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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 5 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 are the tops of the Rocky Mountains cold even in summer?
  • A.The Rockies are under the ocean
  • B.The mountains are near the equator
  • C.Air is colder at higher elevations
2.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
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 is northern Alaska cold for most of the year?
  • A.It is far north, near the Arctic
  • B.It is close to the equator
  • C.It is surrounded by warm water
5.Why do the Great Plains get so many tornadoes?
  • A.Tornadoes form only near the ocean
  • B.The Plains are covered by thick forest
  • C.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
6.Why do cities on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes get heavy snow?
  • A.The lakes freeze solid every summer
  • B.The lakes are saltier than the ocean
  • C.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
7.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
8.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

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

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Air is colder at higher elevations
  2. 2.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  3. 3.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  4. 4.It is far north, near the Arctic
  5. 5.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  6. 6.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  7. 7.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  8. 8.Florida is much closer to the equator

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