Scientific Thinking
Matter & Chemistry
Forces & Energy
Earth & Space
Life Science
FAST Challenge Round
100
A student is investigating whether different types of rocks have different masses. She places each rock on a tool that uses sliding riders to measure the amount of matter in the object.
Which scientific tool is the student MOST likely using?
A. Thermometer
B. Graduated cylinder
C. Triple beam balance
D. Spring scale
C. Triple beam balance
100
A student observes that Element X is located on the left side of the periodic table and conducts electricity well.
Element X is MOST likely classified as—
A. a nonmetal
B. a metalloid
C. a noble gas
D. a metal
D. a metal
100
A roller coaster is pulled to the top of a steep hill and then released.
At which point does the roller coaster have the MOST kinetic energy?
A. At the top of the first hill (1)
B. Halfway up the next hill (4)
C. At the bottom of the hill (3)
D. Halfway down the hill (2)
C. At the bottom of the hill (3)
100
Over many years, wind and rain break down a large rock into smaller and smaller pieces. The broken pieces are then carried away by a river.
Which process BEST describes what is happening?
A. Deposition then erosion
B. Weathering then erosion
C. Plate movement then weathering
D. Condensation then evaporation
B. Weathering then erosion
100
A student looks at a cell under a microscope and notices it has a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole.
What type of cell is MOST likely being observed?
A. Animal cell
B. Bacterial cell
C. Plant cell
D. Virus
C. Plant cell
100
A student reads the following:
“When fertilizer was added to Plant A, it grew 5 cm in one week. Plant B, which received no fertilizer, grew 2 cm in one week. Both plants were kept in the same sunlight and water conditions.”
Which claim is BEST supported by the data?
A. Fertilizer decreases plant growth
B. Fertilizer has no effect on plant growth
C. Fertilizer may increase plant growth
D. Sunlight is the only factor affecting growth
C. Fertilizer may increase plant growth
200
DAILY DOUBLE:
Daily Double Rules
You can wager any amount of your points (up to all of them).
Correct answer: you win your wager.
Wrong answer: you lose your wager.
If you have 0 points: you can still wager the question’s points, but your score can go negative.
💡 Tip: Bet wisely – it could double your points or drop you into the red!
A student wants to test whether fertilizer helps plants grow taller. She uses the same type of plant, same amount of water, and same amount of sunlight for all plants. The only thing she changes is the amount of fertilizer.
What is the independent variable in this investigation?
A. Plant height
B. Amount of fertilizer
C. Amount of sunlight
D. Type of plant
B. Amount of fertilizer
Independent variables (IV) are the "cause"—the factor manipulated or changed by researchers to test its effects. Dependent variables (DV) are the "effect"—the measured outcome that changes in response to the IV.
200
A student compares two clear liquids. One liquid evaporates quickly and catches fire easily. The other evaporates slowly and does not burn.
Which statement BEST explains the difference between the liquids?
A. The liquids have different physical and chemical properties.
B. Both liquids must have the same density.
C. Flammability is a physical property only.
D. Evaporation proves a new substance formed.
A. The liquids have different physical and chemical properties.
200
A student rides a bicycle 60 meters east in 5 seconds.
What is the student’s average speed?
Speed formula:
v= d/t
A. 12 m/s
B. 30 m/s
C. 55 m/s
D. 65 m/s
A. 12 m/s
200
DAILY DOUBLE:
Daily Double Rules
You can wager any amount of your points (up to all of them).
Correct answer: you win your wager.
Wrong answer: you lose your wager.
If you have 0 points: you can still wager the question’s points, but your score can go negative.
💡 Tip: Bet wisely – it could double your points or drop you into the red!
After a heavy rainstorm, water flows downhill across the ground where it will eventually collect in streams, rivers, and eventually lakes.
Which part of the water cycle is being described when the water is flowing down the hill?
A. Accumulation
B. Condensation
C. Runoff
D. Transpiration
C. Runoff
200
In a forest food web, all the rabbits suddenly disappear due to disease.
Which effect is MOST likely to happen next?
A. Grass population decreases
B. Fox population decreases
C. Snake population increases
D. Trees stop producing oxygen
B. Fox population decreases
200
A city builds a dam across a river. Over time, fish populations downstream decrease significantly.
Which explanation BEST describes this effect?
A. The dam increases oxygen levels in the water
B. The dam changes the flow of water and disrupts habitats
C. Fish move upstream because of increased sunlight
D. The dam causes fish to evolve immediately
B. The dam changes the flow of water and disrupts habitats
300
A student performs an experiment three times and records the results below.
Which statement BEST explains the results?
A. The data are precise because all trials are close together.
B. The data contain an outlier that may have resulted from error.
C. The investigation is valid because the highest value is largest.
D. The results prove the hypothesis was correct.
B. The data contain an outlier that may have resulted from error.
300
A student observes bubbles forming when hydrochloric acid is added to a metal strip. The temperature of the container also increases.
