Question: A scientist reads about an experiment conducted by a researcher.The scientist conducts the same experiment and collects data but this data contradicts what was published by the researcher. What should the scientist do since the data from the two experiments is contradictory?
Answer:Repeat the experiment to check the data collected.


Question: The organisms that convert solar energy and raw materials into food are
Answer:producers.


Question: Large amounts of metals like iron and aluminum are found in
Answer:rocks


Question: Which of these occurs if myosin fails to bind to actin during muscle contraction?
Answer:The muscle cells will remain relaxed.


Question: How are cells able to produce the proteins required by certain conditions?
Answer:by expressing existing genes


Question: An organism's cells include organelles and a cell wall. In which taxonomic group or groups might the organism be classified?
Answer:plants, fungi, or protists


Question: Which of these structures produces male gametes in humans?
Answer:testes


Question: The length of a year is equivalent to the time it takes for one
Answer:revolution of Earth around the Sun


Question: Which of these organisms has cells with cell walls?
Answer:A pine tree


Question: Which is the result of mitosis?
Answer:two identical nuclei


Question: Which of these materials on the walls of a room would work best to keep sound from making an echo?
Answer:carpet


Question: The starch and water molecules in potato cells are stored in what organelle?
Answer:vacuole


Question: Which animals live part of their lives in water and part on land, and go through metamorphosis?
Answer:amphibians


Question: A student puts two identical plants in the same type and amount of soil. She gives them the same amount of water. She puts one of these plants near a sunny window and the other in a dark room. This experiment tests how the plants respond to
Answer:light


Question: Humans need food to grow and survive. Food that is not used immediately by the body for energy is
Answer:stored for future use


Question: What structure surrounds the cell and regulates materials that enter and leave the cell?
Answer:cell membrane


Question: In order for boulders to become sediments, the boulders must first be
Answer:weathered and eroded.


Question: During which stage of an insect's life cycle does the female lay eggs?
Answer:adult


Question: When a dog smells food and begins drooling, it is responding to an external stimulus. Which of these describes a response to an internal stimulus?
Answer:A person eats spoiled food and vomits.


Question: Which is an example of melting?
Answer:Butter changing into liquid in a warm pan


Question: Students perform an investigation designed to measure the daily growth of a bean plant. Which should the students do every day of this investigation?
Answer:record data


Question: Ice cream in a bowl changed from solid to liquid in a few minutes. Which of the following most likely caused this change?
Answer:Heat was added to the ice cream.


Question: The change in the use of one model of the solar system to the use of another model resulted in major changes in science and society. Which two scientists produced the earlier and later models, respectively?
Answer:Ptolemy and Copernicus


Question: An atom with a +1 charge has
Answer:lost an electron.


Question: Which is an example of a single-celled organism?
Answer:amoeba


Question: The Great Ocean Conveyer ocean current system runs north through the Atlantic from the equatorial region. If this current got disrupted, North American and European climates would become
Answer:colder.


Question: Which region of the Milky Way contains a population that consists mostly of old stars?
Answer:the halo


Question: When a switch to a ceiling fan is turned on, electrical energy is being transformed into
Answer:mechanical energy.


Question: An agricultural scientist, George Washington Carver, is most famous for his research on
Answer:peanuts.


Question: A student pours a clear liquid from a test tube into a beaker with a clear liquid already in it and notices that the mixture turns pink. The student infers the two clear liquids are different. This inference is a result of
Answer:student observations.


Question: In what leaf structure is photosynthetic tissue found?
Answer:mesophyll


Question: The crude oil extracted today was formed millions of years ago from the fossilized remains of algae and other tiny marine organisms. Most parts of the organisms decomposed soon after they died. Which biomolecules decomposed more slowly and became the basis of crude oil?
Answer:fatty acids


Question: Temperatures below freezing are expected overnight. What might be done to protect plants growing outside?
Answer:cover them


Question: Prolonged exercise stimulates muscle cells to absorb sugar from the blood. This mechanism reduces stress placed on the body by signaling the body to produce
Answer:insulin.


Question: Which geologic feature is evidence that the North American plate once collided with the Eurasian and African plates?
Answer:the Appalachian Mountains


Question: During an experiment, a student reports that a liquid turned green when mixed with another liquid. This is an example of
Answer:an observation


Question: Which of the following causes a chemical change?
Answer:lemon juice added to milk


Question: Which human organ system exchanges gases with the environment?
Answer:respiratory


Question: Improvements in geological observation technologies have made it easier for scientists to locate resources in Earth's crust. These technologies have allowed for an increase in availability of which resource?
Answer:fossil fuel


Question: An engineer constructs a prototype from wood. Which of the following is the best tool for the engineer to use to make the prototype's surface smooth?
Answer:sandpaper


Question: If left in the sunshine, water in an open jar will
Answer:evaporate.


