Question 26 What primarily defines a desert environment? (A) Extreme temperatures (B) Amount of precipitation (less than 10 inches annually) (C) Geographic location (D) Presence of sand dunes
Answer (1)
The primary factor that defines a desert environment is the amount of precipitation it receives. Option (B) is correct: 'Amount of precipitation (less than 10 inches annually)'.
Deserts are characterized by their very low rainfall. Most deserts receive less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain each year. This lack of moisture is the main reason why deserts have sparse vegetation and are usually not conducive to supporting diverse plant and animal life.
While extreme temperatures (option A) are often associated with deserts, not all deserts experience high temperatures. For instance, the Antarctic Desert is cold and receives little precipitation, thus fitting the desert criteria without high temperatures.
Geographic location (option C) does not define a desert because deserts can be found on every continent, from the polar regions to the tropics.
Presence of sand dunes (option D) is also not a defining characteristic of deserts. While some deserts, like the Sahara, have extensive sand dunes, others, like the rocky deserts of the American Southwest, do not.
Thus, the defining feature of deserts is the limited amount of precipitation they receive.
