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South Africa?By Sharon Fabian??right0001?????At the southern tip of the continent of Africa lies the country of South Africa. It was far away from the battles of World War I that were being fought on the European continent in 1914. So, you might wonder why South Africa decided to enter the war.?2?????It all had to do with South Africa's history, starting in the 1600s. At that time, settlers from the Dutch East India Company established a colonial government in South Africa. These colonists were known as the Boers or Afrikaners. Great Britain was also establishing colonies in parts of Africa. Britain made several attempts to take over South Africa from the Dutch.?3?????Then, in the 1800s, large deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered in South Africa. That made both the British and the Dutch even more interested in taking control of the land. Armed conflicts, known as the Boer Wars, finally settled the matter. The British took over South Africa. Then in 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed. It was an independent country, but it was still part of the British Empire, too.?4?????Through all of these changes, the native people of Africa, who had always made up the majority of the population, were not represented in the government. With the formation of the Union of South Africa, the separation of the races and discrimination against black Africans became official government policy. It was known as apartheid.?5?????At the start of World War I, only a small part of the population of South Africa was in favor of entering the war. Many of the Afrikaners opposed entering the war because they did not want to support the British. Black Africans had no reason to want to go to war on the side of the British, either. However, the country was still a part of the British Empire. The government decided to support Great Britain.?6?????So, in 1914, the Union of South Africa entered World War I on the side of Great Britain and the other Allies. It sent troops to Europe to fight in Germany.?7?????A few years later, in 1918, World War I ended. South Africa went back to dealing with its own problems. One important problem that still needed to be solved was the problem of apartheid. South Africa continued to be governed under this system that separated the races and discriminated against blacks for many more years. Apartheid did not end until recent times - in the 1990s.?8?????Despite all of these changes, other things about South Africa have not changed at all. It is still a country with great natural beauty. Its geography includes a huge plain in the interior of the country, surrounded by hills, mountains, and ocean beaches. The Kalahari Desert lies to the north. Anyone lucky enough to be there after a thunderstorm can see the desert transform into a sea of bright flowers.?9?????Today, people visit South Africa for many reasons. Many tourists visit the largest city, Johannesburg. Near Johannesburg is Kruger Park, where tourists may get a glimpse of a lion, a leopard, a buffalo, an elephant, or a rhinoceros.?10?????The geography and history of South Africa are full of interesting facts. If you are not lucky enough to visit there and learn about South Africa first hand, there are plenty of other sources where you can find more information. If you look up information about South Africa's role in World War I, you will see that "the Great War" was just one rather small event in this country's fascinating life story.South Africa1.??South Africa is a _____.??County??Empire??Country??Continent2.??World War I was fought mainly in _____.??Great Britain??Europe??Africa??North America3.??South Africa was controlled by _____ colonial governments.??Both??British??Dutch??Neither4.??The people known as Boers or Afrikaners were _____ settlers.??British??South African??Dutch??American5.??At the time of World War I, South Africa was _____.??A completely independent country??A British colony??A Dutch colony??An independently ruled country, but still part of the British Empire6.??South Africa entered the war on the side of the _____.??Germans??Central Powers??Allies??Middle East7.??A major victory for South Africa in recent years was the end of _____.??The diamond trade??World War I??Dutch rule??Apartheid8.??Tourists in South Africa visit _____.??The desert??Wildlife preserves??Beaches??All of the above?Name _____________________________Date ___________________South AfricaWhat else would you like to know about South Africa? Write a list of good questions.Name _____________________________Date ___________________South AfricaToday, apartheid has officially ended in South Africa, but the country is still dealing with many problems left over from the days of apartheid, just as the United States still faces problems that began in the days of slavery. What are some problems that you think black Africans still face in South Africa?South Africa?By Sharon Fabian??recentdiscriminationcontinentbeautyinterestedenterformationinterestingindependentleopardenteringhoweverseparationtransformdespitepolicyarmedenteredDirections:??Fill in each blank with the word that best completes the reading comprehension.right000?????At the southern tip of the continent of Africa lies the country of South Africa. It was far away from the battles of World War I that were being fought on the European?(1)??_______________________?? in 1914. So, you might wonder why South Africa decided to?(2)??_______________________?? the war.?????It all had to do with South Africa's history, starting in the 1600s. At that time, settlers from the Dutch East India Company established a colonial government in South Africa. These colonists were known as the Boers or Afrikaners. Great Britain was also establishing colonies in parts of Africa. Britain made several attempts to take over South Africa from the Dutch.?????Then, in the 1800s, large deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered in South Africa. That made both the British and the Dutch even more?(3)??_______________________?? in taking control of the land.?(4)??_______________________?? conflicts, known as the Boer Wars, finally settled the matter. The British took over South Africa. Then in 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed. It was an?(5)??_______________________?? country, but it was still part of the British Empire, too.?????Through all of these changes, the native people of Africa, who had always made up the majority of the population, were not represented in the government. With the?(6)??_______________________?? of the Union of South Africa, the?(7)??_______________________?? of the races and?(8)??_______________________?? against black Africans became official government?(9)??_______________________??. It was known as apartheid.?????At the start of World War I, only a small part of the population of South Africa was in favor of?(10)??_______________________?? the war. Many of the Afrikaners opposed entering the war because they did not want to support the British. Black Africans had no reason to want to go to war on the side of the British, either.?(11)??_______________________??, the country was still a part of the British Empire. The government decided to support Great Britain.?????So, in 1914, the Union of South Africa?(12)??_______________________?? World War I on the side of Great Britain and the other Allies. It sent troops to Europe to fight in Germany.?????A few years later, in 1918, World War I ended. South Africa went back to dealing with its own problems. One important problem that still needed to be solved was the problem of apartheid. South Africa continued to be governed under this system that separated the races and discriminated against blacks for many more years. Apartheid did not end until?(13)??_______________________?? times - in the 1990s.?????(14)??_______________________?? all of these changes, other things about South Africa have not changed at all. It is still a country with great natural?(15)??_______________________??. Its geography includes a huge plain in the interior of the country, surrounded by hills, mountains, and ocean beaches. The Kalahari Desert lies to the north. Anyone lucky enough to be there after a thunderstorm can see the desert?(16)??_______________________?? into a sea of bright flowers.?????Today, people visit South Africa for many reasons. Many tourists visit the largest city, Johannesburg. Near Johannesburg is Kruger Park, where tourists may get a glimpse of a lion, a?(17)??_______________________??, a buffalo, an elephant, or a rhinoceros.?????The geography and history of South Africa are full of?(18)??_______________________?? facts. If you are not lucky enough to visit there and learn about South Africa first hand, there are plenty of other sources where you can find more information. If you look up information about South Africa's role in World War I, you will see that "the Great War" was just one rather small event in this country's fascinating life story.Name _____________________________Date ___________________?(Key 1 - Answer ID # 0933306)Make words by connecting the syllables.polspiteapartheidunardtranseverapartinentleopspitefaderhowvordeformreaheidconsonconarddetrolleopticyfavor? ................
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