Sample questions for Thur & independent work topics due any day

Fatima, Dana, Nadine 6th Hour.JPG
Originally uploaded by trudeau.

Sample questions for Thur:

1. There is a Great Mosque in Djenne, Mali. It is in West Africa, close to both the River Niger and the Sahara. It is built of a) wood & clay b) wood & stone c) wood & textiles d) stone & mud.
2. The Great Mosque in Mecca has a significant courtyard. In it is the a) Hajj b) Shisha c) Ramadan d) Kaaba.
3. "Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer," during the month of Ramadan, says the Islamic Assoc of North America. T / F
4. The Islamic feast of Rosh Hashanah is known as their New Year, or "head of the year," according to Wikipedia.org. No work may be done on Rosh Hashanah. T / F
5. Vine-like designs or geometric patterns are referred to as
a) Arabesques b) Calligraphy c) Persian art d) Masjid.
6. Shreveport-area Muslims have a new mosque, says the Times. It is in Bossier City and was once of a different denomination. It was a
a) Presbyterian Church b) Baptist Church c) Catholic Church
d) Jewish Temble.
7. The Rub al Khali ("empty quarter") is a vast desert in a) Saudi Arabia b) Iraq c) Oman d) UAE.
8. In the nation of __ is the region known as Mesopotamia, "land between the rivers." The nation of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers is a) Iraq b) Iran c) Syria d) Turkey.

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Independent research -
* Compare the Triumph or Brough cycle companies with the Harley-Davidson company.
* Compare the traditions of the Muslim prayer beads and the Catholic rosary.
* What are the reasons for the sporadic but heavy rainstorms which occur in the Arabian desert?

From toursaudiarabia.com:
The average annual rainfall for Saudi Arabia is 4.4 inches (112 mm) per year but whole regions may not experience rainfall for several years. The rainfall usually consists of one or two high intensity, short duration thunderstorms. Even a small storm with little precipitation can produce dangerous flooding because the Saudi Arabian desert soil does not soak up water very easily. Dry wadis (ravines) can quickly turn into raging rivers during and after heavy rains. In the city, low points in the roadway can quickly fill with floodwaters trapping unsuspecting motorists.

Also:
Saudi Arabian Trivia
With limited natural water resources, the country had no choice but to resort to well water and to the sea to provide its increasing population with the water they need. Saudi Arabia has 30 desalination plants located on the West and East coasts of the country and ground water is available from 18 aquifers with deep wells supplying water for municipal use, agriculture and industry.