6th Grade Science Benchmark Fall

Last updated over 1 year ago

10 questions

Multiple Choice/ Multiple Select

1

Library

6th Grade Science Benchmark Fall

Last updated over 1 year ago

10 questions

Multiple Choice/ Multiple Select

1

Some of the evidence of how the arrangement of the continents may have changed over time is illustrated in the current world map shown. 

1

In this performance task, you will answer five questions.

A geologist is giving a lecture to help people understand why fossils are sometimes found in
unexpected places. This includes fossils of fish found in tall mountains and fossils of tropical
plants found in deserts. She will also discuss why the same fossils are found in different
locations thousands of miles apart and why they are not found in some places at all. She begins by explaining that Earth's surface is made up of many large slabs known as plates, which are constantly moving although very slowly. The movement of Earth's plates is known as plate tectonics. This movement helps explain why some fossils are found in strange places.

Questions 5-6
When plates meet, one plate will often slide beneath a second in a process called subduction, causing the second plate to push upward. Because of great pressure. the hard rock of the plate that sinks is often destroyed, along with any fossils contained in that part of the plate. At other times, plates will pull apart or slide alongside each other.
Examine the map on the previous page and the diagrams below closely to answer the following questions.

Fossils of the same animals found along the east coast of South America are found on the west coast of Africa. These are fossils of land animals that cannot swim long distances.

1

The geologist next wants to explain why fossils of some fish are found high in the mountains. Not
far from the west coast of South America is a mountain chain called the Andes Mountains. The
average elevation of the Andes Mountains is 3,962 m (13,000 ft). High in the Andes Mountains,
many fossils of whales, fish and other marine life have been found.
To help you understand how fossils of marine life are found high in the mountains, study the map,
and answer the question that follows.

1

Next, the geologist wants to explain why some locations have very few fossils or none at all. In a
few places, there are hot spots in Earth's crust. These are volcanic areas that do not exist along
the perimeter of the Pacific Plate. Instead they occur where convection currents inside Earth
cause heated magma to rise to the surface. As a plate moves over a hot spot, volcanoes can
erupt. Examples of hot spots include Iceland and Hawaii.
The Hawaiian Islands formed from massive lava flows that created a series of islands over
millions of years. The oldest and smallest of the state's large islands is Kauai, which formed
about five million years ago, while the largest and most active is the island of Hawaii.
Examine the map, and then complete the activity that follows.

1

Hawaii has very few fossils. Look at the map, and consider what you have learned so far. Explain why the island of Kauai is smaller than the island of Hawaii and why there are so few fossils on any of the islands.

Another way to understand how Earth's surface has changed is to look at the distribution of
extinct life-forms in the fossil record. In their research, the paleontologist and the geologist have found evidence that, more than 3 million years ago, the sea life on each side of Latin America was the same. (Today, the Pacific Ocean is to the west of Latin America, and the Atlantic Ocean is to the east.) Less than 3 million years ago, the sea life began to diverge and eventually became very different.

Which of the statements is true? Choose TWO correct answers.

More than 3 million years ago, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were connected, so sea life
could travel between them. As a result, sea life remained the same across a wide area.

Less than 3 million years ago, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were connected, so sea life
could travel between them. As a result, sea life remained the same across a wide area.

More than 3 million years ago, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were not connected, so sea life
could not travel between them. As a result, sea life evolved very differently in each place.

Less than 3 million years ago. the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were not connected, so sea life
could not travel between them. As a result, sea life evolved very differently in each place

Which of the following statements is most correct?

North America and Asia were once connected, as were Europe, India, Australia, and Antarctica.

Antarctica and Asia were once connected. as were North America, Australia, India, and South
America.

South America and Africa were once connected, as were Asia, North America, Australia, and
Antarctica.

North America and Europe were once connected, as were South America, Africa, India,
Australia, and Antarctica.

Which observation best supports your answer to Part A?

The distribution of matching coal deposits and Cynognathus fossils indicates a former
connection between these areas.

The distribution of matching coal deposits and Glossopteris fern fossils indicates a former
connection between these areas.

The distribution of mountains of a similar age and composition and Cynognathus fossils
indicates a former connection between these areas.

The distribution of mountains of a similar age and composition and Glossopteris fern fossils
indicates a former connection between these areas.

Some of the evidence of how the arrangement of the continents may have changed over time is illustrated in the current world map shown. 

Compare the current world map on the previous page to the four maps above showing what Earth might have looked like millions of years ago. Based on the fossil distribution in the current world map, which of these is most accurate?

A

B

C

D

In this performance task, you will answer five questions.

A geologist is giving a lecture to help people understand why fossils are sometimes found in
unexpected places. This includes fossils of fish found in tall mountains and fossils of tropical
plants found in deserts. She will also discuss why the same fossils are found in different
locations thousands of miles apart and why they are not found in some places at all. She begins by explaining that Earth's surface is made up of many large slabs known as plates, which are constantly moving although very slowly. The movement of Earth's plates is known as plate tectonics. This movement helps explain why some fossils are found in strange places.

Questions 5-6
When plates meet, one plate will often slide beneath a second in a process called subduction, causing the second plate to push upward. Because of great pressure. the hard rock of the plate that sinks is often destroyed, along with any fossils contained in that part of the plate. At other times, plates will pull apart or slide alongside each other.
Examine the map on the previous page and the diagrams below closely to answer the following questions.

Fossils of the same animals found along the east coast of South America are found on the west coast of Africa. These are fossils of land animals that cannot swim long distances.

Which of the following statements is most correct?

Divergent movement of plates has occurred.

Transform movement of plates has occurred.

Convergent movement of plates has occurred. 

None of these types of movements has occurred. 

Which observation best supports your answer to Part A?

