PSSA Practice Packet

PSSA Science Practice
2014 – 2015
Student Name _____________________________________________
Teacher Name _____________________________________________
1
The diagram below shows four Moon phases observed during July. On which date would the next New Moon occur? (1) August 5 (2) August 10 (3) August 19 (4) August 29 2
The surface of Earth is covered by a relatively thin layer of water called the (1) crust (2) mantle (3) hydrosphere (4) atmosphere 3
In which type of rock are fossils generally found? (1) igneous (2) metamorphic (3) sedimentary (4) volcanic 2
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Which title best describes the processes shown in the diagram below? (1) The Rock Cycle (2) The Water Cycle (3) Plate Tectonics (4) Chemical Changes 5
The diagram below shows a penny scratching the surface of the mineral calcite. Which physical property of the calcite is being tested? (1) streak (2) hardness (3) melting point (4) reaction to acid 3
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The diagram below shows milk being poured into a measuring cup. Which property of the milk can be directly measured using the cup? (1) mass (2) density (3) solubility (4) volume 7
Which energy resource is renewable? (1) fuel oil (2) natural gas (3) wind (4) coal 8
The drawing below shows the original size and shape of a rock sample before it is thrown into a rapidly moving stream. Which drawing best shows the actual size and shape the rock will have after being carried several hundred miles downstream and deposited? 4
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The diagram below shows stages in the development of a certain landscape. When did erosion become the most dominant process in the development of the landscape shown in stage 4? (1) at stage 1 (2) at stage 2 (3) between stages 2 and 3 (4) between stages 3 and 4 10
The graph below shows tide levels for two days at an ocean location. Approximately how many hours are between the high tide on Tuesday and the first high tide on Wednesday? (1) 6 hours (2) 9 hours (3) 12 hours (4) 18 hours 5
Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below, which shows two insulated Styrofoam cups of water connected by an aluminum bar. The thermometers show the temperature of the water in cup A and cup B at the beginning of a heat-­‐flow experiment. 11
Over the next 15 minutes, which changes would most likely occur? (1) The temperature in cup A will decrease and the temperature in cup B will increase. (2) The temperature in cup A will decrease and the temperature in cup B will decrease. (3) The temperature in cup A will increase and the temperature in cup B will increase. (4) The temperature in cup A will increase and the temperature in cup B will decrease. 12
Which process is most responsible for the temperature changes that will take place? (1) radiation of heat from the water in the cups to the thermometers (2) conduction of heat through the aluminum bar (3) radiation of heat from the water in the cups into the air (4) conduction of heat through the air to the water in the cups 6
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The cross section below shows fossils and the rock layers in which they are found. Crustal movement has not displaced the rock layers. Which fossil is considered the oldest in the cross section shown? (1) armored fish (2) dinosaurs (3) early horses (4) trilobites 14
Evidence that living things have evolved over hundreds of millions of years can be found in (1) particles in the air (2) rocks containing fossils (3) tree rings from recently logged trees (4) chemicals in human hair 15
Extinction of a species is most likely to occur as a result of (1) evolution (2) migration (3) selective breeding (4) environmental changes 13
Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below which shows a model of human inheritance. 16
The parent whose genes are aa (1) must be dominant (2) has a straight hairline (3) has a peaked hairline (4) may have AA offspring 17
The diagram shown is called a (1) Punnett square (2) pedigree chart (3) dichotomous key (4) flowchart 18
Some kinds of fish live most of their lives in salt water but lay their eggs in freshwater. Their ability to survive in different environments is an example of (1) adaptation (2) developmental stages (3) a habit (4) selective breeding 14
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Which example would result in new cells that are most different from the parent cells? (1) yeast cells splitting into new cells (2) bacteria cells dividing into new cells (3) skin cells dividing to produce more skin cells (4) sperm and egg cells uniting to produce fertilized egg cells 20
The table below shows the symptoms of some diseases that are caused by bacteria. Which two diseases listed in the table affect the digestive system? (1) botulism and typhoid fever (2) botulism and pneumonia (3) tetanus and pneumonia (4) tetanus and typhoid fever 15
Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below, which shows a partial food web. 21
How many organisms in this food web feed on the mice? (1) 5 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 4 22
Which group of organisms is missing from this food web? (1) carnivores (2) herbivores (3) omnivores (4) decomposers 23
Populations living in one place form a (1) community (2) system (3) habitat (4) species 16
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Which situation is the best example of ecological succession? (1) An organism survives a difficult winter. (2) The populations in an area remain the same. (3) One species replaces another species in an ecosystem. (4) Each of several species uses the same amount of resources. 25
The diagram below shows a food web.
