The body is made up of many systems that interact with one another. For example, the skeletal system and the muscular system work together to help the body move. Which system works with the respiratory system to distribute oxygen to the body?

Choices:
A. muscular system
B. digestive system
C. lymphatic system
D. circulatory system

Answer: D


Sediment that is deposited on a beach may come from a local source or be transported by which action?

Choices:
A. swash
B. rip currents
C. river currents
D. longshore drift

Answer: D


Sonar can be used to measure distances underwater. This is accomplished by sending a sound wave to a "target" while measuring the total time it takes for the wave to reach the target and then return to its source. Which of the following sound wave characteristics must be known when using sonar to measure distances?

Choices:
A. amplitude
B. wavelength
C. frequency
D. speed

Answer: D


What major events cause islands to form in the Pacific Ocean?

Choices:
A. tsunamis
B. severe storms
C. volcanic eruptions
D. erosion

Answer: C


Fossil fuels are common sources of energy. What type of pollution is most often associated with burning fossil fuels?

Choices:
A. air
B. land
C. noise
D. water

Answer: A


A boy and his sister both play piano. Playing piano is an example of

Choices:
A. a physical change
B. an inherited trait
C. a life function
D. a learned behavior

Answer: D


Which is the best way to generate an electrical current in a coil of wire?

Choices:
A. stroking the coil with a piece of silk
B. heating the coil uniformly
C. laying the coil near a magnet
D. rotating the coil in a magnetic field

Answer: D


What property of water best helps aquatic life survive in lakes during the winter?

Choices:
A. water has a high specific heat capacity
B. water has a high surface tension
C. water is less dense as a solid than as a liquid
D. water is a polar molecule

Answer: C


Which part of a plant helps the plant make food from sunlight?

Choices:
A. leaf
B. seed
C. fruit
D. pollen

Answer: A


Which of the following is the main reason water at the surface of the ocean is warmer than water at the bottom of the ocean?

Choices:
A. Water at the bottom of the ocean contains more dissolved solids.
B. Water at the surface of the ocean absorbs more energy from the Sun.
C. Friction is created by fast moving currents at the surface of the ocean.
D. Wave action transfers heat from the bottom of the ocean to the surface.

Answer: B


A student finds an animal in the wild. He decides it is a bird because it has

Choices:
A. fins.
B. scales.
C. feathers.
D. four legs.

Answer: C


Many scientists accept the theory that excess emission of carbon dioxide from cars and industry causes a layer of gas in the upper atmosphere that traps heat. This, in turn, causes the average temperature on Earth to rise. Which of the following observations supports that theory?

Choices:
A. The summer of 1998 was one of the hottest summer seasons on record.
B. Carbon dioxide gas from cars and industry is a product of burning that produces heat.
C. Carbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere reflects heat radiated from Earth's surface.
D. Radiation on Earth's surface is increasing because of a hole in the ozone layer

Answer: C


Choices:
A. It covers the bedrock layer in the earth.
B. It has nutrients used by plants to grow.
C. It holds many harmful pollutants.
D. It dries quickly in sunlight.

Answer: B


Fungi recycle leaves in forests. Fungi release chemicals onto the leaves to break them down into smaller particles. The fungi use the small particles for growth. Which process allows fungi to obtain the nutrients they need from dead leaves?

Choices:
A. circulation
B. digestion
C. reproduction
D. respiration

Answer: B


Sandstone and all other types of sedimentary rock are made up of particles. The source materials of these particles consist of

Choices:
A. fragments that broke off of older rocks.
B. magma that cooled deep below a volcano.
C. gases that condensed in the atmosphere.
D. vegetation that decayed in thick layers.

Answer: A


A tree uses gas A to produce gas B. An animal uses gas B to produce gas A. What is gas B in this cycle?

Choices:
A. oxygen
B. nitrogen
C. carbon dioxide
D. carbon monoxide

Answer: A


Which of the following is produced when two or more elements combine in a chemical reaction?

Choices:
A. atom
B. compound
C. mixture
D. solution

Answer: B


A research team has made new discoveries about magnetism. Which of these statements best describes the value to society of publishing their discoveries?

Choices:
A. Their results will be unchangeable.
B. The research team may become famous.
C. The publishing company may make money.
D. Their discoveries can be built on by other researchers.

Answer: D


Which object in the sky is a satellite of the planet Earth?

Choices:
A. Sun
B. Moon
C. Mars
D. Saturn

Answer: B


Which statement describes a property of water that most likely causes large rocks to break apart?

Choices:
A. Water expands when it freezes.
B. Water forms droplets as it falls.
C. Water turns into a gas when it boils.
D. Water takes the shape of its container.

Answer: A


Which of these provides the best evidence that an environmental change has occurred?

Choices:
A. a freshwater lake in the mountains
B. marine fossils in a freshwater lake
C. saltwater clams in the ocean
D. a sandy beach next to the ocean

Answer: B


An ice cube is put into a heated pan. What will most likely happen to the molecules in the ice as the ice is heated?

Choices:
A. The molecules will begin to move slower.
B. The molecules will begin to move faster.
C. The molecules will begin to increase in density.
D. The molecules will begin to condense in the air.

Answer: B


Dr. Mendez specializes in patients who have osteoarthritis. His patients often complain of pain and swelling due to loss of cartilage. Which system is most affected by this disease?

Choices:
A. cardiovascular
B. digestive
C. immune
D. musculoskeletal

Answer: D


During the construction of a new building, workers dug round holes in the ground and filled the holes with steel and concrete. Which of the following parts of the building was being built during this stage of construction?

Choices:
A. the floor
B. the foundation
C. the plumbing
D. the walls

Answer: B


Centuries ago, people used their knowledge of the stars to

Choices:
A. navigate ships.
B. study the weather.
C. predict volcanic eruptions.
D. map the Earth's surface.

Answer: A


Which of these is the BEST way to save animals and trees?

Choices:
A. Ride bikes more
B. Make more farmland
C. Take care of forests
D. Move to the city

Answer: C


From what source does almost all heat energy on Earth come?

Choices:
A. Wind
B. Water
C. The Sun
D. The Moon

Answer: C


Overgrazing of land by livestock contributes to a major problem. That problem is

Choices:
A. depletion of ground water
B. increased pollution
C. erosion of soil
D. acid rain

Answer: C


Which tool would be most useful in studying the living organisms the students collected from the pond?

Choices:
A. balance
B. pH meter
C. microscope
D. thermometer

Answer: C


Which is the Sun most likely to become toward the end of its lifetime?

Choices:
A. a protostar
B. a black hole
C. a neutron star
D. a white dwarf star

Answer: D


Acid rain is the result of pollutants being released into the

Choices:
A. air.
B. soil.
C. rivers.
D. oceans.

Answer: A


The job of the bladder in an animal is to store wastes. Which organ in an animal removes wastes from the blood?

Choices:
A. liver
B. heart
C. stomach
D. kidney

Answer: D


Animals get the energy they need for growth and repair by

Choices:
A. eating food
B. absorbing sunlight
C. eliminating waste
D. drinking water

Answer: A


Which of these cell types has DNA that is not bound in a nuclear membrane?

Choices:
A. a plant cell
B. a protist cell
C. an animal cell
D. a prokaryote cell

Answer: D


In humans, digestion begins in the mouth. The complete process of digestion occurs with the help of many different parts of the body. Which term best identifies the parts of the body that carry out the function of digestion?

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

Answer: C


Anita heats a beaker containing water. As the temperature of the water increases, which change to the water molecules occurs?

Choices:
A. The molecules move at a faster rate.
B. The molecules become more massive.
C. The molecules expand and become wider.
D. The molecules separate into atoms of hydrogen and oxygen.

Answer: A


Which of the following are likely to do the most damage to ecosystems along the Rio Grande River?

Choices:
A. floods
B. tsunamis
C. blizzards
D. earthquakes

Answer: A


Which process is responsible for the growth and repair of human tissue?

Choices:
1. evolution
2. germination
3. cell division
4. natural selection

Answer: 3


Which sequence represents the correct levels of organization for multicellular organisms?

Choices:
1. cell -> tissue -> organ -> organ system
2. tissue -> organ -> cell -> organ system
3. organ system -> organ -> cell -> tissue
4. cell -> organ -> tissue -> organ system

Answer: 1


Convection currents in the mantle are thought to be the driving force behind tectonic movement. At which location do the convection currents cause the plates to diverge?

Choices:
A. strike-slip fault
B. subduction zone
C. mid-ocean ridges
D. folded mountains

Answer: C


A class made a solar cooker out of a large can. What color should they paint the can in order to collect the most heat?

Choices:
A. black
B. green
C. pink
D. white

Answer: A


Ann makes hats for people. She has each person select the fabric and a hat style before she makes the hat to fit the person's head size. Which type of manufacturing system is Ann most likely using to make hats?

Choices:
A. mass production
B. custom production
C. automated production
D. assembly line production

Answer: B


What information would be most helpful to a person with allergies when selecting food products?

Choices:
A. the ingredients
B. the serving size
C. the nutritional information
D. the company that makes it

Answer: A


Which event takes about one year to complete?

Choices:
A. Earth making a complete rotation
B. the Moon making a complete rotation
C. Earth revolving completely around the Sun
D. the Moon revolving completely around Earth

Answer: C


Which planet is fourth from the Sun in our solar system?

Choices:
A. Mars
B. Earth
C. Venus
D. Jupiter

Answer: A


What force causes objects to be pulled toward Earth?

Choices:
A. friction
B. gravity
C. light
D. electricity

Answer: B


What do the long vine of an ivy plant and the trunk of an oak tree have in common?

Choices:
A. They are both flexible.
B. They are both stiff.
C. They both make food for a plant.
D. They both give support to a plant.

Answer: D


Students wanted to see if the growth of a plant was affected by using four different types of soil. How should the students best carry out this investigation after potting the plants in the four different types of soil?

Choices:
A. observe the plants and record observations daily
B. move the plants to new locations every day
C. measure the height of each plant every hour
D. add different amounts of water to each plant

Answer: A


In the 16005 Robert Hooke invented an improved type of microscope. Which of these was a direct result of this invention?

Choices:
A. The first view of atoms and molecules
B. Detailed observations of Jupiter and Mars
C. The name spectrum for the colors of light
D. The term cell to describe the smallest unit of life

Answer: D


The number of neutrons in an atom is found by subtracting

Choices:
A. atomic number from mass number.
B. mass number from atomic number.
C. atomic number from electron number.
D. isotope number from electron number.

Answer: A


As the distance between a magnet and a metal paper clip increases, the force of attraction between them

Choices:
A. decreases
B. increases
C. remains the same

Answer: A


Nutrients enter the bloodstream during the process of

Choices:
1. locomotion
2. respiration
3. elimination
4. absorption

Answer: 4


Which set of elements have chemical properties similar to those of phosphorus?

Choices:
A. nitrogen, arsenic, and antimony
B. carbon, selenium, and iodine
C. silicon, sulfur, and germanium
D. silicon, sulfur, and chlorine

Answer: A


Tides occur in the oceans at regular times every day because of

Choices:
A. upper atmospheric disturbances.
B. the tilt of Earth's rotational axis.
C. density differences caused by temperature changes.
D. the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon.

