Question: Which statement best describes a learned characteristic in a dog?

Choices:
A. A dog scratches at a door to go outside.
B. A dog pants to cool itself on a hot day.
C. A dog has floppy ears.
D. A dog has a dark coat.

A dog scratches at a door to go outside.


Question: In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21st has more hours of sunlight than any other day. However, June 21st has the fewest hours of sunlight in the Southern Hemisphere. Which best explains why the Northern Hemisphere receives more daylight than the Southern Hemisphere on the same day?

Choices:
A. Earth is tilted on its axis
B. The Sun moves closer to the Northern Hemisphere
C. The Sun releases more energy to the Northern Hemisphere
D. Earth rotates on its axis

local Hugging Face dataset card: ai2_arc/README.md


Question: Which of these shows the correct order needed for a solar eclipse to happen?

Choices:
A. Sun, Moon, Earth
B. Sun, Earth, Moon
C. Moon, Sun, Earth
D. Moon, Earth, Sun


Question: A greenhouse is an example of a closed system. Which two types of energy are exchanged in this system?

Choices:
A. radiant energy for nuclear energy
B. thermal energy for nuclear energy
C. nuclear energy for chemical energy
D. radiant energy for thermal energy


Question: Which of the following has changed over the last 200 years primarily due to human activity?

Choices:
A. the composition of the atmosphere
B. Earth's tectonic plate activity
C. the frequency of earthquakes
D. Earth's magnetic field


Question: What physical property is characteristic of all of the elements in the group located in the rightmost column of the periodic table?

Choices:
A. good conductor of electric current
B. gas state at room temperature
C. extremely brittle solid at room temperature
D. very high melting point


Question: Which difference between land and water contributes most directly to global climate change resulting from tectonic movement?

Choices:
A. heat absorption and retention properties
B. mean material densities
C. magnetic material content
D. rate of radioactivity-related heat release

heat absorption and retention properties


Question: How does the Sun most affect the water cycle?

Choices:
A. The Sun makes the clouds produce precipitation.
B. The Sun creates water droplets in the clouds.
C. The Sun forces water to drain back into the ocean.
D. The Sun causes the ocean water to evaporate.

The Sun causes the ocean water to evaporate.


Question: Many sports stadiums use grass, but some use fake grass called artificial turf. Artificial turf is made of fibers that look like real grass. In which way is this technology most likely beneficial?

Choices:
A. It uses less water.
B. It releases less moisture.
C. It absorbs more carbon dioxide.
D. It produces more heat.


Question: The western coast of the United States has been increasing in size for millions of years. Which process has added material to the western coast of the United States?

Choices:
A. deposition at transform boundaries
B. landslides at divergent boundaries
C. accretion at convergent boundaries
D. meteorite impact at convergent boundaries


Question: Which of the following structures enables fish to remain at a certain depth without expending energy through swimming?

Choices:
A. dorsal fin
B. lateral line
C. gill slits
D. swim bladder


Question: Before strip mining for coal, the topsoil in the area is removed and stored. After mining operations are completed, the land is leveled and topsoil is replaced. The purpose of replacing topsoil is

Choices:
A. to prevent radioactive elements from polluting water sources.
B. to provide an environment for new coal formation.
C. to restore the area to a natural condition.
D. to prevent wind from weathering and eroding surface coal.

to restore the area to a natural condition.


Question: Which event is the best example of competition between species in a pond environment?

Choices:
A. frogs and toads eating flies
B. hawks eating mice
C. dragonflies landing on lily pads
D. lizards and snakes lying in the sun


Question: What is the most likely effect of a drought on a population of frogs that live in a shallow swamp?

Choices:
A. increase in frog population as more land is exposed
B. only younger frogs will survive
C. decrease in frog population as water evaporates
D. the number of predators will increase

decrease in frog population as water evaporates


Question: The following waste materials are buried in a landfill. Which will break down most quickly?

Choices:
A. plastic
B. glass
C. paper
D. steel


Question: What is the source of genetic information of offspring produced by sexual reproduction?

Choices:
A. neither the mother nor the father
B. the mother and the father
C. the father only
D. the mother only


Question: Why do multicellular organisms need transport systems?

Choices:
A. Most have cells that need food from sources outside their environment.
B. Most have cells that are not able to exchange gases with the outside environment.
C. Most have cells that are unable to grow and survive in their environment.
D. Most have cells that require more energy to survive than single-celled organisms.

Most have cells that are not able to exchange gases with the outside environment.


Question: Scientists frequently monitor levels of microorganisms at beaches in the summer time. High temperatures, pollution, runoff, and illegal dumping all affect water quality. What do these scientific efforts illustrate?

Choices:
A. High temperatures increase runoff from agricultural fields.
B. Monitoring water quality is important to public health.
C. Pollution can be eliminated through water testing.
D. Water testing identifies origination of illegal dumping.

Monitoring water quality is important to public health.


Question: Machines are often full of moving parts that rub against each other. In machines, a lubricant such as oil is often applied to these moving parts. Why is this oil necessary?

Choices:
A. to produce more thermal energy on the machine
B. to provide an additional source of energy
C. to increase the efficiency of the machine
D. to enhance the effectiveness of friction

to increase the efficiency of the machine


Question: The manufacturing process used to permanently put parts together is called

Choices:
A. assembling.
B. finishing.
C. shaping.
D. cutting.


Question: Solids, liquids, and gases are all different states of which of the following?

Choices:
A. matter
B. mass
C. volume
D. weight


Question: Animals respond to environmental stimuli obtained through their sensory organs. How does the body convert information from the environment to an internal response?

Choices:
A. osmotic pressure
B. increased cellular temperature
C. selective membrane transport
D. chemical signaling


Question: Which is a primary energy source used by power plants to generate electricity?

Choices:
A. gasoline
B. batteries
C. wood
D. coal


Question: Perry studies the ways in which animals are adapted for survival. Which is a behavioral adaptation that helps the organism to survive?

Choices:
A. the webbed feet on a duck
B. the long neck on a giraffe
C. a bear hibernating in winter
D. a flower attracting a honeybee


Question: A helium-filled balloon is released into the atmosphere. As the balloon rises, which would most likely increase and cause the balloon to burst?

Choices:
A. the volume of the helium
B. the mass of the helium
C. the temperature of the helium
D. the density of the helium


Question: Which of the following is composed of many cells?

Choices:
A. plant
B. paramecium
C. virus
D. bacterium


Question: As a result of human activity, many lakes in Florida have increased levels of nutrients that support algal growth. These algae grow very rapidly, then die and decompose. What impact does this overgrowth of algae most likely have on the lake ecosystem?

