Unit Pre-Test: The Culture and Kingdoms of West Africa

First Name

Last name

Which of these clues about the African past describes an artifact?

• a palm forest
• a farming tool
• a family legend
• a traditional dance
• I don’t know

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

• dry.
• hilly.
• large.
• rocky.
• I don’t know

What is the main reason why people in different vegetation zones traded with each other?

• Large empires ruled over different zones.
• Different resources were found in each zone.
• The Niger River passed through different zones.
• The zones were home to different cultural groups.
• I don’t know

How did the Niger River encourage trade?

• It was a source of food.
• It was a transportation route.
• Its annual floods provided rich soil.
• It provided water for baking.
• I don’t know

What belongs in the empty box below?

• City rulers conquer other cities.
• Kings demand payment of tribute.
• Villages unite for protection.
• Extended-families choose a leader.
• I don’t know

Which of these was an advantage of becoming part of an empire?

• paying tribute to the king
• trading with the governor
• having to serve in the army
• getting protection from raiders
• I don’t know

Early travelers described Ghana as a land of

• gold.
• taxes.
• oases.
• wonder.
• I don’t know

Which of these factors caused the resources of Ghana to decline?

• decrease in the population able to produce food
• raids that captured Ghanaian people to be enslaved
• heavy rains that carried away the fer)le topsoil
• iron furnaces for which people cut trees for fuel
• I don’t know