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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 7 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 sits right beside the Atlantic Ocean
  • B.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  • C.It rains there every day
2.Why does Hawaii stay warm all year?
  • A.It is covered in ice
  • B.It is in the tropics and surrounded by warm ocean
  • C.It is near the North Pole
3.Why is the Pacific Northwest so rainy?
  • A.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  • B.It has no mountains to stop the clouds
  • C.It is the closest region to the equator
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 do the Great Plains get so many tornadoes?
  • A.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  • B.The Plains are covered by thick forest
  • C.Tornadoes form only near the ocean
6.Why does the Gulf Coast get hurricanes?
  • A.These storms form over warm ocean water
  • B.Cold mountain air causes them
  • C.Hurricanes form only over deserts
7.Why do cities on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes get heavy snow?
  • A.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  • B.The lakes are saltier than the ocean
  • C.The lakes freeze solid every summer
8.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

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.10.3-5 · Set 7 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Climate Differs Across the US

Set 7. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The Sierra Nevada blocks moist air from the Pacific
  2. 2.It is in the tropics and surrounded by warm ocean
  3. 3.Moist air from the Pacific rises over the mountains and drops rain
  4. 4.Florida is much closer to the equator
  5. 5.Warm, moist air from the Gulf meets cool, dry air from the north and west
  6. 6.These storms form over warm ocean water
  7. 7.Cold air picks up moisture crossing the lakes and drops it as snow
  8. 8.Air is colder at higher elevations

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