BECE History and Geography of West Africa 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which pre-colonial West African kingdom was famous for its bronze and brass artworks, particularly sculpted heads?
- Kingdom of Benin (Correct answer)
- Ashanti Kingdom
- Oyo Empire
- Dahomey Kingdom
Correct answer: Kingdom of Benin
The Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria was renowned for its highly skilled bronze and brass casting traditions.
Question 2: Lake Volta in Ghana is notable because it is one of the world's largest what?
- Artificial reservoirs by surface area (Correct answer)
- Natural lakes by depth
- Freshwater lakes by volume
- Volcanic crater lakes
Correct answer: Artificial reservoirs by surface area
Lake Volta is one of the world's largest artificial reservoirs by surface area, created by the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River.
Question 3: The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 was significant to West Africa because it resulted in what?
- European powers dividing Africa among themselves (Correct answer)
- The abolition of the slave trade in Africa
- West African kingdoms forming alliances
- The establishment of the first African schools
Correct answer: European powers dividing Africa among themselves
The Berlin Conference allowed European powers to partition Africa among themselves without the input of African peoples, reshaping the continent's political boundaries.
Question 4: Which crop, introduced by European traders, became a major cash crop in West Africa and is still a leading export from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire today?
- Cocoa (Correct answer)
- Coffee
- Sugarcane
- Tobacco
Correct answer: Cocoa
Cocoa was introduced to West Africa and became one of the most important cash crops; Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire together produce over 60% of the world's cocoa.
Question 5: What does the name 'Sahara' mean in Arabic?
- Great desert (Correct answer)
- Sandy land
- Hot place
- Empty quarter
Correct answer: Great desert
The word 'Sahara' is derived from the Arabic word for 'great desert,' reflecting its status as the world's largest hot desert.
Question 6: The Atlantic Slave Trade had a devastating impact on West Africa primarily by doing what?
- Depopulating communities and disrupting social structures (Correct answer)
- Introducing new agricultural techniques
- Building strong trade networks with Europe
- Unifying West African kingdoms politically
Correct answer: Depopulating communities and disrupting social structures
The Atlantic Slave Trade caused massive demographic loss, tore apart families and communities, and destabilized political structures across West Africa.
BECE History and Geography of West Africa 2
Which pre-colonial West African kingdom was famous for its bronze and brass artworks, particularly sculpted heads?