| A | B |
|---|
| erg | a large area covered by sand |
| reg | a gravel-covered plain from which wind has blown the sand and dust away |
| basin irrigation | the type of irrigation in which farmers divide their land into shallow basins by building walls of earth to trap floodwaters |
| perennial irrigation | the type of irrigation in which dams store floodwater and release it year-round to irrigate crops |
| silt | sediment coarser than clay but finer than sand |
| capital | a source of wealth used to make more wealth |
| free port | a port in which unloaded goods are subject to few or no taxes |
| Why is settlement sparse in the Sahara? | The deser is very dry, making human settlement difficult. |
| How has the Nile River been important to people from ancient times to the present? | The fertile land near the Nile River was a good place for ancient Egyptians to settle and for the culture to thrive. People in modern-day Egypt still depend on the Nile River for irrigation. |
| How have different forms of irrigation and agriculture presented problems for Egypt's rapidly growing population? | Irrigation: basin irrigation supports one crop each year; perennial irrigation supports more crops, but the needed dams and canals prevent natural soil enrichment, hurt fishing in the Mediterranean, and spread disease. Agriculture: intensive land use may make the soil unproductive, and overwatering has harmed crops. |
| Over what two political issues are Egyptians divided, and why? | Conflict between Arab regionalism and Egyptian nationalism: some want Egypt to focus on the needs of the Egyptian people. Islamic fundamentalism: Egyptians disagree over how strictly religious the government should be. |
| Why was the discovery of oil in Libya important? | Oil profits gave Libya the means to establish social services and gain political power. |
| What advantages does Tunisia have over some of its neighbors? | A strategic location, a high percentage of land suitable for agriculture, a good transporation system, a variety of minerals to export, a good school system. |
| In what respects is Morocco a nation of contrasts? | Morocco has a wet mountain region and a dry desert region; limited deposits of oil and metal but much phosphate; rich natural resources but limited skilled labor and capital for investment; and a way of life that is a mixture of modern and traditional. |
