TCAP Practice 3

Which statement correctly describes one way ocean currents affect a region?

• Deep ocean currents push into estuaries, creating sand deposits that form barrier islands.

• Cold ocean currents along the equator increase evaporation rates, creating circular winds that produce tropical storms

• Warm ocean currents keep coastal air temperatures warm, creating moderate climate conditions in coastal regions.

• Deep ocean currents move water from polar seas toward the equator, creating drafts of cold air that blow over polar regions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

To decrease air pollution, a city began limiting the number of air-polluting particles companies were able to release into the air. The companies were required to use control devices that catch air-polluting particles. The companies’ processes were also changed so that the lowest possible amounts of polluting particles were released. Tests show that these new city rules have not decreased the levels of acid rain. Which activity is most likely the reason that implementing these rules did not reduce acid rain levels?

• The number of companies in the city has decreased.

• The number of parks and green spaces in the city has increased.

• The number of families moving into the city has decreased.

• The number of automobiles and traffic jams has increased.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Recently, severe weather damaged forests in northern New Mexico. Trees in these forests are nesting sites for Mexican spotted owls. Damage to the forests caused populations of Mexican spotted owls to decline in the state. Which of these describes the most likely result of a decrease in the number of Mexican spotted owls in New Mexico forests?

• Populations of primary consumers increased, because there was less predation by Mexican spotted owls.

• Populations of predators decreased, because there was less competition from Mexican spotted owls.

• Deciduous trees grew at faster rates, because fewer Mexican spotted owls were nesting in their branches.

• Certain herbaceous plants reproduced at a slower rate, because fewer Mexican spotted owls flew above them.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Students are planning investigations to help them understand the movement of thermal energy between objects. Which of these investigations should the students plan to help them better understand conduction?

• Compare the difference in temperatures between a small amount of wet sand in direct sunlight and the same amount of wet sand in shade.

• Observe how different temperatures of water move through an aquarium when food coloring has been added to the water.

• Measure the changes in temperature of materials that have different colors when the materials are left in sunlight.

• Compare the changes in temperature of different objects that are heated by a hot plate set to a medium setting.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

A student studies the diagram shown. The arrows in the diagram represent a typical flow of wind over a mountain.

The student correctly explains the expected atmospheric conditions in the diagram. Which three statements should be part of the student’s explanation?

• Warm air rises up the mountain.

• Rain occurs often at location A.

• The humid air travels up the mountain and falls back down the other side.

• Location A is a dry location.

• The humid air cools as it is rising to the top of the mountain and turns to clouds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Coypu damage riverbanks, trample crops, and reduce the amount of food available to other native herbivores. Based on the information in the data table, which strategy for controlling the coypu population would have the least effect on the North American river otter?

• Place poison on plants along marshes that will affect only coypu.

• Introduce a new carnivore to the rivers and streams.

• Set traps for coypu made of cages and trapdoors along the rivers and streams.

• Increase the number of water plants in the habitat that coypu eat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Animals have different methods of communication with members of their own species and other types of animals.

Which three statements about animal communication are supported by the information in the data table?

• Wolves, squirrels, and deer wave their tails to attract a mate.

• Alligators and deer use communication to help them reproduce.

• Squirrels, deer, and wolves make noises to warn others of danger.

• Wolves use body language to scare away enemies.

• Alligators and squirrels leave traces on trees for their own species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

A species of moth inhabits the fur of three-toed sloths. These moths provide nutrients to algae growing on the sloth’s fur. The algae provides camouflage for the sloth. The sloth’s waste provides a secure and nutrient-rich place for the moths to lay their eggs.Populations of three-toed sloths are decreasing due to deforestation of their habitat. Which of these will most likely result if the three-toed sloth population continues to decline?

• The population of moths will thrive by inhabiting the fur of another tree-dwelling mammal.

• The algae will adapt to living on tree trunks and low-hanging branches.

• The population of moths will decline because of fewer places to lay eggs.

• The algae will survive by breeding with another photosynthetic organism.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which statement is most correct about the collapse of the ocean food web that may be caused by the loss of an organism in the ecosystem?

• The loss of the phytoplankton would mean that the anchovy would not have phytoplankton as a direct food source.

• The loss of the large fish would mean that there would not be a need for the anchovies as a food source.

• The loss of the zooplankton would mean that there would not be a direct food source for the phytoplankton.

• The loss of the anchovies would mean that larger fish would not have enough food to thrive in that region.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

According to the food web, in which trophic level of the energy pyramid does the anchovy belong?

• 1: Producer

• 2: Primary Consumer

• 3: Secondary Consumer

• 4: Tertiary Consumer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3