Worked example
A report says it is raining in a town at noon today. What does it describe?
Answer & why
Answer: weather
The report describes conditions at a specific short-term time and place.
Grade 3 · Science
Distinguish weather from climate
Distinguish short-term atmospheric conditions from patterns summarized over many years.
6 authored questions + worked example
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All questions
All 6 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
One unusually snowy afternoon is the only evidence offered for a century-long trend. What is the problem?
- weather
- not enough evidence for a climate trend
- climate
- a landform description
A hint
Weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Answer & why
Answer: not enough evidence for a climate trend
One afternoon does not show the long-term pattern needed.
Question 2
Tomorrow’s forecast calls for strong wind. What does the forecast describe?
- a landform description
- weather
- climate
- not enough evidence for a climate trend
A hint
Weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Answer & why
Answer: weather
Tomorrow is a short-term atmospheric condition.
Question 3
A chart summarizes average winter temperatures across several decades. What does it describe?
- not enough evidence for a climate trend
- climate
- weather
- a landform description
A hint
Weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Answer & why
Answer: climate
Decades of seasonal averages describe a climate pattern.
Question 4
A text says that a valley lies between two mountains. Which description is this?
- a landform description
- weather
- not enough evidence for a climate trend
- climate
A hint
Weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Answer & why
Answer: a landform description
The statement describes the shape of the land, rather than atmospheric conditions.
Question 5
A report says it is raining in a town at noon today. What does it describe?
- a landform description
- climate
- weather
- not enough evidence for a climate trend
A hint
Weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Answer & why
Answer: weather
The report describes conditions at a specific short-term time and place.
Question 6
Thirty years of records show that a region usually has dry summers. What is this pattern?
- not enough evidence for a climate trend
- a landform description
- weather
- climate
A hint
Weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Answer & why
Answer: climate
A pattern across many years describes climate.