6th and 7th Arkansas ATLAS Test Prep

Reading

100

Category: Reading Informational Text

Read the sentence: 'The city council’s decision to renovate the park was a catalyst for community growth.'

Based on the context, what does the word 'catalyst' most likely mean in this sentence?

• A. A final result of a long process

  
  
• B. A problem that causes significant delay

  
  
• C. A physical structure built in a park

  
  
• D. An event that speeds up or starts a change

D. An event that speeds up or starts a change

In this context, the renovation is described as the starting force that leads to the result of 'community growth'.

200

Category: Reading Literary Text

'The wind whispered through the pines, telling secrets of the ancient forest to anyone who would listen.'

Which literary device is the author primarily using in this sentence, and what is its effect?

• A. Onomatopoeia; it uses words that sound like the noise the wind makes.

  
  
• B. Hyperbole; it exaggerates the sound of the wind to make it seem louder than it is.

  
  
• C. Personification; it creates a mysterious and inviting mood by giving human traits to the wind.

  
  
• D. Metaphor; it compares the forest to an old man to show how old the trees are.

C. Personification; it creates a mysterious and inviting mood by giving human traits to the wind. 

Attributing the human action of "whispering" and "telling secrets" to the wind is personification.

300

Category: Reading (Analysis)

In an argumentative text about school uniforms, the author states: 'While some argue that uniforms limit expression, data shows that schools with uniform policies report a 20% decrease in bullying.'

What is the author's purpose for including the 'limit expression' viewpoint?

• A. To show that the author is confused about their own opinion.

  
  
• B. To acknowledge a counterclaim before providing evidence to refute it.

  
  
• C. To persuade the reader that student expression is more important than bullying.

  
  
• D. To provide a list of reasons why uniforms should be banned.

B. To acknowledge a counterclaim before providing evidence to refute it. 

Mentioning the opposing side ("limit expression") and then using data to support uniforms is a classic argumentative strategy.

400

Category: Reading Informational Text

Read the following excerpt from a text on bridge engineering: 'Engineers must account for thermal expansion, where materials increase in volume as temperature rises. Without expansion joints, the internal stress would cause the structure to buckle.'

How does the author use a cause-and-effect structure to support their point?

• A. By describing the visual appearance of expansion joints on a finished bridge.
• B. By explaining how a lack of specific design features leads to structural failure.
• C. By listing the historical steps taken to build the first steel bridges.
• D. By comparing different types of materials used in modern bridge construction.

B. By explaining how a lack of specific design features leads to structural failure.

The text explains the cause (heat/lack of joints) and the effect (buckling/stress).

500

Category: Reading Literary Text

In a story, a character constantly checks their watch and tap their foot while waiting for a train. How does this indirect characterization contribute to the development of the plot?

• A. It indicates that the character is the antagonist of the story.
• B. It establishes a sense of urgency or anxiety, suggesting that the character's arrival at their destination is critical. 
• C. It proves that the character is a wealthy individual who values expensive jewelry.
• D. It shows that the character is bored and has no interest in where they are going.

B. It establishes a sense of urgency or anxiety, suggesting that the character's arrival at their destination is critical. 

Physical actions like watch-checking and foot-tapping are classic signs of impatients and urgency. 

Math

100

Category: Mathematics (Ratios & Proportions)

A recipe for a cleaning solution requires 3 parts water to 2 parts vinegar. If a janitor needs to make 30 total gallons of the solution, how many gallons of vinegar are required?

• A. 12 gallons

  
  
• B. 15 gallons

  
  
• C. 20 gallons

  
  
• D. 10 gallons

A. 12 Gallons

The total parts are 3 + 2 = 5. Since 30/5 = 6, each part is 6 gallons. 2 x 6 = 12 gallons of vinegar. 

200

Category: Mathematics (Number System)

Which expression is equivalent to the following: −4(3x−5)?

• A. −12x−20

  
  
• B. 12x+20

  
  
• C. −12x+20

  
  
• D. −12x−5

C. -12x + 20

Applying the distributive property: -4 X 3x = -12x and -4 X -5 = +20. 

300

Category: Mathematics (Statistics)

A set of data shows the scores of students on a math quiz: 70, 75, 80, 80, 85, 90, 100. If the score of 100 is removed, which measure of center will be affected the most?

• A.The Mode

  
  
• B.The Range

  
  
• C.The Median

  
  
• D.The Mean

B. The Range

The mean only changes by 2 points, whereas the range changes by 10. The other two do not change at all.

400

Category: Mathematics (Expressions & Equations)

A gym membership costs $45 per month plus a one-time joining fee of $100. Which equation can be used to find the total cost (c) after (m) months?

