Nature of Science
Physical Science
Earth and Space
Life Science
I GOT THIS !
100
During an investigation on how temperature affects the solubility of salt in water, a student records the amount of salt dissolved at different temperatures. What would be the best way to organize and interpret this data?
A. Write a paragraph explaining each measurement.
B. Make a table to show the relationship between temperature and salt dissolved, then graph the data.
C. Change the variables to see different results.
D. Average the temperatures regardless of how much salt dissolved.
Correct Answer is B
Organizing data in tables and graphs helps reveal patterns and supports valid conclusions.
100
A student models how different atoms combine to form compounds. They represent hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C) atoms with colored spheres. In one example, they show H₂O and CO₂ molecules.
What claim can the student defend using this model, and how does it relate to the nature of elements and compounds?
A. Atoms cannot combine unless heated.
B. Compounds always contain hydrogen.
C. A limited number of elements can form unlimited compound combinations through atomic bonding.
D. Compounds are made of identical atoms.
Correct Answer is C
Models of compounds like H₂O and CO₂ support the claim that a limited set of elements can form many combinations via bonding.
100
Students are comparing astronomical structures based on size and composition. They organize the following from smallest to largest: Earth, Sun, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe.
Which claim about the structure of the universe can they best support, and why?
A. Planets orbit stars, which orbit galaxies, and galaxies exist in the universe—showing a hierarchical structure of increasing size.
B. Stars are the largest structures and contain galaxies.
C. Galaxies orbit the solar system, which surrounds the universe.
D. The Sun is the center of the universe, with planets and galaxies orbiting it.
Correct Answer is A
This reflects the correct hierarchical structure: planets → stars → solar system → galaxy → universe, based on size and composition.
100
A population of insects develops resistance to a pesticide after several generations.
Which explanation best supports how natural selection and genetic variation led to this change?
A. All insects became immune after a single generation.
B. Insects with a resistance gene survived and reproduced, increasing resistance in the population.
C. The pesticide changed the genes of all insects.
D. Insects that avoided the pesticide adapted their DNA through behavior.
Correct Answer is B
Natural selection favors individuals with beneficial traits like pesticide resistance, which become more common through reproduction.
100
A team of students is comparing the response of plant and animal cells to saltwater. They observe both cell types shrink but plant cells maintain a rigid shape.
Which organelle difference best explains this outcome, and how does it support the plant cell’s function?
A. The nucleus of plant cells shrinks faster due to vacuole pressure.
B. The cell wall in plant cells provides structure even when water is lost.
C. Plant mitochondria expand to protect the vacuole.
D. The cell membrane thickens to prevent water loss in both cell types.
Correct answer B
Plant cells have a rigid cell wall that maintains shape even when the vacuole loses water—unlike animal cells.
200
Which example best demonstrates replication in a scientific investigation?
A. A student repeats an experiment five times to get consistent results.
B. A class of students shares their predictions before testing.
C. A different group of scientists performs the same experiment using the original method.
D. A scientist changes the variables each time they perform an experiment.
Correct Answer is C
Replication is when a different group repeats the original experiment to confirm results.
200
A student heats sugar in a pan and observes the following:
It melts into a liquid
Then turns brown and gives off a burning smell
Which statement best explains the physical and chemical changes observed and how they can be identified?
A. Melting and burning are both physical changes because they involve heat.
B. Melting is a chemical change because the sugar changes form.
C. Melting is physical, while burning is chemical—because burning produces a new substance with a color and odor change.
D. Both are chemical changes because sugar is no longer in solid form.
Correct Answer is C
Melting is a physical change (no new substance), burning is chemical (new substances, color/odor change).
200
Two stars are observed:
Star A is blue, very hot, and dim as seen from Earth
Star B is red, cooler, and appears brighter than Star A
What can students infer about the true luminosity and distance of each star, and how does this relate to classification?A. Star A is closer than Star B because it’s dimmer.
B. Star B is hotter and larger than Star A.
C. Star A is likely farther but more luminous due to its blue color; brightness is affected by both temperature and distance.
D. Star A must be smaller and colder because it’s dim.
Correct C
Star A is hotter (blue) but appears dim due to distance; luminosity depends on actual energy output, not just apparent brightness.
200
Students observe the interaction between ants and aphids: aphids produce sugar-rich liquid, and ants protect them from predators.
Which type of relationship is being modeled, and what evidence best supports it?
