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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 20 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.It rains there every day
  • B.It sits right beside the Atlantic Ocean
  • C.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
2.Why did the western Great Plains have grass but few trees before settlers came?
  • A.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
  • B.Trees there grew too tall to count
  • C.Too much rain drowned the trees
3.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
4.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
5.Why is the Pacific Northwest so rainy?
  • A.It has no mountains to stop the clouds
  • B.It is the closest region to the equator
  • C.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
6.Why are summers in the Southeast so humid?
  • A.There are no rivers or oceans nearby
  • B.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  • C.Dry desert air blows in from Canada
7.Why are winters milder in Florida than in Minnesota?
  • A.Florida is much farther north
  • B.Florida has taller mountains
  • C.Florida is much closer to the equator
8.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

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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