Choices:
A. The volume of lake water increases.
B. The buildup of bottom sediments decreases.
C. The amount of dissolved oxygen decreases.
D. The number of fish species increases.

The amount of dissolved oxygen decreases.


Question: The color of which animal allows it to blend into its environment?

Choices:
A. cardinal
B. polar bear
C. squirrel
D. penguin


Question: In the Adirondack forests of New York, some trees have died. The change in the forest is thought to be related to air pollution and rain. Which abiotic factor most likely has been changed as a result of the pollution and rain which resulted in the death of the trees?

Choices:
A. an increase in the amount of sunlight
B. a decrease in the amount of available oxygen
C. a decrease in the pH of the soil
D. an increase in the nutrients


Question: The Sun is classified as

Choices:
A. a decomposer
B. a star
C. an organism
D. a planet


Question: Which material is attracted to a magnet?

Choices:
A. plastic
B. wood
C. ice
D. iron


Question: What are the building blocks of all matter?

Choices:
A. vacuoles
B. atoms
C. forces
D. cells


Question: Mrs. Henry's class studied the arrangement of planets in the solar system. Which planets are closest to each other?

Choices:
A. Mercury and Venus
B. Mars and Earth
C. Uranus and Neptune
D. Saturn and Jupiter


Question: The primary role of the endocrine system is to

Choices:
A. produce hormones that regulate body functions
B. supply red blood cells to carry oxygen
C. break down food to release nutrients
D. form chemicals that destroy microbes

produce hormones that regulate body functions


Question: What happens when an animal hibernates?

Choices:
A. There is no life in any of its parts.
B. It is absorbing energy for use when it is active.
C. It stops breathing.
D. It is using less energy than when it is active.
E. Its temperature is higher than when it is active.

It is using less energy than when it is active.


Question: The invention of the microscope was important to the advancement of science. Many other discoveries were only possible with the help of the microscope. The microscope was used to make which discovery?

Choices:
A. Matter is made of elements.
B. Some organisms have only one cell.
C. White light can be broken into colors.
D. Plants can make their own food.


Question: A galaxy is best described as a cluster of

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


Question: A student in science class finds an unlabeled bottle containing a liquid. For safety purposes the student should

Choices:
A. pour the liquid down the drain.
B. compare the liquid to other liquids.
C. find the mass of the bottle and liquid.
D. tell the teacher about the bottle and liquid.

tell the teacher about the bottle and liquid.


Question: A scientist discovered a way to turn plant material into fuel. This more cleanly burning fuel can be used in cars. How do people most likely benefit from turning plant material into fuel?

Choices:
A. The number of cars around the world increases.
B. The amount of air pollution is reduced.
C. Cars are safer to drive.
D. Farmers grow more plants.


Question: Sunlight is able to penetrate the top several meters of marine water, where most plant and animal life exists. Which of these systems are interacting in this description?

Choices:
A. solar energy, ocean systems, and weather systems
B. weather systems and ocean systems
C. solar energy and ocean systems
D. solar energy and weather systems


Question: Fossil fuels were made from specific kinds of ancient organisms. The fossilized remains of tiny ocean organisms formed

Choices:
A. only coal.
B. oil and natural gas.
C. oil and coal.
D. only natural gas.


Question: In the water cycle, where does water go after reaching the ocean?

Choices:
A. The water falls from the clouds.
B. The water flows into a river.
C. The water sinks to the ocean floor.
D. The water changes into water vapor.


Question: Mountain bike tires have large, knob-like treads. These tires are useful on steep slopes because they

Choices:
A. increase friction.
B. carry heavy weights.
C. increase the stopping distance.
D. prevent braking of the bicycle.


Question: A student plans to write a report about a type of bird that includes only facts. Which statement should the student leave out of the report?

Choices:
A. These birds are blue.
B. Most of these birds are about 10 grams.
C. Most of these birds are 13 cm tall.
D. These birds are beautiful.


Question: Over a long time, oil can form when layers of sediment push down on decomposing

Choices:
A. fungi.
B. algae.
C. trees.
D. animals.


Question: A biological community is made up of all the

Choices:
A. populations living in an area
B. members of a species on Earth
C. natural resources present in an area
D. environments on Earth


Question: Which temperature and moisture conditions describe an air mass that originates over the Atlantic Ocean near the equator?

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


Question: The parts of plants that make seeds are the

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


Question: Fossil fuels were formed from

Choices:
A. sand and gravel
B. uranium
C. dead plants and animals
D. sea water


Question: Over time, iron becomes rust when it combines with water and oxygen. Which type of change must occur for rust to form?

Choices:
A. physical
B. mechanical
C. nuclear
D. chemical


Question: When a bottle of strong perfume is opened at the front of a classroom, the smell gradually spreads throughout the entire room. Which process explains this occurrence?

Choices:
A. diffusion
B. cell transport
C. cell activity
D. osmosis


Question: A student is trying to model an ocean environment. What is the most important factor the student should add to the aquarium in order to make sure that the model is accurate?

Choices:
A. salt water
B. coral reef
C. starfish
D. seaweed


Question: Students measured how long it took for an ice cube to melt. Which measurement best represents how long it took for the ice cube to melt?

Choices:
A. 60 milliliters
B. 40 grams
C. 20° Celsius
D. 80 seconds


Question: Rocks are classified as sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous on the basis of the

Choices:
A. number of minerals found in the rocks
B. types of fossils the rocks contain
C. way the rocks were formed
D. age of the rocks


Question: Which basic units of matter have the same properties as an element?

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


Question: Some jet airplanes fly in a layer of the atmosphere where temperature generally increases with altitude. What is this layer of the atmosphere?

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


Question: One unique characteristic of water is that its specific heat

Choices:
A. can only be measured in calories.
B. requires little energy for a big temperature change.
C. is higher than other common substances.
D. is lower than other common substances.


Question: An earthquake occurs in western Nevada. What most likely causes the earthquake?

Choices:
A. rotational imbalance due to changes in the location of Earth's poles
B. stress due to the movement of Earth's crustal plates
C. temperature variation due to Earth's orbit around the Sun
D. gravitational variation due to the Moon's orbit around Earth

stress due to the movement of Earth's crustal plates


Question: A scientist puts more food than a lab rat can eat in each of 100 cages containing lab rats. She surveys the mass of food each rat eats in one day. To determine the difference between the largest and smallest masses of food eaten, she should find her data's

Choices:
A. range.
B. mean.
C. median.
D. mode.


Question: Which of these is defined as "the passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next?"

Choices:
A. heredity
B. reproduction
C. growth
D. development


Question: What is the primary source of stored thermal energy in oceans?

