Question: Which factor will most likely cause a person to develop a fever?

Choices:
A. a leg muscle relaxing after exercise
B. a bacterial population in the bloodstream
C. several viral particles on the skin
D. carbohydrates being digested in the stomach

Answer: B


Question: Lichens are symbiotic organisms made of green algae and fungi. What do the green algae supply to the fungi in this symbiotic relationship?

Choices:
A. carbon dioxide
B. food
C. protection
D. water

Answer: B


Question: When a switch is used in an electrical circuit, the switch can

Choices:
A. cause the charge to build.
B. increase and decrease the voltage.
C. cause the current to change direction.
D. stop and start the flow of current.

Answer: D


Question: Which of the following is an example of an assistive device?

Choices:
A. contact lens
B. motorcycle
C. raincoat
D. coffee pot

Answer: A


Question: Rocks are classified as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary according to

Choices:
1. their color
2. their shape
3. how they formed
4. the minerals they contain

Answer: 3


Question: A chewable calcium carbonate tablet is a common treatment for stomach discomfort. Calcium carbonate is most likely used as this type of medicine because calcium carbonate

Choices:
A. has a pleasant flavor.
B. is inexpensive to produce.
C. neutralizes digestive acid.
D. occurs naturally in the body.

Answer: C


Question: Which two body systems are directly involved in movement?

Choices:
A. muscular and skeletal
B. digestive and muscular
C. skeletal and respiratory
D. respiratory and digestive

Answer: A


Question: Which change in the state of water particles causes the particles to become arranged in a fixed position?

Choices:
A. boiling
B. melting
C. freezing
D. evaporating

Answer: C


Question: Earth's core is primarily composed of which of the following materials?

Choices:
A. basalt
B. iron
C. magma
D. quartz

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following events during meiosis contributes most to the variation within a species?

Choices:
A. pairing of chromosomes
B. creation of haploid gametes
C. segregation of alleles
D. separation of chromatids

Answer: C


Question: Which of the following was probably most important in the formation of dark, fertile soil that is good for farming?

Choices:
A. plant decomposition
B. radioactive decay
C. water erosion
D. wind erosion

Answer: A


Question: When igneous rock is changed into metamorphic rock, which form of energy is this process?

Choices:
A. heat
B. chemical
C. magnetic
D. light

Answer: A


Question: In humans, the digestion process begins in

Choices:
A. the intestine, with squeezing.
B. the mouth, with chewing and saliva.
C. the stomach, with churning and acid.
D. the esophagus, with pushing towards the stomach.

Answer: B


Question: Which of these items contains only a solution?

Choices:
A. a jar of pickles
B. a bottle of juice
C. a bag of peanuts
D. a can of mixed fruit

Answer: B


Question: Many natural rock formations change color over time. In Utah, for example, iron oxidized and formed red, orange, and yellow rock. Which of the following is the cause of this change?

Choices:
A. chemical weathering
B. mechanical weathering
C. water erosion
D. wind erosion

Answer: A


Question: A population of small, plant-eating beetles lives in a forest. About half of the beetles are light brown and the others are dark green. If years of drought cause the area to become dry with few trees, what would the beetle population most likely look like after several generations?

Choices:
A. It would be mostly light brown beetles.
B. It would be mostly dark green beetles.
C. It would be mostly carnivorous beetles.
D. It would be mostly very large beetles.

Answer: A


Question: A scientist wanting to document a change in a river's flow pattern should observe a river over a period of

Choices:
A. days.
B. weeks.
C. months.
D. years.

Answer: D


Question: Automobile engines built today are designed to be gas efficient. Gas-efficient engines most likely affect a city by reducing

Choices:
A. air pollution.
B. heat pollution.
C. noise pollution.
D. light pollution.

Answer: A


Question: A student in an empty classroom shouts, "Hello!" Which best explains what the student hears after the shout?

Choices:
A. an increased loudness of sound
B. a reflection of sound
C. an increased frequency of sound
D. a refraction of sound

Answer: B


Question: Which type of energy in gasoline is transformed into mechanical energy in a motorcycle engine?

Choices:
1. chemical
2. nuclear
3. magnetic
4. electrical

Answer: 1


Question: A student standing near a campfire feels warmer as the fire grows. Which process most likely transfers heat from the campfire to the student?

Choices:
A. conduction
B. convection
C. radiation
D. transformation

Answer: C


Question: In snapdragon plants, red flowers are dominant to white flowers. When red-flowered plants are crossed with white-flowered plants, pink flowers are produced. If a researcher wants to produce plants with only white flowers, what color should the parent plants be?

Choices:
A. both red
B. both white
C. one red and one white
D. one white and one pink

Answer: B


Question: Scientists use the term "light year" to describe

Choices:
A. how fast light travels in space.
B. the distance light travels in one year.
C. how large the diameters of different stars are.
D. the time it takes the Sun to move through the galaxy.

Answer: B


Question: Plate movement can form different features on Earth. The movement of tectonic plates can be both a constructive and a destructive force. At which type of plate boundary is new crust formed?

Choices:
A. convergent
B. subduction
C. transform
D. divergent

Answer: D


Question: Which group of organisms can show significant trait changes in the shortest period of time?

Choices:
1. bacteria
2. birds
3. fish
4. reptiles

Answer: 1


Question: Peach trees have sweet-smelling blossoms and produce rich fruit. What is the main purpose of the flowers of a peach tree?

Choices:
A. to attract bees for pollination
B. to create flower arrangements
C. to protect the tree from disease
D. to feed migratory birds

Answer: A


Question: A group of students are researching changes in climate in their region. Which of these would best provide evidence of changes in temperature and rainfall over a period of years?

Choices:
A. tree rings
B. pollen samples
C. harvest production
D. carbon dating

Answer: A


Question: Which of these would help to prevent infections from occurring in small cuts and scrapes?

Choices:
A. apply a cold ice pack
B. raise the injured area
C. apply pressure to stop bleeding
D. wash the area with warm, soapy water

Answer: D


Question: Which best describes why winds at the beach change direction between day and night?

Choices:
A. because the temperatures over land and over water change
B. because warm air over land sinks and stays in place over land
C. because cool air rises and is replaced by warm air from the ocean
D. because cool air sinks and stays in place over land

Answer: A


Question: Soil erosion can be best prevented by

Choices:
A. removing grass from the steepest slope.
B. building terraces into the sides of a slope.
C. heavily watering the vegetation on the slope.
D. increasing the slope of the land by adding more soil.

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following properties provides the BEST way to identify a mineral?

Choices:
A. hardness
B. shape
C. size
D. temperature

Answer: A


Question: Which sequence represents the order of development for many plants?

Choices:
1. seed develops inside fruit -> seed is dispersed -> seed germinates -> plant grows
2. seed is dispersed -> seed develops inside fruit -> seed germinates -> plant grows
3. seed germinates -> plant grows -> seed is dispersed -> seed develops inside fruit
4. seed is dispersed -> plant grows -> seed germinates -> seed develops inside fruit

Answer: 1


Question: When ice cream is left out of a freezer, the ice cream changes from a ___.

Choices:
A. solid to a gas
B. gas to a liquid
C. solid to a liquid
D. liquid to a gas

Answer: C


Question: Which equipment will best separate a mixture of iron filings and black pepper?

Choices:
1. magnet
2. filter paper
3. triple-beam balance
4. voltmeter

Answer: 1


Question: Which characteristic is shared by all cells?

Choices:
A. They need energy.
B. They reproduce sexually.
C. They make their own food.
D. They move from place to place.

Answer: A


Question: On a small, isolated island, a hurricane destroyed all the trees that produced a large, hard-shelled nut. Which bird population would most likely decrease?

Choices:
A. birds with long, probing beaks
B. birds with thick, strong beaks
C. birds with thin, short beaks
D. birds with large, pouch beaks

Answer: B


Question: A cow and a frog have similar bone structures in their forelimbs. Both have phalanges, radius, ulna, and humerus bones. However, the cow and frog are animals with very different life cycles from each other. Which most likely describes why the body structures of these animals are so similar?

Choices:
A. Both have undergone similar mutations.
B. Both descended from a common ancestor.
C. Both reacted similarly to environmental pressures.
D. Both spread out from the same geographical region.

Answer: B


Question: A cell that is unable to import substances required to process chemical energy is most likely a result of a malfunctioning

Choices:
A. cell membrane.
B. endoplasmic reticulum.
C. Golgi body.
D. nuclear envelope.

Answer: A


Question: Which best describes all unicellular organisms?

Choices:
A. Every cell is round.
B. Every cell can make food.
C. Every cell can move on its own.
D. Every cell performs all life functions.

Answer: D


Question: When a transverse wave passes from right to left through a medium, what happens to the particles of the medium?

Choices:
A. Particles travel from right to left along the wave.
B. Particles travel from left to right along the wave.
C. Particles move back and forth parallel to the wave.
D. Particles move back and forth perpendicular to the wave.

Answer: D


Question: Which characteristic below most likely accounts for our limited knowledge of galaxies?

Choices:
A. their tiny size
B. their magnetic cores
C. their inability to produce light
D. their great distance from Earth

Answer: D


Question: Decomposers increase the fertility of the soil and prevent dead organisms from building up in the environment. In which way do decomposers make the soil more fertile?

Choices:
A. by adding carbon
B. by adding nitrogen
C. by removing excess water
D. by removing excess minerals

Answer: B


Question: When oxygen combines with hydrogen, which substance is formed?

Choices:
A. water
B. vinegar
C. hydrochloric acid
D. hydrogen dioxide

Answer: A


Question: When plants undergo photosynthesis, a reaction produces sugar, oxygen, and water. During respiration, stored energy from the products of photosynthesis is converted to usable energy. In what form is the energy stored prior to use in respiration?

Choices:
A. chemical energy
B. kinetic energy
C. light energy
D. heat energy

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following is a typical example of a unicellular organism?

Choices:
A. earthworm
B. bacteria
C. fungi
D. green algae

Answer: B


Question: Over geologic time, global mean sea level has varied significantly. Which change is most likely responsible for an increase in global mean sea level?

Choices:
A. erosion of sediment from a mountain range
B. mass extinction of marine organisms
C. formation of an ocean trench
D. melting of polar ice caps

Answer: D


Question: Which body system is most responsible for the removal of waste?

Choices:
A. skeletal system
B. nervous system
C. muscular system
D. excretory system

Answer: D


Question: In which environment is white fur color an advantage for survival?

Choices:
A. desert
B. grassland
C. arctic tundra
D. temperate forest

Answer: C


Question: Which of these will best separate iron filings from sand?

Choices:
A. water
B. a magnifying glass
C. a magnet
D. rubbing alcohol

Answer: C


Question: Which of these is the chemical symbol for magnesium?

Choices:
A. Ma
B. Mg
C. Mn
D. Mu

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following is most likely to lead to error in an experiment?

Choices:
A. bias
B. repeated trials
C. peer review
D. use of a control

Answer: A


Question: Which best describes transportation technology?

