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 – vegetationB – Sahara, vegetationC – 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 resultswhen using an Internet search engine?

A – African oasesB – oasesC – African Saharan oasesD – 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.

According to the bibliography, which of these resources provides the most information about plant uses in the ancient world?

A. Medicinal Uses of PlantsB. An Ancient TreeC. Agriculture in the Ancient WorldD. Historical Flora and Fauna

Ackerman, Stacey. Medicinal Uses of Plants. Washington D.C.: White House Publishing, 2009.

Grossman, Joel. An Ancient Tree. Chicago: World Book Publishing, 2007.

Storad, Conrad. Agriculture in the Ancient World. Boston: Revolutionary Publishing, 1999.

Woods, Pamela. Historical Flora and Fauna. Chicago: Big House Publishers, 1995.

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, 4-21vegetation patterns, 22-29characteristics, 30-45ecological themes

grazing, 46-50plant invasions, 51-53human use, 54-63conservation, 63-70

According to the index, where would the reader most likely find information about tannin?

A. page 6B. page 31C. page 57D. page 66