ORANGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
OFFICE OF SCIENCE
GRADE 6
SCIENCE
Pre-Assessment
Directions, Answer Key, and Scoring Guide
School Year 2014-2015
Grade 6 Pre Assessment – School year 2014-2015
Directions, Answer Key, and Scoring Rubrics
Before the Test
Students need:
A copy of the examination (consumable)
Scrap Paper
One or more No. 2 pencils
During the Test:
Students should have a minimum of 45 minutes to complete the
test. At the teacher’s discretion, the test may be administered in
one or two sessions. In addition, the performance portion of the
test may be given to a portion of the class while the reminder of
the class is working on the written portion.
After the Test:
Student scores should be calculated as follows:
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Answer Guide
Unit 1 Pre-assessment
1.Matter that has the ability to flow is called a fluid. __________True_
2 pts
2. The most important source of Earth’s surface energy is: 2 pts
c. The sun
a.
3. A car that has rolled down a hill: 2 pts
d. All of the above
4. The atoms in solids can: 2 pts
a. vibrate in place.
5. Adding a teacup of hot water to a cold swimming pool: 2 pts
a. adds a small amount of heat to the pool.
6.
In convection:
2 pts
d. All of the above
7. Energy from the Sun reaches the surface of Earth by:
c. conduction.
2 pts
8. Ans.
Code
2
If the student writes:
1
0
Response includes density or buoyancy
Provides incorrect response or makes no attempt
Response includes both density and buoyancy. The heat from the parking lot
increases the movement of air atoms near the pavement. The warm air atoms, now
moving faster and colliding more strongly, push each other farther apart, resulting
in an increased volume of air. Since the volume of the warm air increases, its
density decreases. Decreasing the density of the warm air increases it buoyancy.
The less dense warm air will float when surrounded by more dense cool air, so the
warm air rises above the cool air.
9. What are the three states of water on Earth?
2 pts
b. liquid water, frozen water, and water vapor
10. What word means the change of state from liquid to a gas?
A. evaporation
11. How much of Earth’s water is fresh water?
d. 1%
12. How is water stored in an aquifer?
B. in cracks and spaces in rocks
2 pts
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2 pts
2 pts
13. Which of the following is needed to form a continental glacier? 2 pts
D. large land mass
14. When a geyser erupts, hot water comes to the surface. What causes the eruption?
2 pts
A. The pressure increases.
.
15. What is transpiration?
2 pts
C. Transpiration is a process where water vapor exits a plant through holes in the
leaves.
16. How do droplets become heavy enough so that the droplets fall as rain or snow? 2pts
C. The droplets bump together and form larger droplets.
17. Plants are an important part of the water cycle. Explain the process they are
responsible for, and how they move water.
Code
2
If the student writes:
1
0
Provide partial response
Provides incorrect response or makes no attempt
Plants perform transpiration which is the release of water into the atmosphere as
water vapor. Plants absorb water in through their roots and release water vapor
through the pores in their leaves, so water moves from the ground to the atmosphere
by way of plants.
18. Why is it necessary for humans to protect and preserve our fresh water supplies?
Where are the major supplies of fresh water found?
Code If the student writes:
2
Less than 1% of the total water on Earth is fresh water. It is important to protect
Earth’s supply of fresh water because it is limited. Some aquifers take 300 to 1000
years to replenish, so water that is removed is not easy to replace. Fresh water supplies
can become polluted or harmed from overuse. The major supplies of fresh water are:
ground water (0.61% of Earth’s total water), fresh water lakes (0.009%), and rivers
(0.0001%).
1
Provide partial response
0
Provides incorrect response or makes no attempt
19.Tornados are known for:
2 pts
a. greater wind speeds than hurricanes.
20. A low pressure center causes:
d. All of the above
2 pts
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21.The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane rates hurricanes based on which of the following factors? 2 pts
d. All of the above
22. An air mass is a large body of air with ____ temperature and pressure throughout. 2 pts
d. consistent
23.A high pressure center is associated with: 2 pts
c. clear weather.
24. A thunderstorm is caused by: 2 pts
b. warm air rising in an updraft and cooler air and rain falling in a downdraft.
25. A major climate region with particular plants and animals is called a:
a. biome.
26. Why are the oceans important to Earth?
d. All of the above
2 pts
2 pts
27. The low point of an ocean wave is called the:
b. trough.
2pts
28. Faunal Succession is the time it takes for half of a radioactive element to decay to a
2stable element.__false __half-life_________
2 pts
29. Relative dating uses various clues to figure out:
2 pts
b. the order of events over time.
30. Ans.
code
2
If the student writes:
1
Provide partial response
0
Provides incorrect response or makes no attempt
When scientist use relative dating to age fossils they just compare the age of the
fossil relatively to the sequence of other fossils in Earth’s layers. They state
whether it is younger or older than other fossils or layers.
When scientist use absolute dating to age fossils they determine the estimated time
frame or year of the fossil using the radioactive decay of elements or
dendrochronology..
Grading Guide:
Maximum 60 pts = 100.2% Therefore, each point is worth 1.67. Total up student
points, multiply it by 1.67 and you will have their percentage.
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