Which three organisms in the food web are competing for the same food resource?
(1) carrot, rabbit, and fox
(2) grain, bird, and owl
(3) fox, owl, and rabbit
(4) bird, mouse, and grasshopper
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Base your answers to the following questions on the table below, which compares human populations and
carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere over time.
Human Population and Carbon Dioxide Levels
Year
Human
Population
(billions)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Levels in the Atmosphere
(parts per million)
1960
2.50
317
1970
2.75
325
1980
3.00
337
1990
5.00
342
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How have the size of the human population and the amount of carbon dioxide
(CO2) in the atmosphere changed from 1960 to 1990?
(1) The human population has increased while the amount of CO2 has decreased.
(2) The human population has decreased while the amount of CO2 has increased.
(3) Both the human population and the amount of CO2 have increased.
(4) Both the human population and the amount of CO2 have decreased.
27
Which human activity might explain the change in carbon dioxide levels shown in
the graph?
(1) storing nuclear waste
(2) collecting solar energy
(3) using wind energy
(4) burning fossil fuels
28
The effects of natural selection are generally seen most quickly in which organisms?
(1) bacteria
(2) corn plants
(3) humans
(4) cats
29
Which substance provides humans with their main source of energy?
(1) food
(2) carbon dioxide
(3) water
(4) chlorophyll
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Weathering and erosion of Earth’s crust are primarily caused by
(1) gravity
(2) volcanic activity
(3) evaporation
(4) sedimentation
31
Which statement is true of all rocks?
(1) Rocks contain organic material.
(2) Rocks contain fossils.
(3) Rocks are composed of minerals.
(4) Rocks are formed in layers.
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All matter is made up of particles called
(1) cells
(2) molecules
(3) atoms
(4) compounds
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Note that this question has only three choices.
As altitude increases, air pressure
(1) decreases
(2) increases
(3) remains the same
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The graph below shows the water levels that result from tidal action over a 24-hour period.
What was the approximate height of the water on the tide marker at 6 p.m.?
(1) 4.3 ft
(2) 5.4 ft
(3) 8.5 ft
(4) 11.2 ft
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If shell fragments are found in a rock sample, it is most likely that the rock formed
(1) on a mountain slope
(2) on a glacier
(3) from magma
(4) in shallow water
36
Which weather event usually includes heavy precipitation, strong winds, and surface air temperatures below
0ºC?
(1) blizzard
(2) hurricane
(3) thunderstorm
(4) tornado
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Which term refers to the atmospheric conditions that prevail from season to season and year to year at a
certain location?
(1) weather
(2) climate
(3) equilibrium
(4) ecosystem
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The diagram below shows three stages in the formation of a beach.
Which process is mostly responsible for the breaking down of the rock cliff into sand-sized sediment?
(1) weathering
(2) faulting
(3) folding
(4) precipitation
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The diagram below shows a boy observing a fish located at position B below the surface of the water.
The boy sees the fish at position A.
The apparent position of the fish is different from the actual position of the fish. What has happened to the
light passing through the water to cause this difference?
(1) reflection
(2) absorption
(3) compression
(4) refraction
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The diagram below shows two dogs pulling on a rope with constant but unequal forces.
In which compass direction will both dogs most likely move?
(1) east
(2) west
(3) north
(4) south
Base your answers to the following questions on the map below and on your knowledge of science. The map
shows the origin of a maritime tropical air mass. The arrow shows the general track of this air mass. New
York State is labeled NY.
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Which temperature and moisture conditions are associated with this air mass?
