SUST EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
The three Intermediate Periods in the history of ancient Egypt mark the collapse of Egyptian
governments (the Old, Middle, and then New Kingdom) caused by natural cycles of drought.
true or false - ANS true
The Intermediate Periods did follow and mark the collapse of the Kingdoms. They were caused
by the instability and famine from natural drought cycles.
What are the Milankovitch cycles? - ANS The cycle of changes in Earth's wobble, tilt, and
orbit
The Milankovitch cycles are changes in Earth's wobble, tilt, and orbit that occur on a schedule of
20,000 to 100,000 years. The Milankovitch cycles affect global climate by changing the
distribution of solar radiation and can lead to drought periods in Egypt. The annual cycle of
rainfall in Ethiopia is called the monsoons.
Why has the Nile River remained in the same place for 30 million years? - ANS A magma hot
spot in Earth's interior creates a slope from Ethiopia to the Mediterranean Sea.
Rivers tend to meander and change their path frequently, even annually. The Nile River is
unique because it has remained in roughly the same location for 30 million years. A persistent
hot spot under Ethiopia which leads to rising magma pushes up the Earth's crust creating the
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Ethiopian mountains. The Nile follows the slope from the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea.
Although ancient Egyptians did create dams and canals which controlled the flow of the river,
they did not alter the overall path of the river from Ethiopia to the Mediterranean in the Nile
River Valley.
The south-easterly winds during the summer monsoon bring moist air from the ocean towards
East Africa, thus causing heavy rainfall in Ethiopia from June to September.
true or false - ANS true
Monsoons, which occur all over the world, are characterized by the switching of wind patterns
in different seasons. In this region, the south-easterly winds (i.e. coming from the south-east)
during the summer monsoon bring moist air from the ocean towards East Africa, thus causing
heavy rainfall in Ethiopia from June to September.
Over 80% of the water in the Nile River comes from the White Nile River originating at Lake
Victoria 3,000 miles away.
true or false - ANS false
Contrary to what was first believed, over 80% of the water in the Nile River actually comes from
the Blue Nile River tributary originating at Lake Tana 3,000 miles away.
Ancient Egyptian jobs and religion were based around the seasons. Match the ancient Egyptian
seasons with the modern calendar months.
Agriculture Season (Beret)
Harvest Season (Shomu)
Flood Season (Akht) - ANS Agriculture Season (Beret): January-April
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Harvest Season (Shomu): June-August
Flood Season (Akht): September-December
Ancient Egyptian farmers experienced the same soil salinization problems as the Sumerians
true or false - ANS false
Unlike the Sumerians, ancient Egyptians did not have the same soil salinization problems (a
toxic build up of salts in the topsoil). This is because Egyptian fields were elevated above the
river and were seasonally flooded in the summer and fall. When the water receded into the soil,
there was no clay barrier so the salts were pulled away from the topsoil with the water, but the
nutrient-rich fertile silt was left at the surface.
The African Humid Period, or Green Sahara, ~11,000 to 5,000 years ago, was an isolated event
that occurred only once in the past 8 million years.
true or false - ANS false
Green Sahara events have occurred 230 times in the past 8 million years caused by changes in
the planet's wobble, tilt, and orbit that impact monsoons and climate.
What evidence is there for the Green Sahara?
A mega lake in the Sahara larger than the great lakes combined
Saharan dust flux from deep-sea sediment cores
Pollen from grasses and sedges in sediment core records
Detailed ancient artwork depicting hippos and giraffes - ANS all of the above
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
The three Intermediate Periods in the history of ancient Egypt mark the collapse of Egyptian
governments (the Old, Middle, and then New Kingdom) caused by natural cycles of drought.
true or false - ANS true
The Intermediate Periods did follow and mark the collapse of the Kingdoms. They were caused
by the instability and famine from natural drought cycles.
What are the Milankovitch cycles? - ANS The cycle of changes in Earth's wobble, tilt, and
orbit
The Milankovitch cycles are changes in Earth's wobble, tilt, and orbit that occur on a schedule of
20,000 to 100,000 years. The Milankovitch cycles affect global climate by changing the
distribution of solar radiation and can lead to drought periods in Egypt. The annual cycle of
rainfall in Ethiopia is called the monsoons.
Why has the Nile River remained in the same place for 30 million years? - ANS A magma hot
spot in Earth's interior creates a slope from Ethiopia to the Mediterranean Sea.
Rivers tend to meander and change their path frequently, even annually. The Nile River is
unique because it has remained in roughly the same location for 30 million years. A persistent
hot spot under Ethiopia which leads to rising magma pushes up the Earth's crust creating the
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Ethiopian mountains. The Nile follows the slope from the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea.
Although ancient Egyptians did create dams and canals which controlled the flow of the river,
they did not alter the overall path of the river from Ethiopia to the Mediterranean in the Nile
River Valley.
The south-easterly winds during the summer monsoon bring moist air from the ocean towards
East Africa, thus causing heavy rainfall in Ethiopia from June to September.
true or false - ANS true
Monsoons, which occur all over the world, are characterized by the switching of wind patterns
in different seasons. In this region, the south-easterly winds (i.e. coming from the south-east)
during the summer monsoon bring moist air from the ocean towards East Africa, thus causing
heavy rainfall in Ethiopia from June to September.
Over 80% of the water in the Nile River comes from the White Nile River originating at Lake
Victoria 3,000 miles away.
true or false - ANS false
Contrary to what was first believed, over 80% of the water in the Nile River actually comes from
the Blue Nile River tributary originating at Lake Tana 3,000 miles away.
Ancient Egyptian jobs and religion were based around the seasons. Match the ancient Egyptian
seasons with the modern calendar months.
Agriculture Season (Beret)
Harvest Season (Shomu)
Flood Season (Akht) - ANS Agriculture Season (Beret): January-April
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Harvest Season (Shomu): June-August
Flood Season (Akht): September-December
Ancient Egyptian farmers experienced the same soil salinization problems as the Sumerians
true or false - ANS false
Unlike the Sumerians, ancient Egyptians did not have the same soil salinization problems (a
toxic build up of salts in the topsoil). This is because Egyptian fields were elevated above the
river and were seasonally flooded in the summer and fall. When the water receded into the soil,
there was no clay barrier so the salts were pulled away from the topsoil with the water, but the
nutrient-rich fertile silt was left at the surface.
The African Humid Period, or Green Sahara, ~11,000 to 5,000 years ago, was an isolated event
that occurred only once in the past 8 million years.
true or false - ANS false
Green Sahara events have occurred 230 times in the past 8 million years caused by changes in
the planet's wobble, tilt, and orbit that impact monsoons and climate.
What evidence is there for the Green Sahara?
A mega lake in the Sahara larger than the great lakes combined
Saharan dust flux from deep-sea sediment cores
Pollen from grasses and sedges in sediment core records
Detailed ancient artwork depicting hippos and giraffes - ANS all of the above
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
