The claim that rising mean temperature leads to less precipitation across the United States is true.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough information
• D. It depends on context

Answer: (B)

Warming temperatures change how and where rain falls by altering the amount of moisture the air can hold and shifting weather patterns. Warmer air can carry more water vapor, which often leads to more intense rainfall events where conditions for rain exist. But this doesn’t mean the United States will simply get less precipitation overall. In fact, precipitation patterns become more variable and regionally diverse: some areas may experience heavier rainfall and floods, while others—like the Southwest—may see longer or more severe drought due to higher evaporation and changes in storm tracks. Long-term data show more extreme precipitation events in many parts of the country, even as some regions dry out. So the idea that rising mean temperature causes less precipitation across the whole United States is not supported; the change is not uniform and tends to involve more extremes rather than a blanket decrease.