Choices:
A. a system that is used to move people and products
B. an enterprise that changes raw materials into goods
C. the building and finishing of structures
D. the conversion of mechanical energy into heat energy

Answer: A


Question: In a gasoline-powered car, chemical energy from gasoline is transformed to make the car move. The motion of the car is what form of energy?

Choices:
A. radiant energy
B. nuclear energy
C. electrical energy
D. mechanical energy

Answer: D


Question: Which characteristic is affected by interactions with the environment?

Choices:
A. weight
B. eye color
C. blood type
D. handedness

Answer: A


Question: Which is the greatest impact humans have had on the carbon cycle?

Choices:
A. clear-cutting forests
B. manufacturing plastics
C. burning fossil fuels
D. growing agricultural crops

Answer: C


Question: The floating arrow on a compass always points towards the

Choices:
A. west.
B. east.
C. south.
D. north.

Answer: D


Question: Which color shirt will reflect the most light on a hot, sunny day?

Choices:
A. black
B. blue
C. red
D. white

Answer: D


Question: A 10 g sample of aluminum and a 10 g sample of iron were each heated by 100 joules of energy. The temperature of the aluminum sample rose 11°C, while the temperature of the iron sample increased 23°C. Which statement best accounts for these results?

Choices:
A. Iron is twice as dense as aluminum.
B. Atoms of aluminum are smaller than atoms of iron.
C. Using equal masses results in similar heat capacities.
D. The specific heat of iron is less than that of aluminum.

Answer: D


Question: If its food supply in a field decreases, the mouse population in that field will probably

Choices:
A. increase.
B. decrease.
C. remain the same.
D. become extinct.

Answer: B


Question: Overuse of soil for farming causes local disruptions of several Earth subsystems. Which of these is a part of the biogeochemical cycle that experiences the most severe local disruption?

Choices:
A. release of carbon into the atmosphere
B. release of oxygen into the atmosphere
C. cycling phosphorus into the soil
D. cycling hydrogen into the soil

Answer: C


Question: Which of the following is an example of a physical change but not a chemical change?

Choices:
A. A log gives off heat and light as it burns.
B. A tree stores energy from the Sun in its fruit.
C. A penny lost in the grass slowly changes color.
D. A water pipe freezes and cracks on a cold night.

Answer: D


Question: While conducting an investigation on refraction, a teacher uses a red laser pointer to show how a beam of light is affected as it passes through several glass objects. The teacher should make sure that the

Choices:
A. room is totally dark.
B. light source is ultraviolet.
C. beam of light does not travel toward the students.
D. room walls are shielded with insulating material.

Answer: C


Question: One student wrote a report about an investigation in which fertilizer was added to tomato plants. Which information from that student's report would most help a second student repeat the investigation?

Choices:
A. the amount of fertilizer added
B. the height of the fertilized plants
C. the size of each tomato produced
D. the number of tomatoes produced

Answer: A


Question: A student wants to look under a heavy rock. Which simple machine would be BEST to use to lift the rock?

Choices:
A. Wheel and axle
B. Lever
C. Inclined plane
D. Screw

Answer: B


Question: Rust is a compound with the formula Fe_{2}O_{3}. Which elements combine to form rust?

Choices:
A. iron and water
B. iron and oxygen
C. iron and air
D. iron and acid

Answer: B


Question: The chemical equation below shows a reaction of copper (Cu) with silver nitrate (AgNO_{3}) yielding silver (Ag) and copper(II) nitrate (Cu(NO_{3})_{2}) Cu + 2AgNO_{3} -> 2Ag + Cu(NO_{3})_{2} Silver and copper(II) nitrate are called the

Choices:
A. reactants.
B. products.
C. catalysts.
D. inhibitors.

Answer: B


Question: What role does the centromere play in cellular reproduction?

Choices:
A. It is the area where microtubules are formed.
B. It is the area where the nucleus is during cell division.
C. It is the area of alignment for the chromosomes.
D. It is the area of attachment for chromatids.

Answer: D


Question: If 1 kg of the compound toluene melts at -95°C, then 500 g of toluene will

Choices:
A. melt at -47.5°C.
B. melt at -95°C.
C. boil at 95°C.
D. boil at 47.5°C.

Answer: B


Question: A calculation based on the chemical energy of gasoline shows that a car should be able to go 100 miles on a gallon of fuel. When the car was driven on a test track, the car only went 25 miles on a gallon of fuel. What accounts for most of the difference?

Choices:
A. the mass of the driver and the fuel carried by the car
B. the wind resistance between the car and the air nearby
C. the waste heat from the combustion of fuel in the engine
D. the friction between the tires and the surface of the track

Answer: C


Question: A student wants to find the relationship between the diameter of several plastic disks and the circumference of each disk. Which of these types of graphs should be constructed to determine this relationship?

Choices:
A. pie graph
B. line graph
C. scatterplot
D. box-and-whisker plot

Answer: B


Question: When light is bounced off a mirror, the light is

Choices:
A. reflected.
B. refracted.
C. absorbed.
D. diffracted.

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following sentences best explains what happens when puddles evaporate?

Choices:
A. The water absorbs into the ground.
B. The particles of matter move more slowly.
C. The water changes from one form to another.
D. The particles of matter move closer together.

Answer: C


Question: Plants on hills keep dirt in place during a rain storm. Plant roots grow into the dirt and keep the dirt from moving. Why do roots grow into the dirt?

Choices:
A. to release gases
B. to release water
C. to absorb energy
D. to absorb nutrients

Answer: D


Question: In animal skin tissue, cell division is responsible for

Choices:
1. growth and repair
2. sexual reproduction
3. obtaining energy
4. production of sex cells

Answer: 1


Question: Which process drives most of the ATP synthesis in a chloroplast?

Choices:
A. flow of protons across an electrochemical gradient
B. flow of tRNA across an electrochemical gradient
C. exposure of ADP to electromagnetic waves
D. exposure of carbohydrates to electromagnetic waves

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following is most consistent with the modern theory of evolution?

Choices:
A. Parents pass their physical traits to their offspring; those offspring with traits that help them survive in the environment are able to reproduce.
B. Parents change their physical traits in order to survive in the environment, then those parental traits are passed to their offspring.
C. Life on this planet came from another planet far out in space.
D. Living organisms have not changed for hundreds of millions of years.

Answer: A


Question: Felicia investigated whether water color affected how fast the water heated in sunlight. She poured tap water into five beakers and placed food coloring in four out of the five beakers. Felicia then used a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water in each of the beakers. Which of these was used as control in her investigation?

Choices:
A. mixing the food coloring in water
B. testing the beaker of uncolored tap water
C. using the same amount of water in each trial
D. testing the colored water samples at different times

Answer: B


Question: One process in the formation of sedimentary rocks is when rocks are

Choices:
A. compressed by moving plates.
B. heated and subjected to high pressure.
C. broken up and deposited in layers.
D. moved up along fault planes.

Answer: C


Question: Western coral snakes have a striped color pattern and are poisonous. Arizona mountain king snakes look like western coral snakes but are not poisonous. The color pattern of the Arizona mountain king snake is an example of

Choices:
A. camouflage.
B. mimicry.
C. mutualism.
D. parasitism.

Answer: B


Question: Which plant trait is inherited?

Choices:
A. the shape of its leaves
B. the amount of water it receives
C. the number of minerals it absorbs from soil
D. the level of sunlight to which it is exposed

Answer: A


Question: A student put 200 milliliters (mL) of water into a pot, sets the pot on a burner, and heats the water to boil. When the pot is taken off the burner, it contains only 180 milliliters (mL) of water. What happened to the rest of the water?

Choices:
A. It was used up.
B. It condensed.
C. It was absorbed by the heat.
D. It turned into water vapor.

Answer: D


Question: Howie put his plants under a plant light. What was he helping his plants do by providing light?

Choices:
A. make food
B. attract insects
C. release pollen
D. grow roots

Answer: A


Question: Which lists the diameter of the planets in order from smallest to largest?

Choices:
A. Venus, Earth, Mercury, Mars
B. Earth, Mars, Venus, Mercury
C. Mars, Mercury, Earth, Venus
D. Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth

Answer: D


Question: The aloe plant can absorb a lot of water during a rain shower. The extra water is stored in its leaves. The ability to store water in its leaves is most likely an adaptation to which type of environment?

Choices:
A. one near the ocean
B. one with dry conditions
C. one with a variety of organisms
D. one that receives a lot of sunlight

Answer: B


Question: When stratospheric ozone levels are reduced, the amount of ultraviolet radiation hitting Earth increases. Ozone depletion is most often caused

Choices:
A. by the reversal of the magnetic field of Earth.
B. when fluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere.
C. when electromagnetic waves from the Sun increase.
D. by abrupt changes in weather and climate patterns.

Answer: B


Question: Owen tested a physical property of a mineral. He rubbed a mineral sample on a piece of white tile. The mineral left a red mark on the tile. Which of the following physical properties of the mineral was Owen most likely testing?

Choices:
A. cleavage
B. hardness
C. luster
D. streak

Answer: D


Question: Which of these animals has a young form that looks the most like the adult form?

Choices:
A. moth
B. human
C. frog
D. butterfly

Answer: B


Question: Two tectonic plates pushing toward each other cause intense heat and pressure in Earth's crust. Into which will crust material be changed by heat and pressure?

Choices:
A. fossils
B. sediments
C. igneous rock
D. metamorphic rock

Answer: D


Question: A student states that plants grow taller when grown in natural light than they do in artificial light. Which method is the best way to determine if the statement is fact or opinion?

Choices:
A. conduct a controlled experiment
B. discuss the statement with other students
C. ask several teachers their thoughts
D. propose a scientific conclusion

Answer: A


Question: Which object is powered by an electrical circuit?

Choices:
A. a drum
B. a flashlight
C. a matchstick
D. a wind-up toy

Answer: B


Question: Which concept supports the endosymbiotic origin of complex, eukaryotic double-membrane structures?

Choices:
A. Mitochondria and chloroplasts arise from preexisting mitochondria and chloroplasts.
B. Mitochondria and chloroplasts arise from preexisting endomembrane systems.
C. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are synthesized in the nucleus.
D. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are synthesized in ribosomes.

Answer: A


Question: Which of these human activities most relies on high-quality soil?

Choices:
A. Hiking
B. Hunting
C. Coal mining
D. Growing crops

Answer: D


Question: What is an example of a shelter in an ecosystem?

Choices:
A. a gray squirrel eating an acorn
B. a raccoon in a hollow log
C. a blue whale migrating
D. a tick feeding on a coyote

Answer: B


Question: Some areas of the world are experiencing more desert-like conditions. This change most favors survival of species with the ability to do which of the following?

Choices:
A. consume large amounts of food
B. become dormant for long periods
C. sense infrared and ultraviolet light
D. transpire water through the skin to the atmosphere

Answer: B


Question: Roger poured water over a pile of sand. Some of the sand washed away. This process is similar to which of the following?

Choices:
A. The eruption of a volcano
B. The erosion of the walls of a canyon
C. The uplifting of mountain ranges
D. The forming of dunes or mounds in a desert

Answer: B


Question: When an earthquake wave passes from the crust to the mantle, the wave

Choices:
A. reverses direction.
B. changes speed.
C. increases energy.
D. stops moving.

