Back to: Geography of Ethiopia and The Horn – Freshman Courses
Chapter 1: Introduction
Comprehensive Exam Questions
Section A: Multiple Choice (15 Questions)
1. According to the textbook, what is the primary reason Geography of Ethiopia was reintroduced as a freshman course?
A) To promote tourism
B) To address gaps in national unity and geographic literacy
C) To replace mathematics courses
D) To focus only on map drawing
Explanation: The Preface states the curriculum revision aimed to “highlight the necessities of Ethiopian Geography, society, cultures… and produce knowledgeable citizens who comprehend spatial problems.”
2. What is the approximate area of Ethiopia in square kilometers?
A) 500,000
B) 1,106,000
C) 2,500,000
D) 850,000
Explanation: Section 1.2.2 states: “Ethiopia with a total area of approximately 1,106,000 square kilometers is the 8th largest country in Africa.”
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the five themes of Geography?
A) Location
B) Place
C) Latitude
D) Region
Explanation: Section 1.1.2 lists the five themes as: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region. Latitude is a component of location, not a theme itself.
4. Astronomically, Ethiopia lies between which latitudes?
A) 0°N and 10°N
B) 3°N and 15°N
C) 5°N and 20°N
D) 10°N and 25°N
Explanation: Section 1.2.1: “Ethiopia is… located between 3°N (Moyale) and 15°N (Bademe)…”
5. What geographic term describes the name of a place?
A) Site
B) Situation
C) Toponym
D) Region
Explanation: Section 1.1.2 defines “place” as associated with “toponym (the name of a place)”.
6. Which country is NOT part of the Horn of Africa?
A) Djibouti
B) Somalia
C) Uganda
D) Eritrea
Explanation: Section 1.2: “The Horn of Africa… is home to the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.”
7. What is the primary implication of Ethiopia’s latitudinal location?
A) It has four distinct seasons
B) It experiences tropical climate modified by altitude
C) It has long winter nights
D) It receives polar air masses
Explanation: Section 1.2.1: “The fact that Ethiopia is located between 3°N and 15°N… implies that the country has a tropical climate, though modified by its altitude.”
8. What is the A/B ratio used for in geography?
A) Measuring population density
B) Measuring compactness of a country’s shape
C> Calculating GDP per capita
D) Determining rainfall patterns
Explanation: Section 1.2.3: “The ratio of area of country to its boundary length: Area-Boundary ratio. The higher the A/B ratio, the greater the degree of compactness.”
9. Which of the following best defines a map?
A) A 3D model of the Earth
B) A two-dimensional scaled representation of part or whole of the Earth’s surface
C) A list of place names
D> A weather chart
Explanation: Section 1.3: “A map is a two-dimensional scaled representation of part or whole of the Earth surface on a flat body…”
10. What does the “situation” of a place refer to?
A) Its physical features only
B) Its environmental conditions and location relative to other places
C) Its population size
D) Its map coordinates
Explanation: Section 1.1.2: “Place refers to… situation (the environmental conditions of the place).”
11. Which of the following is a function of the North arrow on a map?
A) To indicate scale
B> To show elevation
C> To determine other directions
D> To mark the equator
Explanation: Section 1.3: “North arrow… is used to know the other important directions of the mapped area like east, west, south…”
12. What is the main advantage of Ethiopia’s large size?
A) Easy administration
B) Shorter defense lines
C) Diverse agro-ecological zones
D) Lower infrastructure cost
Explanation: Table 1.2 lists “Possess diverse agro ecological zones” as an advantage of Ethiopia’s size.
13. Human-environment interaction involves all EXCEPT:
A) Dependency
B) Adaptation
C> Modification
D> Isolation
Explanation: Section 1.1.2: “Human-environment interaction involves three distinct aspects: dependency, adaptation, and modification.”
14. What is Ethiopia’s longitudinal extent?
A) 33°E to 48°E
B) 0° to 30°E
C) 10°E to 25°E
D> 40°E to 60°E
Explanation: Section 1.2.1: “Ethiopia is… located between… 33°E (Akobo) to 48°E (the tip of Ogaden in the east) longitudes.”
15. Which map element provides interpretation of symbols?
A) Title
B> Scale
C> Key (Legend)
D> Margin
Explanation: Section 1.3: “Key (legend): It is the list of all conventional symbols and signs shown on the map with their interpretation.”
Section B: Matching (10 Questions)
Match each term (left) with its correct description (right).
Section C: True/False (5 Questions)
26. Ethiopia is the smallest country in the Horn of Africa.
Answer: False — Ethiopia is the largest (Section 1.2).
27. The five themes of Geography include “Human-Environment Interaction.”
Answer: True (Section 1.1.2).
28. Ethiopia shares a border with Uganda.
Answer: False — Neighbors are Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea (Table 1.1).
29. A compact country shape makes defense and administration easier.
Answer: True (Section 1.2.3).
30. The scale of a map is used to measure population density.
Answer: False — Scale measures ground distance (Section 1.3).
Section D: Define (4 Questions)
31. Geography
32. Toponym
33. Region
34. Map
Section E: List and Explain (3 Questions)
35. List and explain the five themes of Geography.
2. Place: Physical/human characteristics (toponym, site, situation).
3. Human-Environment Interaction: How humans depend on, adapt to, and modify nature.
4. Movement: Flow of people, goods, and ideas.
5. Region: Area with shared traits (formal, functional, or perceptual).
36. List three advantages and three disadvantages of Ethiopia’s large size.
Disadvantages: (1) High infrastructure cost, (2) Difficult administration, (3) Socio-economic integration challenges (Table 1.2).
37. List and explain four elements of marginal information on maps.
2. Key/Legend: Explains map symbols.
3. Scale: Shows ratio of map to ground distance.
4. North Arrow: Indicates direction for orientation.
Matching Key: 16-a, 17-b, 18-c, 19-d, 20-e, 21-f, 22-g, 23-h, 24-i, 25-j