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Quiz: Water Features and Systems

Test your understanding of rivers, lakes, and oceans with these questions.

1. Which river is the longest in North America?

  1. Mississippi River
  2. Missouri River
  3. Colorado River
  4. Ohio River
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The Missouri River is the longest river in North America at 2,341 miles. It flows from Montana to join the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri.

Concept Tested: Missouri River

2. What is the acronym "HOMES" used to remember?

  1. The five biggest US states
  2. The five Great Lakes
  3. The five oceans
  4. The five major mountain ranges
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. HOMES helps you remember the five Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

Concept Tested: Great Lakes

3. Which Great Lake is the only one entirely within the United States?

  1. Lake Superior
  2. Lake Huron
  3. Lake Michigan
  4. Lake Erie
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake entirely inside the United States. Chicago, one of America's largest cities, sits on its shores.

Concept Tested: Lake Michigan

4. Which Great Lake is the largest by surface area?

  1. Lake Michigan
  2. Lake Erie
  3. Lake Ontario
  4. Lake Superior
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It's so big that all the other Great Lakes could fit inside it!

Concept Tested: Lake Superior

5. What makes the Great Salt Lake different from the Great Lakes?

  1. It is much larger
  2. It is freshwater
  3. It has no outlet and is extremely salty
  4. It borders Canada
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. The Great Salt Lake in Utah has no outlet to the ocean, so water stays and evaporates, leaving salt behind. This makes it extremely salty—you can float easily in it!

Concept Tested: Great Salt Lake

6. Which river carved the Grand Canyon?

  1. Mississippi River
  2. Rio Grande
  3. Colorado River
  4. Hudson River
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon over millions of years. The river continues to flow through the Southwest, providing water to Arizona, Nevada, and California.

Concept Tested: Colorado River

7. Which river forms part of the border between the United States and Mexico?

  1. Mississippi River
  2. Ohio River
  3. Columbia River
  4. Rio Grande
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. The Rio Grande forms the border between the United States and Mexico for about 1,900 miles. "Rio Grande" means "big river" in Spanish.

Concept Tested: Rio Grande

8. Which is the largest ocean bordering the United States?

  1. Atlantic Ocean
  2. Pacific Ocean
  3. Arctic Ocean
  4. Gulf of Mexico
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth—it covers more area than all the land on Earth combined! It borders the western United States from Washington to California, plus Alaska and Hawaii.

Concept Tested: Pacific Ocean

9. What is a watershed?

  1. A building that stores water
  2. All the land that drains into a particular river or lake
  3. A machine that cleans water
  4. A type of dam
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. A watershed is all the land that drains into a particular river or lake. The Mississippi River watershed is the largest in North America, draining 31 states and 40% of the lower 48 states!

Concept Tested: Rivers

10. Why is the Gulf of Mexico important for the United States?

  1. It is the coldest body of water near the US
  2. It is important for fishing, oil drilling, shipping, and tourism
  3. It is where most drinking water comes from
  4. It is the deepest body of water in the world
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The Gulf of Mexico is important for fishing and shrimp harvesting, oil and gas drilling, shipping routes, and beach tourism along the coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Concept Tested: Gulf of Mexico

11. Which river helped New York City become America's largest city?

  1. Mississippi River
  2. Hudson River
  3. Ohio River
  4. Missouri River
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The Hudson River flows through New York State past New York City to the Atlantic Ocean. Ships could travel far inland, which helped New York City grow into a major trading port.

Concept Tested: Hudson River

12. About what percentage of the world's fresh surface water do the Great Lakes hold?

  1. About 5%
  2. About 10%
  3. About 20%
  4. About 50%
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. The Great Lakes hold about 20% of the world's fresh surface water—an amazing amount of water in one place! This makes them vital to the region's drinking water, transportation, and economy.

Concept Tested: Great Lakes