Nature Of Science Unit Test

Lois’s family raises potatoes and other crops on their farm in Florida. Lois wonders if too much water can damage a potato crop. In an experiment, she thoroughly soaks the soil beneath a few of the potato plants. Then, she compares their growth with the rest of the potato crop. What is the control group of the experiment?

• the potato plants that have soaked soil

• the potato plants that do not have soaked soil

• all of the farm’s plants, except for the potato plants

• the potato plants that are damaged by heavy rain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Mr. Arthur, the science teacher, says that adding salt or sugar can make a pot of water boil at a higher temperature. Matt and Karen decide to investigate this claim. With the teacher’s supervision, Matt and Karen prepare mixtures of water with salt or sugar, boil the mixtures on a hot plate, and use a digital thermometer to measure the temperature of the boiling mixture.

The data table shows their results.

When Mr. Arthur reviews the data, he suggests that an error occurred during one of the trials. Which trial most likely was performed incorrectly?

• Trial 1

• Trial 3

• Trial 4

• Trial 6

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Declan and Rachel are investigating the speeds that golf balls roll across different surfaces, such as long grass, short grass, concrete, and sand. Declan plans an experimental investigation. Rachel plans a descriptive investigation at a golf course. Rachel’s investigation will not include an experiment. Which is a difference between the two investigations?

• Only Rachel will be observing golf balls.

• Only Declan will observe golf balls on different surfaces.

• Only Rachel will be reporting her observations.

• Only Declan will test a hypothesis with variables and controls.

Marni is planning an investigation of the insect pests that damage Florida citrus trees. Which of these actions must be included in any useful investigation of these insects?

• observing the insects, either in a laboratory or outdoors

• stating a hypothesis about the insects

• identifying a variable and controls for an experiment

• proposing a way to prevent damage to citrus trees

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Alden and Jhonna are investigating a new spray for removing stains from clothes. They explain that the spray changes many stains so they can dissolve in warm, soapy water, but the process can also damage the fibers in clothes. To provide the strongest support for this explanation, what should the report of their investigation include?

• a list of the ingredients in the new spray

• a comparison of the new spray to other stain-removing products

• a recommendation for the amount of spray to use on a stain

• photographs of clothes both before and after they were treated with the spray

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Savon and Julia read that a cylinder-shaped table leg can hold more weight than a leg with edges. To investigate this claim, they test table legs made of cardboard in a variety of shapes. They add weight to the table until it collapses. What is the benefit of repeating these tests several times?

• Repeated tests might identify the strongest possible shape for a table leg.

• Repeated tests might identify the ideal number of legs for a table.

• Repeated tests could help show that the results are accurate and useful.

• Repeated tests could measure the effect of other variables, such as the material of the leg

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Manuel and Oliver are discussing the solar system. Manuel says that life might exist on Enceladus, a small moon of Saturn. What is the most useful way for Oliver to evaluate this claim?

• Design an experimental investigation to conduct at school.

• Read a book about school children who explore outer space.

• Research Enceladus on the website for NASA, the government agency that explores space.

• Ask other friends if they have heard about Enceladus and life that might exist there.

Professor Claypool, an astronomer, is the director of an observatory in Florida. The professor’s team has just completed an investigation of distant objects of the solar system. In their report, the team claims to have discovered a new comet. Who should be able to observe the comet?

• only Professor Claypool

• only Professor Claypool and other members of the team

• any scientist who is interested in comets

• any scientist who can follow the team’s procedure

Sandra visits a Florida farm that raises silkies, a breed of chicken. Sandra did not know that chickens have breeds, just as dogs and cattle have breeds. Which is the best way that Sandra could learn more about chicken breeds?

• Visit the website of a restaurant that serves chicken

• Try to hatch chicken eggs that are bought from the supermarket.

• Visit a gardening center that keeps a rooster as a mascot.

• Read a book about chicken breeds from the school library.

Sabina and Max have been investigating rainbows. They observe many examples of rainbows in the sky. They also observe photographs of rainbows that others have taken. They include this paragraph in their report.

All of the rainbows were beautiful! They always had the same colors in the same order. The bands also had the same shape, which is a section of a circle. Does the paragraph include observations, opinions, or both?

• The paragraph includes observations only.

• The paragraph includes opinions only.

• The paragraph begins with an opinion and then presents observations only.

• The paragraph mixes observations and opinions in every sentence.