Unit 4: West Africa

Which body of water borders West Africa to the west and south?

• Mediterranean Sea

• Atlantic Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Red Sea

The Niger River flows through which ancient West African trading city?

• Cairo

• Marrakech

• Timbuktu

• Tripoli

Which major desert forms the northern boundary of West Africa?

• Arabian Desert

• Kalahari Desert

• Namib Desert

• The Sahara

The city of Djenne was historically important because it was:

• A major port on the Gulf of Guinea

• The largest gold mining center

• The capital of the Mali Empire

• A major center of Islamic learning

The Gulf of Guinea is located:

• Between Mali and Algeria

• North of the Sahara Desert

• Along the southern coast of West Africa

• East of Lake Chad

The map shows the location of a geographical feature near Africa.

• Persian Gulf

• Indian Ocean

• Gulf of Guinea

• Pacific Ocean

What is the main purpose of ancestor worship in many African spiritual traditions?

• To gain material wealth

• To maintain connection with departed family members who guide the living

• To predict the future

• To control the weather

In African animism, what is believed about natural objects like trees and rivers?

• They are only important for survival

• They have no spiritual significance

• They possess spiritual energy or life force

• They should be avoided at all costs

How do many African spiritual traditions view the relationship between humans and deities?

• Deities are distant and uninvolved with human affairs

• Humans and deities are enemies

• There is no relationship between humans and deities

• Deities interact with humans through rituals and ceremonies

What role do spiritual leaders often play in traditional African religions?

• They serve as mediators between the community and spiritual forces

• They only focus on healing physical ailments

• They have no special responsibilities

• They are primarily political leaders