Question: In some locations, squirrels sleep for long periods of time during the winter months. Which of the following most likely causes these squirrels to sleep for long periods of time?
Answer:decrease in temperature


Question: Which of the following helps the body to cool down?
Answer:sweating


Question: The brown fur of the arctic hare turns white in winter. How does this color change most likely help the arctic hare?
Answer:It helps the animal hide from predators.


Question: A group of students found metamorphic rocks near a campsite. The presence of metamorphic rocks is most likely evidence of
Answer:high pressure


Question: As water vapor condenses into liquid, which of the following can be formed?
Answer:clouds


Question: Which of these particles, when found in soil, contributes most to the water retention in soil?
Answer:clay


Question: Which of the following forms of energy is released or absorbed in most chemical reactions?
Answer:heat energy


Question: Which of these must occur for sediments to form new rock?
Answer:recrystallization


Question: A student wants to find the most accurate account of a scientific discovery that took place within the past three months. In which of these sources should the student look?
Answer:science journals


Question: What is taken in by the leaves of a tree so it can make its own food?
Answer:sunlight


Question: Radio signal interruption sometimes causes a humming or buzzing sound. These sounds are most likely caused by
Answer:electromagnetic waves.


Question: Students planned an investigation that included adding a quantity of vinegar to a small amount of baking soda. Which is the best tool to measure the volume of the liquid vinegar used in the investigation?
Answer:graduated cylinder


Question: Garrett collected some large rocks from a stream near his home. He measured the rocks on a balance. When he records the mass of the rocks, which units should Garrett use?
Answer:kilograms


Question: Which of the statements is the most accurate in describing the chemical equation shown below? 2H_{2}(g) + O_{2}(g) -> 2H_{2}O(g) + energy
Answer:Energy is released.


Question: A female dog is having puppies. She has black fur, brown eyes, and a curly tail. She can sit, bark, and roll over on command. Which set of traits can the female dog's puppies inherit?
Answer:brown eyes, black fur


Question: Scientists estimate that Maryland contains more than 850 million tons of coal. Coal is most commonly used to produce ___.
Answer:electricity


Question: Large populations of tortoises inhabited the Galapagos Islands before humans. When humans settled on the islands and introduced goats, the number of tortoise declined. What is most likely the explanation for the decrease in the tortoise population?
Answer:Goats compete with tortoises for vegetation.


Question: Hereditary information is transmitted from parents to offspring through
Answer:genes.


Question: Which device converts kinetic energy into electrical energy?
Answer:generator


Question: Which behavior is a learned behavior?
Answer:eating with a fork


Question: The distance between the Sun and the next closest star, Proxima Centauri, is most accurately measured in
Answer:light years.


Question: Which of these uses sound waves to locate underwater objects?
Answer:sonar


Question: Paleontologists are scientists who study evidence of past life on Earth. Which method do paleontologists most likely use to determine the forms of life that existed millions of years ago?
Answer:examine fossils records


Question: The temperature in a hot star is high enough to pull electrons away from atoms. What state of matter results from this process?
Answer:plasma


Question: Which resource, abundant in Nevada, is nonrenewable?
Answer:copper


Question: A student reaches one hand into a bag filled with smooth objects. The student feels the objects but does not look into the bag. Which property of the objects can the student most likely identify?
Answer:shape


Question: An abiotic factor that most influences the organisms living in a salt marsh is
Answer:water.


Question: When oil is burning, the reaction will
Answer:only release energy


Question: Fourth graders are planning a roller-skate race. Which surface would be the best for this race?
Answer:blacktop


Question: Protein is used by the human body to
Answer:repair cells.


Question: Changes in the weather are important to people living in Alaska. Which two tools best help scientists to share information about weather?
Answer:radio and computer


Question: Which outcome is most likely if a person consumes more Calories than needed for daily activities?
Answer:weight gain


Question: In a mixture, a magnet is used to separate some particles from sand. The dark particles are most likely made of which element?
Answer:iron


Question: A student tosses a ball into the air. Which force causes the ball to fall back to the ground?
Answer:gravity


Question: The gravitational force between two objects depends on the distance between the objects and each object's
Answer:mass


Question: Scientists who have studied global climate changes have found that the average temperature of Earth has risen. There has also been an increase in the accumulation of atmospheric greenhouse gases. What is the goal of the scientific community in collecting this type of data?
Answer:to understand how greenhouse gases are related to global warming


Question: Paper chromatography is a process used to separate mixtures of substances into their components. The components are carried by a mobile phase through a stationary phase made of absorbent paper. An investigation analyzed a sample of black ink to determine its components.Which property allows the components to separate?
Answer:the solubility of the components in the mobile phase


Question: In one area, a large source of prey for eagles is rabbits. If the number of rabbits suddenly decreases, what effect will it most likely have on the eagles?
Answer:Their numbers will decrease.


Question: Moving water in a river is considered a renewable resource because it
Answer:can be recycled by nature over time


Question: When studying planetary data, Jackie found some similarities and differences among the planets that make up the solar system. Which generalization is true about the orbits of the major planets in the solar system?
Answer:Planetary orbits are mostly elliptical in shape.


