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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 13 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 is the Great Basin so dry?
  • A.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  • B.It rains there every day
  • C.It sits right beside the Atlantic Ocean
2.Why are the tops of the Rocky Mountains cold even in summer?
  • A.Air is colder at higher elevations
  • B.The Rockies are under the ocean
  • C.The mountains are near the equator
3.Why did the western Great Plains have grass but few trees before settlers came?
  • A.Trees there grew too tall to count
  • B.Too much rain drowned the trees
  • C.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
4.Why does the Gulf Coast get hurricanes?
  • A.Cold mountain air causes them
  • B.Hurricanes form only over deserts
  • C.These storms form over warm ocean water
5.Why is the Pacific Northwest so rainy?
  • A.It has no mountains to stop the clouds
  • B.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  • C.It is the closest region to the equator
6.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
7.Why do summers stay cool along the coast near San Francisco?
  • A.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  • B.The sun never shines there
  • C.The city is in the far north of Alaska
8.Why is northern Alaska cold for most of the year?
  • A.It is close to the equator
  • B.It is far north, near the Arctic
  • C.It is surrounded by warm water

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 13 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 13. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  2. 2.Air is colder at higher elevations
  3. 3.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
  4. 4.These storms form over warm ocean water
  5. 5.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  6. 6.Florida is much closer to the equator
  7. 7.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  8. 8.It is far north, near the Arctic

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