U7 | African Environmental Issues

What is the main cause of water contamination in Central African countries?

• Factory smoke pollutes the air
• Saltwater from the ocean flows in
• Urban runoff, mining, and deforestation
• Climate change melts glaciers
• Sandstorms blow dirt into rivers

Answer explanation

Think about the industries and land use that cause pollution in rivers.

What is the main goal of the Great Green Wall Initiative?

• Build dams to block rivers
• Expand the Sahara Desert’s size
• Plant trees and restore land across the Sahel
• Replace farms with solar power plants
• Build factories to improve jobs

Answer explanation

Think about what helps stop the spread of deserts in the Sahel.

Which region of Africa is losing forests the fastest?

• Southern Africa cuts forests faster
• East Africa clears land for mining
• West and Central Africa have rising deforestation
• North Africa burns trees for fuel
• The Sahara Desert removes trees

Answer explanation

Recall where the Congo Basin rainforest is shrinking.

What fraction of Africans faces water scarcity, lacking basic water service?

• One in five Africans
• Half of all Africans
• One in three Africans
• Two-thirds of Africans
• Four out of five Africans

Answer explanation

Check the statistics about water access in Africa’s regions.

How does deforestation impact soil quality in West and Central Africa?

• It adds nutrients to the soil
• It prevents water from reaching crops
• It causes erosion and removes nutrients
• It grows stronger trees and plants
• It helps the land hold more water

Answer explanation

Consider what happens when tree roots no longer protect the soil.

Which of these is a reason millions of Africans lack access to safe drinking water?

• Overuse of clean mountain streams
• Droughts and pollution harming water sources
• Too many new dams blocking water
• Rivers overflowing into cities
• Melting glaciers flooding villages

Answer explanation

Look for the combined natural and human causes of water shortages.

How does desertification impact people living in the Sahel region?

• Brings more wild animals back
• Forces people to migrate away from farms
• Creates new lakes for farming
• Makes crops grow faster in heat
• Builds new cities full of jobs

Answer explanation

Focus on how losing farmland and water forces migration.

What is a major cause of deforestation in Côte d'Ivoire?

• Building new schools in the forest
• Cocoa farming destroys large forest areas
• Factories burning extra wood
• Oil drilling in protected forests
• Desert winds knocking over trees

Answer explanation

Think about which industry needs a lot of land cleared.

How does unequal access to water affect trade and industry in East and Central Africa?

• More clean water boosts factory growth
• Droughts open new shipping routes
• Lack of water limits industries and slows trade
• It forces cities to build more roads
• River flooding improves exports of crops

Answer explanation

Consider how water is needed to power factories and support trade.

Why is collecting firewood and charcoal harmful to the environment?

• It creates more jobs in the forest
• It improves the air in villages
• It causes deforestation and land loss
• It helps protect wild animals
• It reduces flooding during rainy seasons

Answer explanation

Think about the long-term impact of cutting trees for daily fuel needs.