Content Benchmark E.8.A.3
Students know the properties of water that make water an essential component of the
earth system. E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Understand that water exists in all three states of matter on
Earth.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Before evaporating, water found in the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and Lake
Tahoe is in what phase?
A. Solid
B. Liquid
C. Gas
D. Plasma
2. What phase is water in if it is found as a glacier?
A. Gas
B. Liquid
C. Plasma
D. Solid
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
3. A difference between freshwater and a glacier is that the freshwater has
A. molecules that are moving slower.
B. molecules that are moving faster.
C. one part hydrogen and one part oxygen.
D. one part hydrogen and two part oxygen.
4. Which of the following describes the phase changes necessary to occur when
water changes from: ocean water  glacier  fresh water  water vapor?
A. freezing  melting  freezing
B. evaporating  freezing  melting
C. melting  freezing  freezing
D. freezing  melting  evaporating
2nd Item Specification: Understand why ice floats on water and its impact on
aquatic life
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
5. A sheet of ice would float on a freshwater lake because ice
A. is more dense than water.
B. is less dense than water.
C. has less volume.
D. has less mass.
6. What is the result when water freezes and turns to ice?
A. It expands
B. It compresses
C. It is more dense
D. It has less volume
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
7. What result will a melting ice sheet cause in the Arctic Sea?
A. Increase in freshwater habitats
B. Decrease of the sea level
C. Loss of habitat for land species
D. Gain of habitat for land species
8. Answer the following question using the graph below.
# of Species
Amount of Ice (square meters) vs. # of Species
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Ice (sq. meters)
If the trend were to continue, how many species would exist in 140 sq.
meters of ice?
A. 15
B. 13
C. 11
D. 09
3rd Item Specification: Know clouds, precipitation, glaciers and polar ice caps are all
sources of freshwater
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
9. Which of the following is NOT a source of freshwater on Earth?
A. Glaciers
B. Clouds
C. Precipitation
D. Oceans
10. Which of the following would increase the available freshwater on Earth? Chose
the BEST answer.
A. Decreased evaporation of seawater
B. Decreased temperatures
C. Increased melting of pack ice
D. Increased precipitation
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
11. Which of the following would result if polar ice caps, glaciers and icebergs
melted? Choose the BEST answer.
A. Increase the salinity of seawater
B. Rise in the sea levels worldwide
C. Change the temperature of the ocean
D. Decrease the volume of ocean water
12. Answer the following question using the data table, below.
Water Source
Oceans
Ice Caps/Glaciers
Groundwater
Surface Water
Atmosphere
% of Total Water
on Earth
97.2
2.38
0.397
0.022
0.001
(From http://www.epa.gov/NE/students/pdfs/ww_intro.pdf)
Based on the data above, the majority of water on Earth exists as saltwater. Which
water source would increase the most if ice caps and glaciers melt?
A. Oceans
B. Groundwater
C. Surface water
D. Atmosphere
Constructed Response E.8.A.3
Use the graph below showing the phase changes of water to answer the questions.
(From: http://icn2.umeche.maine.edu/newnav/NewNavigator/Labs/Phase_4446.htm)
A. Moving from point A to point F, describe in detail what happens to the
spacing and movement of water molecules as heat is gradually added.
B. Give a minimum of two specific examples of water on Earth at or below 0ºC,
50 ºC and at or above 100ºC.
Content Benchmark E.8.A.3
Students know the properties of water that make water an essential component of the
earth system. E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. B, DOK Level 1
2. D, DOK Level 1
3. B, DOK Level 2
4. D, DOK Level 2
5. B, DOK Level 1
6. A, DOK Level 1
7. C, DOK Level 2
8. C, DOK Level 2
9. D, DOK Level 1
10. D, DOK Level 1
11. B, DOK Level 2
12. A, DOK Level 2
Constructed Response E.8.A.3 Score Rubric:
Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
3 points
A. Water as a solid at points A and B have molecules that are
arranged in a more tightly packed pattern that limits the
movement of the molecules. As the average energy or the
temperature, increases, as is seen beginning at point C, the
molecules are moving faster, and are father apart. As point
D is approached, and the water increased in temperature to
100 degrees Celsius, the molecules begin moving faster and
becoming even further apart until they become water vapor
at points E to F at which time the molecules are very fast
moving and free of each other.
B. Examples of water on Earth at 0ºC would be glaciers and
icebergs; examples at 50 ºC would be lakes, rivers, oceans
and groundwater; and examples at or above 100ºC would be
water vapor such as evaporation or water as a greenhouse
gas in the atmosphere.
2 points
Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor
errors.
1 point
Response does not address all parts of the question.
0 points
The response is totally incorrect or no response provided.