Question: When nitrogen-rich runoff from farms enters a nearby farm, it causes abundant growth of algal mat on the pond surface. As a result, underwater plants in the pond begin to die. Identify the limiting factor that is most responsible for causing the underwater plants to die.
Answer:sunlight


Question: What is the main source of energy for the water cycle?
Answer:the Sun


Question: Which of the following properties of a substance is conserved during thermal expansion?
Answer:mass


Question: Trees use narrow tubes to transport water upward. Which property of water allows the water to rise in these narrow tubes?
Answer:cohesion of molecules


Question: Which pair together could cause a rainbow?
Answer:Sunshine and rain


Question: The property of matter that resists changes in motion is called
Answer:inertia.


Question: Monarch butterflies use milkweed plants during all of their life stages. Milkweed plants grow in open areas, such as grasslands and wetlands. They also often grow between row crops. Given this information, which of these biotechnologies would pose the greatest threat to monarch butterflies?
Answer:development of new herbicides


Question: In the past, Native American Indians buried dead fish along with corn seeds. This technique was used because the decomposing dead fish would
Answer:provide nutrients for the growing corn plant


Question: Earth is composed of layers of material with different properties. Which of the following is most likely to be in constant motion?
Answer:mantle


Question: Which mechanism helps carbon to cycle from the atmosphere to living organisms?
Answer:photosynthesis


Question: A city has an outbreak of a disease that affects an unusually large portion of its population at the same time. Which term best describes the outbreak?
Answer:epidemic


Question: In which structure is the Sun located?
Answer:Milky Way Galaxy


Question: Removing waste from the body is the primary function of which body system?
Answer:excretory


Question: Which discovery revealed that the universe contains many structures composed of millions of stars?
Answer:galaxies


Question: If a tall tree falls over in a crowded forest, which resource becomes available to the surrounding plants?
Answer:sunlight


Question: What best describes the mantle of Earth?
Answer:the largest layer between the crust and outer core


Question: When Javier exercises, his muscle cells need more oxygen. Which would help Javier's muscle cells receive more oxygen?
Answer:increasing the rate his heart beats


Question: Which process has most likely occurred when new traits appear in a species?
Answer:genetic mutation


Question: A patient visits the doctor for a checkup and is diagnosed with skin cancer. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this disease?
Answer:exposure to ultraviolet rays


Question: Which of the following forms of energy can travel by vibrating particles of air?
Answer:sound


Question: A chef uses a metal spoon to stir noodles cooking in a pan. After five minutes, she notices that the thermal energy from the pan has made the spoon
Answer:hot.


Question: Which will most likely cause a decrease in predator populations?
Answer:a decrease in prey populations


Question: A robin catches and eats a cricket. Which statement best describes the roles of each animal?
Answer:The robin is the predator and the cricket is the prey.


Question: Hookworms live inside the intestines of dogs. As the dog eats, the hookworms consume partially digested food. As a result of this nutrient diversion, the dog can become malnourished and weakened. Which best describes the relationship between the hookworms and the dog?
Answer:a parasitic relationship


Question: The prairie grass ecosystem once had a deep layer of topsoil which was protected by the grasses that covered it. Removal of these grasses for farmland is causing the soil to be eroded mainly by
Answer:wind and rain.


Question: When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, what season is occurring in Australia?
Answer:winter


Question: Light waves are arranged in the electromagnetic spectrum by
Answer:wavelength and frequency.


Question: In order to distinguish fact from opinion, conclusions in experiments should be
Answer:based on verifiable data.


Question: Pumice is formed when lava from a volcano cools. Which rock type is pumice?
Answer:Igneous rock


Question: The principle of uniformitarianism states that most of the landscape of Earth was formed slowly and over a long period of time. Which occurrence of Earth is least supported by this principle?
Answer:volcanic eruption


Question: Selective breeding has resulted in plants that are resistant to pests and produce a higher yield of fruits and vegetables. Which of these is the most likely disadvantage that can result from this process?
Answer:decreased genetic diversity


Question: A student measured the volume of water in a pan. The student boiled the water for thirty minutes and then measured the volume of the water again. The volume of water most likely
Answer:decreased


Question: Lori owns a house next to the lake. She uses lots of fertilizer to keep her lawn green. Which impact could fertilizing her lawn have on the lake?
Answer:an increase in the algae population


Question: To compare the hardness of different minerals, it would be BEST to find
Answer:which minerals scratch other minerals.


Question: A house is built in a desert, where there is no electricity and very little wind. Which action could lead to operating the electrical appliances in the house that would cause the least amount of environmental pollution?
Answer:placing solar panels on the roof of the house


Question: Students are learning about the natural resources in Maryland. One group of students researches information about renewable natural resources in the state. The other group researches information about nonrenewable natural resources in the state. The resources the students investigate include plants, animals, soil, minerals, water, coal, and oil. Which nonrenewable natural resource heats homes?
Answer:natural gas


Question: Gregor Mendel was the first to show that organisms had traits that are passed on from parents to the next generation. In order for the scientific community to accept Mendel's discovery, others had to
Answer:duplicate the results of his experiments.


