Directions: Read the passage and then answer the question below.

Question

Ghana was in an ideal position to become a trading center. To the north lay the vast Sahara, the source of much of the region’s salt. Ghana itself was rich in gold. People wanted gold for its beauty, but they needed salt in their diets to survive. Salt, which could be used to preserve food, also made bland food tasty. These qualities made salt very valuable. In fact, Africans sometimes cut up slabs of salt and used the pieces as money.



Question: Which of the following describes a way Ghana became wealthy through trade?

Group of answer choices

They became wealthy due to living longer because of their easy access to salt.

Mining salt and exchanged large slabs of it for gold.

Being a center for salt and gold trading.

seizing valuable possessions from defenseless traders

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Being a center for salt and gold trading.

This choice describes how Ghana became wealthy through its strategic position and role in the trade of two highly valued commodities: salt and gold.

Answer 2

Based on the passage from question 1, which of the following options does NOT describe why salt was valuable?

Group of answer choices

Salt was valuable because it could be used as a weapon.

Salt was valuable because it was needed in people's diets to survive.

Salt was valuable because it could make bland food tasty.

Answer 3

The option that does NOT describe why salt was valuable is: Salt was valuable because it could be used as a weapon.

This statement is not supported by the passage, which emphasizes salt's importance for diet and food preservation, but does not mention it as a weapon.