User:Nyedu2012

AFRICA, THE DARK CONTINENT

1. Whenever we think of Africa, we seem to picture a large continent covered with either huge deserts, high plateau and mountains, and vast impenetrable jungles inhabited by black uncivilized people. We oftentimes overlook that past that Egypt which is part of Africa was once the cradle of first great civilization. Egypt had built magnificent temples, palaces and the pyramids when most of Europe was still in a barbaric stage.

2. Africa has often been called the Dark Continent. The true Africa is a continent of vivid contracts. There are many kinds of land forms and the climate is variable. There is the hot Sahara desert and the high plateau which covers the area of South Sahara. There are dense jungles, broad fertile plains and high snow-capped mountains. As a result of these differences, many ways of living have developed in Africa's varied kinds of lands.

3. The areas north of the Sahara have been a part of the rich and colorful life of the Mediterranean world. Sahara's great expanse is not entirely a waste of shifting sands. Only one-tenth of the desert is covered by sand. The rest are plains, hills, mountains and thousands of oasis where date palms and other palms thrive. Egypt and Ethiopia are regions which are productive, culturally and agriculturally. There is a rich history.

4. Both the eastern and western coastal areas are fertile. Here are the sites of cities and other centers of population. Southern Africa is a pleasant land and is one of the continent's most prosperous areas. Central Africa's rivers have their sources here. Central Africa is covered with dense jungles. So much rain falls that trees and plants grow very fast. Thick bushes and tough vines twining from trees make passage difficult, sometimes impossible. The jungles are inhabited by pygmies who never mingle with other people. They depend on fruits, roots and small animals which they kill with poisoned arrows. Elsewhere, the plateaus are grasslands with only a few trees. The grasslands with all grasses are at home of the elephants, the buffaloes and the rhinoceros. The areas where the grasses are not very tall are the roving areas of all kinds of deer, giraffes and zebras.

5. The African plateau are peopled by Negroes (Bantu) who have little contact with civilization. They are very tall men; men seven feet in height are common sight. Many of them earn their living through primitive farming, herding and hunting. They have a tribal form of government; each village has a headman, usually related to the chief of the tribe. There are many warlike tribes in the heart of Central Africa.

6. The civilized people of Africa are mostly Muslims. The Muslim Arabs were the first people to have commercial and cultural contact with Africa. Christian missionaries have made inroads in the establishment of Christianity in many parts of Africa.

7. With these innovations, could we say then that Africa is no longer a Dark Continent?

AFRICA, THE DARK CONTINENT

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

_____ 1. The cradle of the first great civilization was (a. Africa b. Egypt c. Ethiopia d. Europe). _____ 2. Africa is covered with dense jungles on its (a. eastern side b. western side c. southern side d. central part). _____ 3. These jungles are inhabited by the (a. Pygmies b. Bantu c. with doctors d. safari people). _____ 4. The oases of Africa are dotted with (a. cactus b. orchids c. pine trees d. date palms). _____ 5. The African plateau are peopled by (a. Pygmies b. Negroes c. with doctors d. tourists). _____ 6. They use (a. guns and rifles b. poisoned arrows c. magic potions d. traps) in hunting and killing animals. _____ 7. Varied ways of living have developed in Africa because (a. it is a great, big jungle b. it has varied land forms and variable climate c. its people are civilized d. of the kind of government it has). _____ 8. The Negroes or Bantu have a (a. democratic b. tribal c. monarchial d. socialistic) form of government. _____ 9. The civilized people of Africa are mostly (a. Catholics b. Pagans c. Muslims d. Christians). _____ 10. Africa was labelled Dark Continent because (a. its inhabitants are black b. it is a poor country c. the sun does not shine there d. it is still backward).