Sub-Saharn Africa Reading Guide

Question 1

Berlin Conference

Answer 1

A meeting to divide Africa among the European colonial powers

Question 2

Conflict Diamonds

Answer 2

Diamonds whose profits from selling lead to the purchase of weapons used in wars and local conflicts

Question 3

Desertification

Answer 3

Arid and semiarid lands become degraded and less productive and desertlike conditions result

Question 4

Failed state

Answer 4

A state where the government is too weak to control its territory, can’t provide public services, etc.

Question 5

Fair Trade:

Answer 5

Ensuring that producers are paid a reasonable wage and that crops are produced sustainably

Question 6

Green Belt Movement

Answer 6

A social movement centered around planting and preserving trees

Question 7

Internally Displaced Person (IDP)

Answer 7

People who are uprooted but stay in their home country

Question 8

Land Grabs

Answer 8

Large scale land purchases

Question 9

Pastoralism

Answer 9

A way of life that depends on livestock

Question 10

Rift Valley

Answer 10

Large and long depression between steep walls formed by the downward displacement of a block of the earth’s surface between tectonic faults

Question 11

Savanna

Answer 11

Grasslands with extensive grazing areas

open stands of trees interspersed with shurbs and grasses

Question 12

Sahel

Answer 12

Southern border of the Sahara Desert

Question 13

1. Why is Sub-Saharan Africa particularly vulnerable to climate change?

Answer 13

Poverty
Lack of fresh water
climate change

Question 14

What impacts could climate change have on the region?

Answer 14

Less food/water

More disease/insects

Question 15

2. What natural resources are important in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 15

rivers
deltas
inland wetlands
mineral resources.

Question 16

3. Explain the main causes of low agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa and describe the methods used to adapt to these conditions

Answer 16

Wildlife poaching
pests
disease
efforts to eradicate and cure disease
parks and conservation programs, etc.

Question 17

4. How has human activity impacted the wildlife of Sub-Saharan Africa?
   What strategies have been used to protect wildlife?

Answer 17

decimated the population of wildlife via hunting (for food or pleasure, encroachment, etc.)
Protected areas like animal parks

Question 18

6. What is the legacy of European colonialism in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 18

Establishment of political boundaries that disregarded traditional boundaries
introduction of European languages

Question 19

7. Why has the World Bank identified Sub-Saharan Africa as “the most important development challenge of the 21st century”?

Answer 19

Because they are so dependent on foreign aid and have a very low GPI.

Question 20

8. More than ¾ of Africa’s population work in ???

Answer 20

Agriculture

Question 21

9. What were the Millennium Development Goals and how did they impact Sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 21

Targets to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Less poverty, more education, etc.

Question 22

10. Describe the current political issues of Somalia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

Answer 22

Somalia is a failed state, in a constant state of civil war
Nigeria fights with terrorists Boko Haram
South Sudan newly independent, but fight with rebel groups and have health, water, food problems

Question 23

11. What are the predominant religions of Sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 23

Christianity and Islam

Question 24

12. What are the predominant languages of Sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 24

Hausa
Yoruba
Ibo
Swahili
Zulu

Question 25

13. Describe the status/roles of women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Answer 25

Underpriveleged
poor
disadvantaged
meet the basic needs of the family/village (food, water, crafts, etc.)

Question 26

14. Describe the factors affecting population growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Answer 26

Need for children to work/babysit
get money
prestige of large families
lack of contraception

Question 27

15. What are the reasons for large number of refugees from/in Sub-Saharan Africa? What challenges are associated with these refugees?

Answer 27

Armed conflict
human rights violations
drought
Lack of resources
disease

Question 28

1. Consider the location of the Congo Rainforest and the Kalahari Desert? What atmospheric circulation systems (discussed in Chapter 1 of the textbook) are associated with these regions?

Answer 28

Intertropical Convergence Zone

Subtropical high

Question 29

2. What is the predominant land use of Sub-Saharan Africa?

Answer 29

Subsistence farming

nomadic herding

Question 30

3. Describe the distribution of gold resources in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Answer 30

West and East coast of Africa

Question 31

4. How are the population characteristics of North Africa different from the population characteristics of South Africa?

Answer 31

Arab and Muslim
20% of Africa
Less diverse

Question 32

5. How did the Europeans contribute to ethnic tensions that exist in Africa today?

Answer 32

Drew boundaries putting rival tribes together

Question 33

6. Approximately ??? of the world’s refugees are African.

Answer 33

1/3

Question 34

7. Into what body of water does the Congo River flow?

Answer 34

Atlantic Ocean

Question 35

8. Despite the continent’s mineral wealth, most Africans live in poverty. Why?

Answer 35

Mining companies employ few Africans

Question 36

9. What physical feature, located in East Africa, is located along a divergent plate boundary?

Answer 36

Great Rift Valley

Question 37

10. Herders of Namibia, threatened by war and drought, now profit from ???

Answer 37

Ecotourism

Question 38

11. What is the leading cause of death in Africa? What can be done to control the disease?

Answer 38

AIDS

education and treatment