Forms of Energy
Potential and Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy and Mass
Environmental Variables
Organism Interactions
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Biotic and Abiotic Factors in
Biomes
Biomes
Invasive Species
Ecosystem Changes
Organism Communication
100
Plants use solar energy during photosynthesis to produce sugars.
Which type of energy is contained in the sugars produced by plants?
Responses
- A chemical energy
- B electrical energy
- C heat energy
- D kinetic energy
A chemical energy
100
A student makes an electromagnet connected to a battery to rotate between the poles of a magnet. When an electric current flows through the wire in the electromagnet, a magnetic field is produced in the coil. This coil is connected to a shaft that moves the blades of an electric fan.
Which type of energy conversion takes place in the device made by the student?
Responses
- A electrical energy → magnetic energy
- B magnetic energy → electrical energy
- C electrical energy → mechanical energy
- D mechanical energy → magnetic energy
C electrical energy → mechanical energy
100
What factors affect the amount of kinetic energy of an object?
Responses
- A height and mass
- B height and volume
- C speed and mass
- D speed and volume
C speed and mass
100
The table shows data collected on the growth rate of a fruit fly population.
What conclusion does the data support?
Responses
- A The population of fruit flies will continue to grow after 45 days pass.
- B The population of fruit flies reaches the carrying capacity at 35 days.
- C The death rate of fruit flies is greater than the birth rate of fruit flies at 40 days.
- D A disease enters the population at 35 days and prevents population growth.
B The population of fruit flies reaches the carrying capacity at 35 days.
100
Joey listed interactions among different organisms in their methods of obtaining food. Which example represents mutualism?
Responses
- A lion catching and eating a deer in a forest
- B a caterpillar feeding on the leaves of a plant
- C Can egret feeding on insects in grass grazed by cattle
- D a honeybee and a butterfly feeding on nectar of the same flower
C Can egret feeding on insects in grass grazed by cattle
100
Use the diagram that shows an energy pyramid to answer the question.
Which statement about the energy pyramid is true?
Responses
- A The herbivores have more energy available to them than any other type of organism.
- B The producers have more energy available to them than the carnivores.
- C The producers have less energy available to them than the carnivores.
- D The carnivores have more energy available to them than any other type of organism.
B The producers have more energy available to them than the carnivores.
100
Examine the climatogram for a specific biome.
Which biome is represented, and what data characterizes the biome?
Responses
- A desert: high average temperatures and dry summers
- B taiga: average rainfall amounts and cool summers
- C tropical rainforest: high average temperatures and large rainfall amounts summer temperatures and large rainfall amounts
B taiga: average rainfall amounts and cool summers
100
The flathead catfish is an invasive predatory species of fish. What would be the effect of the introduction of the flathead catfish on the native fish in the rivers of the United States?
Responses
- A The populations of native fish would become extinct.
- B The populations of native fish would increase.
- C The populations of native fish would decrease.
- D The populations of native fish would remain unaffected.
C The populations of native fish would decrease.
100
Nearly 150 rivers and streams flow into a bay that has many species of fish, birds, and other animals. An ecologist records that the bay experiences an algal bloom every summer. The algae have a short life cycle, grow quickly in the presence of nutrients, and consume large amounts of oxygen from the bay’s water when they decay. Further studies confirm that runoff of excess nutrients from nearby farms is the cause for the excess algal growth.
What is a likely impact of algal bloom on the bay’s ecosystem?
Responses
- A It results in the deaths of fish and other aquatic organisms.
- B It decreases the number of animals that feed on algae.
- C It increases the populations of aquatic plants on the bottom of the bay.
- D It results in a shortage of space for aquatic animals to move.
A It results in the deaths of fish and other aquatic organisms.
100
The image shows a male peacock spider lifting two of its legs and its colorful tail flap up in the air.
Why does a male peacock spider display this kind of behavior?
Responses
- A to attract suitable mates
- B to hook and catch its prey easily
- C to warn other spiders about predators
- D to get rid of excessive heat from its body
A to attract suitable mates
200
A student takes a rubber band and slowly stretches it between his two fingers.
What form of energy does the stretched rubber band contain?
Responses
- A elastic kinetic energy
- B elastic potential energy
- C gravitational kinetic energy
- D gravitational potential energy
B elastic potential energy
200
A chef uses a mixer to make mashed potatoes.
What energy transformation is taking place when the mixer is turned on and used to mash the potatoes?
Responses
- A chemical energy → kinetic energy
- B electrical energy → kinetic energy
- C kinetic energy → electrical energy
- D kinetic energy → chemical energy
B electrical energy → kinetic energy
200
A ball is pushed off of a block of wood and falls toward the ground. The diagram shows the various positions (1, 2, 3, and 4) of the ball during its fall.
At which position will the ball possess the greatest speed?
