Intro to Africa

Question 1

Africa is the ____ biggest continent in the world

Answer 1

2nd

Question 2

These two oceans surround Africa:

Answer 2

The Indian and the Atlantic

Question 3

How many countries?

Answer 3

54

Question 4

Newest country?

Answer 4

South Sudan

Question 5

Countries with largest populations?

Answer 5

1. Nigeria
2. Ethiopia
3. Egypt

Question 6

Basin:

Answer 6

huge, low-lying areas

Question 7

How can basins affect ships trying to enter Africa from the ocean?

Answer 7

Waterfalls that are between the basin and the plateau make it hard for the ship to sail up because of the downward currents.

Question 8

What is the Sahara Desert?

Answer 8

The Sahara desert is a dry and large place with mountains, sand dunes, and gravel plains. It is the world’s largest desert. Worlds driest and hottest desert.

Question 9

What body of water does the Nile River empty into?

Answer 9

The Mediterranean Sea

Question 10

Name the longest freshwater lake in the world:

Answer 10

Lake Tanganyika

Question 11

What is the highest peak in Africa and how tall is it?

Answer 11

Mount Kilimanjaro. It is 19,340 feet tall.

Question 12

According to the book (p. 282) what are the two most widely used languages?

Answer 12

Arabic and Swahili

Question 13

Why do people call Africa the birthplace of the human race? (p. 283)

Answer 13

Scientists found the bones of human-like species that lived in eastern Africa millions of years ago.

Question 14

List three details about the Egyptian civilization:

Answer 14

lasted 3,000+ years, learned to preserve the dead as mummies, and build still-standing pyramids.

Question 15

How did the three great kingdoms of Western Africa (Ghana, Mali, Songhai) become wealthy and powerful?

Answer 15

They had control of trade across the Sahara.

Question 16

As result of these kingdoms’ influence, what religion was spread across much of Africa?

Answer 16

Islam.

Question 17

Who were the first Europeans to explore Africa and when?

Answer 17

The Portuguese in the 1400’s.

Question 18

Why did Europeans enslave Africans?

Answer 18

They needed workers to raise crops.

Question 19

When did the African slave trade end?

Answer 19

Around 1850.

Question 20

What was the first black African colony to break free of European colonialism?

Answer 20

Ghana

Question 21

Why do African countries struggle to create stable governments?

Answer 21

Tensions between ethnic groups.

Question 22

Which religion is slightly more common in Africa than Islam?

Answer 22

Christianity

Question 23

What industry makes up half of Africa’s export?

Answer 23

Mining

Question 24

Most of their oil goes to

Answer 24

Europe

Question 25

What precious gem does Africa produce 3/4s of the world supply of?

Answer 25

Diamonds

Question 26

In which country does most trade and manufacturing happen?

Answer 26

South Africa