Mini Assessment I

Which sentence from the passage most strongly tries to dispel a common belief about deserts?

• However, there are also other kinds of deserts.

• Winter temperatures average 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

• The Sonoran Desert is also home to a variety of animals.

• It proves that there is much more to a desert than cactus and sand.

According to information in Paragraph 1 of the passage, how much rainfall do most desert biomes receive on average each year?

• 10 inches

• 12 inches

• 18 inches

• 80 inches

Which of the following is an example of a coastal desert?

• The Sahara Desert

• The Atacama Desert

• The Sonoran Desert

• The Gobi Desert

How are coastal deserts similar to cold deserts?

• They both have very dry and very wet regions.

• They both have snow on the ground in summer.

• They both experience freezing winter temperatures.

• They both sustain abundant plant and animal life.

Read this excerpt from Paragraph 5 of the passage.

. . . the "Colorado Desert" . . . benefits from the weather of the Pacific Coast resulting in a myriad of spectacular spring flowers.

As it is used in this sentence, the word "myriad" most nearly means

• Multitude

• Majority

• Movement

• Mixture

Read this sentence from Paragraph 5 of the passage.

"When many people think of deserts, they think of sand dunes and an area devoid of any vegetation."

What is the meaning of "devoid of any?"

• Overwhelmed by

• Uniquely combined with

• Lacking in

• Seasonally arranged for

Which is most likely the author’s purpose for writing this passage?

• To persuade readers to support desert conservation efforts

• To explain to readers the richness and diversity of desert environments

• To inform readers about the change in annual rainfall rates in some desert areas

• To describe to readers the effects of extreme high and low temperatures on desert wildlife

In Paragraph 3, why does the author of the passage include information about cold deserts?

• To acquaint readers with deserts outside the United States

• To describe the Sonoran Desert

• To inform readers about unusual types of desert environments

• To explain to readers the results of a significant study undertaken in cold deserts