Ninth Grade
World
Geography
Geography
Skills
Benchmark
Title of Test: Geography Skills
Testing Window: 9/15-9/26
Purpose:
The purpose of the SJSD benchmark assessment program is to facilitate and provide
information for the following:
1. Student Achievement -- To produce information about student achievement so
that parents/guardians, students and teachers have a baseline against which
to monitor academic mastery of the skills and processes set forth within a
particular curriculum sequence. The SJSD Assessment team emphasizes the
chief aim of benchmark testing is enhance and promote student learning.
2. Student Counseling -- To serve as a tool in the counseling and guidance of
students for further direction and for specific academic placement.
3. Instructional Change -- To provide teachers with the information needed to
make instructional decisions, plans and changes regarding classroom
objectives and program implementation.
4.
School And District Evaluation -- To provide indicators of the progress of the
district toward established goals.
SJSD Curriculum Objectives and Missouri Grade Level Expectations
(GLEs)/CLE For this Benchmark:
1 BASIC GEOGRAPHY SKILLS
Apply the concepts of geography to our current world.
EQ: How relevant is geography to our current world?
1-1 FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
Describe and apply the 5 themes of geography.
EQ: How do the five themes of geography relate to our lives?
1-2 PHYSICAL PROCESSES
Explain how physical processes shape the Earth’s surface.
EQ: How does our world physically change?
1-3 CLIMATE PATTERNS
Identify climate patterns and their affect on the global environment.
EQ: How does climate affect our lives?
Show-Me Standards assessed in this benchmark:
 Content Standards:
o
5B Locate major cities of Missouri, the United States and world; states of the
United States and many of the world’s nations; the world’s continents and
oceans; and major topographic features of the United States and world
2
o
o
o
o
o
o

5B Communicate locations of places by creating maps and by describing
their absolute locations and relative locations
5C Describe physical characteristics and human characteristics that
make specific places unique
5C Explain how and why places change
5C Explain how and why different people may perceive the same place in
varied ways
5D Explain how physical processes shape the earth‘s surface
5D Analyze major patterns and issues with regard to population distribution,
demographics, settlements, migrations, cultures and economic systems in
the United States and world
Process Standards:
o
1.4 Using technological tools and other resources to locate, select, and
organize information.
o
1.5 Comprehending and evaluating written, visual, and oral
presentations and works.
o
1.6 Discovering and evaluating patterns and relationships in
information, ideas, and structures.
o
1.8 Organizing data, information, and ideas into useful forms (including
charts, graphs, outlines) for analysis or presentation.
o
1.10 Applying acquired information, ideas, and skills to different
contexts as students, workers, citizens, and consumers.
o
2.1 Planning and making oral and visual presentations for a variety of
purposes and audiences.
o
3.5 Reasoning inductively from a set of specific facts and deductively
from general premises.
Explore/PLAN/ACT correlation:
3
Using the short reading answer question
1 regarding the five themes of geography.
(sjsd geo 1-1)
Apply the concepts of geography to our current world.
Describe and apply the 5 themes of geography.
I checked in at the airport around 6:00 a.m., and quickly realized I was going to need to know
more Portuguese if I want to get around. I went through security and made my way to the gate. I
ran into Hsaio and some others in the halls and we boarded the plane around 8:30 a.m. On the
flight there were several movie options, everyone had their own personal movie screen in the
headrest of the person in front of them. My Paraguayan friend opted to watch Iron Man in
Portuguese. The service on TAM was impeccable, far better than anything I have ever seen in
the United States. After our two meals on the flight, the stewards passed out little travel pouches
filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a little bar of soap and towel. Amazing! We landed in
Sao Paulo and made our way through customs and we exchanged our currency. The exchange
rate was 1.52, not bad, but not great. We found our next flight and made it to El Salvador without
any problems. We arrived in El Salvador at about 1:30 a.m., and made it to the hotel for some
needed sleep.
http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/blog-318937.html
1. In the above passage, which theme of geography is most evident?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The theme of region is most evident in the passage.
The theme of location is most evident in the passage.
The theme of movement is most evident in the passage.
The theme of human and environmental interaction is most evident
in the passage.
4
Using the map of the world, identify major
world features to answer questions 2-12.
(GLE SS 5B -- Locate major cities of Missouri, the United States
and world; states of the United States and many of the world’s nations; the world’s
continents and oceans; and major topographic features of the United
States and world
)
2
5
9
7
3
8
1
6
4
10
11
#
Geographic Location
A
B
C
D
2
Which number is the Atlantic Ocean?