Which evidence BEST supports that a chemical reaction occurred?
A. The metal strip changed size only
B. The acid was a liquid before the reaction
C. Gas production and temperature change occurred
D. The substances were mixed together
C. Gas production and temperature change occurred
300
A student strikes one end of a metal rod with a hammer. Another student holding the opposite end hears the sound almost immediately.
Which statement BEST explains this observation?
A. Sound waves travel efficiently through solids.
B. Light waves move slower than sound waves.
C. Heat energy caused the sound to form.
D. Metal rods create electromagnetic waves.
A. Sound waves travel efficiently through solids.
300
A space probe travels from Earth to the Moon. As it gets farther from Earth, it experiences a noticeable decrease in gravitational pull from Earth but does not become completely weightless.
Which statement BEST explains this?
A. Gravity only exists on Earth’s surface
B. Gravity decreases with distance but never fully disappears
C. The Moon cancels out Earth’s gravity completely
D. Space has no forces acting on objects
B. The Sun’s gravity is stronger on inner planets because they are closer
300
A student eats food, and nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. The nutrients then travel through the blood to muscle cells.
Which two body systems are MOST directly interacting in this process?
A. Respiratory and nervous
B. Digestive and circulatory
C. Skeletal and muscular
D. Excretory and endocrine
B. Digestive and circulatory
300
What subject is the overall favorite?
chemistry
400
A group of students tested how different surfaces affect the speed of a toy car. They released the same car from the same ramp height on carpet, tile, and grass.
Why is it important that the students used the same ramp height each time?
A. To increase the number of trials
B. To keep the dependent variable constant
C. To control variables in the investigation
D. To make the car move more slowly
C. To control variables in the investigation
400
A student investigates whether dissolving sugar in water changes the total mass of the system. The student measures the mass before and after the sugar dissolves in a sealed container.
What will MOST likely happen to the total mass?
A. The mass will increase because the sugar particles spread out
B. The mass will decrease because the sugar disappears
C. The mass will remain the same because matter is conserved
D. The mass will change depending on the temperature of the water
C. The mass will remain the same because matter is conserved
400
A metal spoon is left inside a pot of hot soup. After several minutes, the handle of the spoon becomes hot.
Which method of heat transfer caused the spoon handle to become hot?
A. Radiation
B. Reflection
C. Conduction
D. Convection
C. Conduction
What's the Difference
400
A scientist observes that earthquakes and volcanoes are common along the edges of continents.
Which explanation BEST accounts for this pattern?
A. Ocean currents cause cracks in continents
B. Wind erosion weakens the edges of continents
C. Plate boundaries are locations of tectonic activity
D. Gravity pulls continents apart at the edges
C. Plate boundaries are locations of tectonic activity
400
A student claims that plants only perform photosynthesis and do not carry out cellular respiration.
Which statement BEST corrects this misconception?
A. Plants only perform cellular respiration at night when there is no sunlight available
B. Plants perform photosynthesis during the day and cellular respiration at night only
C. Plants perform both photosynthesis and cellular respiration because they need photosynthesis to make glucose and cellular respiration to release usable energy from that glucose
D. Plants do not perform cellular respiration because they are producers and only consumers use that process
C. Plants perform both photosynthesis and cellular respiration because they need photosynthesis to make glucose and cellular respiration to release usable energy from that glucose
400
DAILY DOUBLE:
Daily Double Rules
You can wager any amount of your points (up to all of them).
Correct answer: you win your wager.
Wrong answer: you lose your wager.
If you have 0 points: you can still wager the question’s points, but your score can go negative.
💡 Tip: Bet wisely – it could double your points or drop you into the red!
A student hits a target with darts. The darts are clustered tightly together but far from the bullseye.
Which statement BEST describes the results?
A. The results are accurate but not precise
B. The results are precise but not accurate
C. The results are both accurate and precise
D. The results are neither accurate nor precise
B. The results are precise but not accurate
500
A student investigates how the amount of sunlight affects plant growth. The student places three identical plants in different locations and measures their height after two weeks. 
Which conclusion is BEST supported by the data?
A. Plants stop growing after 8 cm.
B. Increasing sunlight generally increases plant growth.
C. Sunlight is the only factor that affects plant growth.
D. All plants grow the same amount regardless of sunlight.
B. Increasing sunlight generally increases plant growth.
500
An atom has 12 protons, 12 electrons, and 13 neutrons.
Which statement about this atom is correct?
A. The atom has a positive charge.
B. The atom is electrically neutral.
C. The atom belongs to two different elements.
D. The atom has more electrons than protons.
B. The atom is electrically neutral.
500
DAILY DOUBLE:
Daily Double Rules
You can wager any amount of your points (up to all of them).
Correct answer: you win your wager.
Wrong answer: you lose your wager.
If you have 0 points: you can still wager the question’s points, but your score can go negative.
