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6th Grade Earth Science Midterm Review

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why might a scientist repeat an experiment if she/he didn't make a mistake in the first one? Experiments are repeated to

a)

make sure she/he gets IDENTICAL results.

b)

see if any portion can be skipped or ignored.

c)

prove that your results were incorrect the first time.

d)

check to see if the procedure was correct and nothing was left out.

2.

A hurricane becomes more powerful by evaporating water from

a)

lakes

b)

mountains.

c)

rivers.

d)

oceans.

3.

While at the beach, Sam and Sal recorded the temperatures on land and at sea. They discovered that each morning the ocean and land had a similar temperature. On a sunny day, the sun continues to warm both the ocean and land, but unequally. During the day, which direction will the wind MOST LIKELY blow?

a)

The wind will not blow.

b)

The wind will blow toward land.

c)

It will vary throughout the day.

d)

The wind will blow toward the ocean.

4.

Energy is transferred in solids by conduction, which means that

a)

heat travels in both directions.

b)

heat travels from the cooler object to the hotter object.

c)

heat travels from the hotter object to the cooler object.

d)

heat does not travel between objects of different temperatures.

5.

The main difference between weather and climate is the

a)

time of year on Earth.

b)

amount of time we consider.

c)

where Earth is in its orbit.

d)

amount of sunlight reaching Earth

6.

What makes the black surface of a playground get warmer on a sunny day than on a cloudy day?

a)

More children play outside when it is sunny.

b)

More heat goes into the black surface on a cloudy day.

c)

Clouds absorb all of the heat from the playground.

d)

The sunlight heats up the playground.

7.

Identify which statement represents a scientific law.

a)

Black holes exist.

b)

Some numbers are more lucky than others.

c)

The core of the Sun has a temperature of 14.5 million Centigrade.

d)

Energy can be neither created nor destroyed.

8.

A scientific theory can be defined as a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature. According to this definition, which statement describes a scientific theory.

a)

The Sun will die in 7.5 billion years

b)

The Sun will rise tomorrow morning.


.

c)

Matter is comprised of atoms.

d)

The universe was created at the Big Bang.

9.

The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The fundamental process of the water cycle can be modeled to illustrate the most important aspects of the natural phenomenon. The water cycle involves the exchange of energy, which leads to temperature changes. When water evaporates, energy is removed which cools the environment. When water condenses, it releases energy and warms the environment. In addition, the water cycle transfers water from one system to another. The water cycle purifies water, replenishes the land with freshwater, and transports minerals to different parts of the globe. But, most importantly the water cycle is crucial in the maintenance of life and the ecosystems of Earth. Study the diagram. What cause and effect prediction can be used to test the assumptions in the model?

a)

condensation will cause the temperature to decrease in the system

b)

evaporation does not effect temperature change in the system

c)

condensation does not effect temperature change in the system

d)

evaporation will cause the temperature to decrease in the system

10.

Which best describes the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?

a)

A hypothesis can be tested and a theory has already been tested.

b)

A theory can be tested and a hypothesis has already been tested.

c)

A hypothesis must be testable and theory does not need to be testable.

d)

A theory must be testable and hypothesis does not need to be testable.

11.

The graph depicts the velocity of an unmanned wheeled cart over time. Two opposing forces acted on the cart during the course of the investigation. What is the BEST conclusion as supported by the data in the graph?

a)

the forces are consistently equal

b)

the forces are consistently unequal

c)

the forces were equal, then became unequal

d)

the forces were unequal, then became equal

12.

There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of plate boundary?

a)

convergent

b)

thrust

c)

divergent

d)

transform

13.

Which BEST describes the physical properties of the Earth’s core?

a)

semi-molten

b)

water and organic substances

c)

a solid lower part and a liquid upper part

d)

contains volcanic, sedimentary and granitic rocks

14.

Fossils of a now extinct dinosaur have been found near the east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa. The dinosaur could not swim or fly. What does this suggest about the continents of South America and Africa?

a)

The continents were once connected.

b)

A land bridge once connected the continents.

c)

The same type of animals evolved on both continents.

d)

Prehistoric man transported the dinosaur between the continents.

15.

This cold river of air travels from west to east in the northern hemisphere. Last winter, it dipped far south to bring cold air and snow to many southern states. This is the

a)

Hadley wind.

b)

polar jet stream.

c)

Arctic jet stream.

d)

tropical jet stream.

16.

The image is an aerial photograph. What is the geological feature shown?

a)

sand dunes deposited by the wind

b)

a canyon, created by the erosion

c)

the dry bed of an ancient river

d)

a large fault on Earth’s crust

17.

After a flood, people should guard against

a)

many days of bright sunshine.

b)

a period of prolonged drought.

c)

the chance of water-borne diseases.

d)

a sudden drop in groundwater levels.

18.

The ozone layer is in the upper portion of this part of the earth's atmosphere.

a)

ionosphere

b)

mesosphere

c)

stratosphere

d)

troposphere

19.

The Earth system is made up of many spheres. These spheres interact. Imagine humans, part of the biosphere, have built this dam. The water in the lake behind the dam seeps in the ground. Some of the water flows over the dam and is converted into energy. Some water evaporates into the air. What spheres does the water, or hydrosphere, interact with in this example?

a)

geosphere and atmosphere

b)

atmosphere and biosphere

c)

cryosphere and atmosphere

d)

aesthenosphere and cryosphere

20.

Divergent plate boundaries

a)

move toward each other

b)

move away from each other

c)

slide past each other

d)

create mountains

21.

Crustal plate movement occurs because the Earth's mantle flows as a result of uneven heating inside the mantle. Convection cells are created by very hot material deep in the mantle rising, then cooling, sinking again, and then heating again and then repeating the cycle. This process occurs because of the energy generated by _________________ within the Earth.

a)

differences in densities

b)

solar radiation

c)

plate convergence

d)

radioactive decay of elements

22.

Hurricane Katrina brought devastation, homelessness, illness, and even death to the residents of New Orleans. Meteorologists, have been working with the most advanced satellite weather technology to ensure that another "Katrina" situation will not happen anywhere in the United States.

What would be the MOST effective way to alert coastal residents that a hurricane was fast approaching?

a)

newspapers

b)

billboards and flyers

c)

public broadcast media

d)

scientific publications

23.

A cold air mass that moves through the United States and reaches New York, Kansas, and even South Carolina is air that came from the

a)

polar convection region.

b)

arctic convection region.

c)

Canadian convection region.

d)

temperate convection region.

24.

What was Pangaea? When did it form and when did it break apart? It was

a)

a large ocean basin that opened in the Triassic and closed in the Paleocene

b)

the supercontinent that formed in the late Paleozoic and broke apart in Mesozoic

c)

the huge mountain range formed when Africa pushed northward into Europe in Eocene time

d)

a large, Precambrian shield area of Africa and South America that broke apart early in the Proterozoic

25.

The rock cycle is when rocks are transformed between three rock types. Which one is NOT one of the three major rock types?

a)

igneous

b)

extrusive

c)

sedimentary

d)

metamorphic