**See Diagram from previous page**
(1) cold and dry
(2) warm and humid
(3) cold and humid
(4) warm and dry
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Which factor has the greatest influence on the direction of the air-mass track?
(1) upper air currents
(2) ocean currents
(3) sea breezes
(4) mountain barriers
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Which graph correctly shows the effect of heat energy on the motion of molecules of matter?
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The diagram below shows the relative wavelengths for several types of electromagnetic energy.
Which type of electromagnetic energy has a shorter wavelength than ultraviolet waves?
(1) visible light
(2) microwaves
(3) x rays
(4) infrared light
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Which energy source is considered a nonrenewable resource?
(1) solar
(2) wind
(3) moving water
(4) fossil fuel
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A television set changes electrical energy to sound and light energy. In this process, some energy is
(1) created
(2) destroyed
(3) changed to matter
(4) changed to heat
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The cross section below shows sedimentary rock layers containing fossils.
Assuming that these rock layers have not been overturned, which fossil is in the layer that was formed most
recently?
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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below and on your knowledge of science. The
diagram represents a pond community containing a variety of plants and animals.
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Why are the fish able to survive in the pond?
(1) The fish use carbon dioxide produced by the plants.
(2) The fish use oxygen produced by the plants.
(3) The plants use oxygen produced by the fish.
(4) The plants use chlorophyll produced by the fish.
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The main source of energy for this pond community is the
(1) plants
(2) Sun
(3) pond water
(4) animals
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A new variety of tomato is better tasting and can be stored longer than other tomato varieties. This new
tomato is produced by placing additional gene segments into the cells of the tomato plant. This process is
known as
(1) genetic engineering
(2) selective breeding
(3) natural selection
(4) sexual reproduction
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Base your answers to the following question on the cross section below and on your knowledge of science.
The cross section compares the densities of different Earth layers.
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Which Earth layer is most dense?
(1) plastic mantle
(2) stiffer mantle
(3) outer core
(4) inner core
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Convection currents, which may be the driving force for the movement of
lithospheric plates, are mostly found in Earth's
(1) crust
(2) plastic mantle
(3) outer core
(4) inner core
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What is the outermost structure in a plant cell?
(1) cell membrane
(2) cytoplasm
(3) cell wall
(4) chloroplast
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The vast variety of different traits found in humans results from
(1) intensive training and education
(2) sexual reproduction and mutations
(3) exercise and conditioning
(4) birth defects and recessive genes
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Which factor has the least effect on a person’s metabolism?
(1) exercise
(2) hormones
(3) intelligence
(4) diet
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If a species is no longer able to reproduce, it will
(1) adapt to its environment
(2) become immune to disease
(3) become extinct
(4) increase its population
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Base your answers to the following questions on the drawings of bird feet and the dichotomous key below.
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Bird B is correctly identified as
(1) a cormorant
(2) a duck
(3) an eagle
(4) a jacana
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What is a common feature of both the eagle and the kingfisher?
(1) claws large
(2) claws curved
(3) three toes webbed together
(4) four toes webbed together
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Which graph best represents the relationship between the amount of pollutants in the air and the quality of
the air?
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The eyes of the owl and the rabbit shown in the diagram below give each animal a different advantage. The
front-facing owl eyes allow the bird to accurately judge distance when swooping in on prey. The side-facing
rabbit eyes allow the animal to detect the motion of possible predators.
The specialized eye types of these animals are examples of
(1) disruptions of the natural balance
(2) the interdependence of living things
(3) adaptations for survival under certain conditions
(4) involuntary responses to stimuli
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The energy obtained from food is measured in units called
(1) watts
(2) Calories
(3) degrees
(4) pounds
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The diagram below shows a student making a wet-mount slide.
Why should the student make sure the edge of the coverslip touches the drop of water before setting the
coverslip onto the slide?
(1) to increase evaporation
(2) to reduce air bubbles
(3) to clean the slide
(4) to prevent the coverslip from breaking
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Beaver dams can cause floods.
