What geographic feature surrounded the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán?

What geographic feature surrounded the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán?

• A. A lake, Lago Texcoco
• B. A desert
• C. A mountain
• D. A river

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the city’s unique setting: Tenochtitlán was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. This lake-surrounded location provided natural defenses and shaped daily life and engineering, including the use of chinampas (floating gardens) and causeways to reach the mainland. Because the city was set within a lake, water—not desert, mountains, or a single river—defines its geography. Describing it as surrounded by a desert, a mountain, or a river doesn’t fit the actual landscape of Tenochtitlán.

The main idea here is the city’s unique setting: Tenochtitlán was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. This lake-surrounded location provided natural defenses and shaped daily life and engineering, including the use of chinampas (floating gardens) and causeways to reach the mainland. Because the city was set within a lake, water—not desert, mountains, or a single river—defines its geography. Describing it as surrounded by a desert, a mountain, or a river doesn’t fit the actual landscape of Tenochtitlán.