Guided Practice: US Geography
Quick Review
- The US has 50 states
- Physical features include mountains, rivers, lakes, and plains
- The Rocky Mountains are in the West; the Appalachian Mountains are in the East
- The Mississippi River is the longest river in the US
- Cardinal directions: North, South, East, West
Practice Problems
1. How many states are in the United States?
A) 13
B) 48
C) 50
D) 52
Answer
C) 50 - The US has 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
2. What is the capital of the United States?
A) New York City
B) Los Angeles
C) Washington, D.C.
D) Chicago
Answer
C) Washington, D.C. - The nation's capital is not part of any state.
3. Which mountain range is on the West Coast?
A) Appalachian Mountains
B) Rocky Mountains
C) Alps
D) Himalayas
Answer
B) Rocky Mountains - The Rockies run through the western United States.
4. Which ocean borders the East Coast of the US?
A) Pacific Ocean
B) Indian Ocean
C) Atlantic Ocean
D) Arctic Ocean
Answer
C) Atlantic Ocean - The Atlantic is on the East; the Pacific is on the West.
5. Which Great Lake is entirely within the United States?
A) Lake Erie
B) Lake Michigan
C) Lake Huron
D) Lake Ontario
Answer
B) Lake Michigan - It's the only Great Lake completely within US borders.
6. The Mississippi River flows in which direction?
A) East to West
B) West to East
C) North to South
D) South to North
Answer
C) North to South - It flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
7. Which state is the largest by area?
A) Texas
B) California
C) Alaska
D) Montana
Answer
C) Alaska - Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas.
8. A map's compass rose shows:
A) How far things are
B) Cardinal directions (N, S, E, W)
C) The map's title
D) Country borders
Answer
B) Cardinal directions - The compass rose shows North, South, East, and West.
9. Florida is a:
A) Mountain range
B) Peninsula
C) Island
D) Desert
Answer
B) Peninsula - Florida is surrounded by water on three sides.
10. The Great Plains are found in which part of the US?
A) East Coast
B) West Coast
C) Central US
D) Alaska
Answer
C) Central US - The Great Plains stretch across the middle of the country.
Next Steps
- Study a US map and practice finding states
- Learn 5 state capitals this week
- Continue to Primary Source Analysis