A. Mutualism, because both species benefit from the interaction.
B. Predation, because ants consume the aphids’ waste.
C. Parasitism, because ants control the aphids.
D. Commensalism, because aphids don’t affect the ants.
Correct answer is A
Both ants (protection) and aphids (food) benefit—classic mutualism supported by observable behavior.
200
Students design an experiment to test whether different wavelengths of light affect plant growth. They collect height data weekly for 6 weeks using red, blue, and green light.
Which claim is best supported by the data and how could students defend their conclusion?
A. Red light works best because the red plants looked the healthiest.
B. The green light caused the tallest growth, so all plants should use it.
C. Data shows blue light caused consistent growth, and this trend was confirmed through repeated trials.
D. The experiment cannot be used without sunlight as a control.
Answer is C
The students use quantitative evidence from repeated trials to support and defend a scientifically valid conclusion.
300
A student hypothesizes that plants grow taller in blue light than in red light. They conduct an experiment and collect the following data:
Based on this data, which conclusion is best supported and how could it be further investigated?
A. Plants prefer blue light, so all farms should use blue lights.
B. Blue light makes plants taller, but more trials are needed to confirm this trend.
C. Red light makes plants shorter, so red light should be banned from use in agriculture.
D. The data is inconclusive and should be ignored.
Correct Answer is B
The data supports a trend, but repeating the experiment increases reliability.
300
Students are given four metal cubes of identical size but made from different substances. They record the mass and calculate density. The table below shows their data:
Which two metals are most likely the same substance, and what does this reveal about physical properties?
A. A and B; because they have similar mass
B. B and D; because their densities are closest
C. A and C; because identical density indicates the same substance
D. C and D; because they both have high density
Correct Answer is C
A and C have identical density (a characteristic property), indicating the same substance; density is independent of sample size.
300
A class investigates a sudden volcanic eruption near a plate boundary. They use a tectonic plate map and historical eruption data.
Which explanation best justifies how plate movement caused this rapid surface change?
A. A transform boundary caused magma to cool quickly.
B. Converging plates pushed magma upward through the crust, leading to eruption.
C. Diverging plates moved apart, lowering pressure and freezing magma.
D. A meteor struck the crust, forming a volcano near a subduction zone.
Correct Answer B
Convergent boundaries cause subduction, melting mantle rock, which creates pressure and magma that leads to explosive volcanic eruptions.
300
Students analyze how mitochondria in muscle cells support the muscular system during exercise.
What explanation best connects cellular function to body system performance?
A. Mitochondria break down waste, helping the immune system fight infection.
B. Mitochondria produce energy that powers muscle contractions, supporting movement in the muscular system.
C. Mitochondria cool down the cell during overheating.
D. Mitochondria absorb oxygen to prevent fatigue in the respiratory system.
Correct Answer is B
Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of the cell, producing ATP for muscular contractions—essential during physical activity.
300
A student drops a metal spoon into a hot cup of tea. After 3 minutes, the spoon is warm.
Which energy transformation and flow process occurred, and what best explains the final state?
A. Heat was transformed into light as it left the tea.
B. Thermal energy flowed from the cooler spoon to the hotter tea.
C. Kinetic energy transformed into heat as the spoon sank.
D. Heat transferred from the hot tea to the cooler spoon until thermal equilibrium was reached.
Correct Answer is D
Thermal energy flows from hot tea to the cooler spoon until both reach the same temperature—thermal equilibrium.
400
A group of students tests how sunlight affects algae growth. They follow all safety protocols, use controls, record detailed measurements, and publish their results online. What does this investigation reveal about scientific processes?
A. Scientific investigations are disorganized and random.
B. Science relies on strict procedures and evidence to explain the natural world.
C. Science is based on opinions and individual ideas.
D. Science must always produce the expected result.
Correct Answer is B
This shows that science uses structured procedures and shared results to build understanding.
400
Two students test how sound travels through different materials. They set up a speaker and use sensors to detect sound in air, water, and metal. Results show the sound travels fastest in metal, slower in water, and slowest in air.
What scientific explanation justifies these results, and what model could they use to represent this?
A. Denser materials resist wave motion more, so sound is slowest in metal; use a vacuum model.
B. Sound travels faster in denser, more elastic materials; use particle vibration models to show wave motion.
C. Sound travels at the same speed in all materials; use a single waveform diagram.
D. Sound cannot travel through solids; use only air-based wave models.
Correct Answer is B
Sound travels faster in more elastic/dense materials like metal; vibration models help visualize particle movement.