Answer: D


What is the name of the process in the water cycle shown by label 1?

Choices:
A. infiltration
B. evaporation
C. condensation
D. precipitation

Answer: B


What force pulls things towards the center of Earth?

Choices:
A. magnetism
B. gravity
C. friction
D. energy

Answer: B


Earth can be viewed as an engine and heat exchange is part of the engine system. Which would be an example of a transfer of energy from the atmosphere to the lithosphere?

Choices:
A. A volcano erupts in the state of Washington.
B. An earthquake takes place off the coast of Japan.
C. A wild fire scorches a prairie in the upper Midwest.
D. A hurricane moves from the Gulf of Mexico onto land.

Answer: D


All energy resources have benefits, risks, and drawbacks. Which two resources present the most dangerous risks and consequences for the environment during their acquisition?

Choices:
A. oil and coal
B. coal and solar energy
C. geothermal energy and oil
D. solar energy and geothermal energy

Answer: A


A puppy has traits from its mother and its father. Which of these structures provides genetic information from the father to the puppy?

Choices:
A. a muscle cell
B. a nerve cell
C. a blood cell
D. a sperm cell

Answer: D


A scientist performs an experiment which suggests a new explanation for the digestion of certain proteins in humans. These results should first be communicated to the scientific community by which means?

Choices:
A. submission of an article to a peer-reviewed journal
B. inclusion of the new explanation in a biology textbook
C. posting observations and conclusions on the scientist's website
D. inviting reporters from many organizations to a press conference

Answer: A


Juan noticed that sunny skies suddenly became stormy. Which most likely happened when the weather changed in this way?

Choices:
A. Winds weakened.
B. Humidity decreased.
C. Air pressure dropped.
D. Temperatures increased.

Answer: C


Which process causes water to move from the ocean to the atmosphere during the formation of a hurricane?

Choices:
A. condensation
B. evaporation
C. precipitation
D. runoff

Answer: B


A student places a chemical in an insulated container and measures the temperature. A second chemical is added and the container is sealed and the temperature is monitored. What is the student trying to determine?

Choices:
A. What color changes can be observed?
B. How much precipitate is formed?
C. Is heat absorbed or released?
D. How can this reaction be reversed?

Answer: C


Which is an example of asexual reproduction?

Choices:
A. one cell divides into two cells
B. two cells unite to form one cell
C. a gene in a cell mutates
D. egg cells are produced

Answer: A


The sum of all chemical reactions that take place within an organism is known as

Choices:
1. evolution
2. metabolism
3. circulation
4. reproduction

Answer: 2


The appearance of the Moon as observed from Earth changes over time because of the Moon's

Choices:
A. path around Earth
B. length of daylight
C. gravity
D. temperature

Answer: A


The basic life functions of an organism are carried on by

Choices:
1. cells
2. nutrients
3. atoms
4. hormones

Answer: 1


What keeps stars such as the Sun from collapsing from their own self-gravity?

Choices:
A. the centrifugal force created by rapid rotation
B. the electrical repulsion of nuclei in the plasma
C. the gravitational pull created by orbiting planets
D. the outward pressure created by nuclear fusion

Answer: D


The increasing use of internal combustion engines could eventually deplete which resource?

Choices:
A. wind energy
B. petroleum
C. uranium
D. solar energy

Answer: B


If the results of an experiment do not support the hypothesis, the scientist will most likely do all of the following except

Choices:
A. check for errors in the experimental procedure.
B. repeat the experiment.
C. change data to support the hypothesis.
D. ask new questions.

Answer: C


Choices:
A. red light
B. green light
C. violet light
D. yellow light

Answer: A


Which statement best describes how birth and death rates compare in a population at carrying capacity?

Choices:
A. The birth rate is greater than the death rate.
B. The birth rate is less than the death rate.
C. The birth rate is equal to the death rate.
D. The birth rate and the death rate are zero.

Answer: C


Your community is planning to build a new sanitary landfill. In locating the landfill, which is the most important environmental consideration?

Choices:
A. the cost of the land
B. the location of the groundwater
C. the proximity to an industrial park
D. the accessibility to a major highway

Answer: B


Which is the best conductor of electricity?

Choices:
A. air
B. glass
C. water
D. wood

Answer: C


Students compared the growth rate of the roots of basil plants in three different water solutions. Measurements were recorded every other day for eight weeks. Which unit of measure is most appropriate for this investigation?

Choices:
A. meters
B. centiliters
C. millimeters
D. liters

Answer: C


When placed in a container at room temperature, which substance has a definite volume but takes the shape of the container?

Choices:
A. ice
B. copper
C. water
D. wood

Answer: C


Elements on the right side of the periodic table differ from the elements on the left side in that the elements on the right side

Choices:
A. are solid at room temperature.
B. are good electrical conductors.
C. generally have very high densities.
D. tend to form ions by gaining electrons.

Answer: D


Astronomers have found low-energy background radiation in every part of the sky that they have studied. This radiation is taken as evidence of energy remaining from which event?

Choices:
A. supernovas
B. the big bang
C. collisions of galaxies
D. modern decay of unstable atoms

Answer: B


A class is studying how gravity affects objects in motion. Which tool would best measure the distance an object travels after it is thrown?

Choices:
A. a magnetic compass
B. a meter stick
C. a calculator
D. a stop watch

Answer: B


If the Earth did not tilt on its axis in relation to the sun, which of the following would also be true?

Choices:
A. There would be no seasons.
B. One Earth-year would be 14% longer.
C. The Earth would spin at a different rate.
D. Temperatures at the Earth's equator would cool.

Answer: A


In the 20th century, Edwin Hubble deduced from observations that there are galaxies other than the Milky Way. Hubble's observations depended on improvements in a technology first developed by which scientist?

Choices:
A. Democritus
B. Isaac Newton
C. Galileo Galilei
D. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

Answer: C


What is one of the major advantages of using hydroelectric power?

Choices:
A. It uses renewable natural resources.
B. It is easily generated in most big cities.
C. It can be generated from any area on Earth.
D. It does not require special buildings or equipment.

Answer: A


What is the difference between magma and lava?

Choices:
A. Magma is below ground. Lava is above ground.
B. Magma is cool. Lava is hot.
C. Magma comes out of earthquakes. Lava comes out of volcanoes.
D. Magma is solid. Lava is liquid.

Answer: A


Scientists today understand how forces work due to Isaac Newton's study of

Choices:
A. electricity.
B. magnetism.
C. atoms.
D. gravity.

Answer: D


On a day in early spring, the number of hours of daylight and of night are about the same. From sunrise to sunset on a spring day, Earth has

Choices:
A. completed half of one rotation.
B. been in the shadow of the Moon.
C. been circled by the Moon one time.
D. moved to the opposite side of the Sun.

Answer: A


A marsh in your neighborhood dried up during a long, hot summer. This is most likely to cause which of the following changes in the neighborhood?

Choices:
A. an increase in the number of bats
B. a decrease in the number of mosquitoes
C. an increase in the number of insect-eating birds
D. a decrease in the number of Japanese beetles

Answer: B


In an effort to preserve wildlife on his farm in Massachusetts, a farmer decides to stop using a 10-acre field. The farmer fences off the area, stops cutting the grass, and stops allowing livestock to graze on it. After twenty years, the area would most likely

Choices:
A. be covered with moss and rocks.
B. be a mature hardwood forest.
C. be grown over with bushes and small trees.
D. be barren due to lack of maintenance.

Answer: C


Penny's class was learning how rapidly some changes can happen on Earth. Which event causes the fastest change to the surface of Earth?

Choices:
A. water flowing in a riverbed
B. a wave crashing on a beach
C. an earthquake cracking a road
D. wind blowing against a mountain

Answer: C


Air that travels away from the equator fails to maintain a straight path. The path of the air is deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The apparent deflection of air to either the right or left is known as the Coriolis Effect. Which factor produces the Coriolis Effect?

Choices:
A. the gravity of Earth
B. the rotation of Earth
C. the axial tilt of Earth
D. the revolution of Earth

Answer: B


When coal is burned to produce electricity, the electrical energy produced is less than the potential energy in the coal. Which best explains this observation?

Choices:
A. As coal is heated, some of the molecules move so fast that they are destroyed.
B. Some of the energy in coal is destroyed by the intense heat required to release its potential energy.
C. Some of the potential energy in coal is converted into forms of energy other than electricity.
D. The amount of potential energy in fuels is overestimated.

Answer: C


When a person's arm touches something hot, the muscles in the arm react to pull the arm away. Which body system alerts the muscles to react?

Choices:
A. Nervous
B. Digestive
C. Circulatory
D. Respiratory

Answer: A


Two chemicals are mixed in a test tube and a chemical reaction takes place. If this reaction is endothermic and the test tube is touched, which of the following best describes what is felt?

Choices:
A. The test tube is cold.
B. The test tube is warm.
C. The test tube is very hot.
D. The test tube is the same temperature as the air.

Answer: A


The width of a pencil lead is most accurately measured in

Choices:
A. meters.
B. inches.
C. millimeters.
D. feet.

Answer: C


Which organism is able to work together with other cells of its species?

Choices:
A. amoeba
B. euglena
C. paramecium
D. volvox

Answer: D


Which of the following items is necessary in a laboratory for safety purposes?

Choices:
A. Triple-beam balance
B. Metric ruler
C. Computer monitor
D. Fire extinguisher

Answer: D


Which type of energy is carried through a metal cable?

Choices:
A. light
B. chemical
C. electrical
D. nuclear

Answer: C


Glaciers cover about 10% of the total land area on Earth. The role of glaciers in the water cycle is to

Choices:
A. filter salt water
B. store fresh water
C. move liquid water
D. precipitate solid water

Answer: B


The density of a material can be measured by using a

Choices:
A. meter stick and test tubes.
B. beaker and stopwatch.
C. thermometer and computer probes.
D. balance and graduated cylinder.

Answer: D


Which of the following describes diffraction?

Choices:
A. the bouncing back of waves as they meet a surface
B. the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another
C. the bending of waves as they pass an edge or an opening
D. the combining of two waves that meet at a point

Answer: C


What is one way in which workplace automation can have a negative effect on society?

Choices:
A. reducing the number of job-related injuries
B. producing manufactured objects at a faster rate
C. displacing skilled workers from manufacturing jobs
D. decreasing the availability of manufactured products

Answer: C


Which layer of the atmosphere contains about 75% of the gasses and almost all of the water vapor?

Choices:
A. troposphere
B. stratosphere
C. mesosphere
D. thermosphere

Answer: A


India was once its own continent. According to the theory of continental drift, India has collided with and become part of the continent of Asia. This caused

Choices:
A. glaciers in the area to melt.
B. large mountain ranges to form.
C. deep mid-ocean trenches to develop.
D. deserts in the area to become fertile.

Answer: B


Why are many desert animals more active at night?

