Africa Study Quiz

Know the Physical Features of Africa

• Highest overall elevation of any continent but very few mountain ranges, A gigantic plateau like an inverted pie plate, More of Africa covered by desert than any other continent, World’s longest river, Nile, Great Rift Valley, Congo Basin
• Most of Africa is in the tropics so it’s warm year round, Physical Feature zones are somewhat symmetrical b/c if Africa was folded in half at the Equator the climate zones would be the same both north and south
• Most common physical feature is tropical grassland known as savanna
• One of the world’s earliest civilizations was in Africa- ancient Egypt, Succession of empires in western Africa- Ghana, Mali, then Songhai, In the 1800s, Africa was carved up into colonies by the European nations, Most African countries didn’t get independence until the 1950s or later, World’s newest country is South Sudan (2011), Most African countries are dictatorships with frequent civil wars

Know the Climate of Africa

• Most of Africa is in the tropics so it’s warm year round, Climate zones are somewhat symmetrical b/c if Africa was folded in half at the Equator the climate zones would be the same both north and south
• Highest overall elevation of any continent but very few mountain ranges, A gigantic plateau like an inverted pie plate, More of Africa covered by desert than any other continent, World’s longest river, Nile, Great Rift Valley, Congo Basin
• Most common vegetation is tropical grassland known as savanna
• One of the world’s earliest civilizations was in Africa- ancient Egypt, Succession of empires in western Africa- Ghana, Mali, then Songhai, In the 1800s, Africa was carved up into colonies by the European nations, Most African countries didn’t get independence until the 1950s or later, World’s newest country is South Sudan (2011), Most African countries are dictatorships with frequent civil wars

Know the Vegetation of Africa

• Most common vegetation is tropical grassland known as savanna
• Highest overall elevation of any continent but very few mountain ranges, A gigantic plateau like an inverted pie plate, More of Africa covered by desert than any other continent, World’s longest river, Nile, Great Rift Valley, Congo Basin
• Most of Africa is in the tropics so it’s warm year round, Climate zones are somewhat symmetrical b/c if Africa was folded in half at the Equator the climate zones would be the same both north and south
• One of the world’s earliest civilizations was in Africa- ancient Egypt, Succession of empires in western Africa- Ghana, Mali, then Songhai, In the 1800s, Africa was carved up into colonies by the European nations, Most African countries didn’t get independence until the 1950s or later, World’s newest country is South Sudan (2011), Most African countries are dictatorships with frequent civil wars

Know the History of Africa

• One of the world’s earliest civilizations was in Africa- ancient Egypt, Succession of empires in western Africa- Ghana, Mali, then Songhai, In the 1800s, Africa was carved up into colonies by the European nations, Most African countries didn’t get independence until the 1950s or later, World’s newest country is South Sudan (2011), Most African countries are dictatorships with frequent civil wars
• Most of Africa is in the tropics so it’s warm year round, Climate zones are somewhat symmetrical b/c if Africa was folded in half at the Equator the climate zones would be the same both north and south
• Most common vegetation is tropical grassland known as savanna
• World’s fastest growing population, Majority of Africans live in rural areas, not in cities, No main religion:  46% are Christians, 40.5% are Muslims, 12% practice their native African religions, Very diverse population with over 2,000 different ethnic groups each with their own language, Diversity has led to many wars and genocide, North African countries that border the Mediterranean Sea are very different from the rest of Africa; Arabs are the main ethnic group, Short life expectancy due to diseases, famine, war, Low literacy rates in most countries

Know the Population of Africa

• World’s fastest growing population, Majority of Africans live in rural areas, not in cities, No main religion:  46% are Christians, 40.5% are Muslims, 12% practice their native African religions, Very diverse population with over 2,000 different ethnic groups each with their own language, Diversity has led to many wars and genocide, North African countries that border the Mediterranean Sea are very different from the rest of Africa; Arabs are the main ethnic group, Short life expectancy due to diseases, famine, war, Low literacy rates in most countries
• Africa is the poorest continent for several reasons- young countries, dictatorships, too many languages spoken, too few waterways and ports for trade, lack of transportation, Rich in natural resources; mining is the source of wealth for most countries; oil found mainly in North Africa and Nigeria, Most Africans are subsistence farmers or nomadic herders but only 6% of Africa can be farmed with droughts a major problem, Cash crops grown for export, Not industrialized
• One of the world’s earliest civilizations was in Africa- ancient Egypt, Succession of empires in western Africa- Ghana, Mali, then Songhai, In the 1800s, Africa was carved up into colonies by the European nations, Most African countries didn’t get independence until the 1950s or later, World’s newest country is South Sudan (2011), Most African countries are dictatorships with frequent civil wars
• Most of Africa is in the tropics so it’s warm year round, Climate zones are somewhat symmetrical b/c if Africa was folded in half at the Equator the climate zones would be the same both north and south

