NZASE UNIT STANDARD ITEM BANK QUESTIONS

Each of the following questions is stand-alone and can be used to assess the element below:

The intention of this item bank is for assessors to develop assessment tasks by choosing complete
questions.

Note: If combining parts of questions, you must make sure all Performance Criteria for an element
are included in the assessment task.

Unit Standard Number 18989 version 2

Unit Standard Title Demonstrate knowledge of Earth and Space.

Element 1 Describe earth’s cycles.

Range Two of – day, seasons, year, solstice, equinox, tides.

PC 1.1 Earth cycles are described in terms of their cause.

Range: causes may, include but are not limited to – rotation, tilt
of the earth, position of the sun, position of the moon in orbit.
QUESTION A:

1 Here are a number of statements about our planet Earth. Fill in the gaps with the
correct answers.
(choose from: day, week, year, relative position, moon, Jupiter, tilt, rotation)

i) It takes just over 365 days for the Earth to revolve once around the Sun. The Earth
travelling once around the sun is called a __________.

ii) Tides are due to the large gravitational pull of the Sun and _________________.

iii) It takes 24 hr for the Earth to rotate once on its own axis. Rotating once every 24
hours is called a ____________.

iv) An equinox is when day length is equal to the night length. An equinox is caused
by the ______________ of the Earth and the relative position of the sun.

v) The winter solstice is when the length of daylight is less than the length of the
night. The solstice is caused by the ___________________of the Sun and the tilt
of the Earth.

1.1

Q PC Evidence Judgement
1 1.1 i= year Two correct
ii= moon
iii= day
iv= tilt
v= (relative) position

QUESTION B

Spinning on the Orbit

The earth spins on its axis and completes the spin in 24 hours. The earth also moves
around the sun in an elliptical orbit and completes the orbit in 365.25 days.

Q1a How long does it take, in days, for the earth to complete a rotation on its axis?

____________________________ days

Q1 b Why are the lengths of time in light and dark per 24 hours different at different
times of the year?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Q1 c Describe why we have a leap year every FOUR years.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
1.1

Assessment schedule Question B

QB PC Answers Judgement
1 1.1 1a 1 day 1a OR 1b AND 1c correct
1b the earth’s orbit is tilted
1c the orbit of earth around sun is
365.25 days.

QUESTION C
The Tides
Diagram A Diagram B

Moon
Sun Earth
Sun Earth

Moon

1a What type of tide occurs when the sun, moon and earth line up as in diagram A
Circle correct answer

Spring tide Neap tide

1b Reason:
______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

1c What type of tide occurs when the sun, moon and earth line up as in diagram B
Circle correct answer

Spring tide Neap tide

1d Reason:
______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

1e How many full tides occur in a day on earth. ______________________

Assessment schedule Question C

QC PC Answers Judgement
1 1.1 1a spring 1a OR 1b OR 1c OR 1d AND 1e correct
1b sun, moon, earth line up,
strong gravity.
1c neap
1d sun, moon at right angles not
as strong force of gravity
1e two