Choices:
A. It is drier at night.
B. It is cooler at night.
C. There is less danger at night.
D. There is less wind at night.

Answer: B


If the Earth rotated in the opposite direction, what would most likely occur?

Choices:
A. The Sun would rise in the west.
B. The seasons would be reversed.
C. There would be more days in each year.
D. The phases of the Moon would last longer.

Answer: A


A student uses a fan and a box of sand to model the formation of sand dunes. This model shows the effect of which natural factor on the landscape?

Choices:
A. wind
B. water
C. temperature
D. gravity

Answer: A


Evan is performing an investigation. Before conducting his investigation, what must Evan do?

Choices:
A. record his observations
B. develop a hypothesis
C. reach a conclusion
D. organize the data

Answer: B


When a skydiver jumps from a plane, the open parachute will increase the air resistance by

Choices:
A. reducing fluid friction.
B. increasing surface area.
C. increasing terminal velocity.
D. decreasing mass.

Answer: B


If you took all of the atoms out of a chair, what would be left?

Choices:
A. The chair would still be there, but it would weigh less.
B. The chair would be exactly the same as it was before.
C. There would be nothing left of the chair.
D. Only a pool of liquid would be left on the floor.

Answer: C


Which of these is the center of our solar system?

Choices:
A. Mars
B. The moon
C. Jupiter
D. The sun

Answer: D


Choices:
A. Older than Earth
B. Smaller than Earth
C. Having the same climate as Earth
D. Having the same atmosphere as Earth

Answer: B


Choices:
A. speed.
B. volume.
C. distance.
D. temperature.

Answer: D


Which type of organism helps return nutrients from dead plants and animals to the soil?

Choices:
A. producer
B. prey
C. predator
D. decomposer

Answer: D


When mining for coal, a mining company removes the plants and layers of soil and rock above the coal deposit, and takes the coal. When the operation is complete, the mining company returns soil and rock, covers it with a layer of topsoil, and plants trees and grass. The trees and grass help to

Choices:
A. prevent a collapse of the underlying sediment.
B. limit the types of pollutants that can enter the soil.
C. increase water absorption by the replaced sediments.
D. reduce soil erosion and provide new habitat for animals.

Answer: D


A model of an atom includes red marbles for electrons, green marbles for protons, and blue marbles for neutrons. All marbles have a radius of 2 cm. How could the model be changed to represent more properties of an atom?

Choices:
A. by using smaller marbles to represent electrons
B. by using two marbles to represent each neutron
C. by using two differently colored marbles for protons
D. by switching the colors of the marbles

Answer: A


The smallest particle of matter that can be identified as an element is called

Choices:
A. an atom.
B. a proton.
C. an electron.
D. a molecule.

Answer: A


How are the life cycles of a ladybug and a frog similar?

Choices:
A. The young look like the adults in both cycles.
B. The young hatch from eggs in both cycles.
C. Both life cycles begin in a water habitat.
D. Both life cycles have a pupa stage.

Answer: B


The empty spaces in a material are called pores. Porosity is the amount of empty space within a material. Permeability describes how well the pores in a material are connected. Which of these materials would make the most effective aquifer?

Choices:
A. a material that has high porosity and high permeability
B. a material that has high porosity and low permeability
C. a material that has low porosity and high permeability
D. a material that has low porosity and low permeability

Answer: A


Why do we see different stars in the sky at different times of the year?

Choices:
A. The stars are revolving around the Sun.
B. The Moon is revolving around Earth.
C. Earth is revolving around the Sun.
D. The stars are revolving around Earth.

Answer: C


Which of these will most likely occur if chemicals from fertilizers run off into lakes and streams?

Choices:
A. Water quality will improve.
B. Aquatic animals will thrive.
C. Fish will die from a lack of oxygen.
D. Aquatic plants will stop growing.

Answer: C


A student identifies a soil sample as "very gritty." What characteristic of the soil did the student describe?

Choices:
A. texture
B. hardness
C. organic content
D. water retention

Answer: A


Choices:
A. dying
B. inactive
C. growing taller
D. growing its leaves

Answer: B


The charge of the nucleus of an atom is due to the presence of

Choices:
A. positive protons.
B. negative neutrons.
C. negative protons and positive electrons.
D. positive protons and negative neutrons.

Answer: A


Choices:
1. rock
2. air
3. lava
4. water

Answer: 4


Riding a bicycle produces several forms of energy. Which form of energy is produced in the greatest amount by pedaling a bicycle down the sidewalk?

Choices:
A. chemical
B. radiant
C. kinetic
D. sound

Answer: C


Which part of a dandelion plant takes in minerals and water?

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

Answer: C


Many natural resources are found in Maryland and the surrounding area. Some of these natural resources are renewable and some are nonrenewable. People use both kinds of resources in daily activities. Using natural resources often produces waste products. Which of these natural resources found in Maryland is nonrenewable?

Choices:
A. coal
B. soil
C. water
D. wood

Answer: A


Which surgery is most like the way a transgenic organism is made?

Choices:
A. Adelle receives an artificial hip to ease her arthritis.
B. Kwan receives a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat.
C. Hector receives a replacement heart valve from a cow.
D. Denise receives a kidney donated by her identical twin.

Answer: C


Use the information to answer the question. Over the last 150 years, the use of fossil fuels has increased, resulting in more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some scientists think that these atmospheric gases will result in global warming. Scientists have recorded data on global temperature changes and have predicted possible changes in sea level that may affect Maryland residents. Using fossil fuels in the United States will most likely contribute to rising sea levels globally by

Choices:
A. increasing oxygen levels
B. decreasing oxygen levels
C. increasing carbon dioxide levels
D. decreasing carbon dioxide levels

Answer: C


Clouds are formed from tiny drops of water that are light enough to float in the air. As these drops bump into each other, they form larger drops. What happens when these drops become too heavy to float in the air?

Choices:
A. The drops form fog.
B. The drops evaporate.
C. The drops fall as rain.
D. The drops become air.

Answer: C


The shape of a riverbed changes over time as a result of which gradual process?

Choices:
A. erosion
B. dissolving
C. plate shifting
D. compaction

Answer: A


Which statement explains why daylight and darkness occur on Earth?

Choices:
A. The Earth rotates on its axis.
B. The Sun rotates on its axis.
C. The Earth's axis is tilted.
D. The Earth revolves around the Sun.

Answer: A


Which force causes a soccer ball to fall to the ground after it has been kicked up in the air?

Choices:
A. erosion
B. friction
C. gravity
D. magnetism

Answer: C


Which event will occur in an area after a major flood?

Choices:
A. a decrease in the erosion of riverbanks
B. a decrease in the number of native plants
C. an increase in the number of animal habitats
D. an increase in the diversity of insect species

Answer: B


What type of force keeps the planets orbiting the Sun?

Choices:
A. gravitational
B. magnetic
C. electrical
D. nuclear

Answer: A


Which gas could cause a glowing splint to burst into flame?

Choices:
A. Neon
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Carbon dioxide

Answer: B


Dr. Wagner is investigating a newly discovered, disease-causing agent. She determines that one structure in the agent is double-stranded RNA. What kind of agent is Dr. Wagner studying?

Choices:
A. a virus
B. a protist
C. a fungus
D. a bacterium

Answer: A


Which activity is an important function of nucleases?

Choices:
A. repairing the double strand of DNA
B. concentrating RNA into a nucleolus
C. maintaining homeostasis of nucleoplasm
D. dissolving the nuclear membrane during mitosis

Answer: A


Which best explains why it is important for a doctor's office to keep accurate records of the medicines prescribed for their patients?

Choices:
A. to know how many people take medicines
B. to keep track of all of the people who are sick
C. to keep track of the next scheduled appointments
D. to know if there is a risk for harmful side effects

Answer: D


When light hits a mirror, most of the light is

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

Answer: B


A plant scientist is developing a new fertilizer called Hypergrow. She designs an experiment to test whether Hypergrow helps plants grow faster than Supergrow, a fertilizer already on the market. Which of the following should the scientist do with light during the experiment?

Choices:
A. Apply the same amount of light to all the plants.
B. Apply only green light to all the plants.
C. Flash the lights to simulate a partly cloudy day.
D. Keep the plants in darkness.

Answer: A


The boiling point of water in degrees Celsius is

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

Answer: C


A student sorted mineral samples into two groups: dull and shiny. Which of the following properties did the student use to sort the mineral samples into groups?

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

Answer: C


A 13-year-old boy has blue eyes. Which statement concerning his eye color is correct?

Choices:
A. It is a result of asexual reproduction.
B. It is a result of childhood nutrition.
C. It is an inherited characteristic.
D. It is a personal choice.

Answer: C


Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is sealed in containers and deeply buried in the ground. Sealing and burying waste reduces the chances that water will become contaminated. At which point in the water cycle would radioactive contamination most likely be found?

Choices:
A. rain
B. fog
C. groundwater
D. surface water

Answer: C


The early Greeks are credited with many valid concepts in astronomy. Some of their theories were correct; some were later proven incorrect. One theory was that Earth was the center of the universe and that other planets circled Earth. The Greeks thought Earth did not move because its movement was not obvious from the surface of the planet. The Greeks also believed that an invisible sphere surrounding our planet contained the stars. This sphere rotated, explaining the apparent movement of constellations over time. Early Greeks also developed theories about the relationship between the moon and Earth. Why is the same side of the moon always visible from Earth?

Choices:
A. The far side of the moon does not reflect sunlight.
B. The moon stays in one location while Earth revolves around it.
C. The period of rotation and the period of revolution for the moon are about the same.
D. The moon rotates clockwise on its axis while Earth rotates counterclockwise on its axis.

Answer: C


Sodium chloride (NaCl) is formed in a chemical reaction between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl_{2}). What is sodium chloride?

Choices:
A. an element
B. a mixture
C. a compound
D. an atom

Answer: C


Which group of organisms is most responsible for changing the composition of Earth's early atmosphere?

Choices:
A. algae
B. fungi
C. reptiles
D. angiosperms

Answer: A


A litter of kittens have traits that are similar to both the mother cat and the father cat. Which best explains this situation?

Choices:
A. The kittens are provided the same kind of milk from their mother as they grow.
B. The kittens inherit some of their traits from their mother and some from their father.
C. The kittens are kept at the same temperatures by their mother when they are first born.
D. The kittens are taught by their parents to have similar traits.

Answer: B


Jessica is making fruit punch for her friends. She pours the powder into a container with sugar and water. Which of these best describes what happens to the sugar?

Choices:
A. It expands.
B. It dissolves.
C. It condenses.
D. It evaporates.

Answer: B


The motion of atoms and molecules in a substance is

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

Answer: A


Which features form when magma emerges between two diverging oceanic plates?

Choices:
A. ocean trenches
B. fault boundaries
C. mid-ocean ridges
D. composite volcanoes

Answer: C


Research has shown that specialization of stem cells into specific cell types results, in part, from cell shape. What provides a specialized cell with its shape?

