Vision and Light
Senses and Sensory Processing
Structure and Function: Plants
Structure and Function: Animals
Impacts of Natural Hazards on humans
100
The diagram below shows how an eye sees a book. The arrows show the path of light from a light bulb. This light bulb is the only source of light in the room.
What will happen if a mirror is placed between the book and the eye so that its reflective surface faces toward the book?
A. The mirror will add more light to the book, so the book will look brighter to the eye.
B. The path of light will change and not reach the eye, so the eye will not see the book.
C. The mirror will bounce the light around the room, so the book will still look the same to the eye.
D. The light will go through the mirror, so the eye will see the book, but the book will look smaller.
B. The path of light will change and not reach the eye, so the eye will not see the book.
100
The spined prickly pear, shown below, is a cactus that has large spines and can at times cause pain to the mouth and eyes of deer that try to eat it.
A young deer tries to nibble on a prickly pear, but it feels pain in its tongue and mouth when doing so. It decides not to eat the prickly pear. A few days later, the deer returns but ignores the prickly pear. Which of the following most likely caused the deer to ignore the prickly pear?
A. The pain from eating the prickly pear was stored in the deer’s memory.
B. The pain from eating the prickly pear was learned by the deer when it viewed it the second time.
C. The deer thought the prickly pear was an organism that could help the deer.
D. The deer thought the prickly pear did not having enough nutrients.
A. The pain from eating the prickly pear was stored in the deer’s memory.
100
Some plants are covered in sharp, spiny seeds, called burrs. These burrs hook onto the fur or the clothes of passing animals or people.
How do burrs help the plants they come from?
A. Burrs help to spread the plant's seeds.
B. Burrs collect water from the ground.
C. Burrs are very tasty to animals.
D. Burrs stop other seeds from growing.
A. Burrs help to spread the plant's seeds.
100
Some crab species have hard outer shells.
The hard shell of a crab most likely functions to help the crab
A. store water.
B. protect itself.
C. find shelter.
D. find food.
B. protect itself.
100
Mount Rainier is an active volcano in the state of Washington. Its next eruption may produce volcanic ash and lava flows. The lava flows could reach populated areas. What should people do to decrease the negative impacts from an eruption?
A. find a way to stop the volcano from erupting and producing lava
B. reduce population growth in areas that are in the pathway of lava
C. avoid using warning systems that cause people to become nervous
D. encourage people to live in larger groups close to the volcano
B. reduce population growth in areas that are in the pathway of lava
200
Kari goes into a dark room. She cannot see any of the objects in the room. She turns the light on, and then she can see that she is in a kitchen with a table and chairs. When she turns the light off again, she can no longer see the kitchen or the objects in the kitchen.
Which of the following explains why Kari cannot see the objects in the room unless the light is turned on?
A. The objects give off their own light, so no other light source is needed to see the objects.
B. When the light is on, the objects reflect the light to Kari's eyes, and Kari can see them.
C. When the light is on, Kari's eyes give off light so that she can see the objects in the room.
D. When the light is on, the objects begin to create their own light and are able to be seen.
B. When the light is on, the objects reflect the light to Kari's eyes, and Kari can see them.
200
A rabbit in a grassy field hears in the distance the rustling of vegetation. The rabbit then quickly runs into a rabbit hole. Which of the following best describes the reaction of the rabbit to the sound?
A. The rabbit's muscles sense the sound which makes it run to safety.
B. The rabbit hears the sound, and because of memory stored in the brain, it reacts by running to safety.
C. The rabbit hears the sound and learns that the sound represents danger at the same time.
D. The rabbit hears the sound, the information goes directly to the rabbit's muscles, and it runs to safety.
B. The rabbit hears the sound, and because of memory stored in the brain, it reacts by running to safety.
200
Some plants have structures or features that protect them from harm.
If a plant has bitter-tasting leaves, what would this most likely protect the plant against?
A. people who would pick the plant for its pretty flowers
B. caterpillars that would eat the plant
C. cold weather that would cause the plant to freeze
D. hot weather that would cause the leaves to dry up
B. caterpillars that would eat the plant
200
Whales live underwater, but they have to come to the surface to breathe air. They have different ways to stay in control of their breathing. One way that they do this is by never falling completely asleep because they must go to the surface to get air. Which of these structures would help a whale know when it needs to come up to the surface to breathe?
A. stomach
B. brain
C. heart
D. ear
B. brain
200
Wetlands are shallow areas covered by water. Wetlands are able to absorb a tremendous amount of water. Wetlands could reduce the effects of which of the following weather hazards?
A. earthquakes
B. tornadoes
C. floods
D. blizzards
C. floods
300
Question 10 .
Sasha is standing in a completely dark room. She turns on a lamp. She sees the couch in front of her. How is she able to see the couch?
A. The couch makes its own light.
B. The couch allows light to pass through it.
C. The light from the couch makes a shadow on the wall that she can see.
D. The light from the lamp reflects from the couch into her eyes.
D. The light from the lamp reflects from the couch into her eyes.
300
When your eye sees a pencil, it sends a signal to your brain. Your brain then signals muscles in your hand and arm, and you can reach and pick up the pencil.
