Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________

ID: A

6th Grade Science Benchmark Assessment (Yearly)

Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. ____ ____ 1. What kind of material transfers heat easily? a. plastic b. insulator

c.

glass

d.

conductor

2. A scientist performed an experiment that had an unexpected result. Before telling anyone about the result, the scientist performed the experiment again. What is the most likely reason the scientist performed the experiment more than once? a. The scientist wanted to make sure no one else could do the experiment b. The scientist had extra chemicals and wanted to use them all c. The scientist wanted to be sure the results were accurate d. The scientist wanted to get different results

____

3. Which question could Julie answer most easily by conducting a scientific investigation? a. What is the temperature of the water? b. Does ice melt faster in air or in water? c. How long does it take for water to freeze? d. Does the mass of an ice cube change when it melts?

____

4. In which activity would using the Internet be most helpful? a. analyzing the results of an experiment b. predicting the outcome of an experiment c. measuring the variables used in an experiment d. performing research before conducting an experiment

____

5. Which statement is an explanation rather than a description? a. The elephant weighs over 5 tons b. The rock has many crystals in it c. The bird flaps its wings while it is flying d. The pond became smaller from evaporation 6. Organisms have the most in common with other organisms in their ... a. domain b. genus c. species d. family

____

Name: ________________________

ID: A

____

7.

A scientist examined the numbers of two different species of insects on four different kinds of trees in the same forest. The results of her examination are shown on the data table. What inference can the scientist make about the insects? a. Species B insects are the main food source for species A insects b. Species A and species B insects are very closely related c. There are more of species B insects than species A insects in the entire forest d. Species A insects prefer different kinds of trees from species B insects ____ 8. Plants that produce seeds formed by cones or conelike structures are classified as... a. gymnosperms b. angiosperms c. bryophytes d. none of the above

____

9. Jenny compared the average temperature and annual rainfall for two towns in the same state. The results are shown in the data table. From these results, Jenny concluded that hotter weather causes more rain to fall. What is another reasonable interpretation of this data? a. Farmon is a very cold place to live. b. Colder weather causes more rain to fall. c. Rain causes the temperature to increase d. Davis is the rainiest town in the entire state.

____ 10. ____ is the transfer of heat by the flow of a heated material. a. Radiation c. Convection b. Conduction d. Condensation ____ 11. The process of water vapor changing to a liquid is called ___. a. evaporation c. condensation b. precipitation d. convection ____ 12. How is energy transferred to Earth? a. conduction b. convection c. radiation d. insulation

Name: ________________________ ____ 13. When a dog with a bone growls at another dog, it is showing ____. a. aggression c. social behavior b. courtship behavior d. none of the above ____ 14. The temperature at which air is saturated and condensation forms is the ____. a. dew point c. wind point b. rain point d. relative humidity

ID: A

____ 15.

Jenny threw a paper airplane toward the west. The wind, however, caused the airplane to move in a southwestern direction. Which statement best describes the direction of the wind? a. The wind is blowing from the north c. The wind is blowing from the west b. The wind is blowing from the south d. The wind is blowing from the east ____ 16. Which example describes a behavioral adaptation? a. A bird builds its nest in the ash near a volcano b. A whale has the ability to hold its breath for 20 minutes c. A foxs hair is white in the winter and brown in the summer d. A monkey has long arms that allow it to swing from one branch to another ____ 17. As water vapor rises in the atmosphere , it cools and chnages back to liquid. Tiny drops form clouds in this process called......... a. evaporation c. condensation b. precipitation d. convection ____ 18. In a large forest with many animals, there are only a small number of bears. Which of these most likely limits the population of bears in the forest? a. supply of food c. predation by carnivores b. type of tree d. amount of suitable shelter ____ 19. When Earth receives energy from the Sun, ____. a. some energy is reflected back into space b. some is absorbed by the atmosphere c. some is absorbed by land and water on Earth's surface d. all of the above ____ 20. The transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into one another is called ____. a. radiation c. convection b. conduction d. condensation

Name: ________________________

ID: A

____ 21. A behavioral adaptation in which animals undergo a period of greatly reduced activity in winter is ____. a. clusters c. burrows b. hibernation d. estivation