Answer: B


Question: A student wraps a wire around an iron nail. The student then connects the wire to a battery. The nail attracts another nail and they stick together. What force holds the two nails together?

Choices:
A. gravitational force
B. magnetic force
C. electric force
D. friction force

Answer: B


Question: Natural processes cause rapid and slow changes to Earth's surface. Which event causes changes to Earth's surface most rapidly?

Choices:
A. an earthquake shaking the ground
B. sediment washing into a bay
C. a rainstorm weathering rock
D. water flowing in stream

Answer: A


Question: Since 1961, Nevada has led the United States in production of which resource?

Choices:
A. gold
B. uranium
C. lumber
D. iron

Answer: A


Question: A class is testing the effect of exercise on heart rate. The heart rate of two students before exercise is compared to their heart rate after running around a track. Which procedure will most likely help the class correctly compare the results of the two students?

Choices:
A. test students who are the same height
B. have the students run on the same day
C. measure the distance each student runs
D. have the students run for the same amount of time

Answer: D


Question: Which interaction within an ecosystem is characterized by gradual change from one community of organisms to another?

Choices:
A. symbiosis
B. food webs
C. energy pyramids
D. succession

Answer: D


Question: The continuous changes of a seed to an adult plant that produces seeds is known as a

Choices:
A. lunar cycle.
B. weekly cycle.
C. daily cycle.
D. life cycle.

Answer: D


Question: When someone plays the flute, sound is produced because the air in the flute is

Choices:
A. hot.
B. neutral.
C. vibrating.
D. vaporizing.

Answer: C


Question: Scientists compared Pluto with other objects in the solar system and found that Pluto is smaller than Earth's moon. This finding caused scientists to question whether Pluto is a planet because

Choices:
A. Pluto gets less sunlight than Earth's moon
B. the other planets are much larger than Pluto
C. the other planets have moons and Pluto does not
D. Pluto rotates on its axis and the other planets do not

Answer: B


Question: When an iron nail wrapped in a copper wire is attached to a circuit, it forms

Choices:
A. a battery.
B. an engine.
C. an insulator.
D. an electromagnet.

Answer: D


Question: Which gas accounts for the largest percentage of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Choices:
A. carbon monoxide
B. carbon dioxide
C. nitrous oxide
D. water vapor

Answer: D


Question: Which human body system attacks viruses and bacteria once they have invaded the body?

Choices:
A. circulatory
B. endocrine
C. digestive
D. immune

Answer: D


Question: The atoms that make up oxygen gas

Choices:
A. share two covalent bonds.
B. have a definite shape.
C. share a pair of neutrons.
D. have two free electrons.

Answer: A


Question: A student wants to cut a piece of string for a class activity. The length of the string is measured BEST in which units?

Choices:
A. Gallons
B. Liters
C. Miles
D. Centimeters

Answer: D


Question: If the atomic mass number of an atom is 35, which statement is most accurate?

Choices:
A. The atom is not an isotope.
B. The atomic number is less than 17.
C. The atom has an odd number of neutrons.
D. The number of protons does not equal the number of neutrons.

Answer: D


Question: Biotic components need to be recycled through an ecosystem. Which type of organisms are best able to recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem?

Choices:
A. decomposers
B. predators
C. producers
D. scavengers

Answer: A


Question: Roger visited his grandfather who lives on a farm. While he was there, he helped his grandfather move hay out of the barn. As Roger worked in the barn he began sneezing. Which system of the body most likely caused Roger to sneeze?

Choices:
A. circulatory
B. excretory
C. digestive
D. immune

Answer: D


Question: Why should plants be included in investigations about the water cycle?

Choices:
A. Plants speed up the water cycle by removing carbon from the air.
B. Plants start the water cycle when they make water in photosynthesis.
C. Plants are part of the water cycle through the process of transpiration.
D. Plants stop the water cycle because they absorb it and stop the flow to streams.

Answer: C


Question: Which statement best identifies a basic need of all animals?

Choices:
A. They need to eat.
B. They need to hide.
C. They need to jump.
D. They need to smell.

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following describes an instinctive behavior?

Choices:
A. a behavior that occurs only in adult fish
B. a behavior that occurs only in small mammals
C. a behavior that an animal learns how to do over time
D. a behavior that an animal is born knowing how to do

Answer: D


Question: Which of these provide the best evidence that life could develop on Mars?

Choices:
A. its atmospheric gases
B. its surface temperatures
C. its craters and rocky surface
D. its ice and organic molecules

Answer: D


Question: The primary reason that plants are important for an ecosystem is because they

Choices:
A. provide energy for consumers.
B. depend on other organisms for shelter.
C. break down dead animal matter.
D. consume nutrients for energy.

Answer: A


Question: Energy from the Sun reaches Earth by

Choices:
A. radiation.
B. conduction.
C. convection.
D. thermal expansion.

Answer: A


Question: Scientists study the current conditions of many solar system objects to gain insight into conditions early in the history of Earth. Which phenomenon most closely models current theories of early Earth?

Choices:
A. liquid forming valleys on Mars
B. hundreds of active volcanoes on Io
C. rock and ice forming the core of Neptune
D. ice covering the entire surface of Europa

Answer: B


Question: Jonathan places a pot of water on a stove. As the water boils, how does the state of the water change?

Choices:
A. from gas to liquid
B. from liquid to gas
C. from liquid to solid
D. from solid to liquid

Answer: B


Question: Animal cells obtain energy by

Choices:
A. processing sunlight.
B. absorbing nutrients.
C. growing.
D. dividing.

Answer: B


Question: Which illness is associated with a weakened immune system in the body?

Choices:
A. tetanus
B. cancer
C. measles
D. rabies

Answer: B


Question: In the human kidney, urea from the blood is filtered through the glomerular membrane into a nephron. The movement of urea across this membrane occurs without an input of energy. Which factor is the most likely reason urea absorption does not require energy?

Choices:
A. a pH imbalance
B. a pressure difference
C. a temperature increase
D. a concentration gradient

Answer: D


Question: The greatest amount of diversity can be found among which type of organism?

Choices:
A. plants
B. animals
C. bacteria
D. fungi

Answer: C


Question: Which energy type is common enough in Nevada to make a significant contribution to the renewable energy needs of the state?

Choices:
A. coal
B. geothermal
C. natural gas
D. petroleum

Answer: B


Question: Until recently the Grand Canyon was thought to be about 5-6 million years old. Recently a scientist gathered data and wrote a paper for a scientific journal that indicated the canyon is about 17 million years old. Before this new information about the canyon is accepted, which of these needs to occur?

Choices:
A. The scientist needs to publish additional papers.
B. The scientist needs to obtain government support.
C. Other scientists need to state their beliefs.
D. Many scientists need to evaluate the data.

Answer: D


Question: Which human trait is most likely inherited from a parent?

Choices:
A. learning to ride a bike
B. holding a spoon
C. reading a book
D. height

Answer: D


Question: Foam weather stripping is often placed in the frames of doors and windows in a home. What is the purpose of this weather stripping?

Choices:
A. The weather stripping increases heat transfer by radiation.
B. Heat is conducted quickly through the weather stripping.
C. The weather stripping reduces heat loss due to convection.
D. Heat can transfer through the weather stripping due to reflection.

Answer: C


Question: The items listed below were found in a science classroom. * a heart made of plastic with many of its parts labeled * clay formed to look like Earth and other planets * a giant plastic plant cell with removable cell parts These items are all examples of

Choices:
1. models
2. experiments
3. variables
4. controls

Answer: 1


Question: For a technology project, Kyle came up with an idea to build a model bridge. He wants his bridge to span 50 cm and to support a 1 kg object. According to the engineering design process, which of the following should be Kyle's next step?

Choices:
A. construct prototypes of different kinds of bridges
B. research the different designs of bridges
C. gather the materials needed to build the bridge
D. make a drawing to show how to build the bridge

Answer: B


Question: Light travels fastest through which of the following?

Choices:
A. air
B. glass
C. water
D. a vacuum

Answer: D


Question: Different systems of the human body perform different functions. Which system takes oxygen from the air to be moved by the circulatory system?

Choices:
A. the respiratory system
B. the digestive system
C. the nervous system
D. the skeletal system

Answer: A


Question: A solar cell turns sunlight into another form of energy. A solar cell is most like what natural structure?

Choices:
A. an elephant's ears
B. a plant's leaves
C. a deer's hooves
D. a tree's roots

Answer: B


Question: The Sun appears to move across the sky each day, rising in the east and setting in the west. What causes this apparent motion?

Choices:
A. the rotation of Earth on its axis
B. the revolution of the Sun around Earth
C. the Earth’s distance from the Sun
D. the properties of Earth’s atmosphere

Answer: A


Question: What causes a blue block to appear blue in the sunlight?

Choices:
A. The block absorbs all blue light.
B. The block bends (refracts) all blue light.
C. Only blue light is reflected by the block.
D. Only blue light passes through the block.

Answer: C


Question: A student determined the density of different bars of soap. Which should the student most likely do to check the accuracy of the results?

Choices:
A. complete the experiment in one day
B. test multiple brands of soap
C. record data in metric units
D. repeat the experiment

Answer: D


Question: Which method below would be the best way to determine if an egg, plastic foam, a piece of wood, or a candle would float on water?

Choices:
A. observing each object in water
B. measuring the size of each object
C. calculating the weight of the objects
D. comparing the shapes of the objects

Answer: A


Question: Liam lives in the Northern Hemisphere of Earth and plays in the snow in December. His friend lives in the Southern Hemisphere of Earth and plays at the beach in December. What is the best explanation for why this is possible?

Choices:
A. tilt of Earth on its axis
B. rotation of Earth on its axis
C. revolution of Earth around the Sun
D. revolution of the Moon around Earth

Answer: A


Question: A scientist needs to take a picture of the well-ordered arrangements of the atoms and molecules within a substance. Which of the following instruments would be best for the scientist to use?

Choices:
A. a laser light with holograph.
B. a seismograph.
C. an electron microscope.
D. a stereoscope.

Answer: C


Question: Gold atoms can be identified based on the number of which subatomic particles?

Choices:
A. neutrons
B. electrons
C. nuclei
D. protons

Answer: D


Question: Which is needed for both boiling and melting to occur?

Choices:
A. solids
B. gases
C. heat
D. pressure

Answer: C


Question: Which of the following is an example of genetic engineering?

Choices:
A. Growing a whole plant from a single cell.
B. Finding the sequences of bases in plant DNA.
C. Inserting a gene into plants that makes them resistant to insects.
D. Attaching the root of one type of plant to the stem of another type of plant.

Answer: C


Question: Which of the following is an example of a container that is filled with a pure substance rather than with a mixture?

Choices:
A. a tire filled with air
B. a jar filled with salt water
C. a balloon filled with helium
D. a glass filled with chocolate milk

Answer: C


Question: Which best describes the role of the esophagus in digestion?

Choices:
A. It releases acid and mixes food.
B. It aids in absorption of nutrients from food.
C. It carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
D. It carries food from the stomach to the intestines.

