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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 15 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 Pacific Northwest so rainy?
  • A.It is the closest region to the equator
  • B.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  • C.It has no mountains to stop the clouds
2.Why do cities on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes get heavy snow?
  • A.The lakes freeze solid every summer
  • B.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  • C.The lakes are saltier than the ocean
3.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
4.Why do summers stay cool along the coast near San Francisco?
  • A.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  • B.The city is in the far north of Alaska
  • C.The sun never shines there
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 northern Alaska cold for most of the year?
  • A.It is close to the equator
  • B.It is surrounded by warm water
  • C.It is far north, near the Arctic
7.Why does Hawaii stay warm all year?
  • A.It is near the North Pole
  • B.It is in the tropics and surrounded by warm ocean
  • C.It is covered in ice
8.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

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 15 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 15. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  2. 2.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  3. 3.Air is colder at higher elevations
  4. 4.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  5. 5.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  6. 6.It is far north, near the Arctic
  7. 7.It is in the tropics and surrounded by warm ocean
  8. 8.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific

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