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W.C. ELA Review: 6.2.1
W.C. focus: Sahara Vegetation
Sahara Vegetation:
Think the Sahara is just a sea of sand? Think again. For a
desert, the Sahara boasts tons of plant life: 1,620 species.
Saharan plants survive thanks to root systems that plunge
as far as 80 ft. under ground to suck up subterranean
moisture. Most vegetation is located in the Atlas
Mountains and along the Atlantic coast where rainfall is
heavier. In parts of the southern Libyan Desert no
greenery exists for more than 120 miles.
You have been assigned to write a report on
the Saharan vegetation. Which of these key
words would be most effective in helping
you find information about this topic on the
Internet?
A – vegetation
B – Sahara, vegetation
C – Sahara, Africa, vegetation
D – Sahara
Sahara Vegetation:
OASIS:
An oasis can vary in size from about 2.5 acres for a tiny village
to larger farm lands. At its hub is water, often in the form of
natural springs, artesian wells or entire irrigation systems.
About 75 percent of the Sahara's population live in oases,
which make up only a tiny 800 square miles of the desert's
vast sea of sand and gravel. The date palm is most
characteristic of the vegetation that flourishes there. Other
typical food sources grown in Saharan oases include figs,
peaches, citrus fruits, wheat and barley. The word "oasis" is
believed to come from an ancient Egyptian word, "wah,"
meaning "fertile place in the desert."
After reading this passage, a student wants
to learn more about oases. Which of these
phrases would best help narrow the results
when using an Internet search engine?
A – African oases
B – oases
C – African Saharan oases
D – Africa
Sahara Vegetation:
DOUM PALM (Hyphaene thebaica)
A native of Upper Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, and Tanzania, the
doum palm was considered sacred by ancient Egyptians.
Seeds of doum nuts have been found in the pharaohs'
tombs. The doum palm, also known as the gingerbread
palm, grows a red-orange, apple-sized fruit that tastes
like gingerbread. The fruit's hard, white nut is used to
make buttons. Rind from doum nuts is used to make
molasses. Ground nuts are used to dress wounds. The
palm's leaves are used to make mats, writing paper, and
to bind parcels. The doum palm can reach heights of 20
to 30 ft.
Reading about the doum palm piqued your interest in
learning more about fruits in Africa. Which of the websites
below most likely has information to help learn about other
fruits grown in Africa?
A
B
C
D
Sahara Vegetation:
DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera)
A part of any Saharan oasis, the date palm was cultivated
in the Nile Valley thousands of years before the Egyptians
developed hieroglyphics. The ancient Egyptians used its
leaves as a symbol of longevity. The date, the palm’s
sugary fruit, is used to make syrup, alcohol, and vinegar.
The tree's leaves are used for furniture, baskets, and fuel.
The sap can be drunk as well. The palm can grow to 75
feet, yield up to 180 pounds in fruit, and live for 150
years.
Ackerman, Stacey. Medicinal
Uses of Plants. Washington
D.C.: White House
Publishing, 2009.
Grossman, Joel. An Ancient
Tree. Chicago: World Book
Publishing, 2007.
According to the bibliography, which
of these resources provides the
most information about plant uses
in the ancient world?
Storad, Conrad. Agriculture
in the Ancient World.
Boston: Revolutionary
Publishing, 1999.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Woods, Pamela. Historical
Flora and Fauna. Chicago:
Big House Publishers, 1995.
Medicinal Uses of Plants
An Ancient Tree
Agriculture in the Ancient World
Historical Flora and Fauna
Sahara Vegetation:
ACACIA (Acacia)
Acacias are well equipped for deserts. The tree's feathery
leaves protect its bark from dry winds. If it doesn't rain,
acacias may not produce leaves. In the Sahara, acacias
grow where there is at least 1 inch of rain per year. The
tree blooms in yellow or white fuzzy flowers. The bark of
most acacias produces tannin, which is used in tanning
leather. Sudan's acacia senegal produces gum arabic,
which is used in adhesives and pharmaceuticals.
Here is part of an index from a book about vegetation in Africa.
ecosystems, 4-21
vegetation patterns, 22-29
characteristics, 30-45
ecological themes
grazing, 46-50
plant invasions, 51-53
human use, 54-63
conservation, 63-70
According to the index, where would the reader most likely find
information about tannin?
A.
B.
C.
D.
page 6
page 31
page 57
page 66