ACAP WCS

The map shows the percentages of available freshwater that humans withdrew from groundwater or surface water in 1995. In that year, the human population worldwide was 5.7 billion. By 2025, the human population is expected to reach 8 billion.

• South America and Australia will withdraw more than 40% of their available freshwater, changing their areas on the map to the darkest shade of gray.

• Europe, Asia, and North America will withdraw 20 to 40% of their available freshwater, changing their areas of the map to a darker shade of gray.

• All countries will reduce their freshwater needs, which means areas marked with dark shades of gray will change to the lightest shade of gray.

• Freshwater needs will be met in other ways, which means the darkest shade of gray will no longer appear in any areas of the map.

Answer explanation

6.COS.15. Analyze evidence to explain how changes in human population, per capita consumption of natural resources, and other human activities affect Earth’s systems.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

The map shows the global circulation pattern of ocean currents.

Elliot wants to set up a model that best represents how this type of pattern is created in the ocean. Which model should he use?

• Add red food coloring to one end of a tank of water and blue food coloring to the other. Then allow a fan to blow across the surface.

• Add several drops of red food coloring and several drops of blue food coloring to water in a jar. Then place the lid on and shake the jar.

• Slowly pour hot water that has red food coloring into a tank of water that is at room temperature. Then quickly pour cold water that has blue food coloring into the tank.

• Pour hot water that has red food coloring and cold water that has blue food coloring into a tank of water that is at room temperature. Then have a heat lamp shine on the water.

Answer explanation

6.COS.13. Use models to explain how the rotation of Earth and unequal heating of its surface create patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

This model of the water cycle can be used to explain how Earth systems interact.

Which would be the best explanation for why more evaporation occurs in the day than at night?

• The sun is unable to warm the surface of water at night.

• Precipitation occurs more often at night than during the day.

• Condensation occurs more frequently at night when temperatures drop.

• Runoff can alter the landscape of Earth’s surface, changing the path of streams and rivers.

Answer explanation

6.COS.7. Use models to construct explanations of the various biogeochemical cycles of Earth and the flow of energy that drives these processes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Students conducted an experiment to investigate how energy from the sun is distributed between Earth’s surface and its atmosphere by convection and radiation. They used a lamp, a jar filled with 100 mL of soil, a jar filled with 100 mL of water, and two thermometers to record the temperature of the jars. Students recorded the initial temperature of each jar, the temperature after the lamp has been on for ten minutes, and then the final temperature after the lamp has been turned off for ten minutes.

Which conclusion is best supported by the data from this experiment?

• Water heats up and cools down faster than soil.

• 2. Water heats up and cools down slower than soil.

• Water heats up slower than soil but cools down faster than soil.

• Water heats up faster than soil but cools down slower than soil.

Answer explanation

6.COS.13A. Use experiments to investigate how energy from the sun is distributed between Earth’s surface and its atmosphere by convection and radiation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The map shows the locations of two cities, 1 and 2, the centers of a high-pressure system and a low-pressure system, and two weather fronts.

Which question can be answered using the information shown in the map?

• Which city is likely to have a blizzard?

• Which city is likely to have a sunny sky?

• Which city recently experienced rain?

• Which city recently experienced a decrease in temperature?

Answer explanation

6.COS.12. Integrate scientific and technological information to support the claim that motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The first graph shows changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere from 1740 to 1980.

The second graph shows the changes above or below average temperatures from 1880 to 2010.

Based on these two graphs, a student claims that humans are causing global temperature change.

Which question, when answered, would support the student’s claim?

• How much CO2 is produced by burning fossil fuels every year?

• Is the Greenhouse Effect increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?

• Do atmospheric temperatures change before or after changes occur in CO2 levels?

• What is the relationship between the amount of CO2 produced by volcanoes and atmospheric temperature?

Answer explanation

6.COS.14. Analyze and interpret data to describe how various human activities and natural processes may cause changes in local and global temperatures over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Tanisha has two different setups to model how the unequal heating of Earth results in ocean currents. Each setup has a large bowl full of water. She adds a small amount of dried leaf spice to each bowl so that any currents in the water are easily seen.

Tanisha cannot decide which setup will best show how ocean currents form.

The four diagrams show Tanisha’s two different setups.

Which diagram accurately illustrates the flow of ocean currents between Earth’s poles and the equator?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

6.COS.13. Use models to explain how the rotation of Earth and unequal heating of its surface create patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The graph shows global temperature change, as measured by satellites, from 1980 to 2015.

Based on the graph, Grace claims that global temperature changes are due to natural causes. Answering which question would best help support Grace’s claim?

• How did the satellites measure temperature in the atmosphere?

• What was the amount of fossil fuels burned between 2000 and 2015?

• What caused a decrease in the amount of CO2 emissions produced by humans?

• How has the amount of energy received from the Sun changed from 2000 to 2015?

Answer explanation

6.COS.14. Analyze and interpret data to describe how various human activities and natural processes may cause changes in local and global temperatures over time.

Meteorologists use technology such as satellite images, radar, and computers to track severe weather that may form tornadoes. With this information, emergency responders use cell phones to protect and alert people to severe weather. These maps show the risk of tornadoes, ranging from no risk to high risk, over a two-day period in the US.

Which prediction for Day 3 is best supported by the data in the maps?

• Satellite weather-tracking cameras will be focused on Florida (FL).

• Tornado warning alerts will be sent to cell phones throughout Arkansas (AR).

• Radar images will show an increasing risk of tornadoes throughout Texas (TX).

• Severe-weather computer simulations will indicate a high risk of tornadoes throughout Kansas (KS).

Answer explanation

6.COS.12A. Use various instruments to monitor local weather and examine weather patterns to predict various weather events, especially the impact of severe weather.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

 Scientists are monitoring two colliding air masses along a frontal boundary. They are concerned that a tornado may form. Which data collected along the frontal boundary would best alert scientists that the two colliding air masses may cause a tornado?

• strong gusty winds and overcast skies along the frontal boundary

• 1. air masses of the same temperature and altitude coming together along the frontal boundary

• 1. great differences in temperature, humidity, and air pressure on either side of the frontal boundary

• 1. great differences in the altitude of clouds, percentage of cloud cover, and direction of wind on either side of the frontal boundary

Answer explanation

6.COS.12. Integrate scientific and technological information to support the claim that motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5