Content Benchmark E.8.B.4
Students know Earth is part of a solar system located with the Milky Way Galaxy. E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Identify the Earth as part of a solar system that is also part of a larger
system that contains many thousands of star systems: the Milky Way Galaxy.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Planets orbit around
A. comets.
B. galaxies.
C. nebula.
D. stars.
2. Stars, planets, and moons are part of
A. black holes.
B. comets.
C. nebulas.
D. solar systems.
3. Our solar system is referred to as heliocentric, that means the Earth
A. rotates around the Sun.
B. revolves around the Sun.
C. has a moon.
D. has life.
4. Earth is part of the solar system because it
A. rotates around the Sun.
B. revolves around the Sun.
C. has a moon.
D. has life.
5. Which of the following characteristics makes Earth unique compared to the other planets in
the solar system?
A. Life
B. Water
C. Orbital Path
D. Rotational Period
6. The Solar System consists of the Sun, asteroids, comets, moons, and
A. six planets.
B. seven planets.
C. eight planets.
D. eleven planets.
7. The Sun is part of a group of stars that are relatively close together, this group is called a
A. galaxy.
B. solar system.
C. local cluster.
D. universe.
8. Which statement about the Milky Way Galaxy is true?
A. The Earth orbits the solar system approximately once every 365 days.
B. All the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy can be seen with naked eye.
C. Millions of stars within the galaxy can be observed with telescopes.
D. The Sun orbits the galaxy approximately every 10,000 years.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
9. The following symbols are used to represent separate regions of space.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
Which of the following diagrams represents Earth’s place in the universe?
A. Diagram 1
B. Diagram 2
C. Diagram 3
D. Diagram 4
10. A home address is written in the order: house number, street, city, and state. Suppose you
were to write your cosmic address in a similar manner. Which of the following is in the
correct order?
A. Milky Way, Earth, Universe, Solar System
B. Universe, Milky Way, Solar System, Earth
C. Solar System, Milky Way, Earth, Universe
D. Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe
Constructed Response E.8.B.4
1. The magazine page below highlights motion characteristics of planets within our Solar System.
Read the page to answer the following question.
(From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14337770)
A. What relationship do all of the planets have with the Sun?
B. Use evidence to defend the statement “Earth is part of the Milky Way Galaxy.”
Content Benchmark E8B4
Students know Earth is part of a solar system located with the Milky Way Galaxy. E/S
Answers to Sample Questions
1. D, DOK Level 1
2. D, DOK Level 1
3. B, DOK Level 1
4. B, DOK Level 1
5. A, DOK Level 1
6. C, DOK Level 1
7. A, DOK Level 1
8. C, DOK Level 1
9. B, DOK Level 2
10. D, DOK Level 2
Constructed Response Score Rubric
Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
A. Characteristics include; Earth revolves around Sun, spherical, rotates, and
elliptical orbit
B. Evidence such as the Milky Way is often visible in the night sky.
Telescopes can observe hundreds of thousands of stars that are in close
proximity to Earth and are part of the Milky Way. Thousands of distant
galaxies are visible to Earth and space based telescopes. Are used to
defend the statement “Earth is part of the Milky Way Galaxy.”
Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor
errors.
Response does not address all parts of the question.
Response is totally incorrect or no response provided.