How people change the environment, and ways to reduce the harm

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Four boxes in a row

   Cause, effect, fix, then the fix's cost.

2. 1.

   A town wants less runoff from a big parking lot. Which plan and trade-off fit, by Esme's reading (EPA)?

   • Cutting nearby trees, which saves space
   • Rain gardens around the lot, which take space and care
   • Rain gardens, which have no costs to weigh
   • More pavement, which costs nothing to keep up
3. 2.

   A power plant must cut its sulfur pollution. Which plan and trade-off fit, by Jun's reading (EPA)?

   • A wet scrubber, which removes 100% of it and needs no water or treatment at the plant
   • Burning more coal, which spreads the smoke thinner
   • A wet scrubber, which removes most of it but needs water treatment
   • A taller smokestack, which removes the sulfur
4. 3.

   A lake wants to keep zebra mussels out. Which plan and trade-off fit, by Kira's reading (USGS)?

   • Bringing in boats from mussel lakes, which saves time
   • Boat checks, which take time and workers
   • Adding more mussels, which crowds out new ones
   • Boat checks, which cost nothing
5. 4.

   Before the 1700s, 280 or less; 1960, 317; 1990, 354; 2024, 425. Note: Mauna Loa yearly means, rounded. Using the NOAA table, about how many ppm higher was carbon dioxide in 2024 than before the 1700s, by Luz's math?

   • About 108 ppm
   • About 145 ppm
   • About 37 ppm
   • No change, since fuel does not add CO₂

6. Where rain goes (Data: USGS)

   Ground	Runs off	Soaks in
   Forest or meadow	10%	50%
   Mostly paved (75–100%)	55%	15%

7. 5.

   Example data: 2,000 gallons of rain fall on a parking lot. Using the USGS table, how much more runs off than on a meadow, by Milo's math?

   • About 1,100 gallons more
   • About 200 gallons more
   • About 4,500 gallons more
   • About 900 gallons more

8. Use the table

   U.S. fish stocks, end of 2024 (Data: NOAA)

   Measure	Number of stocks
   On the overfished list (too few fish left)	42
   Rebuilt since 2000	51

9. 6.

   Using the NOAA table, how many more stocks were rebuilt than are now on the overfished list, by Noah's math?

   • 42 more
   • 51 more
   • 93 more
   • 9 more
10. 7.

    A classmate says invasive species help a lake because they add more life. Which reply fits USGS, by Pia's reading?

    • Correct; any new species helps a lake
    • No; zebra mussels cannot live in the Great Lakes
    • Correct; zebra mussels clean out the pipes of power plants and water plants
    • No; zebra mussels crowd onto native clams and clog water pipes

11. Use the table

    U.S. changes, 1970 to 2025 (Data: EPA)

    Measure	Change
    Six main air pollutants	down 78%
    Population	up 67%
    Miles driven	up 197%
    Energy use	up 46%

12. 8.

    A student says U.S. air keeps getting dirtier because the population keeps growing. Which reply fits EPA, by Ren's reading?

    • No; the six main pollutants fell 78% while the population grew 67%
    • Correct; the pollutants rose 78% as the population grew
    • No; the population shrank by 67%
    • Correct; more people must mean dirtier air
13. 9.

    Before the 1700s, 280 or less; 1960, 317; 1990, 354; 2024, 425. Note: Mauna Loa yearly means, rounded. A student says burning fuel does not change the air. Which reply fits NOAA, by Tala's reading?

    • Correct; burning fuel adds nothing but oxygen to the air
    • No; carbon dioxide rose from about 280 ppm to about 425 ppm, mainly from burning fuel
    • No; burning coal, oil and gas takes carbon dioxide out of the air, so its level has dropped since 1960
    • Correct; carbon dioxide has stayed at about 280 ppm
14. 10.

    Note: The town needs at least a 50% cut and has $600. Using the test results, the town's budget drops to $300. What trade-off does it face, by Ari's reading?

    • Design A now cuts 60% of the runoff
    • It can afford only Design A, which cuts less runoff
    • It can still afford Design B
    • Both designs now cost nothing