Know the Economic Activity of Africa

• Africa is the poorest continent for several reasons- young countries, dictatorships, too many languages spoken, too few waterways and ports for trade, lack of transportation, Rich in natural resources; mining is the source of wealth for most countries; oil found mainly in North Africa and Nigeria, Most Africans are subsistence farmers or nomadic herders but only 6% of Africa can be farmed with droughts a major problem, Cash crops grown for export, Not industrialized
• One of the world’s earliest civilizations was in Africa- ancient Egypt, Succession of empires in western Africa- Ghana, Mali, then Songhai, In the 1800s, Africa was carved up into colonies by the European nations, Most African countries didn’t get independence until the 1950s or later, World’s newest country is South Sudan (2011), Most African countries are dictatorships with frequent civil wars
• World’s fastest growing population, Majority of Africans live in rural areas, not in cities, No main religion:  46% are Christians, 40.5% are Muslims, 12% practice their native African religions, Very diverse population with over 2,000 different ethnic groups each with their own language, Diversity has led to many wars and genocide, North African countries that border the Mediterranean Sea are very different from the rest of Africa; Arabs are the main ethnic group, Short life expectancy due to diseases, famine, war, Low literacy rates in most countries
• Highest overall elevation of any continent but very few mountain ranges, A gigantic plateau like an inverted pie plate, More of Africa covered by desert than any other continent, World’s longest river, Nile, Great Rift Valley, Congo Basin

Know the characteristics and adaptations of Desert

• Physical CharacteristicsThere is little rainfall each year.  Trade winds keep the desert dry. The climate is hot most of the time. The night is the coolest it gets. Few plants and animals, Adaptations People raises animals like cattle and camels. They use these animals to trade and make money. People are ready to move from place to place. People use technology like cars instead of camels. People live near oases.
• Physical Characteristics An island in the middle of freshwater in the middle of a desert. Trees and Shrubs are grown near the oasis. They can be Small and large. Formed by water bubbling to the surface, Adaptations Several families share an oasis. Trading families use oasis most. Most homes near an oasis are made from mud bricks. People need windbreaks to stop the wind from blowing sand and covering up the crops
• Physical Characteristics Has mountains. Is a desert. Usually, has a drought. Good years let people grow crops, AdaptationsGrains that will grow in dry soil. A farming system called shifting agriculture. People use wood for burning things. When the trees are gone, it causes erosion

Know the characteristics and adaptations of an oasis

• Physical Characteristics An island in the middle of freshwater in the middle of a desert. Trees and Shrubs are grown near the oasis. They can be Small and large. Formed by water bubbling to the surface, Adaptations Several families share an oasis. Trading families use oasis most. Most homes near an oasis are made from mud bricks. People need windbreaks to stop the wind from blowing sand and covering up the crops
• Physical Characteristics Has mountains. Is a desert. Usually, has a drought. Good years let people grow crops, AdaptationsGrains that will grow in dry soil. A farming system called shifting agriculture. People use wood for burning things. When the trees are gone, it causes erosion
• Physical CharacteristicsThere is little rainfall each year.  Trade winds keep the desert dry. The climate is hot most of the time. The night is the coolest it gets. Few plants and animals, Adaptations People raises animals like cattle and camels. They use these animals to trade and make money. People are ready to move from place to place. People use technology like cars instead of camels. People live near oases.

Know the characteristics and adaptations of the Sahel

• Physical Characteristics Has mountains. Is a desert. Usually, has a drought. Good years let people grow crops, AdaptationsGrains that will grow in dry soil. A farming system called shifting agriculture. People use wood for burning things. When the trees are gone, it causes erosion
• Physical CharacteristicsThere is little rainfall each year.  Trade winds keep the desert dry. The climate is hot most of the time. The night is the coolest it gets. Few plants and animals, Adaptations People raises animals like cattle and camels. They use these animals to trade and make money. People are ready to move from place to place. People use technology like cars instead of camels. People live near oases.
• Physical Characteristics An island in the middle of freshwater in the middle of a desert. Trees and Shrubs are grown near the oasis. They can be Small and large. Formed by water bubbling to the surface, Adaptations Several families share an oasis. Trading families use oasis most. Most homes near an oasis are made from mud bricks. People need windbreaks to stop the wind from blowing sand and covering up the crops

Know the characteristics of Northern Nigeria

• Physical Environment Northern Nigeria has high, flat plains. Grasses and thorn trees grow all around this area. Lake Chad is the biggest source of water, Ethnic Groups Hausa and Fulani are the two biggest Ethnic Groups. They both have Christianity. One is rural and one is urban. Speak the same languages, CultureMost people have thatched roofs. Kalangu drums are a big musical instrument. Some people have houses that have flat roofs, EconomySome people farm for a living. Some people trade for a living. Some people herd animals for a living. Most people farm and herd animals.
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