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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 14 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 northern Alaska cold for most of the year?
  • A.It is surrounded by warm water
  • B.It is far north, near the Arctic
  • C.It is close to the equator
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 do summers stay cool along the coast near San Francisco?
  • A.The sun never shines there
  • B.The city is in the far north of Alaska
  • C.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
4.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
5.Why are summers in the Southeast so humid?
  • A.Dry desert air blows in from Canada
  • B.There are no rivers or oceans nearby
  • C.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
6.Why is the Great Basin so dry?
  • A.It sits right beside the Atlantic Ocean
  • B.It rains there every day
  • C.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
7.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
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 14 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 14. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It is far north, near the Arctic
  2. 2.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  3. 3.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  4. 4.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  5. 5.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  6. 6.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  7. 7.Florida is much closer to the equator
  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.