Quiz about STAAR Grade 8 Science Practice Assessment

Question 1

Which statement about the sun is true?

Accepted Answer

It is closer to Earth than any other star.

Answer

It is the hottest star in the universe.

Answer

It is located in the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

Answer

It is the largest type of star known to exist.

Question 2

Which statement BEST describes a component of cell theory?

Accepted Answer

All cells come from preexisting cells.

Answer

All cells form from molecules.

Answer

All cells create genetically identical cells.

Answer

All cells reproduce from simpler cells.

Question 3

Students measure and record the mass and volume of a sample of material.

The table shows the densities for four substances.

Based on the density of the sample, which material is the sample MOST LIKELY made of?

Accepted Answer

Glass

Answer

Plywood

Answer

Aluminum

Answer

Rubber

Question 4

Controlled burns are fires that are purposely set within a designated area when conditions are safe for the public and for the firefighters who watch over the fire. Weather and forest conditions are monitored both before and during the burn. Controlled burns rid forests of tree limbs, dead leaves, and other debris.
Which prediction can be made about a forest after a controlled burn has occurred?

Which prediction can be made about a forest after a controlled burn has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Important nutrients for new plant growth will be returned to the soil.

Answer

The ability of plants to reproduce will decrease.

Answer

Short-term air quality in the area will improve.

Answer

Long-term biodiversity will be reduced.

Question 5

Students are baking a cake. They mix together all the necessary ingredients and pour them into a pan. Then they place the pan into the oven to cook for 40 minutes.

Which statement BEST explains why baking a cake is evidence of a chemical reaction?

Accepted Answer

The ingredients formed a new substance after they were cooked in the oven.

Answer

The state of matter of some of the ingredients changed while being cooked.

Answer

The total mass of the ingredients was the same before and after they were cooked.

Answer

The temperature of the ingredients increased as they absorbed thermal energy from the oven.

Question 6

Which factor contributes MOST to the formation of a hurricane?

Accepted Answer

High water temperatures

Answer

High water density

Answer

High water oxygen levels

Answer

High water volume

Question 7

A student graphs the motion of a toy car moving in a straight line over a 10-second time period.

Which statement BEST describes motion of the toy car?

Accepted Answer

The car moved at a speed of 1 meter per second during the first 5 seconds and then moved at a slower speed during the next 5 seconds.

Answer

The car moved at a speed of 5 meters per second during the first 5 seconds and then moved at a slower speed during the next 5 seconds.

Answer

The car moved at a speed of 5 meters per second during the first 5 seconds and then moved at a faster speed during the next 5 seconds.

Answer

The car moved at a speed of 1 meter per second during the first 5 seconds and then moved at a faster speed during the next 5 seconds.

Question 8

A student draws models of Earth and the sun in different positions.

Which drawing should be used to represent summer in the Southern Hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

Question 9

A balanced chemical equation is shown.

How many different elements are in the chemical equation?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

2

Answer

13

Answer

50

Question 10

A diagram of a convection current is shown.

Which statement correctly describes the changes in the air as it moves from Location R to Location T?

Accepted Answer

The sun heats the land faster than the ocean water, so high-density air moves from the ocean to the land, becoming less dense.

Answer

The sun heats the land faster than the ocean water, so high-density air moves from the land to the ocean, becoming less dense.

Answer

The sun heats the land slower than the ocean water, so high-density air moves from the ocean to the land, becoming less dense.

Answer

The sun heats the land slower than the ocean water, so high-density air moves from the land to the ocean, becoming less dense.

Question 11

A student is looking at a model of a neutral atom.

The model shows that the atom has 19 subatomic particles in the nucleus. Ten of those subatomic particles do not have a charge.

Which statement about the model of the atom is true?

Accepted Answer

It has 9 protons.

Answer

It has an atomic number of 19.

Answer

It has 10 electrons.

Answer

It has an atomic mass of 29 amu.

Question 12

Student 1 claims that whenever the color of a substance changes, a chemical change has occurred.

Student 2 claims that food coloring can change the color of a substance without causing a chemical change.

To test their claims, the students add red food coloring to a glass of water. The students observe that the clear water turns a light pink color. Their teacher then runs a test to show that the pink solution contains both water molecules and food-coloring molecules.

Based on these findings, which student is correct?

Accepted Answer

Student 2, because no new substance was formed when there was a color change

Answer

Student 1, because the food-coloring molecules were found in the pink solution

Answer

Student 1, because the state of matter changed when the food coloring was added

Answer

Student 2, because the red food coloring caused the water to change to a pink color

Question 13

Overfishing reduces the number of fish at a rate that causes long-term reductions in fish populations. The table shows the percentage of fish species in the ocean that were overfished in three different years.

Which action would MOST LIKELY reverse the trend shown in the table?

