Question

Which of the following continent is the driest one?

• A. Africa
• B. Antarctica
• C. Australia
• D. Europe

Hint:

Antarctica is considered the driest continent due to its polar desert conditions, receiving very little precipitation despite its large ice cover.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understand what 'driest' means.
The term "driest" refers to the amount of precipitation (rainfall or snowfall) a region or continent receives. A "dry" place has very little to no rainfall over the course of a year.

Step 2: Analyze the driest continents.

• Africa: Africa has many dry regions, such as the Sahara Desert, but it also has rainforests like the Congo Basin.
• Antarctica: This continent is the driest and also the coldest. Most of Antarctica is classified as a polar desert, with very little precipitation, mainly as snow. Some parts of Antarctica have not seen rain or snow for millions of years.
• Australia: Australia has deserts like the Outback, but it also receives significant rainfall, especially in the eastern regions.
• Europe: Europe is not particularly dry, with regions like southern Spain being arid, but it overall receives a moderate amount of rainfall.

Step 3: Conclusion.
Antarctica is the driest continent as it receives the least amount of precipitation, mostly in the form of snow. Hence, option (2) is correct.