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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 18 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 do the Great Plains get so many tornadoes?
  • A.The Plains are covered by thick forest
  • B.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  • C.Tornadoes form only near the ocean
2.Why do summers stay cool along the coast near San Francisco?
  • A.The city is in the far north of Alaska
  • B.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  • C.The sun never shines there
3.Why did the western Great Plains have grass but few trees before settlers came?
  • A.Trees there grew too tall to count
  • B.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
  • C.Too much rain drowned the trees
4.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
5.Why is the Great Basin so dry?
  • A.It rains there every day
  • B.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  • C.It sits right beside the Atlantic Ocean
6.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
7.Why do cities on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes get heavy snow?
  • A.The lakes are saltier than the ocean
  • B.The lakes freeze solid every summer
  • C.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
8.Why are summers in the Southeast so humid?
  • A.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  • B.Dry desert air blows in from Canada
  • C.There are no rivers or oceans nearby

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 18 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 18. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  2. 2.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  3. 3.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
  4. 4.Florida is much closer to the equator
  5. 5.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  6. 6.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  7. 7.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  8. 8.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico

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