Choices:
A. hurricanes
B. plankton
C. sunlight
D. volcanoes


Question: Two empty metal cans, one black and one white, were placed outside on a hot day. Both cans were the same size and were left in the Sun for 3 hours. Compared to the white can, the black can would most likely be

Choices:
A. warmer, because it absorbs less sunlight
B. warmer, because it absorbs more sunlight
C. cooler, because it absorbs more sunlight
D. cooler, because it absorbs less sunlight

warmer, because it absorbs more sunlight


Question: Oil and gas are two sources of energy used in America. Which is the main reason oil and gas may be replaced with other sources of energy in the future?

Choices:
A. Oil and gas are too costly to remove from the ground.
B. Oil and gas are limited in their supplies.
C. Oil and gas produce very little power.
D. Oil and gas work in too few machines.

Oil and gas are limited in their supplies.


Question: Which of these are parts of the geologic process that changes metamorphic rock into sedimentary rock?

Choices:
A. erosion and deposition
B. igneous intrusion and solidification
C. volcanic eruption and lava flow
D. faulting and displacement


Question: In a forest, a brown-colored bird sits on a tree branch. How does the bird's brown color most likely help it survive in the forest?

Choices:
A. hides it from predators
B. warns predators of its defense
C. attracts insects for food
D. allows it to stay warm


Question: Rock layers with sand-sized particles were most likely deposited by

Choices:
A. wind.
B. water.
C. landslides.
D. glaciers.


Question: The living systems of plants and animals are constantly taking in water to continue the processes of life. What eventually happens to most of that water?

Choices:
A. It is broken down by bacterial decay.
B. It is returned to the environment.
C. It is permanently combined with other compounds.
D. It is converted into hydrogen and oxygen.


Question: MOST of the volcanoes that make up the "Ring of Fire" were formed near

Choices:
A. hot spots.
B. divergent boundaries.
C. subduction zones.
D. normal faults.


Question: Which is not considered an instrument to be used to determine weather?

Choices:
A. a thermometer
B. a barometer
C. an anemometer
D. a millimeter


Question: Which natural process is responsible for the formation of the Mississippi Delta?

Choices:
A. weathering
B. deposition
C. snow
D. drought


Question: Neon (Ne), argon (Ar), and krypton (Kr) are in the same column on the Periodic Table of the Elements. What characteristic do these elements have in common?

Choices:
A. full valence electron shells
B. negative electrical charge
C. atomic mass
D. number of neutrons


Question: Screech owls nest in holes in trees. They eat mice and crickets. Where would a screech owl most likely live?

Choices:
A. a rainforest
B. a forest
C. a beach
D. a desert


Question: Carlos was playing on a slide on a sunny summer day. Which property of the slide tells Carlos how much energy the slide absorbed from the Sun?

Choices:
A. the temperature
B. the height
C. the color
D. the mass


Question: Which equation summarizes the process of respiration?

Choices:
A. carbon dioxide + oxygen + water -> sugar + energy
B. oxygen + sugar -> carbon dioxide + water + energy
C. water + carbon dioxide + energy -> sugar + oxygen
D. sugar + carbon dioxide + energy -> oxygen + water

oxygen + sugar -> carbon dioxide + water + energy


Question: When a baker bakes bread, he prepares the dough by mixing 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of water. The water needs to be 85°F. Which tools are best for the baker to measure both the volume and temperature of the water?

Choices:
A. a balance and a thermometer
B. a balance and a ruler
C. a measuring cup and a thermometer
D. a measuring cup and a balance


Question: What form of energy makes a compass needle point north?

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


Question: Which process in the water cycle is directly caused by the heat from the Sun?

Choices:
A. stream flow
B. runoff
C. cloud formation
D. evaporation


Question: Which tool is used to observe the cell wall of a leaf?

Choices:
A. ruler
B. camera
C. hand lens
D. microscope


Question: Which material best conducts electricity?

Choices:
A. wooden stick
B. copper pipe
C. wool coat
D. plastic straw


Question: In 1922 N. L. Bowen developed the concept of magmatic evolution which is also known as Bowen's Reaction Series. Applying the Bowen's Series principles, what mineral forms and crystallizes first in the region of highest temperature and pressure?

Choices:
A. pyroxene
B. olivine
C. amphibole
D. quartz


Question: A cyclist travels 3 km north in 25 minutes. What does this information describe?

Choices:
A. gravity
B. force
C. mass
D. motion


Question: Which of these occurs when the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun and the United States has the most daylight hours of the year?

Choices:
A. summer solstice
B. spring equinox
C. fall equinox
D. winter solstice


Question: A ball rolls across the floor and slows down to a stop. Which force caused the ball to slow down?

Choices:
A. magnetic
B. friction
C. inertia
D. gravity


Question: Which energy source might involve burning wood or producing gasohol?

Choices:
A. nuclear fission
B. biomass
C. hydroelectric power
D. wind turbine


Question: A marine iguana is an animal that lives on the shoreline of warm islands. Its tail is long and thick. Which of these is improved by the shape of its tail?

Choices:
A. blending in with rocks
B. finding food inland
C. absorbing nutrients
D. swimming in the ocean


Question: Leslie's science teacher told her she must take a flexible approach to solving problems. What did Leslie's teacher most likely mean?

Choices:
A. Leslie should only write down lab results that seem to be correct.
B. Leslie should not follow the experimental instructions exactly.
C. Leslie should be willing to consider many possible causes for her observations.
D. Leslie should accept all scientific theories even if they have been proven wrong.

Leslie should be willing to consider many possible causes for her observations.


Question: What would happen if a magnet was placed in the center of a plastic bowl containing a mixture of iron filings and sand?

Choices:
A. The iron filings will be attracted to the magnet.
B. The iron filings will be repelled by the magnet.
C. The sand will be repelled by the magnet.
D. The sand will be attracted to the magnet.

The iron filings will be attracted to the magnet.


Question: Which property of an object is identified using the sense of smell?

Choices:
A. weight
B. temperature
C. odor
D. color


Question: Hector's class is counting the number of ducks in a pond. Hector counts a different number than the rest of the class. Which of the following actions should Hector most likely perform?

Choices:
A. think that the class results are wrong
B. keep the result
C. remove his number from the class result
D. change the number he counted


Question: Which property of sugar remains after sugar is dissolved in water?

Choices:
A. taste
B. color
C. texture
D. shape


Question: Which substance is composed of only one type of atom?

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


Question: Over a two-week period, several students complain of feeling sick. Their symptoms include a cough, fever, and a sore throat. What describes the most likely cause of these symptoms?

Choices:
A. infection by a virus
B. consumption of bad food
C. exposure to hot weather
D. decrease in physical exercise


Question: The Appalachian Mountains, which extend from Canada to Alabama, were much taller in the past than they are today. Which of the following two processes are most responsible for the decrease in the height of the Appalachian Mountains?