This statement shows how
(1) animal growth is affected by environmental conditions
(2) animal behavior may affect the environment
(3) an animal’s health depends on its environment
(4) an animal’s development depends on its environment
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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below. The diagram shows the offspring of a
white mouse and a gray mouse. All of the offspring are gray.
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Which is a correct gene combination for the parents shown in the diagram?
(1) GG × GG
(2) gg × gg
(3) gg × GG
(4) Gg × Gg
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If two gray (Gg) mice mated, what percent of their offspring would have pure
white fur?
(1) 25%
(2) 50%
(3) 75%
(4) 100%
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The diagrams below show the plant communities present in the same area at different times over a 200-year
period following a forest fire.
What is the correct sequence of these plant communities following the forest fire?
(1) B → A → D → C
(2) B → C → D → A
(3) B → D → C → A
(4) B → A → C → D
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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below and on your knowledge of science. The
diagram below shows some relationships within a natural community.
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Which statement best explains the relationships shown?
(1) Water changes over time to a nonrenewable resource.
(2) Living things exchange materials with their environment.
(3) Minerals recycle the dead materials in the environment.
(4) Living things produce other living things.
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Which process produces oxygen that is released into the atmosphere?
(1) respiration
(2) locomotion
(3) excretion
(4) photosynthesis
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Which graph best represents the relative distance between the particles of most substances in their solid,
liquid, and gas states?
Base your answers to the following questions on the chart below, which shows various data collected and
predicted for Albany, New York, on March 9, 2001.
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The chart on the above shows information about Moon phases, times of sunrise
and sunset, and
(1) climate patterns
(2) local weather conditions
(3) seasonal changes
(4) global warming
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Which diagram correctly shows the position of the Moon with respect to Earth on
March 9, 2001? **Use the chart on the previous page**
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Which instrument dial shows a correct air pressure reading for Albany, New York,
for this date and time? **Use the chart on the previous page**
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A chemical property of a mineral is evident if the mineral
(1) breaks easily when struck with a hammer
(2) bubbles when acid is placed on it
(3) is easily scratched by a fingernail
(4) reflects light from its surface
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Four identical sand castles are shown below. Which sand castle will most likely be eroded fastest by the
wind?
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The diagram below shows a boulder rolling down a hill into a valley and then up the opposite hill.
At which position does the boulder have the greatest kinetic energy?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
Base your answers to the following questions on the graph below, which shows the solubility (amount that
will dissolve in 100 grams of water) of three substances at various water temperatures.
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Which statement is a correct interpretation of the data in the graph?
(1) As water temperature increases, solubility decreases.
(2) As water temperature increases, solubility increases.
(3) As water temperature increases, solubility increases and then decreases.
(4) As water temperature increases, solubility decreases and then increases.
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Use the diagram on the previous page. As the water temperature is increased
from 30°C to 70°C, how many more grams of substance A will dissolve in 100
grams of water?
(1) 20 g
(2) 40 g
(3) 50 g
(4) 90 g
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The diagram below shows a pinwheel rotating above a lit candle. The arrows indicate the direction of air flow.
Which energy transformation is best shown in this diagram?
(1) heat to mechanical
(2) mechanical to light
(3) sound to heat
(4) heat to sound
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Base your answers to the following questions on the diagrams below and your knowledge of science. The
diagrams show liquid water changing to water vapor in four different situations.
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Which observation would be evidence that the water is undergoing a phase
change?
(1) Waves form on the top of the pond.
(2) Water soaks into the wet sand.
(3) The water splashes out of the swimming pool.
(4) The water level in the glass of water decreases.
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How is heat energy transferred within the liquid water in the pond?
(1) compound formation
(2) convection currents
(3) chemical reactions
(4) nuclear reactions
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The fur of a snowshoe rabbit changes to white during the winter. This change is an example of
(1) adaptation
(2) competition
(3) metamorphosis
(4) metabolism
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The drawing below shows a woodpecker using its long, sharp beak to obtain insects.
What factor might contribute to the extinction of this species of woodpecker?
(1) a new source of food
(2) an overabundance of trees
(3) the use of pesticides in the forest
(4) an increase in the population of insects
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Which process gives rise to a variety of traits within a species?
