World Book Trivia Quiz For Kids--3/19-deserts


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World Book Trivia Quiz For Kids--3/19-deserts - Quiz


The World Book Encyclopedia Weekly Trivia Challenge tests your knowledge on a variety of subjects. Check back every week for a new quiz.


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Deserts are ___________.

    • A.

      Very hot

    • B.

      Very cold

    • C.

      Both

    Correct Answer
    C. Both
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 2. 

    What is the world's largest desert?

    • A.

      Sahara

    • B.

      Great Basin

    • C.

      Arabian

    Correct Answer
    A. Sahara
    Explanation
    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.

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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 rock
    Explanation
    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.

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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 humps
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 5. 

    How many types of cactuses are there?

    • A.

      1,000

    • B.

      2,000

    • C.

      3,000

    Correct Answer
    B. 2,000
    Explanation
    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.

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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 ago
    Explanation
    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.

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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. 1/5
    Explanation
    Deserts cover about one-fifth of Earth.

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  • 8. 

    What is responsible for forming sand into dunes?

    • A.

      Water

    • B.

      Wind

    • C.

      Fire

    Correct Answer
    B. Wind
    Explanation
    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.

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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. Oasis
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 10. 

    What makes farming possible in the desert?

    • A.

      Rain

    • B.

      Tractors

    • C.

      Irrigation

    Correct Answer
    C. Irrigation
    Explanation
    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.

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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 16, 2022
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Mar 19, 2012
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