Droughts & Desertification is one of 9 topics in the Grade 11 Geography CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. A drought is best described as:
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, significantly below the long-term average for a region
A single day with no rainfall at all
Any period during which temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius
A permanent change in a region's climate classification
Answer: A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, significantly below the long-term average for a region — A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, significantly below the long-term average for a particular region, causing a damaging water shortage.
Easy
2. A shortage of surface and groundwater supplies, such as low river flow and falling dam levels, is best classified as which type of drought?
Hydrological drought
Meteorological drought only
Agricultural drought only
No type of drought involves water supply
Answer: Hydrological drought — Hydrological drought refers specifically to a shortage in surface and groundwater supplies, such as low river flow, reduced dam levels and falling water tables.
Medium
3. Which phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is statistically associated with below-average rainfall across large parts of southern Africa?
Answer: El Niño — El Niño phases, involving warmer than usual tropical Pacific sea-surface temperatures, are statistically associated with below-average rainfall across large parts of southern Africa.
