A) nearness to a large body of waterB) elevationC) latitudeD) prevailing winds

1. The map below shows an eastern portion of NorthAmerica. Points A and B represent locations on theeastern shoreline.

Which factor is primarily responsible for location A having a lower average yearly temperature thanlocation B?

2. Base your answer to the following question on the two maps for Australia below. Map I showsAustralia's major landscape regions. Letters A through H represent locations in Australia. Map IIshows Australia's general climate regions.

A) A and B B) G and H C) C and F D) D and E

Which two locations have the driest climates?

A) low elevation and low latitudeB) low elevation and high latitudeC) high elevation and low latitudeD) high elevation and high latitude

3. Which combination of climate factors generallyresults in the coldest temperatures?

A) lower average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a higher angle duringthe year

B) lower average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a lower angleduring the year

C) higher average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a higher angle duringthe year

D) higher average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a lower angle duringthe year

4. The table below shows the latitude and the average yearly temperature for four different cities.

It can be inferred from this table that the cities at higher latitudes have

Base your answers to questions 5 through 8 on the climate graphs below, which show averagemonthly precipitation and temperatures at four cities, A, B, C, and D.

A) a frozen surface B) nearly flat surfacesC) a small amount of runoff D) permeable soil

5. Very little water will infiltrate the soil around city D because the region usually has

A) small amounts of precipitation throughout the yearB) large amounts of precipitation throughout the yearC) its warmest temperatures in January and FebruaryD) its warmest temperatures in July and August

6. It can be concluded that city C is located in the Southern Hemisphere because city C has

A) spring B) summer C) fall D) winter

7. During which season does city B usually experience the month with the highest average precipitation?

A) on the dry side of a mountain B) on the wet side of a mountainC) near the center of a large landmass D) near the equator

8. City A has very little variation in temperature during the year because city A is located

A) rising and moist B) rising and dryC) sinking and moist D) sinking and dry

9. Snowfall is rare at the South Pole because the air overthe South Pole is usually

A) 8 days B) 18 daysC) 24 days D) 32 days

10. The graph below shows the average number of dayseach year that thunderstorms occur at differentlatitudes on Earth.

According to the graph, what is the approximatenumber of days each year that thunderstorms occurat locations along the 40°N parallel of latitude?

11. Base your answer to the following question on the map below, which shows an imaginary continenton Earth. Arrows represent prevailing winddirections. Letters A through D represent locationson the continent. Locations A and B are at the samelatitude and at the same elevation at the base of themountains.

A) farther from any mountain rangeB) closer to a large body of waterC) at a latitude that experiences longer average

annual daylightD) at a latitude where air is sinking and surface

winds diverge

The climate at location C is much drier than atlocation D. This difference is best explained by thefact that location C is located

A)

B)

C)

D)

12. Which graph best shows the average annual amountsof precipitation received at different latitudes onEarth?

A) high latitudeB) high elevationC) nearness to a cold ocean currentD) nearness to a high-pressure weather center

13. The photograph below shows Mt. Kilimanjaro, avolcano in Africa, located near the equator.

Which climate factor is responsible for the snowseen on Mt. Kilimanjaro?

A) thermosphere B) mesosphereC) stratosphere D) troposphere

14. Most of Earth's weather events take place in the

A) A B) B C) C D) D

15. The cross section below represents four locations ona mountain. The arrow indicates the prevailing winddirection.

Which location has the warmest and most aridclimate?

A) B)

C) D)

16. Which graph best shows the general effect thatdifferences in elevation above sea level have on theaverage annual temperature?

17. Base your answer to the following question on thegraph below, which shows the average yearlytemperature and average yearly precipitation forEarth locations A through E.

A) A has a higher elevationB) A is located nearer to the EquatorC) C has more precipitationD) C has a greater longitude

Locations A and C have different average yearlytemperatures. This difference most likely is due tothe fact that

A) from 45º N latitude to 20º N latitudeB) from sea level to 5 km above sea levelC) from sea level on the windward side of a

mountain to sea level on the leeward sideD) from the ocean coast to an inland location

18. During the summer months, which change inlocation would most likely cause a decrease in theobserved daytime air temperatures?

A) arid, with a small difference between thehighest and lowest yearly temperatures

B) arid, with a large difference between thehighest and lowest yearly temperatures

C) humid, with a small difference between thehighest and lowest yearly temperatures

D) humid, with a large difference between thehighest and lowest yearly temperatures

19. The arrows on the map below show the prevailingwinds at a midlatitude coastal city.

This city most likely has a climate that is

A) North Atlantic CurrentB) Canary CurrentC) North Equatorial CurrentD) Labrador Current

20. Which ocean current warms the climate ofnorthwestern Europe?

A) tilted axis B) prevailing windsC) rate of revolution D) tidal action

21. The direction of movement of the major surfaceocean currents is most affected by Earth’s

A) warmer and drierB) warmer and more humidC) cooler and drierD) cooler and more humid

22. The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Current modifythe climate of northwestern Europe by making theclimate

Base your answers to questions 23 and 24 on the maps and the passage below. The maps showdifferences in trade wind strength, ocean current direction, and water temperature associated withair-pressure changes from normal climate conditions to EI Niño conditions.

