Practice of Science
Life Science
Earth Science
Physical Science
Space Science
100
Renee rolls a steel ball down a ramp. She conducts multiple trials by releasing the ball from varying heights on the ramp. For each trial, she measures and records the release height of the ball and the distance the ball travels away from the ramp before falling to the ground. The figure below shows the experiment. In this experiment, which variable is the independent variable?
height from which the ball is released
100
How is a multi-cellular organism most different from a unicellular organism?
Different kinds of cells perform special functions.
100
When does erosion takes place?
after water, ice, and wind make rock from soil and sediment
100
Matter has two basic properties: physical properties and chemical properties. Which of these statements best describes physical properties?
A)Physical properties behave identically for all matter under the same conditions.
B)Physical properties can be observed without changing the identity of a substance.
C)Physical properties are observed by seeing how a substance reacts with other substances.
D)Physical properties cause atoms and molecules to change structure when substances are mixed.
B)Physical properties can be observed without changing the identity of a substance.
100
The main goal of science is to gain a better understanding of the natural world. Technology is often needed to achieve this goal. In what way does the technology pictured above help scientists achieve their goal?
A)It allows access to outer space.
B)It requires a large amount of fuel.
C)It must be piloted by an astronaut.
D)It costs millions of dollars to build.
A)It allows access to outer space.
200
New experimental data does not support a currently accepted hypothesis. Which course of action should the researcher take?
Form a new hypothesis and plan a new experiment
200
Part of the cell theory states that cells come from other cells. Which statement below explains that this part of cell theory applies to all organisms?
A)The cells of all organisms excrete waste.
B)The cells of all organisms have cytoplasm.
C)The cells of all organisms divide to make more cells.
D)The cells of all organisms take in nutrients from their environment
C)The cells of all organisms divide to make more cells.
200
The Outer Banks of North Carolina are composed of a string of long, thin islands off the coast. Ocean currents change the shape of the islands by causing erosion of the shorelines. Which of the following would be the most effective method to reduce erosion of the shorelines of the islands?
A)preventing tourists from visiting
B)planting native grasses on beaches
C)building more houses on the islands
D)removing native animals from the island
B)planting native grasses on beaches
200
Kavish mixes a black liquid and a clear liquid. He knows the two liquids do not mix well. Kavish allows the mixture to settle for 30 minutes. Which of these statements is true?
The clear liquid is less dense than the black liquid
200
During which two phases of the moon do spring tides take place?
A)new moon, full moon
300
Which of these phrases describes an observation rather than an experiment?
A)amount of light needed for plants to grow taller
B)force that will dent metal plates of different thickness
C)frequency of watering needed for seeds to sprout
D)the individual heights of six bean plants
D)the individual heights of six bean plants
300
A) This is a plant cell, which is shown by the fact that it has a chloroplast.
B) This is a plant cell, which is shown by the fact that it has a ribosomes.
C) This is an animal cell, which is shown by the fact that it has mitochondria.
D) This is an animal cell, which is shown by the fact that it has a cell wall
A) This is a plant cell, which is shown by the fact that it has a chloroplast.
300
Which of the following human activities could have an irreversible effect on an ecosystem?
I. introducing a new species
II. urban sprawl
III. introducing a new chemical
IV.over-hunting
I, II, III, and IV
300
Sun-Yee is comparing the substances and hot water inside a ceramic cup, and the water vapor above the cup. What can she say about the motion of the particles in all of the substances?
They are always moving.
300
What would be the best unit to describe how big the universe is?
A)millions of kilometers
B)millions of astronomical units (A.U.)
C)millions of miles
D)millions of light years (l.y.)
D)millions of light years (l.y.)
400
Which sequence of steps does a scientist follow during an experimental Investigation?
A)collect data → analyze data → draw conclusions
B)draw conclusions → interpret data → graph results
C)plan an experiment → draw conclusions → collect data
D)identify variables → define a problem → plan an experiment
A)collect data → analyze data → draw conclusions
400
The diagram shows the two main parts of the body’s central nervous system. According to the diagram, which statement best describes the brain?
A)It is made up of several types of tissue that work together.
B)It is made up of several types of organs that work together.
C)It is made up of identical cells that work together.
D)It is made up of identical organ systems that work together.
A)It is made up of several types of tissue that work together.
400
A rock formation near Gainsville, Florida was formed 530 million years ago. Which information does a scientist need to most accurately determine the age of a rock?
A)the percentage of mineral that makes up the rock
B)the percentage of fossilized marine life that makes up the rock
C)the amount of weathering present on the surface of the rock
D)the amount of radioactive element present in the rock
D)the amount of radioactive element present in the rock
400
How can the motion of the particles in a gas best be described?
particles that are far apart and move rapidly in all directions
400
The Milky Way Galaxy contains…
billions of stars and the objects in orbit around them.
500
Why might a scientist choose to do fieldwork instead of a laboratory experiment?
A)She needs a large amount of control.
B)He needs to change one or more variables at a time
C)She needs test conditions that replicate those found in nature.
D)He needs to make exact measurements using large equipment.
C)She needs test conditions that replicate those found in nature.
500
Bill has athlete’s foot. After he walks barefoot through the locker room, his teammate Carlos contracts the disease. Which description tells what happened?
Bill transmitted a fungal infection to Carlos through a contaminated object.
500
The picture shows the rock layers in one part of the Grand Canyon. What is the order of rock layers, from oldest to youngest?
4,3,2,1
500
Which of the following is incorrect?
A)Protons have a positive charge
B)Neutrons have no charge
C)Electrons have no charge
D)Electrons have a negative charge
C) Electrons have no charge
500
There are _______ of galaxies in the _______.
billions; universe
600
A science class was investigating how far a ball could be thrown. The table below shows their results. Based on the class’s data, how can they improve the accuracy of the investigation?