Answer: C


Question: Which change is most likely caused by a thunderstorm?

Choices:
A. a glacier moving
B. a stream flooding
C. a volcano erupting
D. a mountain forming

Answer: B


Question: Which is an example of an organism that has been selectively bred for a particular genetic trait?

Choices:
A. cats that eat mice
B. cows that graze on grass
C. pigs that form large herds
D. chickens that lay large eggs

Answer: D


Question: Which of these can be described as a system of stars, gases, dust, and other matter that orbits a common center of gravity?

Choices:
A. an asteroid
B. a galaxy
C. a nebula
D. a comet

Answer: B


Question: The Florida Bog Frog (Lithobates okaloosae) inhabits shallow stream overflows in three counties in Florida. With such a small geographic habitat, any change in the frog's environment could cause drastic changes in the population. Which would most likely affect the frog population if acid rain changed the pH of the water?

Choices:
A. Prey insects would become inedible.
B. Tadpoles would be unable to survive.
C. Breeding sites would become unavailable.
D. Predators would choose another food source.

Answer: B


Question: Which function do kidneys provide to maintain homeostasis?

Choices:
A. the removal of excess heat from the body
B. the removal of carbon dioxide from the body
C. the removal of excess oxygen from the blood
D. the removal of nitrogenous wastes from the blood

Answer: D


Question: While running, leg muscles work to move leg bones, and the skin helps to

Choices:
A. regulate body temperature.
B. sense small changes in the heart rate.
C. transport nutrients to muscles.
D. maintain oxygen levels in the blood.

Answer: A


Question: Rolanda is growing tomato plants in her garden. She has created a compost pile and has been adding compost around her tomato plants to help fertilize them. Compost is solid waste in which organic material is broken down by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen to where it can be safely stored, handled, and applied to the environment. On what does Rolanda primarily rely in order for composting to work?

Choices:
A. producers
B. consumers
C. scavengers
D. decomposers

Answer: D


Question: Some students were on a tour exploring the inside of a cave. While the students were in the cave, they realized they heard an echo every time that they spoke. Which most likely caused the echo to occur?

Choices:
A. the accumulation of the sound waves
B. the diffraction of the sound waves
C. the refraction of the sound waves
D. the reflection of the sound waves

Answer: D


Question: A scientist uses angstrom units to measure the distance between two points. The scientist is most likely measuring the distance between two

Choices:
A. atoms.
B. cities.
C. continents.
D. stars.

Answer: A


Question: Based on the evidence available at the time, early models of the solar system stated that all objects in space orbited Earth. In the 16th century, an astronomer reevaluated the evidence and proposed a model of the solar system that is still in use. What part of this model corrected the mistake in previous solar system models?

Choices:
A. The Sun is at the center of this model.
B. Earth is the largest object in this model.
C. This model contains more than one star.
D. This model shows that Earth is stationary.

Answer: A


Question: The hormone insulin is secreted by the pancreas. Which activity is most likely to trigger an increase in the levels of insulin circulating in the blood?

Choices:
A. driving
B. eating
C. jogging
D. sleeping

Answer: B


Question: In gym class a student kicks a soccer ball high into the air. As the ball goes upward, which type of energy is increasing?

Choices:
A. kinetic energy
B. thermal energy
C. potential energy
D. mechanical energy

Answer: C


Question: Which best describes the orbit of the Moon around Earth?

Choices:
A. circular with a period of about one month
B. circular with a period of about one week
C. elliptical with a period of about one month
D. elliptical with a period of about one week

Answer: C


Question: In any physical or chemical process, what two quantities are always conserved?

Choices:
A. matter and total energy
B. light and acoustic energy
C. density and thermal energy
D. gravity and potential energy

Answer: A


Question: The nucleus of MOST atoms consists of

Choices:
A. neutrons only
B. protons and neutrons
C. protons and electrons
D. neutrons and electrons

Answer: B


Question: The complete removal of decomposers from an ecosystem will have the greatest effect on which of the following?

Choices:
A. the spread of disease
B. the availability of water
C. the recycling of nutrients
D. the distribution of organisms

Answer: C


Question: In an accurate diagram of the solar system, which object would be shown closest to Earth?

Choices:
A. the Moon
B. the asteroid belt
C. Mars
D. Saturn

Answer: A


Question: Typically, sedimentary rocks are formed

Choices:
A. only in erupting volcanoes.
B. only under great pressure and high temperatures.
C. below Earth's surface as magma cools and crystallizes.
D. from materials that settle.

Answer: D


Question: Which renewable resource is used with photovoltaic cells to produce electricity?

Choices:
A. hydrothermal energy
B. solar energy
C. geothermal energy
D. nuclear energy

Answer: B


Question: Which will most likely happen to a solid substance that is heated?

Choices:
A. It will melt.
B. It will boil.
C. It will harden.
D. It will evaporate.

Answer: A


Question: A scientist observes an unusual activity while studying bacterial cells. Using scientific inquiry to investigate the activity will enable the scientist to

Choices:
A. control the behavior.
B. prove that the behavior is beneficial.
C. evaluate different explanations of the behavior.
D. conclude how the behavior will change in the future.

Answer: C


Question: In order to survive, all organisms must have

Choices:
1. chlorophyll
2. carbon dioxide
3. energy
4. blood

Answer: 3


Question: Which observation of a plant supports the inference that photosynthesis can take place?

Choices:
1. a strong, sweet smell
2. a dry, rough texture
3. a green color
4. a smooth stem

Answer: 3


Question: To safely conduct an experiment using chemicals, what should students always do?

Choices:
A. Work in large groups.
B. Wear safety goggles.
C. Wear short sleeves.
D. Keep a window open.

Answer: B


Question: Infections may be caused by

Choices:
1. mutations
2. microorganisms
3. toxic substances
4. climate changes

Answer: 2


Question: Which are two parts of the carbon cycle?

Choices:
A. freezing and thawing
B. growth and reproduction
C. evaporation and precipitation
D. photosynthesis and respiration

Answer: D


Question: The digestive system breaks food into simple substances that the body can use. What system carries these simple substances from the digestive system to other parts of the body?

Choices:
A. circulatory
B. nervous
C. respiratory
D. skeletal

Answer: A


Question: A student conducts an experiment using a common but potentially harmful bacteria culture. After working with the bacteria, which is the most important safety practice to follow?

Choices:
A. turn off any electrical equipment
B. dispose of waste materials
C. wash hands and tabletops thoroughly
D. return materials to their proper place

Answer: C


Question: Which of these environmental changes goes on for months or years?

Choices:
A. drought
B. flood
C. avalanche
D. landslide

Answer: A


Question: Erin placed her shamrock plant in a dark corner. Soon she saw that the leaves had tilted toward her window. What did the plant need most from the window?

Choices:
A. sunlight during the day
B. air during the day
C. darkness at night
D. warmth at night

Answer: A


Question: Which gravitational pull has the greatest influence on Earth's tides?

Choices:
A. the gravitational pull between Earth and the Moon
B. the gravitational pull between Earth and the Sun
C. the gravitational pull between Earth and Jupiter
D. the gravitational pull between Earth and Mars

Answer: A


Question: One key physical process in beach formation is wave action. Sand is deposited on beaches as waves break onto the shoreline and the energy from the wave scatters. Which type of energy is most used by wave action to modify the shape of the beaches?

Choices:
A. thermal
B. potential
C. chemical
D. mechanical

Answer: D


Question: A student is asked to bring something that feels rough to class. Which would be BEST for him to bring?

Choices:
A. Pillow
B. Marble
C. Sandpaper
D. Trading card

Answer: C


Question: What tool would be used to examine a fingerprint?

Choices:
A. a graduated cylinder
B. a hand lens
C. a pair of goggles
D. a thermometer

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following is a mineral?

Choices:
A. diamond
B. plastic
C. steel
D. wood

Answer: A


Question: During a rainstorm, leaves wash down a gully on a hillside. The water slows down at the foot of the hill and fans out, depositing the leaves. What geologic structure is formed in a similar way?

Choices:
A. a basalt column
B. a stalactite
C. a fault line
D. a delta

Answer: D


Question: The change in fur color of the Arctic hare from brown in the summer to white in the winter is an example of

Choices:
A. mimicry.
B. heredity.
C. diversity.
D. camouflage.

Answer: D


Question: Which sense is used to tell if there is sugar in a glass of tea?

Choices:
A. Touch
B. Hearing
C. Smell
D. Taste

Answer: D


Question: The surface of Earth is covered by a relatively thin layer of water called the

Choices:
1. crust
2. mantle
3. hydrosphere
4. atmosphere

Answer: 3


Question: All organisms contain DNA and RNA. What are the subunits of DNA and RNA?

Choices:
A. simple sugars
B. amino acids
C. carbohydrates
D. nucleotides

Answer: D


Question: How does ice change the shape of rocks?

Choices:
A. It dissolves the rocks by pooling on surfaces.
B. It breaks the rocks by expanding in openings.
C. It smooths the rocks by colliding with them.
D. It moves the rocks by pressing on them.

Answer: B


Question: Which property of Earth's interior keeps the innermost part in a solid state?

Choices:
A. relatively low temperature
B. extremely high pressure
C. high rate of heat flow
D. low rate of radioactive decay

Answer: B


Question: Diseases that can be transmitted between organisms are

Choices:
A. infectious.
B. inherited.
C. environmental.
D. congenital.

Answer: A


Question: The transfer of thermal energy from one object to another is known as

Choices:
A. heat.
B. electricity.
C. magnetism.
D. temperature.

Answer: A


Question: Which part of the body carries out the function of copying DNA?

Choices:
A. brain
B. heart
C. bones
D. cells

Answer: D


Question: The atomic mass of an atom is

Choices:
A. the same as the atomic number.
B. the same as the group number.
C. the sum of protons and neutrons.
D. the difference between protons and electrons.

Answer: C


Question: Different species of carnivorous animals that share the same habitat in an ecosystem may

Choices:
1. become decomposers
2. compete for food
3. produce their own food
4. mate with each other

Answer: 2


Question: Which scientist is best known for studying plants and animals?

Choices:
A. Isaac Newton
B. Albert Einstein
C. Charles Darwin
D. Nicolaus Copernicus

Answer: C


Question: Green plants get the energy they need to make food from

Choices:
A. air
B. sunlight
C. water
D. soil

Answer: B


Question: The movement of soil by wind or water is called

Choices:
A. condensation
B. evaporation
C. erosion
D. friction

Answer: C


Question: Arctic areas are covered with snow and ice for much of the year. Which color rabbits would be safest from foxes there?

Choices:
A. grey
B. black
C. white
D. brown

Answer: C


Question: The ratio of an object's mass to its volume is its

Choices:
A. area.
B. perimeter.
C. density.
D. weight.

Answer: C


Question: As the hawk population increases in an ecosystem, the deer mouse population will most likely decrease as a result of

Choices:
A. decrease in food source.
B. increase in disease.
C. increase in predators.
D. decrease in habitat.

