Deserts of the World Quiz

Deserts are always very hot, dry places.

True

False

Which desert is the largest in the world?

Which desert am I? (Image credit: Robert Van Der Hilst/Liaison Agency)

Gobi, Mongolia/northern China

Sahara, northern Africa

Kalahari, southwestern Africa

Sonoran, Mexico/southwestern United States

This American desert region is also the site of the hottest official temperature ever recorded in North America.

Which desert am I? (Image credit: ML Sinibaldi/Corbis)

Death Valley

Painted Desert

Sonoran Desert

Monument Valley

Rainfall only comes to this desert about two to four times a century, although it does receive plenty of fog. Which is it?

Which desert am I? (Image credit: Francois Gohier/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Arabian Desert, eastern Egypt

Atacama Desert, Chile

Libyan Desert, northeastern Africa

Denakil Desert, northern Ethiopia

Sand dunes--hills of loose sand--have been known to migrate.

Sand Dunes in the Namib Desert (Image credit: James G. Teer)

True

False

Which sleeping beauties of the desert hibernate underground, waking up and emerging when they feel raindrops on the soil?

Red-spotted toad

Black bear

Desert sidewinder

Gopher

Cacti are found in deserts all over the world.

Saguaro Cactus (Image credit: Phil Lauro/ProFiles West)

True

False

Camels are very useful desert animals for many reasons, such as the ability to go for long periods without water. How long can they live without a drink?

Dromedary (Image credit: Leonard Lee Rue III/Bruce Coleman, Inc.)

Nearly five days

About one week

About three weeks

Nearly six weeks

Desertification is the expansion of deserts into nondesert areas.

The Dust Bowl (Image credit: Archive Films/Hot Shots Cool Cuts Inc.)

True

False

Which is the most northern desert in the world?

Which desert am I? (Image credit: Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Kyzyl-Kum, Uzbekistan

Sonoran, Mexico/southwestern United States

Gobi, Mongolia/northern China

Colorado, southwestern United States/Mexico