SCIENCE STAAR PRACTICE - 2017

Monahans Sandhills State Park in Texas has almost 4,000 acres of sand dunes. Some of the dunes are as tall as a six-story building.

The dunes in the park are formed by —

• rainstorms

• tornadoes

• earthquakes

• strong winds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Fertilizers used on farms near the coast can be carried to the ocean when runoff occurs during rain showers. These fertilizers can decrease the populations of fish and shellfish.

Which other populations most likely decrease as a result?

• Organisms that eat algae

• Organisms that live on farms

• Organisms that eat fish and shellfish

• All of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The diagram shows an electric circuit with four bells that a student plans to build.

When the student connects the wires as shown, which of the bells will ring

• Bell 1 only

• Bells 1 and 4 only

• Bells 3 and 4 only

• Bells 1, 2, 3, and 4

Many desert animals depend on the prickly pear cactus.

What role does the prickly pear cactus play in a desert food web?

• It obtains energy from producers.

• It returns nutrients to the soil.

• It preys upon other organisms.

• It provides energy to consumers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

In an investigation hot water is poured into a clear plastic cup. Another clear plastic cup is placed upside down over the cup of hot water.

Which of these is likely to occur during the next three minutes?

• The hot water will become hotter because air and heat are trapped in the top cup

• The water level will rise in the bottom cup because of evaporation.

• Water droplets will form on the inside of the top cup as the water vapor cools.

• Water from the bottom cup will become solid as the hot water cools.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Which of these best explains why the sun appears to move across the sky each day?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The table gives information about four types of fish. These fish all have mouth structures that allow them to eat different types of food.

Which of these fish has mouth structures that allow it to eat algae by taking large bites of the hard coral on which the algae grows?

• Parrotfish

• Koi

• Goby

• Seahorse

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Some buildings and homes are heated by energy produced from an alternative to fossil fuels. Which of these is an example of a building or home heated using an alternative energy source?

• A home heated by energy generated by a hydroelectric dam

• A building that has emergency electric generators that run on gasoline

• A home heated by energy produced from a coal power plant in a city

• A building that has furnaces powered by natural gas

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Which list contains only processes that must occur in order for fossil fuels to form?

• Formation of faults, burial, glacier formation

• Organism growth, burial, volcanic eruptions

• Organism growth, burial, compaction

• Erosion, burial, earthquakes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

A group of students visited a park and collected leaves from many different trees in order to study them. They recorded their observations about the leaves.

Which of these observations does NOT describe an inherited trait?

• The leaves vary in shape and size.

• Some leaves have holes made by insects chewing on them.

• Some leaves are smooth on one side and rough on the other.

• The colors of the leaves range from light green to dark green.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4