Which factor explains temperature difference between equator and poles?

Correct answer: Latitude

Direct answer: A, latitude. Latitude tells how far a place lies north or south of the Equator. Because Earth is curved, the Sun’s rays strike different latitudes at different angles. Near the Equator, the rays are more nearly vertical, so solar energy is concentrated over a smaller area. Near the poles, the rays arrive at a slant, spread over a larger area and pass through more atmosphere; therefore heating is generally less intense. Option A is correct because latitude helps explain the broad temperature contrast between low and high latitudes. B, a road, does not control incoming solar energy. C, food, has no role in this geographical pattern. D, population can affect local human conditions but does not explain the basic equator–pole temperature difference. Memory cue: lower latitude usually means more direct sunlight; higher latitude usually means more slanting sunlight.