The student continued reading and discovered that motors are built on the concept of electromagnets. Motors are used in many of the items found in a home, such as electric toothbrushes, ceiling fans, and vacuum cleaners. Since motors use electromagnets, the student decided to build his own. The student constructed a model of a small motor using an electromagnet. The model will be tested to see if it works when a copper wire is attached to a battery. The student looped the copper wire as shown in the diagram, with the wire ends straightened out. The paper clips were reshaped and used to hold up the loops of copper wire, and the rubber band was used to hold the paper clips against the battery. The student used sandpaper to remove only one side of the rubber coating from both ends of the wire. The wire loop was then placed in the paper clip holders so that the wire loop could move freely. The student then placed the ring magnet on top of the battery. The student discovered that the copper loop began to spin very quickly. He also discovered that when the magnet on the battery was moved farther away, the spinning of the copper loop slowed down. The student revised the procedure to try to make the copper loop spin faster by adding more loops to the copper wire. The student observed that it did spin faster when more loops were added. The student has other ideas for revising the procedure to make the wire loop spin faster. Which variable in this investigation is the dependent variable?

the speed at which the copper loop spins

the number of loops of copper wire

the position of the ring magnets

The student continued reading and discovered that motors are built on the concept of electromagnets. Motors are used in many of the items found in a home, such as electric toothbrushes, ceiling fans, and vacuum cleaners. Since motors use electromagnets, the student decided to build his own. The student constructed a model of a small motor using an electromagnet. The model will be tested to see if it works when a copper wire is attached to a battery. The student looped the copper wire as shown in the diagram, with the wire ends straightened out. The paper clips were reshaped and used to hold up the loops of copper wire, and the rubber band was used to hold the paper clips against the battery. The student used sandpaper to remove only one side of the rubber coating from both ends of the wire. The wire loop was then placed in the paper clip holders so that the wire loop could move freely. The student then placed the ring magnet on top of the battery. The student discovered that the copper loop began to spin very quickly. He also discovered that when the magnet on the battery was moved farther away, the spinning of the copper loop slowed down. The student revised the procedure to try to make the copper loop spin faster by adding more loops to the copper wire. The student observed that it did spin faster when more loops were added. The student has other ideas for revising the procedure to make the wire loop spin faster. Which modification would most likely make the wire loop rotate faster?

Use several smaller magnets instead of two large ones.

Use sandpaper to remove the rubber coating from the loops of wire.

A canyon wall is shown. The rocks that make up the wall are layered. From the evidence in the picture, which statement is most correct about what the fossil record looks like in this location?

The types of fossils would be similar but would show gradual structural changes

The number of fossils would decrease as the layers accumulate

The number of fossils would rise and then immediately disappear.

The types of fossils would stay exactly the same in every layer.

A student stands in a school hallway. A wall separates a classroom from the student. The student in the hallway cannot see inside the classroom but hears noises from within the classroom. Which of these best explains why the student hears the noises but cannot see into the classroom?

Sound waves are transmitted through the wall, and visible light waves are reflected by the wall.

Sound waves are absorbed by the wall, and visible light waves are transmitted through the wall.

Sound waves are reflected by the wall, and visible light waves are refracted by the wall.

Sound waves are reflected by the wall, and visible light waves are absorbed by the wall.

Students learned that objects can exert forces on other objects without touching. Which three investigations will provide evidence to support what they have learned?

measuring how close a soda can must be before it rolls toward a balloon that has been rubbed on someone’s hair

dropping a rubber ball from a distance of 1.5 meters above the classroom floor

placing a magnet against a jar containing a mixture of iron filings and sand

counting the number of staples that are directly attached to a strong magnet

measuring how far a toy car travels across the floor before coming to a stop

Evidence gathered by studying the composition and movement of distant galaxies indicates that the universe expanded rapidly from a single small point. The universe has continued to expand for over 13 billion years. Which statement is in agreement with the current understanding of the expanding universe?

All matter and energy were contained inside the small point.

Matter and energy came from dark areas of the universe and were attracted to the small point.

Matter and energy fell into the small point the same way a black hole attracts matter and energy.

