3rd grade weather and climate

Question 1

A school rain gauge measured the rainfall (mm) each month. Which month was driest?

• A. April
• B. May
• C. January
• D. March

Question 2

Why do weather services send out warnings before big storms?

• A. So people have time to prepare and get to safety.
• B. To stop the storm.
• C. To change the storm's direction.
• D. To make the storm smaller.

Question 3

Is this about weather or climate: "Antarctica is the coldest continent."

• A. weather (what it is like now or this week)
• B. climate (the usual pattern over many years)

Question 4

What is the difference between weather and climate?

• A. Weather lasts for years; climate changes every hour
• B. They mean the same
• C. Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is the average pattern over many years
• D. Climate is only about rain

Question 5

What type of climate does the Amazon rainforest have?

• A. polar
• B. tropical
• C. desert (arid)
• D. temperate

Question 6

What was the total rainfall for April, May and June together?

Answer mm

Question 7

The chart shows the rainfall (mm) in four months. Which month was wettest?

• A. Jan
• B. Jul
• C. Apr
• D. Oct

Question 8

The chart shows the temperature at noon each school day. Which day was warmest?

• A. Monday
• B. Tuesday
• C. Wednesday
• D. Thursday
• E. Friday

Question 9

Which design best reduces damage from this hazard: drought?

• A. reservoirs and rain barrels to store water
• B. flood barriers and houses built on stilts
• C. underground storm shelters
• D. snow ploughs and grit (salt) for roads

Question 10

How many degrees warmer was it on Tuesday than on Monday?

Answer °C

Question 11

True or false? Weather and climate mean exactly the same thing.

• A. True
• B. False

Question 12

True or false? Planting trees in cities helps during heatwaves.

• A. True
• B. False

Question 13

Temperatures (°C) on five days were 22, 16, 18, 24, 23. What was the mean temperature? Give 1 decimal place.

Answer °C

Question 14

The range is the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures. What is the range of these noon temperatures?

Answer °C

Question 15

Scientists say Earth's climate is warming. What evidence do they use?

• A. a single photo of the Sun
• B. temperature records from many places over many decades
• C. how people feel today
• D. one hot day last week

Question 16

Why should a rain gauge be placed in an open space, away from trees and buildings?

• A. It does not matter where it goes.
• B. So rain can fall straight in without being blocked or dripping off leaves.
• C. So it stays in the shade.
• D. So birds can drink from it.