Choices:
A. weathering and erosion
B. sedimentation and flooding
C. tectonic collisions and earthquakes
D. volcanic eruptions and landslides


Question: Which organisms break down and recycle dead plants and animals?

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


Question: Which is not a significant reason why people are living longer today than 100 years ago?

Choices:
A. better health care
B. development of sugar substitutes
C. development of medicines
D. better nutrition


Question: Joann repeatedly overfed the fish in the pond behind her house. The nitrates from the excess food contributed to an overgrowth of algae. To correct the problem, Joann added more plants to the pond. How will adding more plants help?

Choices:
A. The plants will compete with algae for nutrients.
B. The plants make the pond look beautiful.
C. The plants will camouflage the green algae.
D. The plants will provide all the food for the fish.

The plants will compete with algae for nutrients.


Question: The engineering team that is designing a scientific research station on the Arctic permafrost has to provide the station with energy for cooking, heating, and lighting. Considering the fragile environment and other conditions there, the best choice is probably to

Choices:
A. have a pipeline built.
B. have fuel trucked in.
C. build a wind turbine.
D. build a solar collector.


Question: A student walks to school each morning in Maine. It is dark outside when he begins walking. As the days pass, the student notices the mornings are becoming brighter. The Sun is rising earlier each day. He also notices that there is more daylight after school. The Sun is setting later in the day. Which change of seasons is occurring?

Choices:
A. winter to spring
B. spring to winter
C. fall to winter
D. summer to fall


Question: Where did organisms live when they first appeared on Earth?

Choices:
A. in the water
B. in the air
C. on the land
D. under the ground


Question: Which of the following will always produce a magnetic force on a nearby iron nail?

Choices:
A. an electric current
B. a large static electric charge
C. an electric field
D. a long piece of copper wire


Question: Which of these items is designed to produce heat from electricity?

Choices:
A. a blender
B. a toaster
C. a camera
D. a television


Question: A student records the temperature in the schoolyard every day for a month. Which is the best way to present the temperature data so each day can be compared?

Choices:
A. summary paragraph
B. bar graph
C. labeled diagram
D. pie chart


Question: At approximately which time of day is the Sun at the highest point in the sky to an observer in New York State?

Choices:
A. 6 a.m.
B. 6 p.m.
C. midnight
D. noon


Question: When one form of energy is converted into other forms of energy, the total amount of energy

Choices:
A. varies throughout the conversion.
B. increases because some energy is created.
C. remains constant throughout the conversion.
D. decreases because some energy is destroyed.

remains constant throughout the conversion.


Question: To study the effect of heat on plant growth, Andy divided ten identical seedlings into groups. She placed one group on a windowsill in the sun and the other group in a dark closet on the cool (north) side of the house. Think about the characteristics of a properly designed scientific experiment. What is wrong with the above experiment?

Choices:
A. One group of seedlings got less water than the other.
B. The temperature difference between the two groups was not great enough.
C. Nothing is wrong with the experiment.
D. The amount of light was different for the two groups.

The amount of light was different for the two groups.


Question: Which of these groups would be most concerned with technological developments in insect control?

Choices:
A. meteorologists
B. archaeologists
C. paleontologists
D. agriculturists


Question: A model of Earth would be different from a model of the Moon because the Moon model would be

Choices:
A. rougher
B. heavier
C. shinier
D. smaller


Question: A student sees a bird at a feeder. The student identifies the bird as a sparrow. Which organ system did the student use to identify the bird?

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


Question: Which tool is the best to use when studying small organisms not visible to the eye?

Choices:
A. magnifying glass
B. telescope
C. hand lens
D. microscope


Question: Which would most likely cause a decrease in the number of woodpeckers in an ecosystem?

Choices:
A. destroying all dead trees and stumps
B. plowing and planting meadows
C. draining a spring-fed pond
D. building a road around a small forest


Question: Which is not a characteristic common to organisms?

Choices:
A. rigidity
B. presence of DNA
C. reproduction
D. requires energy


Question: Which calculation is used to determine acceleration?

Choices:
A. multiply average velocity by change in time
B. divide change in velocity by change in time
C. divide average velocity by mass
D. multiply change in velocity by distance traveled

divide change in velocity by change in time


Question: Dogs have some learned behaviors. Which is most likely a learned behavior in a dog?

Choices:
A. chasing a squirrel up a tree
B. panting when it feels hot
C. sniffing to find food
D. barking when it wants to go outside


Question: Some wasp species lay their eggs inside living caterpillars. As the eggs mature, they use the caterpillar as a food resource. Eventually, the wasp larvae hatch out of the caterpillar. This type of relationship is best described as

Choices:
A. predator-prey.
B. mutualistic.
C. parasitic.
D. commensalistic.


Question: Which is the best action to help protect water resources in Virginia?

Choices:
A. Dispose of pet waste in a stream.
B. Rinse spilled gasoline with a hose.
C. Put hazardous waste in with house trash.
D. Organize a river cleanup program.


Question: The Moon's rotation is

Choices:
A. about the same as its revolution.
B. faster than its revolution.
C. half as fast as its revolution.
D. slower than its revolution.


Question: Which process involves choosing certain organisms to reproduce with one another in order to pass on specific, desirable traits to their offspring?

Choices:
A. resource acquisition
B. natural selection
C. selective breeding
D. asexual reproduction


Question: During which process are nuclei duplicated?

Choices:
A. respiration
B. fertilization
C. photosynthesis
D. mitosis


Question: In a turtle race, each turtle walks one a 3-meter track. If the turtles walk one at a time, how can you tell which turtle was fastest?

Choices:
A. The turtle that took the shortest time is fastest.
B. The turtle that started first is fastest.
C. The turtle that finished first is fastest.
D. The turtle that took the longest time is fastest.

The turtle that took the shortest time is fastest.


Question: Which organism is a decomposer?

Choices:
A. worm
B. oak tree
C. grasshopper
D. frog


Question: Parents with freckles often have children with freckles. This occurs because

Choices:
A. certain foods cause freckles.
B. freckles are an inherited trait.
C. certain habits cause freckles.
D. freckles develop from light.


Question: Two fossils of the same species were found on two different continents. The continents are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists dated the fossils to be 2 million years old. Which is the least likely explanation for these findings?

Choices:
A. The remains were carried by ocean currents.
B. A great land bridge once connected the continents.
C. The animals swam across the ocean.
D. A single landmass once existed with both continents.

The remains were carried by ocean currents.


Question: Students visited a garden to observe hummingbirds. They wanted to find out if hummingbirds were more likely to visit colored flowers or white flowers. Which should the students do first for this investigation?