Choices:
A. number of mitochondria
B. presence of a nucleus
C. structure of the cytoskeleton
D. salt concentration of cytoplasm

Answer: C


Nicole is learning about the characteristics of different vertebrates. Which is a common characteristic of mammals?

Choices:
A. They all live on land.
B. They all have hair or fur.
C. They are all good swimmers.
D. They all live in warm climates.

Answer: B


Which two processes are common to all living things?

Choices:
A. flying and breathing
B. migrating and reproducing
C. using nutrients and growing
D. eliminating waste and hibernating

Answer: C


Acid rain can damage limestone buildings and marble statues. It can also harm organisms living in ponds and other ecosystems. Which pollutant in the atmosphere causes most of the acid rain?

Choices:
A. fluorocarbons from aerosol spray cans
B. nitrous oxide from volcanic eruptions
C. sulfur dioxide from burning fossil fuels
D. soil particles from the use of farm equipment

Answer: C


Ospreys are birds that eat fish. Where would an osprey most likely live?

Choices:
A. near a forest
B. near a marsh
C. near a desert
D. near a prairie

Answer: B


Which of these best describes wind energy?

Choices:
A. limited
B. renewable
C. damaging
D. inexpensive

Answer: B


Euglena is a single-celled photosynthetic organism. Clover is a multicellular green plant. Which of the following activities is carried out by both euglena and clover?

Choices:
A. using light energy to produce sugar
B. producing sex cells for reproduction
C. moving nutrients to specialized tissues
D. transmitting impulses along nerve pathways

Answer: A


A glass of ice water is placed on a table. After 10 minutes, there are drops of water on the outside surface of the glass. Which change in phase caused the drops of water?

Choices:
A. Liquid water in the air evaporated into a gas.
B. Liquid water in the air condensed into a solid.
C. Water vapor from the air evaporated into a liquid.
D. Water vapor from the air condensed into a liquid.

Answer: D


The list below gives some symptoms of people with the common cold. Symptoms of the Common Cold stuffy nose low fever sore throat cough Which body system is most affected by the common cold?

Choices:
A. Nervous
B. Digestive
C. Circulatory
D. Respiratory

Answer: D


The formation of the Grand Canyon has most likely taken how long?

Choices:
A. several years
B. hundreds of years
C. thousands of years
D. millions of years

Answer: D


Which health condition is an infectious disease?

Choices:
1. pneumonia caused by microorganisms
2. heart problem caused by a high-fat diet
3. lung cancer caused by smoking
4. eye damage caused by ultraviolet light

Answer: 1


Which statement describes a characteristic of both sexual and asexual reproduction?

Choices:
A. The processes require egg cells.
B. New cells are produced.
C. Two parents are required.
D. The processes produce genetically unique offspring.

Answer: B


Which activity is most likely to add pollutants to the environment?

Choices:
A. watering a garden
B. pulling weeds from a lawn
C. installing a wooden fence
D. burning leaves

Answer: D


Which is the best example of a parasitic relationship?

Choices:
A. a woodpecker nesting in a cavity of a dead tree
B. a tapeworm absorbing food in the digestive tract of a wolf
C. a polar bear hunting a seal for food
D. a hummingbird transferring pollen between flowers

Answer: B


What is a benefit of using technology, such as robotics, in manufacturing?

Choices:
A. decreased production cost
B. decreased productivity
C. increased number of manual-labor jobs
D. increased number of design flaws

Answer: A


Warm air masses that rise over Earth's equator move north or south. This movement is primarily the result of which of the following processes?

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

Answer: B


Choices:
A. day.
B. year.
C. week.
D. month.

Answer: D


Choices:
A. All fungi are multicellular heterotrophs.
B. All fungi are single-celled heterotrophs.
C. All animals are multicellular heterotrophs.
D. All animals are single-celled heterotrophs.

Answer: C


A leaf is covered in mud during a landslide. After one million years, this leaf will most likely be ___.

Choices:
A. a fossil
B. an animal species
C. a new plant species
D. a nonrenewable fuel

Answer: A


A certain snake species in an ecosystem eats small rodents. If a bird species is introduced into the ecosystem that also eats small rodents, which of these will most likely increase?

Choices:
A. parasitism
B. migration
C. mutualism
D. competition

Answer: D


Which characteristic would a scientist most likely maintain throughout an investigation?

Choices:
A. being open to new ideas
B. sharing limited research
C. focus on completing research first
D. focus on formulating conclusions

Answer: A


Plant cells use special parts to capture sunlight. The parts use the sunlight to make food. Where will you find the most of these parts in a plant?

Choices:
A. roots
B. stems
C. leaves
D. flowers

Answer: C


Which is the best example of something that has kinetic energy?

Choices:
A. a rock sitting at the top of a steep hill
B. a tennis ball rolling across the court
C. a picture hanging on the wall
D. a piece of wood before it is burned

Answer: B


Corals are small marine organisms that live in groups and make hard outer skeletons to protect their bodies. Over time, these outer skeletons can build up to make large coral reefs. Which of the following statements best describes one way the formation of a coral reef changes the ocean ecosystem?

Choices:
A. It makes the ocean water saltier.
B. It removes sand from the ocean floor.
C. It causes ocean waves to become stronger.
D. It creates a habitat for some ocean animals.

Answer: D


A magnet and a metal paper clip have the strongest magnetic attraction when the distance between them is

Choices:
A. 4 centimeters
B. 8 centimeters
C. 12 centimeters
D. 16 centimeters

Answer: A


High average daily temperature and heavy annual precipitation are found in a

Choices:
A. desert.
B. grassland.
C. rainforest.
D. tundra.

Answer: C


Computers have devices called heat sinks designed to lower the temperature of a computer by scattering produced heat into the surrounding area. Which type of energy is kept away from a computer by a heat sink?

Choices:
A. electrical
B. chemical
C. thermal
D. nuclear

Answer: C


In the first step of making some ceramic cups, the following manufacturing process is used. Liquid clay is poured into a mold, allowed to solidify, then removed from the mold. What is the name of this manufacturing process?

Choices:
A. casting
B. milling
C. finishing
D. refining

Answer: A


The first telescopes were invented hundreds of years ago. Which was discovered as a result of this invention?

Choices:
A. the moons of Jupiter
B. the bacteria that causes disease
C. the deep-sea trenches in the ocean
D. the parts of a plant that perform photosynthesis

Answer: A


Which of these best demonstrates the characteristics of science?

Choices:
A. One student lifts a rock and skips it across a stream.
B. One student thinks about rocks and writes down his opinion.
C. Two students study a rock and then compare their observations.
D. Two students remove rocks from a garden and then plant flowers.

Answer: C


Which type of tissue functions to move the bones?

Choices:
A. skin
B. blood
C. muscle
D. brain

Answer: C


What process in the atmosphere protects people from the ultraviolet rays in sunlight?

Choices:
A. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet light.
B. Nitrogen reflects ultraviolet light.
C. Water vapor scatters ultraviolet light.
D. Carbon dioxide blocks ultraviolet light.

Answer: A


Which statement best describes a bacterial cell?

Choices:
A. It contains more than one cell.
B. It is a complete organism.
C. It is part of a larger organism.
D. It contains different kinds of cells.

Answer: B


Visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum

Choices:
A. is a broad band within the spectrum.
B. is a narrow band within the spectrum.
C. makes up 50 percent of the spectrum.
D. makes up more than 75 percent of the spectrum.

Answer: B


Which of the following is the best example of a part of the propulsion system of a tractor?

Choices:
A. engine
B. front headlight
C. hood
D. steering wheel

Answer: A


A homeowner wants to use a renewable source of energy to heat the home. Which of these would be the best to use?

Choices:
A. coal
B. gas
C. oil
D. solar

Answer: D


How do sprouting plants exhibit positive gravitropism?

Choices:
A. The roots turn downward.
B. The roots move horizontally.
C. The leaves face toward the Sun.
D. The stems curl around supports.

Answer: A


A student picked up a small rock using a magnet. The rock probably contained

Choices:
A. quartz.
B. diamond.
C. aluminum.
D. iron.

Answer: D


Grasses, shrubs, and trees are called producers because they make

Choices:
1. water
2. carbon dioxide
3. minerals
4. food

Answer: 4


How does the buying and selling of a popular species of rainforest animal as pets have a negative effect on the rainforest ecosystem?

Choices:
A. The rate of photosynthesis may decrease.
B. There is a probability of genetic variability.
C. The number of symbiotic relationships increases.
D. It could lead to the potential extinction of those animals.

Answer: D


Plants that can live in sandy soils most likely have the ability to withstand

Choices:
A. fires.
B. salt.
C. cold temperatures.
D. dry conditions.

Answer: D


Which characteristic of an element determines its placement in the periodic table?

Choices:
A. mass
B. size
C. number of neutrons
D. number of protons

Answer: D


Approximately what percentage of the electromagnetic spectrum is visible light?

Choices:
A. more than 75%
B. 50%
C. 25%
D. less than 10%

Answer: D


Two boxes, A and B, both contain the same number of nitrogen gas molecules. The gas molecules in box A have twice the average speed of the molecules in box B. Which of the following best describes the nitrogen gas in box A?

Choices:
A. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater mass than the nitrogen gas in box B.
B. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater density than the nitrogen gas in box B.
C. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater temperature than the nitrogen gas in box B.
D. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater specific gravity than the nitrogen gas in box B.

Answer: C


People use many tools to help measure changes. Which person is measuring a change?

Choices:
A. A sports player scores a goal.
B. A scientist gives a weather report.
C. A friend watches a television show.
D. A nurse checks the temperature of a patient.

Answer: D


Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infects the cells that coordinate the human immune response. When these cells are killed or compromised, the body cannot effectively protect itself from infection. Which cells does HIV infect?

Choices:
A. natural killer T cells
B. regulatory T cells
C. cytotoxic T cells
D. helper T cells

Answer: D


Which trait can children inherit from their parents?

Choices:
A. long hair
B. favorite color
C. brown eyes
D. broken arm

Answer: C


Which tool would be best for students to use to observe and measure plant cells?

Choices:
A. microscope
B. hand lens
C. metric ruler
D. triple-beam balance

Answer: A


For a plant to stay alive indoors, where does it need to be placed?

Choices:
A. In a dry area
B. In a dark room
C. On a plant stand
D. Near a sunny place

Answer: D


Which type of adaptation allows an animal to deceive its predator?

Choices:
A. large size
B. protective coloration
C. scent glands
D. leathery skin

Answer: B


Which occurs as a result of the rotation of Earth about its own axis?

Choices:
A. the water cycle
B. seasons of the year
C. sunrises and sunsets
D. global climate changes

Answer: C


Theresa studied different forms of energy. Which is the best way of expressing the amount of mechanical energy exerted by a force?

Choices:
A. kilowatts
B. kilocalories
C. newton-meters
D. foot-pounds per second

Answer: C


The water cycle includes which processes?

Choices:
A. evaporation, condensation, precipitation
B. metamorphosis, evaporation, respiration
C. precipitation, perspiration, mitosis
D. fixation, decomposition, respiration

Answer: A


Choices:
A. Rice
B. Tobacco
C. Orchid
D. Cotton

Answer: A


Which cell function is most directly dependent on the cytoskeleton?