💡 Tip: Bet wisely – it could double your points or drop you into the red!
A student builds four electrical circuits using identical batteries and bulbs. In one circuit, adding a second bulb causes all bulbs to become dimmer.
Which statement BEST explains why this happens?
A. The circuit became a series circuit with greater total resistance.
B. The battery produced more voltage after the bulb was added.
C. Electrical energy was destroyed by the second bulb.
D. The current increased because resistance decreased.
A. The circuit became a series circuit with greater total resistance.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Series-and-parallel-circuits-the-basics-1152850-055e134b2b5847a5ae5b28843bbc3c39.png)
500
A student models the Moon over several weeks and notices that the lit portion changes shape in a repeating pattern.
Which statement BEST explains moon phases?
A. Earth’s shadow always covers part of the Moon
B. The Moon produces its own light that changes shape
C. We see different portions of the Moon’s sunlit side as it orbits Earth
D. Clouds on Earth block parts of the Moon at different times
C. We see different portions of the Moon’s sunlit side as it orbits Earth
500
Two parents both have brown eyes, but their child has blue eyes.
Which statement BEST explains how this is possible?
A. Blue eyes are always dominant
B. The child inherited recessive genes from both parents
C. The environment changed the child’s eye color
D. Brown eyes cannot produce blue-eyed children
B. The child inherited recessive genes from both parents
500
A student investigates a closed container system where a plant is placed inside with sunlight, water, and air. Over time, oxygen levels increase during the day and decrease at night.
Which explanation BEST describes what is happening?
A. The plant only performs respiration, which releases oxygen
B. Photosynthesis produces oxygen during the day, while respiration uses oxygen at all times
C. Oxygen is created only when water evaporates
D. The plant stops all gas exchange at night
B. Photosynthesis produces oxygen during the day, while respiration uses oxygen at all times
600
A student designs an experiment to test how different types of fertilizer affect plant growth. Four identical plants are used. Each plant receives the same amount of water, soil, and sunlight, but a different fertilizer type is used. After two weeks, the student records plant height.
However, one plant is placed near a window that is slightly open, while the others are in a closed room.
Which statement BEST explains how this affects the validity of the experiment?
A. The experiment is still valid because all plants received fertilizer
B. The open window introduces an uncontrolled variable that could affect plant growth
C. The dependent variable was changed, making the experiment invalid
D. The fertilizer type is no longer the independent variable
B. The open window introduces an uncontrolled variable that could affect plant growth
600
Two atoms are shown below:
Which statement BEST describes atoms X and Y?
A. They are different elements because they have different neutrons.
B. They are isotopes of the same element because they have the same number of protons.
C. They are ions because they have different masses.
D. They are compounds because they contain multiple particles.
B. They are isotopes of the same element because they have the same number of protons.
600
A student drops two identical sheets of paper from the same height at the same time. One sheet is crumpled into a tight ball, and the other is left flat. The crumpled paper reaches the ground first.
Which explanation BEST describes why this happens?
A. The crumpled paper has more mass, so gravity pulls it faster
B. The flat paper experiences more air resistance, slowing its fall
C. The crumpled paper creates more air resistance, slowing it down
D. Both papers experience the same forces, but mass changes the speed
B. The flat paper experiences more air resistance, slowing its fall
600
DAILY DOUBLE:
Daily Double Rules
You can wager any amount of your points (up to all of them).
Correct answer: you win your wager.
Wrong answer: you lose your wager.
If you have 0 points: you can still wager the question’s points, but your score can go negative.
💡 Tip: Bet wisely – it could double your points or drop you into the red!
A city builds homes on a steep hillside made of loose soil. After several days of heavy rain, parts of the hillside begin to slide downhill.
Which Earth process is MOST responsible for this change?
A. Deposition caused by wind
B. Weathering caused by freezing
C. Mass movement caused by gravity and water saturation
D. Plate tectonics causing land uplift
C. Mass movement caused by gravity and water saturation
600
In a population of insects, some are green and blend into leaves, while others are brown and stand out. Birds more easily eat the brown insects over time.
What will MOST likely happen to the population over many generations?
A. Brown insects will become more common
B. Green insects will become more common
C. Both colors will disappear completely
D. The insects will stop reproducing
B. Green insects will become more common
600
A student analyzes a map of Florida showing that most earthquakes are rare, but sinkholes are common in certain regions. The student also notes that Florida is mostly made of limestone bedrock and has a high water table.
Which explanation BEST connects these observations?
A. Florida is located on a major plate boundary, causing frequent earthquakes and sinkholes
B. Limestone slowly dissolves through chemical weathering, and underground water movement can create empty spaces that collapse into sinkholes
C. Sinkholes form because hurricanes push land downward during storms
D. Earthquakes in Florida are caused by ocean waves eroding coastal rock
B. Limestone slowly dissolves through chemical weathering, and underground water movement can create empty spaces that collapse into sinkholes