Question: Over time, non-volcanic mountains can form due to the interaction of plate boundaries. Which interaction is most likely associated with the formation of non-volcanic mountains?
Answer:continental plates colliding with continental plates


Question: Most stars in the Milky Way are like the Sun. The Sun will eventually become a red giant. After the red giant stage, what determines whether a star will become a white dwarf or a supernova?
Answer:the mass of the star


Question: How should researchers share their findings with other scientists to validate their study of the effectiveness of a new medication?
Answer:publish the research results in a scientific journal


Question: Gaseous sulfur dioxide is a compound that combines with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain. What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide?
Answer:combustion of fossil fuels


Question: The motion of Earth is responsible for several celestial events. Which of the following events is caused by Earth revolving around the sun?
Answer:the days in a year


Question: What takes place as a light wave enters a denser medium?
Answer:it is refracted


Question: Deforestation in the rainforest can lead to localized extinctions of populations of some organisms. Once an area is deforested, which is most likely to decrease and result in organisms' extinctions?
Answer:diversity of the resources in the habitat


Question: Which of the following causes a ship’s iron anchor to sink to the ocean floor when it is released overboard?
Answer:gravity


Question: In clear weather, a bright light can be seen for a long distance. In conditions of heavy fog, the visibility is greatly reduced. Which of the following explains the reduced visibility?
Answer:Light is scattered by water droplets in the air.


Question: When the pesticide DDT was first used, it killed nearly every mosquito it touched. Within a few years, however, many mosquitoes became resistant to DDT and survived. What enabled this to happen?
Answer:gene mutations


Question: When air is heated, it will most likely
Answer:expand and rise.


Question: The wheels and gears of a machine are greased in order to decrease
Answer:friction


Question: A student learns that one year on Mercury is about 88 Earth days. This means it takes 88 Earth days for Mercury to
Answer:make one complete orbit around the Sun.


Question: Two processes are involved in the formation of a sand dune. Which two processes best describe how a sand dune forms?
Answer:wind erosion then deposition


Question: When a student uses the equation, mass multiplied by change in temperature multiplied by specific heat, what is being calculated? q = m \times C \times \Delta T
Answer:heat gain or heat loss


Question: Which rock is most likely to contain fossil seashells?
Answer:limestone


Question: Which occurs as a result of Earth's tilt on its rotating axis?
Answer:seasonal changes in the climate


Question: Planets remain in orbit around the Sun because of
Answer:gravity.


Question: Which cells help to destroy pathogens such as bacteria that enter the human body?
Answer:white blood cells


Question: Eye color in human beings is an
Answer:inherited trait.


Question: If a species is no longer able to reproduce, it will
Answer:become extinct


Question: Which of these is hottest?
Answer:The Sun


Question: In large industrial cities, the emissions from fossil fuels cause the atmosphere to change. Which process allows the atmosphere to change?
Answer:increased buildup of greenhouse gases


Question: Which is the most likely response of a human to an increase in temperature?
Answer:increasing the amount of perspiration


Question: An organism's traits are largely determined by the genetic makeup of its parents. A mutation in which kinds of cells in a parent could cause a new trait to appear in the parent's offspring?
Answer:sperm or egg


Question: Electricity to play your radio can be made using renewable or nonrenewable resources. Which of the following resources are renewable?
Answer:wind and sunlight


Question: The action of turning off the water while brushing teeth is an example of
Answer:conservation.


Question: Which objects are the most useful for collecting data on the speed of a toy car?
Answer:stopwatch, calculator, meter stick


Question: Some microorganisms cause human disease. Other microorganisms are used in making cheese, yogurt, and bread. Based on this information, the relationship between humans and microorganisms can be
Answer:beneficial or harmful


Question: Which of these objects is visible because it reflects light toward the eye?
Answer:shiny metallic balloon


Question: Which dog trait is a learned behavior?
Answer:jumping to catch a ball


Question: When an atom has a neutral charge, which particles within the atom have equal numbers?
Answer:protons and electrons


Question: A paper bag is ripped into pieces. Which of these BEST describes the pieces of the bag?
Answer:Smaller than the whole bag


Question: A lizard most likely would be protected from its enemies if it has which characteristic?
Answer:skin color that matches its habitat


Question: Copper is used in house wiring because it is
Answer:an electrical conductor.


Question: Which process causes light to bend and form a rainbow?
Answer:refraction


Question: Sugar is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Sugar is an example of which of the following?
Answer:a compound


Question: The tendency of a stationary object to resist being put into motion is known as
Answer:inertia.


Question: One way that students can help conserve natural resources at school is by
Answer:recycling aluminum cans.


Question: The Grand Canyon is an example of
Answer:erosion.


Question: Humans cannot survive without clean, fresh water. Reservoirs of liquid water vary, but all water spends time as a gas in the atmosphere. What is the source of most of the water in the atmosphere?
Answer:oceans


Question: When a frying pan is placed on an electric stove top, heat energy is transferred from the burner to the pan by
Answer:conduction.


Question: What happens when water flows over a rock for a long period of time?
Answer:erosion


Question: During winter, the white fur of an arctic fox blends in with the snow. This adaptation is called
Answer:camouflage


Question: How has the invention of the personal computer helped people the most?
Answer:by increasing communication


Question: Humans depend on which natural resource from the environment?
Answer:water


Question: The danger posed to fish in an aquarium by an overpopulation of bacteria caused by an algal bloom is most likely a
Answer:reduction in oxygen levels.


Question: Natural processes shape the surface of Earth. Most canyons are formed by ___.
Answer:moving water


Question: What is the best way for a student to describe the results of an experiment?
Answer:in a written report


Question: Which of the following is a living component of a desert in California?
Answer:horned lizard


Question: Scientists wonder how the Egyptian pyramids were built. They think that the huge blocks of stone may have been put into place by pushing them up a sloping pathway. The pathway is which type of simple machine?
Answer:inclined plane


Question: Magnesium strips are long, thin strips that are gray and shiny. Which action will lead to a chemical change of magnesium strips?
Answer:burning them with a candle


Question: Which involves the greatest variety of cell types?
Answer:an organism


Question: Snapping a rubber band most likely produces which type of energy?
Answer:sound


Question: People can help keep a forest a good place for birds to live by
Answer:preventing too many trees from being cut down


Question: Randall is picking lettuce from his garden for dinner. His mother told him to leave some leaves on each plant. Why is it important to leave some leaves on the plant?
Answer:Leaves help the plant make food.


Question: A negatively-charged ion has
Answer:more electrons than protons.


Question: Which statement explains what will most likely happen to the hydrosphere in an area where air temperatures increase?
Answer:Evaporation will increase.


Question: Which energy source is considered nonrenewable?
Answer:oil


Question: When buried sediments are subjected to pressure, the mineral grains are squeezed together. What is the result of this action?
Answer:new rock is formed


Question: What is the primary source of energy for organisms from a beach ecosystem?
Answer:the Sun


Question: Before rock can become soil, it must undergo certain processes. One process in the formation of soil involves plants. How can plants chemically change rocks into soil?
Answer:They weather rocks with acid.


Question: Which is the best way a science student can help to maintain laboratory equipment?
Answer:clean up all materials and workspaces after investigations


Question: Which of the following statements best explains why stars appear to move across Earth's sky each night?
Answer:Earth rotates on its axis.


Question: Researchers are developing new types of crop plants with desirable characteristics such as disease resistance and drought tolerance. Crossing plants so that the next generation will express desirable traits is best described as
Answer:selective breeding.


Question: In May 2007, wildfires burned more than 350 square miles of habitat in Florida and Georgia. Intense fires like this one can temporarily remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in area soil. What most likely happens in the burned areas until organic decay replenishes the lost nutrients?
Answer:The carrying capacity of the soil for plant growth is reduced.


Question: Helen is preparing a presentation about objects in the solar system. She includes facts about the order of the planets and their distances from the Sun. Which statement could she include in an accurate presentation?
Answer:Earth is one astronomical unit from the Sun.


Question: Farmers in the 1800s used axes to clear trees from farmland. Now, farmers use chainsaws to clear the trees. How do chainsaws most likely help farmers?
Answer:Farmers can remove more trees in less time.


Question: What can a moving magnet in a coil of copper wire cause?
Answer:an electric current


Question: A researcher determines a cell has a flexible cell wall composed of peptidoglycan. This observation narrows possible classifications of the cell to which taxonomic group?
Answer:bacteria


Question: A student conducts an investigation using mold spores. In one part of the investigation, he needs to closely examine a spore sample. Which piece of equipment does the student need to use to keep mold spores from entering his respiratory system?
Answer:breathing mask


Question: Vultures are scavengers that most likely help ecosystems by quickly consuming dead organisms and
Answer:slowing the spread of disease.


Question: What is the process called when an acid and a base combine to produce water and salt?
Answer:neutralization


Question: Amylase is a chemical that decomposes starch into maltose and dextrin. Which best describes the role of amylase in the human body?
Answer:as an enzyme that aids in digestion


Question: Sound waves can pass through all of these except
Answer:a vacuum.


Question: Why is it important to repeat an experiment several times?
Answer:to determine if the results are similar


Question: Which force causes a marble to sink to the bottom of a glass of water?
Answer:gravity


Question: A mosquito is a type of flying insect that lays eggs in puddles or small pools of water. When larvae develop from eggs, the larvae come to the surface to get air through special breathing tubes. After one to two weeks, the larvae become pupae and then turn into adults. How would a dry summer affect a mosquito population?
Answer:The adult mosquitoes would have fewer places to lay eggs.


Question: NASA's Kepler Mission has collected information about main-sequence stars with characteristics similar to the Sun. What is the most common color of these stars?
Answer:yellow


Question: A fever is a response to a disease-causing agent infecting the body. Raising one's body temperature changes the shape of enzymes in the agent so it cannot reproduce. Which statement best describes a fever?
Answer:A fever is an internal response to an internal stimulus.


Question: Two people are pushing a car. One person is pushing with a force of 450 N and the other person is pushing with a force of 300 N. What information is needed to determine the net force applied to the car by the people?
Answer:the direction of the forces


Question: A student proposes the rate of increase in a plant's mass will be proportional to the length of light exposure per day when all other variables are constant. How should this proposal be classified?
Answer:as a hypothesis


Question: Approximately how many times will Earth rotate during one revolution around the Sun?
Answer:365


Question: A shiny aluminum screen can be placed on the windshield of a parked car. This screen helps to keep the car cool because it
Answer:reflects the sunlight


Question: Which property of an object can be described as smooth?
Answer:texture


Question: During photosynthesis, plants absorb light energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy in the form of glucose. Which compounds combine in the presence of sunlight to form glucose?
Answer:carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)


Question: A researcher is viewing a cell that has cell walls. To best narrow down the taxonomic group from which the cell belongs, which question should a researcher ask?
Answer:What is the composition of the cell walls?


Question: Which of the following best explains what will occur when a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of its environment?
Answer:The death rate will increase.


Question: Oceans have many layers of sediments. These layers become compacted when they are buried under other layers of sediments. Which is most likely to happen to the deepest layers?
Answer:They will recrystallize into new rock.


Question: The first microscopes were built in the 1600s. Microscopes have improved since then, but still perform the same job. How do microscopes most help scientists?
Answer:They make small objects easier to see.


Question: What do plants take from the air that helps them make food?
Answer:carbon dioxide


Question: When a person sees something, what carries the message from the eyes to the brain?
Answer:nerves


Question: Which of the following is an abiotic factor that can influence the quantity of fish a pond can support?
Answer:quality of water


Question: The islands in the mid-Pacific Ocean region were formed by
Answer:volcanic activity.


Question: Which term identifies a single unit of hereditary information?
Answer:gene


Question: A mother hen clucks loudly when danger is near and her chicks quickly gather around her. Which sense helps the chicks receive this warning about danger from their mother?
Answer:sound


Question: Newly hatched turtles are easy prey for other animals. What is an important ability turtles have for better survival of their offspring?
Answer:to lay hundreds of eggs so a few will survive


Question: Mr. Mendoza's class studied different body systems. What is an important function of the circulatory system?
Answer:carrying oxygen to cells


Question: Which example shows a new substance being formed?
Answer:a candle burning


Question: What do all mammals have in common that distinguishes them from birds?
Answer:fur


Question: Grooves running down the sides of a riverbank are most likely caused by
Answer:rainwater.


Question: Which of the following best describes a mineral?
Answer:a solid natural material with a crystal structure


Question: Plankton are tiny ocean organisms. The role of one type of plankton is to use the energy from the Sun to produce food that other animals eat. Which organism has the same role in the ocean as this type of plankton?
Answer:seaweed


Question: How many times does the Moon rotate on its axis during a lunar month?
Answer:one


Question: Changes to abiotic factors in an environment can impact biotic factors. Which statement is the BEST example of this situation?
Answer:Drought conditions increase competition among consumers.


Question: There are several different types of rock. Each type of rock is formed under different conditions. How are sedimentary rocks, such as shale and sandstone, formed?
Answer:Particles are compressed into layers.


Question: Which disease is correctly paired with the cause of the disease?
Answer:athlete's foot - fungi


Question: Unequal distribution of the hormone auxin in plants helps to regulate the direction of plant growth. Which of the following is accomplished by plants in regulating the distribution of auxin?
Answer:responding to the environment


Question: Ten people became sick with the flu after attending a school dance. What is the scenario that could best explain how the people got sick?
Answer:contact with an infected person


Question: One way to protect against food poisoning is to
Answer:cook food to proper temperatures.


Question: Which statement is a MAJOR mistake in the experimental design?
Answer:A control group was not used.


Question: Which effect do rapidly cooling temperatures have on the water cycle?
Answer:Water vapor condenses into droplets.


Question: A researcher found shark fossils on top of a mountain. This evidence suggests which of the following about this region?
Answer:It was once covered by an ocean.


Question: A student is measuring the distance a car travels down a ramp using yards. Which measurement is most similar in length when using the metric system of measurement?
Answer:meter


Question: A marble is dropped in a glass of water. Which force pulls the marble to the bottom of the glass?
Answer:gravity


Question: Which scientist formulated rules that describe the observable relationships of plant traits to the traits of the ancestor plants?
Answer:Gregor Mendel


Question: The invention of the telescope allowed which of the following to take place?
Answer:detailed observation of planets


Question: Which instrument should a student use to measure exactly 10 milliliters (mL) of water?
Answer:graduated cylinder


Question: A gas is heated and its temperature increases. What happens to the gas molecules?
Answer:They move faster.


Question: Which tool is used to measure the diameter of a dime?
Answer:ruler


Question: A rainforest area is experiencing a severe drought. As a consequence, the insect population has decreased. What will the insect-eating birds most likely do as a result of the drought?
Answer:move to a new area to find food


Question: Which unit is used to indicate the amount of energy in food?
Answer:calorie


Question: Wire was looped several times around an iron nail, and the wire's ends were connected to a battery. For which of these will this device most likely be used?
Answer:to create a magnetic field


Question: Dust and ash entering the atmosphere as a result of volcanic eruptions can affect Earth's
Answer:weather and climate


Question: During which chemical process is energy absorbed?
Answer:plants photosynthesizing


Question: When two nuclei are combined into one nucleus, there is a slight change in mass and the release of a large amount of energy. What is this process called?
Answer:fusion


Question: The sound, light, and heat that a firecracker produces are originally stored as which type of energy?
Answer:chemical energy


Question: Vehicle exhaust contains a form of pollution called particulate matter. Technologies are being developed to reduce the amount of particulate matter in exhaust. A vehicle that produces less particulate matter would have the greatest impact on which aspect of human health?
Answer:respiratory health


Question: Janet learns that Earth is tilted. Due to its tilt, some areas on the surface of Earth experience darkness for an entire day. Which plant process is affected most during this darkness?
Answer:photosynthesis


Question: What types of cells are found only in organisms that reproduce sexually?
Answer:gametes


Question: Several dinosaur bones are discovered buried in volcanic ash. The type of dinosaur can best be identified by
Answer:comparing to characteristics of known dinosaurs.


Question: Stretching is considered an important step before engaging in sports. In an investigation to see whether stretching before physical exertion reduces sports injuries, who would the control group most likely be?
Answer:athletes who do not stretch before working out


Question: In the first half of this century, which technology allowed people, for the first time, to work IN the city but live OUTSIDE the city?
Answer:automobiles


Question: Most sedimentary rock is made from sediments of other rock. Which of these processes would the sediments most likely go through to form sedimentary rock?
Answer:compaction and cementation


Question: Rocks and Earth and on the Moon are made of similar materials. What does this observation most likely suggest?
Answer:The Moon was probably formed from material from Earth.


Question: In any ecosystem, organisms interact with biotic and abiotic parts of the environment. As a result of all of the interactions, the matter within the system is
Answer:recycled when organisms die.


Question: Data indicate that chemical pollutants contaminate 53% of the waterways that empty into the Chesapeake Bay. These chemical pollutants are found in the tissues of animals living in the bay. Which group of people who live away from the bay might be most affected by these chemical pollutants?
Answer:people who consume fish from the bay


Question: Which behavior can help animals establish a territory?
Answer:A wolf pack howls to warn other wolves to stay away.


Question: Arteries and veins are two important parts of the circulatory system. What is the relationship between arteries and veins?
Answer:They work together to transport nutrients.


Question: Which function is a role of a feedback system?
Answer:regulation of growth in the skeletal system


Question: Which technique will researchers studying the inheritance patterns of various disorders most likely use?
Answer:chromosomal analysis


Question: If a lake is polluted, which organism would most likely accumulate the highest concentration of contaminants?
Answer:fish-eating birds


Question: Which of these can only be found in a plant cell?
Answer:a chloroplast


Question: The Milky Way Galaxy is visible as a bright region in the night sky. Modern telescopic observation has made it possible to discover that the brightness of the Milky Way Galaxy is due primarily to which structure?
Answer:large numbers of stars


Question: More sulfur dioxide is being added to the atmosphere. How will this most likely affect the hydrosphere?
Answer:The acidity of the ocean will increase.


Question: Plants transform energy when they make their own food. Which type of energy is used by plants for making food?
Answer:light


Question: Dominic placed a caterpillar in a container with different kinds of leaves. Which information should he record to find out what food this caterpillar eats?
Answer:the type of leaves the caterpillar has eaten


Question: Which class of elements best conducts electricity?
Answer:metals


Question: What are the products in the chemical reaction below? NaOH + HCl -> NaCl + H_{2}O
Answer:sodium chloride and water


Question: Termites eat wood but cannot digest it. Protozoans live in the termites' stomachs and use enzymes to break down the wood. The digested wood provides nutrition for both the termites and the protozoans. What type of relationship is this?
Answer:mutualism


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?
Answer:a decrease in the pH of the soil


Question: The first step in the construction of a building typically involves
Answer:clearing the land.


Question: What biological concept was Mendel studying when he crossed pea plants many times over many generations?
Answer:dominant and recessive traits


Question: The following represents a number displayed on a calculator. 1.454545 E3. Which of the following shows how a student should record this number in a laboratory report?
Answer:1.45 x 10^3


Question: In which process is nitrogen from the air put into a form that plants can use?
Answer:nitrogen fixation


Question: The surface of the Moon is covered with craters. Most of these craters were formed by
Answer:the impacts of many meteoroids


Question: Which event would most likely occur if the number of nitrogen fixing bacteria were reduced within an ecosystem?
Answer:the level of nitrogen gas in the atmosphere would increase


Question: Census data show that the human population doubled from 2.65 billion in 1953 to 5.3 billion in 1990. If it continues to double at this rate, the human population could reach 10 billion by the year 2020. Which best explains how this rate of human growth can harm the environment on which humans depend?
Answer:by using resources faster than they can be replaced


Question: Bats find their prey at night using one of their senses to detect echoes. What does the bat send out to find prey?
Answer:sound


Question: Which two objects produce their own light?
Answer:sun and candle


Question: Which example describes an organism taking in nutrients?
Answer:a girl eating an apple


Question: In eukaryotic organisms, interaction between which organelles is most important for cell shape, tensile strength, and communication between cells?
Answer:cytoskeleton and cell membrane


Question: A radio station broadcasting across a large area is experiencing thunderstorms. How will the radio waves from the station be affected?
Answer:frequency will be distorted


Question: An electrical circuit can be used to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. In this process, electrical energy produces
Answer:chemical changes.


Question: Which method could be used to separate a solution of table salt and water?
Answer:evaporation


Question: Which is an example of light being reflected?
Answer:looking into a mirror


Question: What is the MAJOR role of the Sun in the water cycle?
Answer:It causes evaporation.


Question: Which activity is an example of a chemical change?
Answer:burning wood to produce ashes


Question: A city has a temperature of 75 °F, with partly cloudy skies. Weather forecasters are predicting that the air pressure and temperature will drop during the day. Which type of weather is most likely for this area in the late afternoon?
Answer:rainy.


Question: In Maryland, most bears have thick, dark fur. Which statement best explains how dark fur helps bears survive in the forests of Maryland?
Answer:Dark fur helps bears hide.


Question: Nicole was studying different ecosystems. She compared the number of plants living in a forest to those in a desert. Which factor best explains why more plants may survive in a forest?
Answer:There is more rain in the forest.


Question: A short plant with a thick, fleshy stem, extensive roots, and a short blooming period would most likely be found in which of the following environments?
Answer:desert


Question: What happens when oil is placed in water?
Answer:The oil floats on top of the water.


Question: A decomposer is an organism that
Answer:breaks down dead plants and animals


Question: Which of the following correctly orders part of a fish's respiratory system from the least complex to most complex?
Answer:cells -> tissues -> gills


Question: Most birds sit on their eggs until they hatch. Which of these is the most important reason why birds sit on their eggs?
Answer:to keep the eggs warm


Question: A lab technician places a colony of bacterial cells in a nutrient-rich growth medium. Which event is the technician most likely to observe with a microscope?
Answer:cell division


Question: When sound waves with large amplitude are compared to sound waves with small amplitude, which of the following is true?
Answer:Sound waves with large amplitudes have more energy and sound louder.


Question: Vinegar and water are placed in a container and stirred. What is formed when they are mixed?
Answer:solution


Question: Which of the following best describes the climate of an area?
Answer:the average temperature and total precipitation each month for ten years


Question: Salt and pepper are placed together in a container. When the container is shaken, the salt and pepper become a
Answer:mixture.


Question: All natural resources on Earth are either renewable or nonrenewable. Whether a resource is renewable or nonrenewable depends on how fast or slow the resource is replaced. If the resource is used faster than it is replaced, then the resource will, in time, disappear. Which statement describes the use of a renewable natural resource?
Answer:A farmer plants different types of crops to protect the soil.


Question: Which of the following statements best explains why earthquakes occur more frequently in California than in Massachusetts?
Answer:California is located on the boundary of two crustal plates, but Massachusetts is not.


Question: Which of these describes a chemical change?
Answer:paper burning


Question: A large tree was cut down with a saw. What is the best way to estimate the age of this tree?
Answer:count the number of rings in the trunk


Question: From smallest to largest, the levels of organization in living things are
Answer:cells, tissues, organs, organ systems.


Question: Which object is nonliving?
Answer:bicycle


Question: What happens when oil and water are mixed?
Answer:The oil and water remain separate.


Question: Students measure the time for toy cars of different masses to roll down a hill. Which of the following units should the students use to measure time?
Answer:seconds


Question: A homeowner wants to use a renewable resource to heat the home. Which resource would be the best to use?
Answer:solar


Question: Which of the following animal features most helps the animal move around in its habitat?
Answer:A sea turtle's flippers


Question: A student observes cells in an object by using a microscope. The student thinks that the object was part of a living thing. Which statement explains why cell theory can be used to support the student's thinking?
Answer:Cell theory states that all living things are made of cells.


Question: A researcher observes that an organism placed in a glass container filled with water moves away when a penlight is focused on the container. The researcher concludes that the organism is light sensitive. Which other explanation for the organism's response to the light is most possible?
Answer:The organism moves away from heat sources.


Question: Which behavior is an example of an animal adapting to a change in the environment?
Answer:a bird migrating south


Question: Mitochondria are cell organelles that play a large role in energy processes within the body. Which cells are most likely to have a greater amount of mitochondria?
Answer:muscle


Question: Which would be the best method to use to dispose of cardboard boxes not utilized by a local grocery store?
Answer:have them recycled for future paper products


Question: Which item is used for protection from chemical splashing?
Answer:safety goggles


Question: Which processes change magma into igneous rock?
Answer:cooling and crystallization


Question: Sophie investigates the water supply at her school and the things that affect it. Which action is a direct observation?
Answer:tasting water from a water fountain


Question: Two identical books are on opposite ends of a table. Which of these would increase the gravitational force exerted between the two books?
Answer:decrease the distance between the books


Question: When a guitar string is plucked, sound is produced by
Answer:the vibrations of the string.


Question: What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?
Answer:absorbing light energy


Question: Which tool should a student use to compare the masses of two small rocks?
Answer:balance


Question: Which is an example of a chemical reaction?
Answer:Vinegar added to baking soda forms a gas.


Question: Which type of evidence would a geologist need to support plate tectonic theory?
Answer:new crust formed by the sea floor spreading


Question: An example of a learned trait is
Answer:being able to read


Question: Angelo wants to know if the volume of water changes when it freezes. He measures the volume of water in its liquid state and then freezes it. Which tool did Angelo most likely use to measure the volume of the water?
Answer:a graduated cylinder


Question: In order for a glider to fly, its weight must be opposed by
Answer:lift.


Question: Why does the leaf of a plant look green?
Answer:Because it reflects green light


Question: Which statement best describes the nature of sound?
Answer:Sound travels as longitudinal waves.


Question: Which of these provides most of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?
Answer:ocean phytoplankton


Question: A solution of lead (II) nitrate reacts with a solution of sodium iodide to produce a yellow solid of lead (II) iodide and aqueous sodium nitrate. Which of these illustrates the reaction?
Answer:Pb(NO_{3})_{2}(aq) + 2NaI(aq) -> PbI_{2}(s) + 2NaNO_{3}(aq)


Question: A meteoroid becomes a meteorite when it
Answer:impacts the surface of a planet.


Question: Which force causes rocks to roll downhill?
Answer:gravity


Question: Infectious diseases are caused by
Answer:microorganisms


Question: A water wave that occurs in an ocean is an example of which type of wave?
Answer:transverse


Question: Which of the following is an example of how insects are beneficial to humans?
Answer:Insects pollinate flowering plants.


Question: In a closed system, what happens to the total energy of the system as energy conversions take place?
Answer:It remains constant.


Question: Which of these organisms is a producer in a marine ecosystem?
Answer:algae


Question: Which of the following describes a reason why companies irradiate some fruits and vegetables before they are sold to the public?
Answer:to extend the shelf life by killing existing microorganisms


Question: A glacier is a slow moving river of ice. How does a glacier help create soil?
Answer:It scrapes small particles off large rocks.


Question: During winter months, Amina sometimes notices ice covering the hoods of parked cars. Once the engine of the car runs for a while, the ice on the hood begins to melt. What form of energy is released from the car engine to melt the ice?
Answer:heat


Question: A student notices dogs have more fleas in the summer than in the winter. Based on these observations, which is the most logical question for the student to investigate?
Answer:How does temperature affect the amount of fleas on dogs?


Question: According to the periodic table, all of the following are metals except
Answer:fluorine


Question: A squid is an animal that lives in the ocean. It pumps a stream of water out of its body, causing it to move rapidly. Which of the following mechanical systems moves in a way most similar to the squid?
Answer:a rocket


Question: When the wax from a candle drips, the wax has reached
Answer:its melting point.


Question: In the morning, students observed puddles of water all over the playground. What would best explain why the playground was dry in the afternoon?
Answer:The water evaporated during the day.


Question: Many areas of Massachusetts have small deep ponds called kettle ponds. Which of the following best explains the formation of these ponds?
Answer:glacial depression


Question: What relationship exists between a dog and its fleas?
Answer:parasitism


Question: Which of the following could limit the supply of a renewable resource?
Answer:cutting down trees in forests


Question: Which statement best describes the energy transformations that occur when a candle burns?
Answer:Chemical energy from the wax is converted into light and heat energy.


Question: Pesticides and fertilizers can help farmers to produce more crops. However, overuse of these chemicals can result in
Answer:environmental pollution


Question: What type of energy travels through the body of a microscope that allows the specimen to be seen by a student?
Answer:light


Question: A powder made up of both white specks and black specks is likely to be
Answer:a mixture


Question: In the past, wild hogs called "javelinas" were seen only in the southern part of New Mexico. Now, javelinas are seen in areas 100 miles further north. What is the most likely cause of this expansion?
Answer:Environmental conditions have changed.


Question: Which is the best example of a pure substance?
Answer:gold


Question: Which tool would best help a person observe the parts of a plant cell?
Answer:microscope


Question: The energy stored in the bonds of a glucose molecule during photosynthesis is in what form?
Answer:chemical


Question: What happens to water molecules during the boiling process?
Answer:They move faster and move farther apart as they absorb heat.


Question: Evidence suggests that there is a relationship between ancient dinosaurs and modern birds. Through time, each occurrence of a new trait most likely resulted from which of the following?
Answer:mutation of genes


Question: Which of the following can cause erosion?
Answer:flowing water


Question: Living things are classified as producers or consumers according to
Answer:how they obtain food


Question: A hydrologist studies the location, movement, and quality of water. A hydrologist recognizes the importance that water exists as ___.
Answer:a solid, a liquid, and a gas (vapor)


Question: Which of these can be recycled in an attempt to conserve resources?
Answer:aluminum


Question: This in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to rise. Which of the following observations supports that theory?
Answer:Carbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere absorbs and re-emits heat radiated from Earth's surface.


Question: Which of these can be mined from Earth and used as an energy source?
Answer:Coal


Question: Which tool is used to determine how long it takes warm water to melt an ice cube?
Answer:a stopwatch


Question: Two scientists doing the same experiment got different results. Which would be the best way to figure out which result might be correct?
Answer:More scientists should do the experiment.


Question: A lipid bilayer allows certain molecules to pass through and blocks other molecules. Which structure is most often protected by a lipid bilayer?
Answer:cell


Question: Traits are transferred from generation to generation through the
Answer:sperm and the egg


Question: Many scientists theorize that global warming will melt the polar ice caps. What would most likely happen if the polar ice caps melted?
Answer:Ocean levels would increase.


Question: Which of the following groups of organisms uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen?
Answer:producers


Question: What is the first step in designing a product?
Answer:identify the need or want


Question: Solids that are combined together and maintain their physical properties are best labeled as a
Answer:mixture.


Question: A group of vertebrates has lungs, a body covered with scales, internal fertilization, and amniotic eggs. Which group of vertebrates does this describe?
Answer:reptiles


Question: The brain, spinal cord, and nerves are organs that perform which primary function?
Answer:conducting messages to coordinate body functions


Question: Mammals must eliminate waste products that their bodies produce. Which organ helps mammals eliminate bodily waste?
Answer:kidney


Question: A pot is heated on a stove. Which process causes the metal handle of the pot to also become hot?
Answer:conduction


Question: In making a pizza, which process involves a chemical change?
Answer:baking the dough to form the crust


Question: Base your answers on the information below. One hot, summer day it rained very heavily. After the rain, a plastic pan on a picnic table had 2 cm of rainwater in it. Four hours later, all the rainwater in the pan was gone. Which process caused the rainwater in the pan to disappear as it sat outside in the hot air?
Answer:evaporation


Question: Which process must occur for clouds to form?
Answer:condensation


Question: In 1918, an outbreak of influenza infected 500,000 people all over the world. Tens of millions of those infected died. In 1994, an outbreak of pneumonic plague spread quickly through the city of Surat in India, killing 52 people. Which statement best describes the two events?
Answer:The influenza outbreak was a pandemic. The plague outbreak was an epidemic.


Question: On the periodic table, the elements in group 18 (8A) (helium, neon, argon, etc.) are grouped together because
Answer:they have full outer electron shells.


Question: Which of the following is a consumer?
Answer:rabbit


Question: Which statement explains why light from the Sun can warm up water in a glass?
Answer:Water absorbs light energy.


Question: Which characteristic is an example of learned behavior?
Answer:a dog scratching at a door to go out


Question: Which of these is a negative effect associated with some types of new technology?
Answer:decreased physical activity


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


Question: Sharpening a pencil and tearing paper are examples of physical changes. Which statement describes why these are physical changes?
Answer:There is a change in the appearance of the objects.


Question: Air in the atmosphere is heated unevenly by the sun, causing
Answer:wind patterns.


Question: Which sense is used to determine an object's texture?
Answer:touch


Question: Which statement describes a method of sexual reproduction that occurs in plants?
Answer:Seeds are produced from the flower of the plant.


Question: Campers shouted toward a canyon wall. What characteristic of sound best explains why the campers heard an echo?
Answer:Sound waves reflected off the canyon wall.


Question: A recent scientific study funded by a medical corporation concluded that its product is not as harmful as consumers have reported. Identify a possible problem with this study.
Answer:The results of the study may be influenced by bias.


Question: Nerve cells transmitting messages to the body best demonstrate which primary function?
Answer:the transfer of energy


Question: A drinking water reservoir for a small town develops a blue-green algae bloom. The town hires a company to eliminate the problem. Which of the following should the company investigate first as a likely source of the problem?
Answer:a neighborhood where lawn chemicals are used


Question: What travels through the stem of a plant?
Answer:water and food


Question: Which of these is an inherited behavior?
Answer:a spider spinning a web


Question: In 1987, a supernova was detected in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, which is approximately 169,000 light years from Earth. Which event produces a supernova?
Answer:the explosion of a massive star


Question: Extinction of a species is most likely to occur as a result of
Answer:environmental changes


Question: When water vapor rises and cools, the liquid water in the air comes together forming
Answer:clouds.


Question: Which of the following allows materials to enter and leave a cell?
Answer:cell membrane


Question: Sandy and Keith plan to move a 6-kilogram block. If they wanted to calculate the mechanical energy required to move the block, what units would they use to report their answer?
Answer:joules


Question: DNA stores the genetic instructions transferred from one generation to the next. What is DNA?
Answer:a molecule


Question: Which list is correctly ordered from smallest to largest?
Answer:Organism, population, community, ecosystem


Question: Which of the following has the greatest effect on the ability of soil to hold water?
Answer:the size of the soil particles


Question: The Water Quality Act of 1987 required the development of standards that would prevent toxic pollutants from reaching dangerous levels in bodies of water. This act affected the amounts of toxic chemicals that could be discharged into bodies of water. Which of the following would have been most regulated by this act?
Answer:paper mills


Question: Which element is necessary for the formation of coal?
Answer:decaying vegetation


Question: Some ancient Greeks tried to discover the laws of the universe through thought and logic. Which part of the scientific process were these scientists missing?
Answer:experiment


Question: Which best describes a characteristic of the jet stream?
Answer:It forms a boundary between a cold air mass and a warm air mass.


Question: Single-celled organisms can reproduce and create cells exactly like themselves without combining genes from two different parent cells. When they do this, they use a type of
Answer:asexual reproduction.


Question: Most stars are similar to each other in
Answer:composition.


Question: Which BEST explains why green marine algae are most often restricted to the top 100 meters of the ocean?
Answer:They can live only where there is light.


Question: Which of these locations in the solar system contains the most asteroids?
Answer:between Mars and Jupiter


Question: The body is able to detect pressure on its surface by which direct means?
Answer:signaling by sensory neurons


Question: Which of these is an organism that is unicellular?
Answer:amoeba


Question: Mark wants to make lemonade for his friends. He uses water, lemon juice, and sugar. Which of these best describes the lemonade?
Answer:a mixture


Question: Sandra puts some pill bugs into an open box. She covers half the box with a piece of cardboard. She then places the box outside on a summer day, and all the pill bugs move under the cardboard. The pill bugs are most likely responding to which of the following?
Answer:bright light


Question: During science class, students combined 1 kg of iron filings with 1 kg of sand to create a mixture. Which of the following methods would be best for separating the iron filings from the sand?
Answer:Drag a magnet through the mixture to attract the iron filings.


Question: Which is the thickest layer of Earth?
Answer:mantle


Question: Wind can cause erosion that changes the surface of the Earth. Wind erosion can have negative effects on the environment by removing soil and polluting the air during dust storms. Which of the following land forms are created by wind erosion?
Answer:sand dunes and arches


Question: Deer eat different types of plants in an ecosystem. Which method would best show the percentages of the plant types in the deer diet?
Answer:pie chart


Question: How does a human body get energy?
Answer:Food and oxygen combine to deliver energy.


Question: Some birds fly south before winter each year. This is an example of
Answer:migration


Question: Which system supports the body, protects internal organs, and makes blood cells?
Answer:skeletal system


Question: The smallest particle of an element is
Answer:an atom.


Question: A student is writing a report on volcanoes. What should the student include to best help explain how a volcano works?
Answer:a diagram showing the structure of a volcano


Question: Base your answer on the information below and on your knowledge of science. A baseball strikes the roof of a car and dents it. The paint on the roof begins to crack and chip, exposing the metal. The exposed metal on the roof rusts, eventually causing a small hole in the roof. Which event is a chemical change?
Answer:The exposed metal rusts.


Question: Which energy resource is renewable?
Answer:wind


Question: Which energy conversion process occurs whenever coal is burned?
Answer:chemical to thermal


Question: Claudia's teacher places a photograph of an organism on the board. He asks Claudia to determine if the organism is a plant or an animal. The answer to which question will best help Claudia determine if the organism is a plant or an animal?
Answer:Does the organism make its own food?


Question: Based on analysis of deep ice cores from the Arctic, scientists theorize that early humans caused air pollution. These scientists can make sure their data is correct by
Answer:analyzing more than one ice core.


Question: When a volcano erupts, dust and ash are blown into the atmosphere. The eruption directly reduces the transfer of energy from
Answer:the Sun to plants.


Question: Which change would most likely cause deer to die or leave a woodland?
Answer:a forest fire


Question: A student observes a glowing band across the night sky. This glowing band is most likely
Answer:a partial view of the Milky Way galaxy.


Question: What is the smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of that element?
Answer:an atom


Question: The longitude of a location determines which time zone it is in. Different time zones are the result of
Answer:Earth's rotation


Question: Which of these structures form when materials are deposited, buried, and cemented?
Answer:sedimentary rocks


Question: Earth is made of different layers that have varying characteristics. Which is the thickest layer?
Answer:the mantle


Question: Which are examples of inherited traits?
Answer:nose shape


Question: An object has a weight of 10 kg on the surface of Earth. If the same object were transported to the surface of Mars, the object would have a weight of 3.8 kg. Which best explains why the weight of the object changed when transported from Earth to Mars?
Answer:Gravitational force is greater on Earth than it is on Mars.


Question: Which characteristic can a puppy inherit from its parents?
Answer:spotted fur


Question: According to Darwin's theory of evolution, the variations among finches that he observed in the Galapagos Islands resulted from
Answer:natural selection.


Question: Jennifer has collected rocks while hiking. As she attempts to classify her rocks, which will she put in the pile of sedimentary rocks?
Answer:Rocks with visible pieces of shells in them


Question: Which form of energy is found in food?
Answer:chemical


Question: The Sun is a medium-sized star and is expected to continue to perform nuclear fusion for five billion years. What is most likely to be the final stage of the Sun?
Answer:white dwarf


Question: Which statement is the best description of the Milky Way galaxy?
Answer:a group of stars, dust, and planets held together by gravity


Question: When specific hormones are present in the blood of a hen, an egg is released from an ovary. Which two systems are involved with the release of an egg?
Answer:endocrine and reproductive systems


Question: Fossil records indicate that Earth was first inhabited by bacteria-like organisms. These organisms
Answer:were single-celled.


Question: Onions can reproduce from bulbs. One parent bulb generates daughter bulbs with duplicate genetic information. Which is the most likely advantage of this kind of reproduction?
Answer:Large quantities of individuals can be produced rapidly.


Question: Which action involving a pulley system requires the least amount of force?
Answer:using several pulleys together instead of a single pulley


Question: In which environment would a white rabbit be best protected from predators?
Answer:a snowy field


Question: Which form of energy is needed to change water from a liquid to a gas?
Answer:heat


Question: Which of these is a function of a leaf?
Answer:Converting solar energy into sugar


Question: Which of these is most likely to be spread when two people drink from the same water bottle?
Answer:strep throat


Question: The sum of all chemical reactions in the human body is known as
Answer:metabolism


Question: The water contained in a geyser system gains energy from the underground material surrounding it. The water molecules gain kinetic energy and this results in an increase in the pressure of the water. Eventually the geyser erupts and expels water into the air above ground. Which of the following types of energy is the source for the initial energy gain of the water?
Answer:thermal


Question: In a laboratory activity, four different types of rock were placed in identical acid solutions for one week. Each sample was then measured to see if any of the rock mass was dissolved by the acid solution. Which is the dependent (responding) variable in this activity?
Answer:the amount of dissolved rock


Question: Which cell structure carries out a function for a cell that is similar to the function that bark carries out for a tree?
Answer:cell wall


Question: The number of squirrels in a certain ecosystem changes over time. These changes can be represented as a number of connected data points. Which method would a student most likely use to show this information?
Answer:line graph


Question: Pedro shook a can of soda. When the soda was opened, foam and soda burst from the can. Which statement best explains what happened?
Answer:The gas pressure was released from the can.


Question: Where is most of Earth's water located?
Answer:oceans


Question: Investigations were performed to test several methods of keeping petals from falling off flowers that had been cut. Which is the most likely reason for this investigation?
Answer:to test a hypothesis


Question: Two seismographs are placed 500 km from an active fault line, one on each side of the active fault line. During an earthquake, what most likely accounts for the different readings on the seismographs?
Answer:the different media through which the waves travel


Question: Scientists dig in a dry area at the bottom of a mountain range. Fossilized shells of freshwater mussels are found in the area. Which is a likely conclusion that scientists will draw based on this evidence?
Answer:Rivers once flowed through the area.


Question: An apple appears red when struck by white light. This appearance is because the red light is reflected and the other colors are absorbed. What color will this apple appear to be when struck by blue light?
Answer:black


Question: In New York State, an observer will usually see the Sun rise in the
Answer:east


Question: Burning coal and natural gas are ways to produce electricity. Both coal and natural gas are nonrenewable resources. Which is an example of producing electricity using a renewable source of energy?
Answer:heating a home with energy collected by solar panels


Question: When liquid water freezes, it forms ice. What is the physical state of an ice cube?
Answer:solid


Question: A student uses a hand lens to observe which of these objects?
Answer:an insect


Question: Which type of rock would most likely contain a fossil?
Answer:sedimentary rock


Question: Some events on Earth happen instantly while others take thousands of years to occur. Which process takes the longest time to complete?
Answer:weathering of a rock to form small rocks and sand


Question: Where do many of the basic life functions take place in organisms?
Answer:cells


Question: Which physical structure would best help a bear to survive a winter in New York State?
Answer:thick fur


Question: What is made when sugar is dissolved in water?
Answer:a solution


Question: Gasoline for cars is produced from fossil fuels. Using gasoline can most likely lead to which environmental problem?
Answer:global warming


Question: Which of the following is a cause of the ocean levels periodically rising and then falling?
Answer:the force of gravity from the Moon


Question: A scientist is searching for areas where new solar systems might form. What feature is the scientist looking for?
Answer:a cloud of dust and gas


Question: About how often is a full moon observed from Earth's surface?
Answer:once a month


Question: When animals use energy, they produce
Answer:carbon dioxide


Question: Which would provide evidence of seafloor spreading?
Answer:cooled magma found on the edge of the plates


Question: Mitosis occurs in living things when a cell divides to produce two cells. Compared to the original cell, how many chromosomes are in each of the resulting cells?
Answer:the same number


Question: Which organ directly works to protect the human body from disease?
Answer:skin


Question: Steven went to a farm and picked a bright red tomato from a broken branch on the plant. The tomato had a rotten spot with a worm inside of it. Instead of eating the tomato, Steven decided to plant the seeds and grow new tomato plants. Which characteristic of the tomato plant is inherited and could change over several generations?
Answer:color of the skin


Question: Many leaves appear green because the leaves
Answer:reflect green light.


Question: Which of these is the best definition of heredity?
Answer:the passage of genetic information from one generation to the next


Question: Which of the following describes how a microwave oven heats food?
Answer:Water molecules in the food absorb the energy of microwave radiation.


Question: Which three systems of the human body function together to move and control body parts?
Answer:nervous, skeletal, and muscular


Question: Astronomers have found evidence for the existence of a super-massive black hole in the center of the giant elliptical galaxy M87. What is thought to cause black holes to form?
Answer:the collapse of a high-mass star


Question: A research team wanted to produce a smaller variety of German shepherd dogs. They mated the smallest dogs from different litters for several generations. This is an example of which concept?
Answer:selective breeding


Question: A class learns about weather. The students in the class measure the outside air temperature at the same time each day. Which way of measuring the temperature would provide the most accurate data?
Answer:recording the measurements from three thermometers


Question: Earth's magnetosphere is not uniformly shaped. It is compressed on the side facing the Sun and has a long tail extending away from the Sun. Which phenomenon is responsible for this shape?
Answer:solar winds bringing high-energy particles toward Earth


Question: Which living organism makes its own food using sunlight?
Answer:tree


Question: Who was the first person to base a system of classification on organisms having similar structures?
Answer:Linnaeus


Question: Which is a process that converts sunlight energy into a compound that stores chemical energy?
Answer:photosynthesis


Question: Which most likely contributed to the extinction of many species and endangered the survival of others?
Answer:habitat destruction


Question: Which is the most basic unit of living things?
Answer:Cells


Question: What are the two main jobs of the skeletal system?
Answer:support and protect the body


Question: Which is an example of a chemical change?
Answer:a nail rusting in water


Question: Which of these is a renewable resource found in Nevada?
Answer:geothermal energy


Question: Which two body systems are involved in inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide?
Answer:circulatory and respiratory


Question: Materials such as carbon and nitrogen go through cycles. The cycling of nitrogen waste materials is mostly dependent upon the role of which factor?
Answer:bacteria


Question: Which of these is unique to the process of scientific investigation?
Answer:collecting data in an experiment


Question: Which did Thomas Edison invent?
Answer:light bulb


Question: If soil is permeable
Answer:water easily flows through it.


Question: Sally is making candy on the stove. She places a thermometer in the candy. What is she measuring?
Answer:temperature


Question: Anthony and Zach want to know how the temperature of the air affects the temperature of lake water. Which type of tool should they use to measure the temperatures?
Answer:thermometer


Question: Which serve as evidence for a scientific theory?
Answer:observations


Question: Which of the following identifies the primary function of a radio station tower in a communication system?
Answer:transmitter


Question: Down feathers are used by many sleeping bag manufacturers because down feathers are
Answer:good insulators.


Question: A farmer sprayed his orange trees with a pesticide to eliminate the insects damaging the trees. Some of the insects survived and produced offspring that were also resistant to the insecticide. Which process is illustrated by the pesticide resistance of the offspring?
Answer:natural selection


Question: An elephant is a multicellular organism that weighs about 200 pounds at birth and can grow to weigh as much as 15,000 pounds. What increases as the elephant grows into an adult?
Answer:the number of cells in its body


Question: The human body is made up of organ systems that work together as one unit. Which systems work together to prepare and distribute food for cells?
Answer:digestive and circulatory


Question: The human body is composed of different systems made of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Each of these structures has a specific function that aids in the survival of the human species. Which organs are used in reproduction?
Answer:ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes


Question: Which type of organism is at the lowest level of the food chain?
Answer:autotroph


Question: Jake's cats eat food from a can. The cats come running into the kitchen when they hear the electric can opener. Now, each time Jake's mother opens a can of corn, the cats come running. This is an example of
Answer:learned behavior


Question: A team of surveyors takes measurements of ground altitude at horizontal intervals of 1 meter over a 400 square meter area. These measurements can best be used to produce which representation of the area?
Answer:a topographical map


Question: Some schools have programs to recycle paper products such as student papers, newspapers, and cardboard boxes. Which of these statements describes a positive effect of recycling paper products?
Answer:Fewer trees need to be cut.


Question: Light sometimes behaves as waves and other times as particles. Which property of light is equally explainable by treating light as either particles or waves?
Answer:reflection of light


Question: The topography of Nevada is dominated by basins and mountain ranges associated with which geological phenomena?
Answer:faults


Question: Which biological activity occurs in a repeated rhythm?
Answer:breathing


Question: Which model best illustrates the wave property that enables scientists to explore Earth's interior using seismic waves?
Answer:shining a light through a prism


Question: In 1933, a hurricane came ashore at Ocean City, Maryland. A hurricane negatively affects a coastline by
Answer:causing erosion


Question: Which statement describes the location of our Sun in the universe?
Answer:Our Sun is the center of a solar system in the Milky Way galaxy.


Question: Scientists claim that the area around the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean. What evidence would support their claim?
Answer:Fossils of ocean animals were found at the Grand Canyon.


Question: Which is true of scientific discoveries?
Answer:Sometimes scientific discoveries are made by accident, like the discovery of penicillin.


Question: Which is a process that most likely formed the Appalachian Mountains found in the eastern part of North America?
Answer:plate tectonics


Question: Which technology used to generate electrical power involves a trade-off between economical electricity and long-term waste disposal problems?
Answer:nuclear reactor


Question: All the ponds in an area dried up during a drought. The population of which of the following animals that live in the area is most affected by the drought?
Answer:frog


Question: Which substance is usually found in nature as a liquid, solid, and gas?
Answer:water


Question: The scientific name for a giraffe is Giraffa camelopardalis. What two levels of classification does this name represent?
Answer:genus and species


Question: The Moon has the greatest effect on Earth's
Answer:ocean tides


Question: Granite is classified as a rock because it
Answer:is made of minerals.


Question: The measure of the amount of light received on Earth from a star is known as
Answer:apparent magnitude.


Question: Heat from deep in Earth's interior is transferred to its crust by which of the following?
Answer:convection in the mantle


Question: The growth of which of the following usually occurs first in primary succession on a bare rock?
Answer:Lichens


Question: The process by which water vapor in the atmosphere cools and becomes a liquid is called
Answer:condensation.


Question: A student is dropping objects of various sizes and shapes and recording the time it takes for each object to hit the ground. Which question is the student most likely trying to answer?
Answer:Do some objects fall more quickly than others?


Question: Which two processes in the water cycle are primarily responsible for the creation of a lake?
Answer:precipitation and runoff


Question: The correct procedure after completing a laboratory experiment is to
Answer:collect and store recyclable material.


Question: Which is an example of primary ecological succession?
Answer:lichen growth on rocks


Question: What is true of mutualistic relationships among organisms?
Answer:The organisms cooperate with each other.


Question: Carolina uses a microscope to view a soil sample taken from her backyard. Which part of the soil would she ONLY be able to see with a microscope?
Answer:bacteria


Question: The part of the rock cycle that transforms compressed rock formed from sea organism shells into a harder, denser rock is
Answer:sedimentary rock becoming metamorphic rock.


Question: A group of scientists predicts that Earth's oceans will be able to take up more carbon dioxide as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase and the atmosphere warms. Which of these statements about the solubility of gases in ocean water would lead you to question this prediction?
Answer:Solubility decreases with an increase in temperature.


Question: Which of the following elements is best able to combine with itself and hydrogen [H] to form large molecules?
Answer:carbon [C]


Question: Growing thicker fur in the winter helps some animals to
Answer:keep warm


Question: Several types of mechanisms in the body regulate the rate of chemical reactions in the digestive system. Among the most important are feedback systems, which control the release rate of
Answer:enzymes.


Question: The water in a pond gets colder one night. Which tool is best to observe its temperature change?
Answer:thermometer


Question: During subduction, one tectonic plate is forced below another. The subducting plate is forced into the
Answer:asthenosphere.


Question: What two gases make up most of the Earth's atmosphere?
Answer:Oxygen and nitrogen


Question: A light-year is a measure of
Answer:distance.


Question: Some birds live in a forest. If many of the trees in the forest are cut down, the shelter for the birds will
Answer:decrease


Question: In the human body, cellular respiration breaks down sugar molecules after they enter the cell. What results from this process?
Answer:release of energy


Question: What causes a person to have blue eyes?
Answer:receiving a gene for blue eyes from each parent


Question: When an atom loses or gains an electron, it changes
Answer:charge.


Question: In which pair of elements are both metalloids?
Answer:Sb and Te


Question: Florida has a large supply of phosphate that ancient seas deposited millions of years ago. The phosphate contains the remains of animals that were deposited in layers on the sea floor. Which type of rock did the phosphate become?
Answer:organic sedimentary


Question: After months of studying and obtaining data on the behavior of birds, biologists from around the world will look at the data and
Answer:come up with several possible interpretations.


Question: Which mixture can be easily separated by adding water and pouring it through a coffee filter?
Answer:salt and sand


Question: Living things depend on energy from
Answer:the Sun


Question: Research into the total amount of oil available for use around the world can affect what kind of human choice?
Answer:how to travel to work


Question: Hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to produce a saltwater solution. What are the products of this chemical reaction?
Answer:NaCl and H_{2}O


Question: Which human activity most often has a harmful effect on the environment?
Answer:polluting


Question: Young frogs do not resemble adult frogs. Which term is given to this pattern of development in frogs?
Answer:metamorphosis


Question: Bones support the body. What pulls and pushes on bones to move them?
Answer:muscles


Question: Which statement best describes why a calcium-fortified juice would advertise that it is good for growing children?
Answer:Calcium helps the growth of bones.


Question: Which of these tectonic plate boundaries is most likely to form a volcano?
Answer:an oceanic plate colliding into a continental plate


Question: Which of the following is an example of heat transfer by conduction?
Answer:a whole metal spoon getting hot when one end is in hot soup


Question: Alicia gives her brother a push while he is seated on a swing. She finds that after a few seconds, she needs to push again to keep him going. The reason her brother slows down is because the mechanical energy is converted into
Answer:thermal energy that is released into the atmosphere.


Question: An example of a learned behavior is a
Answer:dog laying down on command.


Question: An atom consists of a nucleus surrounded by
Answer:electrons.


Question: Which of these causes the atmosphere to change?
Answer:increased buildup of greenhouse gases


Question: Which element is most likely to form an ion with a negative 2 charge?
Answer:oxygen


Question: Mount St. Helens was a cone-shaped mountain that formed when molten material reached the surface of Earth and formed layers. Cone-shaped mountains form as a result of which one of these events?
Answer:volcanic eruptions


Question: Which process in the water cycle would be accelerated by an increase in temperature?
Answer:evaporation


Question: Which of the following foods is highest in polysaccharides?
Answer:potatoes


Question: Colored alcohol is used in some glass thermometers. When placed in air of different temperatures, the column of alcohol rises or falls in the glass thermometer. Which of the following best explains why the height of the alcohol column changes?
Answer:The alcohol expands more than the glass when heated.


Question: An organism, such as a nematode worm, may have only 1000 cells. It should be classified as being
Answer:multicellular.


Question: The Heliocentric Theory, as supported by Copernicus, revolutionized scientific theories regarding
Answer:the solar system.


Question: Which process causes the leaves of a plant to become larger?
Answer:growth


Question: Wind changes the surface of Earth. Which of these land formations is a result of transportation and deposition by wind?
Answer:a sand dune


Question: Water moves by capillary action through soil from moist areas to dry areas. Which property of water is most responsible for this capillary action?
Answer:Water has a high surface tension.


Question: Which action is the best method to separate a mixture of salt and water?
Answer:boiling the mixture until the water evaporates


Question: In humans, a trait can be determined by one pair or many pairs of
Answer:genes


Question: Which animal develops inside its mother before it is born alive?
Answer:Cat


Question: Which sequence correctly shows the levels of organization for structure and function in a human?
Answer:cell -> tissue -> organ -> organ system


Question: Which adaptation allows a fish to get oxygen underwater?
Answer:gills


Question: The number of daylight hours in New York State changes with the
Answer:season of the year


Question: Which instrument would be used when studying a unit on amphibian anatomy?
Answer:a dissecting kit


Question: Which is a reason for Arkansas having multiple seasons?
Answer:the tilt of Earth's axis


Question: Jessica watches the Sun set in the evening sky. What causes the setting of the Sun?
Answer:Earth is rotating on its axis.


Question: To which planet do National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists hope to send humans next?
Answer:Mars


Question: Which force keeps the planets in their orbits around the Sun?
Answer:gravity


Question: The endangered Florida manatee is a large, aquatic mammal that feeds on sea grasses in brackish water. Due to where they like to feed, manatees are vulnerable to injuries from boat propellers. If speed zones requiring boats to maintain a low speed are placed in areas where manatees are known to congregate, which will most likely occur?
Answer:manatee populations will increase


Question: Which is an example of a different substance being formed?
Answer:wood burning


Question: A mixture of powdered iron and sulfur is heated. What will be formed?
Answer:a compound


Question: Scientists can identify an element by looking at the structure of a single
Answer:atom.


Question: Newly made proteins are modified in which organelle?
Answer:endoplasmic reticulum


Question: Which of the following is the primary advantage of sexual reproduction when compared to asexual reproduction?
Answer:There is greater genetic variety in offspring.


Question: By attaching to sharks, remora fish eat the scraps of food left behind when the sharks feed. If remoras were not able to attach to sharks, they would most likely
Answer:not be able to survive.


Question: Plants need a source of energy in order to perform photosynthesis. From which source do plants receive the energy needed to perform photosynthesis?
Answer:sunlight


Question: What form of energy is stored in a battery?
Answer:chemical


Question: When a light bulb is turned on, energy changes from one form to another. Which of the following best describes this change?
Answer:electrical energy to light energy


Question: Which stimulus causes a porcupine to extend its quills?
Answer:threatening behavior by predators


Question: When a balloon is filled with air and suddenly released, it will fly around the room as the air escapes. If compared to space transportation, the escaping air is most similar to what subsystem of a spacecraft?
Answer:propulsion


Question: The Sun appears larger than other stars because of its
Answer:distance from Earth


Question: How hot is it on the surface of the Sun?
Answer:Much hotter than almost anything on Earth


Question: Which two observations are both used to describe weather?
Answer:temperature and sky conditions


Question: A scientist combines oxygen and hydrogen to form water. This combination illustrates that water is
Answer:a compound.


