$\sqrt{164}$ is 
$\text{(A)}\ 42 \qquad \text{(B)}\ \text{less than }10 \qquad \text{(C)}\ \text{between }10\text{ and }11 \qquad \text{(D)}\ \text{between }11\text{ and }12 \qquad \text{(E)}\ \text{between }12\text{ and }13$
Note that if $1\leq a<b<c$, then $\sqrt{a}<\sqrt{b}<\sqrt{c}$.  
Since $1<144<164<169$, we can say that \[\sqrt{144}<\sqrt{164}<\sqrt{169} \Rightarrow 12<\sqrt{164}<13 \rightarrow \boxed{\text{E}}\]