Answer: C


Question: Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat near Earth's surface. Which of these is a greenhouse gas?

Choices:
A. nitrogen
B. argon
C. water vapor
D. oxygen

Answer: C


Question: What happens during photosynthesis?

Choices:
A. Insects pollinate plants.
B. Plants change soil into food energy.
C. Animals get carbon dioxide from plants.
D. Plants change light energy into food energy.

Answer: D


Question: Which is an example of a chemical reaction?

Choices:
A. The melting of ice
B. The grinding of salt crystals to powder
C. The burning of wood
D. The evaporation of water from a puddle

Answer: C


Question: A baby kit fox grows to become an adult with a mass of over 3.5 kg. What factor will have the greatest influence on this kit fox's survival?

Choices:
A. the size of the fox's ears
B. the conditions of the fox's habitat
C. the average number of fox offspring
D. the social behaviors within the fox population

Answer: B


Question: Hydrochloric acid is added to a beaker containing a piece of zinc. As a result, zinc chloride is formed and hydrogen gas is released. This is an example of

Choices:
1. a chemical reaction
2. a physical change
3. photosynthesis
4. evaporation

Answer: 1


Question: Which part of a plant produces the seeds?

Choices:
A. flower
B. leaves
C. stem
D. roots

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following is found in all living organisms?

Choices:
A. cell
B. organ
C. organ system
D. tissue

Answer: A


Question: What is the role of decomposers in a food chain?

Choices:
A. They consume other organisms.
B. They break down dead organic matter.
C. They use the Sun's energy to make food.
D. They convert inorganic matter into organic matter.

Answer: B


Question: Copernicus changed the way people viewed the solar system by

Choices:
A. claiming Earth is in orbit about the Sun.
B. inventing, then improving, the telescope.
C. writing the theory of the infinite universe.
D. showing planetary orbits are elliptical.

Answer: A


Question: Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum can humans sense without using equipment or technology?

Choices:
A. radio waves
B. visible light
C. microwaves
D. X-rays

Answer: B


Question: The nervous system is composed of cells, tissues, and organs. Which is a cell of the nervous system?

Choices:
A. brain
B. spinal cord
C. ganglion
D. neuron

Answer: D


Question: A shallow container of salt water is placed in sunlight for a day. Which is the most likely result?

Choices:
A. All of the mixture will evaporate.
B. The salt will keep the water from evaporating.
C. The salt will separate from the water and float at the top of the container.
D. Only the water will evaporate and the salt will remain in the container.

Answer: D


Question: Which of these will best separate a saltwater solution?

Choices:
A. using a paper filtering system
B. using chromatography
C. allowing the salt to settle
D. allowing the water to evaporate

Answer: D


Question: Mrs. Henderson's class has five small, covered boxes. One contains perfume; another contains dried onions. There is also a box of pine needles, a box of lemon pieces, and a box with a paper towel wet with vanilla flavoring. Which should they do to get the best information about what is in each box?

Choices:
A. Shake the boxes.
B. Smell the boxes.
C. Listen to the boxes.
D. Weigh the boxes.

Answer: B


Question: Which features are physical properties of an iron nail?

Choices:
A. conducts heat, magnetic, solid
B. conducts electricity, magnetic, rusts
C. conducts sound, insulates, non-magnetic
D. dissolves, conducts heat, non-magnetic

Answer: A


Question: Which item would a magnet attract?

Choices:
A. iron nail
B. wool cloth
C. wooden stick
D. glass marble

Answer: A


Question: Which human activity is most harmful to the natural environment?

Choices:
A. swimming in a lake
B. riding a bicycle
C. cutting down a rain forest
D. using solar energy

Answer: C


Question: The process of digestion breaks down proteins into smaller molecules that are used to rebuild other proteins. During digestion, proteins undergo

Choices:
A. cell division.
B. nuclear reactions.
C. natural selection.
D. chemical changes.

Answer: D


Question: Blood is composed of different cell types that transport nutrients and wastes throughout the body. Because of this, blood is classified as

Choices:
A. a tissue.
B. an organ.
C. a system.
D. an organism.

Answer: A


Question: What should a student do when a glass beaker shatters during a laboratory experiment?

Choices:
A. Notify the teacher.
B. Sweep the pieces into a pile.
C. Pick up the pieces and throw them away.
D. Leave it until the experiment is complete.

Answer: A


Question: An astronomical unit (AU) refers to the distance between

Choices:
A. Earth and the Sun.
B. the Moon and the Sun.
C. Earth and the Moon.
D. the Sun and the nearest star.

Answer: A


Question: An organ pipe produces a musical note same number of nitrogen gas molecules. with a wavelength of 2.72 m. What is the frequency of this note if the speed of sound is 348 m/s?

Choices:
A. 85.7 Hz
B. 128 Hz
C. 260 Hz
D. 466 Hz

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following allows the planets to stay in orbit?

Choices:
A. the Moon's gravity
B. the Sun's gravity
C. magnetism
D. rotation

Answer: B


Question: Which of these involves the formation of a new chemical substance?

Choices:
A. evaporation of gasoline
B. mixing salt and pepper
C. dissolving sugar in tea
D. rusting of an iron chain

Answer: D


Question: Water causes weathering when it

Choices:
A. melts rock.
B. forms deltas.
C. erodes rock in its path.
D. moves rock along a fault.

Answer: C


Question: Which of these statements about nonrenewable resources is true?

Choices:
A. They are inexpensive.
B. They help keep the air clean.
C. They can take millions of years to form.
D. They are used because they are easily removed from the ground.

Answer: C


Question: Which statement best identifies a living thing that depends on another living thing to survive?

Choices:
A. A wolf drinks water.
B. A moose eats a plant.
C. A spruce tree grows in soil.
D. A salmonberry plant absorbs sunlight.

Answer: B


Question: A student is playing with a small toy boat on a pond. The student throws a rock in the pond. This creates waves that move the boat toward the shore. The boat moves toward the shore because the waves transfer

Choices:
A. energy.
B. heat.
C. motion.
D. water.

Answer: A


Question: A geologist finds a layer of shale near the surface from a certain time period. Nearby, the geologist finds the same layer of shale, but it is deeper underground than the first layer. What might have caused the difference in the depth of the shale layer?

Choices:
A. a meteorite
B. a fault
C. ancient fossils
D. animal life

Answer: B


Question: The pull of gravity on Earth is caused by

Choices:
A. air pressure.
B. the mass of Earth.
C. volcanoes erupting.
D. Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Answer: B


Question: In which type of rock are fossils generally found?

Choices:
1. igneous
2. metamorphic
3. sedimentary
4. volcanic

Answer: 3


Question: Structural geologists study rock formations to determine the type of environment in which the rocks formed and the events that shaped the rocks. Paleontologists study fossils found in rock formations. Scientists in both these fields have a common interest in discovering the

Choices:
A. history and processes of Earth.
B. elements that make up the crust.
C. types of minerals that make up sediments.
D. relationships between Earth and other planets.

Answer: A


Question: A simple machine that helps move a flag up a flagpole is

Choices:
A. a bar magnet
B. an inclined plane
C. a pulley
D. a lever

Answer: C


Question: Which cellular structure allows nutrients to pass into cells?

Choices:
A. mitochondrion
B. nucleus
C. membrane
D. chloroplast

Answer: C


Question: An example of a renewable resource is

Choices:
A. oil.
B. coal.
C. wood.
D. natural gas.

Answer: C


Question: Minerals are formed by which process?

Choices:
A. magma cooling
B. fault lines moving
C. metamorphosis
D. sedimentation

Answer: A


Question: Which of these best defines the term "pollutant"?

Choices:
A. anything humans add to the atmosphere and oceans
B. any substance that is harmful to the environment
C. any substance that is a waste product of industry
D. a substance that does not break down over time

Answer: B


Question: The periodic table of the elements is systematically organized according to the

Choices:
A. rate at which the elements chemically react.
B. hardness of the elements.
C. structure of the atoms of the elements.
D. radioactivity of the atoms of the elements.

Answer: C


Question: Which human body system produces the hormones that regulate growth?

Choices:
1. skeletal
2. digestive
3. circulatory
4. endocrine

Answer: 4


Question: Repeated exposure to extremely loud sounds can reduce hearing ability by direct damage to which structures?

Choices:
A. the sensory neurons in the ears
B. interneurons between the ears and the brain
C. the sound-processing center in the brain
D. motor neurons applying commands from the brain to the ears

Answer: A


Question: What does a mirror do to light that causes objects to appear backwards?

Choices:
A. refracts
B. reflects
C. absorbs
D. blocks

Answer: B


Question: The formation of the mineral halite is most likely to occur by which process?

Choices:
A. the evaporation of seawater
B. the hardening of lava in seawater
C. the cementing together of sediment particles
D. the slow crystallization of magma deep in the crust

Answer: A


Question: A student wants to design an experiment regarding the behavior of crickets. Which is the best question to ask to begin the experiment?

Choices:
A. Do crickets have 6 legs or 8 legs?
B. How long are the antennae of a cricket?
C. Do crickets chirp more during the day or at night?
D. What is the most common cricket species?

Answer: C


Question: Decomposers are organisms that eat and break down dead plant and animal material. Which organism is a decomposer?

Choices:
A. algae
B. moss
C. bacteria
D. fish

Answer: C


Question: An area received six inches of snow during the winter. Before the snow can continue through the water cycle as ground water or runoff, it must first ___.

Choices:
A. condense
B. evaporate
C. freeze
D. melt

Answer: D


Question: New vaccines for diseases are being developed all the time. How do vaccines most likely help people?

Choices:
A. Vaccines help prevent illnesses.
B. Vaccines keep the environment cleaner.
C. Vaccines help cure people who are sick.
D. Vaccines kill bacteria that cause infections.

Answer: A


Question: The cell cycle describes the processes that take place as a cell

Choices:
A. absorbs nutrients.
B. makes proteins.
C. repairs old cells.
D. forms new cells.

Answer: D


Question: A company that makes fences started using a new material instead of wood. The new material will last longer than wood. What is the most likely benefit of the new material?

Choices:
A. The new material will keep people safe.
B. The new material will keep pets contained.
C. The new material can make a yard attractive.
D. The new material can save money on replacements.

Answer: D


Question: Which best explains how the Appalachian Mountains formed?

Choices:
A. an ancient river flooded
B. an earthquake folded land
C. tectonic plates pulled apart
D. tectonic plates collided

Answer: D


Question: Which is a source of sound?

Choices:
A. thermal energy
B. potential energy
C. a vibration
D. a medium

Answer: C


Question: Which natural material is best for making a table?

Choices:
A. cotton that is lightweight
B. leather that can twist
C. paper that can tear
D. wood that is sturdy

Answer: D


Question: A class is studying textures and collects several samples. Which of these items would the students most likely use magnification to study?

Choices:
A. hair
B. cheese
C. plastic spoon
D. aluminum foil

Answer: A


Question: Over several years, a scientist successfully isolates a species of flower for white color. This year, when the new generation of flowers blooms, one yellow flower is found in the population. Which is the best reason for the appearance of a new flower color within the species?

