Deserts & Grasslands Reading CW

What is the primary characteristic that defines a desert?

• High humidity

• Abundance of water

• Lack of rain

• Dense vegetation

How much rain do deserts generally get in a year?

• 50 inches or more

• 10 inches or less

• 25 inches

• 100 inches

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Why can deserts be so cold at night?

• Because of the high humidity

• Because they have a "blanket" to insulate the ground

• Because they have dry soil and little to no surface water to hold the heat overnight

• Because they are close to the polar regions

What is the temperature range that some deserts can reach during the day and night?

• 0 to 50 degrees F

• 32 to 70 degrees F

• 100 to 120 degrees F

• Over 100 degrees F in the day and below freezing (32 degrees F) at night

Which is the largest hot and dry desert in the world?

• Gobi Desert

• Kalahari Desert

• Sahara Desert

• Arabian Desert

What adaptation do many desert animals have to survive the extreme temperatures?

• They are mostly active during the hottest part of the day

• They store water in their humps

• They are nocturnal, sleeping during the day and coming out at night

• They have thick fur to keep cool

Which of the following animals is NOT typically found in the desert?

• Meerkats

• Camels

• Polar bears

• Scorpions

Which of the following plants is known to survive in the harsh environment of the desert by storing water in its stems, leaves, or trunks?

• Pine trees

• Cactus

• Oak trees

• Maple trees

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What adaptation do camels have to survive in the desert?

• They can fly to find water

• They store food in their humps

• They can go over a week wothout water

• They have large wingspans to collect rainwater

How far can dust storms from the Gobi Desert travel?

• 100 miles

• 500 miles

• 1,000 miles

• 10,000 miles

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2