Responses
- A position 1
- B position 2
- C position 3
- D position 4
D position 4
200
Which diagram most accurately shows the flow of energy in an environment?
Responses
- A
- B
- C
- D
- A
200
A pine forest has enough food to support one thousand woodpeckers. Which factor could limit the growth of the woodpecker population?
Responses
- A increase in the annual rainfall
- B limited availability of nesting space
- C migration of woodpeckers to other regions
- D increase in the population of seed-eating birds
B limited availability of nesting space
200
Biodiversity is the variety of different types of species that reside in an area. Which example results in increased biodiversity?
Responses
- A the removal of the leatherback turtle, a critically endangered species, in order to prevent its extinction species
- B the introduction of wolves as predators to a forest ecosystem that is overcrowded with white-tailed deer
- C the introduction of kudzu, an invasive species that overcrowds native species
- D the removal of trout from an aquatic ecosystem that is overcrowded with the trout
B the introduction of wolves as predators to a forest ecosystem that is overcrowded with white-tailed deer
200
The table shows observations recorded by four students (P, Q, R, and S) while hiking in a forest ecosystem.
Which student lists abiotic factors only?
Responses
- A Student P
- B Student Q
- C Student R
- D Student S
D Student S
200
Japanese honeysuckle is an ornamental plant that was introduced in the United States in 1906. These plants grow as vines and have attractive, fragrant flowers. However, after a few years of their introduction, these plants started growing rapidly and displaced the native species. Researchers suggested that an alternative native plant similar to the invasive species should be planted to minimize the impact of Japanese honeysuckle. What should be kept in mind while selecting an alternative plant?
Responses
- A It should have seeds that can be wind-pollinated.
- B It should be a source of food for native herbivores.
- C It should have a similar growth rate and pattern to the Japanese honeysuckle.
- D It should produce toxins to prevent other plants from growing.
B It should be a source of food for native herbivores.
200
The image shows a puffer fish before and after inflating its body and puffing out its spines.
What purpose does this behavior serve?
Responses
- A It allows the fish to move faster through the water.
- B It allows the fish to attract smaller fish to eat.
- C It allows the fish to camouflage itself in water plants.
- D It allows the fish to scare off potential predators.
- D It allows the fish to scare off potential predators.
300
Use the table to answer the question.
Examine the table.
Which items in the table are examples of gravitational potential energy?
Responses
- A 1 and 6
- B 2 and 3
- C 4 and 5
- D 4 and 6
C 4 and 5
300
A skater starts at the top of a high ramp before skating along a track. The track is made of wood, and the skater moves quickly. The image shows the path covered by the skater. The positions of the skater at various points on the track are labeled P-U.
The table shows the potential and kinetic energy of the skater at position Q after starting at position P during two runs on the track.
The skater changes the mass of the skateboard and skates down the ramp in three more training runs. The table contains data from each run.
What change in energy occurs when the skater moves from position P to position Q?
- A The potential energy of the skater doubles.
- B The kinetic energy of the skater reduces by half.
- C Some of the kinetic energy of the skater changes to potential energy.
- D Some of the potential energy of the skater changes to kinetic energy.
D Some of the potential energy of the skater changes to kinetic energy.
300
A student holds each of four objects of an unknown mass (W, X, Y, and Z) at the same height, releases each, and records the amount of kinetic energy each object contains as it reaches the ground.
Which conclusion accurately compares each object?
Responses
- A The mass of Object W is greater than the mass of Object Z.
- B The mass of Object Y is less than the mass of Object X.
- C The mass of Object Z is greater than the mass of Object Y.
- D The mass of Object X is less than the mass of Object W.
C The mass of Object Z is greater than the mass of Object Y.
300
If the amount of food or resources available increases, the carrying capacity for an animal
Responses
- A stays the same.
- B decreases.
- C increases.
- D is not affected.
A stays the same.
300
Army ants and antbirds in South America are known to have a commensalistic relationship. Which example would be an accurate description of the nature of their relationship?
Responses
- A Antbirds nest near the mounds of large colonies of army ants so that they have a reliable supply of food when their chicks are born.
- B Army ants and antbirds both feed on the same species of plant, so they compete for access to the same food source.
- C The antbirds eat insects that prey on the army ants, and the ants help deter snakes from eating the bird eggs.
- D As army ants move in large columns through the jungle, insects flee from them and are caught and eaten by the birds.
D As army ants move in large columns through the jungle, insects flee from them and are caught and eaten by the birds.
300
The image shows an energy pyramid.
Which level of the energy pyramid has the most energy?
Responses
- A level R
- B level S
- C level T
- D level U
A level R
300
Which table correctly identifies the biotic and abiotic factors in a grassland ecosystem?
