6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
Multiple Choice
Directions: Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Every day, high and low tides occur along South Florida’s beaches. The table below
shows the time one high tide and one low tide occurred during one day.
Type of Tide
High Tide
Low Tide
Time
Occurred
1
3:06 AM
8:55 AM
Time
Occurred
2
?
?
Which statement best indicates when the next tide will occur?
A. The next high tide will occur around 3:23 PM, because it takes about 12 hours for a
certain part of the Earth to either face towards or away from the Moon.
B. The next low tide will occur around 2:00 PM, because it will take about 6 hours for the
Earth to rotate to where the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth is less.
C. The next low tide will most likely occur around 8:53 AM the next day, when that side of
the Earth once again faces the moon.
D. The next high tide will happen around 8:55 AM, due to the fact that a high tide always
occurs at the same time as a low tide.
2. Which statement correctly names and explains the occurrence of the highest ocean tides?
A. Neap tides, which occur during a full moon produce the greatest gravitational pull
therefore the highest tides.
B. Tides, which occur during a 1st quarter moon, will be higher due to a greater
gravitational pull of the Earth on its oceans.
C. Daily ocean tides, which occur during a spring tide, will be highest because the
gravitational pull of the full moon is greatest during this time.
D. Spring tides, which occur during March, April or May, produce higher tides since
Earth’s gravitational pull on the oceans is greatest during these months.
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6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
3. The Bay of Fundy is a 270 kilometer stretch of coastline that is known for its extreme
tides. Every day, approximately 160 billion tons of water flow in and out of the bay!
Sometimes there is a difference of 14 meters between high and low tides. This represents
the greatest difference in tide depth in the world.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Bay_of_Fundy_-_Tide_In.jpg
http://gildartphoto.com/weblogimages/AlmaBoats2.jpg
Which of the following circumstances would have the greatest effect on the depth of the water
during a daily high or low tide?
A. During the summer, the Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun resulting in
an increased high tide.
B. During a spring tide, the depth of the tides are greater due to the gravitational pull of the
Moon and Sun as they are aligned.
C. During a New Moon the depth of a low tide will decrease because the gravitational pull
of the Moon is being lessened by the Earth’s shadow.
D. During a solar eclipse, a high tide will be decreased because as the Moon moves in front
of the Sun, the gravitational pull on the oceans is decreased.
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6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
Use the illustrations of the positions of the Earth, moon and sun to answer question number 4.
The darker gray shadows represent tidal bulges.
4. Which statement below indicates the correct illustration and explanation of what happens
during a neap tide?
A. Illustration C; the gravitational pull of the sun and Earth is causing a bulge on the Moon.
B. Illustration A; gravity from the moon pushes Earth’s tides away from the moon and sun.
C. Illustration B; the Earth, moon and sun are aligned and a tidal bulge forms at a 90⁰ angle
from the Moon.
D. Illustration D; the Earth, moon and sun form a 90⁰ angle which results in a bulge toward
and directly opposite of the moon.
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6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
5. On May 31, 2010 at 10:35 AM, the Oregon State Police reported that a man drowned
about ¼ of a mile from shore. It was determined that he was clam digging and was
overcome by the incoming tide. In order to find clams, hunters have to venture out into
areas that are uncovered during low tide. How might someone ensure that he would not
be caught too far away from shore when the tide comes in?
A. By researching the times of the last high and low tides, one can approximate the time
these tides will occur the day of the clam digging trip.
B. By looking at the moon the night before venturing out, one can determine what time
the high tide will occur the next day.
C. By measuring the depth of water during the low tide, clam seekers can estimate the
height of the next high tide.
D. By analyzing the current tilt of the Earth, one can determine the time the next tide
will occur.
6. In our solar system, there are many interactions between the sun, moon and Earth. The
eclipse illustration below shows one of these interactions. Which relationship is most
likely represented and the cause most accurately explained?
A. Solar eclipse: The Earth is between the sun and the moon, which results in one half of
the Earth being shadowed.
B. Lunar eclipse: The moon has a shadow across it caused by the sun reflecting off the
Earth.
C. Solar eclipse: The moon is casting a shadow on the Earth and sun.
D. Lunar eclipse: The Earth is casting a shadow on the moon.
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6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
7. Caleb’s class is studying the Earth/sun/moon system. He studies the diagram below.
Which statement correctly explains what is happening during a solar eclipse?
A. At Position 1, the Earth moves between the moon and the sun, casting a shadow on
Earth’s surface.
B. At Position 2, the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on
Earth’s surface.
C. At position 4, the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the
moon’s surface.
D. At Position 3, the sun moves between the Earth and the moon casting a shadow on the
sun.
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6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
Use the Electromagnetic Spectrum image to answer questions 8, 9, and 10.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/EM_Spectrum_Properties_edit.svg
8. When the New Horizon space probe approached Pluto and began to relay images back to
NASA, it took 2 weeks to receive all of the data. The information was sent using waves
with a long wavelength and low frequency. Which types of waves were most likely used
to transmit this information?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ultraviolet waves
Radio waves
Gamma rays
X-rays
9. The electromagnetic spectrum illustrates the different types of electromagnetic waves in
the universe. Which of the following statements most accurately describes one of these
waves?
A. Ultraviolet waves, x-rays and gamma waves are more dangerous than the other waves
due to their short wavelengths and high frequencies.
B. Visible light has a longer wavelength than ultraviolet waves, but have a lower frequency
than microwaves.
C. Radio waves have longer wavelengths and a greater frequency than all of the other waves
depicted.
D. Infrared waves have a wavelength smaller than an atom, but larger than visible light.
10. What can you conclude from Electromagnet Spectrum illustration?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Visible light has a wide range wavelengths.
As the frequency increases, wavelength increases.
The greater the frequency, the smaller the wavelength.
Wavelengths and frequencies increase moving across the spectrum.
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6th Grade Science
Formative Assessment #13
6th Grade Science Formative Assessment #13
Answer Key
Question
Correct Answer
Benchmark
DOK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
C
B
D
A
D
B
B
A
C
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.11
SC.8.E.5.11
SC.8.E.5.11
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
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