PISA-like Questions for Critical Thinking

What is the main purpose of chlorophyll in plants?

• Absorb water

• Absorb sunlight

• Protect the plant

• Produce oxygen

Why does ice float on water?

• Because it is colder than water

• Because it has air bubbles in it

• Because it is less dense than liquid water

• Because water pushes it up

Which of these organs is responsible for filtering waste from the blood?

• Heart

• Liver

• Kidney

• Lungs

When a substance is heated, what generally happens to its molecules?

• They slow down

• They stop moving

• They vibrate faster

• They move closer together

What force pulls objects toward Earth?

• Friction

• Magnetism

• Gravity

• Inertia

What is the main cause of earthquakes?

• Winds on the surface

• Tectonic plate movements

• Lava cooling in the crust

• Sun’s gravitational pull

Which gas do humans primarily exhale after breathing?

• Oxygen

• Hydrogen

• Carbon dioxide

• Nitrogen

What is the chemical formula for water?

• H₂

• H₂O

• CO₂

• NaCl

Which blood cells are primarily responsible for carrying oxygen?

• Red blood cells

• White blood cells

• Platelets

• Plasma cells

Which layer of the Earth is the hottest?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core