Climate Zones · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Earth's Climate Zones

Science · Weather & Climate · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which climate zone is freezing cold nearly all year?

    • Temperate
    • Polar
    • Tropical

  2. Which climate zone is hot and wet, found near the equator?

    • Tropical
    • Polar
    • Arid/Desert

  3. A place's latitude, or how close it is to the equator, is one of the main things that decides its climate zone.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Why is it usually much colder on top of a tall mountain than in the valley below it, even at the same latitude?

    • Higher altitude makes the air colder
    • Mountains are always closer to the poles
    • Mountains get less sunlight than valleys

  5. Which climate zone has four distinct seasons and moderate temperatures?

    • Tropical
    • Polar
    • Temperate

  6. Why do camels have wide feet and store fat instead of growing thick fur?

    • They live in the freezing polar zone
    • They live in the hot, dry desert zone
    • They live in the wet tropical zone

  7. Two towns sit at the same latitude, but one is a hot desert and the other is a cool mountain forest. What best explains the difference?

    • Geography, like altitude, changes the climate too, not just latitude
    • One town gets more sunlight hours in a day
    • Latitude is the only thing that decides climate

  8. A plant has broad leaves, grows fast, and thrives in heavy rain all year round. Which climate zone does it most likely come from?

    • Polar
    • Arid/Desert
    • Tropical
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Earth's Climate Zones W1-mt_TMOzMCE17H-s1

  1. Polar · The polar zone, near the North and South Poles, stays freezing cold almost all year.
  2. Tropical · The tropical zone sits near the equator, where it stays hot and rainy most of the year.
  3. True · Places near the equator get more direct, steady sunlight, which is why they tend to be hot.
  4. Higher altitude makes the air colder · Altitude matters as well as latitude. The higher up you go, the colder the air gets, even near the equator.
  5. Temperate · The temperate zone has warm summers and cold winters, with four seasons in between.
  6. They live in the hot, dry desert zone · Desert animals like camels are built to handle heat and dryness, not cold.
  7. Geography, like altitude, changes the climate too, not just latitude · Latitude sets the starting point, but geography like altitude or nearby mountains can change a place's climate too.
  8. Tropical · Constant heat and heavy year-round rain point to the tropical zone, like a rainforest.
Worksheet · LightMySky