Question: Alicia has lots of old bicycle parts. She wants to build something new with the parts. What is the first thing Alicia should do?
Answer:plan the new item


Question: Which is a major organ of the nervous system?
Answer:brain


Question: Some students were investigating the relationship between position, time, and speed. The students marked the initial position of a toy car. The students set the car into motion and marked the position of the car each second. Which of these are most appropriate for recording and analyzing the students' data?
Answer:a table and a line graph


Question: If the number of trees significantly decreases, the atmosphere's level of which gas might significantly increase?
Answer:carbon dioxide


Question: Which of the following is the best estimate of the number of stars in a typical galaxy?
Answer:billions


Question: A company plants trees on a bare hillside. Which of these is the BEST reason for planting the trees?
Answer:The trees prevent soil from washing away.


Question: Index fossils help scientists estimate the age of a rock because index fossil species only existed for a relatively short time. What happened to the species that are now used as index fossils?
Answer:They became extinct.


Question: Feathers, wings, and the hollow bones of birds are examples of
Answer:adaptations for flight


Question: A student climbs up a rocky mountain trail in Maine. She sees many small pieces of rock on the path. Which action most likely made the small pieces of rock?
Answer:ice breaking large rocks apart


Question: Which of the following heat exchange processes involves the collision of particles?
Answer:conduction


Question: The most effective way to show a change happening over time is to display your results using a
Answer:line graph.


Question: The diet of a brown bear includes roots, grasses, berries, nuts, fish, insects, and mammals. Based on this description, in what category is a brown bear?
Answer:omnivore


Question: A bracket fungus grows on a dead tree and breaks it down into chemical nutrients. What term best classifies the role of a bracket fungus in this ecosystem?
Answer:decomposer


Question: The comet Shoemaker-Levy struck the planet Jupiter in July of 1994. The process of a comet striking a planet is an example of a net decrease in kinetic energy. Kinetic energy was ultimately converted into
Answer:thermal energy.


Question: An earthquake in the Earth's crust under the ocean releases sound waves. Which statement accurately describes how the sound waves spread?
Answer:They spread in all directions away from their source.


Question: Which provides the oldest evidence for oxygen accumulation in Earth's atmosphere?
Answer:the earliest sediments of oxidized rock


Question: Louis Pasteur discovered that the bacteria in a substance can be killed by heating the substance for a short period of time. Which of these practices benefited most from Pasteur's discovery?
Answer:storing foods for longer periods of time


Question: How do traits of animals such as ear shape, nose shape, and hair color most often get passed to offspring?
Answer:sexual reproduction


Question: Why is the ozone content of the stratosphere important to living organisms?
Answer:Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.


Question: If an environment becomes warmer and drier, the change that would most likely help a species adapt would be an increase in its
Answer:ability to store water.


Question: Thousands of years ago, several species of large mammals existed in North America. These species became extinct not long after the first human settlement of North America. Which human activity most likely contributed to the extinction of these mammals?
Answer:hunting


Question: Which of the following is an example of a behavioral adaptation?
Answer:migration of birds


Question: Which two processes could result in the formation of high mountains with well-rounded peaks?
Answer:collision of crustal plates and erosion


Question: The brown tree snake is a nonnative species found on the South Pacific island of Guam. The brown tree snake population in Guam is so large that it negatively affects the humans there. Which statement best explains why the brown tree snake has flourished in Guam?
Answer:There are no natural snake predators.


Question: How are droughts always different from floods?
Answer:They have different amounts of water.


Question: Which of the following is a harmful waste material that leaves the blood and travels through the lungs before leaving the body?
Answer:CO2.


Question: How are a tree and grass alike?
Answer:Both have roots.


Question: What organ system in the human body contains the pituitary gland, hypothalamus gland, and thyroid gland?
Answer:endocrine system


Question: Which term describes an organism's ability to maintain a stable internal environment?
Answer:regulation


Question: Which of the following can provide the human body with long-term immunity against some diseases?
Answer:vaccines


Question: Which event is most likely to increase the genetic variation in a population of organisms?
Answer:increased immigration


Question: Where would animals and plants be most affected by a flood?
Answer:low areas


Question: Which seismic wave phenomenon, found at structural boundaries, allows scientists to interpret the interior structure of Earth?
Answer:refraction of waves


Question: When ice melts, it becomes a
Answer:liquid.


Question: Which combination of letters could be used as a chemical symbol for an element?
Answer:Dy


Question: How is the stratosphere different from the troposphere?
Answer:The temperature of the stratosphere warms at higher altitude.


Question: If a student gets a chemical splashed into an eye, what is the most appropriate first action to be taken?
Answer:flush the eye with water at an eyewash station


Question: Which of the following best describes an advantage of using a mass production manufacturing system instead of a custom manufacturing system?
Answer:Products can be made at a lower cost.


