Sahara Oasis and Sahel

Where do most people of the Sahara live?

• near a desert oasis

• along the many riverbanks

• in large cities

• in the mountains

As the world's largest desert, the Sahara is about as same size as

• the United States

• France

• Spain

The rivers that flow through the Sahara are

• the Nile and the Niger.

• the Amazon and the Orinoco.

• the Volga and the Dnieper.

Ergs, regs, and hamadas are

• the main types of landforms in the Sahara.

• the most common types of plant life in the Sahara.

• the major food sources for people living in the Sahara.

• the native peoples of the Sahara.

How do the Tuareg protect themselves from the burning sun?

• They wear long, loose clothing and cover their heads and faces.

• They are nocturnal and never go outside during the day.

• They cover their skin with a plant-based sun block lotion.

• They carry umbrellas to shield their faces from the sun.

How have the Tuareg adapted to life in the southern Sahara and Sahel?

• They raise animals and live a nomadic lifestyle.

• They settle along the coastline where seafood is plentiful.

• They live in cities where jobs are easier to find.

How are oases formed?

• Springs bubble up to the surface from streams beneath the ground.

• In low spots, the land dips down to meet an underground stream.

• People create wells using drilling machines or digging by hand.

The most important and most common oasis plant is the

• date palm.

• baobab tree.

• coconut.

• pine tree.

Why are most oasis settlements small?

• Their size is limited by their water supply.

• The majority of the population prefers to live in the desert.

• Families are not allowed to have more than one child.

• Laws restrict the growth of these communities.

What problem might a community face if too many palm groves are created in the desert?

• Conflicts may arise with nearby nomadic herders over land rights.

• The underground streams that support the oasis may run dry.

• Prices may rise when the supply of dates grows too large.