wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Early Societies in West Africa Quiz

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 9mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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

a)

a palm forest

b)

a farming tool

c)

a family legend

d)

a traditional dance

2.

What is the best title for this list?

• Ghana

• Songhai

• Mali

a)

Trading Cities of the Sahara

b)

Tribes Who Ruled the Desert

c)

Early Kingdoms of West Africa

d)

Animal Gods of the Niger Valley

3.

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

a)

dry.

b)

hilly.

c)

large.

d)

rocky.

4.

Compared to the West African savanna, the Sahel has

a)

better soil.

b)

taller grass.

c)

more cattle.

d)

less rainfall.

5.

Suppose a West African community produces the goods listed below. That community is most likely in which vegetation zone?


• yams

• palm oil

• kola nuts

a)

forest

b)

desert

c)

savanna

d)

semidesert

6.

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

a)

Large empires ruled over different zones.

b)

Different resources were found in each zone.

c)

The Niger River passed through different zones.

d)

The zones were home to different cultural groups.

7.

How did the Niger River encourage trade?

a)

It was a source of food.

b)

It was a transportation route.

c)

Its annual floods provided rich soil.

d)

It provided water for baking.

8.

Why did extended-family groups first settle south of the Sahara?

a)

to farm

b)

to trade

c)

to mine gold

d)

to fight enemies

9.

What did extended-family groups do for defense against dangerous floods or enemies?

a)

They dug ditches around their communities.

b)

They lived in isolated areas far from danger.

c)

They joined other communities to form villages.

d)

They offered gifts to the leaders of hostile bands.

10.

What were the two factors that led to the growth of small towns into larger cities?

a)

trade and ironworking

b)

river travel and fertilizer

c)

buying land and bribing towns

d)

armies and war

11.

Archaeologists found copper at Jenne-jeno. The nearest copper mines are 600 miles away. What does this indicate about the people of Jenne-jeno?

a)

They often engaged in war

b)

They understood how to mine.

c)

They built hot fires with charcoal.

d)

They carried on long-distance trade.

12.

What belongs in the empty box?

a)

City rulers conquer other cities.

b)

Kings demand payment of tribute.

c)

Villages unite for protection.

d)

Extended-families choose a leader.

13.

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

a)

paying tribute to the king

b)

trading with the governor

c)

having to serve in the army

d)

getting protection from raiders

14.

Which product of West Africa was most important in the trade across the Sahara?

a)

oil

b)

gold

c)

timber

d)

clothing

15.

Jenne-jeno was located in the vegetation zone called the (a)   .


SPELL IT RIGHT TO GET IT RIGHT! Use the map and your knowledge of history to complete the sentences. Write the word or phrase in the space provided.

16.

The principal barrier to trade between Jenne-Jeno and cities on the north coast of Africa was the (a)   .


SPELL IT RIGHT TO GET IT RIGHT! Use the map and your knowledge of history to complete the sentences. Write the word or phrase in the space provided.