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Grade 6 Earth Space Posttest
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____
1. Limestone rocks provide places for shore birds to perch. These rocks look rough because they have been
broken down over time. Liam wants to label the picture to show what causes the rocks to be broken down
by physical means.
What parts of the picture should Liam label to show the things that break down the rock by physical means?
A.
B.
C.
D.
____
the birds only
the water only
the birds and the water
the water and the rock
2. Zach finds a rock in the ocean water along the shoreline. He recognizes the effects of chemical weathering.
Which type of chemical weathering most likely changed the rock?
A. biological weathering
B. carbonation
C. hydrolysis
D. oxidation
____
3. Julia hikes in an area that was once covered by glaciers. Which of the following features created by
deposition does she most likely observe?
A. lake
B. moraine
C. sandbar
D. valley
____
4. Lake Eola is a sinkhole lake. Which of the following statements best describes how it formed?
A. An underground cave collapsed and the sediment plug opened.
B. An underground cave collapsed and became plugged by sediment.
C. A cut-off meander of a stream formed a crescent-shaped lake.
D. A chunk of ice deposited by a glacier melted, and the glacial drift around the former ice
block held the water in place.
____
5. During a family picnic, Alice sketches a common Florida landform.
Which label describes Alice’s sketch?
A. coastline
B. delta
C. mountain
D. river
____
6. John learns that both Florida and Alaska have coastlines. However, Alaska’s coastline is rocky. How is
Florida’s coastline different than Alaska’s coastline?
A. Florida’s coastline is mostly sandy.
B. Florida’s coastline is open to the sea.
C. Florida’s coastline features many cliffs.
D. Florida’s coastline has cold temperatures.
____
7. Vivian placed an ice cube in a tray of warm water. The following picture shows her investigation.
Which statement describes the energy transfer that happens in Vivian’s investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
____
Energy in the form of heat is transferred from the ice cube to the water by radiation.
Energy in the form of heat is transferred from the water to the ice cube by radiation.
Energy in the form of heat is transferred from the ice cube to the water by conduction.
Energy in the form of heat is transferred from the water to the ice cube by conduction.
8. The movement of water through the oceans is one way that heat is transferred on Earth. By which process
does water transfer heat from the equator to the poles?
A. the Coriolis effect
B. conduction
C. radiation
D. convection
____
9. As air near Earth’s surface is heated by energy absorbed from sunlight, warm air rises into the atmosphere
and cools. This cool air sinks back to Earth’s surface. What process causes this movement of air in the
atmosphere?
A. conduction
B. convection
C. polarization
D. radiation
____ 10. Evaporation of water into the air is part of the water cycle. Precipitation of water back to Earth is also part
of the water cycle. Both of these parts of the water cycle are shown in the following illustration.
What role does the Floridian aquifer play in the water cycle?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Water evaporates from the aquifer to enter the atmosphere.
Water moves from the aquifer onto the surface in the form of precipitation.
Water condenses so that water vapor changes into raindrops or snowflakes.
Water seeps from the aquifer back into the Gulf of Mexico to help keep the cycle flowing.
____ 11. Unpredicted flash floods are among the most dangerous weather events that can occur. Which of the
following is a common cause of flash flooding?
A. Hurricanes push a large amount of water onto land.
B. Thunderstorms stall over an area causing heavy rain for an extended period.
C. A sudden rise in ground water levels rapidly increases the water table in an area.
D. High tides cause the level of the ocean to rise rapidly and wash over land features.
____ 12. During an El Niño year, the surface waters in the Southern Pacific Ocean are warmer than during an
average year. An El Niño event can affect weather patterns many thousands of kilometers away from the
Pacific Ocean. What effect is most responsible for these weather pattern changes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
increase in evaporation of water from the ocean surface
decrease in the density of water at and near the surface
decrease in reflection from the surface as clouds form above the water
a change in the height of waves at the surface as water temperature changes
____ 13. The Coriolis effect is the curving of the path of a moving object in Earth’s atmosphere that is caused by
Earth’s rotation. How does the Coriolis effect affect winds globally?
