STAAR Science Practice

1. Lacewings are insects that hatch from eggs.

Which of these correctly compares the lacewing life cycle with the frog life cycle?

• A. Adult lacewings lay eggs, but adult frogs give birth to live larvae.

• B. When they hatch, young lacewings and young frogs look different from their adult forms

• C. When they hatch, both lacewings and frogs have long legs for jumping.

• D. Both adult lacewings and adult frogs have more legs than they had as larvae.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following explains how water undergoes a change of state in one stage of the water cycle in order to move from the ocean’s surface into the air?

• F. Liquid water that is heated by the sun becomes a gas and rises.

• G. Gaseous water rises as it is cooled by the ocean.

• H. Liquid water that is heated by the sun condenses into rain.

• J. Gaseous water collects in drops of fog above the ocean’s surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Students investigate the physical properties of some substances. They draw a table to show how the substances can be grouped. The students need to complete the table with column headings.

Which column headings should the students use for their table?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Which change occurs when lemon juice is mixed with water?

• F. The mass of the lemon juice decreases.

• G. The water becomes a solid.

• H. The lemon juice dissolves and spreads out evenly in the water

• J. The volume of the water decreases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Common duckweed is a small plant that grows on the surface of many ponds and lakes. It is free floating and has a single root.

Which statement describes the type of ecosystem in which duckweed can most likely be observed?

• A. A wetland ecosystem with slow-moving water

• B. A coastal ecosystem with constant rough waves

• C. A desert ecosystem where rainfall drains away quickly

• D. An underground river ecosystem where the temperature remains constant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Students fill a cart with books. The cart has a handle on each end.

Which actions will make moving the cart in one direction easiest for the students?

• F. Student 1 pulls the cart to the left while Student 2 pulls the cart to the right.

• G. Student 1 pulls the cart to the left while Student 2 pushes the cart to the left.

• H. Student 1 pushes the cart to the right while Student 2 pushes the cart downward.

• J. Student 1 pushes the cart to the right while Student 2 pulls the cart upward.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The table lists the ingredients of five different mixtures.

In which mixtures do all the ingredients maintain their physical state?

• A. Mixtures 3 and 4 only

• B. Mixtures 1, 3, and 4

• C. Mixtures 1, 2, and 5

• D. Mixtures 2 and 5 only

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Which statement correctly describes how a landform is formed?

• F. A lake is formed when flowing water carves out the sides of a canyon.

• G. A mountain range is formed when glaciers slowly move across the landscape.

• H. A delta is formed at the mouth of a river when flowing water slows and deposits sediment.

• J. A U-shaped valley is formed when winds pick up and move sediment away from the landscape

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

A thin beam of light is shown in this picture.

What does the picture demonstrate about light?

• A. Light and its reflections travel in straight lines.

• B. Light cannot reflect from more than one surface.

• C. Light that goes through water cannot travel in straight lines

• D. Light can travel in a circular path.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A partial forest food web is shown.

Which list contains only animals that receive energy transferred directly from consumers in this food web?

• F. Red-tailed hawks, snowshoe hares, and caterpillars

• G. Snowshoe hares and caterpillars

• H. Snowshoe hares and shrews

• J. Shrews and red foxes

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2