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Chapter 1: Louisiana's Geography


Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
In the early 1900s what contributed to the expansion of New Orleans beyond the Natural Levee?
a.
More effective pumps were invented to drain swampland.
b.
Houseboats provided residents with a swamp-friendly living arrangement.
c.
New building materials allowed large homes and buildings to be constructed in the swamp.
d.
A natural decrease in the water levels of the Mississippi River allowed residents to move further into the swamp.
 

 2. 
What is the geological name for the paths the Mississippi River takes as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico?
a.
creeks
b.
drains
c.
passes
d.
streams
 
 
Louisiana Rivers
nar001-1.jpg
 

 3. 
Which waterway defines the north eastern boundary between Louisiana and Mississippi?
a.
Red River
b.
Pearl River
c.
Ouachita River
d.
Mississippi River
 

 4. 
What geographic features define many of Louisiana’s borders?
a.
hills
b.
mountains
c.
swamps
d.
waterways
 

 5. 
What are the three subdivisions of the Mississippi Floodplain region?
a.
the Passes, the Swamp, and the Valley
b.
the Blufflands, the Passes, and the Prairies
c.
the Natural Levee, the Passes, and the Swamp
d.
the Blufflands, the Natural Levee, and the Swamp
 

 6. 
The Passes 4000 BC-2010 AD
mc006-1.jpg
What conclusion could be drawn from the maps?
a.
The Passes are a stable ecosystem.
b.
The Passes continually change and evolve due to the deposits of sediment.
c.
The Passes are not affected when the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico.
d.
The Passes are changing because water levels in the Gulf of Mexico are decreasing.
 

 7. 
How did clearing the course of the Red River affect the development of the Red River Valley?
a.
Easier navigation increased the population.
b.
Increased flooding decreased the population.
c.
Faster moving water removed much of the rich soil farmers desired.
d.
Natural levees were destroyed, drastically altering the course of the river.
 

 8. 
Which is a characteristic of the Prairie region of Louisiana?
a.
tall grasses
b.
piney woods
c.
eroded bluffs
d.
natural levees
 

 9. 
What would happen if a large portion of Louisiana’s 2.5 million acres of marshland were destroyed?
a.
The shrimping industry would experience a decline.
b.
The populations of migrating birds would be decreased.
c.
The absence of marsh grass would cause the Gulf’s water level to rise.
d.
The abundance of marsh grass would decrease the people’s water supply.
 
 
                            Louisiana’s Land Regions
nar002-1.jpg
 

 10. 
Which region lies along Louisiana’s border with the Gulf of Mexico?
a.
Hills
b.
Marsh
c.
Red River Valley
d.
Mississippi Floodplain
 

 11. 
Which region covers most of northern Louisiana?
a.
Hills
b.
Marsh
c.
Mississippi Floodplain
d.
Red River Valley
 

 12. 
What geographic feature marks the highest point in Louisiana?
a.
Salt Domes
b.
Mississippi Delta
c.
Driskill Mountain
d.
Red River Valley
 

 13. 
How is the red soil that dominates the Hills region related to Louisiana’s agricultural industry?
a.
Farming is not a viable option in this region due to poor soil.
b.
Farming must be specialized due to high levels of iron in the soil.
c.
Farming a wide variety of crops is made easy by the nutrient rich soil.
d.
Farming is not a viable option in this region due to massive soil erosion.
 

 14. 
What are the agricultural benefits of alluvial soil?
a.
It is easily transported by a river.
b.
It helps to create a natural levee.
c.
It is deposited along the banks of the Mississippi River.
d.
It is fertile, produces abundant vegetation, and is well suited for growing crops.
 

