Desert Ecosystems Quiz

What percentage of the Earth's land surface is arid or semi-arid?

• One-fourth

• One-half

• One-third

• One-fifth

What are polar deserts also known as?

• Hot deserts

• Cold deserts

• Tropical deserts

• Temperate deserts

How are deserts classified?

• By the amount of precipitation, temperature, vegetation, or geographical location

• By the amount of precipitation, temperature, causes of desertification, or geographical location

• By the amount of vegetation, temperature, causes of desertification, or geographical location

• By the amount of precipitation, vegetation, causes of desertification, or geographical location

What causes rocks in deserts to break into pieces?

• Large variations in temperature between day and night

• Heavy rainfall

• Strong winds

• Earthquakes

What can result from occasional downpours in deserts?

• Oases

• Sand dunes

• Flash floods

• Desert pavements

What is a common feature of desert plants?

• High water content

• Shallow root systems

• Water-resistant cuticles

• Large leaves

How do many desert animals conserve water?

• By drinking large amounts of water

• By staying active during the day

• By extracting most of their water needs from their food

• By migrating to wetter areas

What happens to some animals during rare rainfall in deserts?

• They hibernate

• They die

• They migrate

• They reproduce rapidly