Question: Which adaptation allows a walrus to stay warm in cold water?
Answer:thick layer of blubber


Question: Ninety-nine percent of the mass of an atom is located in
Answer:the nucleus.


Question: Which of the following is a common renewable resource found in deserts?
Answer:solar energy


Question: Beaver dams can cause floods. This statement shows how
Answer:animal behavior may affect the environment


Question: A scientist crosses a red-flowered plant with a white-flowered plant, and all offspring have red flowers. What will most likely result if these red-flowered offspring are crossed with white-flowered plants?
Answer:The offspring will have either red or white flowers.


Question: Genetically modified plants with new characteristics have been produced through genetic engineering methods. What impacts have resulted from the use of genetically modified plants?
Answer:increases in resistance to herbicides, insects, and viral diseases


Question: Which best explains the importance of nitrogen in the cycling of energy and matter?
Answer:Nitrogen increases protein production in plants.


Question: Which of these mixtures would be easiest to separate?
Answer:Fruit salad


Question: If you wanted to be able to look at the stars, the planets, and the Moon more closely, what should you use?
Answer:Telescope


Question: Which of the following is a correct food chain?
Answer:corn -> cow -> human


Question: Which of these is directly formed as a result of weathering and erosion?
Answer:sediments


Question: Most underground caves are formed by the action of water on
Answer:limestone


Question: A group of students is taking a hike along a stream channel. One student picks up a rock from the stream and notices that the rock is very smooth and round. Which type of weathering most likely shaped the rock?
Answer:abrasion


Question: Which of the following is most likely to make a rock crack and crumble?
Answer:water freezing in a crack in the rock


Question: Which is the most likely reason why scientific theories change?
Answer:scientists make new observations


Question: A plant produces tiny plants around the edges of its leaves. When these tiny plants fall to the ground, they take root and become new plants. This process is an example of
Answer:asexual reproduction


Question: A function of a plant's roots is to
Answer:absorb water and minerals.


Question: In order for sediments to become rock, the sediments are generally
Answer:compacted.


Question: When bedrock in Massachusetts is examined, it often appears scraped and polished. Which of the following most likely caused the bedrock to appear scraped and polished?
Answer:glacial movement


Question: Endothermic reactions are reactions that require more energy to start than they give off in the products. Which statement describes an endothermic reaction?
Answer:It absorbs heat energy and is cold to the touch.


Question: Which pair of English and metric units has most nearly the same value?
Answer:liter and quart


Question: Students are studying the classifications of stars and they learned that the majority of stars are similar to the Sun. What can the students conclude knowing that most of the stars in the galaxy are like the Sun?
Answer:Most of the stars are main sequence stars.


Question: Mosquitoes have adapted to detect carbon dioxide using certain sensory nerves. Mosquitoes instinctually move toward greater concentrations of carbon dioxide. What is the importance of this adaptation?
Answer:It helps mosquitoes find food.


Question: Which unit can be used to describe an object's length?
Answer:meters


Question: Meteorologists categorize hurricanes based on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The scale measures the intensity and destructive potential of hurricanes. Which factor has the most significant effect on the strength of a hurricane?
Answer:the temperature of the water below the hurricane


Question: Multicellular organisms grow in size by producing more
Answer:cells.


Question: Which a molecular process found only in retroviruses?
Answer:reverse transcription


Question: A group of students are observing a fish tank for a school assignment. The group is to share the observations with the class. Which statement about observations is true?
Answer:Observations should always be recorded.


Question: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO_{3}) is commonly known as baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that can dissolve in water. Under the proper conditions, sodium bicarbonate can release carbon dioxide (CO_{2}) gas. Which of the following is not a physical property of sodium bicarbonate?
Answer:It releases carbon dioxide.


Question: To help it survive, an organism has a capsule, endospore, and pili. To which group does this organism belong?
Answer:bacteria


Question: What advantage is gained by using radio telescopes as opposed to optical telescopes?
Answer:ability to see through clouds and dust


Question: The process by which organisms with favorable variations reproduce at higher rates than those without such variations is
Answer:natural selection.


Question: Competition is most likely to occur between which two organisms?
Answer:grass and strawberry plants


Question: Some animals, such as squirrels, may bury acorns. Which of the following is most likely to happen to the acorns after they have been buried?
Answer:The acorns will have a chance to sprout.


Question: Why are most fossils found in sedimentary rocks?
Answer:Organisms can be preserved in sedimentary rock.


Question: Which model is used by scientists to determine the properties of elements?
Answer:the Periodic Table


Question: Life is more likely to be found on a planet whose atmosphere contains abundant
Answer:oxygen.


Question: Approximately how long does Earth take to complete its orbit around the Sun?
Answer:one year


Question: A student describes a substance as lacking a definite shape. The description also states that the particles of matter are close to each other but still able to flow past each other. Which type of substance is the student most likely describing?
Answer:liquid


Question: Electron transport in mitochondria results in a chemiosmotic gradient of which particle across the mitochondrial membrane?
Answer:protons


Question: At science conventions, scientists present their research, and members of the audience can discuss or ask questions about the research. The main value of these science conventions is that they allow scientists to
Answer:exchange their ideas.


