The Scramble for Africa is one of 8 topics in the Grade 8 Social Sciences 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. What is "the Scramble for Africa"?
The period in which European powers rapidly took control of almost the entire African continent
A trade agreement between African kingdoms
A war fought entirely within Europe
A type of African farming settlement
Answer: The period in which European powers rapidly took control of almost the entire African continent — The Scramble for Africa refers to the period, from the 1880s to the early 1900s, in which European powers rapidly took control of almost the entire African continent.
Easy
2. In which city was the 1884-85 conference held where European powers agreed on rules for dividing up Africa?
Berlin
London
Paris
Lisbon
Answer: Berlin — The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 was a meeting of European powers held in Berlin, Germany.
Medium
3. Which groups were notably absent from the Berlin Conference, despite the conference deciding the future of their territory?
Answer: representatives from African kingdoms or states — Remarkably, representatives from no African kingdoms or states were present or consulted at the Berlin Conference, even though its purpose was to divide up African territory.