Accepted Answer

Requiring ships to return non-adult fish to the ocean so that they can grow and reproduce

Answer

Increasing the total weight of fish that each ship can remove from the ocean each day

Answer

Decreasing the number of policing ships in order to lessen capacity restrictions and regulations

Answer

Promoting meals centered around specific fish species in restaurants in order to increase profits

Question 14

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is shown.

An astronomer discovers a star that has a temperature of 3,750 K and a luminosity of 103 Lsun.

Part A

According to the diagram, which type of star did the astronomer discover?

Accepted Answer

Giant

Answer

White dwarf

Answer

Main sequence

Answer

Supergiant

Question 15

Part B

Which statement supports the answer to Part A?

Accepted Answer

The star is cool and bright compared to other types of stars.

Answer

The star is hot and bright compared to other types of stars.

Answer

The star is cool and dim compared to other types of stars.

Answer

The star is hot and dim compared to other types of stars.

Question 16

The Olympic Mountains formed along the west coast of the United States at the boundary between the Juan de Fuca Plate and the North American Plate. Which type of boundary MOST LIKELY exists between the Juan de Fuca Plate and the North American Plate?

Accepted Answer

Convergent boundary, where the plates are moving toward each other

Answer

Convergent boundary, where the plates are moving parallel to each other

Answer

Transform boundary, where the plates are moving closer to each other

Answer

Transform boundary, where the plates are sliding past each other

Question 17

A student is modeling how sunlight affects different locations on Earth. The student uses a globe and a flashlight as shown.

Based on the model, which statement is correct?

Accepted Answer

Locations K and L will be experiencing daytime in 24 hours.

Answer

Locations J and M will be experiencing daytime in 12 hours.

Answer

Locations J and K will be starting to experience nighttime in 12 hours.

Answer

Locations L and M will be starting to experience nighttime in 24 hours.

Question 18

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

A player hits a baseball with a baseball bat.

Part A

Which statement about the forces between the ball and the bat is correct?

Accepted Answer

The force of the ball on the bat was equal to the force of the bat on the ball.

Answer

The force of the ball on the bat was less than the force of the bat on the ball.

Answer

The force of the ball on the bat was greater than the force of the bat on the ball.

Question 19

Part B

Which statement BEST supports the answer to Part A?

Accepted Answer

Whenever two objects interact, they always apply equal and opposite forces on each other.

Answer

Whenever two objects interact, the more massive object always applies a greater force than the less massive object.

Answer

Whenever two objects interact, the faster object always applies a greater force than the slower object.

Answer

Whenever two objects interact, their forces always combine and are applied in the direction of the object that is moving the fastest.

Question 20

Which statements accurately describe features of the land represented by the topographic map?

Select TWO correct answers.

Accepted Answer

There is a stream.

Accepted Answer

There is one peak.

Answer

There is a large valley.

Answer

There is a consistent slope.

Answer

There is a river valley.

Question 21

A drawing of the side view and front view of a shark is shown.

A student creates this dichotomous key for shark orders and uses it to classify the shark in the drawing.

Based on the dichotomous key, which order does the shark in the drawing belong to?

Accepted Answer

Lamniformes

Answer

Pristiophoriformes

Answer

Carcharhiniformes

Answer

Heterodontiformes

Question 22

A scientist studies the freshwater organism known as a hydra. Hydras reproduce by budding, a process in which a piece of the adult hydra breaks off and becomes a separate organism.

Which statement accurately describes the parent hydra?

Accepted Answer

The parent hydra used asexual reproduction and is genetically identical to the newly formed hydra.

Answer

The parent hydra used sexual reproduction and is genetically identical to the newly formed hydra.

Answer

The parent hydra used asexual reproduction and is genetically different from the newly formed hydra.

Answer

The parent hydra used sexual reproduction and is genetically different from the newly formed hydra.

Question 23

The satellite images show how the Padma River in Bangladesh has changed over time.

Which of these MOST LIKELY caused the changes in the shape of the Padma River?

Accepted Answer

The flow of the water in the river caused erosion along the riverbanks.

Answer

The weathering of sediment within the river caused landslides along the riverbank.

Answer

Increased droughts caused weathering and erosion in areas surrounding the river.

Answer

Decreased city development along the riverbanks caused an accumulation of sediment.

Question 24

A student is examining a cell under a microscope. The student identifies two features: a large vacuole and a cell wall.

Which table correctly describes the cell and the two features that the student identified?

Accepted Answer

Question 25

A student turns on a battery-operated fan. The batteries are located in the base of the fan. After five minutes, the student notices that the base of the fan is warm.

Which statement BEST describes the conversion of energy taking place in the fan?

Accepted Answer

Chemical energy is being converted into mechanical energy and thermal energy.

Answer

Chemical energy is being converted into mechanical energy and light energy.

Answer

Electrical energy is being converted into chemical energy and light energy.

Answer

Electrical energy is being converted into thermal energy and sound energy.