Choices:
A. observe hummingbirds at flowers and record the flower color
B. write a report about the kinds of flowers in the garden
C. research the number of different hummingbirds that live in the garden
D. conclude that hummingbirds prefer white flowers

observe hummingbirds at flowers and record the flower color


Question: What is the name of the author who proposed natural selection as the mechanism of evolution?

Choices:
A. Mendel
B. Hardy-Weinberg
C. Darwin
D. Lamarck


Question: Which pair of terms describes the usual location for fertilization and the first stages of development in human reproduction?

Choices:
A. external fertilization and internal development
B. internal fertilization and internal development
C. external fertilization and external development
D. internal fertilization and external development

internal fertilization and internal development


Question: In the rock cycle an igneous rock forms from

Choices:
A. cooling temperatures
B. high pressure and heat
C. weathering and erosion
D. compacted plant remains


Question: Mars is an inner planet and Jupiter is an outer planet. Which best describes the relationship between the two planets?

Choices:
A. They are located on opposite sides of the asteroid belt.
B. They have the same orbital periods around the Sun.
C. They are made of the same materials.
D. They orbit the Sun in opposite directions.

They are located on opposite sides of the asteroid belt.


Question: In order for electricity from a battery to power a light bulb, the wire has to provide the electricity a path to do what?

Choices:
A. change the chemical properties of the wire
B. charge the air molecules near the circuit
C. jump from one battery terminal to the other
D. flow through the entire closed circuit


Question: Many cities encourage people to recycle. The items that can be recycled are placed in a special container and picked up each week from people's homes. How does recycling most likely help the environment?

Choices:
A. Recycling reduces littering.
B. Recycling puts less trash in the city landfill.
C. Recycling increases the amount of dust in the air.
D. Recycling makes products last longer.

Recycling puts less trash in the city landfill.


Question: When coal burns, the reaction

Choices:
A. absorbs heat and is endothermic.
B. absorbs heat and is exothermic.
C. releases heat and is endothermic.
D. releases heat and is exothermic.


Question: Scientists have discovered that there has been a reduction in the butterfly population in an ecosystem. After much research, they have identified that the carrying capacity for butterflies has been decreased. If the scientists want to increase the butterfly population, which action should they recommend?

Choices:
A. spraying of insecticides
B. increasing runoff
C. removing primary producers
D. planting flowers


Question: Which do meteorologists use to measure the amount of precipitation that falls during a storm?

Choices:
A. Weather vane
B. Rain gauge
C. Anemometer
D. Barometer


Question: Which terms are both used to describe the weather?

Choices:
A. precipitation and runoff
B. groundwater and erosion
C. gravity and wind direction
D. air temperature and wind speed


Question: Which of these has been controlled in an attempt to reduce the depletion of ozone in Earth's atmosphere?

Choices:
A. use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
B. use of mercury (Hg) compounds
C. methods of radioactive waste storage
D. methods of filtering gasoline


Question: Today's limestone caverns were once solid rock. Acidic rainwater seeping through the rock over hundreds of years dissolved part of the rock, forming caverns. This is an example of

Choices:
A. deposition.
B. physical weathering.
C. chemical weathering.
D. erosion.


Question: Which of the following contains most of the water on Earth?

Choices:
A. watersheds
B. the atmosphere
C. ice and aquifers
D. the oceans


Question: Which substance do all living things require to survive?

Choices:
A. water
B. carbon dioxide
C. organic soil
D. blood


Question: A student plans to measure the thermal expansion of a strip of metal as it is heated from 0ºC to 50ºC. Which piece of equipment should he use to measure the expansion?

Choices:
A. a balance
B. a ruler
C. a compass
D. a protractor


Question: Which of these was used by Alfred Wegener as evidence that Earth's continental landmasses had drifted apart over time?

Choices:
A. the thickness of the continents
B. the composition of the continents
C. the age of the continents
D. the shape of the continents


Question: The driver of a car at a railroad crossing hears a change in pitch of the train whistle as the train passes by. This change in pitch is most likely due to

Choices:
A. a change in medium.
B. a change in speed.
C. the Compton effect.
D. the Doppler effect.


Question: Which is an example of a hypothesis?

Choices:
A. Large mice will eat more food than smaller mice.
B. On a dark night, a student counted hundreds of stars.
C. One flower was measured to be 13 centimeters tall.
D. People should be careful to protect endangered animals.

Large mice will eat more food than smaller mice.


Question: Which would be considered an inexhaustible resource?

Choices:
A. sunlight
B. aluminum
C. oil
D. topsoil


Question: Which factor causes surface ocean currents?

Choices:
A. the Sun
B. hurricanes
C. the Moon
D. the wind


Question: Marta has a radio in her room. It requires electricity in order to play. Which of the following is necessary in order for electricity to move from the source to the radio?

Choices:
A. an insulator
B. a circuit
C. a magnet
D. a light bulb


Question: Having dry, hot weather for a long time can cause a

Choices:
A. tornado
B. thunderstorm
C. drought
D. flood


Question: What is the primary function of white blood cells in humans?

Choices:
A. fight disease
B. remove waste
C. grow tissues
D. carry oxygen


Question: Which trait most likely helps an animal survive in a very cold environment?

Choices:
A. thick fur
B. sharp claws
C. large eyes
D. long ears


Question: Which is most likely a genetic adaptation of desert plants to survive the hot, dry climate conditions?

Choices:
A. thin bark
B. leaves that remain all year
C. waxy leaves
D. flowers that bloom all year


Question: Charles Darwin made a number of observations and inferences during his travels. He studied island finches during a long period of time. Which statement is an inference?

Choices:
A. Individual birds have different colored feathers.
B. Individual birds of an island finch species have many differences.
C. Island finches have a large number of offspring.
D. Island finches share a common ancestry with mainland finch species.

Island finches share a common ancestry with mainland finch species.


Question: A student mixes salt and water in a beaker to form a solution. What properties of the substances would allow the student to then separate the components?

Choices:
A. densities
B. electrical conductivity
C. particle sizes
D. boiling points


Question: In a lab investigation, students had to identify different mineral specimens. Which property is the most reliable for identifying one mineral from another?

Choices:
A. surface color
B. crystal shape
C. texture
D. hardness


Question: Which of these revolves around a planet?

Choices:
A. a comet.
B. an asteroid.
C. a moon.
D. a star.


Question: A scientist wants to collect several bird eggs on an island. She needs a case that will protect the eggs she collects. Which of the following cases would best protect the eggs?

Choices:
A. a hard metal case with flexible foam lining
B. a flexible metal case with smooth plastic lining
C. a strong wooden case with lightweight plastic lining
D. a lightweight wooden case with strong aluminum lining

a hard metal case with flexible foam lining


Question: Which process is a cause of variation in a species?

