TCAP Practice for Science

1. The food web shows an ecosystem.

Which change will likely lower the population size of dragonflies in the ecosystem?

• A adding more fruit flies to the ecosystem

• B removing all thrushes from the ecosystem

• C removing all butterflies from the ecosystem

• D adding more roses to the ecosystem

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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The image shows a delta where a river flows into an ocean. Which most likely caused the formation of the delta?

• A Ice moved and carved out a large ditch.

• B Water deposited loose soil.

• C Water weathered soil into a pile.

• D Rock cliffs deposited eroded rocks.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

A food chain is shown. What will happen if there is an increase in the number of sea lions?

• A There will be more food for the sea lions.

• B There will be more food for the plants.

• C There will be more food for the whales.

• D There will be more food for the small fish.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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The map shows the volcanoes across the world and five labeled locations (A-E).

Based on the pattern on the map, in which two locations are more volcanoes most likely to form?

• A location A

• B location B

• C location C

• D location D

• E location E

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The map shows some of the major mountain ranges in the world. Which sentence about the location patterns of volcanoes and mountain ranges is true?

• A Volcanoes are mostly found on coastlines, while mountain ranges are located on coastlines and in the middle of continents.

• B Volcanoes are found on coastlines and in the middle of continents, while mountain ranges are only located in the middle of continents.

• C Volcanoes and mountain ranges are never in the same location.

• D Volcanoes and mountain ranges are found in exactly the same locations.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Every morning at 7 a.m. and every evening at 7 p.m. a student measures the growth of a potted bean plant that is outside. The table shows the plant’s growth over 10 days. How is the plant able to grow overnight when there is no sunshine?

• A The plant absorbs more water at night to continue to grow.

• B The plant uses stored energy at night to continue to grow.

• C The plant releases more oxygen at night to continue to grow.

• D The plant makes its own carbon dioxide at night to continue to grow.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The image shows a rock formation that formed over a long period of time. The rock formation was once part of a larger landscape of rock. The chart lists activities that demonstrate processes that affect rocks.

1. Weather a large cube of Styrofoam by forcefully blowing sand against it

2. Deposit small rocks onto a large mound using a shovel.

3. Erode pieces of clay by sprinkling water so that it flows into the cracks in the clay.

4. Weather sand in a container by pushing heavy objects off a shelf into the container.

5. Deposit large plastic balls into a flowing stream of water from a garden hose.

Which activities demonstrate the processes that created the rock formation in the image?

• A 1 and 3

• B 1 and 4

• C 2 and 3

• D 4 and 5

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which diagram best shows a mushroom as a decomposer?

• 
• 
• 
• 

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A student designs an activity to show that the roots of plants can stop the soil from washing away when it rains. The design uses two large containers (A and B), each with a large hole cut in the top and a hole at the end for water to flow out. The containers are placed on a table in a dark room. Container A contains garden soil with small, rooted plants, while container B has only garden soil. The containers are sloped at an angle so that when water is poured through the top of the container, the water moves over the soil toward the collection cups. The student repeats the activity once a week for four weeks while recording observations.

Week Observations

1 container A: healthy plants; collection cup: clear water with no soil container B: no plants; collection cup: very muddy water

2 container A: weak plants; collection cup: clear water with some soil container B: no plants; collection cup: very muddy water

3 container A: dried and dead plants; collection cup: slightly muddy water container B: no plants; collection cup: very muddy water

4 container A: dried and dead plants; collection cup: slightly muddy water container B: no plants; collection cup: very muddy water

The activity does not go as planned when the plants dry up and die. What information can the student learn even though the activity does not work as the student designed?

• Live plants eventually allow the soil to wash away.

• Lack of sunlight decreases the amount of soil that washes away

• Layers of dead plants decrease the amount of soil that washes away.

• Land must be empty and dry to prevent the soil from washing away.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A pond that is in a garden has been used as a nature site for students at a school. A teacher takes a class each year to measure the depth of the water, the number of different organisms found, and the locations of the organisms. The table contains the measurements.

Which statement explains how the decrease in water has a negative impact on organisms?

• A The decrease in water causes an increase in the number of insects increasing the food for fish.

• B The decrease in water causes the tops of rocks to dry and leave less places for crayfish to hide from other animals.

• C The decrease in water causes a decrease in water plants, giving fish less places to hide in the pond from other animals.

• D The decrease in water causes the insects to increase in number and eat less water plants.

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