Final answer:
The desert located in the center of the Cordillera in the United States is known as the Great Basin, which is a cold desert with freezing temperatures in winter and low annual precipitation. Hence, option (c) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The desert area in the center of the Cordillera in the United States is called the Great Basin. Unlike the Sonoran Desert and Mojave Desert which are subtropical deserts located in the warmer regions within the United States, the Great Basin is classified as a cold desert. This is because the Great Basin experiences freezing temperatures during the winter, and any precipitation it receives is often in the form of snowfall. Furthermore, it is one of the largest deserts in the United States and is characterized by low annual precipitation with little monthly variation.
Unlike other well-known deserts in the southwestern U.S., such as the Mojave Desert (option a) and the Sonoran Desert (option b), the Great Basin's aridity is primarily due to its rain shadow effect and its interior location, rather than the result of tropical air masses. The Chihuahuan Desert (option d) is situated farther to the southeast, extending into Mexico. The Great Basin is a fascinating region with diverse ecosystems and is known for its sagebrush steppe and alkaline playas.