Life Science
Physical Science
Earth & Space Science
Technology & Engineering
Mixed Bag
100
Some parts of a sunflower are shown in the diagram below.
A student claims sunflowers reproduce by producing seeds. What part of the sunflower would the student use to support this claim?
A. flower
B. leaf
C. root
D. stem
A. flower
100
A student builds a compass from a pencil, a clear plastic cup, some thread, and a magnetized needle. The student then brings the north end of a bar magnet near the north end of the needle, as shown below.
What happens when the north end of the bar magnet is brought near the north end of the compass needle?
- A. The needle and cup stay in place.
- B. The needle and cup slide across the table.
- C. The north end of the needle sticks to the bar magnet.
- D. The north end of the needle spins away from the bar magnet.
D. The north end of the needle spins away from the bar magnet.
100
Which of the following best describes how most soil forms?
- A. through the growth of trees in a forest
- B. through the buildup of snow on an iceberg
- C. through the weathering of rock by wind and water
- D. through the cooling of lava from a volcanic eruption
C. through the weathering of rock by wind and water
100
The diagram shows parts of a bicycle that make the bicycle move.
When the pedal of the bicycle is turned, the front gear, rear gear, and wheel turn. Which of the following best describes the function of the chain?
- A. The chain keeps the spokes attached to the wheel.
- B. The chain keeps the wheel attached to the front gear.
- C. The chain transfers energy from the pedal to the front gear.
- D. The chain transfers motion from the front gear to the rear gear.
D. The chain transfers motion from the front gear to the rear gear.
100
Humans use energy and fuels in their daily lives.
Which of the following best describes the energy and fuels humans use?
- A. Energy and fuels always produce electricity.
- B. Energy and fuels always are made from rocks.
- C. Energy and fuels always come from natural resources.
- C. Energy and fuels always come from natural resources.
200
In a tropical jungle, some trees produce large, thick leaves that protect their trunks and roots from getting too much sunlight.
Which of the following best explains how these leaves affect the environment where the trees grow?
- A. They provide an area for plants that need shade.
- B. They increase the amount of rainfall in the region.
- C. They transfer heat energy from the air to the ground.
- D. They cause many species of animals to become extinct.
A. They provide an area for plants that need shade.
200
In a science investigation, a student holds a vibrating tuning fork near a piece of cork, as shown below.
The student observes that the cork moves. Which of the following conclusions can be made from this investigation?
- A. Sound is a form of energy.
- B. Sound does not travel in air.
- C. Sound cannot travel through the cork.
- D. Sound is transformed into magnetic energy.
A. Sound is a form of energy.
200
Which of the following statements best describes how Earth moves in the six months from June 21 to December 21?
- A. Earth makes half a rotation on its axis.
- B. Earth moves farther away from the Sun.
- C. Earth makes half a revolution around the Sun.
- D. Earth begins to rotate more slowly in its orbit.
C. Earth makes half a revolution around the Sun.
200
An engineer is testing different types of pervious concrete to use in a new parking area. Pervious concrete is a special kind of concrete that can help reduce flooding by allowing rainwater to pass through and soak into the ground.
Which of the following should the engineer measure to see how well a type of pervious concrete will reduce flooding?
- A. the weight of 10 cubic meters of the concrete
- B. the strength of a 15-centimeter layer of the concrete
- C. the amount of water needed to mix a cubic meter of the concrete
- D. the number of liters of water per minute that can move through the concrete
D. the number of liters of water per minute that can move through the concrete
200
Sometimes seeds from plants that produce red raspberries will grow into plants that produce yellow raspberries. When two yellow raspberry plants reproduce with each other, the resulting seeds grow into plants that produce yellow raspberries.
Which of the following best describes how raspberries get their color?
- A. Raspberry color is an inherited trait that varies among raspberry plants.
- B. Raspberry color is controlled by the amount of sugar that raspberry plants produce.
- C. Raspberry color is controlled by the amount of sunlight that raspberry plants receive.
- D. Raspberry color is an inherited trait that changes when raspberry plants have a disease.
A. Raspberry color is an inherited trait that varies among raspberry plants.
300
Some Canada geese pass through Massachusetts as they migrate south in the fall. Which of the following best explains why these birds migrate south in the fall?
- A. There is more food in the south during the winter.
- B. There is less rainfall in the south during the winter.
- C. There are more birds in the south during the winter.
- D. There are fewer predators in the south during the winter.
A. There is more food in the south during the winter.
300
A student looks into a mirror and sees the wall behind him. Which of the following best describes why the student sees the wall in the mirror?
- A. Light reflects off the mirror.
- B. Light curves around the mirror.
- C. Light passes through the mirror.
- D. Light scatters when it hits the mirror.
A. Light reflects off the mirror.
300
A town is having a water shortage, and the people in the town have been asked to reduce their use of the town’s water supply. A gardener wants to continue to water plants in a garden.
Which of the following would be the most effective way to water the plants and still reduce water use?
- A. use soapy water
- B. use filtered water
- C. use water from water bottles sold in stores
- D. use water from rain collected in large containers
D. use water from rain collected in large containers
300
A concrete walkway leads to the door of a school building. Wind in the area around the school typically blows from only one direction, as shown.
