Africa

Question 1

What is the Sahara Dessert?

Answer 1

The vast desert area that covers much of North Africa.

Question 2

What is the Nile River?

Answer 2

The river, more than 4,000 miles long, that flows north through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 3

What is the Western Sahara?

Answer 3

A strip of land on the west coast of North Africa, claimed by Morocco, whose legal status is unresolved.

Question 4

What is Algeria?

Answer 4

The largest country in North Africa, bordered by Morocco in the west and Tunisia and Libya in the east.

Question 5

What is desertification?

Answer 5

The process through which a desert spreads to a non-desert area.

Question 6

What is the vast desert area that covers much of North Africa?

Answer 6

The Sahara Desert.

Question 7

What is the river, more than 4,000 miles long, that flows north through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea?

Answer 7

The Nile River.

Question 8

What is a strip of land on the west coast of North Africa, claimed by Morocco, whose legal status is unresolved?

Answer 8

The Western Sahara.

Question 9

What is the largest country in North Africa, bordered by Morocco in the west and Tunisia and Libya in the east?

Answer 9

Algeria.

Question 10

What is the process through which a desert spreads to a non-desert area?

Answer 10

Desertification.

Question 11

North Africa includes ____ countries.

Answer 11

North Africa includes five countries.

Question 12

Farthest west is Morocco, which has a small _____________ _____ and a longer coast along the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer 12

Farthest west is Morocco, which has a small Mediterranean Coast and a longer coast along the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 13

South of Morocco lies an area called Western _____.

Answer 13

South of Morocco lies an area called Western Sahara.

Question 14

In North Africa, low, narrow plains sit on the margins, or _____, of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.

Answer 14

In North Africa, low, narrow plains sit on the margins, or edges, of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.

Question 15

In the west, the high _____ _________ rise just behind this coastal plain.

Answer 15

In the west, the high Atlas Mountains rise just behind this coastal plain.

Question 16

The Atlas Mountains form the _______ mountain chain in Africa and greatly influence the region’s climate.

Answer 16

The Atlas Mountains form the longest mountain chain in Africa and greatly influence the region’s climate.

Question 17

A high _______ sits between the Atlas Mountains.

Answer 17

A high plateau sits between the Atlas Mountains.

Question 18

In Egypt, the southern reaches of the ____ _____ cut through a highland area to form a deep gorge, or valley.

Answer 18

In Egypt, the southern reaches of the Nile River cut through a highland area to form a deep gorge, or valley.

Question 19

Southern Egypt has low mountains on the shores of the ___ ___.

Answer 19

Southern Egypt has low mountains on the shores of the Red Sea.

Question 20

At 4,160 miles, the Nile is the _______ river in the world.

Answer 20

At 4,160 miles, the Nile is the longest river in the world.

Question 21

The Nile River begins far south of Egypt at ____ ________ in East Africa.

Answer 21

The Nile River begins far south of Egypt at Lake Victoria in East Africa.

Question 22

The Nile River flows _________.

Answer 22

The Nile River flows northward.

Question 23

The Nile has a massive _____ at its mouth.

Answer 23

The Nile has a massive delta at its mouth.

Question 24

The Nile Delta is found where the Nile meets the ____________ ___.

Answer 24

The Nile Delta is found where the Nile meets the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 25

In Ancient times, filled by rains to the south, the Nile flooded each year. These floods left ____– a fine, rich soil that is excellent for farming– along the banks of the river and in the delta.

Answer 25

In Ancient times, filled by rains to the south, the Nile flooded each year. These floods left silt– a fine, rich soil that is excellent for farming– along the banks of the river and in the delta.

Question 26

The Suez Canal is under control of _____.

Answer 26

The Suez Canal is under control of Egypt.

Question 27

The Atlas Mountains create the ____ ______ effect.

Answer 27

The Atlas Mountains create the rain shadow effect.

Question 28

____-________ air systems descend over areas to the south of the region for much of the year.

Answer 28

High-pressure air systems descend over areas to the south of the region for much of the year.

Question 29

On rare occasions when it does rain in the desert, the southern winds soon follow. They dry the land and leave behind _____, or dry streambeds.

Answer 29

On rare occasions when it does rain in the desert, the southern winds soon follow. They dry the land and leave behind wadis, or dry streambeds.

Question 30

Spreading across more than ___ _______ square miles, the Sahara is as large as the entire United States.

Answer 30

Spreading across more than 3.5 million square miles, the Sahara is as large as the entire United States.

Question 31

The Sahara covers most of _____ ______ and spills into three other regions of Africa, as well.

Answer 31

The Sahara covers most of North Africa and spills into three other regions of Africa, as well.

Question 32

The Sahara’s vast stretches of sand are called ____.

Answer 32

The Sahara’s vast stretches of sand are called ergs.

Question 33

Ergs cover only about a quarter of the Sahara. In other areas, rocky plateaus called _______ and rocks eroded by wind are common.

Answer 33

Ergs cover only about a quarter of the Sahara. In other areas, rocky plateaus called hamads and rocks eroded by wind are common.

Question 34

Plants can grow in _____ and trade caravans that cross the desert stop at them for needed water.

Answer 34

Plants can grow in oases and trade caravans that cross the desert stop at them for needed water.

Question 35

______, people who move about from place to place in search of food, rely on these oases during their travels.

Answer 35

Nomads, people who move about from place to place in search of food, rely on these oases during their travels.

Question 36

How many countries does North Africa include?

Answer 36

Five.

Question 37

All five countries included in North Africa sit on the southern shore of which sea?

Answer 37

The Mediterranean Sea.

Question 38

Libya is to Egypt’s ____.

Answer 38

Libya is to Egypt’s west.