(1) sexual reproduction
(2) dynamic equilibrium
(3) cellular respiration
(4) internal regulation
Base your answers to the following questions on the diagram below, which shows many organisms in a food
web.
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Use the diagram on the previous page. One type of organism in this web that
represents a producer is
(1) rabbits
(2) grasses
(3) trout
(4) snakes
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Which organisms obtain energy for growth and development directly from the
Sun?
(1) caterpillars
(2) hawks
(3) frogs
(4) bean plants
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According to this food web, which organisms are herbivores?
(1) caterpillars
(2) foxes
(3) hawks
(4) snakes
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Which organism correctly completes the food web at A?
(1) horses
(2) mice
(3) bacteria
(4) trees
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Fats are important nutrients because they
(1) provide genetic information
(2) contain stored energy
(3) are used in photosynthesis
(4) maintain bone density
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Which factor contributes to global warming?
(1) increased use of solar-powered cars
(2) increased burning of fossil fuels
(3) better long-term weather forecasts
(4) changing distance between Earth and the Sun
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Oceans, glaciers, lakes, and rivers are part of Earth’s
(1) atmosphere
(2) hemisphere
(3) hydrosphere
(4) lithosphere
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The diagram below shows the water cycle.
Which letter represents the process of evaporation?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
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The graph below shows the solubility of two different chemical compounds.
Compared to copper sulfate, approximately how many more grams of potassium bromide would dissolve at
90°C?
(1) 20
(2) 40
(3) 60
(4) 80
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The diagram below shows the steps necessary to produce the energy needed to run a hair dryer.
As it moves from location A to location D in the diagram, the energy stored in the coal
(1) is converted to solar energy
(2) reduces the friction in the hair dryer
(3) is recycled
(4) is transformed
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The diagram below shows some ways in which groundwater can be affected by humans.
Which statement is best supported by the diagram?
(1) Chemicals applied by farmers lower the level of pollution in drinking water.
(2) Drinking water can become polluted from unsuspected sources.
(3) Human activities do not affect groundwater.
(4) Toxic waste is safe if buried below the level of the basements of nearby homes.
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The pie chart below compares the amounts of energy from different sources used in the United States each
year.
Which two energy sources together provide more than 50% of the energy needs of the United States?
(1) nuclear and natural gas
(2) hydropower and oil
(3) oil and coal
(4) natural gas and coal
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Which sequence of energy transformations occurs after a battery-operated flashlight is turned on?
(1) electrical à
(2) electrical à
(3) chemical à
(4) chemical à
light à chemical
chemical à light
light --. electrical
electrical à light
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The gravitational force between two objects depends on the distance between the objects and each object's
(1) mass
(2) volume
(3) pressure
(4) temperature
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Which diagram best represents molecules of matter in the solid phase?
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Which sequence correctly shows the relative size of the nine planets of our solar system?
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The graph below shows the distance traveled by four cars, A, B, C, and D, over a period of time.
The average speed of a moving object can be determined by using the equation below.
Which car traveled at an average speed of 20 kilometers per hour?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
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Surface winds on Earth are primarily caused by differences in
(1) air density due to unequal heating of Earth’s surface
(2) ocean wave heights during the tidal cycle
(3) rotational speeds of Earth’s surface at various latitudes
(4) distances from the Sun during the year
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In humans, a trait can be determined by one pair or many pairs of
(1) genes
(2) microbes
(3) cells
(4) organs
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The density of Earth’s crust is
(1) less than the density of the outer core but greater than the density of the mantle
(2) greater than the density of the outer core but less than the density of the mantle
(3) less than the density of both the outer core and the mantle
(4) greater than the density of both the outer core and the mantle
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Which map best represents the direction of surface winds associated with the high- and low-pressure
systems?
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The picture below shows a geological feature in the Kalahari Desert of southwestern Africa.
Which process most likely produced the present appearance of this feature?
