Weather and Climate — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which climate is best described as cold all year with snow and ice?
A) Polar
B) Tropical
C) Temperate
D) Desert
Polar climates have freezing temperatures, long dark winters, and ground covered with snow or ice for much of the year.
2. Which sentence shows the difference between weather and climate?
A) Today is rainy is weather; this region is rainy all year is climate
B) Both describe the same long pattern over years
C) Weather lasts years; climate changes hourly
D) Climate uses thermometers; weather uses calendars
Weather is what is happening now, while climate is the average pattern of weather over many years in a region.
3. Which set of tools would best help a meteorologist make a daily forecast?
A) Thermometer, anemometer, barometer
B) Ruler, scale, microscope
C) Compass, magnet, telescope
D) Calculator, calendar, globe
Thermometers, anemometers, and barometers measure temperature, wind speed, and air pressure, which help predict weather.
4. Why does the equator stay warm all year long?
A) It receives the most direct sunlight
B) It is closest to the moon
C) It has the highest mountains
D) It is always covered in clouds
The equator receives the most direct rays of sunlight all year long, which keeps temperatures warm in tropical regions.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Regions with very little rain and hot days are called desert climates.
Desert climates receive less than 10 inches of rain each year and often have very hot days and cool nights.
2. Animals like polar bears and penguins live in the polar climate zone.
Polar climates are extremely cold, and animals that live there have thick fur or feathers to stay warm.
3. When the air is full of water vapor, scientists say humidity is high.
High humidity means the air holds a lot of water vapor, which can make warm temperatures feel even hotter.
4. Long periods of little or no rain that harm crops are called a drought.
A drought happens when a region gets much less rain than usual for a long time, drying out the land and rivers.
5. A scientist who studies weather and predicts forecasts is a meteorologist.
Meteorologists use weather tools, computer models, and satellites to study the atmosphere and forecast future weather.