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Why Climate Differs Across the US is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on why climate differs across US regions, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Geo.10.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 11 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Why Climate Differs Across the US

D2.Geo.10.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.Why are winters milder in Florida than in Minnesota?
  • A.Florida has taller mountains
  • B.Florida is much closer to the equator
  • C.Florida is much farther north
2.Why is northern Alaska cold for most of the year?
  • A.It is far north, near the Arctic
  • B.It is close to the equator
  • C.It is surrounded by warm water
3.Why do the Great Plains get so many tornadoes?
  • A.Tornadoes form only near the ocean
  • B.The Plains are covered by thick forest
  • C.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
4.Why do cities on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes get heavy snow?
  • A.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  • B.The lakes are saltier than the ocean
  • C.The lakes freeze solid every summer
5.Why are the tops of the Rocky Mountains cold even in summer?
  • A.The mountains are near the equator
  • B.The Rockies are under the ocean
  • C.Air is colder at higher elevations
6.Why does the Gulf Coast get hurricanes?
  • A.These storms form over warm ocean water
  • B.Hurricanes form only over deserts
  • C.Cold mountain air causes them
7.Why do summers stay cool along the coast near San Francisco?
  • A.The sun never shines there
  • B.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  • C.The city is in the far north of Alaska
8.Why is the Pacific Northwest so rainy?
  • A.It is the closest region to the equator
  • B.It has no mountains to stop the clouds
  • C.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Florida is much closer to the equator
  2. 2.It is far north, near the Arctic
  3. 3.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  4. 4.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  5. 5.Air is colder at higher elevations
  6. 6.These storms form over warm ocean water
  7. 7.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  8. 8.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.10.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.