How people change the environment, and ways to reduce the harm
Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Four boxes in a row
Cause, effect, fix, then the fix's cost.
A town wants less runoff from a big parking lot. Which plan and trade-off fit, by Esme's reading (EPA)?
- Rain gardens, which have no costs to weigh
- More pavement, which costs nothing to keep up
- Cutting nearby trees, which saves space
- Rain gardens around the lot, which take space and care
A power plant must cut its sulfur pollution. Which plan and trade-off fit, by Jun's reading (EPA)?
- A wet scrubber, which removes most of it but needs water treatment
- 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 taller smokestack, which removes the sulfur
A lake wants to keep zebra mussels out. Which plan and trade-off fit, by Kira's reading (USGS)?
- Boat checks, which cost nothing
- Bringing in boats from mussel lakes, which saves time
- Boat checks, which take time and workers
- Adding more mussels, which crowds out new ones
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?
- No change, since fuel does not add CO₂
- About 37 ppm
- About 108 ppm
- About 145 ppm
Where rain goes (Data: USGS)
Ground Runs off Soaks in Forest or meadow 10% 50% Mostly paved (75–100%) 55% 15% 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 900 gallons more
- About 1,100 gallons more
- About 4,500 gallons more
- About 200 gallons more
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 Using the NOAA table, how many more stocks were rebuilt than are now on the overfished list, by Noah's math?
- 51 more
- 93 more
- 42 more
- 9 more
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
- Correct; zebra mussels clean out the pipes of power plants and water plants
- No; zebra mussels crowd onto native clams and clog water pipes
- No; zebra mussels cannot live in the Great Lakes
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% 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%
- No; the population shrank by 67%
- Correct; the pollutants rose 78% as the population grew
- Correct; more people must mean dirtier air
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; carbon dioxide has stayed at about 280 ppm
- 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; burning fuel adds nothing but oxygen to the air
Cause, effect, fix, then the fix's cost. Which summary of the chain model fits, by Bo's reading?
- A human cause leads to an effect, and a fix can help but has a cost
- A fix works well when it adds to the cause
- A human cause has no effect on land, water or air, so fixes and their costs are not needed
- Any fix solves the problem with no cost