 15. 
Why was an extensive flood control system built along the banks of the Mississippi River?
a.
to collect drinking water
b.
to change the course of the river
c.
to keep the river from flooding ever again
d.
to protect the cities along the river’s course
 

 16. 
What is the name of the system of man-made canals that link waterways from the Atlantic Ocean in Florida all the way to the Gulf of Mexico?
a.
Aquatic Highway
b.
Interstate Canal Corridor
c.
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
d.
Gulf-Atlantic Transport System
 

 17. 
What is the main purpose of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway?
a.
to reduce commuter traffic between metropolitan areas
b.
to provide flood control for the coastal plains region
c.
to link marine habitats and protect endangered species
d.
to provide a safe and continuous channel for small boats and ships engaged in trade and commerce
 

 18. 
How did the damming of the Sabine River change the geography of the Hills region?
a.
It caused the river to change course.
b.
It lowered the overall elevation of the region.
c.
It stopped the flow of the Sabine River completely.
d.
It created a giant lake known as the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
 

 19. 
What is the largest natural lake in Louisiana?
a.
Grand Lake
b.
Lake Charles
c.
Lake Pontchartrain
d.
Toledo Bend
 

 20. 
How did channel construction affect Lake Charles?
a.
Connecting Louisiana’s waterways had no effect on the lake.
b.
Connecting to other waterways had a negative impact on sport fishing.
c.
Connecting to other waterways caused the water level in Lake Charles to noticeably decrease.
d.
Connecting Lake Charles to other waterways helped its port to become one of the largest in the state.
 
 
nar003-1.jpg
 

 21. 
If it is 10:00 AM in Louisiana, what time is it in Alaska?
a.
1:00 PM
b.
2:00 PM
c.
6:00 AM
d.
7:00 AM
 

 22. 
If it is 12:30 PM on Monday in Louisiana, what time is it in Eastern Australia?
a.
4:30 AM Monday
b.
4:30 AM Sunday
c.
4:30 PM Sunday
d.
4:30 AM Tuesday
 

 23. 

Louisiana Average Annual Precipitation
mc023-1.jpg
Which region of Louisiana receives the most rain annually?
a.
northeast
b.
northwest
c.
southeast
d.
southwest
 

 24. 
Which agricultural industries suffered great losses following Hurricane Katrina?
a.
citrus, livestock, rice, and timber
b.
fishing, hunting, livestock, and rice
c.
citrus, crabbing, hunting, and timber
d.
crabbing, fishing, hunting, and shrimping
 

 25. 
The following statement is from the article, “Eat More Strawberries,” from the LSU Agricultural Center website in 2014.

“Strawberries continue to be the leading fruit crop in the state (Louisiana) with Tangipahoa Parish as the leading strawberry producing parish with $11.5 million in sales during 2010.”

What conclusion can be drawn from this statement?
a.
Louisiana’s soil is only good for growing strawberries.
b.
Strawberry crops are not affected by flooding and hurricanes.
c.
Consumers love Louisiana strawberries more than those from other states.
d.
The state’s early spring is a great economic advantage for Louisiana farmers.
 

 26. 
Which has been responsible for damaging Louisiana’s coastal regions?
a.
earthquakes
b.
hurricanes
c.
tsunamis
d.
volcanoes
 

 27. 
Why was the Old River Control Structure built in 1963?
a.
It serves as a dock for boats traveling the Mississippi.
b.
It is a station used to regulate boat traffic on the Mississippi.
c.
It collects the rich soil and sediment carried by the Mississippi River.
d.
It controls flooding and prevents the Mississippi from changing course.
 

 28. 
Which is a potential outcome if the erosion of Louisiana’s wetlands continues without intervention?
a.
Fish and bird populations would increase.
b.
Gas prices would decrease across the nation.
c.
Seafood prices would increase across the nation.
d.
There would not be any noticeable consequences.
 

 29. 
How is the need to control the flooding of the Mississippi River related to coastal erosion?
a.
Levees and dams allow humans to control sediment deposition.
b.
Changing the river’s course makes the water flow faster into the Gulf.
c.
Silt that would have slowed the process of subsidence is trapped behind dams.
d.
Silt that would have been deposited along the banks of the river is diverted to the coast, increasing land area.
 

 30. 
How did the extensive canal system though the coastal wetlands affect the region?
a.
Plant and animal life flourished due to reduced flooding.
b.
Farming land area was increased due to controlled flooding
c.
Marsh grasses were lost as saltwater moved into freshwater marshes.
d.
Directed water flow eliminated areas of brackish water, reducing some fish populations.
 



 
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