Choices:
A. regulation
B. sexual reproduction
C. metamorphosis
D. cellular respiration


Question: The leaves of a tree change color in the fall. This is an example of a tree

Choices:
A. completing its life cycle
B. preparing for migration
C. beginning hibernation
D. responding to its environment


Question: A dog growls when a predator gets close. Growling is an example of which animal behavior?

Choices:
A. communication
B. germination
C. hibernation
D. migration


Question: In what respect are protons and electrons always equal?

Choices:
A. sign of charge
B. kinetic energy
C. magnitude of charge
D. mass number


Question: How does the Sun help move water from the ocean through the water cycle?

Choices:
A. by causing surface water to evaporate
B. by adding particles to the water
C. by blowing water toward land
D. by increasing the amount of water


Question: What would a model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon best help students visualize?

Choices:
A. the effects of gravitation
B. the consequences of earthquakes
C. the effects of volcanic eruptions
D. the phases of the Moon


Question: How are bacterial cells and human cells alike?

Choices:
A. They allow oxygen through the cell wall.
B. They allow carbon dioxide through the cell wall.
C. They allow nutrients through the cell membrane.
D. They allow nutrients through the nuclear membrane.

They allow nutrients through the cell membrane.


Question: The Moon's surface is visible to an observer on Earth because the Moon

Choices:
A. absorbs light from Earth
B. reflects sunlight
C. transmits sunlight
D. produces its own light


Question: Why do trees like oaks and walnuts depend upon squirrels?

Choices:
A. to aid in seed distribution
B. to remove dead wood
C. to control population size
D. to pollinate their flowers


Question: When an atom gains an electron, the atom will

Choices:
A. have a negative charge.
B. become radioactive.
C. lose a proton.
D. reduce its mass.


Question: A paramecium is an example of

Choices:
A. multiple organisms.
B. a single-celled organism.
C. a group of cells.
D. an inorganic substance.


Question: A sea anemone uses poisonous darts to

Choices:
A. attract a mate.
B. defend itself.
C. absorb food.
D. protect its young.


Question: Rivers and streams can carry sediments long distances before they are deposited. What is formed when sediments are deposited at the mouth of a river?

Choices:
A. a rift
B. a delta
C. a gully
D. a levee


Question: Steel is used for cables in suspension bridges because of its capacity for

Choices:
A. contraction.
B. tension.
C. torsion.
D. compression.


Question: In which layer of the atmosphere does most of Earth's weather occur?

Choices:
A. the troposphere, which is the lowest layer
B. the stratosphere, which contains a sub-layer of ozone
C. the thermosphere, which has the highest temperature
D. the exosphere, which is the outermost layer

the troposphere, which is the lowest layer


Question: When light is reflected off an object and enters the eye, it falls on the

Choices:
A. cornea.
B. pupil.
C. lens.
D. retina.


Question: The skin, lungs, and kidneys work together to

Choices:
A. aid in respiration.
B. aid in digestion.
C. help eliminate body wastes.
D. help blood circulate.


Question: Which type of matter can be separated by physical means?

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


Question: Which plant part is described correctly?

Choices:
A. Leaves absorb water.
B. Stems make seeds.
C. Roots absorb nutrients.
D. Flowers make food.


Question: Which process causes sand grains to stick together to form sandstone?

Choices:
A. cementation
B. combustion
C. abrasion
D. erosion


Question: Plants store energy in what form?

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


Question: A student placed a rock in a graduated cylinder containing water, causing the water level in the cylinder to increase by 20 mL. This increase represents the rock's

Choices:
A. mass
B. solubility
C. temperature
D. volume


Question: Researchers are investigating whether dinosaurs were endothermic like birds. Which evidence from the fossil record could be effectively compared with modern day evidence to support this hypothesis?

Choices:
A. tree rings indicating the return of a similar climate
B. similarities in bone structure
C. consumption of the same plant species
D. seasonal shifts in food supply


Question: A student pushes a box to slide it across the floor. Which statement explains why the box begins to move?

Choices:
A. The applied force is less than the force of friction.
B. The applied force is greater than the force of friction.
C. The weight of the box is less than the force of friction.
D. The weight of the box is greater than the force of friction.

The applied force is greater than the force of friction.


Question: Which article might appear in a scientific magazine?

Choices:
A. "The Political Systems of South America"
B. "The Money Systems of South America"
C. "The Flora and Fauna of South America"
D. "The Religions of South America"


Question: A train travels at a rate of 13 meters per second (m/s). Over the next 60 seconds, the speed of the train increases to speed to 22 m/s. What is the average rate of acceleration of the train?

Choices:
A. 0.15 m/s^2
B. 0.58 m/s^2
C. 0.36 m/s^2
D. 0.21 m/s^2


Question: Which trait is common in gases that contribute to Earth's greenhouse effect?

Choices:
A. a tendency to lose electrons
B. the ability to bond with multiple other elements
C. a tendency to exist as diatomic molecules
D. the ability to trap heat


Question: George is studying erosion. He learns how rocks break apart over time. Which of these most likely forms when a rock weathers and breaks into small pieces?

Choices:
A. fossils
B. sediments
C. minerals
D. crystals


Question: As wave frequency is increased, wave energy

Choices:
A. is unaffected.
B. stays constant.
C. decreases.
D. increases.


Question: A student is pouring equal amounts of water, maple syrup, and cooking oil into a glass beaker and looking at how the layers settle. Which property of the liquids is the student most likely comparing?

Choices:
A. temperature
B. mass
C. density
D. volume


Question: Betsy tries to attract a variety of birds to her backyard. She puts up a bird feeder that contains sunflower seeds and corn. Which term best describes the contents of the bird feeder?

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


Question: Which best describes construction technology?

Choices:
A. changing raw materials into goods
B. exchanging information electronically
C. converting and transmitting energy
D. building and finishing a structure


Question: What eventually happens to a species when the environment changes and the organisms do not adapt?

Choices:
A. regulation
B. development
C. classification
D. extinction


Question: Similar types of cells form tissues. What is the next level of complexity formed from the grouping of tissues?

Choices:
A. organisms
B. organs
C. organelles
D. organ systems


Question: Which form of energy is produced when a rubber band vibrates?

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


Question: Which discovery was necessary before radio could be invented?

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


Question: Which statement would most likely be included in a news report about an approaching hurricane?

Choices:
A. Open the windows to equalize air pressure.
B. Install snow tires and check the antifreeze in the car radiator.
C. Expect wind speed to decrease for the next several hours.
D. Evacuate low-lying areas near the coast.

Evacuate low-lying areas near the coast.


