Class 5 SST Question Answers - The Land of Dense Forests: Congo

Q1: What is the capital of Congo?
Ans: The capital of Congo is Kinshasa. That's why it's often called Congo Kinshasa to distinguish it from the other Congo Republic.

Q2: Where is Congo located on the map of Africa?
Ans: Congo is located in central Africa, lying between 5° N and 13° S of the Equator and between 12° E and 30° E meridians.

Q3: What is the main geographic feature of Congo regarding its river and basin?
Ans: Congo has the second largest river in Africa, the Congo River, and about three-fifths of the Congo River basin is within the country. A basin is the area drained by a river and its tributaries.

Q4: Describe the climate of Congo.
Ans: Congo has a humid tropical climate with heavy rainfall throughout the year. Daytime temperatures can range between 33°C and 26°C, and nighttime temperatures generally don't fall below 20°C.

Q5: What is the dominant vegetation in Congo?
Ans: Congo is mainly covered by the world's most extensive tropical rainforest in its central basin, surrounded by savannas (grasslands) toward the plateaus.

Q6: Who are the Bantu people, and what languages do the people of Congo speak?
Ans: About two-thirds of the people of Congo are Bantu, belonging to various culturally and socially different groups. The people in Congo speak French and English besides their own local languages.

Q7: What are the main occupations of the people of Congo?
Ans: The main occupation of the people of Congo is agriculture. They grow cassava and rice (paddy), which are their staple foods. They also engage in mining and cultivate crops like coffee, rubber, sugarcane, palm, and coconut for export.

Q8: Describe the characteristics of Congo's rainforest.
Ans: The rainforest in Congo is dense, with evergreen trees that don't shed their leaves in a specific season. This forest is home to various animals, including monkeys, apes, birds, butterflies, insects, and more.

Q9: How is the transportation system in Congo?
Ans: Rivers are the most important means of transport in Congo, followed by railways and roads.

Q10: Explain the significance of the Congo River for the people of Congo.
Ans: The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa and plays a crucial role in transportation and energy generation. Despite its numerous falls limiting navigation, it hosts many hydroelectric power stations that provide electricity to the region. The river ultimately meets the Atlantic Ocean after covering about 4,700 km, making it a vital geographical feature for the country.