Unit 3 - Hot Deserts

Question 1

What is a desert?

Answer 1

A desert is an area where the average annual rainfall is less than 120mm

Question 2

Where are hot deserts located?

Answer 2

They are located 20 degrees and 35 degrees north latitude and 20 degrees and 35 degrees south latitude

Question 3

Where are deserts located? What side of the continent?

Answer 3

They are on the western side of the continent

Question 4

What are the three deserts in Africa?

Answer 4

They are the Sahara Namib and the Kalahari deserts

Question 5

How old is the Namib Desert?

Answer 5

It is 55 million years old

Question 6

What is the maximum rainfall in a desert?

Answer 6

It is 120mm per year

Question 7

Tell me about the quiver tree

Answer 7

The thick bark and leaves store moisture. Bees,birds and baboons eat the nectar from the flower

Question 8

Tell me about the Euphorbia plant

Answer 8

The stems contain a milky fluid,which is why the bush is sometimes called melkbos. The fluid keeps the plant alive. Gemsbok and rhino chew the stems and small desert animals eat the seeds.

Question 9

Tell me about the Welwitschia plant

Answer 9

This strange - looking plant has two large leaves that grow from a woody stem. The roots go about 3 m deep to search for water. Animals chew the leaves for moisture, but spit out the tough fibres

Question 10

Tell me about the Nara plant

Answer 10

This plant grows in dry river beds where its long root can reach water. It has no leaves and stores water in its fruit. The fruits are eaten by jackals,crickets,mice and beetles. Ostriches eat the tips of the stems

Question 11

Tell me about the ground squirrel

Answer 11

These animals live in large groups in the Kalahari desert. They dig tunnels up to 180m long. They eat roots

Question 12

Tell me about the gemsbok

Answer 12

These are large buck that live in the Namib and the Kalahari. They can survive on very little water and eat Nara melons, bulbs and roots, which they dig up with their front feet

Question 13

Tell me about the shrew

Answer 13

These little animals have long snouts to dig up insects, which are their main food

Question 14

Tell me about the Bat-eared fox

Answer 14

These animals live in the Kalahari desert. They eat insects, fruits, mice and reptiles. Their large ears help them to hear insects underground

Question 15

What are the San?

Answer 15

The San are hunter gatherers

Question 16

Where do they gather fruits from?

Answer 16

The gather fruits from the Baobab trees and Marula trees and find berries and roots to eat

Question 17

What do they make the poison on their arrows from

Answer 17

They make them from beetles, snakes, scorpions and spiders.

Question 18

What are the Taureg?

Answer 18

They are nomads who live in the Sahara desert.

Question 19

Hat do they keep herds of?

Answer 19

They keep herds of cattle, sheep and goats

Question 20

What did they carry themselves and their goods through the desert on?

Answer 20

They carried them on donkeys and camels