STAAR TEST 2017 GRADE 8 SCIENCE

A cook heats a meal in a microwave oven. What energy transformations occur between the microwave oven and the meal?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Students were asked to identify the location of elements in the periodic table based on clues printed on game cards.

Based on the data, which periodic table shows the correct location of the four elements?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Rift valleys can form when fractures in Earth’s crust widen. The valley walls slowly move at a rate of only a few millimeters a year. Which of these best describes the type of tectonic activity that forms rift valleys?

• A. Rift valleys form where a continental plate moves under an oceanic plate.

• B. Rift valleys form where a plate slides horizontally past another plate.

• C. Rift valleys form where two plates move away from each other.

• D. Rift valleys form where an oceanic plate moves under another oceanic plate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Part of a human body system is pictured.

The main function of this system is to —

• F. control reproduction

• G. transport oxygen

• H. produce hormones

• J. remove waste

A student learns that the sun is classified as a medium-size star and that many stars are much bigger and brighter. However, the student observes that other stars look very dim, even through a telescope.

Why do other stars look much dimmer than the sun?

• A. The sun appears yellow, which is more visible than other colors.

• B. The sun is much closer to Earth than other stars are.

• C. Other stars are made up of different gases than the sun is.

• D. As light from other stars travels through space, it gets reflected.

A partial mountain forest food web is shown.

Which statement does NOT describe a relationship shown in the food web?

• F. Elk are prey for mountain lions.

• G. Mice are herbivores that consume grasses and are preyed on by snakes.

• H. Owls prey on rabbits and frogs.

• J. Rabbits consume shrubs and are parasites of grasses.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A bicycle rider is traveling up a hill. When the rider reaches the top of the hill, she stops to rest. Then she travels down the hill. The diagram shows the rider in the three different positions.

Which of these correctly describes the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the bicycle rider?

• A. When the rider is at the top of the hill, her potential energy is the greatest, and her kinetic energy is the least.

• B. As the rider moves up the hill, her kinetic energy increases, and her potential energy decreases.

• C. When the rider goes down the hill, her potential energy increases, and her kinetic energy decreases.

• D. As the rider reaches the bottom of the hill, her kinetic energy and her potential energy decrease.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

The diagram below shows four consecutive moon phases.

Which of the following diagrams shows the next four moon phases in the correct order?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A scientist added bacteria and a nutrient medium that could support the growth of the bacteria to a sterilized petri dish. No other materials were added. The graph models growth of the bacteria over time.

Which of these most likely explains why the bacterial population stopped growing?

• A. The bacteria competed for nutrients and died after all the nutrients were consumed.

• B. The bacteria did not reproduce in the system, and eventually each individual died at the end of its life cycle.

• C. The bacteria mutated from photosynthetic to carnivorous organisms and consumed one another until all the individuals were dead.

• D. The bacteria became diseased and were unable to survive in the closed system.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which statement correctly describes the location and charge of the electrons in an atom?

• F.The electrons are inside the nucleus and have no charge.

• G.The electrons are outside the nucleus and have no charge.

• H.The electrons are inside the nucleus and have a negative charge.

• J.The electrons are outside the nucleus and have a negative charge.