California Geography

Which west-to-east pattern describes much of California?

• Coastal mountains, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, then interior deserts
• Flat plain from ocean to Nevada
• Atlantic coast, Appalachians, Great Lakes, then prairie
• Tundra, rainforest, coral reef, then ice sheet

Why is the Central Valley highly productive for agriculture?

• It receives tropical rain every day.
• It is covered by permanent snow.
• Fertile soils combine with irrigation.
• It has no need for water.

How does Sierra Nevada snow affect California farming and cities?

• It turns farmland into ocean.
• It has no connection to water supply.
• Snowmelt contributes to water supplies.
• It blocks all rivers permanently.

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.

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

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

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.

San Diego is part of an important cross-border urban region with which city?

• Havana
• Vancouver
• Monterrey
• Tijuana