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Quiz: Climate and Weather Patterns

Test your understanding of climate zones and weather patterns with these questions.

1. What is the main difference between weather and climate?

  1. Weather is outdoors, climate is indoors
  2. Weather is what's happening now, climate is the pattern over many years
  3. Weather is in summer, climate is in winter
  4. There is no difference between weather and climate
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Weather is what's happening in the atmosphere right now (today's temperature, rain, etc.). Climate is the pattern of weather in a place over many years—usually 30 years or more.

Concept Tested: Weather vs Climate

2. Which US state has a tropical climate with warm weather all year?

  1. Alaska
  2. Minnesota
  3. Hawaii
  4. Colorado
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. Hawaii has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round, plenty of rain, and no real winter. The southern tip of Florida also has a tropical climate.

Concept Tested: Tropical Climate

3. What defines an arid climate?

  1. Lots of rain and humidity
  2. Very little rainfall, usually less than 10 inches per year
  3. Cold temperatures all year
  4. Four distinct seasons
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. An arid climate is very dry with less than 10 inches of rain per year. The Southwest deserts, including parts of Arizona and Nevada, have arid climates.

Concept Tested: Arid Climate

4. California's coast has what type of climate?

  1. Tropical
  2. Subarctic
  3. Mediterranean
  4. Humid continental
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. California's coast has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This climate is perfect for growing grapes, olives, almonds, and citrus fruits.

Concept Tested: Mediterranean Climate

5. What climate type has hot, humid summers and mild winters?

  1. Subarctic
  2. Humid subtropical
  3. Arid
  4. Mediterranean
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. A humid subtropical climate has hot, humid summers and mild winters. This climate covers most of the southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Concept Tested: Humid Subtropical

6. What is "lake effect snow"?

  1. Snow that falls only on lakes
  2. Heavy snow caused by cold air blowing across warm Great Lakes
  3. Snow that melts when it hits the lake
  4. A type of artificial snow
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Lake effect snow happens when cold winter air blows across the relatively warmer Great Lakes, picks up moisture, and dumps heavy snow on nearby cities. That's why Buffalo, NY gets so much snow!

Concept Tested: Snowfall Regions

7. What is Tornado Alley?

  1. A highway in Texas
  2. A region where many tornadoes occur, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas
  3. A type of weather pattern
  4. A mountain pass
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Tornado Alley is a region in the central United States where many tornadoes occur, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Tornadoes form there when warm Gulf air meets cold Canadian air.

Concept Tested: Tornadoes

8. Where do hurricanes that affect the US usually form?

  1. Over cold mountain areas
  2. Over warm ocean water in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
  3. Over the Great Lakes
  4. Over desert regions
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Hurricanes form over warm ocean water in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They mainly affect the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast states from June through November.

Concept Tested: Hurricanes

9. What is a blizzard?

  1. A type of summer storm
  2. A severe winter storm with heavy snow, strong winds, and cold temperatures
  3. A tornado over water
  4. A dust storm in the desert
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. A blizzard is a severe winter storm with heavy snow, winds of 35 mph or more, and reduced visibility lasting at least 3 hours. Blizzards are most common in the Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast.

Concept Tested: Blizzards

10. What causes a drought?

  1. Too much rain
  2. A long period without enough rain or snow
  3. Cold temperatures
  4. Hurricanes
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. A drought is a long period without enough rain or snow. Droughts can last months or years and cause crop failures, water shortages, and wildfires.

Concept Tested: Droughts

11. Why do coastal cities have more moderate temperatures than inland cities?

  1. Coastal cities have more buildings
  2. The ocean heats up and cools down more slowly than land
  3. Coastal cities are always farther south
  4. Coastal cities have more trees
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The ocean heats up and cools down more slowly than land. In summer, ocean breezes keep coastal cities cooler; in winter, the warmer ocean keeps coastal cities from getting as cold as inland areas.

Concept Tested: Coastlines

12. Which US state has a subarctic climate with very long, cold winters?

  1. Florida
  2. California
  3. Texas
  4. Alaska
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. Most of Alaska has a subarctic climate with very long, cold winters (6-8 months) and short, cool summers. Temperatures can drop to -40°F or colder in winter.

Concept Tested: Subarctic Climate