Matter was condensed into a single point until energy was attracted to the matter from dark areas of the universe.

A class has compiled this list of examples of artificial selection. Which three statements describe the common characteristics of all of the examples of artificial selection?

Artificial selection involves enhancing the natural characteristics of a species through planning and coordination of its breeding.

Artificial selection has been practiced in many forms for centuries to improve crops and livestock.

Artificial selection may have unintended consequences that can reduce the benefits of a species to humans or limit its function.

Artificial selection always requires a detailed knowledge of the genetic makeup of a species and a familiarity with the mathematics of inherited traits.

Artificial selection infers that a species experiences natural genetic mutation rather than reproduction planned by humans.

Government agencies study natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions to make decisions about planning for natural disasters. The triangles on the map show the locations of potentially active volcanoes in the western United States. Which statement is correct regarding the dangers of volcanic eruptions in the western United States?

There is less danger of a volcanic eruption in the near future in Salt Lake City, Utah, than there is in Bend, Oregon.

There is more danger of a volcanic eruption in the near future in San Diego, California, than there is in Seattle, Washington.

Colorado should have a stricter volcano emergency plan than Washington State has.

Utah should have a stricter volcano emergency plan than California has.

Gravity is a force that pulls objects down toward Earth’s surface. Which two statements explain why a student standing at the top of a step stool does not move downward?

The step stool exerts a force on the student in the opposite direction of gravity

The step stool exerts a force on the student equal to the force gravity exerts on the student.

The student’s mass is not large enough to be affected by gravity.

The student exerts an upward force on the step stool equal to the gravitational force

The step stool is a barrier that blocks the gravitational force

Obsidian is a glassy black igneous rock. A sample of obsidian is shown. Which type of rock forms in a similar manner as obsidian but at a slower rate?

granite, which forms as magma cools deep underground

schist, which forms under extreme heat and pressure

conglomerate, which forms when different-sized sediments cement together

gypsum, which forms when water evaporates and leaves behind minerals

Which implication might be drawn from the fact that all prehistoric and modern flying vertebrates developed similar structures to support their successful flight capabilities?

Pterosaurs, birds, and bats may have developed similar structures independently of each other. All of the forces are consistent in the development of flight.

Pterosaurs, birds, and bats evolved directly from a single species of reptile. Their identical flight structures developed sequentially from the pterosaur to the bat.

Pterosaurs, birds, and bats developed over time in identical ecosystems and environments. These environments influence the forces of flight for these animals

Pterosaurs, birds, and bats developed flight at the same time. This was their single effective adaptation for locating and trapping prey.

If the bodies of present-day bats became fossilized over time, which observation would future scientists likely make about the wings of fossilized bats and pterosaurs?

Both sets of fossils would show similar structures and bone material that were suited for flight.

The bat wing bones would show a completely different structure than the pterosaur bones.

A comparison of the bones of both organisms would show that the pterosaurs were better suited for flight than bats were.

Both sets of fossils would show that the animals were not designed for lengthy, sustained flight.

Which statement is true about the forces involved in an ornithopter and a pterosaur taking off?

Gravity acts on both the ornithopter and the pterosaur.

Drag acts only on the ornithopter and not on the pterosaur

Thrust resists the motion of the pterosaur and the ornithopter.

Lift is the single major factor in the forward movement of the ornithopter

Which of these statements can be inferred from the data provided by Figure 4?

The forces of weight and cruising speed have a major influence on the wing loading of a bird or an object.

The forces of drag and weight probably have no influence on the wing loading of a bird or an object.

Wing loading has no influence on the ability of a bird or an object to maintain flight.

Wing loading is influenced only by the weight of the flying object.

Which factor might limit the knowledge of scientists about the role of pterosaur muscles in flight?

The number of examples of fossilized bones is greater than the number of fossilized muscle tissue samples.

The muscle tissues of prehistoric animals were very different from those of modern animals.

The evidence suggests that pterosaurs relied much less on muscle strength and more on bone structure.

The evidence is inconclusive even though many examples of fossil muscles have been found by scientists.