Question: The energy produced by a burner on a gas stove is primarily

Choices:
A. sound.
B. heat.
C. electrical.
D. mechanical.


Question: Students compare two different rocks. The rocks are both bright and spotted. Which property are the students most likely observing?

Choices:
A. textures
B. layers
C. colors
D. ages


Question: Which of the following makes up the smallest region in the electromagnetic spectrum?

Choices:
A. visible light
B. gamma rays
C. infrared light
D. radio waves


Question: In a northern state, a room used for growing plants is not allowing enough light to enter for healthy plant growth. Adding windows in walls facing which direction would best solve this problem?

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


Question: A student finds a bottle that is labeled with a long chemical name. What is the best way for the student to learn more about the chemical properties of this substance?

Choices:
A. smell a very small amount of it
B. test a small amount to see if it feels slippery
C. shake the container vigorously
D. look up the name in a science book


Question: The length of a year on Earth is a little over 365 days. The length of a year on a planet is best described as the time it takes for which to occur?

Choices:
A. the Sun to rotate once on its axis
B. the seasons to complete a full cycle
C. the planet to rotate once on its axis
D. the planet to revolve once around the Sun

the planet to revolve once around the Sun


Question: The human body has different levels of organization. In the structural organization of the central nervous system, which is an organ?

Choices:
A. grey matter
B. neuron
C. brain
D. nerve


Question: Increased human populations can lead to the depletion of locally available resources within communities. Compared to other communities, which of these locally available resources is most likely to be depleted in desert communities?

Choices:
A. gasoline
B. oxygen
C. water
D. mineral


Question: A hot pack is a product that releases heat when chemicals inside of it interact. What is taking place inside an active hot pack?

Choices:
A. thermal insulation
B. an exothermic reaction
C. a net loss of mass
D. electric current


Question: Respiration is a process during which energy is released from glucose. This energy is used for processes such as growth of the body. Which type of energy does respiration release?

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


Question: An organism that breaks down dead plants and animals, returning matter back into the soil, is called a

Choices:
A. herbivore.
B. decomposer.
C. producer.
D. competitor.


Question: What type of cell passes on mutations?

Choices:
A. red blood cell
B. skin cell
C. egg cell
D. nerve cell


Question: Which population would be harmed first by a long period of drought?

Choices:
A. plants in a pond
B. fish in a lake
C. seaweed in an ocean
D. fish in a bay


Question: The house cat was believed to be tamed in ancient Egypt. In 2004, the remains of an eight-month old cat buried with its owner were discovered on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The date of burial, however, came before Egyptian civilization. Which best explains the importance of the discovery?

Choices:
A. Cats were domesticated earlier than originally thought.
B. The period of Egyptian civilization was older than originally thought.
C. Wildcats are not related to house cats.
D. Wildcats were not domesticated.

Cats were domesticated earlier than originally thought.


Question: Which activity requires the use of safety goggles to protect the eyes?

Choices:
A. measuring air temperature
B. collecting rain water
C. classifying flowers
D. pouring vinegar


Question: The most common source of nonrenewable resources used to generate electricity in the state of Nevada is

Choices:
A. coal.
B. geothermal.
C. hydroelectric.
D. oil.


Question: A "light year" refers to

Choices:
A. the amount of light required on Earth in one year.
B. the distance light travels in one year.
C. the distance between two sources of light.
D. the of time it takes light to travel from Earth to the Sun.


Question: All animals need air to survive. An insect gets air through tiny holes on the sides of its body. A whale breathes through a blow hole. What body part do fish use to breathe?

Choices:
A. gills
B. nose
C. mouth
D. skin


Question: Which of the following tools would be most useful in determining the length and width of a school cafeteria?

Choices:
A. thermometer
B. tape measure
C. scale
D. centimeter ruler


Question: The extensive branching of neurons helps them to perform which function?

Choices:
A. stockpile chemical energy
B. maintain structural stability
C. secrete hormones
D. communicate with other neurons


Question: Which of the following are narrow belts of strong winds found in the upper troposphere?

Choices:
A. doldrums
B. jet streams
C. trade winds
D. westerlies


Question: A hiker wants to know if air is warmer in a forest than in the nearby farm field. Which activity would best help the hiker find out which area is warmer?

Choices:
A. measuring the wind speed at both locations
B. reading a book about farm fields
C. recording the temperatures at both locations
D. making a weather prediction for the forests

recording the temperatures at both locations


Question: Recently the telephone company announced the implementation of a new telephone area code for Massachusetts. What technological changes are responsible for the need for a new area code?

Choices:
A. the increased size of the telephone book
B. the increase in use of speed dialing and call waiting
C. the increased demand for telephone repairs and installation
D. the increase in use of modems, fax machines, and cellular phones

the increase in use of modems, fax machines, and cellular phones


Question: Which of the following is a benefit of using radiation as a medical treatment?

Choices:
A. It prevents many forms of illness in patients.
B. It kills cancer cells.
C. It produces healthy cells.
D. It improves immune system function.


Question: Which of these statements best describes temperature as elevation in the atmosphere increases?

Choices:
A. Temperature remains constant with elevation in the mesosphere.
B. Temperature remains constant with elevation in the thermosphere.
C. Temperature generally decreases with elevation in the stratosphere.
D. Temperature generally decreases with elevation in the troposphere.

Temperature generally decreases with elevation in the troposphere.


Question: The transfer of heat in the atmosphere by winds that circulate between the equator and the poles is an example of

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


Question: Which is most responsible for the uneven heating of the air in the atmosphere?

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


Question: Three gases found in Earth's atmosphere are carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen. What is their order of abundance from greatest to least?

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


Question: Copper, silver, and nickel are all classified as

Choices:
A. noble gases.
B. halogens.
C. transition metals.
D. nonmetals.


Question: 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. lymphatic system
B. circulatory system
C. digestive system
D. muscular system


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

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


Question: 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. frequency
B. amplitude
C. speed
D. wavelength


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

water is less dense as a solid than as a liquid


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

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


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

Water at the surface of the ocean absorbs more energy from the Sun.


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

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


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

Carbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere reflects heat radiated from Earth's surface.


Question: Why is it important to protect soil?

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

It has nutrients used by plants to grow.


Question: 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. reproduction
C. digestion
D. respiration


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

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

fragments that broke off of older rocks.


Question: 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. carbon monoxide
B. nitrogen
C. oxygen
D. carbon dioxide


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

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


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

Their discoveries can be built on by other researchers.


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

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


Question: 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 turns into a gas when it boils.
C. Water takes the shape of its container.
D. Water forms droplets as it falls.


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

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


Question: 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 condense in the air.
C. The molecules will begin to increase in density.
D. The molecules will begin to move faster.

The molecules will begin to move faster.


