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
- No flaw: a small rise shows the aquifer has fully recovered
- Two years is short; since about 1950 it fell 16.5 ft
- 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?
- Yes: each part fell 16.5 ft
- Not everywhere: the South Dakota part rose 0.5 ft
- Yes: the Texas part fell, so the other parts fell as well
- Levels rose 44.1 ft in the Texas part
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Use this
Two tables. Table 1 (EIA, US energy use in 2025), columns source, share of US energy use: petroleum, about 38%; natural gas, about 36%; coal, about 9%; renewable energy, about 9%. Table 2 (EIA, US carbon dioxide from people in 2022), columns source, share: burning fossil fuels, 93%; other sources, 7%.
Using both EIA tables, which claim is supported, Jun?
- Fossil fuels gave most US energy and most US human-caused CO₂
- Renewable energy gave most US energy
- Fossil fuel use will end in the US by 2030
- Fossil fuels gave most of the energy but just a small part of the CO₂
Beside it, a chain of boxes: cause, effect, solution. Using the USGS table, about how much farther did the average water level fall from 2007 to 2019, Kira?
- About 30.5 ft
- About 0.1 ft
- About 2.5 ft
- About 16.5 ft
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
- Wells where levels fell may now cost more to pump
- Streams gained water as the levels fell
- Pumping costs fell as the water 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, but farmers must learn new crops and tools
- Has no effect on the groundwater
- Uses more groundwater, at no cost to anyone
- Saves groundwater, and the farmers give up nothing in return
Claim: "Our town should build a solar farm." Which reasoning weighs both sides, Noah?
- Renewable sunlight, so there is no downside of any kind to weigh
- Works at night just as well as by day
- Burns coal to make its power, so no gain
- Renewable, but output varies with weather and it needs land
Claim: "Our school should put in water-saving toilets." Which reasoning weighs both sides, Pia?
- Uses more water, but it costs nothing
- Toilets use no water, so nothing changes
- Saves water each year, but costs money and work to put in
- Saves water each year, and it costs nothing to put them 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?
- An ad for rooftop solar panels
- A photo of one wind turbine
- EIA renewable shares for many years in a row
- The renewable share for one single year