Judge claims about using natural resources
Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Beside it, a chain of boxes: cause, effect, solution. A blog sees "2017 to 2019: rose 0.1 ft" and claims the aquifer has recovered. What is the flaw, Ari?
- The table shows no rise at any time
- Two years is short; since about 1950 it fell 16.5 ft
- No flaw: a small rise shows the aquifer has fully recovered
- 0.1 ft is a huge rise for an aquifer
Beside it, a chain of boxes: cause, effect, solution. A claim says water levels fell in every part of the aquifer. What does the USGS table show, Bo?
- Not everywhere: the South Dakota part rose 0.5 ft
- Yes: each part fell 16.5 ft
- Yes: the Texas part fell, so the other parts fell as well
- Levels rose 44.1 ft in the Texas part
Beside it, a chain of boxes: cause, effect, solution. A poster claims, "Most homes waste 50 gallons a day through leaks." Using the EPA table, what is the flaw, Esme?
- EPA says homes do not leak
- No flaw: each home leaks that much
- EPA says about 9% of homes, not most
- No flaw: EPA says about 90% of homes
Read this first
USGS, High Plains aquifer
period average water-level change about 1950 to 2007 fell 14.0 ft about 1950 to 2019 fell 16.5 ft 2017 to 2019 rose 0.1 ft USGS card: when water levels fall, wells may need deepening, pumping costs rise, and streams can get less water. Beside it, a chain of boxes: cause, effect, solution.
Using the table and the USGS card, which claim is best supported, Luz?
- Each High Plains well has gone dry since about 1950
- Pumping costs fell as the water levels fell
- Wells where levels fell may now cost more to pump
- Streams gained water as the levels fell
Claim: "Farms in a dry area should grow crops that need less water." Which reasoning gives a benefit and a cost, Milo?
- Saves groundwater, and the farmers give up nothing in return
- Saves groundwater, but farmers must learn new crops and tools
- Has no effect on the groundwater
- Uses more groundwater, at no cost to anyone
Claim: "Our town should build a solar farm." Which reasoning weighs both sides, Noah?
- Renewable, but output varies with weather and it needs land
- Renewable sunlight, so there is no downside of any kind to weigh
- Burns coal to make its power, so no gain
- Works at night just as well as by day
Claim: "Our school should put in water-saving toilets." Which reasoning weighs both sides, Pia?
- Uses more water, but it costs nothing
- Saves water each year, and it costs nothing to put them in
- Toilets use no water, so nothing changes
- Saves water each year, but costs money and work to put in
Ren claims, "Our school uses less water since new faucets went in." Which data would test the claim best?
- A list of the faucets' colors
- Meter readings for many months before and after
- One meter reading from the day after
- A survey of who likes the new faucets
A claim says, "US energy use is moving toward renewable energy." Which data would test it best, Tala?
- The renewable share for one single year
- EIA renewable shares for many years in a row
- A photo of one wind turbine
- An ad for rooftop solar panels
Zee's class claims new rain barrels cut a town's outdoor water use this summer. What else should the class check?
- How many of the barrels are blue
- Nothing: one summer's drop shows it
- Whether this summer was rainier than last summer
- The town's favorite park