The South American Plate is moving east, while the African Plate is moving west. 

The South American Plate is moving west, while the African Plate is moving east.

The South American Plate is moving north, while the African Plate is moving south. 

The South American Plate is moving southeast, while the African Plate is moving northwest. 

The geologist next wants to explain why fossils of some fish are found high in the mountains. Not
far from the west coast of South America is a mountain chain called the Andes Mountains. The
average elevation of the Andes Mountains is 3,962 m (13,000 ft). High in the Andes Mountains,
many fossils of whales, fish and other marine life have been found.
To help you understand how fossils of marine life are found high in the mountains, study the map,
and answer the question that follows.

How did marine fossils come to be high in the Andes Mountains? Choose the two best options.

The Nazca Plate and the South American Plate are moving toward each other

The Nazca Plate and the South American Plate are moving away from each other.

The pulling apart of the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate has created a rift around
which mountains have grown.

The collision of the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate has pushed parts of Earth that
were formerly ocean up into mountains.

The paleontologist and the geologist now think that they have enough evidence to prove that Earth's Surface has changed over time. Scientists can see how landmasses once aligned by comparing which of the following?

living things

rock layers

extinct plants and animals 

plants and animals of today. 

The geologist explains that there are additional reasons some areas don't contain fossils. Earth's surface is made up of three major rock types: metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary.
Fossils do not occur in igenous rock because it comes from magma found deep within Earths mantle. When sedimentary rock transforms into metamorphic rock the fossils are destroyed. Which process most closely describes the transformation?

Weathering and Erosion

Melting

Heat and Pressure

None of the above

Next, the geologist wants to explain why some locations have very few fossils or none at all. In a
few places, there are hot spots in Earth's crust. These are volcanic areas that do not exist along
the perimeter of the Pacific Plate. Instead they occur where convection currents inside Earth
cause heated magma to rise to the surface. As a plate moves over a hot spot, volcanoes can
erupt. Examples of hot spots include Iceland and Hawaii.
The Hawaiian Islands formed from massive lava flows that created a series of islands over
millions of years. The oldest and smallest of the state's large islands is Kauai, which formed
about five million years ago, while the largest and most active is the island of Hawaii.
Examine the map, and then complete the activity that follows.

Hawaii has very few fossils. Look at the map, and consider what you have learned so far. Explain why the island of Kauai is smaller than the island of Hawaii and why there are so few fossils on any of the islands.

Another way to understand how Earth's surface has changed is to look at the distribution of
extinct life-forms in the fossil record. In their research, the paleontologist and the geologist have found evidence that, more than 3 million years ago, the sea life on each side of Latin America was the same. (Today, the Pacific Ocean is to the west of Latin America, and the Atlantic Ocean is to the east.) Less than 3 million years ago, the sea life began to diverge and eventually became very different.

Which of the statements is true? Choose TWO correct answers.

More than 3 million years ago, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were connected, so sea life
could travel between them. As a result, sea life remained the same across a wide area.

Less than 3 million years ago, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were connected, so sea life
could travel between them. As a result, sea life remained the same across a wide area.

More than 3 million years ago, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were not connected, so sea life
could not travel between them. As a result, sea life evolved very differently in each place.

Less than 3 million years ago. the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were not connected, so sea life
could not travel between them. As a result, sea life evolved very differently in each place

 
Which of the following statements is most correct?

North America and Asia were once connected, as were Europe, India, Australia, and Antarctica.

Antarctica and Asia were once connected. as were North America, Australia, India, and South
America.

South America and Africa were once connected, as were Asia, North America, Australia, and
Antarctica.

North America and Europe were once connected, as were South America, Africa, India,
Australia, and Antarctica.

Which observation best supports your answer to Part A?

The distribution of matching coal deposits and Cynognathus fossils indicates a former
connection between these areas.

The distribution of matching coal deposits and Glossopteris fern fossils indicates a former
connection between these areas.

The distribution of mountains of a similar age and composition and Cynognathus fossils
indicates a former connection between these areas.

The distribution of mountains of a similar age and composition and Glossopteris fern fossils
indicates a former connection between these areas.

Compare the current world map on the previous page to the four maps above showing what Earth might have looked like millions of years ago. Based on the fossil distribution in the current world map, which of these is most accurate?

A

B

C

D

Which of the following statements is most correct?

Divergent movement of plates has occurred.

Transform movement of plates has occurred.

Convergent movement of plates has occurred. 

None of these types of movements has occurred. 

Which observation best supports your answer to Part A?

The South American Plate is moving east, while the African Plate is moving west. 

The South American Plate is moving west, while the African Plate is moving east.

The South American Plate is moving north, while the African Plate is moving south. 

The South American Plate is moving southeast, while the African Plate is moving northwest. 

How did marine fossils come to be high in the Andes Mountains? Choose the two best options.

The Nazca Plate and the South American Plate are moving toward each other

The Nazca Plate and the South American Plate are moving away from each other.

The pulling apart of the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate has created a rift around
which mountains have grown.

The collision of the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate has pushed parts of Earth that
were formerly ocean up into mountains.

The paleontologist and the geologist now think that they have enough evidence to prove that Earth's Surface has changed over time. Scientists can see how landmasses once aligned by comparing which of the following?

living things

rock layers

extinct plants and animals 

plants and animals of today. 

The geologist explains that there are additional reasons some areas don't contain fossils. Earth's surface is made up of three major rock types: metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary. 
Fossils do not occur in igenous rock because it comes from magma found deep within Earths mantle. When sedimentary rock transforms into metamorphic rock the fossils are destroyed. Which process most closely describes the transformation?

Weathering and Erosion

Melting

Heat and Pressure

None of the above