EI Niño Conditions

EI Niño conditions occur with a buildup of warm water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean off thecoast of South America. The immediate cause of this buildup is a change in air pressure thatweakens the southern trade winds. These are the planetary winds that move air from 30° S to theequator. Normally, these strong, steady winds, with the help of their counterparts in the NorthernHemisphere, push equatorial water westward away from South America. But, at intervals of twoto seven years, these winds weaken, causing the westward water flow to reverse. This results in anaccumulation of unusually warm water on the east side of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warmwater not only changes the characteristics of the air above it, but also is thought to be the cause ofweather changes around the world. EI Niño conditions may last only a few months, but often lasta year or two.

A) cool water moving toward the equatorB) cool water moving away from the equatorC) warm water moving toward the equatorD) warm water moving away from the equator

23. Under normal climate conditions, what are the characteristics of the surface ocean current that flowsalong most of the west coast of South America?

A) northeast B) southeast C) northwest D) southwest

24. The trade winds between 30° S and the equator usually blow from the

A) southeast coast of North AmericaB) northeast coast of AustraliaC) southwest coast of South AmericaD) northwest coast of Europe

25. Which coastal location experiences a cooler summerclimate due to ocean currents?

A) tsunami B) volcanic eruptionC) El Niño D) deforestation

26. Which event temporarily slows or reverses surfaceocean currents in the equatorial region of the PacificOcean, causing a disruption of normal weatherpatterns?

A) Gulf Stream B) CanariesC) Labrador D) North Atlantic

27. Which cold ocean current affects the climate of thenortheastern coast of North America?

A) South Equatorial Gulf Stream Labrador Benguela

B) South Equatorial Australia West WindDrift Peru

C) North Equatorial Koroshio North Pacific California

D) North Equatorial Gulf Stream NorthAtlantic Canaries

28. The arrows labeled A through D on the map belowshow the general paths of abandoned boats that havefloated across the Atlantic Ocean.

Which sequence of ocean currents was responsiblefor the movement of these boats?

A) warmer and drier B) warmer and more moistC) cooler and drier D) cooler and more moist

29. The cross section below represents a prevailing wind flow that causes different climates on thewindward and leeward sides of a mountain range.

Compared to the temperature and moisture of the air rising on the windward side, the temperatureand moisture of the air descending at the same altitude on the leeward side will be

Base your answers to questions 30 and 31 on the diagram below, which shows air movement over amountain range. The arrows indicate the direction of airflow. Points 1 through 3 represent locationson Earth's surface.

A) expanding, and cooling B) expanding, and warmingC) compressing, and cooling D) compressing, and warming

30. Cloud formation at location 2 is the direct result of air that is rising,

A) cooler and drier B) cooler and wetterC) warmer and drier D) warmer and wetter

31. Compared to the climate at location 1, the climate at location 3 is

A) Location A is warmer and drier than location B.B) Location A is cooler and wetter than location

B.C) Location B is warmer and wetter than location

A.D) Location B is cooler and drier than location A.

32. The arrows on the cross section below show theprevailing wind that flows over a mountain. Points Aand B represent locations on opposite sides of themountain.

Which statement correctly describes the differencesin the climates of locations A and B?

A) A B) B C) C D) D

33. The map below shows the location of four cities, A,B, C, and D, in the western United States whereprevailing winds are from the southwest.

Which city most likely receives the least amount ofaverage yearly precipitation?

A) 30° N to 60° N B) 0° to 30° NC) 0° to 30° S D) 30° S to 60° S

34. In which planetary wind belt do most storms movetoward the northeast?

Base your answers to questions 35 through 37 on the map below, which shows Earth's planetary windbelts.

A) cool and wet B) cool and dry C) warm and wet D) warm and dry

35. Which climatic conditions exist where the trade winds converge?

A) prevailing northwesterlies B) prevailing southwesterliesC) northeast trades D) southeast trades

36. Which wind belt has the greatest effect on the climate of New York State?

A) Earth's rotation on its axisB) the unequal heating of Earth's atmosphereC) the unequal heating of Earth's surfaceD) Earth's gravitational pull on the Moon

37. The curving of these planetary winds is the result of

38. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below and on your knowledge ofEarth science. The cross section shows the general movement of air within a portion of Earth'satmosphere located between 30° N and 30° S latitude. Numbers 1 and 2 represent different locationsin the atmosphere.

A) B)

C) D)

Which map best shows the surface movement of winds between 30° N and 30° S latitude?

39. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which represents the planetarywind and moisture belts in Earth's Northern Hemisphere.

A) warm and rising B) warm and sinkingC) cool and rising D) cool and sinking

The climate at 90° north latitude is dry because the air at that location is usually

Base your answers to questions 40 through 43 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earthscience. The diagram represents portions of the water cycle. Letters A, B, and C represent processesin the water cycle. Arrows show the movement of water.

40. What is the main source of energy for the water cycle?

41. Describe the general relationship between the amount of rainfall and the amount of runoffrepresented by C.

42. Identify the process represented by B.

43. Identify one process represented by A.

Answer KeyClimate Practice Questions

1. C2. A3. D4. B5. A6. C7. B8. D9. D10. B11. D12. B13. B14. D15. D16. C17. A18. B19. C20. A21. B22. B23. A24. B25. C26. C27. C28. D29. A30. A31. C32. B33. A34. A35. C36. B

37. A38. A39. D40. — the Sun —

insolation — solarradiation/solarenergy — sunlight

41. — Asprecipitation/rainfallincreases, runoffincreases. — Morerain leads to morerunoff. — directrelationship —Runoff is usuallyless than rainfall.

42. — infiltration —water seeping intothe ground —absorption/rechargeof the storage —seeping/seepag-e/percolation —water entering/soa-king/sinking into thesoil

43. transpiration or evaporation/-vaporization or evapotranspiration