(1) wind erosion
(2) volcanic eruption
(3) earthquake vibrations
(4) plate tectonics
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Scurvy is a disease that sailors often got on long voyages. It was discovered that scurvy could be prevented
by eating oranges and lemons. This suggests that scurvy is a disease caused by
(1) exposure to sea air
(2) a nutritional deficiency
(3) a microorganism
(4) lack of exercise
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The diagram below shows the shadow cast by a telephone pole on March 21 at solar noon at a location in
New York State.
Which shadow was cast by the same telephone pole on June 21 at solar noon?
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What is a disadvantage of using moving water to produce electricity?
(1) Power is produced inexpensively.
(2) Air pollution is produced.
(3) Oil spills may occur.
(4) The local ecosystem may be disrupted.
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The photograph below shows deformed rock structure found on Earth’s surface.
Deformed rock structure like this is most often caused by
(1) crustal plate collisions
(2) deposition of sediments
(3) extrusion of magma
(4) glacial movement
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The seismogram below shows the time that an earthquake P-wave arrived at a seismic station in Albany, New
York.
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Use the seismogram on the previous page. If the earthquake occurred at exactly 10:00 p.m., approximately
how far from the earthquake epicenter was Albany, New York?
(1) 1,900 km
(2) 3,200 km
(3) 4,000 km
(4) 5,200 km
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On each topographic map below, the straight-line distance from point A to point B is 5 kilometers. Which
topographic map shows the steepest gradient between A and B?
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In addition to oxygen, which gases make up the largest percentage of Earth’s atmosphere?
(1) hydrogen, helium, and water vapor
(2) hydrogen, methane, and ozone
(3) carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen
(4) carbon dioxide, methane, and helium
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The diagram below shows a method for determining a physical property of a mineral. The results are shown
for two minerals, galena and calcite.
Which property of the galena and calcite is indicated by the color of the powder each leaves on the ceramic
tile?
(1) streak
(2) hardness
(3) reaction to an acid
(4) reaction to a solvent
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The diagram below shows tilted rock layers. The dashed lines represent missing parts of the rock layers.
Which process is most likely responsible for the removal of the missing parts of the rock layers?
(1) erosion
(2) deposition
(3) earthquakes
(4) faulting
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The data table below shows the mass of an 800-gram block of ice as it melts to a 600-gram block of ice.
Data Table
Time
(minutes)
Mass of Block of Ice
(grams)
0
15
30
45
60
800
750
700
650
600
If the current rate of melting continues, how many more minutes will be required for the 600-gram block of
ice to reach a mass of 400 grams?
(1) 15
(2) 30
(3) 45
(4) 60
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In humans, a fertilized egg contains 46 chromosomes. Which bar graph best represents the number of
chromosomes contained in the sperm and egg before they united to make the fertilized egg?
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Although change in multicellular species usually takes thousands of years, some species of bacteria
undergo major changes in just a few years. One reason for this difference is that these bacteria
(1) are microscopic
(2) do not contain DNA
(3) reproduce very quickly
(4) cause infectious diseases
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Competition is most likely to occur between which two organisms?
(1) deer and butterflies
(2) owls and bacteria
(3) goldfish and rabbits
(4) grass and strawberry plants
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The illustration below traces the development of the corgi dog over several generations as a result of human
activity.
This is an example of the human activity called
(1) mutation
(2) genetic engineering
(3) selective breeding
(4) natural selection
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The graph below shows the number of known species in the five kingdoms of living things.
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Based on the graph on the previous page, which kingdom contains approximately twice as many known
species as the Protista Kingdom?
(1) Animalia
(2) Plantae
(3) Fungi
(4) Monera
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Note that this question has only three choices.
Some microorganisms cause human disease. Other microorganisms are used in making cheese, yogurt, and
bread. Based on this information, the relationship between humans and microorganisms can be
(1) beneficial, only
(2) harmful, only
(3) beneficial or harmful
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The diagram below shows the head structure of four different birds.
The birds’ beaks show how the birds
(1) compete for the same food in their community
(2) require different amounts of food for survival
(3) store food for the winter months
(4) are adapted to get food from different sources
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The diagrams below show changes in a natural community over a period of 200 years.
Which process is illustrated in the diagrams?
(1) ozone depletion
(2) global warming
(3) recycling resources
(4) ecological succession
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