Based on the passage, the word 'mansa' means what?

Ruler (The passage directly states that the word mansa means ruler.)

Why did prices fall out of balance in some cities he passed through?

He gave away and spent so much gold that it upset local prices (The text says he spent and gave away so much gold that prices were thrown out of balance.)

Which city is named as a center of study that grew under his support?

Timbuktu (The passage says he supported the growth of Timbuktu, known as a center of study.)

What is the passage mainly about?

A wealthy ruler of Mali whose famous journey spread his empire's wealth and fame (The passage centers on Mansa Musa: his gold-rich empire, his journey to Mecca, and how that journey drew the world's attention to Mali's wealth and learning. Timbuktu and the maps are details serving that larger story.)

Mansa Musa and the Golden Journey: Level 4 Reading Comprehension Questions

In the 1300s, the empire of Mali in West Africa was ruled by a king named Mansa Musa. The word mansa means ruler. His lands were rich in gold, and he controlled trade in salt and other goods, which made him enormously wealthy.

Mansa Musa is best remembered for a long journey he made to Mecca, a holy city far to the east. He did not travel quietly. According to accounts from the time, he set out with a huge group of followers and a great supply of gold. As he passed through cities along the way, he gave away and spent so much gold that prices in some places were thrown out of balance for years afterward.

The journey did more than display his riches. It put Mali on the maps that distant scholars drew, and it drew attention to the empire's wealth and learning. Mansa Musa also brought back scholars and builders, and he supported the growth of cities such as Timbuktu, which became known as a center of study. His reign showed how a powerful African empire could shape trade and knowledge across a wide region.

Comprehension questions