Energy Research Simulation

Part A
In paragraph 12 of "Energy Story," what does the word circuit mean?

• A. a conductor

• B. a balance

• C. a charge

• D. a path

Part B

Which sentence from "Energy Story" best supports the answer in Part A?

• A.  "Each atom has a specific number of electrons, protons and neutrons." (paragraph 8)

  
  

• B.  "So, if an atom had six protons, it should also have six electrons." (paragraph 9)

• C.  "The charge is passed from atom to atom when electricity is 'passed." (paragraph 12)

  
  

• D.  "Most metals—like copper, aluminum or steel—are good conductors." (paragraph 22)

Part A
Why does the author most likely place the information in paragraphs 1-2 at the beginning of "Energy Story"?

• A.  to encourage the reader to learn how electronic devices are made

  
  

• B.  to show the reader how different machines can improve our lives

  
  

• C.  to draw the reader in by showing how electricity affects everyone

• D.  to teach the reader how to use electricity in different settings

    

  
  

Part B

Which detail from "Energy Story" best supports the answer in Part A?

• A  ". . . walk through your school, house or apartment . . .." (paragraph 2)

  
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• B.  ". . . how many things we use each and every day that depend on electricity." (paragraph 2)

  
  

• C.  ". . . in the same way the moon spins around the earth." (paragraph 5)

  
  

• D.  ". . . each person would have a bucket of water to pour from one bucket to another." (paragraph 12)

  
  

Part A
Which sentence best states the central idea of paragraphs 21-22 in "Energy Story"? 

• A.  Materials that are insulators and conductors have a high resistance to electricity.

  
  

• B.  It is more difficult for electricity to pass through insulators than conductors.

  
  

• C.  Insulators and conductors are able to generate a high amount of electricity.

  
  

• D.  Electrons move through rubber easier than they move through metal.

    

  
  

Part B

Which sentence from "Energy Story" best supports the answer in Part A?

• A.  "Electricity is conducted through some things better than others."

• B.  "Its resistance measures how well something conducts electricity."

• C.  "Some things hold their electrons very tightly."

  
  

• D.  "Other materials have some loosely held electrons, which move through them very easily."

  
  

Part A
Which sentence best states a central idea of "Short Circuit"?

• A.  Appliances can be destroyed by a heavy flow of electrons.

  
  

• B.  The flow of electrons follows a path of least resistance.

• C.  Fuses are an important means to keep homes safe from electrical hazards.

  
  

• D.  Circuit breakers are a tool to control the flow of electricity in homes.

    

  
  

Part B

Which detail from the article provides the best example of the central idea in Part A?

• A.  "In a normal electric circuit, an electric current powers an appliance, such as a refrigerator or TV."

  
  

• B.  "Every such appliance has a certain amount of resistance to the current flow, which keeps the current from reaching very large values."

  
  

• C.  "Although houses today often contain circuit breakers rather than fuses, fuses are still around."

  
  

• D.  ". . . the wire in the fuse heats up quickly and melts, breaking the circuit and preventing a fire from breaking out."

Part A
Which step of the experiment is repeated multiple times in "Short Circuit"?

• A.  Use an alligator clip to attach a copper wire to a battery terminal.

• B.  Attach one end of an iron wire to the other battery terminal.

  
  

• C.  Use a second alligator clip to attach the other end of the copper wire to the iron wire.

  
  

• D  Shorten the distance between the second alligator clip and the battery.

Part B

A result occurs when the step is repeated in the experiment. Which phrase from "Short Circuit" shows the result of the repeated step that is the answer to Part A?

• A  ". . . deliberately chosen to have very low resistance."

  
  

• B  ". . . voltage of the battery pushes electrons through the circuit .... "

  
  

• C  ". . . more current flows . . . . "

  
  

• D  ". . . which keeps the current from reaching very large values."