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Quiz: Regions and Boundaries

Test your understanding of US regions, state capitals, borders, and symbols with these questions.

1. What is Texas nicknamed and why?

  1. The Sunshine State because of warm weather
  2. The Lone Star State because of its history as an independent republic
  3. The Empire State because it's the largest
  4. The Buckeye State because of its trees
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Texas is called "The Lone Star State" because its flag has one star, representing its history as an independent republic from 1836 to 1845 before joining the United States.

Concept Tested: Texas

2. What is special about Washington DC?

  1. It is the largest city in America
  2. It is the nation's capital but not a state
  3. It is located in California
  4. It has the most people
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Washington DC is the capital of the entire United States, but it's not a state—it's a special district called the District of Columbia, located between Maryland and Virginia.

Concept Tested: Washington DC

3. Why are state capitals often NOT the largest city in the state?

  1. Larger cities didn't exist when capitals were chosen
  2. Capitals were often chosen for central location or to avoid domination by one city
  3. Larger cities refused to be capitals
  4. The Constitution requires small capitals
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. When states chose their capitals, they often picked central locations so everyone could reach them easily, or smaller cities that wouldn't dominate state politics.

Concept Tested: State Capitals

4. What is the Four Corners?

  1. A type of building
  2. The only place where four US states meet at one point
  3. A famous restaurant
  4. A mountain range
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The Four Corners is the only place in the United States where four states meet at a single point: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. You can stand in all four states at once!

Concept Tested: State Borders

5. Which state flag is shaped like a pennant instead of a rectangle?

  1. Texas
  2. California
  3. Ohio
  4. Alaska
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. Ohio is the only state with a flag that isn't rectangular. It's shaped like a pennant (called a "burgee") and was designed in 1901.

Concept Tested: State Flags

6. What is famous about Tennessee's music history?

  1. It has no musical heritage
  2. Nashville is the country music capital, and Memphis is known for blues and rock
  3. It's known for classical music only
  4. It invented the piano
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Tennessee has incredible music history. Nashville is the country music capital of the world, and Memphis is famous for blues, rock and roll, and Elvis Presley's Graceland.

Concept Tested: Tennessee

7. What makes West Virginia geographically unique?

  1. It is entirely surrounded by water
  2. It is the only state entirely within the Appalachian Mountains
  3. It has no mountains
  4. It borders the Pacific Ocean
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. West Virginia is the only state entirely within the Appalachian Mountains. It separated from Virginia during the Civil War and became its own state in 1863.

Concept Tested: West Virginia

8. What famous landmark is carved into a mountain in South Dakota?

  1. Statue of Liberty
  2. Golden Gate Bridge
  3. Mount Rushmore
  4. Gateway Arch
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota features the carved faces of four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Concept Tested: South Dakota

9. Which state is known for apples and technology companies like Microsoft and Amazon?

  1. Oregon
  2. California
  3. Washington
  4. Idaho
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. Washington State is known for growing more apples than any other state and is home to technology giants like Microsoft and Amazon, headquartered in the Seattle area.

Concept Tested: Washington

10. What type of border does Colorado have?

  1. All natural borders following rivers
  2. Straight line borders forming a perfect rectangle
  3. Borders following mountain ranges
  4. Coastal borders
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Colorado has straight-line borders forming almost a perfect rectangle. Western states often have straight-line borders because they were created later using surveying tools.

Concept Tested: State Borders

11. Why do many state borders in the eastern US follow rivers?

  1. Rivers were easy to find and were natural boundaries
  2. People couldn't cross rivers
  3. Rivers were required by law
  4. There are no rivers in the east
Show Answer

The correct answer is A. Many eastern state borders follow rivers because rivers were easy to identify and served as natural boundaries. Examples include the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Rio Grande.

Concept Tested: State Borders

12. What do state symbols like state birds, flowers, and trees represent?

  1. Nothing in particular
  2. What makes each state unique, often reflecting its natural environment
  3. Only historical events
  4. Political parties
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. State symbols show what makes each state unique and often reflect the state's natural environment. For example, California has the California Poppy (flower), California Quail (bird), and California Redwood (tree).

Concept Tested: State Symbols