Assess students' ability to apply geographic reasoning to explain how rivers and surrounding terrain shaped the location, economic activities, and growth of four ancient river-valley civilizations (Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, Yellow River). Students should analyze flooding patterns, soil fertility, irrigation, transportation and trade routes, resource distribution, and natural barriers; compare similarities and differences among regions; and use map evidence or simple diagrams to support cause-and-effect explanations. Designed for grades 6–8 with short constructed responses and labeled map annotations.