

The African Transition Zone cuts across the southern edge of the Sahara Desert at the widest portion of the continent.

The continent of Africa consists of a series of plateaus that have steep cliffs called ____________.

escarpments

What is one of the largest barriers to economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa?

lack of infrastructure

During religious ceremonies or ceremonial dances, Sub-Saharan Africans often wear _______ that depict either spirits or ancestors.

masks

What is the second largest economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa?

mining

What river is located in West Africa and has a boomerang shape?

niger

What type of agriculture involves growing a particular crop specifically to sell for a profit?

plantation agriculture

A person that has left his or her homeland due to natural disasters, political oppression, or violence is called a/n ___________________?

refugee

A(n) _________ is a depression in the Earth's surface formed by gradually shifting tectonic plates.

rift valley

The Serengeti is an example of what type of climate?

savanna

What type of agriculture involves cutting down vegetation and forested areas, leaving them to dry out, and then burning them to create a rich layer of topsoil to grow food?

slash and burn agriculture

Which of the following are major religions in Sub-Saharan Africa? (choose all that apply)

traditional religions Islam Christianity

_________ was a political and societal system in South Africa that denied rights to certain ethnic and racial groups.

Apartheid

Which of the following are languages spoken in Sub-Saharan Africa? (choose all that apply)

Arabic Afrikaans French Bantu Dialects English

A _______ is a place of worship for Muslims.

mosque

When did European powers start carving up the entire continent of Africa among themselves?

nineteenth century

What waterfall located on the Zambezi River is twice the size of Niagara Falls?

victoria falls

The largest diamond mines in the world are located in __________.

Botswana

What country in Sub-Saharan Africa adopted Christianity in the fourth century AD?

Ethiopia

What region of Africa is a crossroads for peoples of African, Indian, Arab, and European descent?

Horn of Africa

Match each of the following groups of nations to the region of Africa that they belong to. Senegal, Mali, Ghana Tanzania, Rwanda, Gabon Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia

West Africa Central Africa Southern Africa Horn of Africa

What type of agriculture involves growing just enough to support oneself or one's family?

subsistence agriculture

Which of the following is true about attire in Sub-Saharan Africa?

People often wear vibrant clothing with complex patterns and designs.

In one sentence, explain how population density influences cultures in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Population density influences cultures in Sub-Saharan Africa because when the population density is so high it causes epidemics to spread rapidly and severely, such as the HIV epidemic.

What European power was the first to make direct contact with the peoples of West Africa?

Portugal

Crops grown for their commercial value rather than for use by the grower are called _____ crops.

cash

Which of the following practices in Sub-Saharan Africa have played a large role in reducing the size of tropical forests in the region? (choose all that apply)

logging slash and burn agriculture

What is the largest lake in Africa?

Lake Victoria

What climatic region near the Equator has dry and rainy seasons?

NOT tundra

What culture and language group is common throughout Central Africa?

Bantu

What modern-day country used to be the center of the slave trade in Central Africa?

Gabon

What two West African countries are named after early empires that made fortunes selling salt and gold across the Sahara?

Ghana and Mali

What depression in the earth's surface extends from Southwest Asia into southeastern Africa and contains some of the highest mountains and deepest lakes of the African continent?

Great Rift Valley

Who are the story telling poets of Sub-Saharan African culture?

Griots

In Southern Africa, the spread of what disease has created a health crisis that continues to the present day, especially in the nation of South Africa?

HIV

What oceans border the African continent? (choose all that apply)

Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean

What African desert is a semi-desert that has large areas of savanna land after it rains?

Kalahari

Which of Mount Kilimanjaro's peaks is actually a dormant volcano?

Kibo

Which of the following businesses would be considered primary economic activities? (choose all that apply)

Tobacco plantation oil well

In what areas of Africa are tropical wet climates prevalent?

West Africa and along the Equator

What two tributaries form the Nile River? (choose two)

White Nile Blue Nile

What is the largest industry in Sub-Saharan Africa?

agriculture

Match each of the following African regions to its description. West Africa Central Africa Horn of Africa

contains what were known as the Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, Pepper Coast, and Slave Coast NOT contains the Sahara Desert and has a mainly Arab culture NOT home to most of Africa's tropical rainforests

The Sahel and many of the deserts in Sub-Saharan Africa have begun experiencing __________ in recent years.

desertification