Question: 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


Question: 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 foundation
B. the floor
C. the plumbing
D. the walls


Question: Centuries ago, people used their knowledge of the stars to

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


Question: Acid rain is the result of pollutants being released into the

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


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

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


Question: Animals get the energy they need for growth and repair by

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


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

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


Question: 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 organism
B. an organ
C. a tissue
D. a system


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

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


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

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


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

Choices:
A. evolution
B. cell division
C. germination
D. natural selection


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

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


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


Question: 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. green
B. pink
C. white
D. black


Question: 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. assembly line production
D. automated production


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

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


Question: Which event takes about one year to complete?

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

Earth revolving completely around the Sun


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

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


Question: What force causes objects to be pulled toward Earth?

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


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

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


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

observe the plants and record observations daily


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

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

The term cell to describe the smallest unit of life


Question: The number of neutrons in an atom is found by subtracting

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


Question: Nutrients enter the bloodstream during the process of

Choices:
A. respiration
B. locomotion
C. elimination
D. absorption


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

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


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

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

the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon.


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

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


Question: What force pulls things towards the center of Earth?

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


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

A hurricane moves from the Gulf of Mexico onto land.


Question: 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. solar energy and geothermal energy
B. coal and solar energy
C. oil and coal
D. geothermal energy and oil


Question: 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 nerve cell
B. a muscle cell
C. a sperm cell
D. a blood cell


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

submission of an article to a peer-reviewed journal


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

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


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

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


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


Question: Which is an example of asexual reproduction?

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


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

Choices:
A. reproduction
B. evolution
C. circulation
D. metabolism


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

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


Question: The basic life functions of an organism are carried on by

Choices:
A. hormones
B. cells
C. nutrients
D. atoms


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

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

the outward pressure created by nuclear fusion


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

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


Question: 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. ask new questions.
C. change data to support the hypothesis.
D. repeat the experiment.


Question: Which has the longest wavelength?

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


Question: 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 and the death rate are zero.
C. The birth rate is equal to the death rate.
D. The birth rate is less than the death rate.

The birth rate is equal to the death rate.


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

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


Question: Which is the best conductor of electricity?

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


Question: 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. liters
B. millimeters
C. meters
D. centiliters


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

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


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


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


Question: 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 stop watch
C. a meter stick
D. a calculator


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

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


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


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

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


Question: What is the difference between magma and lava?

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

Magma is below ground. Lava is above ground.


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

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


Question: 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. moved to the opposite side of the Sun.
D. been circled by the Moon one time.


Question: 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. a decrease in the number of Japanese beetles
D. an increase in the number of insect-eating birds


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

be grown over with bushes and small trees.


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


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


Question: 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. The amount of potential energy in fuels is overestimated.
C. Some of the energy in coal is destroyed by the intense heat required to release its potential energy.
D. Some of the potential energy in coal is converted into forms of energy other than electricity.

Some of the potential energy in coal is converted into forms of energy other than electricity.


Question: 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. Digestive
B. Respiratory
C. Circulatory
D. Nervous


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


Question: The width of a pencil lead is most accurately measured in

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


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

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


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

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


Question: Which type of energy is carried through a metal cable?

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


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

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


Question: The density of a material can be measured by using a

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


Question: Which of the following describes diffraction?

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

the bending of waves as they pass an edge or an opening


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

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

displacing skilled workers from manufacturing jobs


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

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


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


Question: Why are many desert animals more active at night?

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


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

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


Question: 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. water
B. temperature
C. wind
D. gravity


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

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


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

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


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

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

There would be nothing left of the chair.


Question: Which of these is the center of our solar system?

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


Question: Which of these best describes the Moon?

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


Question: The color of a star indicates its

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


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

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


Question: 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. reduce soil erosion and provide new habitat for animals.
C. limit the types of pollutants that can enter the soil.
D. increase water absorption by the replaced sediments.

reduce soil erosion and provide new habitat for animals.


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

by using smaller marbles to represent electrons


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

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


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

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

The young hatch from eggs in both cycles.


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

a material that has high porosity and high permeability


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

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


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

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


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

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


Question: When a tree is dormant, the tree is

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


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

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


Question: Earth's hydrosphere is a layer of

Choices:
A. air
B. rock
C. water
D. lava


Question: 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. sound
B. chemical
C. radiant
D. kinetic


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

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


Question: 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. wood
B. coal
C. water
D. soil


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

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

Hector receives a replacement heart valve from a cow.


Question: 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


Question: 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.


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

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


Question: Which statement explains why daylight and darkness occur on Earth?

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


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

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


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

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

a decrease in the number of native plants


Question: What type of force keeps the planets orbiting the Sun?

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


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

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


Question: 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 bacterium
C. a protist
D. a fungus


Question: Which activity is an important function of nucleases?

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


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

to know if there is a risk for harmful side effects


Question: When light hits a mirror, most of the light is

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


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

Apply the same amount of light to all the plants.


Question: The boiling point of water in degrees Celsius is

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


Question: 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. streak
B. color
C. cleavage
D. luster


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

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


Question: 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. surface water
B. groundwater
C. fog
D. rain


Question: 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 period of rotation and the period of revolution for the moon are about the same.
C. The moon stays in one location while Earth revolves around it.
D. The moon rotates clockwise on its axis while Earth rotates counterclockwise on its axis.

The period of rotation and the period of revolution for the moon are about the same.


Question: 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. an atom
C. a compound
D. a mixture


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

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


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

The kittens inherit some of their traits from their mother and some from their father.


Question: 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 evaporates.
D. It condenses.


Question: The motion of atoms and molecules in a substance is

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


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

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


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


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

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


Question: Which two processes are common to all living things?

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


Question: 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

sulfur dioxide from burning fossil fuels


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

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


Question: Which of these best describes wind energy?

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


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


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

Water vapor from the air condensed into a liquid.


Question: 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. Respiratory
B. Circulatory
C. Nervous
D. Digestive


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

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


Question: Which health condition is an infectious disease?

Choices:
A. heart problem caused by a high-fat diet
B. lung cancer caused by smoking
C. eye damage caused by ultraviolet light
D. pneumonia caused by microorganisms


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

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


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

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


Question: Which is the best example of a parasitic relationship?

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

a tapeworm absorbing food in the digestive tract of a wolf


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

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


Question: 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. insulation
B. conduction
C. radiation
D. convection


Question: A new moon occurs about every

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


Question: Which statement is true?

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

All animals are multicellular heterotrophs.


Question: 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 nonrenewable fuel
D. a new plant species


Question: 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. migration
B. parasitism
C. competition
D. mutualism


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

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


Question: 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. stems
B. flowers
C. leaves
D. roots


Question: 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