Download E8A1_CRT_CR_MSTIPS_Final

Content Benchmark E.8.A.1
Students know seasons are caused by variations in the amounts of the Sun’s energy
reaching Earth’s surface due to the planet’s axial tilt. E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Understand the relationship between the sun and Earth and
how equinoxes, solstices, and seasons occur.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. When the Northern Hemisphere is angled toward the Sun, it will be
A. summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
B. summer in the Southern Hemisphere and winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
C. winter in the both hemispheres.
D. summer in both hemispheres.
2. What is the day in the fall known as when the Earth experiences 12 hours of sunlight
and 12 hours of darkness?
A. Vernal Equinox
B. Autumnal Equinox
C. Winter Solstice
D. Summer Solstice
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
3. During an equinox what is the relationship between amounts of energy received from
the sun north of the equator compared to the amount received south of the equator?
A. The energy increases the further north of the equator, but decreases the further
south.
B. The energy decreases the further north of the equator, but increases the further
south.
C. All locations north and south of the equator receive the same amount of
energy as all other locations.
D. The amount of energy decreases gradually the further away from the poles in
either direction.
4. Las Vegas is located at approximately 32° north latitude. The sun’s most direct rays
strike the city
A. on December 21st.
B. between March 23 and June 21st.
C. between June 21 and September 23rd.
D. on June 21st.
2nd Item Specification: Know Earth rotates on an axis, tilted at 23.5 as it orbits the
sun (the tilt does not change orientation as Earth orbits the sun).
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
5. During each orbit around the sun, the Earth
A. changes the angle of axial tilt and orientation.
B. alternates toward and away from the sun.
C. maintains a consistent tilt and orientation.
D. maintains a consistent distance from the sun.
6. The Earth is tilted on its axis approximately
A. 15°.
B. 20°.
C. 23°.
D. 32°.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
7. Which of the following are NOT influenced by the Earth’s tilt on its axis?
A. When the seasons occur
B. The number of hours of sunlight each day
C. Solar and lunar eclipses
D. The height of the tides
8. Which of the following is evidence that the Earth’s orientation is constant as it orbits
the sun?
A. The Earth’s orbit is elliptical and the Earth gets closer and further from the
Sun.
B. Solar and lunar eclipses can only happen during a new moon or full moon.
C. The North Star can be used as a constant reference point in the night sky.
D. The Earth takes approximately 365 days to orbit the sun.
3rd Item Specification: Know Earth’s axial tilted produces winter in the Northern
Hemisphere when it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
9. During which season in the Southern Hemisphere would the energy from the Sun to
be the most concentrated?
A. Spring
B. Summer
C. Fall
D. Winter
10. When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere in the Southern Hemisphere it is
A. Spring.
B. Summer.
C. Fall.
D. Winter.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
11. In the Southern Hemisphere, during which months of the year is the energy from the
sun most concentrated?
A. September to November
B. December to March
C. April to June
D. July and August
12. When does the Northern Hemisphere experience the summer season? When the
A. Earth is closest to the sun.
B. Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun.
C. Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun.
D. Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun.
4th Item Specification: Know location and latitude affect the amount of sun’s energy
received.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
13. Consistently the most direct solar energy strikes the
A. Equator.
B. Tropic of Cancer.
C. Tropic of Capricorn.
D. North Pole.
14. Consistently the least direct solar energy strikes the
A. Equator.
B. Tropic of Cancer.
C. Tropic of Capricorn.
D. North Pole.
15. The point furthest north that the sun is directly over head is known as the
A. Equator.
B. Tropic of Cancer.
C. Tropic of Capricorn.
D. North Pole.
16. The point furthest south that the sun is directly over head is known as the
A. Equator.
B. Tropic of Cancer.
C. Tropic of Capricorn.
D. North Pole.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
17. The Arctic circle marks the furthest point south of the North Pole where
A. there is at least one day that the sun never rises above the horizon.
B. six months out of the year the sun does not shine.
C. the Sun never sets from here to the North Pole.
D. the Sun is directly over head for at least one day of the year.
18. As the Earth orbits the Sun and the Northern Hemisphere moves from pointing
toward the Sun to pointing away from the Sun, the length of day light hours in the
Northern Hemisphere
A. increases.
B. decreases.
C. only changes with the end of Day-Light Savings Time.
D. only changes the start of Day-Light Savings Time.
Constructed Response E.8.A.1
Draw a diagram of the Earth in orbit around the sun.
A. The diagram must picture the Earth at the 4 following positions; summer in the
northern hemisphere, winter in the northern hemisphere, spring and fall equinoxes. Be
sure to include the Earth’s axial tilt at each location.
B. At which of the four positions drawn in part A is the suns rays LEAST direct in the
northern hemisphere. Where would the sun’s rays be most direct at this time of year.
C. How do the tilt and shape of the Earth influence the seasons Earth experiences each
year?
Content Benchmark E.8.A.1
Students know seasons are caused by variations in the amounts of the Sun’s energy
reaching Earth’s surface due to the planet’s axial tilt. E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. A, Level 1
2. B, Level 1
3. D, Level 2
4. C, Level 2
5. C, Level 1
6. C, Level 1
7. D, Level 2
8. C, Level 2
9. B, Level 1
10. D, Level 1
11. B, Level 2
12. C, Level 2
13. A, Level 1
14. D, Level 1
15. B, Level 1
16. C, Level 1
17. A, Level 2
18. B, Level 2
Constructed Response E.8.A.1 Score Rubric:
3 points
Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
A. The diagram shows the Earth tilted toward the Sun in the summer
for the Northern Hemisphere and away when it is winter. At each of
the equinoxes the Earth should not be tilted toward or way from the
sun.
B. The sun’s rays would be least direct in the winter for the northern
hemisphere, and most direct in the southern hemisphere at this same
time (The southern hemisphere would be experiencing summer.)
C. The tilt of the earth on its axis allows for part of the planet to receive
more direct insolation while the opposite hemisphere would receive
much less direct insolation. This difference in the amount of energy
that reaches the surface of the planet greatly impacts how warm the
surface gets. The fact that the earth is a sphere also means that the
surface of the planet becomes more and more tilted away from the
incoming solar energy the further north or south of the equator you
go.
2 points
Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor
errors.
Response does not address all parts of the question.
1 point
The response is totally incorrect or no response provided.
0 points