The Tropics, Arctic and Antarctic Circles

The main lines of latitude on a globe and what they tell us about climate

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Match each line of latitude to its position. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle Right: 23.5° North of equator, 23.5° South of equator, 66.5° North of equator, 66.5° South of equator
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2
Which line of latitude lies north of the equator? A) Tropic of Cancer B) Tropic of Capricorn C) Antarctic Circle D) South Pole
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3
True or false? The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is called the Tropics. A) True B) False
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4
Which area of the world is hot and wet with rainforests? A) The tropics B) The Arctic C) The poles D) The temperate zone
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5
Fill in the blank. The Arctic Circle is at ___ degrees North.
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6
Which area is generally the coldest? A) Inside the Arctic Circle B) On the Tropic of Cancer C) On the equator D) On the Tropic of Capricorn
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7
Match each zone to the climate found there. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Tropics, Polar regions, Temperate zones Right: Hot all year round, Very cold all year round, Mild with four seasons
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8
Which country is inside the Arctic Circle? A) Norway (its northern part) B) Spain C) Brazil D) Australia
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9
Fill in the blank. The Tropic of Cancer is at ___ degrees North.
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10
Put these lines of latitude in order from north to south. Put these in order: Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Arctic Circle, Tropic of Capricorn
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Answer key

The Tropics, Arctic and Antarctic Circles · for parents and teachers

1
Tropic of Cancer → 23.5° North of equator; Tropic of Capricorn → 23.5° South of equator; Arctic Circle → 66.5° North of equator; Antarctic Circle → 66.5° South of equator
The Tropic of Cancer is at 23.5°N, the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5°S, the Arctic Circle at 66.5°N and the Antarctic Circle at 66.5°S.
2
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer is north of the equator at 23.5°N. The Tropic of Capricorn is south, at 23.5°S.
3
True
True. The Tropics is the warm band of the Earth between the two Tropics, where the climate is hot.
4
The tropics
The tropics, the area near the equator, is hot and often has rainforests.
5
66.5
The Arctic Circle is at 66.5° North. The Antarctic Circle is at the same latitude but in the south, 66.5° South.
6
Inside the Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is in the far north, very close to the North Pole, so it is much colder than the Tropics or the equator.
7
Tropics → Hot all year round; Polar regions → Very cold all year round; Temperate zones → Mild with four seasons
The Tropics are hot, the polar regions (inside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles) are very cold, and the temperate zones in between have four seasons.
8
Norway (its northern part)
Northern Norway is inside the Arctic Circle, where the sun can stay up all day in summer and stay below the horizon in winter.
9
23.5
The Tropic of Cancer is at 23.5° North. The Tropic of Capricorn is at the same number but South.
10
Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn
From north to south: Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn. The Antarctic Circle would come next, even further south.