US Geography and Regions — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The Mississippi River flows through the Southwest region into the Pacific Ocean.
Corrected: The Mississippi River flows through the Midwest region into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi River flows from north to south through the middle of the country, passing through Midwest states, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico — not the Pacific Ocean on the far west coast.
2. Fix the sentence:
California is part of the Northeast region of the United States.
Corrected: California is part of the West region of the United States.
California sits along the Pacific coast on the western edge of the country, which places it in the West region. The Northeast region is on the opposite side, near states like New York.
3. Fix the sentence:
A valley is a high flat area of land that rises above the surrounding area.
Corrected: A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains.
A valley is a low spot, not a high one. It is the dip of land you find between hills or mountains, often where a river or stream flows.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The Atlantic Ocean borders the east coast of the United States.
On a US map, the Atlantic Ocean is on the right side of the country, which is the east coast where states like Florida, New York, and Maine meet the sea.
2. Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes by surface area.
Lake Superior earns its name by being the biggest of the five Great Lakes by surface area — it sits at the top, north of the others, along the Canadian border.
3. A plateau is a raised flat area of land with steep sides.
Picture a flat tabletop lifted up high with cliffs around its edges — that landform is called a plateau, and it has steep sides leading up to a flat top.
4. The Midwest region includes states like Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa.
Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa all sit in the middle of the country with lots of farmland and flat plains, which is the heart of the Midwest region.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. The Great Lakes are located near the border of the United States and Canada.
True False
True. Four of the five Great Lakes — Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — actually sit right along the border between the United States and Canada.
2. A plateau is the same thing as a valley.
True False
False. A plateau rises up high with a flat top, while a valley dips down low between mountains or hills, so they are opposite kinds of landforms.
3. The Atlantic Ocean is on the east coast of the United States.
True False
True. The Atlantic Ocean borders the eastern side of the United States, which is why states like Florida, North Carolina, and Massachusetts have eastern beaches.