A. It causes winds to shift north and south.
B. It causes winds to blow from any direction.
C. It causes the air to move as wind.
D. It causes an apparent change in wind direction.
____ 14. The map below shows the path of the jet stream across North America on a single day in July.
Which of the following weather conditions is likely based on the map?
A. humid weather in Washington and Oregon
B. cooler than normal weather in central Canada
C. warm, dry weather in most of New England
D. hot, humid weather in the Southwestern part of the United States
____ 15. Coastal areas of California, near San Francisco, generally have much lower temperatures than places a few
hundred mile inland. Why do these coastal areas have low temperatures?
A. Coastal areas receive less solar energy than inland areas.
B. A cold ocean current absorbs heat from winds blowing toward the coast.
C. The water of the ocean cannot absorb as much energy as the soil farther inland.
D. Mountains prevent winds from blowing warm air from the desert westward to the coast.
____ 16. The picture below shows three of Earth’s spheres.
Which two spheres are represented by the water and the heron?
A.
B.
C.
D.
biosphere and geosphere
atmosphere and biosphere
hydrosphere and biosphere
atmosphere and hydrosphere
____ 17. Most of Earth’s water is contained in the oceans, which are part of the hydrosphere. Where is almost all of
the remaining water located?
A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. cryosphere
D. geosphere
____ 18. For a science day demonstration, Ms. Morella’s class built a model showing how Earth’s various spheres
interact with one another. Which process could the class use to show interactions among the hydrosphere,
the atmosphere, and the biosphere?
A. erosion of soil by flowing water
B. photosynthesis in a large rain forest
C. formation of ice bergs as glaciers reach the sea
D. breaking down of rocks by mechanical weathering of tree roots
____ 19. At a beach, the surface of the ocean warms more slowly than the surface of the land. Which of the
following best explains why this happens?
A. The water receives less sunlight than the land.
B. The water has a higher specific heat capacity than the land.
C. The water reflects much less solar radiation than the land.
D. The water has a lower specific heat capacity than the land.
____ 20. On a hot, sunny day, the air just above solid ground is usually warmer than the air above the surface of the
ocean nearby. Why is the air above land warmer than the air above water?
A. Wind blows the heat away from the water’s surface.
B. Soil radiates heat energy from absorbed sunlight faster than water does.
C. The ground is heated by molten rock beneath the surface in addition to sunlight.
D. Plants growing on land release energy into the atmosphere and make the air warmer.
____ 21. St Augustine, FL is located on the Atlantic coast at a latitude of about 30°N and Seward, AK is located on
the Pacific coast at a latitude of about 60°N. Throughout the year, the temperature in St. Augustine tends to
be much warmer than temperature in Seward.
What is the main reason that St. Augustine is warmer than Seward?
A. St. Augustine is has a longer summer.
B. St. Augustine is located near a warmer ocean.
C. St. Augustine is receives more energy from the Sun.
D. St. Augustine is located at a lower elevation than Seward.
____ 22. Aurora records the following observations: It rained on Monday. It was sunny on Tuesday. It rained again
on Wednesday. What is Aurora recording?
A. observations of the weather
B. observations of the climate
C. observations of both weather and climate
D. observations of neither weather or climate
____ 23. The illustration below is part of a report that Joaquin prepared about the relationship between air masses
and precipitation.
Which statement below could Joaquin correctly include as a description of the illustration?