Responses
- A
- B
- C
- D
D
300
The kudzu vine was introduced to the United States in 1876 as part of a display of Japanese foliage. Soon after, it began to be used not only as a decorative plant but also to control erosion and feed livestock due to its large leaves and ability to grow quickly in the spring. The map shows the locations where kudzu is currently found in the United States, and the image shows kudzu in a native forest.
Which solution represents a way to control kudzu chemically?
Responses
- A applying herbicides in the spring
- B building barriers to contain the growth
- C digging out its underground root system
- D introducing insects that feed on the vine
A applying herbicides in the spring
300
Bottlenose dolphins live in groups in the ocean where the visibility in water may be a couple of meters. Research suggests that dolphins use whistle patterns as names for different dolphins. Dolphins can mimic the whistles of other dolphins in their group.
What is a likely purpose of whistling for the dolphins?
Responses
- A It helps dolphins swim down to the ocean floor.
- B It helps dolphins locate food.
- C It helps dolphins swim together.
- D It helps dolphins avoid fishing nets.
C It helps dolphins swim together.
400
The image shows an electric circuit with a bell.
Which energy transformation takes place in the circuit when the bell rings?
Responses
- A heat energy to sound energy
- B chemical energy to heat energy
- C heat energy to electrical energy to sound energy
- D chemical energy to electrical energy to mechanical energy to sound energy
D chemical energy to electrical energy to mechanical energy to sound energy
400
A student constructs a new slingshot. To ensure a paper ball will travel the greatest distance, the student varies the amount the rubber band is pulled back from the slingshot.
Which slingshot would cause the paper ball to travel the greatest distance?
Responses
- A
- B
- C
- D
- C
400
The table shows four moving objects with different masses and speeds.
Which object has the most kinetic energy?
Responses
- A Object 1
- B Object 2
- C Object 3
- D Object 4
D Object 4
400
A biologist is studying the population of song sparrows in a region. The graph shows the number of song sparrows in the region from 1975 to 2000.
The winters in 1980 and 1989 were particularly severe. Which factor most likely explains the decline in the song sparrow population during these two years?
Responses
- A loss of habitat
- B less food availability
- C increased reproductive rate
- D increase in predator population
B less food availability
400
Reindeer in the Arctic feed on lichens during the cold winter season to obtain food energy. When the reindeer dig into the snow-covered ground to find lichens, they often uncover the burrows of small mammals (such as lemmings and voles) that live under the snow cover. The Arctic fox follows the reindeer and digs deeper in the snow to locate and eat its prey.
How is the relationship between the reindeer and the Arctic fox an example of commensalism?
Responses
- A Both animals in the relationship benefit from each other
- B Both animals compete for the same resources at the same time
- C One animal benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped.
- D One of the animals in the relationship is harmed while the other is helped.
- C One animal benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped.
400
Use the diagram that shows a river basin food web to answer the question.
Which statement about the food web is true?
Responses
- A There are more consumers than producers.
- B There are more producers than consumers.
- C The river basin ecosystem does not contain any carnivores.
- D The organisms with the most energy available are the Coyote and Red Fox.
A There are more consumers than producers.
400
A group of environmentalists learn that the Amazon rainforest is the oldest biome. The warm, humid, and predictable climate has characterized the rainforest since the Cretaceous period.
Which conclusion best summarizes the organisms living in the rainforest biome?
Responses
- A There are a lower number of organisms and fewer varieties of species.
- B There are a higher number of organisms and more varieties of species.
- C The variety of species has remained constant over the years.
- D The increase or decrease in the variety of species is unpredictable.
B There are a higher number of organisms and more varieties of species.
400
Zebra mussels, an invasive species carried accidentally on ships from Russia to North America, feed and occupy the same habitat as native unionoid mussels. The graph shows the population trends of native unionoid and zebra mussels over several years.
Which conclusion can be inferred from the data?
Responses
- A Native unionoid mussels are in danger of becoming extinct due to the introduction of zebra mussels.
- B Native unionoid and zebra mussels are both in danger of becoming extinct due to competition for resources.]
- C Native unionoid mussels have outcompeted the zebra mussels, resulting in an increase in their population.
- D Native unionoid and zebra mussels are coexisting, resulting in an increase in both of the populations.
A Native unionoid mussels are in danger of becoming extinct due to the introduction of zebra mussels.
400
Male American alligators are known to produce a combination of sounds by roaring and slapping their heads against water. What is one purpose of making such large displays of their presence?
Responses
- A to show strength in their territories
- B to show that they are hungry
- C to adapt to weather changes
- D to find smaller fish to eat
A to show strength in their territories
500
The chart describes behaviors shown by an opossum.
Why does the opossum display these behaviors?
Responses
- A to go into a deep sleep
- B to warn off predators
- C to attract potential mates
- D to attract prey of different kinds
B to warn off predators