TAKS Science

Biology

100

Which of the following best describes a difference between a mutualistic relationship and a parasitic relationship? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Parasitism harms both organisms, while mutualism harms only one organism. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. Parasitism benefits only one organism, while mutualism benefits both organisms. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. Parasitism involves only two organisms, while mutualism involves many organisms. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Parasitism continues for many generations, while mutualism is limited to one generation.

G. Parasitism benefits only one organism, while mutualism benefits both organisms.

200

Some plants have a hard waxy coating on their leaves that helps prevent water loss. In which environment do these plants most likely grow? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Desert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Marine ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Grassland ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Rain forest

A. Desert

300

Cell membranes perform all the following functions except — ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. making nutrients for cells ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. holding cytoplasm within cells ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. regulating substances exiting cells ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. recognizing other cells

A. making nutrients for cells

400

Which of the following is a characteristic of most bacterial infections but not of a viral infection? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. It can cause multiple symptoms. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. It can affect different people differently. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. It can be spread by inhalation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. It can be treated with an antibiotic.

J. It can be treated with an antibiotic.

500

Many viruses released into the air survive for only short periods of time. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Viruses attract antibodies in the atmosphere. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. Viruses require a low atmospheric pressure. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. Viruses are hosts for bacteria that eventually destroy them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Viruses are dependent on host cells of living organisms.

J. Viruses are dependent on host cells of living organisms.

IPC

100

Which of the following describes a disadvantage of using solar cells as an energy source? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Solar cells generate large quantities of waste. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. Solar cells can be used to charge batteries. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. Solar cells release gaseous by-products. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Solar cells are dependent on available sunlight.

J. Solar cells are dependent on available sunlight.

200

A student compares the viscosities of two solutions at room temperature. The student uses a metal block and equal volumes of the two solutions in identical containers. Which procedure would provide the best comparison of the viscosities of the solutions? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Determining whether the block raises or lowers the density of either solution ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Determining whether the block raises or lowers the temperature of either solution ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Measuring the volume of liquid the block displaces in each solution ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Measuring the time it takes the block to sink in each solution

D. Measuring the time it takes the block to sink in each solution

300

Which of the following properties causes attraction between molecules of liquid water? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Acidity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Polarity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Density ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Viscosity

B. Polarity

400

An advertisement for a new medication claims that patients can lower body cholesterol by 25%–45%. If the claim is accurate, patients who will benefit most from this medication are those who — ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. have high cholesterol levels ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. consume small amounts of cholesterol ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. want to eliminate cholesterol ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. are aware of cholesterol’s effects

H. want to eliminate cholesterol

500

White-tailed deer meet their energy needs through which of these activities? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Drinking water ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. Absorbing sunlight ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. Eating plants ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Exhaling carbon dioxide

H. Eating plants

Physics

100

An athlete sitting in a wheelchair at rest throws a basketball forward. Since the athlete and the wheelchair have greater mass than the basketball has, the athlete and the wheelchair will ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. move backward at a lower speed than the basketball moves forward ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. travel the same distance as the basketball but in the opposite direction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. move backward at a higher speed than the basketball moves forward ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. have the same forward momentum as the basketball

F. move backward at a lower speed than the basketball moves forward

200

As a rocket rises, its kinetic energy changes. At the time the rocket reaches its highest point, most of the kinetic energy of the rocket has been ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. permanently destroyed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. transformed into potential energy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. converted to friction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. stored in bonds between its atoms

G. transformed into potential energy

300

A motor produces less mechanical energy than the energy it uses because the motor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. gains some energy through motion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. stores some energy as electrons ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. converts some energy into heat and sound ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. uses some energy to increase in mass

H. converts some energy into heat and sound

400

The Pioneer 10 spacecraft was launched in March 1972 to explore the solar system. Pioneer 10 has continued on its journey and is now traveling beyond the solar system. Which statement best explains why Pioneer 10 continues to travel farther out into space? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Objects in space accelerate at a greater rate than objects on Earth. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. The force of the solar wind propels objects through space at a constant speed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Objects in motion will remain in motion unless acted on by unbalanced forces.

D. Objects in motion will remain in motion unless acted on by unbalanced forces.

500

A 2.25 kg fish swims in a pond at a constant rate of 56 meters in 96 seconds. What is the fish’s approximate speed?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. 0.020 m/s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. 0.40 m/s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. 0.58 m/s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. 1.7 m/s

H. 0.58 m/s

Logic

100

A circle graph would best help a student communicate a conclusion about an investigation involving — ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. the proportions by mass of three metals in an alloy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. the amounts of heat released by three chemical reactions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. the amounts of force required to accelerate three different masses ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. the electrical conductivity of three salt solutions

A. the proportions by mass of three metals in an alloy

200

A student uses a hot plate, a thermometer, and a stopwatch to investigate the rate at which a metal object conducts heat. To ensure the most reliable results, which of the following should the student do? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Perform a second investigation using different tools ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Use several thermometers to measure temperature ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Develop a hypothesis before starting the investigation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Repeat the entire investigation several times

D. Repeat the entire investigation several times

300

Some students investigate the rusting rate of four metals in saltwater. To best find the rusting rates, the students should measure the masses of the metals before the investigation and at — ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. the same time and day during each week of the investigation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. different times and days during each week of the investigation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. any time during the first week of the investigation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. one randomly selected time during the investigation

A. the same time and day during each week of the investigation

400

A scientist hypothesizes that the use of a propellant other than the traditional mixture of C, S, and KNO3 will cause a rocket to rise higher into the air. The researcher builds a rocket that uses an alternate propellant. A proper control for the experiment would be an identical rocket that uses — ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. the traditional propellant ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. the alternate propellant ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. no propellants ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. a mixture of both propellants

F. the traditional propellant

500

A group of researchers discovered the fossilized remains of a flying mammal that appears to have lived 130 million to 165 million years ago. Since the earliest flying birds are believed to have appeared about 150 million years ago, researchers concluded that birds and mammals began to fly at about the same time. This conclusion would be most weakened by evidence of which of the following? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. A 100-million-year-old fossil of a flying bird ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. A 120-million-year-old fossil of a flying bird ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. A 160-million-year-old fossil of a flying mammal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. A 200-million-year-old fossil of a flying mammal

A. A 100-million-year-old fossil of a flying bird

Chemistry

100

When the fuse ignites the contents of a firework, oxygen is consumed as a result of which type of change? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Mass ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Phase ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Nuclear ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Chemical

D. Chemical

200

A sample liquid is cooled from 150°C to 30°C, causing the liquid to change into a solid. Which of the following has occurred? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Chemical composition has changed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. A physical change has occurred. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. A new compound has formed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Evaporation of a solvent has occurred.

G. A physical change has occurred.

300

A solution having an equal number of H+ ions and OH– ions will have a pH of — ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. 7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. 9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. 11

B. 7

400

Water molecules generally have which effect on a soluble ionic compound mixed into water? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. They remove electrons from the compound. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. They break the bonds between the ions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. They change the ionic bonds to covalent bonds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. They add protons to the ionic nuclei.

G. They break the bonds between the ions.

500

The elements in which of these sets have chemical properties that are the most similar? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. K, Ca, Sc ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. O, S, Se ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Na, Ca, Y ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. P, S, Cl

B. O, S, Se