TCAP Practice

Fireflies are insects with a glowing light inside their bodies. A chemical reaction produces this light. The light helps fireflies in several ways. The list describes two ways the light helps fireflies.

A student claims that a firefly population experienced a change that made it impossible for the insects to flash their lights. Which of these changes would support the student’s claim?

• The population would increase, because predators could no longer see the fireflies to catch them as prey

• The population would decrease, because the male fireflies could not attract mates without lights.

• The population would increase, because more fireflies would move into the unlit area, thinking it was empty.

• The population would decrease, because prey for the fireflies would no longer  be able to see their lights 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A student examines a map showing the flow of ocean currents throughout the world.

What would be the major consequence if global current circulation stops?

• The climates of the coastal equatorial regions would become colder and wetter, and the climates of the coastal polar regions would become warmer and dryer.

• The climates of the coastal equatorial regions would become hotter and drier, and the climates of the coastal polar regions would become colder and wetter.

• The climates of the coastal equatorial regions would become hotter and wetter, and the climates of the coastal polar regions would become colder and dryer.

• The climates of the coastal equatorial regions would become colder and drier, and the climates of the coastal polar regions would become warmer and wetter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Engineers are developing new cars that use fuel sources other than gas. These cars cost less to use. They also make fewer waste products than gas-powered cars. If more people start driving these new cars, what will be the most likely result?

• more brands of cars

• less road construction

• more public transportation

• lower levels of air pollution

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

A house is built in a desert, where there is no electricity and very little wind. Which action could lead to operating the electrical appliances in the house that would cause the least amount of environmental pollution?

• constructing a small hydroelectric plant

• placing solar panels on the roof of the house

• using gasoline generators

• burning coal or wood

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

From 2004 to 2008, coal production in the United States increased from 1,094.3 million tons to 1,171.8 million tons. Rapid coal extraction (mining) can cause the depletion of natural coal deposits.

Why is it important to conserve coal?

• It is difficult to extract from the ground.

• It cannot be replaced quickly once it is used up.

• It gives the smallest amount of energy when it is burned.

• It is found in larger quantities in the earth than other fossil fuels.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

A city is powered by energy from coal. The city incorporates the use of biofuels from existing corn crops as an alternate source of energy.

What can be an environmental impact of this change?

• decrease in biodiversity

• increase in pollution

• decrease in carbon emissions

• increase in surface temperatures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The diagram shows the movement of air at the beach on a hot day.

Which statement about air movement in the diagram is true?

• Air movement over the land and water is caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface.

• Air over water cools more quickly than air over land, causing rising and falling air masses.

• The tides and currents in the ocean affect the movement of air masses above both land and water.

• Energy from organisms on land and water have an effect on the movement of air masses.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Why does a convection current begin over the equatorial region?

• Equatorial latitudes receive more direct sunlight, and this energy is re-radiated from the land as it cools in the form of cooler air, which falls.

• Equatorial latitudes receive indirect sunlight, and this energy is re-radiated from the land as it cools in the form of cooler air, which rises.

• Equatorial latitudes receive more direct sunlight, and this energy is re-radiated from the land as it cools in the form of warmer air, which rises

• Equatorial latitudes receive indirect sunlight, and this energy is re-radiated from the land as it cools in the form of warmer air, which falls.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A dam was constructed across a river to meet the power needs of an area. What is the most likely environmental impact of the construction?

• disturbances to plant and animal habitats

• decreased water levels behind the dam

• contamination of groundwater resources

• increased temperature due to exhaust gases

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

A gardener waters the plants in a garden using a garden hose during a drought. The gardener observes that most of the water given to the plants is wasted as runoff.

Which procedure wouldmost likely  reduce the amount of water lost as runoff?

• Replant each plant closer to one another.

• Compress the soil to decrease the number of pores.

• Cover the plants while they grow.

• Break up the soil to increase the number of pores.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1