A. The illustration shows that the climate at this location is generally cloudy and humid.
B. Both the weather and the climate at this location are warm and humid in the summer.
C. The weather causes the two air masses to come together and produce clouds and rain.
D. The interaction of the two air masses causes the weather to become cloudy and warmer.
____ 24. Climate and weather are related but different. Which of the following describes the climate of a place?
A. Thunderstorms frequently occur in the summer.
B. Fertile soil makes farms in the region very productive.
C. The temperature dropped below freezing every night last week.
D. A meteorologist predicts that tomorrow will be sunny and warm.
____ 25. After an extreme-weather event, a 1-mi-wide trail of destruction involved uprooted trees, downed power
lines, and destroyed buildings. What type of weather event happened?
A. a flood
B. a hurricane
C. a tornado
D. a wildfire
____ 26. People in a shopping center waited indoors during a sudden strong thunderstorm. After the storm, they
found that the cars in the parking lot were covered with dents.
What is the most likely cause of the damage to the cars?
A. very heavy rain
B. large hailstones
C. rocks blown by the wind
D. a lightning strike on the parking lot
____ 27. Zoe and her family decided to prepare a family plan for handling natural disasters. During which months
should her family be prepared to use their hurricane plan?
A. January through July
B. March through August
C. June through November
D. September through December
____ 28. Most of Florida is no more than about 50 m above sea level. Jayla hears on a news report that there is a
chance of severe flooding in her area. Jayla lives in a low-lying area. What may be her best course of
action?
A. Jayla should evacuate.
B. Jayla should go sit in her car.
C. Jayla should stay home and wait out the flood.
D. Jayla should stay out of her home and go outside.
____ 29. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight can cause skin damage. The amount of sunlight an area receives
can vary with latitude. Most of Florida is located between 25° and 32° north of the Equator.
Which of the following best describes the risk of unprotected exposure to sunlight in Florida?
A. The risk is the same in Florida as it is anywhere on Earth.
B. Florida is not near either pole so the risk of exposure is fairly low.
C. Cloud cover in Florida reduces the risk compared to places at the same latitude.
D. In Florida, risk is high because it gets more direct sunlight than much of the world.
____ 30. Hurricanes can cause a lot of damage and injury, or even death, to people. What is the best way to protect
yourself from a hurricane that is approaching your location?
A. Go to a shelter that is designated by emergency agencies.
B. Stay inside your home with the doors and windows closed.
C. Stay far from the beach so that you are beyond the storm surge.
D. Stay away from low areas that are likely to flood during heavy rainfall.
____ 31. Look at the following image of a greenhouse. A greenhouse is a building where plants are cultivated.
Because a greenhouse traps some of the incoming solar radiation, the air inside is generally warmer than the
air outside. .
Which gas in Earth’s atmosphere acts like this greenhouse?
A.
B.
C.
D.
argon
carbon dioxide
nitrogen
oxygen
____ 32. The surface of the moon is covered by craters formed when meteors collided with the moon. Although
meteors occasionally land on Earth, there are very few meteor strikes on Earth’s surface compared to the
moon’s surface. Why do few meteors strike Earth?
A. Satellites above Earth use lasers to clear the sky of meteors.
B. Meteors strike the moon first so they don’t make it to Earth.
C. Most meteors burn up due to friction with air in the atmosphere.
D. Earth’s magnetic field repels meteors because they are made of magnetic rock.
____ 33. Earth’s atmosphere provides the air that humans need to breathe. In what other way is the atmosphere
important for people?
A. It protects us from dangerous solar radiation.
B. It provides light and heat that we need to live.
C. It provides nutrients that are essential for good health.
D. It breaks down pollutants so that they don’t get into soil and water.
Grade 6 Earth Space Posttest
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. ANS: C
• A is incorrect because the water is also an agent of physical weathering.
• B is incorrect because the birds are also an agent of physical weathering.
• C is correct because the birds and the water are agents of physical weathering because they wear away the
rock.
• D is incorrect because the rock is weathered, but it is not a weathering agent in this case.
STA: SC.6.E.6.1
2. ANS: C
A is incorrect because biological weathering is the result of exposure to acidic compounds created by plants
and animals.