Choices:
A. transport of material inside the cell
B. response of the cell to external pathogens
C. storage of energy in stable long-term forms
D. direction of cellular activity

Answer: A


When birds fly south for the winter, they are exhibiting

Choices:
A. courtship.
B. mimicry.
C. learned behavior.
D. instinctive behavior.

Answer: D


When a plane flies, it travels through air that contains gases, liquids, and solids. This area is best described as the

Choices:
A. atmosphere.
B. lithosphere.
C. biosphere.
D. hydrosphere.

Answer: A


How would the woodpecker population in a forest area most likely be affected if a housing development is built in that area?

Choices:
A. They would produce more offspring.
B. They would change the color of their feathers.
C. They would experience a decrease in available food.
D. They would experience a decrease in competition.

Answer: C


Where is water most likely to be brackish?

Choices:
A. sea
B. lake
C. river
D. estuary

Answer: D


The amount of elements heavier than hydrogen is constantly increasing in the universe. Which best identifies the bodies in which this change is taking place?

Choices:
A. stars
B. planets
C. galaxies
D. solar systems

Answer: A


The discovery of a fossilized animal with teeth, a long bony tail, and feathered wings helped to establish which evolutionary sequence?

Choices:
A. rodents to bats
B. reptiles to birds
C. aquatic organisms to land-based organisms
D. invertebrates to flying organisms

Answer: B


What does the mechanical energy of a system include?

Choices:
A. the sum of the potential and kinetic energy
B. the difference of the potential and kinetic energy
C. only the kinetic energy
D. only the potential energy

Answer: A


On a class field trip, Zach took a walk through the woods using his senses. Zach made observations on the different sights, smells, and sounds in the woods. What system transferred the observations from his senses to his brain?

Choices:
A. nervous system
B. digestive system
C. circulatory system
D. respiratory system

Answer: A


Louis was investigating physical and chemical changes in matter. Which of these changes that Louis found involves a chemical change in matter?

Choices:
A. evaporation of water
B. grinding of rock
C. melting of ice
D. rusting of iron

Answer: D


A ball is thrown up into the air. Which force causes the ball to fall to the ground?

Choices:
A. friction
B. gravity
C. magnetism
D. electricity

Answer: B


An octopus releases black ink into the water when feeling threatened. What does this most likely help an octopus do?

Choices:
A. find shelter
B. hunt for food
C. swim faster
D. escape enemies

Answer: D


Which method would be best for scientists to use to determine the absolute age of a Precambrian igneous rock?

Choices:
A. index fossils
B. law of superposition
C. radiometric dating
D. law of original horizontality

Answer: C


A mouse's rate of carbon dioxide output increased. Which of the following most likely happened?

Choices:
A. The mouse went to sleep.
B. The mouse ate some food.
C. The mouse started running.
D. The mouse detected an odor.

Answer: C


Deer are plants-eaters. A winter storm kills many of the plants deer eat. The storm will most likely result in the deer

Choices:
A. shedding a lot of fur.
B. traveling in a herd.
C. becoming thin.
D. feeding on meat.

Answer: C


Students measured the elevation changes in a large park near their school. Which of the following would be the best way to report their findings?

Choices:
A. line graph
B. topographic map
C. color-coded chart
D. spreadsheet data table

Answer: B


Which of the following is the best example of a wave?

Choices:
A. a stone rolling downhill
B. a vehicle traveling on a bumpy road
C. a string vibrating on a guitar
D. a grasshopper jumping up and down occasionally

Answer: C


Louisa needs to demonstrate a solution to her class. Which is the best example of a solution?

Choices:
A. mixing salt and pepper
B. melting butter
C. stirring salt into water
D. melting an ice cube

Answer: C


Which action would most likely reduce air pollution caused by cars?

Choices:
A. drive a longer route
B. purchase a larger car
C. take fewer car trips
D. use smaller tires

Answer: C


How is a telephone able to transmit sound?

Choices:
A. It conducts vibrations from speaker to receiver.
B. It magnifies a person's voice.
C. It carries the sounds through wires.
D. It converts vibrations to electrical signals.

Answer: D


Which cellular structure in an animal cell helps maintain homeostasis by controlling the transportation of substances into and out of the cell?

Choices:
A. vacuole
B. cell wall
C. mitochondrion
D. cell membrane

Answer: D


Which of the following was invented by Benjamin Franklin?

Choices:
A. bifocal lens
B. telescope lens
C. telephone
D. camera

Answer: A


The engine of an automobile is part of which type of system?

Choices:
A. structure
B. propulsion
C. guidance
D. control

Answer: B


Which event most likely takes place as the result of crustal movement along transform boundaries?

Choices:
A. earthquakes
B. volcanic activity
C. mountain building
D. trenches

Answer: A


The function of a plant's roots is to take in

Choices:
A. light and water
B. light and air
C. nutrients and water
D. nutrients and soil

Answer: C


The theory of plate tectonics provides the current explanation for the way in which

Choices:
A. stars change.
B. continents move.
C. rocks are formed.
D. tides are produced.

Answer: B


An organism eats grass and is preyed upon by a carnivore. Which categories describe this organism?

Choices:
A. producer and consumer
B. consumer and herbivore
C. decomposer and producer
D. herbivore and decomposer

Answer: B


Which substance is necessary for burning to take place?

Choices:
A. ozone
B. oxygen
C. hydrogen
D. carbon dioxide

Answer: B


Moths undergo complete metamorphosis. Which stages does a moth's life cycle include?

Choices:
A. egg, larva, and pupa
B. egg, nymph, and pupa
C. nymph, larva, and pupa
D. nymph, egg, and larva

Answer: A


In humans, a V-shaped hairline is dominant over a straight hairline. If one parent is homozygous for a V-shaped hairline ( HH ) while the other parent is homozygous for a straight hairline ( hh ), what is the probability that the offspring of these parents will have a straight hairline?

Choices:
A. 0%
B. 50%
C. 75%
D. 100%

Answer: A


Where would electrons most likely be located in an atom?

Choices:
A. with the quarks
B. with the neutrons
C. outside the nucleus
D. near the protons

Answer: C


Spring tides occur during which lunar phases?

Choices:
A. first quarter and last quarter
B. full moon and new moon
C. when the moon is waxing
D. when the moon is waning

Answer: B


A magnet can generate an electric current in a wire if the magnet is close enough to the wire and if the magnet is also

Choices:
A. strong.
B. weak.
C. at rest.
D. in motion.

Answer: D


Which of the following symbiotic relationships is considered parasitic?

Choices:
A. ticks feeding on a dog
B. bees transporting pollen from flowers
C. pilotfish swimming under sharks
D. birds eating the insects from the back of a hippopotamus

Answer: A


What will most likely affect your adult height?

Choices:
A. The height of your parents
B. The height of your brothers and sisters
C. Your hair color
D. Your weight

Answer: A


The winter solstice occurs on either December 21 or 22, depending on the year. Which of the following statements best explains why the time of the year the winter solstice occurs has the least amount of daylight in Massachusetts?

Choices:
A. Earth is farthest away from the Sun on the winter solstice.
B. Earth's rotational speed on its axis is greatest on the winter solstice.
C. Earth is traveling around the Sun with the greatest speed on the winter solstice.
D. Earth's Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun on the winter solstice.

Answer: D


Maryland has many renewable and nonrenewable natural resources. Which group contains only renewable resources found in Maryland?

Choices:
A. wind, oil, coal
B. fish, coal, wind
C. oil, water, trees
D. trees, water, fish

Answer: D


Which part makes a plant cell different from an animal cell?

Choices:
A. cell membrane
B. cell wall
C. cytoplasm
D. nucleus

Answer: B


Which of the following has a warmer average surface temperature than Earth?

Choices:
A. Mars
B. Moon
C. Pluto
D. Venus

Answer: D


Sound waves are not able to travel through

Choices:
1. a cloud
2. a vacuum
3. metal
4. water

Answer: 2


Scientists study fossils to learn about extinct plants and animals. Which of these is the best example of a fossil?

Choices:
A. a footprint in a rock
B. a seashell under water
C. a leaf in a mudpuddle
D. a bone on top of a sand pile

Answer: A


When an egg and sperm form an embryo, the offspring that is formed will have genetic traits that are

Choices:
A. inherited from only one parent.
B. created by the environment.
C. passed on from two parents.
D. learned from siblings.

Answer: C


Turgor pressure in the cells of plant roots is strong enough to eventually crack the rocks in which they grow. What machine redirects force this way?

Choices:
A. a pulley
B. a wedge
C. an inclined plane
D. a wheel and axle

Answer: B


Daphnee is going to build a model of the solar system for her science project. She decides that a meter (m) will represent one astronomical unit (AU) in her model. Based on this scale, how far away from the Sun would she need to place Earth?

Choices:
A. one meter
B. two meters
C. three meters
D. four meters

Answer: A


A lizard in a desert sits on a warm rock. Where does the heat energy in the rock come from?

Choices:
A. the Sun
B. the lizard's skin
C. deep within Earth
D. the decay of plant materials

Answer: A


Choices:
A. wind
B. Moon's gravity
C. salinity
D. Earth's rotation

Answer: A


What type of graph would be best for recording plant growth over a one-week period?

Choices:
A. pie chart
B. line graph
C. scatterplot
D. histogram

Answer: B


A scientist compares ancient animal tracks to modern animal tracks. Which conclusion is the scientist most likely to reach?

Choices:
A. Some ancient animals and some modern animals walk on four legs.
B. Most ancient animals and most modern animals hunt animals for food.
C. The same animals that lived long ago also live today.
D. All animals can walk.

Answer: A


A group of citizens want to have a statue built out of marble. They want to place it in a climate that has a slow rate of chemical weathering. In which type of climate would it be best to place the statue for the slowest rate of chemical weathering?

Choices:
A. hot and dry
B. cold and dry
C. hot and humid
D. cold and humid

Answer: B


According to scientists, donkeys and horses share a common ancestor. Which evidence shows that the two organisms are related?

Choices:
A. Both are tall.
B. Both run fast.
C. They have the same diet.
D. They have the same bones in their limbs.

Answer: D


Choices:
A. an insect that lives and feeds on the body of an alligator
B. an ant that lives on a plant and defends the plant from other insects
C. a bird that migrates to follow the movements of the butterflies that it eats
D. a deer that eats one kind of plant, which allows another kind of plant to grow in its place

Answer: B


In humans, B is the allele for brown eyes and b is the allele for blue eyes. Two brothers both have brown eyes, but one of them has both the B and b alleles while the other only has B alleles. Which statement is true about the brothers?

Choices:
A. They have the same genotype and phenotype.
B. They have different phenotypes and genotypes.
C. They have the same phenotype but different genotypes.
D. They have the same genotype but different phenotypes.

Answer: C


Which of the following is broken down in the body to release energy?

Choices:
A. sugar.
B. water.
C. salt.
D. oxygen.

Answer: A


Which property is thought to characterize objects in the Oort Cloud?