1
2
3
4
3
Which number is the continent of Africa?
6
7
8
9
4
Which number is the continent of Asia?
8
9
10
11
5
Which number is the Pacific Ocean?
1
2
3
4
6
Which number is the continent of North America?
5
6
7
8
7
Which number is the Indian Ocean?
1
2
3
4
8
Which number is the continent of Europe?
6
7
8
9
9
Which number is the Arctic Ocean?
1
2
3
4
10 Which number is the continent of Australia?
5
7
9
10
11 Which number is the continent of South America?
5
6
9
11
12 Which number is the continent of Antarctica?
5
6
8
11
5
Answer questions 13-15 describing
migration. (GLE SS 5D) Analyze major patterns and
issues with regard to population distribution, demographics, settlements,
migrations,
cultures and economic systems in the United States and world
13. Which of the following is a reason why a person would choose to leave a
densely populated area?
a. A low population density
b. A clean living environment
c. Lack of employment opportunities
d. Interactions between ethnic groups
14. Which of the following is a reason why a person would choose to live in a
densely populated area?
a. abundance of pollution
b. overcrowding of housing
c. few employment opportunities
d. quality educational opportunities
15. Describe one reason why a large group of people would migrate to another
region.
a. The migrating group of people is the established political force in its
homeland.
b. The migrating group of people is experiencing religious freedom in
its homeland.
c. The migrating group of people receives employment opportunities
in its homeland.
d. The migrating group of people is experiencing ethnic conflicts in its
homeland.
6
Using the map of the United States,
answer questions 16-18 to explain
location. (GLE SS 5B) Communicate locations of places
by creating maps and by describing their absolute locations and relative
locations
16. Using the map above, which characteristic correctly describes Chicago,
Illinois’ relative location.
a. Chicago, Illinois’ relative location is northwest of St. Louis, Missouri.
b. Chicago, Illinois’ relative location is west of Lake Michigan.
c. Chicago, Illinois’ relative location is 41o N by 87o S.
d. Chicago, Illinois’ relative location is east of Detroit, Michigan.
17. Which of the following would be the best way to find the absolute location
of a place?
a. using landmarks to find it
b. locating the street address on a map
c. getting directions to the place from a friend
d. determining if it is north, south, east or west of another location
18. Describe the absolute location of Memphis, Tennessee using the map
above.
a. The absolute location of Memphis, Tennessee is 30o N by 90o W.
b. The absolute location of Memphis, Tennessee is 30o N by 95o W.
c. The absolute location of Memphis, Tennessee is 35o N by 90o W.
d. The absolute location of Memphis, Tennessee is 35o N by 95o W.
7
Answer questions 19-21 regarding
changes in the earth’s surface. (GLE SS
5D) Explain how physical processes shape the earth‘s surface
19. Which of the following best explains the creation of canyons?
a.
b.
c.
d.
earthquakes
erosion
plate tectonics
volcanoes
20. According to the theory of plate tectonics, which examples best explains
when two continental plates drift together.
a.
b.
c.
d.
As two continental plates drift together, islands are formed.
As two continental plates drift together, a rift valley is formed.
As two continental plates drift together, volcanoes are formed.
As two continental plates drift together, mountains ranges are
formed
21. Explain one way a river can shape or change the land around it.
a. The formation of a canyon is one way a river can change the land
around it.
b. The formation of an isthmus is one way a river can change the land
around it.
c. The formation of a mountain range is one way a river can change
the land around it.
d. The formation of an archipelago is one way a river can change the
land around it.
8
Answer questions 22-23 regarding the
earth’s climate regions. (GLE SS 5C)
Describe physical characteristics and human characteristics that make specific
places unique
22. Which climate zone is generally found in the temperate or middle latitude
region.
a. The tundra zone is only found in the temperate or middle latitude
region.
b. The arid zone is only found in the temperate or middle latitude
region.
c. The tropical wet zone is only found in the temperate or middle
latitude region.
d. The humid continental zone is only found in the temperate or
middle latitude region.
23. Describe how the polar regions and the tropical region are different from
each other.
a. The polar regions can experience permanent ice and snow, while
the tropical region can experience rainforests.
b. The polar regions can experience a Mediterranean climate, while
the tropical region can experience a highland climate.
c. The polar regions can experience permanent ice and snow, while
the tropical region can experience a marine west coast climate.
d. The polar regions can experience a humid continental climate
throughout the year, while the tropical region experiences an arid
climate.
9