The graphic shows the stages in the development of the solar system. Which statement best describes the process of the formation of the solar system?

Gravity pulled the gas and dust together.

A black hole pulled the gas and dust together.

An explosion pushed the gas and dust together

Magnetism attracted the gas and dust together.

A heavy flood washed away over five meters of soil and rock. The layer of rock that was exposed by the flood contained remains of brachiopods, crinoids, and corals that existed in warm, shallow seas 350 million years ago. Some of the fossils that were found are shown. Which statement is the best explanation for the presence of these marine fossils in an inland area of the United States?

The area used to be covered by an ocean.

The brachiopods could live in water and on land.

The crinoids and corals grew on terrestrial surfaces.

The fossils were carried to the area by floodwaters

Government agencies consider the possibilities of earthquakes when they are developing regulations about new construction projects. Regions of the United States are classified as having a low likelihood of earthquakes (lowest hazard), a high likelihood of earthquakes (highest hazard), or somewhere in between. Which two statements should inform the development of building regulations in regard to earthquakes?

In low hazard areas, building regulations should always include the possibility of the occurrence of an earthquake.

Building regulations should be strictest in areas of the highest hazard and may be lower in areas of low hazard.

The possibility of earthquakes should be considered by government agencies when writing building regulations only in the areas of highest hazard.

In high hazard areas, government agencies should write building regulations that prevent the construction of all new buildings.

In low hazard areas, government agencies should not consider earthquakes because they will never happen there.

A student has a remote control for a television. The student points the remote at the television and presses a button on the remote labeled Volume. A small red light flashes on the front of the remote. The student observes that the sound from the television becomes lower. Which statement best describes how the remote control communicates with the television to change the volume of the sound?

The remote control sends low-energy infrared radiation to a light detector on the front of the television.

The remote control sends microwaves toward the television that are absorbed by the front of the television.

The remote control sends radio waves in many directions, which bounce off the walls of the room toward the front of the television.

The remote control sends sound waves in many directions, which bounce off the walls of the room toward a vibration detector on the front of the television.

A biologist studies a population of chipmunks. Some of the biologist’s findings are shown. Which two inferences about the chipmunk population can be supported with the data gathered by the biologist?

Chipmunks in later generations showed greater genetic diversity than previous generations, allowing for a greater survival rate in later generations.

The number of predators in the area decreased, so more chipmunks were able to survive.

The amount of food in the area decreased, causing more chipmunks to survive to reproductive age.

Chipmunks migrated from one country to another country to increase the number of chipmunks in the studied area.

Individual chipmunks changed their genetic makeup and became more successful in the environment.

The diagram shows the development of two species, the giraffe and the okapi, through the process of gradualism. During the first stage of gradualism, shown as “Geographic Isolation,” the two branches of the species became separated from each other. During the second stage, shown as “Genetic Isolation,” the okapi and the giraffe developed into two distinct species. Which statement best describes the continued existence of the giraffe and the okapi?

The two species are no longer able to interbreed and both will continue to exist and reproduce in their separate environments.

The two species will likely interbreed with each other, resulting in young with characteristics of both species.

The two species will likely interbreed and develop a new species with characteristics of their common ancestor.

The two species will be in competition for resources with each other in a single environment, leading to the extinction of one of the species.

How are faults that occur in the middle of tectonic plates different from plate boundaries?

Plate boundaries occur between tectonic plates while faults can occur anywhere.

Plate boundaries are sites for earthquakes but faults are not.

Faults cover larger areas than the intersections between plates.

Faults are the sites of volcanoes while the intersections between plates are not.

One student says that geologists cannot predict earthquakes. Which statement contradicts the student’s conclusion?

Earthquakes are statistically more common around fault lines.

Earthquakes are caused by changing weather conditions.

Earthquakes can occur in every state in the United States.

Earthquakes are caused by landslides occurring at Earth’s surface.

The students decide to model how the motion of two plates occurs. Which statement best describes the ability of the model to predict plate movement?

The motion of the plates can be modeled by including only the main factors that contribute to plate movement.

The motion of the plates cannot be modeled on a scale that is much smaller than the plates themselves.

