Physical Science
A student breaks an object weighing 500 grams into two pieces. What could be the weight of
each piece?
A 200 grams and 250 grams
B 225 grams and 275 grams
C 250 grams and 260 grams
D 275 grams and 230 grams
B. 225 grams and 275 grams
Stella is studying a plant. She lists the plant’s characteristics.
• yellow flowers
• thick stem
• stem height of one foot, two inches
• green-colored leaves and stem
• rip in one leaf
Which characteristic did the plant acquire?
A the rip in its leaf
B stem thickness
C stem height
D the color of its flowers
A the rip in its leaf
Which statement correctly compares high-pressure and low-pressure weather systems?
A High-pressure systems create stronger winds than low-pressure systems.
B Low-pressure systems cause the air to sink, while high-pressure systems cause the air
to rise.
C Low-pressure systems cause temperatures to rise, while high-pressure systems cause
temperatures to decrease.
D High-pressure systems generally result in clear skies, while low-pressure systems bring
clouds and rain.
D High-pressure systems generally result in clear skies, while low-pressure systems bring
clouds and rain.
Steve starts a campfire using a pile of wood in his yard. After the fire burns out, Steve looks to
see if a new substance formed. Which evidence supports the formation of a new substance?
A The burned wood is smoother and heavier.
B Steve is able to collect small pieces of burned wood.
C Heat was given off, and a pile of ash is visible.
D The wood changed shape and is now too heavy for Steve to carry.
C Heat was given off, and a pile of ash is visible.
A student draws a model of the organizational structure of the human body, from the smallest
structure to the largest.
organ → tissue → organism → body system → cell
Which choice explains one reason why the model is incorrect?
A because tissues are the smallest unit in the human body
B because organs are the largest unit in the human body
C because an organism is larger than a body system
D because a cell is larger than a body system
C because an organism is larger than a body system
What is most likely to occur if ocean currents bring warm, moist air into an area along the
coast of North Carolina?
A dry weather
B clear skies
C rainy weather
D blizzard conditions
C rainy weather
Timothy and Randy are pushing two cardboard boxes. Timothy’s box weighs 20 pounds, and
Randy’s box weighs 10 pounds. Timothy and Randy push the boxes, and the boxes slide. After
5 seconds, both boxes have moved 6 feet. Which choice describes the force Timothy and
Randy used to push their boxes?
A Timothy and Randy used the same amount of force because the boxes slid for
5 seconds.
B Timothy and Randy used the same amount of force because the boxes traveled the
same distance.
C Randy pushed harder than Timothy because their boxes moved the same distance, but
Randy’s box was heavier.
D Timothy pushed harder than Randy because their boxes moved the same distance, but
Timothy’s box was heavier.
D Timothy pushed harder than Randy because their boxes moved the same distance, but
Timothy’s box was heavier.
Lila is observing her younger sister’s actions. Which observation is evidence of her sister’s
instincts?
A using a fork to eat
B crying when hungry
C putting on her shoes
D organizing toys by color
B crying when hungry
What evidence would support the claim that there will be clear skies in the afternoon?
A a rising barometer, indicating a change from low air pressure to high air pressure
B a rising barometer, indicating a change from high air pressure to low air pressure
C a falling barometer, indicating a change from high air pressure to low air pressure
D a falling barometer, indicating a change from low air pressure to high air pressure
A a rising barometer, indicating a change from low air pressure to high air pressure
Gary puts 90 grams of ice cream in a bowl. He puts the bowl on a table, and all of the ice
cream melts. What is the mass of the liquid ice cream?
A The mass of the liquid ice cream is less than 90 grams.
B The mass of the liquid ice cream equals 90 grams.
C The mass of the liquid ice cream is greater than 90 grams.
D There is no way to know the mass of the liquid ice cream.
B The mass of the liquid ice cream equals 90 grams.
Which choice describes a learned behavior in birds?
A a starling flying south in a flock for the winter
B a parrot saying words it has heard humans say
C a robin gathering twigs and feathers and using them to build a nest
D baby bluebirds opening their mouths when their mother brings food back to the nest
B a parrot saying words it has heard humans say
Martin collected these weather measurements Saturday morning.
• Air Pressure: normal
• Wind Speed: 3 mph
Suppose a thunderstorm passes through the area Saturday afternoon. How would these
measurements most likely change?
A Both air pressure and wind speed would increase.
B Both air pressure and wind speed would decrease.
C Air pressure would increase and wind speed would decrease.
D Air pressure would decrease and wind speed would increase
D Air pressure would decrease and wind speed would increase
Jennifer places a pot containing 100 grams of liquid water on a stove. She heats the pot,
causing the water to boil. She waits 10 minutes and measures the mass of the water in the pot
again, and notices that there are now 75 grams of liquid water in the pot. Which choice best
describes this change in mass?
A Boiling the water caused 25 grams of water to become water vapor.
B Boiling the water created 25 grams of a new substance.
C Boiling the water caused 75 grams of water to become water vapor.
D Boiling the water created 75 grams of a new substance.
A Boiling the water caused 25 grams of water to become water vapor.
The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients. Which body system transports these
nutrients around the body?
A circulatory
B nervous
C respiratory
D skeletal
A circulatory
Why are winter temperatures at the coast of North Carolina milder than other regions of the
state?
A The Gulf Stream warms the coast of North Carolina.
B Land breezes warm the coast of North Carolina.
C Sea breezes warm the coast of North Carolina.
D A polar wind stream warms the coast of North Carolina.
A The Gulf Stream warms the coast of North Carolina.