6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #8
Multiple Choice
Directions: Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The illustration below represents the layers of a section of soil.
Scientist use the Law of Superposition to determine information about Earth’s layers. Which statement
best describes information that can be obtained from the soil section illustration above?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Layer D is older than layer C.
Layer A is older than all other layers.
Layer C is younger than layer B.
Layer B is older that layer C.
2. The timeline below shows the relative ages of several fossils. The periods correspond to layers
of rock.
Which fossil would most likely be found on Earth’s surface?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Fossil E
Fossil F
Fossil G
Fossil H
School Board of Broward County (Revised 8/31/2015)
Page 1 of 4
6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #8
3. Geologists use superposition and radioactive dating to determine the age of the Earth. Which statement
correctly describes the use of one of these methods?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Using radioactive dating to determine the relative age of the Grand Canyon’s rock layers.
Using radioactive dating to determine the age of different rocks found in the desert.
Using superposition to compare the age of a rock to plant life in the area.
Using superposition to determine the exact age of old river rock.
4. Jorge is investigating how ocean basins change over time. He knows that mid-ocean ridges are found
along the bottom of the ocean. Which of the following statements about mid-ocean ridges is most
accurate?
A. Volcanoes are less likely to result in changes along mid-ocean ridges than in other parts of an
ocean basin.
B. Converging tectonic plates force land-forming magma up through the ocean floor to form new crust.
C. Mid-ocean ridges are areas of the ocean floor that change very little over time.
D. The crust along a mid-ocean ridge is younger than crust farther away.
5. Torsten’s science teacher asks him, “What would be an example from the present which
provides the best evidence that Earth has changed over its geologic history?” Which example
should Torsten choose?
A. A classroom demonstration that models how a hurricane can cause beach erosion and change
a coastline.
B. Fossils of trees and dinosaurs found in Antarctica because these living things would not
survive there today.
C. A poster with pictures of an alligator and crocodile because they have different and similar
characteristics.
D. An igneous rock because it represents changes as a result of cooling lava which was once
magma within Earth’s mantle.
School Board of Broward County (Revised 8/31/2015)
Page 2 of 4
6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #8
6. The picture below shows a river flowing through a canyon.
What can you infer about how the canyon looked a thousand years ago?
A. The canyon was just as deep, but probably was dry.
B. The canyon changed its appearance very little since water is always present in a canyon.
C. The canyon was much deeper than it is today because there was more tectonic activity at
the time.
D. The canyon was not as deep because erosion, caused by the river, would increase its
depth over time.
7. Jacob learned that many fossils have been found in Florida’s Peace River. He does some
additional research, and discovers that both land and marine fossils have been found there. The
bar graph below shows the ratio of marine fossils to land fossils dating from 20 million years
ago, and the ratio of marine fossils to land fossils dating from 1 million years ago.
FOSSILS FROM PEACE RIVER, FLORIDA
Based on the graphs above, what conclusion can you make about the Peace River?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Earthquakes have disturbed the layers of fossils in the Peace River.
Twenty million years ago, land animals lived on islands in Peace River.
The area where Peace River now flows was part of a seafloor 20 million years ago.
Over time, the number of land animals in the Peace River area increased as they preyed
on marine animals.
School Board of Broward County (Revised 8/31/2015)
Page 3 of 4
6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #8
8. Human activities can affect plant growth. Suppose an industrial park is developed near a
forested area. Which of the following environmental factors is most likely to affect the forest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
air pollution
lack of rainfall
too much rainfall
decrease in temperature
9. Desertification is often an unintended result of human activities. Which human activity
helps reverse desertification?
A.
B.
C.
D.
adopting practices to prevent overgrazing
removal of topsoil and native vegetation
slash-and-burn agriculture
deforestation
10. The Everglades is a unique ecosystem of aquatic birds, plants and animals. For this area
to thrive it must be protected. Which of the following would have the least effect on the water
flow through the Everglades?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Constructing a road from the east to the west coast of South Florida.
Building irrigation canals for farmers to obtain water for their crops.
Planting trees that require an abundance of water for growth.
Over fishing of native species.
School Board of Broward County (Revised 8/31/2015)
Page 4 of 4
6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #8
6th Grade Science Formative Assessment #8
Answer KEY
Question
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Answer
A
A
B
D
B
D
C
A
A
D
Benchmark
SC.7.E.6.3
SC.7.E.6.3
SC.7.E.6.3
SC.7.E.6.4
SC.7.E.6.4
SC.7.E.6.4
SC.7.E.6.4
SC.7.E.6.6
SC.7.E.6.6
SC.7.E.6.6
School Board of Broward County (Revised 8/31/2015)
DOK
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
Page 5 of 4