Physical Science Released Test #1

A photogoraph of a litter of six-week-old bulldog puppies shows that the puppies are not identical.

Even though these puppies have the same parents, they do not all look alike because -

• They were produced by asexual cloning

• Some of the puppies have genetic material from only one of the parents

• Each puppy has a different combination of genetic material as a result of sexual reproduction

• All the puppies developed from the same fertilized egg

Answer explanation

During Meiosis, unique sperm and egg cells are made that each contain different DNA

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Sodium and lithium have similar chemical properties. What characteristic of these elements explains why they are chemically similar?

• Their atoms both have one valence electron

• Their atoms both have more neutrons than protons

• Their atoms have the same number of energy levels

• Their atoms contain equal numbers of protons and electrons

Answer explanation

Both elements are in the first column, which means they have one valence electron

A student was given this partial dichotomous key and asked to determine in which of five orders the adult insect shown belongs.

Based on the dichotomous key, in which order does the insect belong?

• Diptera

• Isoptera

• Ephemeroptera

• Zoraptera

Answer explanation

This insect has wings, has to pairs of wings, the wings are not triangular and the wings have a similar size and shape

The diagram shows a model of an atom. The model contains three different subatomic particles. Particles X and Y are inside the nucleus, and particle Z is outside of the nucleus.

Which statements best describe the charges on the particles in this model?

• Both particles X and Y have a positive charge

  Particle Z has a negative charge

• Both particles X and Y have a negative charge

  Particle Z has a positive charge

• Either particle X or particle Y has a positive charge

  Particle Z has a negative charge

• Either particle X or particle Y has a negative charge

  Particle Z has a positive charge

Answer explanation

The nucleus contains the nucleus and the protons. The protons have a positive charge, we just can't tell from the picture which thing are the protons.

The electron cloud is orbiting around the nucleus and electrons have negative charges.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

A photograph of a bird perched on a fence post is shown.

Which description best identifies the action-reaction pair between the bird and the fence post?

• Action: the force of bird on the wires

  Reaction: the force of the wires on the fence post

• Action: the force of the wires on the fence post

  Reaction: the force of the fence post on the bird

• Action: the force of the fence post on the bird

  Reaction: the force of the bird on the wires

• Action: the force of the bird on the fence post

  Reaction: the force of the fence post on the bird

Answer explanation

The bird is sitting on the fence post, applying force in a downward motion

The fence post pushes back with the same amount of force onto the bird

Farmers can best reduce negative effects on the water quality of nearby streams and lakes by planting crops that -

• Produce less oxygen

• Produce less carbon dioxide

• Need less fertilizer

• Need less solar energy

Answer explanation

The most likely thing to end up in local streams and rivers is fertilizer applied to a farm that ends up becoming runoff when it rains

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Buffelgrass is an invasive species of grass from Africa that outcompetes native Texas grasses for space and water. Which long-term change to a Texas grassland would most likely occur due to the introduction of buffelgrass?

• The population of native grasses will increase

• The population of native grasses will decrease

• Buffelgrass offspring will develop traits like those of native grasses

• Buffelgrass offspring will develop traits like those of other invasive species

Answer explanation

The invasive species "outcompete" the native plants for water

This means the invasive plants get all the water and the plants that belong in that area don't get any water

This means the native plants will die

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Two students record the distance they each traveled in 60 seconds in the data table shown.

If the students continue at the same speed, which statement describes the total distance traveled after 90 seconds?

• Student 1 traveled 40 meters and student 2 traveled 20 meters

• Student 1 traveled 50 meters, and student 2 traveled 30 meters

• Student 1 traveled 60 meters, and student 2 traveled 30 meters

• Student 1 traveled 70 meters, and student 2 traveled 25 meters

A sledgehammer has a mass of 3.5 kilograms. What net force will a person need to apply to accelerate the sledgehammer at a rate of 4.0 m/s²?

• 0.88 N

• 8.93 N

• 14 N

• 1.14 N

Answer explanation

Force = Mass X Acceleration

That means Force would be 3.5 times 4.0 which equals 14

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Students collected data on five elements. Their data are shown in the table.

Which element has the same number of energy levels as lithium?

• Beryllium

• Sodium

• Magnesium

• Potassium

Answer explanation

Energy levels are related to the row (period) that each element is found in so you need an element in the same row as Lithium

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1