Choices:
A. They are composed mostly of iron.
B. They are composed mostly of ice.
C. They regularly revolve near the Sun.
D. They regularly replenish water on Earth.

Answer: B


Choices:
A. wave without a medium.
B. series of compressions only.
C. pattern of up and down vibrations.
D. pattern of compressions and rarefactions.

Answer: D


Astronomers have been studying objects that are very bright and appear to be very far away. They have since concluded that these objects are distant galaxies with giant black holes at their center known as

Choices:
A. pulsars.
B. quasars.
C. supernovas.
D. binary stars.

Answer: B


Which unit of measurement should be used to describe the  mass of an apple?

Choices:
A. gram
B. liter
C. minute
D. meter

Answer: A


Scientists have created trains that use magnets to make the trains float above the tracks as they travel. These trains float because

Choices:
1. the track is waxed
2. the like poles repel
3. the train has a low density
4. a chemical change occurs

Answer: 2


One role of a producer in a food chain is to provide

Choices:
A. water for plants
B. sunlight for plants
C. nutrients for animals
D. shelter for animals

Answer: C


Tectonic motion caused tension between plates in Earth's crust. A sudden release of this energy occurred. Based on this information, which event happened?

Choices:
A. subsidence
B. earthquake
C. volcanic eruption
D. meteoroid impact

Answer: B


The teacher heats a pot of water. Once the water reaches 100°C, which point has the water reached?

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

Answer: A


What is the major cause of seasonal changes?

Choices:
A. tilt of the Earth's axis
B. Earth changing its distance from the Sun
C. changing patterns in wind and ocean currents
D. cycles in the amount of energy released by the Sun

Answer: A


In 1989, the unusually low snowpack in portions of the Sierra Nevada Mountains led to a widespread emergence of Edith's checkerspot butterflies in April. In these regions, flowers do not appear until May. What was the most likely result of the early emergence of these butterflies?

Choices:
A. Most butterflies did not survive.
B. Most butterflies reproduced earlier.
C. Most butterflies switched to other food sources.
D. Most butterflies adapted to the new environment.

Answer: A


Which scientist developed the mathematical models used to describe the changes in the motion of objects as well as the forces that cause the change in motion?

Choices:
A. Dalton
B. Newton
C. Aristotle
D. Ptolemy

Answer: B


Which natural event would take the longest time to happen?

Choices:
A. a cloud forming
B. a mountain forming
C. a pond evaporating
D. a river flooding its banks

Answer: D


Which property of a substance indicates whether the substance is a liquid or a solid at room temperature?

Choices:
1. melting point
2. electrical conductivity
3. flexibility
4. solubility

Answer: 1


Which organelle converts glucose to energy for cellular work?

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

Answer: B


The length of a year is determined by the amount of time it takes

Choices:
A. the Moon to revolve around Earth.
B. Earth to revolve around the Sun.
C. Earth to rotate on its axis.
D. the Sun to rotate on its axis.

Answer: B


A tick attaches to a deer and consumes blood, harming the deer. This is an example of which type of relationship?

Choices:
A. predator-prey
B. mutualism
C. parasite-host
D. commensalism

Answer: C


Cactus plants grow best in environments (habitats) that are

Choices:
A. hot and dry.
B. hot and wet.
C. cold and dry.
D. cold and wet.

Answer: A


Where does water in a lake get most of its energy to evaporate?

Choices:
A. The sun heating the lake
B. Green plants living in the lake
C. Streams entering the lake
D. Cold springs under the lake

Answer: A


A scientist trying to identify an unknown liquid may heat the liquid. Which would be the best reason for the scientist to heat the liquid?

Choices:
A. to observe a color change
B. to get rid of most impurities
C. to identify the boiling point
D. to collect gases for additional study

Answer: C


During a laboratory investigation, a student cracks a clean, empty Erlenmeyer flask. It does not break, but it can no longer be used. Where should the flask be placed?

Choices:
A. trash can
B. biohazard bag
C. broken glass bin
D. hazardous waste bin

Answer: C


A light bulb transforms electrical energy into light energy. A light bulb also transforms electrical energy into

Choices:
A. heat energy
B. potential energy
C. magnetic energy
D. mechanical energy

Answer: A


Jonas needs to split a log. He has a sledge hammer. What other tool should he also use to split the log?

Choices:
A. a lever
B. a pulley
C. a wedge
D. a fulcrum

Answer: C


Hurricanes are driven by the energy they get from ocean water. Which property of water allows it to retain the energy needed to power a hurricane?

Choices:
A. low vapor pressure
B. high specific heat
C. high surface tension
D. low freezing point

Answer: B


Which organisms contribute most to the decomposition of dead organisms?

Choices:
A. snakes
B. viruses
C. insects
D. bacteria

Answer: D


What is one difference between birds and reptiles?

Choices:
A. Birds lay eggs and reptiles do not.
B. Reptiles are meat-eaters and birds are not.
C. Birds breathe oxygen and reptiles do not.
D. Reptiles are cold-blooded and birds are not.

Answer: D


The ounce, the pound, and the ton are units of

Choices:
A. time.
B. weight.
C. length.
D. distance.

Answer: B


A student uses clay to construct a model of Earth. Which layer of the model should be the thinnest layer?

Choices:
A. the layer representing the mantle
B. the layer representing the outer core
C. the layer representing the inner core
D. the layer representing the crust

Answer: D


A scientist observes that both birds and snakes in the same ecosystem depend on the same mouse species as a food source. The relationship between the birds and the snakes is an example of

Choices:
A. predation.
B. mutualism.
C. competition.
D. commensalism.

Answer: C


Animals get energy from the food they eat. What is the original source of this energy?

Choices:
A. the soil
B. the water cycle
C. the Sun
D. fertilizers

Answer: C


Many human activities, such as driving a car, cause the release of air pollutants. Which substance is a common air pollutant when driving a car?

Choices:
A. carbon monoxide
B. chlorine
C. nitrogen
D. iron oxide

Answer: A


Which environment would most likely have rich, fertile soil?

Choices:
A. a desert plain
B. a coastal beach
C. a mountain peak
D. a flood plain

Answer: D


In 1785, James Hutton, stated that evidence of past occurrences can be used to explain events which happen today. Which could most likely be used to explain an event in the geologic past?

Choices:
A. sunspots
B. earthquakes
C. wave patterns
D. cloud formations

Answer: B


The elements sulfur (S) and oxygen combine to form a substance called sulfur dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide is also formed when coal and oil are burned. Sulfur dioxide can best be described as

Choices:
A. a metal
B. an atom
C. a compound
D. a nonreactive gas

Answer: C


If a pond is polluted by soap that has phosphate, this pollutant will cause the algae to quickly reproduce. Which will most likely increase in the pond if this happens to the algae?

Choices:
A. sulfur
B. oxygen
C. nitrogen
D. carbon dioxide

Answer: B


In order to carry out the functions of life, organisms must

Choices:
A. have more than one type of cell.
B. be exposed to sunlight.
C. have at least one cell.
D. be able to move.

Answer: C


A roller coaster is climbing up the highest hill on its track. At which point will the front car of the coaster most likely have its greatest potential energy?

Choices:
A. at the bottom of the highest hill
B. at the top of the highest hill
C. at the start of the track
D. at the end of the track

Answer: B


What is the mass of an asteroid with a speed of 200 m/s and a momentum of 2,000 kg x m/s?

Choices:
A. 10 kg
B. 1,800 kg
C. 2,200 kg
D. 400,000 kg

Answer: A


Some scientists study images of very distant celestial bodies. Where is the best location for the types of telescopes that can provide the scientists with the clearest images.

Choices:
A. at sea level
B. in outer space
C. on mountain tops
D. at higher latitudes

Answer: B


Choices:
A. breathing clean air
B. exercising and playing
C. getting plenty of rest
D. eating healthy food

Answer: D


Which action is a learned characteristic of a newborn horse?

Choices:
A. nursing
B. walking
C. sleeping
D. breathing

Answer: B


An earthquake is caused by sudden shifts in which of the following layers of Earth?

Choices:
A. outer core
B. crust
C. inner core
D. mesosphere

Answer: B


A black bear's diet includes nuts, berries, honey, insects, and fish. Black bears are

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

Answer: C


The news often talks about how global warming could change environmental conditions on Earth. Which best explains why global warming is such a concern?

Choices:
A. Glaciers will advance.
B. The sea level will rise.
C. Earthquake activity will increase.
D. The overall temperature will decrease.

Answer: B


Animal cells perform functions using energy that is derived from glucose (C6H12O6). Which molecule is required for animal cells to obtain the most energy possible from a molecule of glucose?

Choices:
A. water
B. oxygen
C. lactic acid
D. carbon dioxide

Answer: B


Stomata are tiny pores located on the leaves of plants. These pores permit the exchange of gases between air in the environment and plant cells located inside the leaf. Which tissue performs a similar function in vertebrates?

Choices:
A. The cornea in the eye
B. The alveoli in the lungs
C. The chambers in the heart
D. The salivary glands in the mouth

Answer: B


When crossing parents with genotypes Rr and rr, what will be the percentages of the genotypes of the offspring?

Choices:
A. 75% Rr, 25% rr
B. 50% Rr, 50% rr
C. 100% Rr
D. 100% rr

Answer: B


Which information will best help scientists determine if an object is a comet, an asteroid, or a meteoroid?

Choices:
A. the object's diameter
B. the object's composition
C. the shape of the object's orbit
D. the speed at which the object travels

Answer: B


In an ocean ecosystem, dead organisms such as fish and plankton sink to the bottom of the ocean. Which organisms break down and recycle the dead organisms?

Choices:
A. algae
B. bacteria
C. mollusks
D. sponges

Answer: B


Which is the best description of the brightness of the Sun?

Choices:
A. It is less bright than planets.
B. It is brighter than other stars.
C. It is of average brightness compared to planets.
D. It is of average brightness compared to other stars.

Answer: D


Which process passes genetic information from plants to their offspring?

Choices:
A. germination
B. pollination
C. photosynthesis
D. adaptation

Answer: B


What must happen in order for scientific data to be verified through repetition?

Choices:
A. Accurate records must be kept.
B. Modern technology must be used.
C. Investigations must be conducted by trained scientists.
D. Observations must be made by more than one scientist.

Answer: A


Which particle type can be identified as being from a specific element?

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

Answer: B


Which of the following is a chemical property of a substance?

Choices:
A. mass of 372 g
B. reacts with HCl
C. density of 37 g/cm^3
D. white powder with silver specks

Answer: B


Which structure is found in a plant cell but not in an animal cell?

Choices:
1. cell wall
2. cell membrane
3. cytoplasm
4. nucleus

Answer: 1


Choices:
A. a geometric pattern formed by a mineral
B. a solid element or compound from Earth's crust
C. remains of an extinct organism found in a rock layer
D. bits of weathered rocks and pieces of dead organisms

Answer: C


A student is conducting an investigation using chemicals. Other than goggles and gloves, what else should the student use in order to conduct this investigation safely?

