Weather and Climate — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which clouds most often warn that a thunderstorm is coming?
A) Tall cumulonimbus clouds
B) Thin wispy cirrus clouds
C) Flat gray stratus clouds
D) Small puffy cumulus clouds
Cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dark, and full of water; they often bring heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
2. A bar graph shows 1 inch of rain in March, 3 in April, 5 in May. What is the rainfall pattern?
A) Rainfall is increasing each month
B) Rainfall is decreasing each month
C) Rainfall stays the same
D) Rainfall goes up then down
The rainfall amounts grow from 1 to 3 to 5 inches, so the pattern shows an increase in rainfall each month.
3. Which extreme weather is a giant spinning storm that forms over warm ocean water?
A) Hurricane
B) Tornado
C) Blizzard
D) Drought
Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters and bring strong winds, heavy rain, and dangerous storm surges to coastal areas.
4. In which season do trees in a temperate climate usually grow new leaves?
A) Spring
B) Summer
C) Fall
D) Winter
In spring, the weather warms and trees in temperate climates sprout new leaves and flowers after the cold winter.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A spinning column of air that touches the ground is a tornado.
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air that stretches from a thunderstorm cloud down to the ground.
2. A snowstorm with strong winds and very low visibility is a blizzard.
A blizzard is a severe winter storm with heavy snow, strong winds, and visibility less than a quarter mile.
3. When days get longer and warmer in a temperate region, it is spring.
Spring is the season when temperatures rise, snow melts, and many plants and animals begin a new cycle of life.
4. When leaves change color and the air turns cooler, the season is fall.
Fall, or autumn, is the season between summer and winter when temperatures cool and many trees lose their leaves.
5. If clouds get thicker and darker, it will probably rain soon.
Thick, dark clouds usually carry heavy moisture, so meteorologists predict rain when these clouds gather in the sky.