World Book Trivia Quiz For Kids--3/19-deserts
- 1.
Deserts are ___________.
- A.
Very hot
- B.
Very cold
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
C. BothExplanation
A desert is a region where the soil is so dry that few plants can grow. Most deserts are very hot, but some are very cold. Deserts near the North and South poles are so cold that water freezes and plants can't grow there.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What is the world's largest desert?
- A.
Sahara
- B.
Great Basin
- C.
Arabian
Correct Answer
A. SaharaExplanation
The world's biggest desert is the Sahara, in northern Africa. It covers about 3 1/2 million square miles (9 million square kilometers). The Sahara is about the size of the United States.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is sand made of?
- A.
Tiny pieces of rock
- B.
Dirt particles clumped together
- C.
Glass that has been eroded
Correct Answer
A. Tiny pieces of rockExplanation
Sand is made up of tiny grains of rock. Most grains of sand were once part of solid rocks that have crumbled. Rocks break and crumble by a process known as weathering. For example, rocks along a coastline wear away when waves hit them. Also, when water freezes in their cracks, rocks can split apart.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What distinguishes the Arabian camel from the Bactrian camel?
- A.
Length of the tail
- B.
Color of the tongue
- C.
Number of humps
Correct Answer
C. Number of humpsExplanation
There are two main kinds of camels, the Arabian camel, also called a dromedary , and the Bactrian camel. The Arabian camel has one hump. The Bactrian camel has two humps.Rate this question:
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- 5.
How many types of cactuses are there?
- A.
1,000
- B.
2,000
- C.
3,000
Correct Answer
B. 2,000Explanation
Cactuses are plants that grow in North and South America. They usually have clusters, or groups, of spines. There are about 2,000 kinds of cactuses. Most cactuses grow in hot, dry places. Cactuses also grow in rain forests and on mountains. Some cactuses even grow in cold places.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The Sahara used to be filled with lakes and streams. When did the region start turning into a desert?
- A.
6 million years ago
- B.
600,000 years ago
- C.
6,000 years ago
Correct Answer
C. 6,000 years agoExplanation
Over 10,000 years ago, the Sahara had lakes and streams. Then, about 6,000 years ago, the region began to turn into a desert. Since that time, the Sahara has been slowly growing larger.Rate this question:
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- 7.
About how much of Earth is covered in desert.
- A.
1/3
- B.
1/4
- C.
1/5
Correct Answer
C. 1/5Explanation
Deserts cover about one-fifth of Earth.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What is responsible for forming sand into dunes?
- A.
Water
- B.
Wind
- C.
Fire
Correct Answer
B. WindExplanation
Dunes are hills of loose sand. Dunes form when wind picks up sand and then drops it in a pile. They form in deserts and near oceans, rivers, and lakes. Large dunes are up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) high.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What is the area in the desert where underground water is close enough to the surface to allow plants to grow?
- A.
Mirage
- B.
Oasis
- C.
Island
Correct Answer
B. OasisExplanation
An oasis is a rich, green area in a desert where underground water is close to the surface. This water allows trees and other plants to grow. The water at an oasis first fell as rain or snow in far away mountains or hills. After seeping into the ground, the water slowly moved down through the underground rocks to the desert.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What makes farming possible in the desert?
- A.
Rain
- B.
Tractors
- C.
Irrigation
Correct Answer
C. IrrigationExplanation
In desert regions, farming would be impossible without irrigation. In areas where it is rainy part of the year but dry part of the year, irrigation allows farming to continue during the dry season.Rate this question:
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Mar 16, 2022Quiz Edited by
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Mar 19, 2012Quiz Created by
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