Nature of Science
A scientist conducts an investigation and develops an explanation based on the results. Other scientists repeat the same investigation and obtain similar results. Why is it important that scientific investigations can be repeated and produce similar results?
A. To prove that the original scientist was the first to make the discovery
B. To show that personal opinions do not influence scientific investigations
C. To confirm that the results are reliable and not due to chance
D. To prevent scientists from changing explanations over time
C. To confirm that the results are reliable and not due to chance
Students place candy-coated chocolates in a closed container and shake them. The pieces become scratched, and small fragments break off. Which process is best modeled by this investigation?
A. chemical weathering, because a new substance forms
B. deposition, because material settles in one location
C. erosion, because material moves to another location
D. physical weathering, because material breaks into smaller pieces
D. physical weathering, because material breaks into smaller pieces
A rock on top of a hill has energy due to its position. What is this type of energy called?
A. kinetic energy
B. chemical energy
C. elastic potential energy
D. gravitational potential energy
D. gravitational potential energy
What is the function of the cell wall in animal cells?
A. site of energy production
B. site of protein synthesis
C. controls what enters and exits the cell
D. animal cells don’t have cell walls
D. animal cells don’t have cell walls
Lucy is learning about the parts of an animal cell. Her teacher showed the class a clay model of a cell to help explain its parts and the cell theory. Which characteristic of the model is most beneficial to help Lucy's understanding?
A. It allows Lucy to visualize something that is too small to see with human eyes on a larger scale.
B. It allows Lucy to see something that is too large by making it a smaller scale.
C. It allows Lucy to see the actual colors of the parts of the cell.
D. It allows Lucy to see a cell at its actual size.
A. It allows Lucy to visualize something that is too small to see with human eyes on a larger scale.
Jada often visits a beach near her home. She notices that some areas of the beach are shrinking while other areas are growing. Which statement best explains the cause of these changes?
A. Both processes are due to erosion.
B. Both processes are due to deposition.
C. Some areas are shrinking due to erosion and other areas are growing due to deposition.
D. Some areas are shrinking due to deposition and other areas are growing due to erosion.
C. Some areas are shrinking due to erosion and other areas are growing due to deposition.
Which form of energy transfer allows sunlight to travel through space to Earth?
A. conduction
B. convection
C. radiation
D. condensation
C. radiation
Gerard listed five levels of structural organization within a multicellular organism. He places them in order from the smallest structure to the largest structure. Which of the following lists the structures in the correct order?
A. organism, cells, tissues, organs system, organs
B. cells, tissues, organs, organ system, organism
C. tissues, cells, organ system, organism, organs
D. organism, organ system, organs, tissues, cells
B. cells, tissues, organs, organ system, organism
Bailey uses a meter stick to measure how high a golf ball will bounce after dropping it from different starting heights. She drops the ball from 3 different heights and records the bounce height of each ball. What is the test variable (independent variable) in Bailey’s experiment?
A. the bounce height of each ball
B. the different starting heights
C. the type of golf ball
D. the weight of each golf ball
B. the different starting heights
Some landforms develop slowly and other landforms develop rapidly. Which rapidly developing landform is found in Florida?
A. delta
B. dune
C. mountain
D. sinkhole
D. sinkhole
A dark surface and a light surface are placed under the same lamp for ten minutes. The dark surface becomes warmer. Which statement best explains the results?
A. The dark surface absorbed more radiant energy.
B. The light surface produced more solar energy.
C. The dark surface reflected all incoming energy.
D. The light surface stopped all heat transfer.
A. The dark surface absorbed more radiant energy.
Cristian is studying two living organisms, a photosynthesizing protist and a rabbit. Based on cell theory, what do these two organisms have in common?
A. Both have identical cells to each other
B. Both make their own energy from sunlight.
C. Both have the cell as their most basic unit of structure.
D. Both attain new cells through the nutrient-rich food they eat.
C. Both have the cell as their most basic unit of structure.
A student tests how the mass of a paper helicopter affects how long it stays in the air. The student adds paper clips before each trial and measures the time it takes to fall. What is the outcome (dependent) variable in this investigation
A. the number of paper clips added
B. the time it takes for the helicopter to fall
C. the height from which the helicopter is dropped
D. the shape of the helicopter
B. the time it takes for the helicopter to fall
A scientist conducts an investigation to understand Earth’s surface. The scientist analyzes soil samples and studies layers of rock beneath the ground. Which Earth system is the scientist primarily investigating?
A. Atmosphere
B. Biosphere
C. Geosphere
D. Hydrosphere
C. Geosphere
When you pull back a toy car, a spring is wound tightly. When you let go, the spring unwinds, and the car races forward. Which statement best describes the energy of the toy car?
A. The car has chemical potential energy when it is pulled back and kinetic energy when it races forward.
B. The car has kinetic energy when it is pulled back and chemical potential energy when it races forward.
C. The car has elastic potential energy when it is pulled back and kinetic energy when it races forward.
D. The car has kinetic energy when it is pulled back and elastic potential energy when it races forward.
C. The car has elastic potential energy when it is pulled back and kinetic energy when it races forward.
In a human body, which of the following represents the highest (most complex) level of structural organization?
A. the lungs
B. lung tissue
C. an atom in the lung
D. the respiratory system
D. the respiratory system
A student states that a scientific theory becomes a scientific law after enough evidence is collected.
Which statement best evaluates this claim?
A. The claim is correct because laws are developed after theories are proven
B. The claim is correct because theories and laws describe the same ideas
C. The claim is incorrect because theories explain events while laws describe patterns
D. The claim is incorrect because laws change more often than theories
C. The claim is incorrect because theories explain events while laws describe patterns
A sunny land surface heats quickly during the day, warming the air above it. What is most likely to happen next?
A. The warm air rises because it becomes less dense.
B. The warm air sinks because it becomes more dense.
C. The warm air stops moving because energy is lost.
D. The warm air turns directly into precipitation.
A. The warm air rises because it becomes less dense.
How does the Law of Conservation of Energy apply to the changes in potential and kinetic energy of a pencil as it falls to the floor?
A. Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
B. Kinetic energy is converted into potential energy.
C. Kinetic energy is created as potential energy is destroyed.
D. Potential energy is created as potential energy is destroyed.
A. Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
In an animal, a muscle cell requires more energy than other cells. Because of this, you would expect to find more of which type of organelles in muscle cells than other cells?
A. cell walls
B. chloroplasts
C. mitochondria
D. vacuoles
C. mitochondria