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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 6 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.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  • B.It rains there every day
  • C.It sits right beside the Atlantic Ocean
2.Why does the Gulf Coast get hurricanes?
  • A.These storms form over warm ocean water
  • B.Hurricanes form only over deserts
  • C.Cold mountain air causes them
3.Why is northern Alaska cold for most of the year?
  • A.It is surrounded by warm water
  • B.It is close to the equator
  • C.It is far north, near the Arctic
4.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
5.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
6.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
7.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
8.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

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 6 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 6. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  2. 2.These storms form over warm ocean water
  3. 3.It is far north, near the Arctic
  4. 4.There was not enough rain for most trees to grow
  5. 5.Air is colder at higher elevations
  6. 6.Warm, moist air flows in from the Gulf of Mexico
  7. 7.A cold ocean current cools the air near the shore
  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.