Weather and Climate — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Grade 3 students discuss a hurricane hitting a coastal town. Which impact is most likely?
A) Sand dunes form in mountains
B) Flooding from heavy rain and waves
C) A long drought in the area
D) A blanket of snow covers homes
Grade 3 extreme weather: hurricanes flood coasts with rain and ocean waves.
2. In Grade 3 science, which scenario shows climate, not weather?
A) It is raining today in Texas
B) Tomorrow will be sunny and warm
C) Phoenix is hot and dry every year
D) Snow fell last night in Maine
Grade 3 climate vs weather: climate describes patterns over many years, not one day.
3. Grade 3 readers see a five-day forecast. Day 3 shows snowflakes and 28 degrees. What should they expect?
A) A warm sunny picnic afternoon
B) Cold weather with snowfall
C) Heavy thunderstorms with hail
D) Tropical rain and warm winds
Grade 3 forecasts: snowflake icons and below-freezing temperatures predict snow.
4. Grade 3 students learn that a long blizzard can affect people most by causing what?
A) Sunburn at the beach
B) Flowers to bloom early
C) Power outages and closed roads
D) Higher ocean tides daily
Grade 3 extreme weather: blizzards bring snow and wind that block roads and power.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Grade 3 students learn that the long-term weather pattern of a place is called its climate.
Grade 3 vocabulary: climate describes typical weather over many years.
2. In Grade 3 science, today's expected weather is called the daily forecast.
Grade 3 vocabulary: a forecast tells what weather is expected soon.
3. Grade 3 readers learn that the amount of water vapor in the air is called humidity.
Grade 3 vocabulary: humidity measures moisture in the air.
4. Grade 3 weather reports give wind speed in miles per hour to show how fast wind blows.
Grade 3 measurement: wind speed shows the rate at which air moves.
5. Grade 3 students learn that a sudden, dangerous spinning column of air is called a tornado.
Grade 3 extreme weather: tornadoes are violent rotating windstorms from thunderstorms.