During winter, the wind causes the walkway to become covered with snow. Which of the following solutions is the best way to keep snow off the walkway?
- A. add small stones to the walkway
- B. make the walkway two times wider
- C. build a fence on the side of the walkway that the wind reaches first
- D. set up a large fan to blow across the walkway in the opposite direction of the wind
C. build a fence on the side of the walkway that the wind reaches first
300
Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. Warming Arctic temperatures have reduced the amount of ice, making it hard for polar bears to find food.
How has the reduced amount of sea ice most likely affected polar bears?
- A. They swim less often.
- B. Their fur is changing color.
- C. They must eat a lot more food.
- D. Their population size is decreasing.
D. Their population size is decreasing.
400
The chart below lists some organisms found in an ocean ecosystem.
ProducerHerbivoreCarnivore
green algae
sea grass
surgeonfish
turtle
grouper
A student made the food web below, but some arrows are missing.
Why should the student add arrows from the green algae and the sea grass to the turtle?
- A. to show that turtles are sometimes eaten by carnivores
- B. to show that turtles can produce food from sunlight and water
- C. to show how turtles get energy and materials for growth from producers
- D. to show how turtles protect producers from being eaten by other herbivores
C. to show how turtles get energy and materials for growth from producers
400
A student places a wooden block next to a meter stick and then tapes a bar magnet on top of the block. Next, the student tapes a bar magnet to the roof of a toy car. The car is placed beside the meter stick, next to the bar magnet. The diagram below shows what the student observed before and after the car was released.
What question is the student most likely trying to answer from this setup?
- A. How far can the magnets pull the car?
- B. How far can the magnets push the car?
- C. Is a force applied by the car to the magnet on the car?
- D. Is the magnet on the block attracted to or repelled by the car?
B. How far can the magnets push the car?
400
Students used sand, gravel, and a coffee filter to make a simple water filter. A diagram of the water filter is shown.
Which of the following should the students observe or measure to find out how well the water filter works?
- A. how clear the filtered water is
- B. how much water needs to be filtered
- C. the length and width of the water filter
- D. the amount of sand used to make the water filter
A. how clear the filtered water is
400
Solar cookers use sunlight to cook food. A student designs two solar cookers, as shown.
Design 1 is a cardboard box with a lid that has a window made of hard, clear plastic. The lid can be removed from the box.
Design 2 is a wooden box with a lid that has a window made of clear plastic wrap. The lid can be lifted but not removed from the box. A sheet of aluminum foil that reflects light covers the bottom of the box.
The student tests both designs and finds that food cooks faster in one of the designs.
Which of the following best explains why one design cooks food faster than the other?
- A. Design 1 cooks faster because the box is made of cardboard, not wood.
- B. Design 2 cooks faster because the lid can be lifted and does not need to be removed.
- C. Design 2 cooks faster because its aluminum foil reflects sunlight, and cardboard does not.
- D. Design 1 cooks faster because sunlight passes through hard plastic more easily than clear plastic wrap.
C. Design 2 cooks faster because its aluminum foil reflects sunlight, and cardboard does not.
400
Name the three states of H2O.
Ice, water, water vapor
500
The diagram below shows four types of finches labeled W, X, Y, and Z.
The type of finch labeled W adapted different traits over a long period of time that resulted in the three different types of finches labeled X, Y, and Z. What is the most likely reason the finches labeled X, Y, and Z adapted different traits from the finch labeled W?
- A. to look like other birds
- B. to change their environments
- C. to copy behaviors of other similar birds
- D. to help them survive in their environments
D. to help them survive in their environments
500
A student adds liquid water to a measuring cup and freezes it. The surface of the ice that forms is above the 1-cup measurement line, as shown.
The ice then melts and the student observes that the surface of the liquid water is below the 1-cup measurement line. The student claims the number of water particles in the ice and in the liquid water was the same.
To provide evidence for this claim, what did the student most likely do before and after the ice melted?
- A. measured the level of the water using a ruler
- B. measured the mass of the water using a scale
- C. measured the temperature of the water using a thermometer
- D. measured the circumference of the measuring cup using a tape measure
B. measured the mass of the water using a scale
500
Australia has regions, such as deserts and rain forests, with very different climates. Which of the following data about each region would be most helpful for learning about the different climates?
- A. daily wind direction and daily wind speed data over one year
- B. number of major floods and fires over one summer and one fall
- C. sunrise and sunset times for winter and summer over several years
- D. average seasonal precipitation and average temperatures over several years
D. average seasonal precipitation and average temperatures over several years
500
A group of students designed a box to keep their lunches cool during recess. Their design is shown.
Which of the following best describes the main purpose of the part labeled W in the design?
- A. It keeps the box from falling over.
- B. It gives support to the rest of the box.
- C. It stops warm air from blowing on the box.
- D. It blocks heat energy from entering the box.
D. It blocks heat energy from entering the box.
500
Name three types of energy.
Chemical, mechanical, electrical, potential, nuclear, light, sound, thermal, gravitational, and more.