Physical Geography Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge of the Natural World

Question 1

Identify the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.

Accepted Answer

Mount Whitney

Answer

Mount Everest

Answer

Mount Rainier

Answer

Mount Elbert

Question 2

Which climate zone experiences hot, humid summers and moderate, rainy winters?

Accepted Answer

Humid subtropical

Answer

Tropical

Answer

Mediterranean

Answer

Temperate continental

Question 3

Identify the major river system that flows through the southwestern United States.

Accepted Answer

Colorado River

Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Rio Grande

Answer

Ohio River

Question 4

Describe a defining physical characteristic of the Great Plains region.

Accepted Answer

Flat, open land

Answer

Dense forests

Answer

Rugged mountains

Answer

Numerous lakes and rivers

Question 5

Which term describes the process by which water erodes land?

Accepted Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Weathering

Answer

Glaciation

Question 6

Identify the name of the major mountain range located in the eastern United States.

Accepted Answer

Appalachian Mountains

Answer

Rocky Mountains

Answer

Sierra Nevada

Answer

Cascade Range

Question 7

Which type of vegetation is commonly found in the Pacific Northwest region?

Accepted Answer

Coniferous forests

Answer

Deciduous forests

Answer

Temperate grasslands

Answer

Tropical rainforests

Question 8

What is the main environmental consequence of deforestation in the Appalachian Mountains?

Accepted Answer

Increased soil erosion

Answer

Improved water quality

Answer

Increased biodiversity

Question 9

What geological process played a major role in creating the Rocky Mountains?

Accepted Answer

Folding

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Volcanism

Answer

Glaciation

Question 10

Which is NOT a feature of the Great Plains region?

Accepted Answer

High mountains

Answer

Flat, rolling terrain

Answer

Sparse vegetation

Answer

Abundant wildlife

Question 11

What is the name of the strait that separates the United States from Russia?

Accepted Answer

The Bering Strait

Answer

The Gulf of Mexico

Answer

The Straits of Florida

Answer

The Panama Canal

Question 12

What is the name of the large desert located in the southwestern United States?

Accepted Answer

The Mojave Desert

Answer

The Sahara Desert

Answer

The Gobi Desert

Answer

The Atacama Desert

Question 13

Which river is the longest in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Missouri River

Answer

Ohio River

Answer

Colorado River

Question 14

Which climate zone in the United States experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters?

Accepted Answer

Humid subtropical

Answer

Tropical rainforest

Answer

Mediterranean

Answer

Continental

Question 15

Which characteristic is unique to the Appalachian Mountains?

Accepted Answer

Parallel ridges and valleys

Answer

Rugged peaks and deep canyons

Answer

Volcanic formations

Answer

Coastal plains

Question 16

Which mountain holds the distinction of being the highest in the contiguous United States?

Accepted Answer

Mount Whitney

Answer

Mount Everest

Answer

Mount Rainier

Answer

Mount Denali

Question 17

Identify the river that forms the boundary between Arizona and California.

Accepted Answer

Colorado River

Answer

Rio Grande

Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Ohio River

Question 18

Which climate zone is characterized by warm, humid summers and moderate winters?

Accepted Answer

Temperate

Answer

Tropical

Answer

Continental

Answer

Polar

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT considered a major physiographic region within the United States?

Accepted Answer

Great Lakes

Answer

Appalachian Mountains

Answer

Rocky Mountains

Answer

Great Plains

Question 20

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of the Great Plains region?

Accepted Answer

Flat, grassy terrain

Answer

Rolling hills

Answer

Dense forests

Answer

Mountain ranges

Question 21

Which of the following mountain ranges is NOT found in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Andes Mountains

Answer

Appalachian Mountains

Answer

Rocky Mountains

Answer

Sierra Nevada

Question 22

The Great Plains region of the United States is primarily characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Large, flat areas covered in grasslands

Answer

High mountains and snow-capped peaks

Answer

Dense forests and winding rivers

Answer

Arid deserts and rock formations

Question 23

The climate of the Pacific Northwest is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Mild temperatures with abundant precipitation

Answer

Extreme temperatures with little rainfall

Answer

Warm winters and scorching summers

Answer

Cold, dry winters and cool, wet summers

Question 24

The Great Lakes, a series of freshwater lakes, form a natural border between the United States and:

Accepted Answer

Canada

Answer

Mexico

Answer

Both Canada and Mexico

Answer

No other country

Question 25

Which landform is a vast, flat area of land that is elevated above the neighboring terrain?

Accepted Answer

Plateau

Answer

Mountain

Answer

Valley

Answer

Hill

Question 26

The coastline of the United States is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Numerous inlets, bays, and peninsulas

Answer

Expansive, uninterrupted beaches

Answer

Steep cliffs and rugged fjords

Answer

Coral reefs and mangrove forests

Question 27

What geological process led to the formation of the Appalachian Mountains?

Accepted Answer

Folding and faulting of ancient sedimentary rocks

Answer

Volcanic eruptions and subsequent erosion

Answer

Glacial erosion and deposition

Question 28

Which of the following is the highest peak in the contiguous United States?

