Final answer:
The claim that average temperatures at higher elevations are generally higher is false. Higher elevations typically experience lower average temperatures and greater contrasts between sunlight and shadow temperatures due to thinner air and the angle of sunlight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement Average air temperatures at higher elevations are generally higher, with smaller differences between areas of direct sunlight and shadow is false. Temperatures typically decrease with elevation at a rate of about 3.5 °F for every 1,000 feet.
This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that thin air at higher elevations holds less heat. Additionally, the angle of the Sun's rays affects temperatures; the higher the Sun is in the sky, the more directly its rays can heat the ground. In higher elevations, though direct sunlight may be intense, the overall average temperature is lower, and the difference in temperature between sunlight and shadow is actually more pronounced due to the thinner atmosphere.