B is incorrect because carbonation is the result of exposure to carbon dioxide, which is found largely in air.
C is correct because hydrolysis is the result of exposure to water, which is found in the ocean.
D is incorrect because oxidation is the result of exposure to oxygen, which is found largely in air.
STA: SC.6.E.6.1
3. ANS: B
A is incorrect because a lake is the result of glacial erosion, not deposition.
B is correct because a moraine is a pile of rocks and soil deposited by a glacier.
C is incorrect because a sandbar is formed by a river, not a glacier.
D is incorrect because a valley is formed by erosion, not deposition.
STA: SC.6.E.6.1
4. ANS: B
• A is incorrect because if a sediment plug opens, this causes a sinkhole lake to drain, not be created.
• B is correct because the collapse of a cave and the build-up of sediment allows a sinkhole lake to form
when it is filled with water.
• C is incorrect because this describes the formation of an oxbow lake, not a sinkhole lake.
• D is incorrect because this describes the formation of a kettle lake, not a sinkhole lake.
STA: SC.6.E.6.2
5. ANS: A
A is correct because Florida has many miles of dune-filled coastline.
B is incorrect because a delta forms where a river meets the ocean, and this sketch shows only the ocean.
C is incorrect because the landform shows a dune rather than a mountain. Additionally, there are no
mountains in Florida.
D is incorrect because a river is a narrower body of water than the ocean pictured here.
STA: SC.6.E.6.2
6. ANS: A
A is correct because Florida’s beaches are sandy, and Alaska’s shoreline is rocky.
B is in correct because Florida has islands and because the Gulf of Mexico protects one side of Florida.
C is incorrect because Florida’s beaches are sandy.
D is incorrect because Florida is much warmer than Alaska.
STA: SC.6.E.6.2
7. ANS: D
A is incorrect because the energy is transferred from the water to the ice cube, and the mechanism is
conduction, not radiation.
B is incorrect because the mechanism would be conduction because the water and ice cube are in direct
contact.
C is incorrect because the energy is transferred from the water to the ice cube by conduction and not from
the ice cube to the water.
D is correct because the energy is transferred by conduction from the warmer water to the colder ice cube.
STA: SC.6.E.7.1
8. ANS: D
A is incorrect because the Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects from a straight path due to
Earth’s rotation.
B is incorrect because conduction only occurs at the interface between water and air.
C is incorrect because currents are caused by convective motion of a fluid, not by radiation.
D is correct because convection currents result in heat transfer due to the motion of a fluid.
STA: SC.6.E.7.1
9. ANS: B
A is incorrect because conduction occurs when two objects or substances are in direct contact with one
another.
B is correct because convection is heat transfer due to currents in a fluid, and air is considered a fluid
because it flows.
C is incorrect because polarization is not a type of heat transfer.
D is incorrect because radiation is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves.
STA: SC.6.E.7.1
10. ANS: D
·A is incorrect because water evaporates from bodies of water, such as the Gulf of Mexico, and from the
underground aquifer.
·B is incorrect because precipitation includes rain or snow, which transport water from the atmosphere back
to Earth.
·C is incorrect because condensation takes place in the clouds.
·D is correct because some of the water slowly moves through the ground to reenter the Gulf of Mexico.
STA: SC.6.E.7.2
11. ANS: B
A is incorrect because this is a storm surge and it is generally predicted.
B is correct because extended heavy rains can rapidly cause rivers to overflow.
C is incorrect because changes in ground water levels are a slow process.
D is incorrect because tides are predictable and generally do not cause sudden flooding.
STA: SC.6.E.7.2
12. ANS: A
A is correct because higher temperatures increase evaporation which affects distribution of water in the
atmosphere.
B is incorrect because density of the water has a small affect on atmospheric conditions.
C is incorrect because reflection of light does not have a great effect on weather far away.
D is incorrect because the size of waves is not related to weather patterns.
