7th Grade Science Benchmark Review

Animal cells have structures that perform specific functions in the cell. Mitochondria are organelles that float within the cell. Because they produce most of the cell’s energy, mitochondria are nicknamed the “powerhouse of the cell.” Which of the following types of cells would have the greatest number of mitochondria?

• a. skin cell
• b. blood cell
• c. muscle cell
• d. fingernail cell

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NGSS.MS-LS1-2

Plants rely on the process of photosynthesis to grow and reproduce. What resources do they need for this process?

• a. energy from the sun, water, and carbon dioxide in the air
• b. matter from the sun, water, and carbon dioxide in the air
• c. matter from the sun; energy from water and carbon dioxide in the air
• d. energy from the sun; matter from water and carbon dioxide in the air

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

A student is making a model of the cardiovascular system, showing the different components, or levels, that make up this system. Which component of the system is indicated by the question mark (?) in the model?

• a. blood cells
• b. heart cells
• c. respiratory cells
• d. cells of other organs

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NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Humans rely on sensory receptors to interpret messages about their surroundings. Sensory receptors respond to mechanical, physical, or chemical stimuli. There are different kinds of sensory receptors for detecting different kinds of stimuli. Chemoreceptors are specialized nerve cells that pick up chemical stimuli, such as smells or the pH level of foods. Such stimuli tell the brain and body to react a certain way to protect the body. If a person in a controlled test is introduced to a safe chemical stimulus, what is the MOST logical prediction you could make?

• a. The person will bat the eyelids to push the chemicals away with the eyelashes.
• b. The person will plug the nose to shield the body from offensive chemical smells.
• c. The person will cover the ears to protect the ears from chemicals in loud noises.
• d. The person will bite the nails to keep the chemical from seeping into the fingers.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-8

A biologist is observing an organism under a microscope and concludes that it is a unicellular organism. Which of the following observations provides evidence that this organism must be unicellular, not multicellular?

• a. it can make its own food.
• b. It can move on its own.
• c. It cannot be seen without a microscope.
• d. It performs all functions to maintain life.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-1

Below is a model of a plant. Plants use the energy they obtain from the sun to make sugar molecules, which help the plants grow. How could a student add to this model to show where the sugar molecules fit in?

• a. by drawing the sugar molecules as an input of energy from the sun
• b. by drawing the sugar molecules as an input of energy from water in the soil
• c. by drawing the sugar molecules as an output of energy from within the chloroplasts
• d. by drawing the sugar molecules as an output of energy from the released oxygen

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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This energy pyramid shows the flow of energy in an aquatic food chain. Choose the statement that correctly describes the flow of energy in this diagram.

• a. Consumers in the pyramid transfer their energy back to the sun after they die.
• b. Plants at the bottom of the pyramid get their energy from the soil they grow in.
• c. As you move up the pyramid, there is less energy at each level.
• d. Each level of consumer needs to make up for the decrease in energy by absorbing energy from the sun.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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Susan has two clear, colorless liquids, Liquid A and Liquid B. She needs to determine whether they are the same substance. Based on the information in the table, are Liquid A and Liquid B the same substance?

• a. No, Liquid A and Liquid B have different volumes.
• b. Yes, Liquid A and Liquid B have the same molecular weight.
• c. Yes, the molecules of Liquid A and Liquid B have the same number of atoms.
• d. No, the atoms of the molecules of Liquid A and Liquid B are arranged differently.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-1

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Students are studying various forms of matter. They just finished studying solids, liquids, and gases. Now they must draw a model that represents their observations. Which model BEST represents what happens to gas molecules in a closed container?

• A
• B
• C
• D

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Below is a picture of the rock strata of a mountain. What can you infer about the layers in this picture?

• a. The rock layers at the top of the mountain are the oldest.
• b. The rock strata can provide an absolute time scale of Earth’s history.
• c. The rock strata can be used to understand relative dates in Earth’s history.
• d. The rock layers in the mountain are made out of materials that are the same age.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4