Climate by Alecia Strohl Two words used to describe outdoor conditions are "weather" and "climate." While both involve the environment outside, they are actually quite different. Weather constantly changes. Climate is the predictable pattern of weather in a specific place. Words like tropical, dry, and polar describe specific climates. Because weather is controlled by many factors, it is not as predictable as an area’s climate. For example, areas with dry climates, like deserts sometimes have rainy weather, but for most of the year, the weather is predictably sunny. Climate is the pattern over time, while weather can change daily and hourly. Several factors combine to determine an area’s climate. Its altitude, or height above sea level, determines air pressure. The higher a place is, the colder it tends to be. Latitude, or distance to the equator, determines temperature patterns. Places closer to the equator tend to be warmer because they are closer to the Sun. Geography of an area also impacts climate. For example, desert areas tend to be dry and hot while places near large bodies of water tend to be more humid and moderate. Topography is another factor in climate. This includes surface features of an area like mountains and canyons. These landforms can block wind, which greatly affects the overall weather patterns that create climate. While weather and climate both describe the outside environment, they are not the same. Weather is the condition of the air or atmosphere at a given time, while climate is the weather patterns of a particular place over time. Weather continuously changes, while climate is predictable. 1) The higher a place is, the colder it tends to be. Which word from the text is most related to this line from the second paragraph? A) altitude B) latitude C) temperature D) atmosphere 2) Based on the information given in the text, how does topography affect climate? A) Places closer to the equator tend to be warmer because they are closer to the Sun. B) Altitude affects climate because the higher a place is, the colder it tends to be. C) Landforms can block wind, which greatly affects the overall weather patterns that create climate. D) Desert areas tend to be dry and hot, while places near large bodies of water tend to be more moderate.