Guided Practice: Weather & Climate
Quick Review
Remember the difference between weather and climate:
- Weather = Day-to-day conditions (temperature, rain, wind)
- Climate = Average weather over a long time (years)
- Temperature = How hot or cold it is
- Precipitation = Rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Practice Problems
1. "It's raining today" describes:
A) Climate
B) Weather
C) Season
D) Temperature only
Answer
B) Weather - Weather describes conditions on a specific day.
2. "Arizona has hot, dry summers" describes:
A) Weather
B) Climate
C) A single day
D) An unusual event
Answer
B) Climate - This describes typical conditions over time, which is climate.
3. Which tool measures temperature?
A) Rain gauge
B) Wind vane
C) Thermometer
D) Barometer
Answer
C) Thermometer - A thermometer measures how hot or cold it is.
4. What type of precipitation is frozen rain that falls as small ice pellets?
A) Snow
B) Rain
C) Sleet
D) Fog
Answer
C) Sleet - Sleet forms when rain freezes as it falls through cold air.
5. Which climate zone is found near the equator?
A) Polar
B) Temperate
C) Tropical
D) Arctic
Answer
C) Tropical - Tropical climates are hot and rainy, found near Earth's equator.
6. A wind vane shows which direction the wind is:
A) Blowing to
B) Coming from
C) How fast it is
D) The temperature
Answer
B) Coming from - A wind vane points in the direction the wind is coming from (a "north wind" comes from the north).
7. If the temperature is 32°F (0°C), what happens to rain?
A) It stays liquid
B) It evaporates
C) It can freeze into snow or sleet
D) It becomes fog
Answer
C) It can freeze - 32°F/0°C is the freezing point of water.
8. What causes seasons?
A) Distance from the sun
B) Earth's tilt as it orbits the sun
C) The moon
D) Ocean currents
Answer
B) Earth's tilt - Earth is tilted, so different parts get more direct sunlight at different times of year.
9. A rain gauge measures:
A) Wind speed
B) Temperature
C) Amount of precipitation
D) Cloud type
Answer
C) Amount of precipitation - A rain gauge collects and measures how much rain (or melted snow) falls.
10. Which statement about climate is TRUE?
A) Climate can change from hour to hour
B) Climate is the same everywhere
C) Climate is based on many years of weather data
D) Climate only includes temperature
Answer
C) - Climate is the average of weather patterns over 30+ years.
Next Steps
- Track the weather in your area for a week
- Compare today's weather to the climate average
- Continue to the Investigation Lab