A desert is an area where
A)evaporation is slow.
B)average annual precipitation is low.
C)most vegetation consists of grass.
D)it never rains.
E)only cactus plants grow.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A desert is defined by its extremely low amount of annual precipitation, usually less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) per year. This is why choice B is the most appropriate answer. The other options are not necessarily true of all deserts; for example, some deserts do receive occasional rainfall (so D is incorrect), some have no cacti but other types of vegetation (so E is incorrect), and while evaporation may be high in deserts due to the lack of moisture, it is not a defining characteristic (so A and C are incorrect).

A Desert Is an Area Where