Do more trials.
600
Scientists suspect that modern horses have different dietary habits than horses that lived long ago. Which of the following would be best for a scientist to do to determine whether the dietary habits of horses have changed over time?
A)compare the teeth of modern horses to fossilized teeth from ancient horses
B)study the overall anatomy of a modern horse
C)compare the teeth of modern horses to the teeth of modern donkeys
D)study the diet of modern horses
A)compare the teeth of modern horses to fossilized teeth from ancient horses
600
What is the law of superposition?
sedimentary rock layer is in its original position and is older than the layers above it and younger than the layers below it
600
Which model of an atom is correctly labeled?
C
600
Which of the following statements best correlates a star’s color and relative temperature?
A)A blue star has a relatively low temperature.
B)A red star has a relatively high temperature.
C)A blue-white star has a relatively low temperature.
D)A yellow star has a relatively low temperature
D)A yellow star has a relatively low temperature
700
Scientists conduct many types of scientific investigations. Their efforts often include fieldwork, surveys, models, and experiments. Which statement about scientific investigations is not true?
A)They often involve the collection of data under controlled conditions.
B)They often include multiple trials to increase the consistency of data.
C)They may focus on comparing or describing the unregulated world.
D)They follow exactly the same steps because there is only one scientific method.
D)They follow exactly the same steps because there is only one scientific method.
700
Which of the following species of organisms is most likely to become extinct?
A)a species that is well adapted to its environment
B)a species that is not adapted to its environment
C)a species that has few offspring within a life cycle
D)a species that has many offspring within a life cycle
B)a species that is not adapted to its environment
700
Ozone is a gas found mostly in the upper atmosphere. What is the main benefit of ozone?
Ozone filters out ultraviolet radiation from the sun and shields Earth from some of this harmful energy.
700
When you listen to the radio, watch TV, or cook food in a microwave, you are using a device that makes use of man-made electromagnetic waves. Which statement about electromagnetic waves is false?
A)Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum
B)Electromagnetic waves need a medium to travel through
C)Different wavelengths of light are interpreted by our eyes as different colors
D)The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves ic called electromagnetic radiation
B)Electromagnetic waves need a medium to travel through
700
What two factors impact the length of a season?
Earth’s tilt relative to the sun and Earth’s position in its orbit around the sun
800
SC.7.N.1.5
A microbiologist investigates the outbreak of an unknown illness, which is thought to be caused by a new strain of bacteria. Doctors have determined the bacteria are located in the lungs. Initial work on treating the illness is dependent upon analysis of the bacteria. Which investigational method should the microbiologist use to start the process to analyze the bacteria?
A)Review the patients’ medical charts.
B)Interview people who have become sick.
C)Review the treatment medications and their effectiveness.
D)Take samples of the bacteria and grow cultures in a lab setting.
D)Take samples of the bacteria and grow cultures in a lab setting.
800
Look at the diagram shown below. The alleles for the parents are missing. The parents in the diagram above have which of these alleles?
Dd and dd
800
Leanne created the following diagram to show the process that warms the air above a lake. She decided to label each step with the energy transfer that is happening. Which step should Leanne label conduction?
Step 3
800
Which energy transformation is occurring within this hydroelectric power plant?
A)potential → kinetic → mechanical → electrical
B)kinetic → potential → mechanical → chemical
C)potential → kinetic → electrical →chemical
D)kinetic → mechanical → electrical → potential
A)kinetic → potential → mechanical → chemical
800
Natasia examined a chart listing the characteristics of four stars. Which star would look the dimmest from Earth’s surface?
star D
900
Santos wants to record the temperature of a heated object every minute for 5 min as it cools. Which table should he use to record his data?
B
900
Which of these is a food chain that is part of the global food web?
A)meadow grass → rabbit → fox → hawk
B)marsh grass → snail → small fish → hawk
C)marsh grass → grasshopper → mouse → fox
D)meadow grass → grasshopper → praying mantis → small fish
C)marsh grass → grasshopper → mouse → fox
900
Earth scientists have identified four distinct layers of the atmosphere. What is the correct order of these layers from lowest to highest in the atmosphere?
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
900
As Wilma holds a pan over a fire, the water begins to boil as shown in the figure below. Which of the following methods of heat transfer are correct?
A) X is represented by convection, Y is represented by conduction, and Z is represented by radiation.
B) X is represented by radiation, Y is represented by conduction, and Z is represented by convection.
C) X is represented by conduction, Y is represented by convection, and Z is represented by radiation.
D) X is represented by radiation, Y is represented by convection, and Z is represented by conduction.
A) X is represented by convection, Y is represented by conduction, and Z is represented by radiation.
900
Here is an image of the sun. Which of these choices best describes what is seen in this picture of the sun?
Prominence
1000
During several trials, a group of scientists test the reaction of a new medicine on a strain of bacteria. Which step is essential for proving the validity of the results?
Make the process public so the results can be replicated.
1000
What products of photosynthesis are starting material for cellular respiration?
glucose and oxygen
1000
The Florida Current was first reported by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513 when he discovered Florida. As seen in the following map, the Florida Current flows around the southern tip of Florida and up the East Coast. How does the Florida Current most likely affect the climate of cities along the coast of southern Florida, such as Miami?
It brings warm water, which makes the air temperature warmer.
1000
The following diagram shows four forces acting on an airplane in flight. Which arrow would represent air resistance (drag)?
1
1000
In the diagram below, the South Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. Which statement is true about the solar energy received when the South Hemisphere is tilted toward from the sun?
A)The Southern Hemisphere receives more direct solar energy and is warmer.