Question 1

A newfound potential for mineral wealth will change the future of __________.

Accepted Answer

Afghanistan has been identified as having vast untapped mineral resources, including rare earth elements, which are crucial for modern electronics and renewable energy technologies. This potential wealth could significantly impact its future economic development.

Question 2

The main rivers of Uzbekistan have been heavily diverted for irrigation and are often depleted before reaching their destination at the __________.

Accepted Answer

The main rivers of Uzbekistan, Amu Darya and Syr Darya, have been heavily diverted for irrigation, and as a result, the Aral Sea, which was once the destination of these rivers, has been severely depleted.

Question 3

After a series of wars and considerable negotiations,the central problems remain: Jews and Palestinians both want the same land,both groups want Jerusalem to be their capital city,and neither group can find a compromise.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects the ongoing conflicts and challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Question 4

Europe is the core economic region,and North Africa is the peripheral economic region.

Accepted Answer

This is because Europe is a highly developed region with advanced economies and industries, while North Africa is still considered a developing region with less developed economies and industries.

Question 5

Chaos and anarchy thrived after the Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan,but the group known as __________ finally filled the power vacuum.

Accepted Answer

The Taliban emerged as the dominant group filling the power vacuum after the Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan, imposing their strict interpretation of Islamic law over the country. Al-Qaeda, the Islamic fundamentalists, Mujahideen, and the Northern Alliance were also active during this time, but the Taliban ultimately gained control over most of the country.

Question 6

The resource that this realm supplies to the core economic regions of the world is the energy to fuel their economies and maintain their high standard of living.

Accepted Answer

The realm being referred to is likely the oil-rich Middle East, which supplies a significant amount of the world's energy needs. These core economic regions rely heavily on this energy to power their industries and maintain their high standards of living.

Question 7

At the time of Islam's founding,monotheist belief was not new: Christianity had been around for more than six hundred years.Judaism and Zoroastrianism in Persia had been around for centuries before Christianity.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism were all established monotheistic religions before the founding of Islam.

Question 8

Shia Muslims look to the family and community for leadership;Sunni Muslims look to their imams for the official source of direction.

Accepted Answer

Shia Muslims look to their Imams, who are considered to be the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, for guidance and leadership. Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, do not follow a specific lineage of leadership after the Prophet Muhammad and often look to scholars and elected leaders within their community for guidance.

Question 9

About two thirds of the Arabian Peninsula is part of the Empty Quarter of the Rub' al Khali (Arabian Desert).

Accepted Answer

The Empty Quarter, or Rub' al Khali, is a large desert in the Arabian Peninsula, but it does not cover two-thirds of the peninsula. It is the largest continuous sand desert in the world, but it occupies only a portion of the peninsula.

Question 10

The Arabian Peninsula is a desert environment surrounded by saltwater bodies.

Accepted Answer

The Arabian Peninsula is indeed a desert environment surrounded by saltwater bodies such as the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea.

Question 11

The Lebanon Mountains reach as much as ten thousand feet in elevation and allow for the operation of ski resorts.

Accepted Answer

The Lebanon Mountains do reach up to 10,131 feet in elevation and there are several ski resorts operating in the region during the winter season.

Question 12

After the fall of the Roman Empire,common bonds of religion and language emerged for the people through the invasion of the Arabs,who introduced the Islamic faith.

Accepted Answer

The invasion of the Arabs introduced the Islamic faith, which became a common bond of religion for the people.

Question 13

Extensive systems of canals and pipelines have been developed in Libya to extract fossil water and use it for agricultural production or for urban purposes.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Libya has extensive systems of canals and pipelines that are used to extract fossil water and use it for various purposes including agricultural production and urban use. This water is taken from underground aquifers that were formed during the last ice age and are not being replenished, making them a non-renewable resource.

Question 14

Afghanistan's national government in the capital city of Kabul has little influence in the country's rural regions in large part due to the many __________ living there.

Accepted Answer

The rural regions of Afghanistan are home to various ethnic factions, which often have their own local governance and resist central authority, limiting the influence of the national government.

Question 15

The World Economic Forum's 2016 report on Global Gender Gap Index ranked Saudi Arabia as low as 141 out of 144 countries for women's equality.

Accepted Answer

The World Economic Forum's 2016 report on Global Gender Gap Index ranked Saudi Arabia as low as 141 out of 144 countries for women's equality, making it one of the worst performing countries in terms of gender equality.

Question 16

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 favored a Palestinian homeland.

Accepted Answer

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 favored the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, rather than a Palestinian homeland.

Question 17

Aided by a type B climate,the northern coastal region of the Maghreb and the mountain valleys are a center for agricultural production,including grapes,dates,oranges,olives,and other food products.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Aided by a type B climate,the northern...

Question 18

About 95 percent of Egypt's population lives within fifteen miles of the Nile River.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Nile River is the primary source of water and life for Egypt, and its location has shaped the country's population distribution and history.

Question 19

The 1967 war solidified the control of the region of Palestine under the Israeli government and placed Israel at greater odds with its Arab neighbors.

Accepted Answer

The 1967 war, also known as the Six-Day War, resulted in Israel gaining control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and Sinai Peninsula, which solidified its control of the region of Palestine. This also heightened tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Question 20

Tradition states that the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad while he was meditating in a mountain cave in 610 CE,when he was about forty years old.

Accepted Answer

This is stated in Islamic tradition and is a key event in the beginning of Islam.

Quiz 8: North Africa and Southwest Asia