Choices:
A. lab coat
B. Petri dish
C. Bunsen burner
D. loose-fitting clothing

Answer: A


The boiling point of nitrogen is -196°C. What states of matter are involved when nitrogen boils?

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

Answer: B


The Hubble Space Telescope is a telescope that NASA launched into space in 1990. Scientists most likely prefer to use the Hubble Space Telescope instead of a land-based telescope because it provides better accuracy at

Choices:
A. predicting solar eclipses.
B. investigating faraway galaxies.
C. investigating the size of Venus.
D. predicting the phases of the Moon.

Answer: B


Which of the following statements best describes a complex machine?

Choices:
A. It is designed to move with a motor.
B. It is constructed from machine-made parts.
C. It is made of more than one simple machine.
D. It is built from more than one type of material.

Answer: C


A drug company developed a pill to reduce cases of stomach virus. To test the medication, half of the participants got the pill with the new medicine and half got a sugar pill. Which term best identifies the participants who got a sugar pill?

Choices:
A. control
B. experimental
C. dependent variable
D. independent variable

Answer: A


Which information does a student need to differentiate between the speed and the velocity of a vehicle in motion?

Choices:
A. the rate of the motion
B. the direction of the motion
C. the change in the amount of motion
D. the amount of distance traveled during motion

Answer: B


When do mutations help make an ecosystem more sustainable?

Choices:
A. when mutations decrease the number of individuals in an ecosystem
B. when mutations increase the number of individuals in an ecosystem
C. when mutations decrease the number of species in an ecosystem
D. when mutations increase the number of species in an ecosystem

Answer: D


Which scientist would be most likely to study the changes in animal populations in nature?

Choices:
A. Botanist
B. Engineer
C. Ecologist
D. Veterinarian

Answer: C


Humans use both renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which human activity uses a nonrenewable resource?

Choices:
A. building houses with wood
B. using natural gas to heat homes
C. using solar energy to power lights
D. producing electricity from flowing water

Answer: B


Which best describes the motion of molecules in the gaseous state?

Choices:
A. They vibrate quickly in place.
B. They spread apart to fill their container.
C. They move at the same speed as in a liquid.
D. They move slowly over one another.

Answer: B


What is the downward movement of water through pores and other spaces in soil due to the force of gravity?

Choices:
A. percolation
B. evaporation
C. precipitation
D. condensation

Answer: A


On Mount Everest the temperature decreases as the altitude increases. The summit of this mountain is in which atmospheric layer?

Choices:
A. mesosphere
B. stratosphere
C. thermosphere
D. troposphere

Answer: D


Which energy source is considered nonrenewable?

Choices:
1. moving water
2. fossil fuel
3. wind
4. biomass

Answer: 2


A renewable energy source is a source that will not run out. Which is an example of the use of such a source?

Choices:
A. A coal furnace heating a house
B. a windmill pumping water on a farm
C. a kerosene lamp lighting a room
D. a diesel truck traveling along a road

Answer: B


Which statement best describes why the Moon is visible from Earth?

Choices:
A. The Moon reflects light from other planets.
B. The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
C. Light is produced by the Moon.
D. Light from Earth illuminates the Moon.

Answer: B


Which statement best explains the reason that electrical wires are made of copper?

Choices:
A. Copper is strong.
B. Copper is flexible.
C. Copper is a conductor.
D. Copper is an insulator.

Answer: C


Which of these is a natural resource of Virginia?

Choices:
A. A dam
B. A glacier
C. A river
D. A power plant

Answer: C


Insulin is a chemical that is released by the endocrine system to increase the absorption of glucose by the body's cells. After which activity would insulin levels in a healthy body increase?

Choices:
A. drinking water
B. taking a nap
C. swimming
D. eating

Answer: D


An engineer was given an assignment to build a model rocket. The main requirement was that it had to build it out of a metal that could release the energy that built up when reentering the atmosphere of Earth. What property should the engineer concentrate on the most when designing the rocket?

Choices:
A. density
B. ductility
C. specific heat
D. boiling point

Answer: C


Which color of light is produced when all of the colors of visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum are combined?

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

Answer: B


A company is making prototypes for a new computer system. Which of the following statements best describes an advantage of making several different prototypes?

Choices:
A. They can be tested at the same time.
B. They can be produced in large numbers.
C. They will be bought by many different users.
D. They will be sold for more than they cost to build.

Answer: A


What is the function of the nucleus in a cell?

Choices:
A. provides energy
B. provides nutrients
C. controls activity
D. controls movement

Answer: C


A tree is a renewable resource because it can be

Choices:
A. burned in a fire.
B. made into lumber.
C. eaten by some organisms.
D. replaced with a newly planted tree.

Answer: D


How does the presence of organic matter contribute to good soil?

Choices:
A. It adds nutrients to the soil.
B. It helps the soil to dry out.
C. It keeps the soil cool.
D. It destroys bacteria in the soil.

Answer: A


A wild turkey's forest community includes

Choices:
A. insects
B. rainfall
C. soil
D. wind

Answer: A


Which of the following travels from neuron to neuron as information is transmitted?

Choices:
A. electrochemical impulses
B. RNA strands
C. transport vesicles high in ATP
D. mechanical forces

Answer: A


During which process do cells use oxygen to release stored energy?

Choices:
1. photosynthesis
2. respiration
3. circulation
4. digestion

Answer: 2


Which of the following has the ability to change the state of matter?

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

Answer: A


Many things can contribute to the development of a theory. A student made a list of some things that might help scientists develop a theory. Observations Calculations Conversations Publications From the student's list, which must be used in the development of every theory?

Choices:
A. Observations
B. Conversations
C. Publications and calculations
D. Calculations and conversations

Answer: A


Ben has a snack with a combination of raisins, chocolate pieces, and nuts. As he eats the snack, Ben picks out all of the raisins. Which best describes the snack Ben is eating?

Choices:
A. a compound
B. an element
C. a solution
D. a mixture

Answer: D


Capillary walls are only one layer of cells thick. Passage of oxygen into and out of the capillaries is controlled most by which process?

Choices:
A. collection of waste material
B. breakdown of materials
C. diffusion of material
D. storage of materials

Answer: C


The average car uses about 25% of the available energy in each gallon of gasoline. The energy not used to run the car is released as heat and sound. Which statement best describes this occurrence?

Choices:
A. Energy conversion reduces efficiency.
B. Energy is destroyed at high temperatures.
C. Energy loss increases the order in a system.
D. Energy levels increase as conversions take place.

Answer: A


How long does it take light from the nearest star other than the Sun to reach Earth?

Choices:
A. Less than 1 second
B. About 1 hour
C. About 1 month
D. About 4 years

Answer: D


Choices:
A. avoid predators.
B. capture food.
C. stay dry.
D. keep warm.

Answer: B


Pouring water over a sloping tray of soil demonstrates how

Choices:
A. soil can be washed away.
B. soil creation may take years.
C. river sediment forms a delta.
D. planting grass protects the soil.

Answer: A


Which layer of Earth is divided into plates?

Choices:
A. Mantle
B. Crust
C. Inner core
D. Outer core

Answer: B


The breakdown of ozone into oxygen results from the electromagnetic absorption spectrum of ozone. This production of oxygen in the ozone layer is caused by exposing ozone to a strong source of which type of electromagnetic radiation?

Choices:
A. radio waves
B. microwaves
C. infrared light
D. ultraviolet light

Answer: D


Which best describes what keeps the Moon orbiting around Earth?

Choices:
A. speed
B. gravity
C. weight
D. friction

Answer: B


The hypothesis of an expanding universe required which type of validation before being accepted as a significant part of scientific theory?

Choices:
A. a controlled single-variable laboratory test
B. support through evidence from numerous observations
C. proposal of alternative explanations with predictive value
D. a full-scale replication of each event in the proper sequence

Answer: B


In which type of rock is the fossil imprint of a fern leaf most likely to be found?

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

Answer: 3


At certain times of the year, meteor showers can be observed from Earth. Why are these objects from space usually harmless?

Choices:
A. They are always microscopic.
B. They are closer to the sun than to Earth.
C. They are made of soft, spongy materials.
D. They burn up high in Earth's atmosphere

Answer: D


Which group of animals contains ONLY reptiles?

Choices:
A. lizard, frog, snake
B. turtle, lizard, crocodile
C. octopus, snail, turtle
D. crab, earthworm, snake

Answer: B


Why is the particular sequence of bases in a segment of DNA important to cells?

Choices:
A. Some base sequences code for protein production.
B. Some base sequences cause the release of lipids from the nucleus.
C. Some base sequences contain the order of sugars in polysaccharides.
D. Some base sequences produce electrical signals sent to the cytoplasm.

Answer: A


A meteorologist announces that the barometer reading is dropping. What does a barometer measure?

Choices:
A. wind speed
B. air pressure
C. air temperature
D. ground temperature

Answer: B


A cricket population includes approximately the same number of black and light-brown crickets. Black crickets are easier for birds to locate and eat. Over time, the population begins to consist of only light-brown crickets. The change in the color of the cricket population is a result of

Choices:
A. limited resources.
B. natural selection.
C. geographic isolation.
D. climate change.

Answer: B


When nearly vertical rays of solar energy strike a region of the Earth, that area has warm temperatures. What region of the Earth gets nearly vertical rays of solar energy year around?

Choices:
A. Equator
B. Australia
C. United States
D. North and South Poles

Answer: A


Scientists from around the world would most likely meet at a conference held in Paris, France, to

Choices:
A. learn how to speak the same language.
B. work together on scientific research.
C. teach students the importance of education.
D. show other scientists the scientific method.

Answer: B


Ferns belong to any one of about 12,000 species of plants grouped in their own division within the plant kingdom. Ferns are vascular, seedless, flowerless, and reproduce by spores. To which plant group do ferns belong?

Choices:
A. Bryophyta
B. Gymnosperm
C. Angiosperm
D. Pteridophyta

Answer: D


A student ties a string around a weight and swings the weight in a circle around her body. If the student represents the Sun and the weight represents Earth, what does the string represent?

Choices:
A. gravity
B. radiation
C. electricity
D. magnetism

Answer: A


Scientists have studied the specific stages in the life cycle of stars. In which stage do stars spend most of their lifetime?

Choices:
A. red giant
B. black dwarf
C. white dwarf
D. main sequence

Answer: D


How does the energy in each trophic level of an energy pyramid compare to the energy in the preceding level?

Choices:
A. It has about 5% of the energy from the level below it.
B. It has about 10% of the energy from the level below it.
C. It has about 15% of the energy from the level below it.
D. It has about 20% of the energy from the level below it.

Answer: B


The texture of soil depends primarily on the

Choices:
A. mass of the soil.
B. water in the soil.
C. composition of the soil.
D. vegetation growing in the soil.

Answer: C


As children grow, their body height usually

Choices:
A. decreases
B. increases
C. remains the same

Answer: B


Which is a force that keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun?

Choices:
A. inertia
B. gravity
C. magnetism
D. solar energy

Answer: B


What is the role of the kidneys in the excretory system?