Question: When a boy stands in a field in the sunlight, he usually is able to see his
Answer:shadow


Question: In the human body, which system functions primarily to defend the body against disease?
Answer:immune


Question: The moon goes through phases as it revolves around Earth. During which phase of the moon would it be possible for a solar eclipse to occur?
Answer:new moon


Question: Which of these is the most common result of greenhouse gases altering the atmosphere of Earth?
Answer:an increase in the air temperature


Question: A student was taking notes while the teacher was discussing cells. Which of these is a statement that the teacher most likely made?
Answer:The shape of a cell depends upon its function.


Question: What goal does taxonomy accomplish?
Answer:classifies living organisms into groups


Question: The fusion reaction that fuels the Sun converts hydrogen into
Answer:helium.


Question: The main function of hormones in the human body is to
Answer:regulate body functions


Question: Which gas, when condensed into its liquid state in the atmosphere, forms clouds?
Answer:water vapor


Question: Fertilizers added by farmers to the soil contain high amounts of nitrates. How do fertilizers affect the nitrogen cycle?
Answer:More nitrates are available for plants to absorb.


Question: A scientist is comparing two body cells of a multicellular organism. Which of the following is most likely identical?
Answer:number of chromosomes


Question: Organisms that consume wastes to obtain the nutrients they need to survive are classified as
Answer:decomposers


Question: In the 1600s, Galileo Galilei studied the moons of Jupiter. What did Galileo do to make better observations?
Answer:made improvements to the telescope


Question: Which of these provides the best evidence that Earth's crust is divided into tectonic plates?
Answer:the distribution of earthquakes on Earth's surface


Question: What causes the soil in a flood plain to be generally rich in nutrients?
Answer:new soil deposited by the river


Question: Which characteristic is common to all reptile species?
Answer:ectothermic (cold-blooded)


Question: Scientists working for a company are testing a new medicine that they think will help heal damaged tissue. In which part of the company are the scientists working?
Answer:research


Question: Most of Earth's surface is covered by
Answer:water


Question: The chemical equation below shows reactants and products. 6CO_{2} + 12H_{2}O + light + enzymes -> C_{6}H_{12}O_{6} + 6O_{2} + 6H_{2}O Which statement is best supported by analyzing this equation?
Answer:The atoms rearrange in the chemical reaction so that C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}, glucose, is made.


Question: In a desert environment, cactus wrens often build their nests in cholla cacti to avoid predators. This behavior does not hurt the cacti. Which type of relationship do cactus wrens and cholla cacti demonstrate?
Answer:commensalism


Question: The Davis Mountains in West Texas used to be taller than they are now. Which of the following conditions most likely caused the mountains to become shorter over time?
Answer:Rain and wind


Question: Photosynthesis is the process that converts carbon dioxide and water into
Answer:sugar and oxygen.


Question: Which statement best describes the organization of the Periodic Table of the Elements?
Answer:Elements within a group have similar properties.


Question: Signs in many stores and restaurants warn that microwaves are in use. What is the main reason for this warning?
Answer:Some people have pacemakers that may be affected by microwaves.


Question: A scientist studies the remains of two extinct animals to learn more about how they lived. She determines that one animal was a carnivore and the other was an herbivore. Which of the following did the scientist most likely compare to make this conclusion?
Answer:the skull of the animals


Question: Human actions can change the rate at which soil erodes. Which of the following would most likely slow the rate of soil erosion?
Answer:planting trees along cliffs


Question: Which ability is the most useful for making observations?
Answer:senses


Question: Sterling silver is a combination of silver and copper. Which of the following is also a combination of two or more metals?
Answer:brass.


Question: The cows in a rancher's herd of cattle have been selectively bred to produce milk. Which of the following will cause the next generation of cows to receive the trait for producing large quantities of milk?
Answer:information in the cows' chromosomes


Question: What is the correct explanation for why we have day and night on Earth?
Answer:Earth turns on its axis.


Question: The body maintains equilibrium through a series of messages called a feedback mechanism. What organ releases hormones that maintain balanced glucose levels?
Answer:pancreas


Question: Environmental organizations have asked businesses to take action to reduce waste. Which of the following changes could a business make in order to become more “environmentally friendly”?
Answer:Purchase only recycled paper and paper products.


Question: The sound heard when a piano key is hit is caused by
Answer:vibration.


Question: Wolves kill many elk every year and often attack old, sick, and injured members of a herd. Which of the following best describes the role of the wolves in the wolf-elk relationship?
Answer:predator


Question: Which of the following is produced when sugar is digested in an animal cell?
Answer:carbon dioxide.


Question: Which of these groups contains single-celled organisms?
Answer:fungus


Question: Students studying rocks notice that in a particular location there are many igneous rocks that are very similar. This observation best supports which statement?
Answer:A nearby volcano had once been active.


