BECE History and Geography of West Africa 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which river is the longest in West Africa and flows through several countries including Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria?
- Niger River (Correct answer)
- Volta River
- Senegal River
- Gambia River
Correct answer: Niger River
The Niger River is the longest river in West Africa, stretching about 4,180 km through multiple countries.
Question 2: The trans-Saharan trade routes were historically important in West Africa primarily for trading which two commodities?
- Gold and salt (Correct answer)
- Oil and cotton
- Iron and copper
- Ivory and rubber
Correct answer: Gold and salt
Gold from the south and salt from the Sahara were the main commodities of the trans-Saharan trade that enriched West African empires.
Question 3: Which West African empire, known for its wealth and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa, was at its peak in the 14th century?
- Mali Empire (Correct answer)
- Songhai Empire
- Ghana Empire
- Kanem-Bornu Empire
Correct answer: Mali Empire
The Mali Empire reached its peak under Mansa Musa in the 14th century and was renowned for its immense gold wealth.
Question 4: What is the name of the large semi-arid belt that stretches across Africa south of the Sahara Desert?
- The Sahel (Correct answer)
- The Savanna
- The Savannah Belt
- The Sudan Zone
Correct answer: The Sahel
The Sahel is the semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the wetter savanna regions to the south.
Question 5: Which colonial power controlled the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana) before it gained independence in 1957?
- Britain (Correct answer)
- France
- Portugal
- Germany
Correct answer: Britain
The Gold Coast was a British colony and became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in 1957.
Question 6: The harmattan is a dry, dusty wind in West Africa that blows from which direction?
- From the northeast, off the Sahara Desert (Correct answer)
- From the southwest, off the Atlantic Ocean
- From the east, off the Indian Ocean
- From the north, off the Mediterranean Sea
Correct answer: From the northeast, off the Sahara Desert
The harmattan blows from the northeast across the Sahara Desert, carrying dust and causing dry, hazy conditions in West Africa.
BECE History and Geography of West Africa 1
Which river is the longest in West Africa and flows through several countries including Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria?