General Knowledge
Force of Motion
Ecosystem
Weather
Heat Transfer
Human Body
100
Daniel’s cat had five kittens. Three are brown and two are a brown and
black mix. Which can be concluded about the kittens’ parents?
A. Both the mother and father are black.
B. Both the mother and father are brown.
C. The kittens got their color from both their parents.
D. The kittens got their color from their environment.
C. The kittens got their color from both their parents.
100
After throwing a basketball through the net, Anna observed the ball as it hit the ground. Which is most likely responsible for the ball hitting the ground?
A. friction
B. gravity
C. mass
D. speed
B. gravity
100
Which best describes the differences between an ocean and a lake ecosystem?
A. an ocean ecosystem is brackish water; a lake ecosystem is freshwater
B. an ocean ecosystem is salt water; a lake ecosystem is brackish water
C. an ocean ecosystem is salt water; a lake ecosystem is freshwater
D. an ocean ecosystem is freshwater; a lake ecosystem is salt water
C. an ocean ecosystem is salt water; a lake ecosystem is freshwater
100
Sandy wanted to take pictures of cirrus clouds at school; however, the
morning weather report indicated a low-pressure system over her area.
Why will Sandy have to wait to see cirrus clouds?
A. because low-pressure systems generally bring cool, dry air
B. because low-pressure systems generally bring fair weather
C. because low-pressure systems generally do not bring clouds
D. because low-pressure systems generally bring rainy weather
D. because low-pressure systems generally bring rainy weather
100
Which causes surface water in a lake to heat up during the hot summer?
A. conduction
B. convection
C. evaporation
D. radiation
D. radiation
100
For which function do the respiratory and muscular systems need to work together?
A. hearing sounds
B. processing thoughts
C. making new blood cells
D. removing waste from the body
D. removing waste from the body
200
How does a decrease in temperature turn water vapor back into a liquid?
A. through condensation
B. through transpiration
C. through precipitation
D. through evaporation
A. through condensation
200
Chris climbs onto a skateboard ramp halfway between the top and the bottom of the ramp. Because gravity acts on Chris, which is most likely to happen?
A. He won’t move.
B. He will roll up the ramp.
C. He will roll down the ramp.
D. He will float above the ramp.
C. He will roll down the ramp.
200
This food chain shows organisms in a classroom aquarium. 
Which would benefit if the snail living in the aquarium were removed?
A. algae
B. crayfish
C. fish
D. plant
A. algae
200
Blake’s afternoon baseball game should start soon, but he is worried that it will be cancelled due to the weather. The sky is overcast with cumulonimbus clouds. Which will most likely happen to Blake’s baseball game?
A. It will be played as expected because the clouds will leave the area soon.
B. It will be played in the afternoon because it will hail for the rest of the day.
C. It will be postponed until evening because there will be an afternoon thunderstorm.
D. It will be cancelled and rescheduled for the next day because it will rain for the rest of the day.
C. It will be postponed until evening because there will be an afternoon thunderstorm.
200
Which best describes heat transfer due to convection?
A. It occurs with direct contact.
B. It occurs only during the day.
C. It occurs with movement of a fluid.
D. It occurs only when something is burning.
C. It occurs with movement of a fluid.
200
Which is the order of cellular organization from least to most complex in multicellular organisms?
A. cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
B. tissue, cell, organ, organ system, organism
C. cell, organ, tissue, organ system, organism
D. organism, organ, organ system, tissue, cell
A. cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
300
A balloon with a mass of 5 grams is blown up and popped. If all the pieces are weighed what would be their total mass?
A. 2.5 grams
B. 5 grams
C. 7.5 grams
D. 10 grams
B. 5 grams
300
How will the force needed to move an object be affected if the mass of the object changes from 100 kilograms to 200 kilograms?
A. The force needed to move the object would be tripled.
B. The force needed to move the object would be doubled.
C. The force needed to move the object would remain the same.
D. The force needed to move the object would be reduced by half.
B. The force needed to move the object would be doubled.
300
This diagram shows a simple ocean food chain.
algae → fish → seal
Which will most likely occur if the fish population decreases?
A. The algae and seal populations will increase.
B. The algae and seal populations will decrease.
C. The algae population will increase, and the seal population will increase.
D. The algae population will increase, and the seal population will decrease.
D. The algae population will increase, and the seal population will decrease.
300
Which best describes a characteristic of the jet stream?
A. It forms a boundary between a cold air mass and a warm air mass.
B. It creates the high winds around the eye of a hurricane.
C. It forces the hot air along the equator to rise to areas in North America.
D. It causes high pressure air masses to rotate clockwise.
C. It forces the hot air along the equator to rise to areas in North America.
300
Which best describes an example of heat transfer through radiation?
A. getting warm in front of a portable heater
B. burning your finger on a curling iron
C. ironing a dress shirt and tie
D. cooking soup on the stove
A. getting warm in front of a portable heater
300
What is the difference between single-celled organisms’ and multicellular organisms’ ability to survive?
A. Multicellular organisms depend on other organisms for survival, while single-celled organisms do not.
B. Single-celled organisms depend on other organisms for survival, while multicellular organisms do not.
C. Single-celled organisms contain many specialized cells necessary for survival, while multicellular organisms do not.
D.Multicellular organisms contain many specialized cells necessary for survival, while single-celled organisms can survive alone.
D.Multicellular organisms contain many specialized cells necessary for survival, while single-celled organisms can survive alone.
400
400
Jose was driving to New York City. He traveled 100 miles in the first hour of the trip and 20 miles in the last hour of his trip. Which can we say about Jose’s drive? (speed = distance ÷ time)
A. Jose drove less than 120 miles.
B. Jose drove faster the first hour of his drive.
C. Jose drove slower the first hour of his drive.
D. Jose drove the same speed for the entire drive.
B. Jose drove faster the first hour of his drive.
400
Which two ecosystems provide most of the food for the world’s population?
A. ponds and lakes
B. estuaries and forests
C. grasslands and oceans
D. salt marshes and deserts
C. grasslands and oceans
400
This chart shows the current weather data for four cities.
Which city is most likely to experience precipitation?
A. City W
B. City X
C. City Y
D. City Z
C. City Y
400
Which container used for cooking food would best conduct heat?
A. a container made of foam
B. a container made of glass
C. a container made of metal
D. a container made of plastic
C. a container made of metal
400
How are the skeletal and circulatory systems alike?
A. They help give the body shape.
B. They help the body make oxygen.
C. They help the body remove waste.
D. They help the body produce new blood.
D. They help the body produce new blood.
500
Jane has brown wavy hair, works hard in school, plays soccer, and enjoys flying kites. Which characteristic is inherited?
A. wavy hair
B. flying kites
C. playing soccer
D. working hard in school
A. wavy hair
500
The chart below shows four identical wagons loaded with different amounts of bricks.
If the same amount of effort is applied to all four identical wagons, why would Wagon W move farthest?
A. It has the least amount of mass, affecting its motion.
B. It has the least amount of speed, affecting its motion.
C. It has the greatest amount of gravity, affecting its motion.
D. It has the greatest amount of friction, affecting its motion.
A. It has the least amount of mass, affecting its motion.
500
Which is most responsible for recycling dead plants and animals in an ecosystem?
A. water
B. bacteria
C. fish
D. insects
B. bacteria
500
Which conditions are needed for a hurricane to form?
A. warm, dry air rising over warm areas on the land
B. warm, dry air rising over warm areas in the ocean
C. warm, moist air rising over warm areas on the land
D. warm, moist air rising over warm areas in the ocean
D. warm, moist air rising over warm areas in the ocean
500
Why are pots used for cooking made of metal?
A. Metal is an excellent conductor of heat.
B. Metal makes the handle look attractive.
C. Metal is a poor conductor of heat.
D. Metal is natural and inexpensive.
A. Metal is an excellent conductor of heat.
500
Which best explains why a human needs many cells to survive?
A. Each individual cell is too small to function alone.
B. Each cell joins with other cells to form one massive cell.
C. Each cell works with other cells to perform all necessary life functions.
D. Each cell absorbs a different gas from the environment necessary for human survival.
C. Each cell works with other cells to perform all necessary life functions.
600
How does water from the ocean return to lakes in the mountains?
A. Rivers bring water away from the oceans and to the mountains.
B. Underground water reservoirs move water from the ocean to the mountains.
C. The rotation of the Earth causes evaporation of the ocean’s water, which allows the winds to blow the moisture to the mountains.
D. The sun’s energy causes evaporation of the ocean’s water, which condenses into clouds, precipitates, and refills bodies of water in the mountains.
D. The sun’s energy causes evaporation of the ocean’s water, which condenses into clouds, precipitates, and refills bodies of water in the mountains.
600
A 30 gram ball rolls along a flat surface at a constant speed in the same direction over 4 meters in 20 seconds. Which is the speed of the ball? (speed = distance ÷ time)
A. 0.2 meters per second
B. 0.5 meters per second
C. 20 meters per second
D. 80 meters per second
A. 0.2 meters per second
Speed = 4 ÷ 20
600
The diagram below is an aquatic food chain.
Which will most likely occur if there is overfishing and a loss of clams?
A. The amount of algae would increase and the number of bass would increase.
B. The amount of algae would decrease and the number of bass would increase.
C. The amount of algae would increase and the number of bass would decrease.
D. The amount of algae would decrease and the number of bass would decrease.
C. The amount of algae would increase and the number of bass would decrease.
600
A cold front will move through Raleigh late Wednesday afternoon. Which type of weather conditions will Raleigh most likely experience during that time?
A. cooler temperatures Tuesday, clear skies late Wednesday, and warm temperatures on Thursday
B. warmer temperatures Tuesday, clear skies late Wednesday, and cooler temperatures on Thursday
C. warmer temperatures Tuesday, stormy weather late Wednesday, and cooler temperatures on Thursday
D. cooler temperatures Tuesday, stormy weather late Wednesday, and warmer temperatures on Thursday
C. warmer temperatures Tuesday, stormy weather late Wednesday, and cooler temperatures on Thursday
600
Why is copper often used to line the bottom of cookware?
A. Copper cools quickly.
B. Copper is inexpensive.
C. Copper is a good insulator.
D. Copper is a good conductor.
D. Copper is a good conductor.
600
Why does Katie look like her father?
A. She wanted to look like her father.
B. Mothers do not pass along character traits.
C. She inherited characteristics from both parents.
D. Girls only inherit characteristics from their father.
C. She inherited characteristics from both parents.