The motion of the plates cannot be modeled by simplifying the factors that contribute to plate movement

The motion of the plates can be modeled only by including every factor that contributes to plate movement.

Which description correctly matches a part of the model with what it represents on Earth?

The heat source represents the energy from Earth’s interior

The water represents the material Earth’s crust is made of.

The foam blocks represent the location of Earth’s faults

The large aquarium represents the structure of Earth’s plates.

Which statement best describes what the model is representing on Earth?

The convection currents will carry the North American and Eurasian Plates away from each other.

The heat source will evaporate the water and cause the North American and Eurasian Plates to collide

The North American Plate will stop moving away from the Eurasian Plate when it reaches a barrier.

The currents will cool down and the North American and Eurasian Plates will move back toward each other.

If the students want to improve this model by including more detail showing how the interior of a tectonic plate is affected, they should

use a material for the plate that heat can warp or crack.

Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are found at the same cliff side. Which statement is correct about the rocks at this location?

The metamorphic rock and sedimentary rock were already at this location and magma flowed into the other rocks

All three types of rock will become metamorphic if they stay at the surface of Earth.

If this location is buried deep underground, only the metamorphic rock will melt because it has already been heated before.

The igneous rock will become metamorphic rock after the rock in the cliff side turns into sediment.

The table identifies the three types of tectonic plate boundaries on Earth’s surface and their effect on the lithosphere. Which three statements are correct about the effects of these plate boundaries on Earth’s lithosphere?

In Type 1 boundaries, new lithosphere will form because of the plates pulling apart from each other.

In Type 2 boundaries, one plate is forced under the other, causing the lithosphere to form trenches.

Earthquakes tend to occur at both Type 2 and Type 3 boundaries.

In Type 3 boundaries, one plate slides next to the other, creating ocean mountain ranges.

Volcanoes tend to occur at both Type 1 and Type 3 boundaries.

The graph shows the changes in the number of animal faunas living on Earth over time and how the faunas were affected by different extinction events. Which statement is correct about the changes in faunas during one of these five major events?

The event at the end of the Triassic (Tri.) resulted in the extinction of fewer faunas than in any other period.

The event at the end of the Devonian (Dev.) resulted in an increase in the number of Cambrian faunas.

The event at the end of the Cretaceous resulted in an increase in the number of Paleozoic faunas.

The event at the end of the Cretaceous resulted in the extinction of more faunas than in any other period.

8th Grade Science TCAP Practice Quiz

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

The diagram represents a section of Earth that a paleontologist, a scientist who studies fossils, has been working with for years. Which statement correctly describes this diagram?

Layer W contains fossils of organisms that existed on Earth after the organisms found in layers U and R.

Layer U contains fossils of organisms that are older than the organisms found in layer R.

Layers W and U contain fossils that are animal species.

. Layers R and W contain fossils that are both types of plant species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

When the solar system was very young, the sun was just being formed and planets had not yet been made. The solar system was mostly gas and dust. Which statement best explains how planets formed in the early solar system?

Planets formed from magnetism in space that interacted with light from the stars.

Planets formed from large asteroids that had broken apart.

Planets formed from molten metal in volcanic eruptions.

Planets formed from small amounts of debris that were attracted together because of gravity

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

3.

MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Some scientists compared fossils of the common ancestor of horses with modern horses. The table shows what the scientists found during their analysis. The scientists claim that modern horses are better adapted for survival in the present-day environment than the common ancestor would have been. Which two statements best support this claim?

Organisms that have hooves are more likely to reproduce.

Organisms with multiple toes are easily seen by predators, so parents choose not to pass the trait on to their offspring.

Organisms with four legs will develop a hoof because of the need to balance on four legs.

Organisms will acquire helpful traits from their surroundings to survive.

Organisms that have hooves are able to live in a variety of habitats.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Students are using balloons to describe the expanding universe model. The students blow up several balloons and put them on the floor. Each balloon represents a different galaxy. How should the students move or change the balloons to demonstrate how the universe is expanding?

All of the balloons should be moved to the center of the floor.

Each balloon should be inflated more so that they are all increasing in size.