Choices:
A. adaptation
B. replication
C. genetic mutation
D. homologous recombination

Answer: C


Question: What type of precipitation occurs when raindrops freeze as they fall?

Choices:
A. hail
B. frost
C. sleet
D. snow

Answer: C


Question: In the atomic model that includes a nucleus, the positive charge is

Choices:
A. spread evenly throughout the model.
B. located at multiple sites in the model.
C. concentrated in the center of the model.
D. positioned outside the center of the model.

Answer: C


Question: A student used two long wires to connect a lightbulb to a battery. The student noticed that as soon as the circuit was complete, a nearby compass started to point in a direction other than north. The compass pointed in a different direction because it was reacting to the

Choices:
A. heat produced by the lightbulb.
B. light produced by the lightbulb.
C. electric field produced by the battery.
D. magnetic field produced by the electric current.

Answer: D


Question: The production of sweat is typically a response to an increase in the body's

Choices:
A. blood circulation.
B. temperature.
C. respiration.
D. heart rate.

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following converts electrical energy into motion?

Choices:
A. light switch
B. electric stove
C. light bulb
D. electric fan

Answer: D


Question: What happens at the boiling point of a substance?

Choices:
A. liquid becomes a gas
B. solid becomes a gas
C. liquid becomes a solid
D. solid becomes a liquid

Answer: A


Question: How do producers get energy?

Choices:
A. eating plants and seeds
B. eating other animals
C. breaking down organisms through decay
D. using the sun to make food

Answer: D


Question: In an investigation, a student wants to see how a ball is affected by rolling it over a surface covered with sandpaper. In preparation for the trial, the student makes a list of the possible conditions that could affect the investigation. The student is most likely listing the

Choices:
A. constants.
B. variables.
C. controls.
D. trials.

Answer: B


Question: If two organisms are classified in different orders but are in the same class, which of these statements is true?

Choices:
A. The organisms have the same genus.
B. The organisms are in the same phylum.
C. The organisms are in different kingdoms.
D. The organisms are members of the same species.

Answer: B


Question: Why do mountain climbers at high elevations use oxygen tanks to help them breathe?

Choices:
A. At high elevations the ozone layer draws oxygen out of the atmosphere.
B. The atmosphere is less dense at higher elevations so there is less oxygen available.
C. Oxygen is heavier than the other gases in the atmosphere and sinks to lower elevations.
D. Radiation from the Sun splits oxygen molecules into atoms making the oxygen unbreathable.

Answer: B


Question: The students were told that the net applied force from the engine was the same for each vehicle tested. Based on this information, which vehicle had the greatest acceleration (a = F/m)?

Choices:
A. vehicle 1
B. vehicle 2
C. vehicle 3
D. vehicle 4

Answer: A


Question: Which metric unit is used to describe an object's length?

Choices:
A. gram (g)
B. milliliter (mL)
C. centimeter (cm)
D. degree Celsius (°C)

Answer: C


Question: Which is a process that occurs during photosynthesis?

Choices:
A. Plants take in oxygen and release sugar.
B. Plants take in sugar and release minerals.
C. Plants take in minerals and release carbon dioxide.
D. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Answer: D


Question: The work of which scientist serves as the basis for many procedures used in agriculture, such as selective breeding of plants?

Choices:
A. Darwin
B. Mendel
C. Einstein
D. Pasteur

Answer: B


Question: A student is investigating which type of soil is best for growing tomato plants from seeds. The student plants four tomato seeds in each of three different containers of soil. Which step of the procedure would help the student get the most reliable results?

Choices:
A. Place one container in a dark room.
B. Use different types of tomato seeds.
C. Change only the soil type in each container.
D. Water each container with a different amount of water.

Answer: C


Question: In many caves, rock formations include stalactites and stalagmites. Where does the rock in these formations come from?

Choices:
A. magma
B. rainwater
C. dissolved minerals
D. decaying organic matter

Answer: C


Question: A person named Leonardo da Vinci studied many things including animals, geology, clouds, and flight. His study of birds helped him design the first parachute. Everything he saw made him ask how and why. Which human quality most likely made this person want to study many different things?

Choices:
A. duty
B. wisdom
C. kindness
D. curiosity

Answer: D


Question: What is the main reason we can see the Moon?

Choices:
A. The Moon reflects light from the Earth.
B. The Moon reflects the light from the Sun.
C. The Moon produces its own light.
D. The Moon is larger than stars.

Answer: B


Question: Which of these events have the most influence on regional climate?

Choices:
A. frequent tornadoes
B. ocean trade winds
C. winter snowstorms
D. temperature inversions

Answer: B


Question: If a scientist wants the medical community to revise old information and use new research findings in the treatment of a disease, it would be best to present the information

Choices:
A. at a school science fair.
B. in a newspaper article.
C. at a physicians' conference.
D. in a television commercial.

Answer: C


Question: David planted ten corn seeds in sandy soil and ten corn seeds in clay soil. He kept both groups of plants at room temperature, gave them the same amount of water, and placed them all in the same sunny room. Which of the following questions is David most able to answer with his experiment?

Choices:
A. How much soil and water do corn seeds need to grow?
B. Do corn plants grow better in sandy soil or in clay soil?
C. Do corn plants grown in sandy soil need more water than corn plants grown in clay soil?
D. What are the effects of soil, temperature, water, and sunshine on the growth of corn plants?

Answer: B


Question: Which geologic feature most likely forms when an oceanic tectonic plate is slowly subducted beneath a continental tectonic plate?

Choices:
A. ocean trench
B. mid-ocean ridge
C. continental hot spot
D. continental rift valley

Answer: A


Question: A glacier retreats leaving bare rocks. Lichens begin to live on the rocks. The lichens produce an acid that starts to break down the rocks. How will this process affect the environment?

Choices:
A. It will put acid into the lakes and ponds.
B. It will begin the process of building soil.
C. It will prevent the carbon cycle from occurring.
D. It will prevent bacteria from invading the ecosystem.

Answer: B


Question: During protein synthesis, mRNA is translated into three-base sequences representing amino acids. What signals the ribosome to begin translating the mRNA into a new amino acid sequence?

Choices:
A. a codon
B. enzymes
C. a mutation
D. temperature

Answer: A


Question: Phobos is one of two large objects that orbit the planet Mars. Because Phobos orbits Mars, Phobos should be classified as which type of body?

Choices:
A. asteroid
B. moon
C. comet
D. meteor

Answer: B


Question: Water at 20°C in an uncovered pan is evaporating very slowly. What could be done to the water to make it evaporate more quickly?

Choices:
1. Cover it.
2. Heat it.
3. Place it in the dark.
4. Put salt in it.

Answer: 2


Question: Which rapid changes are caused by heat from inside Earth?

Choices:
A. landslides
B. volcanoes
C. avalanches
D. floods

Answer: B


Question: Which tool is most responsible for preventing future pandemics of smallpox?

Choices:
A. worldwide vaccination for smallpox
B. global education about smallpox
C. better worldwide urban sanitation
D. improved global quarantine facilities

Answer: A


Question: After which event will ecological succession most likely happen?

Choices:
A. a forest fire
B. a thunderstorm
C. a high tide
D. a lunar eclipse

Answer: A


Question: Sir Isaac Newton determined that white light is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. What did he use to discover this phenomenon?

Choices:
A. a prism
B. a telescope
C. a microscope
D. a magnifying glass

Answer: A


Question: Which characteristic is most common among animals living in a cold climate?

Choices:
A. layers of fat
B. thick bones
C. slow digestion
D. large lungs

Answer: A


Question: Species are classified based on their characteristics. Which characteristic identifies two organisms as members of one species? The organisms

Choices:
A. can produce fertile offspring.
B. can communicate easily.
C. will defend their territory.
D. will move from place to place.

Answer: A


Question: A student hypothesizes that the amount of water a plant receives will affect how long it grows before reaching maturity. To test this hypothesis, the student will need

Choices:
A. several digital scales.
B. a wet paper towel.
C. several identical plant seeds.
D. different sizes of containers.

Answer: C


Question: One example of matter is

Choices:
A. sound
B. light
C. heat
D. water

Answer: D


Question: If a classroom experiment involves the use of several unidentified chemical solutions, which factor would be most important in maintaining safety during the experiment?

Choices:
A. The classroom would be fairly cold.
B. The classroom would have poor lighting.
C. The classroom would have good ventilation.
D. The classroom would have carpet on the floors.

Answer: C


Question: Vein deposits of gold and silver are often formed in areas that have experienced which geologic process?

Choices:
A. igneous intrusion
B. transport by water
C. chemical weathering
D. compaction by pressure

Answer: A


Question: Cells that conduct messages are known as

Choices:
A. skin cells
B. nerve cells
C. blood cells
D. kidney cells

Answer: B


Question: The boiling of water results in a physical change in matter from

Choices:
A. solid to liquid.
B. gas to solid.
C. solid to gas.
D. liquid to gas.

Answer: D


Question: What do playing a guitar, banging a drum, and dropping a pebble in the water have in common?

Choices:
A. They all produce light.
B. They all cause vibrations.
C. They all convert heat to energy.
D. They all need gravity to move.

Answer: B


Question: Which object below is gaining stored energy?

Choices:
A. A rubber band that is being stretched
B. A battery in a flashlight that is on
C. A candle that is burning

Answer: A


Question: At room temperature, what state of matter is copper?

Choices:
A. gas
B. solid
C. liquid
D. plasma

Answer: B


Question: All of the following events occur during prophase in mitosis except

Choices:
A. pairing of chromosomes.
B. spindle formation.
C. crossing over.
D. condensation of DNA.

Answer: C


Question: A seed of a plant sticks to the fur of an animal as it walks by. How has the animal most likely helped the plant?

Choices:
A. by spreading the seed
B. by sprouting the plant
C. by scattering the pollen
D. by fertilizing the ground

Answer: A


Question: Which part of a plant is used to absorb sunlight during photosynthesis?

Choices:
A. leaf
B. root
C. seed
D. flower

Answer: A


Question: You wish to closely observe a small insect. Which tool is the best to use?

Choices:
A. a balance
B. a test tube
C. a telescope
D. a magnifying glass

Answer: D


Question: The interaction of the skeletal and muscular systems to produce locomotion is coordinated by which human body system?

Choices:
1. circulatory
2. excretory
3. nervous
4. respiratory

Answer: 3


Question: A student flips a coin four times. It lands "heads" up three times. The student concludes that the coin will land "heads" up three times out of four. What will make the conclusion more accurate?

Choices:
A. substituting a different coin
B. flipping the coin twenty more times
C. taping a weight to one side of the coin
D. flipping the coin over a smoother surface

Answer: B


Question: Which mineral has six-sided transparent crystals that will scratch glass?

Choices:
A. sulfur
B. quartz
C. calcite
D. feldspar

Answer: B


Question: Which best describes a proton?

Choices:
A. negatively charged and has a negligible mass
B. negatively charged and part of the nucleus
C. positively charged and part of the nucleus
D. negatively charged and orbits the nucleus

Answer: C


Question: The difference between the atomic number of an element and the element's atomic mass is the number of

Choices:
A. ions.
B. protons.
C. electrons.
D. neutrons.

