Unit 5 Pre-Assessment

People often discuss weather and climate by saying phrases such as: It's raining. This area is wet year-round. The temperatures there are normally warmer than most places. It's hot outside.

Which of the charts below have the phrases listed in the appropriate columns?

Level 2

• Chart A

• Chart B

• Chart C

• Chart D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of the following sets of data best represents weather information, but not climate?

Level 2

• A) Average daily rainfall for the Dallas area in the last month

• B) Average yearly temperatures for the Dallas area in the 1900’s

• C) Monthly air pressure averages for the Dallas area since 1974

• D) Monthly humidity averages for the Dallas area in the last 4 decades

• E) Dense fog with light precipitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Each winter since 1980, a family measures the snowfall in their yard and records the yearly average. This average is most common when describing what feature of the area?

Level 2

• A) Weather

• B) Climate

• C) Water cycle

• D) Erosion patterns

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement correctly describes the characteristics of weather?

Level 2

• A. The month of December has been recorded as the coldest in Texas since the 1960s.

• B. Summers in Texas have been in the range of 70°F to 80°F as recorded over the last 30 years.

• C. There will be heavy rains accompanied by a slight cold front late tomorrow evening.

• D. Scientists have monitored and recorded average temperatures in the arid desert for 40 years.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which statement best describes the difference between weather and climate?

Level 2

• A. Weather has rain and clouds, while climate has temperature, wind, and storms.

• B. Weather describes temperature and precipitation. Climate describes floods and droughts.

• C. Weather describes the short-term conditions. Climate describes average conditions over decades.

• D. Weather occurs during the spring and summer, while climate occurs during the fall and winter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement best describes the relationship between the Sun and the ocean during the water cycle?

Level 3

• As the Sun heats up the ocean, the process of evaporation occurs.

• As the Sun heats up the ocean, the process of condensation occurs.

• As the Sun heats up the ocean, the process of precipitation occurs.

• As the Sun heats up the ocean, the process of runoff occurs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which event in the water cycle is an example of water cooling and condensing?

Level 3

• Clouds forming over the ocean.

• Clouds releasing rain over the ocean.

• Water evaporating from the ocean into the air.

• Water flowing over the land into the ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The diagram below shows a sequence of events that can occur in the water cycle. Which of these events is most likely caused by the Sun?

• Rain falls

• Water flows to the ocean

• Water evaporates

• Clouds form

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Complete the sentences by selecting the word that fills in the blank. The water cycle is the continuous movement of water throughout the Earth and atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes that are driven by the ___​. Liquid water ______ into water vapor, rises in the atmosphere where it cools and ______ to form clouds, and ______ back to Earth in the form of rain, sleet, or snow.

Level 3

(a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)   ​ (d)  

• Sun
• Moon
• Wind

• Ocean

• evaporates
• condenses
• precipitates
• accumulation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Identify the components of the water cycle in the diagram.

Level 3

a

b

c

Transpiration

Evaporation

Precipitation

Condensation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4