STA: SC.6.E.7.2
13. ANS: D
A is incorrect because jet streams follow boundaries between hot and cold air and can therefore shift north
and south..
B is incorrect because only air moving over short distances, not globally, can blow from any direction.
C is incorrect because the Coriolis effect affects the direction of the wind; it does not cause air to move.
D is correct because the Coriolis effect affects the direction of the wind.
STA: SC.6.E.7.3
14. ANS: D
A is incorrect because air this pattern allows cool, humid polar air masses to move toward the northwestern
states.
B is incorrect because this jet stream allows warm, dry air to move northward from the central United States
into Canada.
C is incorrect because this jet stream pattern allows cool, moist air to move from eastern Canada into the
eastern United States.
D is correct because this pattern allows hot, dry air to move from Mexico into the southwestern United
States.
STA: SC.6.E.7.3
15. ANS: B
A is incorrect because the amount of solar energy received depends on latitude, not distance from the ocean.
B is correct because the cold water of the Pacific removes heat energy from the air before it reaches the
coast.
C is incorrect because temperature of the air depends on the amount of energy transferred from the surface,
not the amount absorbed by the surface.
D is incorrect because winds in North America tend to blow from west to east.
STA: SC.6.E.7.3
16. ANS: C
A is incorrect because the water is part of the hydrosphere.
B is incorrect because the water is part of the hydrosphere.
C is correct because the water is part of the hydrosphere, and the heron is part of the biosphere.
D is incorrect because the heron is part of the biosphere.
STA: SC.6.E.7.4
17. ANS: C
A is incorrect because only a small part of Earth’s water is located in the atmosphere.
B is incorrect because the amount of water in the biosphere is substantial, but there is much more water in
the cryosphere than in the biosphere.
C is correct because most of the water that is not in the oceans occurs in the form of ice, the cryosphere.
D is incorrect because the geosphere includes the rocky parts of the crust but not the ice, which is most of
the water outside the oceans.
STA: SC.6.E.7.4
18. ANS: B
A is incorrect because erosion of soil occurs without the interaction of the biosphere.
B is correct because living organisms use photosynthesis to make sugars from water in the hydrosphere and
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
C is incorrect because forming icebergs involves the cryosphere and the hydrosphere.
D is incorrect because mechanical weathering by tree roots is mainly a process of the biosphere and the
geosphere.
STA: SC.6.E.7.4
19. ANS: B
A is incorrect because the water would receive the same amount of sunlight as the land.
B is correct because water has a higher heat capacity than land. This means that more energy as heat is
required to raise the temperature of water. As a result, water warms more slowly.
C is incorrect because the water reflects more solar radiation than the land.
D is incorrect because water has a higher heat capacity than land. This means that more energy as heat is
required to raise the temperature of water. As a result, water warms more slowly..
STA: SC.6.E.7.5
20. ANS: B
A is incorrect because winds blow over water and land but the soil is hotter.
B is correct because soil absorbs energy from sunlight and radiates heat much faster than water.
C is incorrect because almost all of the energy that heats land comes from the Sun.
D is incorrect because the plants generally absorb energy from the Sun instead of releasing energy.
STA: SC.6.E.7.5
21. ANS: C
A is incorrect because the length of summer is not dependent on latitude.
B is incorrect because ocean temperatures have much less effect than large differences in latitude.
C is correct because sunlight strikes Florida at a more direct angle than it does Alaska so Florida receives
more energy.
D is incorrect because both coastal cities are near sea level.
STA: SC.6.E.7.5
22. ANS: A
A is correct because the observations are examples of weather.
B is incorrect because the observations are examples of weather, not climate.
C is incorrect because the observations are examples of weather alone, not climate. temperate zone is
located between 30°S and 60°S.
D is incorrect because the observations are examples of weather.
STA: SC.6.E.7.6
23. ANS: D
A is incorrect because the interaction of two air masses is a short term condition that controls weather but
not climate.
