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100
Why do large trees have a difficult time living in a tundra? A. A tundra is too hot for trees to grow large. B. Animals that live in a tundra destroy most vegetation. C. Flooding occurs too often in a tundra for large trees to grow. D. The soil in a tundra is too poor for large trees to grow.
What is D. The soil in a tundra is too poor for large trees to grow.
100
Why can frogs and snakes live in the same garden? A. Both keep weeds out of the garden. B. Both help different plants to grow. C. Both occupy different niches. D. Both compete for water.
What is C. Both occupy different niches.
100
A species of giant pandas lives only in central China. Bamboo, a tall, green tropical plant, is the main food source for these animals. Large areas of bamboo are being cut down in central China to make room for growing other crops. What will most likely happen to these giant pandas? A. They will become endangered or extinct. B. They will migrate to warmer areas of China. C. They will become carnivores. D. They will begin to live in caves.
What is A. They will become endangered or extinct.
100
Which best describes the role of a producer in an ecosystem? A. to use energy from the sun to make food B. to decompose dead organisms C. to eat other living organisms D. to feed on dead organisms
What is A. to use energy from the sun to make food
100
Which process changes water from a liquid to a gas? A. precipitation B. evaporation C. cooling D. condensation
What is B. evaporation
200
Which food chain is in the correct order? A grasshopper → grass → snake → frog → hawk B grasshopper → frog → hawk → snake → grass C grass → grasshopper → frog → snake → hawk D grass → grasshopper → snake → frog → hawk
What is C grass → grasshopper → frog → snake → hawk
200
Which effect does a decrease in sunlight have on a pond ecosystem? A. an increase in oxygen levels B. a decrease in the nitrogen levels C. an increase in the algae population D. a decrease in the algae population
What is D. a decrease in the algae population
200
What do meteorologists depend on to forecast an approaching storm? A. air pressure B. temperature C. humidity D. wind speed
What is A. air pressure
200
Students designed a tool to dig and cut into the soil. Which type of simple machine did they create? A. wheel and axle B. inclined plane C. pulley D. wedge
What is D. wedge
200
Sometimes the weather in North Carolina is affected by air masses moving from the Gulf of Mexico. Which best describes these air masses? A. cold and moist B. warm and moist C. cold and dry D. warm and dry
What is B. warm and moist
300
Which organisms are producers? A. algae B. frogs C. insects D. snakes
What is A. algae
300
What prevents plant growth beneath the trees in thick forests? A. The trees limit the amount of sunlight that is able to reach the ground. B. The roots of the trees make it difficult for plants to grow. C. Little water reaches the ground under the trees. D. The temperature of the soil under the trees does not allow plants to grow.
What is A. The trees limit the amount of sunlight that is able to reach the ground.
300
A small fish, called a cleaner fish, picks bits of food from a shark’s teeth. What can best be concluded about this behavior? A. It takes needed nutrition away from the shark. B. It helps both the cleaner fish and the shark. C. It removes food from inside the shark’s body. D. It helps the shark blend in with its surroundings.
What is B. It helps both the cleaner fish and the shark.
300
How does water help to break apart rock? A. by freezing and expanding B. by melting and contracting C. by condensing and expanding D. by evaporating and contracting
What is A. by freezing and expanding
300
Two air masses with large differences in air pressure are near one another. What weather condition will most likely exist between the two air masses? A. low humidity B. high winds C. freezing temperatures D. clear skies
What is B. high winds
400
How have desert plants adapted to their environment? A. by limiting the use of sunlight B. by storing water C. by distributing certain nutrients D. by releasing water
What is B. by storing water
400
Different types of birds within an environment may feed on different types of organisms. What is a benefit of this type of interaction? A. It allows different birds to build better nests. B. It reduces competition between different birds. C. It causes different birds to reproduce more often. D. It allows different birds to escape from predators.
What is B. It reduces competition between different birds.
400
corn-->mouse-->owl Which term describes the role of the corn in this food chain? A. carnivore B. consumer C. herbivore D. producer
What is D. producer
400
An object moving along a surface suddenly increases speed. What can cause this to happen? A. It is moved by balanced forces. B. It is moved by two opposite forces. C. It is moved by an unbalanced force. D. It is moved by a force without direction
What is C. It is moved by an unbalanced force.
400
Which best describes how air pressure can be affected on hot summer days? A. The air expands and becomes less dense, creating areas of low pressure. B. The air expands and becomes less dense, creating areas of high pressure. C. The air expands and becomes more dense, creating areas of low pressure. D. The air expands and becomes more dense, creating areas of high pressure.
What is A. The air expands and becomes less dense, creating areas of low pressure.
500
What is a likely consequence of cutting down rain forests? A. a reduction in the amount of air pollution on Earth B. an increase in the number of plants living on Earth C. a reduction in the variety of organisms living on Earth D. an increase in the number of arctic ecosystems on Earth
What is C. a reduction in the variety of organisms living on Earth
500
Which is the best example of habitat reduction caused by humans? A. Birds and animals flee a forest fire caused by lightning. B. Birds become sick from eating insects new to their area. C. Fish swimming to breeding grounds are blocked by dams. D. A new species of fish migrates up a river, competing with native fish for food.
What is C. Fish swimming to breeding grounds are blocked by dams.
500
What increases as a rock falls to the ground? A. the density of the rock B. the pull of gravity on the rock C. the inertia of the rock D. the momentum of the rock
What is D. the momentum of the rock
500
Which statement best describes runoff? A. Water vapor cools off and changes into water droplets. B. Water in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls from clouds. C. Precipitation that falls to Earth ultimately flows over land into lakes, streams, and rivers. D. Water from the oceans and the surface of the earth changes into water vapor.
What is C. Precipitation that falls to Earth ultimately flows over land into lakes, streams, and rivers.
500
A student’s school is located in a valley, and her house is on a nearby mountain. She wonders whether the average amount of rainfall at her school is different from the average amount at her house. She investigates by measuring the rainfall in each location. What tool will the student need to collect the information she needs? A. a thermometer B. a barometer C. a hygrometer D. a rain gauge
What is D. a rain gauge
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