Answer: D


Question: Which step will most likely ensure that the results of an investigation are valid?

Choices:
A. using a computer to graph results
B. verifying that results match the original hypothesis
C. comparing the results with those of other scientists
D. eliminating any results that appear to be abnormal

Answer: C


Question: What is formed when a sodium atom and chlorine atom react chemically?

Choices:
A. an element
B. a compound
C. an electron
D. a neutron

Answer: B


Question: Which of these is an example of an endothermic process?

Choices:
A. fireworks display
B. glowing light stick
C. first-aid instant cold pack
D. gasoline-burning car engine

Answer: C


Question: The distance from Earth to the Sun is about 150,000,000 km. What abbreviation do scientists use to describe this distance?

Choices:
A. meters per second (m/s)
B. light-year (ly)
C. astronomical unit (AU)
D. electromagnetic unit (EMU)

Answer: C


Question: In New York State, the longest period of daylight occurs during which month?

Choices:
A. June
B. March
C. December
D. September

Answer: A


Question: Which trait does a puppy inherit from its parents?

Choices:
A. fur color and pattern
B. obedience to commands
C. food brand preferences
D. affection for a specific home

Answer: A


Question: Which material is most easily recycled at school?

Choices:
A. plastic wrap
B. notebook paper
C. ice cream sticks
D. rubber erasers

Answer: B


Question: Plants make sugars in the presence of sunlight in a process called photosynthesis. What form of carbon do the plants take in for this process?

Choices:
A. glucose molecule
B. carbon dioxide
C. single carbon atoms
D. complex organic compounds

Answer: B


Question: The sun is a star of average size and brightness. From Earth, the sun appears as a round, yellow object in the daytime sky. At night, we see other stars. They appear as tiny points of light. Why does the sun appear larger than stars that we see at night?

Choices:
A. Daylight brightens the sun, making it appear larger.
B. Starlight bends as it passes planets, making the stars appear smaller.
C. The sun is closer to Earth than other stars, making the sun appear larger.
D. Earth's atmosphere filters out light from other stars, making them appear smaller.

Answer: C


Question: A drain cleaner consists of sodium hydroxide and aluminum. When the drain cleaner is added to water, bubbles of hydrogen are produced, and the solution becomes very hot. Which of these best describes what happens to form the bubbles when the cleaner is added to water? F

Choices:
A. chemical reaction
B. Condensation
C. A physical change
D. Evaporation

Answer: A


Question: John has diabetes. Which of the following should he be careful about eating or drinking?

Choices:
A. beef
B. eggs
C. milk
D. fruit juice

Answer: D


Question: Within a substance, atoms that collide frequently and move independently of one another are most likely in a

Choices:
A. liquid.
B. solid.
C. gas.
D. crystal.

Answer: C


Question: Which object best reflects light?

Choices:
A. gray door
B. white floor
C. black sweater
D. brown carpet

Answer: B


Question: The gravitational attraction of the Moon causes which effect on Earth?

Choices:
A. ocean tides
B. time of day
C. energy from the Sun
D. phases of the Moon

Answer: A


Question: A forest was cleared for the building of a resort, but before construction began, secondary succession set in. Which of these describes why secondary succession appeared so rapidly?

Choices:
A. The clearing allowed mosses to grow quickly.
B. Rock weathering occurred for lichens to grow.
C. Exposed substrates allowed microbes to grow.
D. The soil components remained for plants to grow.

Answer: D


Question: Which object is made to reflect light?

Choices:
A. telescope
B. window
C. mirror
D. eyeglasses

Answer: C


Question: A car may produce many forms of energy from the fuel it uses. Which indicates that a car does not use fuel with 100% efficiency?

Choices:
A. The car changes speed.
B. The car engine gets hot.
C. The car stops quickly.
D. The car slides on slippery streets.

Answer: B


Question: After nitrogen becomes part of the lithosphere, what is the next change that nitrogen will undergo?

Choices:
A. used as a nutrient by plants
B. fixed by bacteria in the soil
C. converted into oxygen
D. absorbed into the atmosphere by lightning

Answer: B


Question: Which of the following would be more likely to pollute a river?

Choices:
A. allowing beavers to build a dam
B. spreading fertilizer near the river
C. mowing the grass on the river bank
D. fishing from a bridge over the river

Answer: B


Question: For two organisms to be classified as the same species, they must produce offspring that are

Choices:
A. fertile.
B. adaptable.
C. alive at birth.
D. identical to the parents.

Answer: A


Question: Which sentence best describes the organization of the heart?

Choices:
A. The heart is an organ made up of different types of tissues, each of which has different types of cells.
B. The heart is a tissue made up of different types of organs, each of which has different types of cells.
C. The heart is a system made up of one type of tissue and identical cells.
D. The heart is a tissue made up of one type of organ and identical cells.

Answer: A


Question: Which stage in the reptile life cycle is most like the birth of a lion cub?

Choices:
A. hatching from an egg
B. shedding the skin
C. hunting for food
D. finding a mate

Answer: A


Question: What would be the best way to determine the role of squirrels in a forest ecosystem?

Choices:
A. measure the length and mass of several squirrels
B. determine the genes that control squirrel traits
C. make field observations of squirrels in their natural habitat
D. read articles about the energy and nutrient requirements of squirrels

Answer: C


Question: Which of the following systems breaks food into nutrients that can be used by the body?

Choices:
A. circulatory
B. digestive
C. respiratory
D. reproductive

Answer: B


Question: Barry collected four different rocks. The rock with the GREATEST mass will feel the ___.

Choices:
A. heaviest
B. smoothest
C. sharpest
D. hardest

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following is not an inherited trait of humans?

Choices:
A. eye color
B. hair color
C. favorite food
D. height

Answer: C


Question: When a person chews, saliva from the mouth mixes with starches in food. These starches begin to turn into sugars. Changing starches into sugars is best described as

Choices:
A. a phase change.
B. a cellular change.
C. a physical change.
D. a chemical change.

Answer: D


Question: Which of these renewable resources results in an increase in pollution when used to produce energy?

Choices:
A. water
B. wind
C. biomass
D. geothermal

Answer: C


Question: Granite is an igneous rock. Which of these describes what usually happens to granite after it is weathered, broken into small particles, buried deep underground, and compacted?

Choices:
A. The granite becomes a new rock type.
B. The granite forms an active volcano.
C. The granite becomes part of a deep fault.
D. The granite forms a tall mountain.

Answer: A


Question: The features below are all present on Earth. Which feature could also be found on the Moon?

Choices:
A. crater
B. clouds
C. electrical storms
D. nitrogen based atmosphere

Answer: A


Question: What is the highest temperature that water can reach in a pot on a stove?

Choices:
A. 50°C
B. 90°C
C. 100°C
D. 212°C

Answer: C


Question: In 2004 the Hubble space telescope captured images of distant star clusters, each containing about a million stars. These star clusters were most likely part of which structure?

Choices:
A. a black hole
B. a galaxy
C. a nebula
D. a solar system

Answer: B


Question: Where is most of the mass of the atom located?

Choices:
A. in the protons
B. in the nucleus
C. in the neutrons
D. in the electrons

Answer: B


Question: Which situation is the best example of ecological succession?

Choices:
1. An organism survives a difficult winter.
2. The populations in an area remain the same.
3. One species replaces another species in an ecosystem.
4. Each of several species uses the same amount of resources.

Answer: 3


Question: The BEST way to tell the DIFFERENCE between an oak and a maple tree is to compare the

Choices:
A. height of both trees.
B. number of leaves on the trees.
C. size of the root systems of the trees.
D. shape of the leaves.

Answer: D


Question: Which example describes a learned behavior in a dog?

Choices:
A. smelling the air for odors
B. barking when disturbed
C. sitting on command
D. digging in soil

Answer: C


Question: In a lab investigation, a student notes that two metal blocks have the same mass. Based on this observation, if the two blocks were put on opposite sides of a balance, they would best represent

Choices:
A. balanced forces.
B. unbalanced forces.
C. equal and opposite reactions.
D. objects in motion.

Answer: A


Question: A scientist was investigating why several fish caught from a local stream displayed similar mutations. He found that the water temperature of the stream was elevated since an industrial plant began discharging heated water into the stream. The scientist concluded that increased water temperature during the egg phase led to the mutation in the fish. According to this conclusion, the mutation was caused by

Choices:
A. an autoimmune disorder.
B. a congenital defect.
C. an environmental condition.
D. an injury from a predator.

Answer: C


Question: Solar radiation has a part in the water cycle by

Choices:
A. affecting ocean tides.
B. helping in the absorption of groundwater.
C. determining the type of clouds formed.
D. changing water to a vapor.

Answer: D


Question: A student sets a block at the top of a wooden ramp. The student pushes the block. As the block slides down the ramp, it slows down and then comes to a stop. What force causes the block to slow down?

Choices:
A. the force of gravity
B. the force of friction
C. the force of magnetism
D. the force of the student's push

Answer: B


Question: Which of these explains how a trench can form?

Choices:
A. two oceanic plates converging
B. two continental plates converging
C. two continental plates diverging
D. two oceanic plates diverging

Answer: A


Question: Pepsin is an enzyme that acts in the stomach for protein digestion. Which of these is most likely the main role of pepsin in this metabolic reaction?

Choices:
A. to speed up the rate of reaction
B. to reduce the loss of energy as heat
C. to control the direction of the reaction
D. to protect the reaction from other chemicals

Answer: A


Question: Sodium chloride, commonly called "table salt," is made up of sodium and chlorine that have been combined chemically. Which term best describes sodium chloride?

Choices:
A. Acid
B. Atom
C. Element
D. Compound

Answer: D


Question: Katia was listening to music on the radio. In order for the sound to be produced, the electrical energy must be converted into which type of energy?

Choices:
A. thermal energy
B. magnetic energy
C. chemical energy
D. mechanical energy

Answer: D


Question: Studies of snail fossils in Egypt indicate that areas of Egypt that are now desert were once thriving savannahs approximately 130,000 years ago. What does the presence of these fossils indicate about the area of Egypt that was thriving 130,000 years ago?

Choices:
A. There was more humidity in the air.
B. There were fewer nutrients in the soil.
C. There was more snowfall in the region.
D. There was less solar radiation in the region.

Answer: A


Question: Which statement identifies an energy source as renewable?

Choices:
A. Oil, because it is found underground.
B. Wind, because it is always available.
C. Water, because it is becoming scarce.
D. Coal, because it was formed from plants.

Answer: B


Question: A wet towel will dry when it is left in the Sun. Which process occurs to make this happen?

Choices:
A. melting
B. boiling
C. condensation
D. evaporation

Answer: D


Question: Otto pushed a toy car across a floor. The car traveled fast across the wood, but it slowed to a stop on the carpet. Which best explains what happened when the car reached the carpet?

Choices:
A. Inertia decreased.
B. Gravity increased.
C. Friction increased.
D. Magnetism decreased.

Answer: C


Question: Eye color is a physical trait. Which statement best explains why a child has a specific eye color?

