Unit Assessment: World Deserts

What is a desert?

• a) a place that is very hot

• b) a place that is very sandy

• c) a place that is very dry

• d) a place that is very empty

What is one thing that both “hot” and “cold” deserts have in common?

• All the land is made of sand.

• Underground water filters impurities from the sand.

• There is a dramatic change between day and night temperatures.

• Both get regular, predictable periods of rainfall.

Which kind of plant is well adapted to living in the desert?

• cactus

• moss

• elm tree

• prairie grasses

An example of a nocturnal desert animal is a

• lizard.

• kangaroo.

• llama.

• camel.

When an animal or plant changes its behavior in reaction to its environment, it

• dies.

• adapts.

• grows.

• regulates.

A desert location with plentiful drinking water is called

• an oasis.

• a caravan.

• an avalanche.

• a dune.

Which river runs through the Sahara?

• the Amazon

• Rio Colorado

• the Nile

• Rio Grande

The Sahara is known for

• the large dinosaur fossils that have been discovered there.

• being the only place in the world that the Joshua tree is found.

• having no permanent water sources.

• its extensive salt mines and camel caravans.

The Kalahari Desert

• has almost no plant or animal life.

• is a game reserve with a variety of plants and wild animals.

• is located in Asia.

• is where Aboriginal peoples have lived for thousands of years.

In what bird’s eggshells do the San store water?

• owl

• ostrich

• chicken

• penguin