____ 22.

A scientist studying a species of flower that grows on the side of a mountain measured the height of many of the flowers at different elevations. His results are shown in the graph. Which statement best describes the pattern of growth for the flowers during this experiment? a. The flowers heights are unaffected by elevation. b. The flowers cannot grow below elevations of 1,000 meters c. The flowers grow best at elevations of around 3,000 meters d. The flowers heights increase with higher elevation. ____ 23. What kinds of plants have structures that move water and other substances through them? a. protists b. nonvascular c. bacteria d. vascular ____ 24. Taxonomy is the science of classifying living things. Which of the following places the classification groups in the correct order? a. kingdom, class, phylum, order, genus, family, species b. kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species c. kingdom, family, class, phylum, order, genus, species d. kingdom, phylum, family, class, order, genus, species ____ 25. ____ is the transfer of energy in the form of rays or waves. a. Conduction c. Radiation b. Convection d. Condensation

Name: ________________________ ____ 26.

ID: A

Trish constructed a dichotomous key to help identify the reptiles and amphibians living in a certain area. Which phrase describes a lizard? a. an animal with scaly skin and a shell but no external gills b. an animal with scaly skin and legs but no shell c. an animal with legs and coastal grooves but no tail d. an animal with external gills and a tail but no coastal grooves ____ 27. The ____ is caused by Earth's rotation. a. jet stream b. Coriolis effect c. d. sea breeze land breeze

____ 28. The flow of air caused by ____ and the Coriolis effect creates distinct wind patterns on Earth's surface. a. differences in heating c. magnetic fields b. the ozone layer d. the jet streams

Name: ________________________ ____ 29. Of the following, which is NOT a courtship behavior? a. birds singing c. frogs croaking b. fireflies lighting up d. dogs digging

ID: A

____ 30. When you scold your puppy for eating your shoes, she puts her head down, her tail between her legs, and then flops over on her back. What is this behavior an example of? a. aggression c. dominance b. submission d. courtship

ID: A

6th Grade Science Benchmark Assessment (Yearly) Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. ANS: D PTS: 1 STA: 6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical Science) LOC: 6Se.5: Illustrate the directional transfer of heat energy through convection, radiation, and conduction. 2. ANS: C PTS: 1 STA: 6Sa: The student will demonstrate an understanding of technological design and scientific inquiry, including process skills, mathematical thinking, controlled investigative design and analysis, and problem solving. LOC: 6Sa.4: Use a technological design process to plan and produce a solution to a problem or a product (including identifying a problem, designing a solution or a product, implementing the design, and evaluating the solution or the product). 3. ANS: B PTS: 1 STA: 6Sa: The student will demonstrate an understanding of technological design and scientific inquiry, including process skills, mathematical thinking, controlled investigative design and analysis, and problem solving. LOC: 6Sa.4: Use a technological design process to plan and produce a solution to a problem or a product (including identifying a problem, designing a solution or a product, implementing the design, and evaluating the solution or the product). 4. ANS: D PTS: 1 STA: 6Sa: The student will demonstrate an understanding of technological design and scientific inquiry, including process skills, mathematical thinking, controlled investigative design and analysis, and problem solving. LOC: 6Sa.2: Differentiate between observation and inference during the analysis and interpretation of data. 5. ANS: D PTS: 1 STA: 6Sa: The student will demonstrate an understanding of technological design and scientific inquiry, including process skills, mathematical thinking, controlled investigative design and analysis, and problem solving. LOC: 6Sa.2: Differentiate between observation and inference during the analysis and interpretation of data. 6. ANS: C PTS: 1 STA: 6Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of plants that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sb.2: Recognize the hierarchical structure of the classification (taxonomy) of organisms (including the seven major levels or categories of living things-namely, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species). 7. ANS: D PTS: 1 STA: 6Sa: The student will demonstrate an understanding of technological design and scientific inquiry, including process skills, mathematical thinking, controlled investigative design and analysis, and problem solving. LOC: 6Sa.4: Use a technological design process to plan and produce a solution to a problem or a product (including identifying a problem, designing a solution or a product, implementing the design, and evaluating the solution or the product).