Choices:
A. Eye color is a learned trait.
B. Eye color is an inherited trait.
C. Eye color is a trait that changes over time.
D. Eye color is a trait that happens by chance.

Answer: B


Question: Manganese has an atomic number of 25 and an atomic mass of 55 amu. How many particles are found in its nucleus?

Choices:
A. 25
B. 30
C. 55
D. 80

Answer: C


Question: Students researched monkeys at a zoo. They recorded the monkeys' traits and behaviors. This investigation activity is best described as

Choices:
A. controlling.
B. hypothesizing.
C. observing.
D. inferring.

Answer: C


Question: The fur of an arctic fox turns from brown to white as winter approaches. This is an example of

Choices:
A. camouflage
B. hibernation
C. migration
D. movement

Answer: A


Question: Which is an example of a chemical change?

Choices:
A. a rusting car fender
B. a spinning top
C. a spilled bucket of water
D. a melting popsicle

Answer: A


Question: Which statement is describing climate?

Choices:
A. It snowed 12 centimeters last night.
B. Last winter was colder than normal.
C. There is a thunderstorm watch for the local area.
D. The temperature will be between 32°C and 37°C all week.

Answer: B


Question: Scientists have categorized trees based on whether they keep or lose their leaves each year. Another logical way to categorize trees is based on the

Choices:
A. types of nutrients needed to grow.
B. amount of oxygen that is released into the air.
C. color of leaves that are produced.
D. type of fruit that is produced.

Answer: D


Question: Which resource is considered nonrenewable?

Choices:
1. wind power
2. solar energy
3. moving water
4. fossil fuels

Answer: 4


Question: Sand and iron particles that are similar in size and color are mixed together in a beaker. What would be the best method of separating the particles?

Choices:
1. Use tweezers to separate them.
2. Use a magnet to separate them.
3. Add water to the mixture.
4. Pour the mixture into a filter.

Answer: 2


Question: Which habitat on Earth would probably 28 add the greatest amount of water to the water cycle through evaporation?

Choices:
A. cold lake
B. desert sand
C. warm ocean
D. mountain rock

Answer: C


Question: Which of these actions will change a sedimentary rock, such as limestone, into a metamorphic rock, such as marble?

Choices:
A. pressure from a glacier
B. heat from magma
C. erosion from flowing water
D. radiation from the Sun

Answer: B


Question: A loaf of bread is baking in a pan in a 350° F oven. What would cause a burn to a hand the quickest because of its low specific heat?

Choices:
A. the metal pan
B. the air in the oven
C. the surface of the bread
D. the outside of the oven door

Answer: A


Question: A student poured some sugar into a glass of water. After the water was stirred, no solid sugar remained in the glass. Which statement best describes what happened?

Choices:
A. The sugar reacted with water to form elements.
B. The sugar reacted with water to form a mixture.
C. The sugar dissolved in water to form a solution.
D. The sugar dissolved in water to form compounds.

Answer: C


Question: The magnitude of the gravitational force between two planets depends on the

Choices:
A. speed the planets rotate.
B. other nearby planets.
C. volume of the planets.
D. distance between the planets.

Answer: D


Question: The fossils that are found in the oldest layers of sedimentary rock were formed which types of organisms?

Choices:
A. only organisms that lived in the sea
B. only organisms that lived on land
C. only organisms that lived in the air
D. organisms that lived on the land, in the sea and in the air

Answer: A


Question: A snail's shell provides the snail with

Choices:
A. food.
B. energy.
C. protection.
D. transportation.

Answer: C


Question: Since green plants make their own food, they are called

Choices:
A. predators
B. prey
C. decomposers
D. producers

Answer: D


Question: Which metalloid is used in solar cells and computer chips?

Choices:
A. silicon
B. silver
C. arsenic
D. antimony

Answer: A


Question: The best evidence that two land areas were once connected is the discovery that both land masses

Choices:
A. have the same climate.
B. are in the same stage of succession.
C. exist along the same line of longitude.
D. have similar types of rocks and fossils.

Answer: D


Question: Rachel purchased a kit for making a skateboard ramp. Which of the following is most important to have for putting the ramp together?

Choices:
A. a picture showing the colors of different ramp parts
B. a diagram showing some ways to use the ramp
C. a list of prices for other available kits
D. a set of instructions for the kit materials

Answer: D


Question: What is the smallest particle of the element gold (Au) that can still be classified as gold?

Choices:
A. atom
B. molecule
C. neutron
D. proton

Answer: A


Question: Which best describes the function of the small intestine?

Choices:
A. oxygenation of tissue
B. excretion of toxic wastes
C. transportation of blood cells
D. digestion and absorption of food

Answer: D


Question: A forest is flooded when a natural dam breaks, leaving the forest floor under two meters of water. Which animal is most affected by the flooding?

Choices:
A. a crow
B. a rabbit
C. a squirrel
D. a butterfly

Answer: B


Question: Which object will most likely be attracted to a magnet?

Choices:
A. wooden block
B. plastic cup
C. metal nail
D. glass bead

Answer: C


Question: At what temperature does pure water boil?

Choices:
A. 0°C
B. 32°C
C. 100°C
D. 212°C

Answer: C


Question: Animals that eat both plant matter and meat are referred to as

Choices:
A. decomposers.
B. scavengers.
C. herbivores.
D. omnivores.

Answer: D


Question: Corals are animals that live in tropical oceans. Fossils of corals are found in Ohio. What does the presence of coral fossils suggest about how the environment of Ohio has changed over time?

Choices:
A. Ohio was once covered by warm seas.
B. A large glacier once passed over Ohio.
C. The average rainfall in Ohio is now much more than it once was.
D. The average temperature in Ohio is now much warmer than it.

Answer: A


Question: Alex looked at an electric toothbrush that had a plug with three metal prongs. Why are these prongs made out of metal?

Choices:
A. Metal doesn't get hot and melt when you plug it into the outlet.
B. Metal is strong and is less likely to break when you plug it into the outlet.
C. Metal is an insulator and prevents shocks when you plug it into the outlet.
D. Metal is a conductor and completes a circuit when you plug it into the outlet.

Answer: D


Question: Where is an igneous rock such as pumice most likely formed?

Choices:
A. in a desert
B. in a creek bed
C. near a volcano
D. under a glacier

Answer: C


Question: Why are many telescopes used far from cities?

Choices:
A. The light from the cities makes it hard to see stars.
B. The noise from the cities vibrates the telescopes.
C. The power lines from the cities produce interference waves.
D. The pollution from the cities reflects starlight.

Answer: A


Question: Where do plants get energy from to make food?

Choices:
A. air
B. soil
C. water
D. sunlight

Answer: D


Question: Which of the following is most likely to cause water to change from one state of matter to another state of matter?

Choices:
A. increased precipitation
B. the weathering of rocks
C. a decrease in wind speed
D. a change in air temperature

Answer: D


Question: When a soccer player kicks a ball, which two systems work directly with the muscular system?

Choices:
A. immune and excretory
B. digestive and respiratory
C. nervous and skeletal
D. circulatory and integumentary

Answer: C


Question: Which two activities are carried out by all species of living things?

Choices:
A. make food and eliminate waste
B. hibernate and take in nutrients
C. grow and reproduce
D. migrate and seek shelter

Answer: C


Question: Which best explains why a person infected with bacteria may have a fever?

Choices:
A. The body is responding to fight off the bacteria.
B. The body is releasing waste material from the bacteria.
C. The body is producing hormones to kill the infection.
D. The body is reducing the blood supply to the infection site.

Answer: A


Question: Most of the concentration of which gas results from the activity of producer organisms?

Choices:
A. nitrogen
B. oxygen
C. water vapor
D. carbon dioxide

Answer: B


Question: What is determined by the speed that Earth rotates on its axis?

Choices:
A. the length of a day
B. the energy that reaches a location
C. the temperature of water in the ocean
D. the number of seasons in a year

Answer: A


Question: The spectrum of visible light can be seen in a rainbow because white light is

Choices:
A. reflected and transmitted.
B. refracted and dispersed.
C. absorbed and diffracted.
D. produced and emitted.

Answer: B


Question: Kate sees a full moon. About how much time will go by before the next full moon?

Choices:
A. one week
B. two weeks
C. one month
D. one year

Answer: C


Question: The sediments found in a riverbed are most likely a result of which action on nearby rock?

Choices:
A. heat
B. faulting
C. pressure
D. weathering

Answer: D


Question: The most common way humans contribute to the extinction of organisms is by

Choices:
A. rotation of crops.
B. use of fertilizers.
C. destruction of habitat.
D. introduction of competing species.

Answer: C


Question: Which of the following is an example of matter changing state?

Choices:
A. heating a pan of water until the water is all gone
B. putting a soft-drink can in the refrigerator to cool it
C. heating soup on the stove until it is hot to your tongue
D. transferring sugar into a storage container

Answer: A


Question: A car runs out of fuel while traveling on a level road and eventually comes to a stop. Which of the following best explains why the car stops?

Choices:
A. Some of the energy of the car was lost to friction.
B. Some of the energy of the car was destroyed.
C. The amount of kinetic energy increased.
D. The amount of useful energy increased.

Answer: A


Question: Which of the following best represents one particular stage in a life cycle?

Choices:
A. a fish swimming
B. a seed sprouting
C. a leaf growing
D. a dog eating

Answer: B


Question: Which process of the water cycle transports water from plants to clouds?

Choices:
A. precipitation
B. transpiration
C. condensation
D. sublimation

Answer: B


Question: Sulfur scrubbers are devices installed in coal-fired power plants. Sulfur scrubbers reduce the emission of sulfur dioxide. What environmental problem are sulfur scrubbers most likely trying to address?

Choices:
A. ozone
B. erosion
C. acid rain
D. nutrient runoff

Answer: C


Question: Which system of the human body provides protection to most of the major organs?

Choices:
A. skeletal system
B. circulatory system
C. respiratory system
D. muscular system

Answer: A


Question: A scientist developed a model that described the actions of DNA in the cell nuclei, which helped explain how traits were inherited. Which scientist helped develop this model?

Choices:
A. Bohr
B. Hooke
C. Mendel
D. Watson

Answer: D


Question: Which item is designed to change electrical energy into heat energy?

Choices:
A. Alarm clock
B. Hand dryer
C. Fan
D. Telephone

Answer: B


Question: Which characteristic is the best example of an inherited trait?

Choices:
A. eye color
B. an infection
C. knowledge of soccer
D. length of hair

Answer: A


Question: Which correctly arranges three scientific terms-theory, law, and hypothesis-from least to most accepted or tested?

Choices:
A. theory, hypothesis, law
B. hypothesis, law, theory
C. theory, law, hypothesis
D. hypothesis, theory, law

Answer: D


Question: The metal lid on a glass jar is hard to open, so it is held under warm, running water. What causes the jar to open easily after it was held under the water?

Choices:
A. The water increased the pressure under the lid.
B. The jar shrunk with the warm water.
C. The water acted as a lubricant between the glass and the metal.
D. The metal lid expanded under warm water.

Answer: D