Which biome features cold climates, short summers, and a layer of permafrost?

• A. Desert
• B. Grassland
• C. Tundra
• D. Temperate Forest

Answer: (C)

This question tests understanding of which biome is defined by extremely cold conditions, a short growing season, and a layer of permanently frozen ground called permafrost. That combination is the tundra. In the tundra, long, harsh winters and brief, cool summers mean plants must grow quickly in a short window, so vegetation is low and resilient—mosses, lichens, grasses, and small shrubs—rather than tall trees. The permafrost lies beneath the surface, preventing deep root growth and hindering drainage, which keeps soils thin and often waterlogged in summer.

Deserts have climate extremes and very little rainfall, but they don’t have permafrost. Grasslands feature warmer weather and deeper soils with grasses as the dominant vegetation, not a perennially frozen layer. Temperate forests have more moderate climates with distinct seasons and substantial tree growth, without permafrost.