ID: A 8. ANS: A PTS: 1 STA: 6Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of plants that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sb.3: Compare the characteristic structures of various groups of plants (including vascular or nonvascular, seed or spore-producing, flowering or cone-bearing, and monocot or dicot). 9. ANS: C PTS: 1 STA: 6Sa: The student will demonstrate an understanding of technological design and scientific inquiry, including process skills, mathematical thinking, controlled investigative design and analysis, and problem solving. LOC: 6Sa.2: Differentiate between observation and inference during the analysis and interpretation of data. 10. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical Science) LOC: 6Se.2: Explain how energy can be transformed from one form to another (including the two types of mechanical energy, potential and kinetic, as well as chemical and electrical energy) in accordance with the law of conservation of energy. 11. ANS: C PTS: 1 STA: 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth's atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science) LOC: 6Sd.2: Summarize the interrelationships among the dynamic processes of the water cycle (including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, condensation, surface-water flow, and groundwater flow). 12. ANS: C PTS: 1 STA: 6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical Science) LOC: 6Se.5: Illustrate the directional transfer of heat energy through convection, radiation, and conduction. 13. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of animals that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sc.7: Compare learned to inherited behaviors in animals. 14. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth's atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science) LOC: 6Sd.2: Summarize the interrelationships among the dynamic processes of the water cycle (including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, condensation, surface-water flow, and groundwater flow). 15. ANS: A PTS: 1 STA: 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth's atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science) LOC: 6Sd.9: Explain the influence of global winds and the jet stream on weather and climatic conditions. 16. ANS: A PTS: 1 STA: 6Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of animals that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sc.5: Illustrate animal behavioral responses (including hibernation, migration, defense, and courtship) to environmental stimuli. 17. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth's atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science) LOC: 6Sd.2: Summarize the interrelationships among the dynamic processes of the water cycle (including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, condensation, surface-water flow, and groundwater flow).

ID: A 18. ANS: A PTS: 1 STA: 6Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of animals that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sc.5: Illustrate animal behavioral responses (including hibernation, migration, defense, and courtship) to environmental stimuli. 19. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical Science) LOC: 6Se.5: Illustrate the directional transfer of heat energy through convection, radiation, and conduction. 20. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical Science) LOC: 6Se.2: Explain how energy can be transformed from one form to another (including the two types of mechanical energy, potential and kinetic, as well as chemical and electrical energy) in accordance with the law of conservation of energy. 21. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of animals that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sc.5: Illustrate animal behavioral responses (including hibernation, migration, defense, and courtship) to environmental stimuli. 22. ANS: C PTS: 1 STA: 6Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of plants that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sb.3: Compare the characteristic structures of various groups of plants (including vascular or nonvascular, seed or spore-producing, flowering or cone-bearing, and monocot or dicot). 23. ANS: D PTS: 1 STA: 6Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of plants that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sb.3: Compare the characteristic structures of various groups of plants (including vascular or nonvascular, seed or spore-producing, flowering or cone-bearing, and monocot or dicot). 24. ANS: B PTS: 1 STA: 6Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of plants that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sb.2: Recognize the hierarchical structure of the classification (taxonomy) of organisms (including the seven major levels or categories of living things-namely, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species). 25. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical Science) LOC: 6Se.2: Explain how energy can be transformed from one form to another (including the two types of mechanical energy, potential and kinetic, as well as chemical and electrical energy) in accordance with the law of conservation of energy. 26. ANS: B PTS: 1 STA: 6Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of plants that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sb.2: Recognize the hierarchical structure of the classification (taxonomy) of organisms (including the seven major levels or categories of living things-namely, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species).

ID: A 27. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth's atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science) LOC: 6Sd.9: Explain the influence of global winds and the jet stream on weather and climatic conditions. 28. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth's atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science) LOC: 6Sd.9: Explain the influence of global winds and the jet stream on weather and climatic conditions. 29. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of animals that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sc.7: Compare learned to inherited behaviors in animals. 30. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: B STA: 6Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of structures, processes, and responses of animals that allow them to survive and reproduce. (Life Science) LOC: 6Sc.7: Compare learned to inherited behaviors in animals.