In the process that was described, which was a sensory receptor?
A. muscle
B. brain
C. eye
D. bone
C. eye
300
The red arrow in the picture points to the plant part whose main function is to
A. drain extra water from the leaves.
B. make food.
C. take water and minerals from the soil.
D. transport water and minerals to the leaves.
C. take water and minerals from the soil
300
A chameleon is a kind of lizard. It has special structures in its skin that allows the chameleon to change colors for several reasons, including communication with other chameleons.
What purpose do the special skin structures have for the chameleon?
A. they scare other chameleons
B. they attract other chameleons for mating
C. they make other chameleons aware of its mood
D. all of these
D. all of these
300
Robbin's class researched tsunamis. They learned about different ways people and towns protect themselves from tsunamis. Some of these ways are:
- building a seawall to protect the town in case a tsunami comes
- moving everyone to high ground when a tsunami is coming
- moving people into deep water in boats when a tsunami is coming
These last two work best in places that teach the people what to do if a tsunami is coming.
How can Robbin's class best compare these solutions to learn which one saves the most lives?
A. Test whether it takes longer to get to high ground or to deep water.
B. Research how well each solution worked in the past.
C. Improve each solution using engineering design.
D. Try each solution in a real tsunami and observe the results
B. Research how well each solution worked in the past.
400
(Multiple Answers)
A book is sitting on a table. Karissa sees the book with her eyes. What must be happening?
A. Karissa's eyes are producing light.
B. Light is entering Karissa's eyes.
C. The book is producing light.
D. Light is hitting the book.
B. Light is entering Karissa's eyes.
D. Light is hitting the book.
400
Why do animals need their senses?
A. Animals need their senses for their brains to function.
B. Animals must use their senses to breathe.
C. Animals must take in and process information in order to make a response.
D. Animals need their senses for their hearts to function
C. Animals must take in and process information in order to make a response.
400
Mandi did a science investigation using cut white carnations. She put the stem of one flower into water with red food coloring. She put the second flower into water with blue food coloring. Then she left the flowers overnight. The next day, she could see the colors from the water in the flower petals. Her results are shown below.
Flower Experiment
Before Placing in Water
After 12 Hours in Red Water
After 12 Hours in Blue Water
What conclusion best fits the results of the experiment?
A. A plant that does not have roots will die very quickly.
B. Flower petals are used to carry water to the leaves and stem.
C. All flowers have leaves that are different colors.
D. The stem of the plant carries water to the flowers.
D. The stem of the plant carries water to the flowers.
400
The system that carries nutrients and gases throughout a person’s body is called the circulatory system. The heart is an organ in the circulatory system. The heart works by pumping blood, which is a liquid that contains the nutrients and gases. When the heart pumps the blood, the blood travels throughout the body inside tubes called blood vessels.
Which of these is true?
A. The heart helps a person survive by getting nutrients and gases to all parts of the body.
B. All the different parts of the circulatory system do exactly the same job.
C. If the heart was removed or damaged, the circulatory system could still work at its best.
D. The heart makes it harder for the circulatory system to get nutrients and gases to the body.
A. The heart helps a person survive by getting nutrients and gases to all parts of the body.
400
Natural disasters can occur in any area. Communities can prepare for natural disasters to protect people from harm. Which preparation would be most important for a tsunami event?
A. Map out ways to get to higher ground.
B. Place extra food and supplies in basements of houses.
C. Secure heavy furniture to the walls.
D. Construct strong buildings that can withstand shaking.
A. Map out ways to get to higher ground.
500
The picture below shows the path of light from a light source to the eye.
What is happening after the light leaves the source?
A. The light is being blocked by an object.
B. The light is going past the eye.
C. The light is being reflected off of an object.
D. The light is curving toward the eye
C. The light is being reflected off of an object.
500
An octopus uses its eyes to see a predator near it in the water. The octopus feels scared. It releases a colored liquid into the water. This allows the octopus to hide from the predator and get away.
Which of these describes the octopus receiving information from its senses?
A. The octopus is able to get away from the predator.
B. The octopus releases a colored liquid into the water.
C. The octopus feels scared.
D. The octopus uses its eyes to see a predator near it in the water.
D. The octopus uses its eyes to see a predator near it in the water.
500
Cacti that live in dry desert areas are covered with needles, such as those shown in the picture below.
What function do the needles serve for a cactus?
A. They help keep the cactus warm during the cold desert nights.
B. They help keep the cactus from falling over.
C. They collect sand that blows by the cactus, and the cactus uses it for food.
D. They help conserve water and provide protection.
D. They help conserve water and provide protection.
500
Owls hunt at night. What feature of the owl is most helpful for hunting in the dark?
A. sharp claws
B. large eyes
C. feathers
D. a beak
B. large eyes
500
Mr. Benedict's class was working on an engineering design problem. Here are three of their solutions:
- Louise made a very strong model house. All of its parts were held strongly together.
- Edgardo made a flexible tower. It could bend and twist without breaking.
- Beau made a building with springs between it and the ground.
Mr. Benedict's students were most likely trying to design buildings that could stand going through
A. a volcanic eruption.
B. an earthquake.
C. a tsunami.
D. a flood.
B. an earthquake.