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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 12 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 is much closer to the equator
  • B.Florida is much farther north
  • C.Florida has taller mountains
2.Why do cities on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes get heavy snow?
  • A.The lakes are saltier than the ocean
  • B.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  • C.The lakes freeze solid every summer
3.Why is the Pacific Northwest so rainy?
  • A.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  • B.It has no mountains to stop the clouds
  • C.It is the closest region to the equator
4.Why are summers in the Southeast so humid?
  • A.Dry desert air blows in from Canada
  • B.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  • C.There are no rivers or oceans nearby
5.Why does the Gulf Coast get hurricanes?
  • A.These storms form over warm ocean water
  • B.Cold mountain air causes them
  • C.Hurricanes form only over deserts
6.Why does Hawaii stay warm all year?
  • A.It is near the North Pole
  • B.It is covered in ice
  • C.It is in the tropics and surrounded by warm ocean
7.Why did the western Great Plains have grass but few trees before settlers came?
  • A.Too much rain drowned the trees
  • B.Trees there grew too tall to count
  • C.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
8.Why do the Great Plains get so many tornadoes?
  • A.Tornadoes form only near the ocean
  • B.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  • C.The Plains are covered by thick forest

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 12 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 12. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Florida is much closer to the equator
  2. 2.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  3. 3.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  4. 4.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  5. 5.These storms form over warm ocean water
  6. 6.It is in the tropics and surrounded by warm ocean
  7. 7.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
  8. 8.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west

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