Question: Shale is a sedimentary rock that can be metamorphosed into slate by
Answer:increased pressure.


Question: Plants need iron to grow. What parts of plants take in iron?
Answer:roots


Question: Which of the following is the best observation of the refraction of light?
Answer:Viewing an object partially in water


Question: A group of students investigated the effect of water temperature on the gill movements of goldfish. The students tested water temperatures from 20°C to 10°C at 2-degree intervals. The data showed that as water temperature decreased, the average number of gill movements per minute by the goldfish also decreased. Which type of display is BEST used to show this relationship?
Answer:a bar graph


Question: The directions for making a protein
Answer:are carried by DNA.


Question: Denise was driving east over a hill in the afternoon, shortly after a rain shower. Suddenly the sun broke through the clouds, and she saw a rainbow ahead of her. Which of the following made the rainbow possible?
Answer:Sunlight can be separated into all the colors of the rainbow.


Question: Rhea is a moon of Saturn. Which of these facts about Rhea best indicates that it does not have a water cycle in which water changes state?
Answer:Its temperature is between -174°C and -220°C.


Question: Which two factors determine the gravitational attraction between two objects?
Answer:mass and distance apart


Question: When a red bull (RR) is bred with a white cow (WW), a roan calf (RW) is sometimes produced. If a roan bull (RW) is bred with a roan cow (RW), what is the most likely outcome of the offspring?
Answer:1 red, 1 white, and 2 roan


Question: Which adaptive feature most helps a baby jaguar survive the first few weeks of life?
Answer:being born during spring months


Question: Frank needs to move a box by sliding it across the floor. Which two factors will most strongly affect how hard Frank needs to push the box?
Answer:The total mass of the box and the friction between the box and the floor


Question: An ocean, a forest, and a grassy meadow are each examples of a complete ecosystem. Complete ecosystems contain only
Answer:living and nonliving things.


Question: The Great Basin in Nevada is characterized by uplifted, tilted blocks forming mountain ranges and downthrown blocks forming basins. What rock type is MOST likely to form in the basins?
Answer:sedimentary


Question: As the human population increases, more fossil fuels are being used. The burning of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases. How might humans reduce greenhouse gases?
Answer:Use renewable resources to generate power.


Question: Which situation would most likely cause an object to travel in a circular motion?
Answer:one force acting on the object perpendicular to the direction of the motion


Question: Which of the following does not give an example of how sparrows use resources in their environment to survive?
Answer:Sparrows use the sun for food.


Question: Henry and Emily are building a tree house. Which tool should be used to measure the height of the door?
Answer:meter stick


Question: Windy, cloudy, rainy, and cold are words that help describe
Answer:weather


Question: All these statements concerning galaxies are accurate except
Answer:Most can be seen without a telescope.


Question: Hydrogen gas and oxygen gas combine to form water. Which would be a more concise way of expressing what happens in this chemical reaction?
Answer:write a chemical equation


Question: What safety equipment should be taken on all field trips?
Answer:first-aid kit


Question: The surface gravity of Pluto is the weakest of the nine planets because Pluto
Answer:has the smallest mass.


Question: If a class wants to measure the speed of a bicycle during an outdoor lab exercise, which two devices would be most useful?
Answer:stopwatch and tape measure


Question: When sunlight shines on a plant, its leaves
Answer:make food.


Question: Toads lay their eggs in ponds. Tadpoles hatch from the eggs and eat the plants floating in the pond. Which resource is most important for toads to survive?
Answer:water


Question: Which structure surrounds and protects an animal cell?
Answer:Cell membrane


Question: A ball is thrown straight up. Which statement best describes the motion of the ball while the ball is at the maximum height?
Answer:The velocity is zero, and the acceleration is constant.


Question: Which organ is most responsible for oxygen entering the blood stream?
Answer:lungs


Question: Why is a healthy diet important?
Answer:It supplies the body’s needs for growth and energy.


Question: In the human body, the breaking down of food into simple substances occurs in the
Answer:digestive system.


Question: Which of the following processes is an important part of star formation?
Answer:nuclear fusion


Question: Carlos puts a new battery into a radio. What does the battery supply to the radio that makes it turn on?
Answer:electricity


Question: What may form as a direct result of a star collapsing?
Answer:supernova


Question: A shoe manufacturer randomly selects 10% of the production from each shift. Each of these shoes is checked to ensure that it is correctly made. What is this process called?
Answer:quality control


Question: Some materials are electrical conductors. Which material best conducts electricity?
Answer:copper


Question: Angela wants to report daily weather conditions. In which unit should Angela record the air temperature?
Answer:degrees Celsius


Question: Which organisms use the energy from the remains of dead animals and recycle the nutrients back into the environment?
Answer:decomposers


Question: Which is the first step in a design process?
Answer:Describe the problem.