Question: In a large forest with many animals, there are only a small number of bears. Which of these most likely limits the population of bears in the forest?
Answer:supply of food


Question: There is a thunderstorm close to your house. The windows rattle at the same time that you hear the thunder. What causes the windows to rattle?
Answer:Sound waves from the thunder


Question: Rocks in warm and humid environments can be weathered faster than rocks in other environments. Which is most likely the next step in the rock cycle for weathered rocks?
Answer:They become eroded.


Question: If the solar system were used as a model of an atom, what would the Sun most likely represent?
Answer:a nucleus


Question: A student provides the following directions for brushing teeth: • Turn on the water. • Fill the glass with water and leave the water running. • Put toothpaste on the toothbrush. • Brush for two minutes. • Rinse mouth with the water from the glass. • Rinse the toothbrush with the running water. • Turn off the water. Which change in these directions would conserve the most water?
Answer:Turn the water off before brushing.


Question: Which of these shows the correct order for the central dogma of molecular biology?
Answer:DNA to RNA to protein


Question: Meiosis contributes to the process of reproduction by producing what type of cell?
Answer:haploid


Question: The abundance of a mineral at the surface of Earth most likely depends upon the
Answer:types of elements available in the crust.


Question: Which has the greatest effect on aiding the movement of blood through the human body?
Answer:gravity


Question: Why should scientists wear goggles during experiments?
Answer:to protect their eyes


Question: Which of the following organisms produces energy from sunlight?
Answer:grass


Question: Which statement is true for all objects?
Answer:All objects have mass.


Question: Elements in the same column of the Periodic Table of the Elements all
Answer:have similar physical characteristics.


Question: What is the main function of scales on a fish?
Answer:to protect the fish


Question: Which invention made mass production possible?
Answer:the assembly line


Question: What causes a meteoroid to glow as it falls through the atmosphere of Earth?
Answer:friction


Question: The cheetah population around the world has decreased because of poaching and loss of habitat. The surviving population is found to have similar alleles. Which factor is endangering the species' survival the most?
Answer:shrinking of the gene pool


Question: What is generated when the students count and record the number of organisms in the pond water?
Answer:data


Question: The Mariana Trench is the deepest ocean trench on Earth. This trench occurs at a plate boundary where
Answer:one plate is being forced beneath another.


Question: Students want to find out at which temperature bean plants grow tallest. Which science process skill would be used to find this temperature?
Answer:measuring


Question: When would the highest tides occur along the Texas coast?
Answer:during a full moon


Question: Sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) combine to form sodium chloride (NaCl), which is commonly known as
Answer:table salt.


Question: It rained on a hot summer afternoon and a puddle formed. After several hours, the puddle was gone. Which two processes made the puddle form and then disappear?
Answer:precipitation followed by evaporation


Question: Which environmental problem was directly caused by the invention of the automobile?
Answer:increase in air pollution


Question: At some places in Florida, sand on the beaches is being reduced. New sand is brought from other areas and spread on the beaches. What process causes this reduction to the beach sand?
Answer:erosion


Question: Which characteristic of a volvox colony makes it more like a multicellular organism than a simple cluster of unicellular organisms?
Answer:Some cells in the colony are specialized for reproduction.


Question: Students are investigating which type of fruit attracts the most fruit flies. Equally sized pieces of ripe apple, peach, and banana are placed in separate containers. The containers allow fruit flies to enter, but the fruit flies are unable to escape. The containers are placed outside on a picnic table for two days. The most reliable method for collecting data is to count the number of fruit flies
Answer:on all three types of fruit every two hours


Question: Malaria is a common disease in many countries. What is the cause of this disease?
Answer:a parasite


Question: Mold is often found growing on old bread. In a food chain, mold is a ___.
Answer:decomposer


Question: Which form of energy are x rays and ultraviolet light?
Answer:electromagnetic


Question: Which of these geographic features most directly influences the climate of Nevada by limiting the amount of water vapor that can reach the state and fall as rain?
Answer:Sierra Nevada Mountains


Question: Cells come in two basic types, prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Which cell structure is found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Answer:cytoplasm


Question: From which part of the plant does a bee get food?
Answer:flower


Question: As Earth revolves around the Sun, the number of daylight hours varies from place to place. In which location would the number of daylight hours remain constant?
Answer:Equator


Question: Why does tapping a fork against a water glass produce a sound?
Answer:The particles in the objects vibrate.


Question: A student places a sheet of black construction paper on her desk. What happens to most of the light that strikes the black construction paper?
Answer:The light is absorbed by the paper.


Question: Which of these groups animals are ALL mammals?
Answer:mouse, monkey, bat


Question: Which part of a plant cell is responsible for controlling the activities of the other parts of the cell?
Answer:Nucleus


Question: All metabolic functions fall into one of two categories: a breaking down process (catabolic) or a building up process (anabolic). Which is an example of an anabolic process?
Answer:protein synthesis


Question: Clearing forests of trees and vegetation for human development can have major impacts on the ecosystem. Which would most likely occur after a forested area is cleared?
Answer:an increase in soil erosion


Question: Which of these is the most responsible for the changes of the seasons on Earth?
Answer:Tilt of Earth on its axis


Question: Turning off the light when leaving a room is an example of
Answer:conserving energy.


Question: Which list contains only things that are part of our solar system?
Answer:planets, moons, comets


Question: A family installs a new heating system in their home. Which is the most desirable result of the new heating system?
Answer:decreasing the amount of energy used


Question: The Andes Mountains in South America formed when an oceanic plate shifted beneath a continental plate. Which other landforms are usually associated with this type of plate boundary?
Answer:ocean trenches


Question: Which of the following animals goes through metamorphosis?
Answer:frog


Question: Which group of organisms can make food by a process called chemosynthesis?
Answer:producers


Question: Which of these are broken down during chemical, but not physical, changes?
Answer:compounds


Question: Fossils of clam shells were found in the Appalachian Mountains. Which of these statements best explains why the clam shells were found in the Appalachian Mountains?
Answer:The mountain range was once under water.


Question: When a formula unit of magnesium sulfide, MgS, is separated into magnesium and sulfur particles, the particles are called
Answer:ions.


Question: Which action is an example of an exothermic process?
Answer:making ice cubes


Question: Which best explains why some reptiles and amphibians lay an abundance of eggs?
Answer:It increases the chance of some eggs surviving to hatch.


Question: Which is the best example of recycling?
Answer:using aluminum cans to make new products


Question: When two objects are touching, heat is transferred from the warmer object to the cooler one by
Answer:conduction.


Question: Genes code for specifically structured
Answer:proteins.


Question: What is the repeating monomer of a DNA molecule?
Answer:nucleotide


Question: The range of all forms of radiant energy is called the
Answer:electromagnetic spectrum.


Question: Which of the following is one reason that quartz is classified as a mineral?
Answer:It has a specific crystal structure.


Question: Which of the following activities is the best example of instinctive behavior in an animal?
Answer:A newly hatched sea turtle walks toward the ocean.


Question: If wolves prey on deer for food, what will most likely happen to the deer population if wolves are removed from an area where deer live?
Answer:The population of deer will increase.


Question: Which is a feedback mechanism the human body uses to maintain homeostasis?
Answer:perspiring to lower the body temperature


Question: Changes to Earth's surface can happen slowly or quickly. Which of these changes happens the most quickly?
Answer:a storm moving a sandbar


Question: What event happens in a daily cycle?
Answer:high and low tides


Question: The burning of fossil fuels has added pollutants that contain sulfur atoms to the air. These pollutants have contributed to which of the following?
Answer:acid rain


Question: A scientist was examining a large boulder that was covered with lichens (a combination of fungi and algae). He chipped a piece of the rock and placed it under a microscope. He observed that the surface of the rock was breaking down underneath the lichen. Which was the scientist most likely observing?
Answer:the effects of chemical weathering


Question: Which organism belongs in the kingdom Protista?
Answer:paramecium


Question: How is the structure of an atom best described?
Answer:a positive core surrounded by mostly empty space


Question: What do producers need to make food?
Answer:sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide


Question: Fish can live in lakes that are frozen because liquid water remains below the ice at the surface. Which of these describes a property of water that allows some liquid water to remain in frozen lakes?
Answer:Water is less dense as a solid than as a liquid.


Question: A certain disease of the spinal cord can be passed on from a dog to its offspring. This disease can result in the dog's muscles becoming weak, leading to paralysis. This is an example of
Answer:an inherited disease.


Question: Paula determines a property of a marble using a balance and a graduated cylinder. What property is Paula most likely determining by using both tools?
Answer:density


Question: Why do satellites and spacecraft launched from Earth need to reach a specific speed to escape Earth's surface?
Answer:to overcome Earth's gravitational force


Question: Which of these is a nonliving part of a forest?
Answer:Soil


Question: Which change increases the rate of a chemical reaction?
Answer:increasing the reaction temperature


Question: Which characteristic is found ONLY in mammals?
Answer:glands that make milk


Question: The relationship between an owl and a mouse is a
Answer:predator-prey relationship.


Question: The heart, veins, arteries, and capillaries make up which organ system?
Answer:circulatory


Question: Some kinds of fish live most of their lives in salt water but lay their eggs in freshwater. Their ability to survive in different environments is an example of
Answer:adaptation


Question: Which of the following statements applies to all states of matter?
Answer:Matter is made up of particles called atoms.


