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Dry Climates of the World

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

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Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 5678
Subjects: scienceela
Standards: MS-ESS2-6
Languages: English, Spanish

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What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This standards-aligned passage for grades 6-8 explores the mechanisms, characteristics, and significance of dry climates, focusing on why and how they form. Students will learn about the two main types of dry climates—arid (deserts) and semi-arid (steppes)—as well as the key balance between precipitation and evaporation. The passage integrates scientific thinking, showing how researchers measure rainfall and analyze climate systems. Real-world examples, such as the Sahara Desert and the Great Plains, illustrate the diversity of dry climates. Students will engage with academic vocabulary, glossary, differentiated reading, a Spanish translation, and multiple activities, including a quiz and writing prompts. The resource is audio-integrated and designed for use in middle school science classrooms aligned to NGSS MS-ESS2-6, supporting deep understanding of Earth's systems through interactive and accessible content.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

"Scenic view of Atacama Desert dunes and hills under the clear blue sky in Chile's Andes." by Marek Piwnicki / Pexels.

Dry climates are regions of the world where rainfall is much lower than evaporation. These areas are important to scientists because they reveal how Earth's systems interact to shape the environment. In fact, about one-third of Earth's land surface is considered dry. Understanding why some regions are so dry helps us explain patterns of weather, vegetation, and even human settlement.

How Dry Climates Work

The main characteristic of a dry climate is that it receives less precipitation than it loses through evaporation. Scientists measure precipitation in inches or millimeters per year. Deserts (arid regions) typically get less than 10 inches (about 250 millimeters) of rain annually. Semi-arid areas, like steppes, receive between 10 and 20 inches (250-500 millimeters). Because evaporation is so high, any moisture that falls is quickly lost to the atmosphere. This constant imbalance means that rivers are rare, lakes are often seasonal, and soils remain dry. Meteorologists use data from weather stations and satellites to monitor these patterns and compare them across regions.

Types of Dry Climates and Their Causes

There are two main types of dry climates: arid and semi-arid. Arid climates include famous deserts like the Sahara in Africa and the Atacama in South America. Semi-arid climates, often called steppes, are found on the edges of deserts, such as the Great Plains of North America. Several factors create these dry conditions. First, some regions lie far from oceans, which are main sources of moisture. Second, mountain ranges can block wet air, causing a "rain shadow" effect. Third, high temperatures increase evaporation rates. All these factors interact as part of Earth's interconnected climate system.

Why Dry Climates Matter

Dry climates affect ecosystems, agriculture, and human societies. Plants and animals living there have evolved special adaptations to survive with little water. Farmers in semi-arid regions must use irrigation or grow drought-resistant crops. Dry climates also influence global weather patterns by reflecting sunlight and shaping wind systems. Scientists study how climate change might make some dry areas even drier, impacting food supplies and water resources. Understanding dry climates helps us prepare for future challenges and develop solutions for managing water and land more sustainably.

Interesting Fact:

The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the driest places on Earth—parts of it have not seen measurable rain for hundreds of years!

What is the main characteristic of a dry climate?

It receives less precipitation than it loses through evaporation.It has many lakes and rivers.It gets more than 40 inches of rain per year.It is always cold and snowy.

Which of the following is an example of a semi-arid region?

The Sahara DesertThe Great Plains of North AmericaThe Amazon RainforestThe Arctic Tundra

What is a rain shadow?

A place that gets a lot of rain due to mountains.An area that receives little rain because mountains block moist air.A shadow cast by clouds during rainstorms.A type of dry soil found in deserts.

What does the term 'arid' mean in the passage?

Very dry, usually describing a desert.Slightly wet, like a rainforest.Covered in snow year-round.A region with many rivers.

Why are dry climates important for scientists to study?

They help explain patterns of weather, vegetation, and human settlement.They are the only places where people can live.They always have the best farmland.They are not important to science.

What is one adaptation of plants or animals living in dry climates?

Having special ways to conserve water.Growing very large leaves to lose more water.Only coming out at night to avoid water.Building houses from ice.

What tool do meteorologists use to monitor precipitation patterns?

Satellites and weather stations.Cooking thermometers.Magnifying glasses.Soil shovels.

Farmers in semi-arid regions often use irrigation to:

Supply water to crops.Make the soil drier.Increase evaporation.Block the sun.

True or False: Deserts always receive more than 40 inches of rain per year.

TrueFalse

True or False: The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth.

TrueFalse