ORANGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

OFFICE OF SCIENCE

GRADE 6
SCIENCE
Post-Assessment
Answer Key and Scoring Guide

School Year 2013-2014

Teacher Date
Grade 6 – CPO Earth Science KEY

SGO Post-Assessment – Grade 6 – Earth Science KEY- 55 pts

Multiple Choice - 1 pt ea
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the letter of the correct answer in
the space provided.
Use the following information to answer question 1.

Jorge discovered that a piece of bread left in a sandwich bag had developed a black mold-like substance growing on
its surface. He decided to perform an experiment to determine factors affecting mold growth.

__D__ 1. In Jorge’s bread mold experiment, he used the same brand of bread and sandwich bags. He placed the
sealed bags in places that had varying temperatures. Temperature is the:
a. control variable. c. analysis.
b. hypothesis. d. experimental variable.

__B__ 2. Which of the following is the same measurement as 2000 grams of soda?
a. 0.2 liters of soda c. 2 kilograms of soda
b. 2 liters of soda d. 2 milliliters of soda

__A__ 3. All matter consists of tiny particles known as atoms. The different types of atoms are known as:
a. elements. c. molecules.
b. compounds. d. chemicals.

__B__ 4. The atoms in gases:

a. vibrate in place. c. vibrate and move freely about.
b. move freely about d. vibrate and move freely about, but not at the
same time.
Choose the one response below that appropriate fills in the blanks from top to bottom.
__D__ 5. Heat is transferred in conduction by______________.
Heat is transferred in convection by _____________.
Heat is transferred in radiation by _______________.

a. Movement of fluids c. direct contact

Direct contact waves through the air
Waves through the air movement of fluids

b. waves through the air d. direct contact

direct contact movement of fluids
movement of fluids waves through the air

__B__ 6. Most of Earth’s water is found in which phase?

a. Solid c. Gas
b. Liquid d. None of the above

__D__ 7. Which of the following is an example of water changing its phase?

a. Glacier ice melting c. Dew drops on grass in early morning
b. A mud puddle evaporating d. All of the above
Teacher Date
Grade 6 – CPO Earth Science KEY

__A__ 8. What affect does increasing atmospheric pressure have on the rate of evaporation?
a. evaporation decreases c. evaporation stays the same
b. evaporation increases d. the effect depends on latitude

__B__ 9. The long-term

term record of precipitation, wi
wind, and temperature for an area is:
a. weather. c. meteorology.
b. climate. d. seasons.

__B__
__ 10. The correct order for fossil formation is:
a. Soft body parts decay, sediments are deposited and cover organisms, sediments and hard parts
become rock.
b. Sediments are deposited and cover organism, soft body parts decay, sediments and hard parts
become rock.
c. Hard and soft body parts decay and become rock.
d. Sediments cover organism and all body parts decay.

__A__ 11. Rocks A, B, and C are layers of sedimentary rocks. Rock D is a

rock intrusion. Which rock is oldest? Which rock is youngest?
a. C is oldest, D is youngest c. B is oldest, D is youngest
b. D is oldest, A is youngest d. A is oldest, C is youngest

__D__ 12. In thee Geologic Time Scale, eras:

a. determine the dominant life forms present. c. lasted for millions of years.
b. are divided into periods. d. All of the above.

__C__
__ 13. The idea that continents move slowly on Earth’s surface is known as:
a. sea-floor spreading. c. continental drift.
b. mountain making d. convection cells

Refer to the figure to answer question 14

__D__
__ 14. On the figure to the right, which area marked is the crust of the earth?
a. A c. C
b. B d. D.

__B__ 15. More earthquakes occur near the region on Earth’s surface that is split into two pieces because of
earthquakes. This region is called a(n):
a. chasm. c. vent.
b. fault. d. stick-slip.

__A__
__ 16. _________ rocks are formed from oother
ther rock particles broken down into small pieces by the rock cycle.
a. Sedimentary c. Igneous
b. Metamorphic d. All of the above
Teacher Date
Grade 6 – CPO Earth Science KEY

__B__
__ 17. Which substance has the greatest effect on the rate at which rocks weather (break down)?

a. Sunlight c. Chlorophyll
b. Water d. Hydrogen

__B__
__ 18. If sustainable energy sources are not found and society continues to primarily use non-renewable
non energy
a. pollution will decrease c. there will be more jobs created
crea
b. there will be an energy shortage d. people will stop needing energy

__A__
__ 19. If humans put too much pollution in the environment:
a. plants and animals can die. c. animals move to cleaner areas.
b. habitats can be destroyed. d. all of the above.

