Exploring Geography: Key Concepts Quiz

What is a continent?

• A large body of water surrounded by land

• A large landmass on Earth, such as Africa or Asia

• A country located near the equator

• A small island in the middle of the ocean

Which of the following is the name of an ocean?

• Amazon

• Sahara

• Pacific

• Everest

What is a country?

• A large body of saltwater that covers most of Earth

• A mountain range found only in Asia

• A nation with its own government and borders

• A tool used to measure land

What is a mountain?

• A flat area of land near the ocean

• A large natural elevation of Earth's surface rising to a peak

• A body of water between two continents

• A type of survey used to measure distances

What does a survey help us do in geography?

• Climb mountains more easily

• Collect and record information about land, people, or places

• Name new oceans and continents

• Build borders between countries

A geographer conducts a survey and finds that a region has the highest elevation on a continent, is located far from any ocean, and is shared by two countries. Using this evidence, what geographic feature is most likely being described, and what conclusion can you draw about the climate of this region?

• A coastal plain shared by two countries; it likely has a warm and humid climate due to ocean influence

• A mountain range on a continent shared by two countries; it likely has a cold climate due to high elevation and distance from the ocean

• An ocean trench between two continents; it likely has a freezing climate due to deep water

• A desert valley within one country; it likely has a hot climate due to low elevation

A student is planning a research project and wants to survey people living near the base of a mountain in a landlocked country. The country is located on the continent of South America. Using your knowledge of geography, which of the following plans best supports the student's goal and makes the most logical sense?

• Survey people living on an island in the Pacific Ocean, since mountains are found near oceans

• Survey people living near the Andes Mountains in a South American country that does not border any ocean

• Survey people living on the coast of Africa, since Africa is the largest continent

• Survey people living in a country that borders the Atlantic Ocean, since mountains are only found near water

A class is given the following survey results about a mystery location: it is on the world's smallest continent, it is entirely one country, and it is surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Using reasoning and evidence, which location does this describe?

• Greenland, because it is a large island surrounded by oceans

• Antarctica, because it is the coldest continent in the world

• Australia, because it is both a continent and a country surrounded by those oceans

• Europe, because it is a small continent near several oceans

A team of scientists wants to conduct a survey to find the tallest mountain on each continent. They have already identified mountains on five continents. They need to plan how to gather data for the remaining two continents. Which strategy would best help them complete their survey accurately?

• Use data only from countries that border an ocean, since mountains are always near water

• Research geographic records and elevation data for the remaining two continents and compare findings with existing survey results

• Ask people living in each country to guess the height of nearby mountains

• Only survey mountains that are located between two countries, since those are always the tallest

How many continents are there on Earth?

• 5

• 8

• 7

• 6