• A. c=145m
• B. c=45(m+100)
• C. c=45m+100
• D.  c=100m+45

C. c=45m+100

The monthly rate is the coefficient for m, and the one-time fee is the constant. 

500

Category: Mathematics (Geometry)

A rectangular prism has a length of 5 cm, a width of 4 cm, and a height of 10 cm. If the height is doubled, how does the volume of the prism change?

• A. The volume quadruples.
• B. The volume remains the same.
• C. The volume doubles.
• D. The volume increases by 20 cm3.

C. The volume doubles.

Volume is L x W x H. Since it is a linear relationship, doubling one dimension doubles the total volume.

Science

100

Category: Life Science (6th/7th)

In a local ecosystem, a population of wolves is removed. Which of the following describes the most likely DOK-3 level impact on the ecosystem's stability?

• A. All other animals in the ecosystem will immediately die out because the food chain is broken.
• B. The herbivore population will decrease because they no longer have a predator to compete with.
• C. The producer population will eventually decrease due to overgrazing by an unchecked herbivore population.
• D. The ecosystem will become more stable because there is less killing occurring.

C. The producer population will eventually decrease due to overgrazing by an unchecked herbivore population.

That's right! Removing a top predator causes a tropic cascade where herbivores overpopulate and consume too many primary producers.

200

Category: Physical Science

A student is investigating how the mass of a ball affects the distance it travels when hit by a bat with a constant force. Which of the following is the independent variable in this experiment?

• A. The type of bat used

  
  
• B. The mass of the ball

  
  
• C. The force of the bat

  
  
• D. The distance the ball travels

B. The mass of the ball

The independent variable is the factor being changed or manipulated by the researcher. 

300

Category: Science (Earth Systems)

Which statement best explains how the cycling of water in the atmosphere affects local weather patterns?

• A. Plants stop the water cycle from happening, which prevents storms from forming in forests.

  
  
• B. The water cycle only affects the oceans, so it has little impact on the weather over land.

  
  
• C. As water vapor cools and condenses, it releases energy and forms clouds, which can lead to precipitation.

  
  
• D. Evaporation causes the air to become colder, which immediately creates snow in all seasons.

C. As water vapor cools and condenses, it releases energy and forms clouds, which can lead to precipitation. 

This correctly identifies the phase change (condensation) and its role in weather formation.

400

Category: Science (Life Science)

A student observes that plants in a garden grow taller when they receive a specific type of fertilizer. To verify if the fertilizer is the actual cause of the growth, which experimental setup would provide the most reliable evidence?

• A. Growing plants in different locations with different amounts of sunlight and fertilizer.

  
  
• B. Applying fertilizer to all plants in the garden and measuring how much they grow over a month.

  
  
• C. Comparing two identical groups of plants where one receives fertilizer and the other receives only water, with all other conditions kept constant.

  
  
• D. Using different types of fertilizer on every plant and seeing which one grows the fastest.

C. Comparing two identical groups of plants where one receives fertilizer and the other receives only water, with all other conditions kept constant.

This is a controlled experiment that isolates the variable (fertilizer) to determine a cause-effect relationship.

500

Category: Science (Physical Science)

Which of the following best describes the energy transformation that occurs when a battery-powered flashlight is turned on?

• A. Thermal energy → Chemical energy → Light energy
• B. Nuclear energy → Electrical energy → Light energy
• C. Chemical energy → Electrical energy → Light and Thermal energy
• D. Electrical energy → Mechanical energy → Light energy

C. Chemical energy → Electrical energy → Light and Thermal energy

Batteries store chemical energy, which converts to electricity to power the bulb, producing light and heat. 

Writing

100

Category: Writing & Grammar

Which sentence uses a formal tone and appropriate transition suitable for an ATLAS argumentative essay?

• A. Basically, if we make school longer, students will finally get their acts together.

  
  
• B. Furthermore, evidence suggests that implementing a longer school day may improve student achievement scores.

  
  
• C. And another thing, longer school days are a total win for everyone involved.

  
  
• D. Also, I think that schools should be longer because kids would learn way more stuff.

B. Furthermore, evidence suggests that implementing a longer school day may improve student achievement scores. 

This uses a formal transition (furthermore), and objective academic language (evidence suggests).

200

Category: Writing & Grammar

Read the following sentence: 'The scientists conducted the experiment, they recorded the results carefully.'

How should the student revise this sentence to correct the error while maintaining a sophisticated sentence structure?

A. After conducting the experiment, the scientists carefully recorded the results.

B. The scientists conducted the experiment. They recorded the results carefully.

C. The scientists conducted the experiment, then they recorded the results carefully.

D. The scientists conducted the experiment and they recorded the results carefully.

A. After conducting the experiment, the scientists carefully recorded the results. 

This fixes the comma splice by using a dependent clause, which creates a more complex and sophisticated sentence structure.

