Note: As usual, we start the new year with the questions given in the previous year to the students who compete in the annual National Geographic Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Because the competition begins at the school level and then progresses to the state, regional and national levels, the questions naturally begin easier and progressively get harder.
1. The slogan “Pike’s Peak or Bust” was used during the 1858 gold rush to a U.S. territory that later became which state — Tennessee or Colorado?
2. Zion National Park and the Great Salt Lake are two major tourist attractions in which state — Arkansas or Utah?
3. Which state averages more inches of rainfall per year — Nevada or Delaware?
4. In which state are you more likely to find broadleaf, deciduous forests — New Jersey or Hawaii?
5. Which state is nicknamed “The Mountain State” because it has the highest average elevation of any state east of the Mississippi River — South Carolina or West Virginia?
6. Badlands National Park is located southeast of Rapid City in which state — Alaska or South Dakota?
7. The Rocky Mountains can be found in both Colorado and which state located directly to the south — New Mexico or Washington?
8. Lake Superior borders Michigan, Minnesota, and which other state — Nebraska or Wisconsin?
9. Large areas of rocky, thin soils make it difficult to farm in which state — New Hampshire or Kansas?
10. Corn and soybeans are major crops in which state — Connecticut or Indiana?
ANSWERS: 1. Colorado 2. Utah 3. Delaware 4. New Jersey 5. West Virginia 6. South Dakota 7. New Mexico 8. Wisconsin 9. New Hamsphire 10. Indiana National Geographic Bee, National Geographic Society
