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The Culture and Kingdom of West Africa

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The area of semidesert that is both south of the Sahara and has mild vegetations is called the

a)

Sahara

b)

Sahel

c)

Savanna

d)

Senegal

2.

The savanna is a vegetation zone of tall grasses and trees. This is due to its

a)

very dry climate.

b)

very rocky plains.

c)

long rainy season.

d)

mountainous land.

3.

West Africa's geography influenced the__________ that developed there.

a)

forms of authority

b)

extended families

c)

religious beliefs

d)

patterns of trade

4.

Originally in Ghana, which of the following people would inherit the throne if the king died?

a)

the son of the king

b)

the son of the king's sister

c)

the daughter of the king

d)

the daughter of the king's sister

5.

Ghana was wealthy because the government

a)

did not allow foreigners to travel into Ghana.

b)

distributed gold to its citizens.

c)

collected taxes on goods passing through Ghana.

d)

placed heavy taxes on its people.

6.

How did the introduction of camels around 300 C.E. cause the trans-Saharan trade to grow?

a)

Traders could establish new routes across the Sahara.

b)

Traders did not have to pay taxes if they traveled with camels.

c)

Traders used the camels to find water.

d)

Traders sold camels to West Africans.

7.

What product did people from North Africa want most?

a)

salt

b)

gold

c)

copper

d)

silk

8.

Salt was important to West Africans because...

a)

it is an essential mineral nutrient.

b)

it preserved their food so it didn't spoil.

c)

it enhanced the flavor of their food.

d)

all of the answer choices

9.

How did Islam first reach Ghana?

a)

by the Arab Muslim armies that conquered Ghana

b)

after a Ghanaian king had a vision of Muhammad

c)

through Muslim traders and missionaries

d)

after Ghanaian scholars traveled to the Middle East for their studies

10.

How did Muslim rulers change the line of succession in West Africa?

a)

Leadership now passed from mother to daughter.

b)

The right to rule now became patrilineal.

c)

The people now elected their rulers.

d)

Rulers now decided who would succeed them to the throne.

11.

A major center of learning in West Africa was

a)

Cairo.

b)

Mecca.

c)

Timbuktu.

d)

Istanbul.

12.

Which statement about language is true?

a)

Arabic allowed West African traders to communicate more easily.

b)

West Africans completely abandoned their native languages.

c)

Many people in West Africa learned Arabic as they converted to Christianity.

d)

all of the answer choices

13.

How did the spread of Islam help spread the Arabic language?

a)

Arabic was the language of religion.

b)

Arabic was the language of education & learning.

c)

Arabic was the language of trade and government.

d)

all of the answer choices

14.

Which of the following is the best example of an oral tradition?

a)

an old letter written by a son to his mother

b)

a daughter singing a song she learned from her grandfather

c)

a photo album that shows many generations of a family

d)

a written recipe passed from an aunt to her nephew

15.

Griots are best recognized for their abilities as

a)

musicians

b)

poets

c)

educators

d)

all of the answer choices

16.

West Africans used folktales to pass along their history and to

a)

teach morals and values.

b)

express passion and emotion.

c)

undermine their enemies.

d)

all of the answer choices

17.

What is a song style in which a singer or musician leads and a chorus answers?

a)

call-and-response

b)

balafon

c)

kora

d)

all of the answer choices

18.

West Africans perform dances for all kinds of reasons, such as

a)

celebrating success or achievement.

b)

helping educate children.

c)

connecting with dead ancestors.

d)

all of the answer choices

19.

Which statement about West African sculptures are true?

a)

They honored their leaders and ancestors.

b)

They were usually made of copper and gold.

c)

They mostly represented everyday life and people.

d)

all of the answer choices

20.

What kind of cloth is made by sewing together narrow strips of silk of other fabrics?

a)

appliqué fabric

b)

stamped fabric

c)

kente cloth

d)

fiber cloth