6th Grade Earth Science Benchmark

1.

Which phase of the Moon occurs after a waxing gibbous?

Waning gibbous

waxing crescent

full moon

new moon

2.

Ocean tides of Earth are strongly influenced by the Moon. During which
lunar phases are ocean tides lowest on Earth?

first quarter and last quarter

full moon and new moon

full and first quarter

last quarter and new moon

3.

All of these are examples of the ways Earth and the Moon interact except

seasons on Earth

lunar eclipses

the tides on Earth

the phases of the moon

4.

Jamie studied how the position of Earth around the Sun affects the energy
available on Earth. Which best explains why a particular place on Earth receives more energy during summer months than winter months?

the amount of rays produced by the sun

the rotation of Earth

the distance between Earth and the sun

the tilt of Earth

5.

On January 15th, there were 10 hours and 24 minutes of daylight in Jacksonville, Florida. On the same day, there were only 9 hours and 37 minutes of daylight in New York City. Why did New York have fewer hours of daylight than Florida?

because gravity pulls Earth toward the Sun

because the Moon reflects sunlight onto Earth

because Earth rotates

because Earth tilts on its axis

6.

What percentage of the Earth is water?

70%

97%

30%

3%

7.

Of all the water on Earth, what percentage is salt water?

30%

3%

70%

97%

8.

The temperatures in space vary from extremely cold to extremely hot. Earth's surface temperature is relatively stable. Which of these is most responsible for Earth's surface temperatures?

solar radiation reflected from the Moon

many volcanic eruptions near the Ring of Fire

the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere

plankton distribution in shallow ocean waters

9.

A boundary where two tectonic plates come together, or collide, is called a

convergent boundary

transfer boundary

divergent boundary

transform boundary

10.

What direction does the moon revolve around the Earth?

clockwise

circular

counterclockwise

diagonally

11.

The San Andreas Fault in Mexico and California is watched carefully for signs of an expected earthquake. Why do scientists think an earthquake might happen there?

The chances of a major earthquake in California have increased greatly because there has been so much construction there.

Everyplace on Earth's crust has a probability of Earthquakes and the San Andreas Fault has never had one.

The San Andreas is a known major fault where pressure for lateral movement has been building for many years.

The San Andreas Fault is the line that divides the part of California that is sinking into the Pacific Ocean.

12.

What is the MAIN reason that the continents look very different than they did 100 million years ago?

Waves and wind have caused parts of continents to erode into the ocean.

The continents have drifted apart from one another on lithospheric plates.

Ocean currents have constantly reshaped the continents.

Volcanoes have made and destroyed many of the continents.

13.

What landform is created when two continental plates collide?

volcano

ocean basin

canyon

mountain range

14.

A solar eclipse occurs when

the first four planets are in a line.

the Moon blocks Earth from the Sun.

the last four planets are in a line

Earth blocks the Moon from the Sun.

15.

Venus has the highest surface temperature of all the planets in our solar system. Which is the best explanation for
this?

Venus's atmosphere has thick clouds and carbon dioxide.

Venus revolves around the Sun relatively quickly.

Venus is very close to the Sun.

Venus rotates on its axis very slowly.

16.

What are mid-ocean ridges?

They are areas where tectonic plates meet

They are areas underwater where thick layers of sediment have accumulated

They are areas of underwater mountain chains located near many active volcanoes.

They are narrow valleys that run along the bottom of the oceans.

17.

Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur in areas of the Pacific Ocean called "The Ring of Fire." What is the main reason for this?

Large numbers of people live in this area

Lithosphere plate boundaries are found in that area.

That area of Earth is hotter than any other area.

The weight of the ocean water forces magma to the surfac

18.

In December, 2004, an earthquake registering 9.0 on the Richter scale was recorded off the far coast of Sumatra. What is the common secondary effect of this type of earthquake?

a tsunami

global warming

a tornado

volcanic activity

19.

What best describes the mantle of Earth?

the largest layer between the crust and outer core

a thin layer that is located on the surface

a solid layer made of iron and nickel

the smallest layer that is made up of molten rock

20.

As early as the 1600s, scientists noticed that the continents appeared to fit together like pieces of a puzzle. The idea that the continents were once together and had drifted apart was not widely accepted. In the 1940s, technology used on submarines led to evidence of continental movement. This technology allowed the scientists to do which of these?

to explain the mechanism that caused the continents to move

to consider it unlikely that the continents were once together

to explain the extinction of the dinosaurs

to consider the glacial evidence as outdated

21.

Lithospheric plates have moved to form land formations on the Earth's surface. Which land formation occurs as a result of the plates folding upon one another?

a mountain range

an earthquake

a volcano

a river

22.

Nutrients are recycled when materials decompose in an ecosystem. Which is the best example of the decomposition process where organic material is recycled in an ecosystem?

a hawk eating a mouse

a plant using nitrogen to make proteins

worms tunneling through soil

bacteria feeding on dead plants

23.

Earthworms move randomly throughout topsoil. How do earthworms most likely affect the topsoil?

by removing the minerals from the topsoil

by compacting the topsoil

by decreasing the fertility of the topsoil

by adding nutrients to the topsoil

24.

A black brick exposed to sunlight becomes warm. How is energy from the Sun transferred to the brick?

radiation

reflection

convection

conduction