Choices:
A. to digest food
B. to remove toxins
C. to produce bile
D. to oxygenate blood

Answer: B


Which number is closest to the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy?

Choices:
A. 200 thousand
B. 200 million
C. 200 billion
D. 200 trillion

Answer: C


Which statement best describes how a mountain range changes over time from wind and water erosion?

Choices:
A. The mountain range will become faulted.
B. The mountain range will be lifted up.
C. The mountain range will form craters.
D. The mountain range will become rounded.

Answer: D


In a cell, a newly synthesized protein requires modification by the addition of a carbohydrate. Which structure will transport the protein from the site of synthesis to the site of modification?

Choices:
A. a ribosome
B. the endoplasmic reticulum
C. the Golgi apparatus
D. a vacuole

Answer: B


Students notice that in the fall leaves of sugar maple trees turn red, but the leaves of black oak trees turn brown. The students are making

Choices:
A. an observation
B. a conclusion
C. a prediction
D. an inference

Answer: A


What instrument should be used to monitor atmospheric pressure changes as a weather system approaches?

Choices:
A. psychrometer
B. thermometer
C. anemometer
D. barometer

Answer: D


Which of the following is responsible for determining the traits of an organism?

Choices:
A. number of phosphates
B. amount of thymine
C. sequence of nucleotides
D. type of bond between bases

Answer: C


In which organism can cell walls be found?

Choices:
A. moth
B. grass
C. snake
D. hawk

Answer: B


Isaac Newton is best known for his study of

Choices:
A. motion.
B. weather.
C. body systems.
D. the history of Earth.

Answer: A


Some objects are attracted by magnets. Which object is attracted by a magnet?

Choices:
A. an iron nail
B. an ice cube
C. a plastic knife
D. a wooden ruler

Answer: A


Which action represents the use of technology to solve a problem?

Choices:
A. reducing the amount of heartburn with the use of herbal teas
B. answering mathematical equations with the use of computers
C. bringing down body temperature with the use of a hand fan
D. increasing the supply of fish with the use of fish farms

Answer: B


When a guitar string is strummed, it produces sound by making

Choices:
A. heat.
B. electricity.
C. vibrations.
D. light.

Answer: C


The meanings of mass and weight can often be confused. Which is an example of a change in both mass and weight?

Choices:
A. visiting the Moon
B. a stone eroding in a river
C. living on the space station
D. a ship floating on the ocean

Answer: B


Which of these are scientific classifications for galaxies in the universe?

Choices:
A. dust, gas, ice
B. small, medium, large
C. spiral, elliptical, irregular
D. red giant, white dwarf, supernova

Answer: C


A scientist was observing a unicellular organism over a period of time. He noticed that vacuoles kept moving to the same place in the plasma membrane to empty their contents outside the cell. Which organism was he observing?

Choices:
A. amoeba
B. euglena
C. paramecium
D. volvox

Answer: C


Which form of precipitation is most likely to cause damage when hitting the roof of a car?

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

Answer: A


Which tool is best to use when comparing an animal cell to a plant cell?

Choices:
A. balance
B. compass
C. microscope
D. thermometer

Answer: C


The density of 200 mL of water was determined, and then 20 grams of sugar was dissolved in the water. The student determined the density of the sugar-water solution and recorded the collected data in a table. The sugar in this investigation is

Choices:
A. the solute.
B. undergoing chemical change.
C. the solvent.
D. changing from a solid to a gas.

Answer: A


During the year, the angle at which the path of the Sun appears in the sky varies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the path of the Sun appears higher on the horizon during the summer and lower on the horizon during the winter. Which factor most contributes to the variation in the path of the Sun across the sky?

Choices:
A. the rotation of Earth
B. the tilted axis of Earth
C. the flattening of Earth at the poles
D. the elliptical shape of the orbit of Earth

Answer: B


Which is the best way to show the percent gas composition in Earth's atmosphere?

Choices:
A. bar graph
B. line graph
C. pie chart
D. scatterplot

Answer: C


For the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride, which of the following would be a product? AgNo_{3} + NaCl ->

Choices:
A. AgNa
B. ClNO_{3}
C. Na_{3}NO
D. AgCl

Answer: D


Which invention has done the most to help predict weather and warn people of approaching storms?

Choices:
A. satellites
B. airplanes
C. barometers
D. maps

Answer: A


During the Siberian summer, reindeer graze on young roots, fungi, grass, and other vegetation. In the cold winter months, they migrate south and rely on available, but less nutritious food, such as lichen. Increased snowfall during the entire winter in southern areas would result in reindeer having to

Choices:
A. return to their summer feeding area.
B. hibernate until the snows have stopped.
C. hunt for organisms such as small rodents.
D. move to other areas to compete for resources.

Answer: D


Sir Isaac Newton stated that every object in the universe attracts matter. The attraction depends on the mass of an object and the distance between the objects. What type of force did Newton describe?

Choices:
A. centripetal force
B. generalized force
C. centrifugal force
D. gravitational force

Answer: D


What season is the Northern Hemisphere experiencing when it is tilted away from the Sun?

Choices:
A. spring
B. summer
C. autumn
D. winter

Answer: D


Heat is applied to a beaker of water, raising the water temperature a few degrees. What happens to the water molecules after heat is applied?

Choices:
A. The molecules spread apart and move more slowly.
B. The molecules spread apart and move more quickly.
C. The molecules come together and move more slowly.
D. The molecules come together and move more quickly.

Answer: B


Which feature is most likely the result of a flowing river?

Choices:
A. a sand dune
B. a volcano
C. a canyon
D. a glacier

Answer: C


Which organ is the site of gas exchange between the body and the environment?

Choices:
A. spleen
B. liver
C. lungs
D. pancreas

Answer: C


A positively-charged hydrogen ion has a much smaller radius than a neutral hydrogen atom. Which best explains this difference?

Choices:
A. The nucleus is the least dense region of an atom.
B. Electrons are located far from the nuclei of their atoms.
C. Most of the volume of atoms is filled with the particles they contain.
D. The repulsion of protons and neutrons keeps them on opposite ends of atoms.

Answer: B


How are dormancy and hibernation similar in animals?

Choices:
A. metabolic rate and body temperature both increase
B. metabolic rate and body temperature both decrease
C. metabolic rate increases and body temperature decreases
D. metabolic rate decreases and body temperature increases

Answer: B


A small aluminum cube is dropped into a beaker of water to determine the buoyancy. Which of these is not necessary in determining the buoyant force acting on the cube?

Choices:
A. density of water
B. displaced volume
C. gravitational pull on Earth
D. density of the aluminum cube

Answer: D


Before concrete has hardened, it exhibits plasticity. This is an advantage because it allows the concrete to

Choices:
A. become strong as it cures.
B. withstand compression.
C. remain pliable after hardening.
D. be molded into almost any shape.

Answer: D


Which event is an example of inherited behavior?

Choices:
A. a dog sitting on command
B. a parrot repeating a phrase
C. a bird flying south for the winter
D. a horse competing in a horse show

Answer: C


A student must explain the role of dead leaves in the ecosystem. Which statement will the student most likely provide to explain the importance of these leaves?

Choices:
A. The leaves provide shelter to growing seeds.
B. The decay of the leaves provides nutrients to other plants.
C. The leaves release chlorophyll into the grass as they decay.
D. The leaves prevent fungus from growing at the base of the tree.

Answer: B


Which of the following statements is true about organisms that are producers?

Choices:
A. They use energy from the sun to make food.
B. They absorb energy from a host animal.
C. They get energy from eating living animals.
D. They get energy by breaking down dead plants and animals.

Answer: A


If Earth revolved at a faster rate, what would most likely occur?

Choices:
A. Annual rainfall would increase.
B. Daylight hours would decrease.
C. Seasons would be shorter.
D. Annual temperature variation would be greater.

Answer: C


The distance from Earth to the Sun is one astronomical unit. Which unit best describes how many astronomical units it is from Earth to the far end of the Milky Way Galaxy?

Choices:
A. hundreds
B. thousands
C. millions
D. billions

Answer: D


Which is most likely to cause an organism to become endangered or extinct?

Choices:
A. habitat loss
B. behavioral changes
C. increased reproduction rate
D. altered migration patterns

Answer: A


What are the characteristics of maritime polar air masses?

Choices:
A. cool and dry
B. warm and dry
C. cool and humid
D. warm and humid

Answer: C


In an ecosystem, which list of organisms is in the correct order from producer to top-level consumer?

Choices:
A. field mouse, grass, hawk snake
B. snake, field mouse, hawk, grass
C. grass, field mouse, snake, hawk
D. snake, grass, field mouse, hawk

Answer: C


What is a true statement about all foods?

Choices:
A. All foods are solid.
B. All foods taste good.
C. All foods provide nutrients.
D. All foods should be cooked.

Answer: C


Which of the following is an example of an acidic solution?

Choices:
A. bleach
B. vinegar
C. sugar water
D. salt water

Answer: B


When rock particles settle at the bottom of the ocean, they can continue to be buried by other particles. The process of cementation of these particles forms

Choices:
A. molten rocks.
B. igneous rocks.
C. sedimentary rocks.
D. metamorphic rocks.

Answer: C


Which of these is part of the description of protein?

Choices:
A. a folded chain of amino acids
B. a folded chain of carbohydrates
C. a branched chain of fatty acids
D. a branched chain of nucleic acids

Answer: A


Lightning from a thunderstorm strikes a 21 tree that falls to the forest floor and dies. During the next few years the dead tree undergoes many changes. What organisms are most likely responsible for the biological and chemical changes to the tree?

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

Answer: B


Sodium chloride is formed when sodium and chlorine chemically combine. Which term best describes sodium chloride?

Choices:
A. mixture
B. element
C. solution
D. compound

Answer: D


Which three things do animals need from their environment in order to survive?

Choices:
A. soil, water, and food
B. soil, light, and water
C. air, food, and water
D. air, water, and light

Answer: C


Most electricity in the United States is generated using coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, or hydropower. Which of these add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

Choices:
A. coal and natural gas
B. natural gas and nuclear energy
C. nuclear energy and hydropower
D. hydropower and coal

Answer: A


A student has recorded rainfall amounts for 28 days and uses a calculator to determine the total rainfall. What does the student calculate when she divides the total rainfall by 28?

Choices:
A. mean rainfall
B. rainfall mode
C. median rainfall
D. percentage of rainfall

Answer: A


Which of the following was most likely the cause of the extinction of 60-100 species of native birds in Hawaii since the arrival of colonists?

Choices:
A. habitat destruction
B. volcanic eruptions
C. increased salinity
D. tidal waves

Answer: A


Which is the correct sequence for the stages in the life cycle of a butterfly?

Choices:
A. larva; pupa; egg; adult
B. egg; pupa; larva; adult
C. adult; larva; pupa; egg
D. egg; larva; pupa; adult

Answer: D


Oil is an example of a natural resource that is not renewable. Which is another example of an nonrenewable resource?

Choices:
A. Wood
B. Seawater
C. Sunlight
D. Coal

Answer: D