Nature of Science
Oliver measures the growth of a plant every week for one month. Which type of scientific information is the student collecting?
A. Opinion
B. Observation data
C. Prediction only
D. Conclusion
B. Observation data
Which structure helps a fish obtain oxygen from water?
A. Lungs
B. Fins
C. Gills
D. Scales
C. Gills
Which force causes a moving skateboard to eventually slow down?
A. Gravity
B. Magnetism
C. Friction
D. Electricity
C. Friction
What movement of Earth causes one full day and night cycle?
A. Revolution around the Sun
B. Rotation on its axis
C. Orbit around the Moon
D. Movement through the galaxy
B. Rotation on its axis
Which planet takes the longest time to orbit the Sun?
A. Mercury
B. Earth
C. Mars
D. Neptune
D. Neptune
Sophia wants to test how temperature affects how fast sugar dissolves in water. Which variable should be changed?
A. Amount of sugar
B. Type of cup
C. Water temperature
D. Amount of water
C. Water temperature
Why would a rabbit population MOST likely decrease if the grass population in an area decreases?
A. Rabbits would have less shelter only
B. Rabbits would lose a major food source
C. Rabbits would stop reproducing immediately
D. Rabbits would become producers
B. Rabbits would lose a major food source
David rolls a basketball and a tennis ball using the same amount of force. The tennis ball travels farther. Which is the BEST explanation?
A. The basketball has less mass
B. The tennis ball has less mass and needs less force to move
C. The basketball has less gravity
D. The tennis ball creates more friction
B. The tennis ball has less mass and needs less force to move
During which stage of the water cycle does water vapor cool and form clouds?
A. Evaporation
B. Condensation
C. Precipitation
D. Collection
B. Condensation
Why does an ice cube melt faster in warm water than in cold water?
A. Warm water transfers heat energy faster
B. Cold water removes heat from ice faster
C. Warm water has less energy
D. Ice creates cold energy in warm water
A. Warm water transfers heat energy faster
During an investigation, one group records results in centimeters while another group records in inches. Why might this make comparing results difficult?
A. The experiments become unsafe
B. The data uses different measurement systems
C. The groups used too much data
D. The hypothesis changes
B. The data uses different measurement systems
Mangrove trees grow large root systems above water in coastal areas. How do these roots help the trees survive?
A. They absorb sunlight directly
B. They help anchor the trees in muddy soil
C. They protect trees from insects only
D. They decrease oxygen intake
B. They help anchor the trees in muddy soil
A toaster changes electrical energy into which two forms of energy?
A. Light and sound
B. Heat and light
C. Motion and sound
D. Chemical and motion
B. Heat and light
Why do coastal areas often experience slower erosion when plants are present?
A. Plants increase rainfall
B. Plant roots help hold soil in place
C. Plants stop ocean waves completely
D. Plants decrease gravity
B. Plant roots help hold soil in place
In a food chain, why are producers important?
A. They recycle dead organisms
B. They provide energy for consumers
C. They hunt other organisms
D. They decrease sunlight in ecosystems
B. They provide energy for consumers
Enzo claims fertilizer caused plants to grow taller. However, the plants receiving fertilizer also received more sunlight than the other plants. Why is the conclusion questionable?
A. The experiment lasted too long
B. More than one variable was changed
C. The student used too many plants
D. Fertilizer cannot affect growth
B. More than one variable was changed
A bird species has different beak shapes in different environments. Birds living near water have long beaks, while birds living in forests have short, thick beaks. What is the BEST explanation?
A. Birds changed beaks for appearance
B. Beak adaptations help birds obtain available food sources
C. Forest birds do not need food
D. Water birds lose beaks over time
B. Beak adaptations help birds obtain available food sources
William notices that a metal slide feels hotter than a plastic slide on a sunny day. Which conclusion BEST explains this observation?
A. Metal absorbs and transfers heat more efficiently than plastic
B. Plastic creates cold energy
C. Metal reflects all sunlight away
D. Plastic increases the temperature of sunlight
A. Metal absorbs and transfers heat more efficiently than plastic
A city replaces forests with roads and buildings. After heavy rainstorms, flooding becomes more common. Which is the BEST explanation?
A. Roads and buildings absorb more water than soil
B. Less water evaporates from cities
C. Water cannot soak into the ground as easily
D. Flooding only happens in forests
C. Water cannot soak into the ground as easily
Isabella places identical plants in different locations. One plant grows poorly in complete darkness. Which conclusion is BEST supported?
A. Plants require sunlight to produce food
B. Plants absorb food from air only
C. Darkness increases plant growth
D. Plants depend only on water for survival
A. Plants require sunlight to produce food
Two students test paper airplane designs. Student A throws each airplane with different force each time. Student B throws each airplane using the same force. Which student’s results are more valid and why?
A. Student A because more force gives more data
B. Student B because only the airplane design changes
C. Student A because the airplanes travel farther
D. Student B because fewer trials are needed
B. Student B because only the airplane design changes
After a new predator enters an ecosystem, the mouse population decreases greatly. Which change is MOST likely to happen next?
A. Plants eaten by mice may increase
B. All organisms in the ecosystem will disappear
C. Predators will immediately leave the ecosystem
D. The ecosystem will stop changing
A. Plants eaten by mice may increase
A toy car travels a shorter distance on carpet than on tile after being pushed with the same force. Which statement BEST explains why?
A. Carpet increases gravity on the car
B. Tile removes energy from the car
C. Carpet creates greater friction that slows the car faster
D. Tile decreases the mass of the car
C. Carpet creates greater friction that slows the car faster
Emma observes that one side of a mountain receives more rainfall and supports more plant growth than the other side. Which factor MOST likely explains this difference?
A. Earth’s rotation
B. Wind carrying moist air up one side of the mountain
C. The Moon changing ocean tides
D. Gravity decreasing on one side of the mountain
B. Wind carrying moist air up one side of the mountain
Mateo leaves two cups of water outside on a hot day. One cup is covered and the other is uncovered. At the end of the day, the uncovered cup has less water. Which explanation BEST supports this observation?
A. The uncovered water evaporated into the air
B. The covered cup created more water
C. Gravity pulled water out of the uncovered cup
D. The Sun absorbed the cup itself
A. The uncovered water evaporated into the air