B is incorrect because the collision of two air masses is a weather phenomenon that can occur during any
season.
C is incorrect because weather is a description of conditions in the atmosphere, not the cause.
D is correct because the interaction of the two air masses affects the weather but not the climate.
STA: SC.6.E.7.6
24. ANS: A
A is correct because the sentence describes typical conditions over many years.
B is incorrect because soil is not a factor in either weather or climate.
C is incorrect because conditions over one week are related to weather, not climate.
D is incorrect because climate refers to long term conditions, not conditions on a particular day.
STA: SC.6.E.7.6
25. ANS: C
• A is incorrect because floods cause damage by inundation with water.
• B is incorrect because hurricanes affect areas much larger than 1 mi wide and cause damage by winds,
heavy rains, and flooding.
• C is correct because a tornado is a relatively small rotating column of air that causes damage as a result of
its intense wind speeds.
• D is incorrect because wildfires cause damage by burning rather than by wind.
STA: SC.6.E.7.7
26. ANS: B
A is incorrect because even a heavy rain does not cause dents in metal.
B is correct because hailstones are balls of ice that can hit metal hard enough to dent it.
C is incorrect because wind does not usually carry rocks and if it did they would likely dent the sides of the
car.
D is incorrect because lightning does not cause this type of damage.
STA: SC.6.E.7.7
27. ANS: C
A is incorrect because hurricanes generally do not occur in winter or spring.
B is incorrect because the hurricanes are most likely to occur in late summer and fall.
C is correct because the official hurricane season is June 1 through November 30.
D is incorrect because many hurricanes occur during the summer.
STA: SC.6.E.7.7
28. ANS: A
A is correct because Jayla lives in a low-lying area and hears of a severe flood warning, so she should
evacuate quickly.
B is incorrect because the car can be affected by the flood, even becoming submerged if the flood water
rises high enough.
C is incorrect because a house can be affected by rising flood waters; even a building of several stories can
be affected by rising water or undermining of building foundations.
D is incorrect because being outside brings with it the risk of being swept away or drowned in a severe
flood.
STA: SC.6.E.7.8
29. ANS: D
A is incorrect because risk varies with the amount of direct sunlight.
B is incorrect because risk is lower near the poles and Florida is closer to the Equator than to the North
Pole.
C is incorrect because clouds do not provide protection against ultraviolet radiation.
D is correct because places close to the Equator get the most direct sunlight.
STA: SC.6.E.7.8
30. ANS: A
A is correct because there is no way to remain safe inside the storm area.
B is incorrect because buildings are not sufficient to protect against a hurricane.
C is incorrect because staying away from the beach does not protect you from hurricane winds and floods.
D is incorrect because staying away from low areas does not provide protection against other hazards of a
hurricane.
STA: SC.6.E.7.8
31. ANS: B
A is incorrect because a greenhouse traps heat; carbon dioxide, not argon, also traps heat.
B is correct because a greenhouse traps heat; carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, also traps heat.
C is incorrect because a greenhouse traps heat; carbon dioxide, not nitrogen, also traps heat.
D is incorrect because a greenhouse traps heat; carbon dioxide, not oxygen, also traps heat.
STA: SC.6.E.7.9
32. ANS: C
A is incorrect because there is no program that uses satellites to destroy meteors.
B is incorrect because Earth is larger than the moon so more meteors reach Earth’s atmosphere.
C is correct because very few meteors are large enough to pass through the atmosphere.
D is incorrect because the magnetic field is not strong enough to affect meteors.
STA: SC.6.E.7.9
33. ANS: A
A is correct because gases in the atmosphere absorb dangerous UV radiation.
B is incorrect because the sun provides heat and light that pass through the atmosphere.
C is incorrect because nutrients come from our food, not from the air.
D is incorrect because the atmosphere carries pollutants from one place to another but generally does not
break them down.
STA: SC.6.E.7.9