Question 26

A student wants to plan a family camping trip during a full moon. The student looks outside to see that the moon is currently in its first quarter phase.

About how many days does the student need to wait in order to go camping on the night of a full moon?

Accepted Answer

8 days

Answer

4 days

Answer

13 days

Answer

20 days

Question 27

The table shows characteristics of three unknown materials.

How could the materials BEST be classified?

Accepted Answer

X: Metalloid

Y: Metal

Z: Nonmetal

Answer

X: Metal

Y: Metalloid

Z: Nonmetal

Answer

X: Nonmetal

Y: Metal

Z: Nonmetal

Answer

X: Metalloid

Y: Metalloid

Z: Nonmetal

Question 28

A student drinks a beverage that contains 78 grams of sugar.

Which system produces the hormone insulin that helps break down the sugar in the human body?

Accepted Answer

Endocrine system

Answer

Excretory system

Answer

Integumentary system

Answer

Circulatory system

Question 29

Scientists have found some of the same types of rock containing the same types of fossil species in Africa and Antarctica.

Which explanation does this information support?

Accepted Answer

Both continents were attached but drifted away from each other over time.

Answer

Both continents gradually increased in size over time

Answer

Both continents were attached by glacial ice millions of years ago.

Answer

Both continents were underwater millions of years ago.

Question 30

A student is comparing four elements on the periodic table. The elements are labeled in the image.

Which two elements have properties that are the MOST similar?

Accepted Answer

B and C

Answer

A and B

Answer

C and D

Answer

A and D

STAAR Grade 8 Science Practice Assessment

40 questions

Which statement about the sun is true?

Which statement BEST describes a component of cell theory?

Students measure and record the mass and volume of a sample of material.
The table shows the densities for four substances.
Based on the density of the sample, which material is the sample MOST LIKELY made of?

Students are baking a cake. They mix together all the necessary ingredients and pour them into a pan. Then they place the pan into the oven to cook for 40 minutes.
Which statement BEST explains why baking a cake is evidence of a chemical reaction?

Which factor contributes MOST to the formation of a hurricane?

A student researches an ecosystem and draws the food web shown.
How many secondary consumers are in this food web?
Record your answer in the space provided.

A student graphs the motion of a toy car moving in a straight line over a 10-second time period.
Which statement BEST describes motion of the toy car?

A student draws models of Earth and the sun in different positions.
Which drawing should be used to represent summer in the Southern Hemisphere?

Describe the roles of subatomic particles within an atom.
Move the correct answer to each box. Not all answers will be used.
The (a) determines the identify of an atom and is equal to the (b) . The chemical reactivity of an atom is determined by the (c) .

Create a free account and access millions of resources

Similar Resources on Wayground

Popular Resources on Wayground

Discover more resources for Science

STAAR Grade 8 Science Practice Assessment

40 questions

Which statement about the sun is true?

Which statement BEST describes a component of cell theory?

Students measure and record the mass and volume of a sample of material.The table shows the densities for four substances.Based on the density of the sample, which material is the sample MOST LIKELY made of?

Students are baking a cake. They mix together all the necessary ingredients and pour them into a pan. Then they place the pan into the oven to cook for 40 minutes. Which statement BEST explains why baking a cake is evidence of a chemical reaction?

Which factor contributes MOST to the formation of a hurricane?

A student researches an ecosystem and draws the food web shown. How many secondary consumers are in this food web? Record your answer in the space provided.

A student graphs the motion of a toy car moving in a straight line over a 10-second time period.Which statement BEST describes motion of the toy car?

A student draws models of Earth and the sun in different positions. Which drawing should be used to represent summer in the Southern Hemisphere?

Describe the roles of subatomic particles within an atom.Move the correct answer to each box. Not all answers will be used.The (a) determines the identify of an atom and is equal to the ​ (b) . The chemical reactivity of an atom is determined by the ​ (c) .

Create a free account and access millions of resources

Similar Resources on Wayground

Popular Resources on Wayground

Discover more resources for Science

Students measure and record the mass and volume of a sample of material.
The table shows the densities for four substances.
Based on the density of the sample, which material is the sample MOST LIKELY made of?

Students are baking a cake. They mix together all the necessary ingredients and pour them into a pan. Then they place the pan into the oven to cook for 40 minutes.
Which statement BEST explains why baking a cake is evidence of a chemical reaction?

A student researches an ecosystem and draws the food web shown.
How many secondary consumers are in this food web?
Record your answer in the space provided.

A student graphs the motion of a toy car moving in a straight line over a 10-second time period.
Which statement BEST describes motion of the toy car?

A student draws models of Earth and the sun in different positions.
Which drawing should be used to represent summer in the Southern Hemisphere?

Describe the roles of subatomic particles within an atom.
Move the correct answer to each box. Not all answers will be used.
The (a) determines the identify of an atom and is equal to the (b) . The chemical reactivity of an atom is determined by the (c) .