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WorksheetsLife in the Sahara and the Sahel: Adapting to a Desert Region
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
Marginal land is best described as land that is
watered by an oasis.
on the edge of a town.
not well suited for farming.
best used for raising cash crops.
What is the main reason pastoral nomads move from place to place?
to sell their trade goods
to care for their date palms
to clear new land for their crops
to find fresh pasture for their herds
Below is a photograph of the Tuareg, who live in the Sahara Desert. Which of the following is an example of how the Tuareg have adapted to life in the desert?
The Tuareg cover their heads and faces to protect against the sun.
The Tuareg live in large communities of more than 100 people.
The Tuareg live in permanent settlements of brick buildings.
all of the above
What are the major economic activities at an oasis?
trading and farming
herding
services and manufacturing
hunting and gathering
How have people adapted to life at oases?
People export water to other countries.
People work outside during the hottest parts of the day.
People build windbreaks to protect their community, livestock and crops from harsh winds.
People build homes out of glass with many windows.
What problem limits the growth of oasis settlements?
spread of disease
water shortages
warfare among nomadic groups
flash floods
What natural force keeps the Sahara so dry?
trade winds
desertification
wadis
heavy precipitation
Which of the following are most threatened by desertification?
croplands
forested areas
marginal lands
wilderness areas
What do ergs, regs, and hammadas have in common?
They are all desert flora.
They are all desert fauna.
They are all desert landforms.
They are all desert ecosystems.
Why are date palms so important to human life in the Sahara?
Date palms feed wild animals, such as gazelles.
Date palms provide food, fuel, and materials for homes.
Date palms provide drinking water for people and animals.
Date palms are windbreaks that protect desert communities from harsh winds.
What is one way people are trying to stop desertification?
Cooking with coal
Cutting down the trees
Overgrazing
Soil erosion
All of the following are major causes of desertification except
overgrazing.
deforestation.
long-term drought.
shifting agriculture.
The process by which land becomes more and more dry until it turns into desert
Drought
Marginal land
Pastoral nomads
Desertification
Which of these is a major difference between the Sahara and the Sahel?
The Sahara has larger forests.
The Sahel receives more rainfall.
The Sahara has more cropland.
The Sahel records higher temperatures.
How has technology made life easier for people who live in the desert?
Pastoral nomads have found many uses for lightweight plastic and metal containers
Using satellite phones to keep in touch with customers
Drilling machines that cut through rock to locate underground water
All of the above
