TCAP Practice #2

A student recorded the speed of several cars. The average speed of red cars was 70 mph, while the average speed of blue cars was 68mph. The student concluded that red paint makes cars go fastter. Which statement identifies an error in the student's conclusion? 

• The conclusion was made based on two types of cars
• The observation was made on several highways
• The observation shows information for several times of day
• The conclusion claims that there is a cause & effect without evidence

By inserting a special gene into crop plants, scientists have developed plants that are resistant to insects. In an insect eats the plant the insect is likely to get sick and die. Which practice may now be unnecessary with this new plant variety? 

• Overproducing food crops
• Spraying plants with pesticides
• Removing weeds from crops
• Eroding the land by tilling

Snakes have adapted to many environments. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, for instance, is found throughout the South Eastern United States. Identify one key structural adaptation possessed by rattlesnakes. 

• These snakes have rattles on their tails to warn away predators.
• They lie on warm rocks that have been heated by the sun
• Rattlesnakes will swim across streams to get to the other side
• The rattlesnake is venomous

A student wondered if drinking an energy drink would make kids run faster. She had 5 girls and 5 boys act as the experimental group. She had a group of 5 boys and 5 girls act as the control group. They did not have the drink. Each student ran one kilometer as fast as they could. She recorded their time and drew her conclusions. What is the independent variable? 

• How fast the kids ran
• The kind of energy drink
• Whether there was an energy drink or not
• the group that didn't get the drink

A young crocodile is basking in the sunlight to get warm. What kind of adaptation would this be?

• behavioral
• structural
• physical
• physiological

Some birds, such as hummingbirds, get their energy by taking nectar from flowers. What is one structural adaptation of hummingbirds? 

• small organisms collect on the hummingbird's beak and travels with it
• hummingbirds hover 
• large talons that help them get prey
• long, thin beaks they insert into flowers

Which of the following events would most likely cause a rapid extinction of organisms?

• a gradual decrease in the growth of weeds in a meadow over a 1,000 year period
• a large asteroid impact could cause extinctions due to fast changes in the environment
• formation of a new glacier
• the slow effects of pollutants 

Some characteristics of a plant are listed below.
(1) Short, thick stem. 
(2) Small, plump leaves covered by a waxy coating. 
(3) Roots grow close to the surface of the ground 

For which environment is this plant most likely adapted?

• desert
• coniferous forest
• tundra
• grasslands

In the movie Iron Man, the main character, Tony Stark, has a special device surgically placed in the center of his chest next to his heart. Is the device in his chest adaptive or assistive?

• the device is only a temporary help so it would be assistive.
• The device helps him, and his body is changed. Therefore it would be adaptive.
• Tony Stark’s fusion reactor could be used to help all mankind. So it is both.
• The Iron Man armour suit is a temporary help so the suit is adaptive bioengineering.

A famous scientist is unable to speak or move most of the muscles in his body. This scientist uses his cheek to push buttons on a type of keyboard that translates the words into a computerized voice. Which of these best describes the scientist’s device?

• adaptive, because the scientist can use the device for other tasks
• assistive, because the device enables the scientist to communicate
• assistive, because the device makes the scientist famous
• adaptive, because the scientist can still move some parts of his body