4. Africa


Video by Datacube: awesome facts and interesting top lists on YouTube

Remember you can click on "Open transcript" to follow the script if needed.

Get talking

After watching and reading the information in the video, discuss the following questions with a partner: 

1. Which are the four of the five fastest animals which live in Africa?

2. Where can we find older pyramids than those in Egypt?

3. What's the percentage of the gold in the world that comes from Africa?

4. How many different peoples are there in Africa?

5. Where in Africa does the biggest migration of animals take place?

6. What's the origin of the word "Africa"?

7. What do they say about the Chinese migration in Africa?

8. Which percentage of the world languages is spoken in Africa?

9. What separates Africa from Europe?

10. Which is the largest lake in Africa? And the largest lake in the world?

11. Where do the fastest runners come from?

12. Is there anything you can do to avoid carjacking in Africa?

Actividad desplegable

Read the following text and find the best phrase to complete the sentences.

A Dozen Amazing Facts About Africa: Do you know more than one?

Africa is a huge continent made up of 54 countries and over a billion people. But did you know that in Ethiopia, clocks are upside down with our 6:00 at their 12:00? This and 12 other incredible facts are sure to turn you into the captain at your next trivia tournament.

1. Africa and Europe are separated by less than 9 miles at the Strait of Gibraltar, . The two countries are discussing constructing an undersea rail tunnel to connect the rail systems on the two continents.

2. In South Africa you are legally allowed to attach flamethrowers to your car . Seriously.

3. Timbuktu, Mali is home of one of the oldest universities in the world, established in 982 CE. By the 12th century, the city was such an intellectual hub that . I guess the Spice Girls didn't take geography because in one of their self-penned lyrics they believed Timbuktu to be located in China!

4. The world's biggest frog is found in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. , it can grow up to be a foot long and weigh up to 8 lb.

5. The word "Crossword" in Kiswahili, a language spoken mainly by people in eastern and central Africa is "chemshebongo" which, when translated, . I suppose after trying to do the Sunday New York Times puzzle your head might feel like exploding!

6. The official title of Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator, was "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular".

7. Ethiopia is the only African country with its own alphabet. It's also the world's oldest living alphabets – Ethiopic – and .

8. People living in what is currently Swaziland were the world's first miners. in the Ngwenya mountain range along with 300,000 artifacts and stone-made mining tools that were later dated to be 43,000 years old!

9. Graca Machel is the only women to have ever been (Mozambique and South Africa).

10. Sudan has more than 200 pyramids, . The Meroe pyramids were part of the Nubian Kingdom of Kush and are up to 4,600 years old.

11. Almost has come from a single place – Witwatersrand, South Africa.

12. Libya's current flag, introduced in 2011 after the overthrow of Gaddafi's government, is a red-black-green triband featuring a white star and crescent. However, from 1977 to 2011, Libya was the only country in the world with only one color for its flag, with no insignias, design or other details. It was chosen by Gaddafi since (after his Green Book).

Source: https://www.one.org/us/blog/a-dozen-amazing-facts-about-africa-do-you-know-more-than-one/

Enable JavaScript

language mechanics

If and whether

Indirect questions

  • We can use if or whether to report indirect yes-no questions and questions with or. If is more common than whether:

Call the bakeries around town and find out if any of them sell raspberry pies.

I rang Peter from the station and asked if I could drop in to see him before going back or if he'd meet me.

  • We often prefer whether in more formal contexts:

The teachers will be asked whether they would recommend the book to their classes.

[from a business meeting]

John read a letter that he'd written and the board discussed whether it should be mailed.

  • We prefer whether with or when there is more than one alternative in the indirect question:

After the election, we asked whether the parties should change their leaders, their policies, or both.

  • To express an alternative, we can use or not with if and whether. With whether we can use or not immediately after whether or in end position. With if we use or not in end position only:

I called Bill to find out whether or not he really did go to Afghanistan.

I called Bill to find out whether he really did go to Afghanistan or not.

I called Bill to find out if he really did go to Afghanistan or not.

  • We use whether and not if before a to-infinitive, often when we're referring to future plans or decisions:

I was wondering whether to go for a swim.

Some financial decisions, such as planning a pension, need to be taken as early as possible. Others, such as whether to move house, can probably only be made much later.

Whether not if

  • We use whether and not if after prepositions:

Later I argued with the doctor about whether I had hit my head, since I couldn't remember feeling it.

Not: Later I argued with the doctor about if I had hit my head ...

The police seemed mainly interested in whether there were any locks on the windows.

Not: The police seemed mainly interested in if there were any locks ...

I doubt if, I don't know whether

  • We use if or whether to introduce clauses after verbs of doubting:

I don't know if I can drive. My foot really hurts.

I didn't prune the rose bush this year, so I doubt if we're going to have many flowers. ('prune' means cut back)

We'll have plenty of photographs to show you but I'm not sure whether we'll be able to learn very much from them.

If, whether: typical errors

  • We use whether, not if, before to-infinitives:

I don't know whether to buy the blue one or the red one.

Not: I don't know if to buy the blue one ...

  • We use whether, not if, directly before or not:

Can you tell me whether or not you're interested in the job?

Not: Can you tell me if or not you're interested ...

  • We use whether, not if, after prepositions:

[talking about a trip to Australia for a year]

We're not interested in whether we get great jobs and that kind of thing, we just want to have a good time.

Not: We're not interested in if we get great jobs and that kind of thing ...

Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/if-or-whether

have fun

Now it is time for you to do the following exercises and practise: