US Regions and States — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which state capital is located in the Southwest region?
A) Frankfort, Kentucky
B) Santa Fe, New Mexico
C) Lansing, Michigan
D) Trenton, New Jersey
Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico, which is in the Southwest region. Santa Fe is one of the oldest capital cities in the United States, founded in 1610.
2. Which climate is typical of states in the Southeast region?
A) Cold and dry with short summers
B) Hot and humid with long summers
C) Cool and rainy year-round
D) Desert conditions with little rain
The Southeast sits closer to the equator and borders the warm Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, giving it hot, humid weather with long summers and mild winters.
3. Which geographic feature separates the eastern and western United States?
A) Great Lakes
B) Mississippi River
C) Rocky Mountains
D) Appalachian Mountains
The Rocky Mountains stretch from Canada down to New Mexico, forming a massive wall of peaks called the Continental Divide that separates the eastern and western halves of the country.
4. Which state has both tropical beaches and swampland?
A) California
B) Texas
C) Florida
D) North Carolina
Florida is surrounded by ocean on three sides, giving it tropical beaches, while the Everglades in the south form one of the largest swamplands in the world.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The capital of Massachusetts is Boston.
Boston is both the capital and the largest city in Massachusetts. It played a key role in American history, including the Boston Tea Party.
2. The Sierra Nevada mountain range runs through eastern California.
The Sierra Nevada range runs along eastern California and includes Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. "Sierra Nevada" means "snowy mountain range" in Spanish.
3. The Colorado Plateau covers parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
The Colorado Plateau is a large, high, flat area in the Southwest where the Colorado River carved famous landmarks like the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
4. The capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul.
Saint Paul is the capital of Minnesota and sits right next to Minneapolis. Together they are called the Twin Cities.
5. The Upper Peninsula is a landform in Michigan that is surrounded by the Great Lakes.
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is surrounded by Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. It is connected to the Lower Peninsula by the Mackinac Bridge.