__B__ 20. An astronaut weighs

eighs 400 Newtons on the Moon’s surface. On Earth they would:
a. weigh less. c. weigh the same
b. weigh more d. increase in mass

__B__
__ 21. The length of a planet’s day is defined by its:
a. mass. c. density.
b. period of rotation. d. period
od of revolution.

__C__
__ 22. Which of the following is most responsible for causing changing seasons on Earth each year?
a. Closeness to Earth to Sun during orbit c. Tilt of Earth on its axis
b. Speed of Earth’s rotation d. Amount of meteorites in sky

__A__
__ 23. During which phase of the Moon does a solar eclipse occur?
a. Full Moon c. Waning Gibbous
b. New Moon d. First Quarter

__C__
__ 24. Buoyancy describes the concept that:
a. all objects float in water c. less dense objects will float in more dense fluids
b. objects denser than water will
ill float in it d. objects must be filled with air in order to float

__D__
__ 25. The state of water as a solid, liquid, or gas in the water cycle is most affected by:
a. humidity c. amount of water
b. wind d. temperature

__B__
__ 26. As shown on the diagram, the imaginary vertical lines that
are east and west of the prime meridian are called:
a. latitude lines. c. contour lines.
b. longitude lines. d. bathymetric lines.

__A__ 27. When

hen an object’s volume is made smaller and its mass remains the same, its density:
a. increases. c. remains the same.
b. decreases. d. increases then decreases.
 Teacher Date
Grade 6 – CPO Earth Science KEY

Completion –Write a response to best fit each sentence. 1 pt ea

28. The ____desert_______________ biomes receive less than 35 centimeters of rainfall per year.

29. The ___rainforest________________ biomes are located near the equator with near constant
temperature year-round.
Short Answer - Answer each question in the space provided. Use complete sentences.
30. Label the picture below that illustrates the water cycle. Label all parts as completely as possible,
including the four main processes in the water cycle and the source of energy for the water cycle. Be sure to
use the following words. Some words may be used more than once. 9 pts

Aquifer Sun Transpiration Precipitation Evaporation Percolation Groundwater Condensation

 Teacher Date
Grade 6 – CPO Earth Science KEY

31. Trace the path of water from the ocean to groundwater and back to the ocean. Describe the processes that allow
water to travel from the ocean to the groundwater. 3 pts
Responses will vary, but should include accurate descriptions of evaporation, precipitation, transpiration,
percolation, condensation.
Code If the student…
3 Demonstrates a clear understanding of the task by providing an accurate description of at least
3 of the water cycle processes, referencing phase changes.
2 demonstrates a basic understanding of the task by providing an accurate description of at 2
water cycle processes.
1 demonstrates a basic understanding of the task by correctly describing 1 of the water cycle
processes.
0 Makes no attempt or provides a response that does not correspond to the question.

This topographic map shows two different views of an island.

32. In Figure 8-1, what is the elevation

of the hill top? 1 pt

40 feet

33. Which end of the island is steeper,

A or B? How do you know? 2 pts

A is steeper because the contour lines

at A are closer together. Also, you
can see from the elevation that the
slope is steeper at A.
Figure 8-1
 Teacher Date
Grade 6 – CPO Earth Science KEY

The number of students in Ms. Jones’ science class each year for 10 years is shown in the following data set.

1995 35 students
1996 33 students
1997 34 students
1998 32 students
1999 30 students
2000 30 students
2001 29 students
2002 27 students
2003 27 students
2004 26 students
2005 25 students

34. Draw a line graph of the data set of Ms. Jones’ class size on the axes provided, making sure your graph
gr
has all the proper parts (title, labels with units, data points, best fit curve). 9 pts
1 pt – Title Ms Jones’ Science Class Size
2 pts – labeled axis’

2 pts – correct number

scale on axis

3 pts – data points plotted

correctly

1 pt – best fit curve line

35. What does the data set show about the trend in class size in Ms. Jones’ science class over 10 years? 2 pts

Her class size decreased.