400
Students design a climate model to explain why coastal areas have more stable temperatures than inland areas. They use maps showing ocean currents and air temperatures.
What explanation best supports their claim, and which Earth systems interact to cause this?
A. The biosphere absorbs sunlight near coasts, keeping temperatures warm.
B. The atmosphere and cryosphere combine to insulate coastal regions.
C. The hydrosphere stores and releases heat more slowly than land, influencing the atmosphere and stabilizing temperatures near the ocean.
D. The geosphere rapidly heats and cools, causing balanced climate changes inland.
Correct answer is C
Water (hydrosphere) has a higher heat capacity than land, moderating coastal climates; it influences the atmosphere to keep temperatures stable.
400
A student models how traits are passed from parents to offspring using coins to represent dominant (heads) and recessive (tails) alleles.
What conclusion can they draw from multiple simulations and how does it demonstrate heredity?
A. Coin flips show that traits are passed based only on environment.
B. The simulation shows traits are random and don’t follow patterns.
C. The model demonstrates that combinations of alleles determine inherited traits and predict outcomes using probability.
D. Each offspring inherits traits by choosing the most useful genes.
Correct Answer is C
The coin-flip model illustrates how dominant and recessive alleles combine and allows students to simulate heredity patterns using probability.
400
A student models atmospheric movement over land and ocean by heating two trays—one with soil and one with water—using a lamp.
Which conclusion best explains how the Sun causes global atmospheric movement based on this model?
A. Water absorbs energy faster, creating wind over oceans.
B. Soil and water heat equally, so the model does not support global winds.
C. Uneven heating of Earth’s surface creates convection currents in the atmosphere.
D. Cold air from the soil moves upward, displacing warmer air.
Correct Answer is C
The Sun heats land and water unevenly, causing air to rise and fall, forming convection currents that drive global wind patterns.
500
A student creates a physical model to simulate how water flows through different soil types. What is a limitation of using this model, and how can the student improve it?
A. The model will work perfectly, so no improvements are needed.
B. The model doesn’t account for temperature effects; the student could add heat sources.
C. The model may not represent all real-world conditions; the student should test with real soil samples and compare results.
D. The student should use only one type of soil to simplify results.
Correct Answer C
All models have limitations; testing in real-world conditions improves accuracy.
500
Which chain of energy transformations occurred, and how could the students defend that heat follows a predictable path?
A. Light → Sound → Motion → Heat; heat moves from cooler fan to warmer air
B. Light → Electrical → Mechanical → Thermal; heat flows from warmer objects (sun, panel, motor) to cooler ones (water)
C. Electrical → Nuclear → Motion → Heat; heat flows randomly
D. Light → Heat → Motion → Electrical; heat flows from water to sunlight
Correct Answer is B
The device shows transformations from light to electric to motion and heat; heat predictably moves from warmer parts to cooler water.
500
Students observe that during a full moon, high tides are especially high. They simulate the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun using spheres and flashlights.
Which model setup and explanation best supports the cause of these extreme tides?
A. The Moon and Sun are at right angles to Earth, pulling water in different directions.
B. The Moon is directly between the Earth and Sun, increasing gravity.
C. The Moon and Sun are aligned on opposite sides of Earth, combining their gravitational pull to produce spring tides.
D. The Earth is tilted away from the Moon, increasing lunar gravity.
Correct Answer is C
Spring tides occur when the Moon and Sun are aligned (new or full moon), increasing gravitational pull on Earth's oceans.
500
Students design a closed ecosystem in a jar with soil, plants, and decomposers. Over time, no matter is added or removed.
Which conclusion best explains how this model demonstrates the Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy?
A. Energy and matter are lost as plants grow.
B. Plants consume matter and energy without recycling.
C. Energy from light is transformed and matter is cycled between organisms and the environment.
D. The jar adds nutrients from the air to replace lost mass.
Correct answer is C
Energy from light powers photosynthesis; decomposers recycle matter, keeping mass and energy conserved in the closed system.
500
A group of scientists monitors seafloor spreading near a mid-ocean ridge and compares magnetic patterns in the crust.
What evidence would best support the theory of plate tectonics based on this study?
A. Equal amounts of lava on both sides of the ridge.
B. Matching magnetic striping on either side of the ridge.
C. Ocean crust that remains unchanged near the ridge.
D. Volcanoes form away from tectonic plate boundaries.
Correct Answer is B
Magnetic striping provides direct physical evidence of seafloor spreading and supports plate tectonic theory.