6th Grade Science Benchmark Review

A student is investigating the strength of electromagnets she created using batteries, wire, and nails. She uses two different-sized nails and varies the number of coils of wire around the nail to determine how many paper clips each configuration can lift. She makes a data table of the results. The student hypothesizes that the number of coils has a cause-and-effect relationship on the strength of the magnetic devices she made. Which would be the BEST way for the student to test the devices to be sure that her hypothesis is accurate?

• a. She should give the devices the same number of coils and retest them.

• b. She should increase the distance between the devices and the paper clips.

• c. She should repeat the same tests on each device again to collect more data.

• d. She should use just one length of nail and test more of a variety of coil numbers, including 0 coils.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A student is conducting an investigation to show how magnetic forces can act at a distance from an object. What can the student conclude from the data that he gathered in his investigation?

• a. The force is not related to the distance from the object.

• b. The force of the magnet becomes stronger the farther it is from the object.

• c. The force is stronger with less distance between the magnet and the object.

• d. The force of the magnet becomes stronger and then weaker the farther it is from the object.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

A student rubs a comb on a cloth. She then holds the comb 30 centimeters above some small pieces of paper on a table, but the paper does not move. When the comb is moved closer to the paper, the paper moves through the air to the comb. Which statement explains why the paper does not move toward the comb when the comb is farther away?

• a. The paper is not attracted to the comb.

• b. The comb and the paper have identical charges.

• c. Only metallic objects can be attracted to each other.

• d. The attractive field from the comb is weaker farther from the comb.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

Each day, Jorge brings an insulated container filled to the top with his favorite cold drink to school. This morning, he was only able to fill his container halfway. At lunchtime when he opened his container, he noticed that his drink was not as cold as usual. Which statement best explains why his drink was warmer at lunchtime?

• a. A larger amount of energy was transferred through the container to the same amount of matter.

• b. A smaller amount of energy was transferred through the container to the same amount of matter.

• c. The same amount of energy was transferred through the container to a smaller amount of matter.

• d. The same amount of energy was transferred through the container to a larger amount of matter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Rey wants to put her insulated container filled with a cold drink in a bucket of ice until she is ready to drink it. She believes that this will keep her drink colder than if she leaves it sitting in her locker. Explain whether Rey's idea is correct or incorrect.

• a. Correct: Energy will transfer from the cold drink to the ice, causing the drink to get colder.

• b. Correct: Energy will transfer from the cold drink to the ice, causing the drink to get warmer.

• c. Incorrect: Energy will transfer from the ice to the cold drink, causing the drink to get warmer.

• d. Incorrect: Energy will transfer from the cold drink to the ice, causing the drink to get warmer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A science teacher asks her class to compare the way in which heat is transferred to water in a pond as opposed to soil at the edge of the pond. Which of the following investigations will help them make this comparison?

• a. Mix water and soil in a container, place it in the sun, and measure the temperature of the container.

• b. Place soil and water in separate containers, place them indoors, and monitor the temperature of the containers.

• c. Place soil and water in separate containers, place them in the sun, and monitor the temperatures of each container.

• d. Place soil in the bottom of a container and water on top, place it in the sun, and measure the temperature of the container.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Jose found four turtle eggs sitting in the grass in his backyard. He plans to take them to a nature center near his house where a scientist will help them. Jose needs to design a closed container to transport them to the nature center. Two important criteria are that the eggs must be kept warm—at a temperature between 27–32 degrees Celsius (C), and the eggs must be protected so the shells do not break. Jose wants to put a packet around the eggs that meet both criteria. He sets up three different possible combinations of water, calcium chloride, and baking soda in three different sandwich bags. Each bag represents a possible design for a packet. All three bags sit for the same amount of time. The table below shows his observations. Which design should Jose choose for his packet? Why?

• a. Bag 1—energy was released in the form of a liquid, which will help protect the eggs.

• b. Bag 2— energy was released in the form of gas, which will help protect the eggs.

• c. Bag 3—energy was absorbed in the form of a solid, which will help protect the eggs.

• d. None of the bags keep the eggs warm or provide protection.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Jasmyne finalized a design of a circuit that made two lamps in her room light up at once. The image below shows her initial design, which originally did not work. What change did she make to this initial design that eventually resulted in both lights working?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

Part of the food web from a local pond is shown in the pictures below. If all of the snakes were removed from the pond, what effect would this have on the ecosystem?

• a. There would be an increase in the turtle population, which would cause an increase in the slug population.

• b. There would be an increase in the number of turtle eggs, but the slug and plant populations would remain the same.

• c. There would be a decrease in the turtle population, which would cause an increase in both the slug and plant populations.

• d. There would be an increase in the turtle population, which would cause a decrease in both the slug and plant populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Part of the food web from a local pond is shown in the pictures below. If all of the slugs were removed from the pond, what effect would this have on the ecosystem?

• a. All of the turtles and snakes would die.
• b. Snakes and turtles would need to eat more plants to maintain their populations.
• c. The turtles would eat the same amount of plants that they always ate, but no slugs, so there would be fewer turtles and snakes.
• d. The turtles would rely on only plants to survive, but there would be more plants available. Depending on the change in the plant population, turtle and snake populations might be affected.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4