Question 1

Question 2Answer in one word:(a) A narrow strip of land separating two seas.(b) A sudden fall of water from a certain height.(c) A narrow stretch of water connecting two seas.(d) A region of tall and coarse grass in tropical Africa.(e) Temperate grassland of South Africa.(f) A narrow steep sided valley formed between two parallel faults.

Accepted Answer

(a) Isthmus(b) Waterfall(c) Strait(d) Savanna(e) Veld(f) Rift Valley

Question 2

Question 3Match the following:Column AColumn BGhanaLusakaKenyaKhartoumEthiopiaAddis AbabaSudanNairobiZambiaAccra

Accepted Answer

Column AColumn BGhanaAccraKenyaNairobiEthiopiaAddis AbabaSudanKhartoumZambiaLusaka

Question 3

Question 4Fill in the blanks:(a) The ............... Nile is a tributary of river Nile.(b) River Nile is ............... km long.(c) The Nile Delta is ............... km wide.(d) Fold mountains are remnant of ............... old fold mountains.(e) Africa is called 'Dark Continent' because it could not be ............... by the Europeans.(f) ............... is the highest mountain in Africa.

Accepted Answer

(a) The white Nile is a tributary of river Nile.(b) River Nile is 6670 km long.(c) The Nile Delta is 250 km wide.(d) Fold mountains are remnant of ancient old fold mountains.(e) Africa is called 'Dark Continent' because it could not be explored by the Europeans.(f) Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa.

Question 4

Question 5Explain the following:(i) Isthmus(ii) Strait(iii) Block mountains(iv) Rift Valley

Accepted Answer

(i) Isthmus — An Isthmus is a narrow strip of land with water on each side, connecting 2 masses of land, e.g., the Isthmus of Suez.(ii) Strait — A Strait is a narrow stretch of water connecting two seas, e.g., The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean.(iii) Block Mountains — Block mountains represent the upstanding parts of the ground between two faults or on either side of a Rift Valley.(iv) Rift Valley — A Rift Valley is a long and narrow valley with steep sides. When the land between two faults sinks, it forms Rift Valley.

Question 5

Question 6(a)Name the three important parallels of latitudes which pass through Africa.

Accepted Answer

The 3 important parallels of latitudes which pass through Africa are:Tropic of CancerTropic of CapricornEquator.

Question 6

Question 6(b)State the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of Africa.

Accepted Answer

Africa extends from 37°N to 35°S latitude and 17°W to 51°E longitudes.

Question 7

Question 6(c)Name the water bodies surrounding the continent of Africa.

Accepted Answer

The water bodies surrounding the continent of Africa are:The Mediterranean Sea in the North.The Red Sea in the Northeast.The Indian Ocean in the East.The Atlantic Ocean in the West.

Question 8

Question 6(d)Why is Africa called the dark continent? State any two reasons.

Accepted Answer

Two reasons why Africa is called the dark continent are:It has dense forests, marshes, swamps and vast deserts.The large interior of Africa is densely forested forming a canopy so that even sun rays cannot penetrate.

Question 9

Question 6(e)State the four physiographic divisions of Africa.

Accepted Answer

The physical divisions of Africa are:Desert Regions — Sahara and Kalahari Desert.African Plateaus.Lowlands and Basins — Congo Basin, Orange Basin and Chad Basin.Mountains — Fold mountains, Block mountains, Volcanic mountains.

Question 10

Question 6(f)Name any three basins of Africa.

Accepted Answer

Three basins of Africa are:Congo BasinNiger basinChad Basin.

Question 11

Question 6(g)What is the extent of the Great rift valley of Africa? Name any two lakes situated within the area of Rift Valley.

Accepted Answer

The Great Rift Valley of Africa is about 6440 kilometre long and extends from Red Sea to river Zambezi in the South.Two lakes situated within the area of Rift Valley are:Lake Rukwa.Lake Malawi.

Question 12

Question 6(h)Why is Egypt known as the gift of Nile?

Accepted Answer

The country Egypt is called the Gift of the Nile as it is Egypt’s lifeline. Without the Nile, Egypt would have been a desert. The Nile gave Egypt fertile, fine silt soil and alluvial deposition. This soil is good for growing crops.

Question 13

Question 6(i)Why is river Zaire not fit for navigation? Name its tributaries.

Accepted Answer

River Zaire has many falls and rapids hence, it is not fit for navigation.Ubangi and Kasai are its main tributaries.

Question 14

Question 6(j)From where does river Nile originate? Name its main tributaries.

Accepted Answer

River Nile originates from Lake Victoria. White Nile and Blue Nile are the main tributaries of River Nile.

Question 15

Question 1(o)Name the river whose tributaries are Ubangi and KasaiZaireNigerZambeziNile

Accepted Answer

Zaire

Africa — Location, Political Divisions and Physical Features

Exercise

Tick the correct option