Question: What type of chemical reaction occurs when the body breaks down fats and sugars that supply it with energy?
Answer:exothermic


Question: Intense heat and pressure in Earth's crust can change sandstone into quartzite. During this metamorphosis, many properties of these rocks change. Which property of these rocks will most likely remain the same?
Answer:mass


Question: How do decomposers obtain their food?
Answer:absorbing food from dead organisms


Question: A ball on a cart is moving at a rate of 2 m/s. The cart suddenly stops and the ball continues to travel in the same direction at the same speed. This is an example of the
Answer:first law of motion.


Question: Why is it important to have a large sample size in an investigation?
Answer:to increase the validity of the data


Question: Burt used a spoon to stir soup that was cooking on his stove. Which spoon will stay the coolest while he stirs?
Answer:a wooden spoon


Question: Which is a distinction between an epidemic and a pandemic?
Answer:the geographical area affected


Question: When two bumper cars collide, some of the kinetic energy of the cars is transformed. Which form of energy is most likely formed as a result of this collision?
Answer:sound


Question: Which statement describes all matter?
Answer:All matter is made up of atoms.


Question: Carbon dioxide is removed from Earth's atmosphere by
Answer:plant photosynthesis.


Question: A water company uses lab tests on the water supply before sending the water through pipes to people's homes. How do these lab tests help people?
Answer:by checking the water to make sure it is safe to drink


Question: What safety rule is most important for students to follow when working with acids and bases?
Answer:put on safety goggles


Question: A person in a dark room looking through a window can clearly see a person outside in the daylight. But a person outside cannot see the person inside. Why does this happen?
Answer:There is not enough light being reflected off the person in the room.


Question: Many processes on Earth occur at or near tectonic plate boundaries. Which geological events are most common along tectonic plate boundaries?
Answer:earthquakes and volcanoes


Question: Two pool (billiard) balls collide, causing each to move in a different direction. Eventually, both come to a stop. The most important factor in causing them to stop is
Answer:friction.


Question: Which of these provides the best evidence that the environment of Earth has changed over millions of years?
Answer:marine fossils found in mountains


Question: Which physical characteristic do some organisms have that helps them survive in the Arctic?
Answer:changing fur color to hide from predators


Question: Which of the following occurs during photosynthesis?
Answer:CO2 and H2O are converted to carbohydrates.


Question: A common characteristic of all living things is that they
Answer:are made of cells.


Question: In the solar system, moons orbit planets. Which of these do planets orbit?
Answer:the Sun


Question: Visible light is which type of wave?
Answer:electromagnetic


Question: In some national parks, controlled fires are maintained by firefighters. Which of these is one of the major reasons for using controlled burns to maintain certain ecosystems?
Answer:to rid the forest floor of accumulated deadwood and brush


Question: Which of the following actions is most likely part of a test to find the hardness of a mineral sample?
Answer:scratching the sample with a nail


Question: In Costa Rica a small tree, the acacia, provides shelter and food for ants. The ants protect the acacia by removing other insects and vines that might harm it. Which term best describes the relationship between the acacia and the ants?
Answer:mutualism


Question: A car skids along the road and smoke appears to be coming from under the tires. The heat that produces the smoke is caused by
Answer:friction


Question: A glacier sometimes leaves behind large chunks of ice. What is left in the ground when these chunks of ice melt?
Answer:a kettle


Question: A student uses a high-efficiency gasoline lawnmower to cut grass. The term "high efficiency" is used to indicate that the lawnmower
Answer:uses less energy than other lawnmowers.


Question: Which example would result in new cells that are most different from the parent cells?
Answer:sperm and egg cells uniting to produce fertilized egg cells


Question: A dog gets the energy it needs to run from ___.
Answer:food


Question: Certain flowers will open for twelve hours and then close. Which stimulus do the flowers respond to when they open and then when they close for that time period?
Answer:light levels


Question: Smoking harms the body in many ways. It is most harmful to which organ?
Answer:lung


Question: In 1609, Galileo Galilei used lenses to construct the first telescope. His telescope allowed him to observe many objects in space. His invention of the telescope and the data he gathered directly contributed to the understanding that
Answer:the planets revolve around the Sun.


Question: The energy obtained from food is measured in units called
Answer:Calories


Question: Which part of the body works closely with the digestive system to transport nutrients to the cells?
Answer:blood


Question: An example of a learned behavior is
Answer:driving a car


Question: Iron oxides, such as rust, form when iron metal reacts with oxygen in the air. What are the chemical symbols for the two elements found in iron oxide?
Answer:Fe and O


Question: When water evaporates from Earth's surface into the atmosphere, its molecules enter the gas state. What change in this gas causes molecules to condense into the small water droplets that form clouds?
Answer:The temperature is reduced.


Question: Which process directly adds carbon into the atmosphere?
Answer:burning fossil fuels


Question: Scientists think that dolphins and whales may have evolved from a common ancestor. What evidence supports this hypothesis?
Answer:They have similar anatomies.


Question: A particular organism is able to survive in an environment due to a thick layer of fat beneath its skin. In which situation would the layer of fat most likely be a survival advantage?
Answer:swimming in arctic waters