Accepted Answer

Mount Whitney

Answer

Mount Kilimanjaro

Answer

Mount Everest

Answer

Mount Denali

Question 29

What type of climate is found in the Great Plains region of the US?

Accepted Answer

Temperate continental

Answer

Tropical rainforest

Answer

Desert

Answer

Subarctic

Question 30

Which river forms the border between Texas and Mexico?

Accepted Answer

Rio Grande

Answer

Colorado River

Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Ohio River

Question 31

What is the name of the vast desert in the southwestern United States?

Accepted Answer

Mojave Desert

Answer

Atacama Desert

Answer

Gobi Desert

Answer

Sahara Desert

Question 32

Which factor has significantly influenced the formation of canyons in the western US?

Accepted Answer

Water erosion

Answer

Volcanic activity

Answer

Glacial movement

Answer

Plate tectonics

Question 33

Which of the following is a major river system that drains into the Gulf of Mexico?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi River System

Answer

Colorado River System

Answer

Columbia River System

Answer

Rio Grande System

Question 34

Which of the following is a significant geographical feature located in the northeastern US?

Accepted Answer

Niagara Falls

Answer

Grand Canyon

Answer

Yosemite Valley

Answer

Yellowstone National Park

Question 35

The highest point in the contiguous United States is located in which mountain range?

Accepted Answer

Rocky Mountains

Answer

Appalachian Mountains

Answer

Sierra Nevada

Answer

Cascade Mountains

Question 36

Which of the following is a major climate zone that covers much of the central and eastern United States?

Accepted Answer

Humid subtropical

Answer

Mediterranean

Answer

Tropical

Answer

Polar

Question 37

The Great Plains is a vast region of:

Accepted Answer

Rolling hills and prairies

Answer

Rugged mountains

Answer

Dense forests

Answer

Arid deserts

Question 38

Which of the following is a major river that drains into the Gulf of Mexico?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Ohio River

Answer

Colorado River

Answer

Yukon River

Question 39

Which of the following is the primary factor contributing to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

Accepted Answer

Agricultural expansion

Answer

Urban development

Answer

Natural disasters

Question 40

How could climate change potentially affect the variety of species and the balance of the Everglades ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Change where species live and destroy important habitats

Answer

Increase the number of species and their population growth

Answer

Make the ecosystem stronger and more stable

Question 41

Which mountain range is located outside the western United States?

Accepted Answer

Appalachian Mountains

Answer

Rocky Mountains

Answer

Sierra Nevada

Question 42

Identify the name of the longest river in North America.

Accepted Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Colorado River

Answer

Missouri River

Question 43

Which climate zone is characterized by high humidity, warm summers, and mild winters?

Accepted Answer

Humid subtropical

Answer

Continental

Answer

Mediterranean

Answer

Tropical rainforest

Question 44

Which state is renowned for its extensive desert regions?

Accepted Answer

Nevada

Answer

Florida

Answer

California

Answer

New York

Question 45

What type of landform are the Great Lakes situated within?

Accepted Answer

Glacial lakes

Answer

Mountain range

Answer

Coastal plain

Answer

Desert

Question 46

Identify the name of the vast, flat, treeless region that covers much of the central United States.

Accepted Answer

Great Plains

Answer

Mississippi Valley

Answer

Rocky Mountains

Answer

Appalachian Mountains

Question 47

Which major river system drains the Great Basin region?

Accepted Answer

Colorado River

Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

Ohio River

Answer

Columbia River

Question 48

The Great Lakes are a series of interconnected freshwater lakes located on the border of which two countries?

Accepted Answer

United States and Canada

Answer

**Mexico and Guatemala**

Answer

**Canada and Russia**

Answer

**United States and Mexico**

Question 49

Which of the following is a major river system that flows through the central United States?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi River

Answer

**Colorado River** **(flows through the southwestern US)**

Answer

**Rio Grande** **(flows along the US-Mexico border)**

Answer

**Columbia River** **(flows through the Pacific Northwest)**

Question 50

The climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters is known as:

Accepted Answer

Humid subtropical

Answer

**Mediterranean** **(found in areas around the Mediterranean Sea)**

Answer

**Continental** **(found in the interiors of continents)**

Answer

**Tropical rainforest** **(found in the Amazon Basin and Central Africa)**

Question 51

Which of the following landforms is a large, flat area of land elevated above the surrounding terrain?

Accepted Answer

Plateau

Answer

**Canyon** **(a deep, narrow valley with steep sides)**

Answer

**Valley** **(a low-lying area between hills or mountains)**

Answer

**Mountain** **(a natural elevation of the Earth's surface)**

Question 52

The process by which wind erodes and transports loose rock and soil particles is called:

Accepted Answer

Deflation

Answer

**Weathering** **(the process of breaking down rocks and minerals)**

Answer

**Abrasion** **(the wearing away of a surface by friction)**

Answer

**Erosion** **(the general process of wearing away of the Earth's surface)**

Question 53

The Mississippi River Delta is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

Landform created by deposition

Answer

**Landform created by glacial activity** **(e.g., a moraine)**

Answer

**Landform created by erosion** **(e.g., a canyon)**

Answer

**Landform created by volcanic activity** **(e.g., a volcano)**