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Geography of the United States

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Quizzes in Geography of the United States

Which factors help create California’s varied climates?

  • Latitude, elevation, distance from the ocean, and mountain barriers
  • Only state borders
  • Only city population
  • Only longitude
Correct answer(s):
  • Latitude, elevation, distance from the ocean, and mountain barriers

What geographic contrast occurs within California?

  • It has no land above sea level.
  • It is entirely below sea level.
  • It has the highest and lowest points on Earth.
  • It has both the highest summit and lowest land elevation in the contiguous United States.
Correct answer(s):
  • It has both the highest summit and lowest land elevation in the contiguous United States.

Why are earthquake-resistant planning and building practices important in California?

  • Earthquake risk comes only from hurricanes.
  • Active faults cross densely settled areas.
  • Earthquakes occur only in empty deserts.
  • California has no fault systems.
Correct answer(s):
  • Active faults cross densely settled areas.

Why do natural-hazard risks differ across California?

  • California has only one type of hazard.
  • Every region has identical geography.
  • Regions have different climates, terrain, vegetation, and settlement patterns.
  • Hazards occur only in Sacramento.
Correct answer(s):
  • Regions have different climates, terrain, vegetation, and settlement patterns.

Which description best fits California’s settlement pattern?

  • Strongly urban, with major coastal and inland-valley concentrations
  • Evenly spread across every square mile
  • Almost entirely rural and unurbanized
  • Mostly located on mountain summits
Correct answer(s):
  • Strongly urban, with major coastal and inland-valley concentrations

Which four forces can change California’s population?

  • Only rainfall and temperature
  • Births, deaths, interstate migration, and international migration
  • Only tourism and farming
  • Only elections and laws
Correct answer(s):
  • Births, deaths, interstate migration, and international migration

What climate type describes much of populated coastal California?

  • Polar ice-cap climate
  • Mediterranean-type climate
  • Equatorial rainforest climate
  • Tundra climate
Correct answer(s):
  • Mediterranean-type climate

Why does California have significant earthquake risk?

  • It has too many rivers.
  • Its deserts create earthquakes.
  • Earthquakes come from ocean tides alone.
  • It lies near a boundary between major tectonic plates.
Correct answer(s):
  • It lies near a boundary between major tectonic plates.

Which factors can increase wildfire risk in California?

  • Cold rain throughout summer
  • Deep ocean currents only
  • Dry vegetation, heat, wind, and drought
  • Heavy snow in every city
Correct answer(s):
  • Dry vegetation, heat, wind, and drought

What makes the San Francisco Bay Area different from a region built around only one major city?

  • It contains several major cities.
  • It lies outside California.
  • It is entirely agricultural.
  • It has no cities at all.
Correct answer(s):
  • It contains several major cities.

What does the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system support?

  • Only desert mining
  • Only ocean shipping
  • Farms, cities, wetlands, and ecosystems
  • Only ski resorts
Correct answer(s):
  • Farms, cities, wetlands, and ecosystems

What does the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta connect?

  • Los Angeles with Mexico by canal
  • Major inland rivers with San Francisco Bay
  • The Pacific Ocean with Death Valley
  • Lake Tahoe with the Colorado River
Correct answer(s):
  • Major inland rivers with San Francisco Bay

Why does Southern California use water transported from distant sources?

  • Local supplies do not meet all regional demand.
  • The region has too many glaciers.
  • Transported water is used only for ocean shipping.
  • It has no people or farms.
Correct answer(s):
  • Local supplies do not meet all regional demand.

Why does California have major climate differences from north to south?

  • The state has no coastline.
  • The state stretches a long distance from north to south.
  • California is completely flat.
  • Every region has the same elevation.
Correct answer(s):
  • The state stretches a long distance from north to south.

Where is the Sierra Nevada located relative to the Central Valley?

  • South of Mexico
  • North of Oregon
  • East of the Central Valley
  • West in the Pacific Ocean
Correct answer(s):
  • East of the Central Valley

How do the Coast Ranges affect California?

  • They influence coastal and inland climate patterns.
  • They stop all rainfall statewide.
  • They form California’s border with Mexico.
  • They are underwater mountains only.
Correct answer(s):
  • They influence coastal and inland climate patterns.

Which northern California peaks are associated with volcanic landscapes?

  • Mount Rushmore and Denali
  • Mount Whitney and Half Dome
  • El Capitan and Mount Diablo
  • Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak
Correct answer(s):
  • Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak

Which combination makes Death Valley geographically unusual?

  • Tropical rainforest and glaciers
  • Prairie and coral reefs
  • Wetlands and high alpine tundra only
  • Desert conditions and land below sea level
Correct answer(s):
  • Desert conditions and land below sea level

How does mountain snowpack help California’s water supply?

  • It prevents all winter precipitation.
  • It permanently removes water from rivers.
  • It turns seawater into freshwater.
  • It stores water that is released as snow melts.
Correct answer(s):
  • It stores water that is released as snow melts.