Question: Which process in the water cycle returns water from the surface of Earth to the atmosphere?
Answer:evaporation


Question: Which of the following organisms have the greatest effect on an ecosystem because of the changes they make to their environment?
Answer:beavers building a dam across a stream


Question: Which inventor had the greatest impact on the development of artificial light?
Answer:Thomas Edison


Question: Mounds and ridges in the Snake Range area of Nevada are composed of boulders, sand, and gravel. These landforms were most likely formed by
Answer:melting glaciers.


Question: Noah studied different systems in the human body. Which best describes a function of veins in the circulatory system?
Answer:carrying blood from the body to the heart


Question: A genetic mutation has caused the fur color of field mice to contrast with their environment. This type of mutation will most likely
Answer:harm the mice.


Question: Ella has several wooden blocks. When Ella holds the blocks in her hand, she feels that they are rough. Which term best describes what Ella feels?
Answer:an observation


Question: Which is most likely a cancer treatment?
Answer:a drug that kills only rapidly dividing cells


Question: What happens to the physical state of water when it freezes?
Answer:expands


Question: When electric current flows through the metal filament of a light bulb, electrical energy is converted to
Answer:heat and light energy.


Question: At night, the Moon is the brightest object in the sky. Where does the Moon's light come from?
Answer:The Moon reflects light from the Sun.


Question: Strong winds have the ability to uproot large trees in a wooded area. Which of these organisms would most likely benefit from this change in a habitat?
Answer:a plant that needs sunlight to grow


Question: Residential construction is expanding in Florida. The expansion has caused fragmentation of habitats. One of the results of the increased construction is a decrease in the number of large predators such as the coyote, black bear, and panther. Which will be the most immediate local result of this fragmentation?
Answer:increase in population of prey species


Question: Which of these resources is renewable?
Answer:wind


Question: Which property of air does a barometer measure?
Answer:pressure


Question: Which measurement represents the mass of an object?
Answer:35 grams


Question: The primary function of insulin in our bodies is to
Answer:regulate the amount of glucose in the blood.


Question: Which type of organism is the best at fixing nitrogen?
Answer:bacteria


Question: A scientist studies how weathering and erosion can change the shape of a mountain. The scientist needs to collect information over what period of time to gather the most accurate information?
Answer:years


Question: Many types of organisms live in a meadow. With the introduction of a large, swift-moving predator into the meadow ecosystem, which group of organisms will MOST likely have an advantage of surviving and reproducing?
Answer:rabbits that can run the fastest


Question: The systems of the human body work together. Which system works with the skeletal system by pulling on the bones to create movement?
Answer:muscular


Question: Scientists Stanley Miller and Harold Urey sealed water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen in a flask, to simulate Earth's early environment. They exposed the chemicals to electric charges to simulate lighting. What did the process produce?
Answer:amino acids


Question: Many birds fly south for the winter. This adaptation is called
Answer:migration


Question: Air is made up of many gases. Which gas is found in the greatest amount?
Answer:Nitrogen


Question: Biotic forces can cause changes to the surface of Earth. Which is the best example of living organisms causing weathering?
Answer:Tree seedlings growing and forming cracks in rocks.


Question: The digestion process begins in which of the following?
Answer:mouth


Question: Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is best to use when making this determination?
Answer:index fossil


Question: In pea plants, tall is dominant over short. What size pea plants will result when a pure tall plant is crossed with a pure short plant?
Answer:tall plants


Question: One way animals usually respond to a sudden drop in temperature is by
Answer:shivering


Question: The continental crust floats on top of the mantle because the crust is
Answer:less dense than the mantle.


Question: Joanne wants to investigate factors that affect different patterns of the flight of bees. Which step in the scientific method must she follow before forming a hypothesis?
Answer:gather information about flight patterns


Question: Which set contains kingdoms that contain only heterotrophs?
Answer:Animals, Fungi


Question: Chromosomes contain the genetic information of an organism. Fruit flies reproduce by sexual reproduction. Most of the cells of a fruit fly have 8 chromosomes. Which statement best explains the source of the chromosomes in a normal fertilized fruit fly egg?
Answer:The sperm cell provides 4 chromosomes and the egg cell provides 4 chromosomes.


Question: Which weather instrument measures air pressure?
Answer:barometer


Question: A volcano under the ocean slowly releases lava over time. As the lava is released, it cools and hardens on the ocean floor. Which feature will most likely form from the release and cooling of the lava on the ocean floor over time?
Answer:an island


Question: The main function of a duck's webbed feet is to help the duck
Answer:swim in water


Question: Which is a quick process that can form new land near an ocean?
Answer:volcano erupting


Question: Which of these features of Earth's crust are caused by the shifting of tectonic plates?
Answer:mid-ocean ridges


Question: Which of the following helps the leaves break down after they have fallen off the tree?
Answer:decomposers


Question: Where are proteins synthesized?
Answer:ribosomes


Question: When compared to current average conditions, which term would best describe conditions in Earth's lower atmosphere if greenhouse gases were absent?
Answer:cooler


Question: Plumes of water vapor have been observed rising from the southern polar region of Enceladus, one of the moons of Saturn. A team of scientists proposed an explanation for the plumes and developed a model. They also published calculations based on their model. These calculations would most likely be used for which purpose in future research?
Answer:evaluating similar events


Question: If water gets into the crack of a rock and then freezes, the rock will MOST likely
Answer:break apart


Question: Which organisms form the base of all ecosystems?
Answer:producers


Question: Martin is writing a report for science class about how the tilt of Earth affects living organisms. Which subject should Martin include in his report that is directly affected by Earth's tilt?
Answer:changing of the seasons


Question: In what way do transit systems, such as buses, benefit society?
Answer:by reducing the amount of pollution


Question: Increased nutrient levels in lakes can cause ecological changes that result in the death of many fish. At what point in the hydrological cycle are most nutrients deposited into lakes?
Answer:runoff


Question: Which of these cell parts contain instructions for the passage of traits from one generation to the next?
Answer:chromosomes


Question: Which action causes a chemical change?
Answer:leaves being burned in a fire


Question: Which type of organism would most likely benefit directly from increased levels of CO_{2}?
Answer:tree


Question: When the lighted half of the Moon faces the Sun and the dark half faces Earth, the phase of the Moon viewed from Earth is called the
Answer:new moon.


Question: The flower petals of a hydrangea plant change color as the acidity of the soil changes. The color changes are directly related to which factor?
Answer:environmental conditions


Question: What is significant about the discovery of water on Mars?
Answer:It provides evidence there may be life on Mars.


Question: A teacher places an item in a box. The item takes the shape of the entire container. This item is most likely
Answer:air.


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


Question: During which of the processes below does water vapor change to liquid water?
Answer:condensation


Question: Which technological advancement has done the most to improve the accuracy of weather predictions?
Answer:satellites


Question: An important rule for students to know when heating a test tube is to
Answer:point the mouth of the test tube away from others.


Question: How would a drought most likely affect the plants of a grassy plain?
Answer:There would be shorter plants.


Question: The brain and spinal cord are parts of which body system?
Answer:nervous


Question: Chromosome mutations involve the deletion or duplication of many genes. The effects of chromosome mutations are often much greater than mutations within a single gene, because chromosome mutations
Answer:can cause abnormal development of the offspring.


Question: What will most likely result when the jet stream moves south of North Carolina?
Answer:North Carolina will experience cold weather.


Question: Estuaries in Florida often have mangrove trees growing in them. The roots of the mangrove trees slow the flow of the water, which allows soil particles to settle. If people were allowed to remove the mangrove trees, how would the estuary environment most likely be affected?
Answer:The amounts of nutrients in the water would decrease.


Question: Which sense can be used to determine an object's ability to reflect light?
Answer:sight


Question: The North America Nebula is named for its similarity in shape to the North American continent. It was discovered within the Milky Way by astronomer William Herschel in 1790. What was Mr. Herschel most likely observing?
Answer:a cloud of hydrogen gas and dust where stars are born


Question: Which animals are most likely to carry the seeds found in berries from the parent plant to another area?
Answer:birds


Question: All rocks are composed of
Answer:minerals


Question: In some dry areas, large amounts of water have been pumped from underground sources where water has been naturally stored for thousands of years. If the water is not replaced, what type of land feature is most likely to result?
Answer:desert


Question: Which scientist studied biology by traveling by ship to different islands observing animal life, and developed a hypothesis about how species change?
Answer:Charles Darwin


Question: How does a student best avoid becoming dehydrated during a field investigation on a hot day?
Answer:drink water from a bottle


Question: The primary function of a doorbell circuit is to convert electrical energy into
Answer:sound.


Question: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow. A lunar eclipse can only occur during a
Answer:full moon.


Question: A recent study concluded that about 90% of all large predatory fish such as tuna have disappeared from the world's oceans in the past 50 years. Which of these is most likely the direct cause of this loss?
Answer:Commercial harvesting from the ocean


Question: When an ice cube melts, its state of matter changes from a
Answer:solid to a liquid


Question: In which way are evaporation and condensation similar?
Answer:Both are caused by changes in heat energy.


Question: The surface of a heated metal object measures 120°C. It is dropped into a bucket filled with water measuring 10°C. Which of the following is most likely to occur?
Answer:The water and metal will adjust to the same temperature between 10°C and 120°C.


Question: In order to record the passing of a distant comet, which instruments would be the most useful?
Answer:telescope with camera attachment and camera


Question: Temperature is the measurement of which type of energy?
Answer:kinetic


Question: Scientists are discovering ways to make some crops use less water. A person working in which job would most benefit from this research?
Answer:a farmer


Question: Stem cells are cells that can differentiate into many different kinds of cells. Scientists have discovered that the environment supporting the cells influences stem-cell differentiation. For example, stem cells grown on strong, flexible surfaces became muscle cells. What most likely happened to stem cells grown on a hard, rigid surface?
Answer:They became bone cells.