300

Category: Writing & Grammar

A student is drafting an argumentative essay about renewable energy. Which sentence should be added to maintain a formal, academic tone while providing a transition between a paragraph about costs and a paragraph about environmental benefits?

• A. Moving on, wind and solar are also super good for the planet because they don't make as much pollution as coal.

  
  

• B. Furthermore, everyone knows that saving the earth is more important than just saving a few dollars here and there.

  
  

• C. Money is one thing, but we also need to think about the trees and animals and how they feel about the new power plants.

  
  

• D. Beyond the financial considerations, it is equally important to evaluate the long-term ecological impact of these energy sources.

D. Beyond the financial considerations, it is equally important to evaluate the long-term ecological imact of these energy sources. 

This uses formal vocabulary (Financial considerations, ecological impact) and provides a clear bridge between the two topics. 

400

Category: Writing & Grammar

Which of the following concluding statements most effectively reinforces the claim that middle schools should offer more elective courses?

• A. Basically, if we don't have electives, school is going to be really boring and students won't want to come to class.
• B. In conclusion, electives are fun and every student should get to pick what they want to do for at least one hour a day.
• C. The data shows electives are good, so we should definitely add more of them to the schedule next year.
• D. Ultimately, providing diverse elective options allows students to discover latent interests, which fosters greater engagement in the core curriculum.

D. Ultimately, providing diverse elective options allows students to discover latent intersts, which fosters greater engagement in the core curriculum. 

This synthesizes the argument by connecting the 'action' (electives) to a 'benefit' (engagement) using formal language. 

500

Category: Writing & Grammar

A student is writing a report on the Arkansas River. Which sentence uses a relative clause to provide additional detail about a noun?

A. The Arkansas River, which flows through four states, serves as a vital resource for agriculture and transportation.

B. Heavy rains in the north caused the river to rise above its banks last week.

C. Because the river is so large, many people use it for fishing and boating during the summer months.

D. The river is very long and it carries a lot of water to the Mississippi River.

A. The Arkansas River, which flows through four states, serves as a vital resource for agriculture and transportation.

The clause 'which flows through four states' is a relative clause that modifies the noun 'Arkansas River'. 

Miscellaneous Subjects

100

Category: Mathematics (The Number System)

Which of the following points on a number line represents the value of ∣−8∣+(−3)?

• A. 5
• B. −5
• C. −11
• D. 11

A. 5

The absolute value of -8 is 8. Then 8 + (-3)= 5.

200

Category: Writing & Grammar

Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of a semicolon to join two independent clauses?

• A. The habitat provides essential nutrients; including plants and water.
• B. The habitat provides essential nutrients for the species; however, urban development continues to threaten its survival.
• C. While the habitat provides nutrients; the species is still in danger.
• D. The species is endangered; because the habitat is being destroyed.

B. The habitat provides essential nutrients for the species; however, urban development continues to threaten its survival.

This correctly uses a semicolon and a conjuctive adverb (however) to link two closely related independent thoughts. 

300

Category: Reading Informational Text

Which piece of evidence from a text about the Ozark Mountains best supports the claim that the region has a unique geological history?

• A. The Ozarks are home to various species of oak and hickory trees that thrive in the rocky soil.
• B. Many tourists visit the Ozarks every year to enjoy the scenic hiking trails and clear lakes.
• C. The Plateau is characterized by deep valleys carved into limestone over millions of years by persistent water flow.
• D. Local festivals often celebrate the traditional music and crafts of the mountain people.

C. The Plateau is characterized by deep valleys carved into limestone over millions of years by persistent water flow.

This provides specific geological evidence (deep valleys, limestone, millions of years) to support the claim. 

400

Category: Science (Earth/Space Science)

How does the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun primarily influence the Earth's systems?

• A. It causes the Earth to rotate faster during the summer months and slower during the winter.
• B. It creates the Earth's magnetic field, which protects the atmosphere from solar wind.
• C. It is the primary cause of the daily tides in the Earth's oceans.
• D. It causes the change in seasons by varying the intensity and duration of sunlight received by different hemispheres.

D. It causes the change in seasons by varying the intensity and duration of sunlight received by different hemispheres.

The tilt determines how directly sunlight hits a region, leading to seasonal temperatures and day-length changes.

500

Category: Reading (Analysis)

An author writes: 'The transition to digital textbooks is not merely a convenience; it is a necessity for preparing students for a technologically driven workforce.'

What is the author's tone in this sentence?

• A. Humorous and lighthearted
• B. Indifferent and bored
• C. Assertive and urgent
• D. Skeptical and questioning

C. Assertive and urgent

The use of "not merely" and "necessity" shows a strong, firm stance on the importance of the topic.