BSA (Final Assessment) Review

A student collected many different-sized samples of the same kind of rock from a certain area. She measured the mass and volume of each sample and plotted the results on the scatter plot below.

Based on the scatter plot, which is the best estimate of the mass of a rock sample taken from the same area that has a volume of 300 milliliters (mL)?

• • 300 grams

• 400 grams

• 500 grams

• 600 grams

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

In the experiment discussed in item 64 that used the table below, which factor would be considered the outcome (dependent) variable?

• • The type of soil.

• • The number of blocks.

• • The mass of sediment collected in the pail.

• • The amount of water that flowed across the pan.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Students conducted an experiment to see how slope and sediment size affect erosion by water. The students filled identical pans with one of four types of sediment (clay, silt, sand, or gravel). One end of each pan was raised by placing a set number of blocks under the pan. A hole was cut in the other end of the pan. Water was allowed to flow across the sediment for five minutes, starting at the raised end of the pan. The water and sediment carried by the water were caught in a pail at the end of the pan. The students recorded the mass of the dry sediment in the pail. In each trial, the initial amount of the sediment in the pan was the same, and the rate at which water was added to the pan was kept constant. The results are shown in the table below.

According to the table, which type of sediment was most easily eroded by the water?

• clay

• silt

• sand

• gravel

Scientists often specialize in a particular area of science.

• A taxonomist is a type of biologist that studies how living things are classified.  A taxonomist studies the characteristics of organisms such as their cell structure, mode of acquiring food, skeletal structure, DNA, movement, and general appearance.  A taxonomist will closely study all of the characteristics of an organism to classify it with other organisms that have similar structures.

• A geologist studies the solid and liquid matter that makes up Earth.  One type of geologist studies the visible layering of rocks to learn more about the environmental changes that occur between one rock layer and the next.  This type of geologist will travel around the world to look for similar patterns in rock layers from one continent to the next.

How are these scientists similar in their pursuit of scientific explanations?

• • Both scientists study living organisms.

• • Both scientists work primarily in a laboratory.

• • Both scientists pursue scientific explanations through investigations without being able to manipulate variables.

• • .

  • Both scientists pursue scientific explanations only by carefully manipulating variables to better understand its effect.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of these statements about the figures is most likely correct?

• • 
    The atomic model has changed very little over time.

• • As scientists learned more, they modified the atomic model.

• • Scientists are still debating which of the three theories is right.

• • Scientists have three different ideas about what atomic structures look like.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Scientists continually gather evidence that adds to scientific knowledge. New evidence sometimes causes changes to past ideas. Which of the following is an example of evidence that could cause a change in scientific thinking?

• • Scientists predict the eruption of a volcano and safely evacuate people in the danger zone.

• • An unusual amount of rain in a dry region is followed by an increase in plant growth.

• • Passing laws to protect threatened species causes populations to recover.

• • A planet is found to consist of different elements than previously thought.

In the 17th century, Galileo tried to change scientific and public beliefs regarding the structure of the solar system. However, only scientist Johannes Kepler thought Galileo was on the right track. Which of the following is the best way for a scientist to obtain support for a new claim?

• • The scientist should study claims made by other scientists.

• • The scientist should write and publish a journal article to discuss the claim.

• • The scientist should obtain support from a well-known corporation to verify the claim.

• The scientist should provide a significant amount of empirical evidence that supports the claim.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

What could be the effect on weather if higher temperatures impacted the water cycle?

• • 
    Hotter temperatures could increase the amount of frozen precipitation.

• • Hotter temperatures could decrease the amount of precipitation.

• • Hotter temperatures could cause more water vapor in the air.

• • Hotter temperatures could decrease the number of clouds.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement best explains what is happening at step 3?

• • Water vapor is heated by the Sun to form rain.

• • Water vapor cools and condenses to form rain.

• • Water vapor cools and evaporates to form rain.

• Water vapor is heated and condenses to form rain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How does the energy provided by the Sun affect global ocean currents?

• • The Sun heats the land, which causes currents to flow close to coasts.

• • The Sun heats the world’s oceans evenly, which causes currents to flow around Earth.

• • The Sun heats waters near the equator, which then move toward the poles where the waters cool.

• • The Sun heats waters near the poles, which causes the waters to move toward the equator to cool.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6