Each balloon should be deflated so that there is more distance between the surface of each balloon.

All of the balloons should be moved away from each other so there is more distance between them.

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Farmers have cultivated five different vegetable crops by artificially selecting for certain traits from the wild mustard plant. This table lists information about five different vegetables that originated from the wild mustard plant. Which statement is correct about the development of these vegetables through artificial selection?

They resulted from a characteristic of the mustard plant that was changed or enhanced by the selective cultivation.

They resulted from the exposure to extreme temperatures and ultraviolet sun rays.

They were created over one generation when crossbreeding took place between two different varieties of vegetables.

They stopped forming additional varieties at the end of a growth cycle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

6.

MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

The diagram shows rainwater traveling underground. Depending on how far down the water travels into the ground, it can take centuries (hundreds of years) or even millennia (thousands of years). The pumped well is where groundwater is taken out of the ground. The darker-colored layers underground are layers of permeable rock. The lighter-colored layers underground are sources of groundwater. Using the diagram, which three statements about groundwater are correct?

The water for the well is provided by underground water from the uppermost layer.

The water available to the pumped well uses only water stored for days and years.

If rain falls on the recharge area, it may take centuries or millennia to sink to the lowest storage levels.

The water pumped from the well will be replaced immediately from the water in all the layers beneath it

Pumping a large amount of water from the well will have almost no effect on the amount of water available for vegetation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Of the three waves shown, Wave 2 has the greatest

wave speed, because it has more crests than the other ropes.

frequency, because it has a larger wavelength than the other ropes.

wave speed, because the rope is moving up and down faster than the other ropes.

frequency, because there are more crests in the same length of rope than there are in the other waves.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

A student plots the magnetic field of a bar magnet using a compass. The student centers the bar magnet in the middle of a piece of paper and uses the compass to plot points around the magnet. Which diagram best shows the magnetic field around a bar magnet?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Diagram 1 shows dark-shaded areas of three continents that contain similar ancient rock structures. Diagram 2 shows similar fossils that were found on landforms. Both diagrams show the different continents arranged as scientists believe they might have existed before they moved apart because of continental drift.
Which statement is correct based on the information provided in the two diagrams?

The diagrams both provide support for the theory that the continents have always been fixed in their current positions.

The diagrams have little relationship to each other, as some of the land areas shown on the diagrams are in different positions.

The diagrams support each other by offering two separate sources of evidence that support the past shapes and positions of the landforms.

The diagrams provide support for the conclusion that the process of continental drift ended when the continents reached their current positions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

10.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

A student read in a science magazine that magnets can be made by using an iron nail, copper wire, and a battery. These magnets are called “electromagnets” because they use electricity to generate their magnetic effect. The magnetic force of these magnets can be tested according to their ability to pick up metal paper clips. The student read that motors and electromagnets use the same basic principle to operate. The student conducted two investigations to see how these electromagnets work. In the first investigation, the student made an electromagnet and then performed some tests. The materials that were used are listed. The student performed two tests. In the first test, the student taped the ends of the wire to the battery. Several paper clips were moved close to the nail and the student recorded how many paper clips the nail picked up. In the second test, the wire was wrapped around the nail 20 times. The results are shown in the table.
Based on the information given, which part of Investigation #2 is most likely the independent variable?

the type of wire

the number of coils

the size of the battery

the strength of the magnet

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

8th Grade Science TCAP Practice

50 questions

The diagram represents a section of Earth that a paleontologist, a scientist who studies fossils, has been working with for years. Which statement correctly describes this diagram?

When the solar system was very young, the sun was just being formed and planets had not yet been made. The solar system was mostly gas and dust. Which statement best explains how planets formed in the early solar system?

Students are using balloons to describe the expanding universe model. The students blow up several balloons and put them on the floor. Each balloon represents a different galaxy. How should the students move or change the balloons to demonstrate how the universe is expanding?

Of the three waves shown, Wave 2 has the greatest

A student plots the magnetic field of a bar magnet using a compass. The student centers the bar magnet in the middle of a piece of paper and uses the compass to plot points around the magnet. Which diagram best shows the magnetic field around a bar magnet?

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