Science Practice PISA Test

Most migratory birds gather in one area and then migrate in large groups rather than individually. This behavior is a result of evolution. Which of the following is the best scientific explanation for the evolution of this behavior in most migratory birds?

• Birds that migrated individually or in small groups were less likely to survive and have offspring.

• Birds that migrated individually or in small groups were more likely to find adequate food.

• Flying in large groups allowed other bird species to join the migration.

• Flying in large groups allowed each bird to have a better chance of finding a nesting site.

Refer to 'Golden Plovers' on the right. Click on one or more boxes to answer the question. Remember to select one or more boxes.

• The maps show a decrease in the number of golden plovers migrating southward in the past ten years

• The maps show that northward migratory routes of some golden plovers are different from southward migratory routes.

• The maps show that migratory golden plovers spend their winter in areas that are south and southwest of their breeding or nesting grounds

• The maps show that the migratory routes of the golden plover have shifted away from coastal areas in the past ten years.

Two students disagree about why there is a difference in soil moisture between two slopes.

Student 1 thinks that the difference in soil moisture is due to a difference in solar radiation on the two slopes

Student 2 thinks that the difference in soil moisture is due to a difference in rainfall on the two slopes

According to the data, which student is correct?

• Student 1

• Student 2

Normal rain is slightly acidic because it has absorbed some carbon dioxide from the air. Acid rain is more acidic than normal rain because it has absorbed gases like sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides as well.

Where do these sulfur oxides in the air come from?

The effect of acid rain on marble can be modeled by placing chips of marble in vinegar overnight. Vinegar and acid rain have about the same acidity level. When a marble chip is placed in vinegar, bubbles of gas form. The mass of a dry marble chip can be found before and after the experiment.

What will the mass of the dried marble chip be?

• Less than 2.0 grams

• Exactly 2.0 grams

• Between 2.0 and 2.4 grams

• More than 2.4 grams

Can the following questions be answered by scientific investigation? ANSWER 'Yes' or 'No' for each question.

How much erosion is caused by use of walking tracks? Yes / No

Is the park area as beautiful as it was 100 years ago? Yes / No

The temperature in the Grand Canyon ranges from below 0 ℃ to over 40 ℃. Although it is a desert area, cracks in the rocks sometimes contain water. How do these temperature changes and the water in rock cracks help to speed up the breakdown of rocks?

• 1. Freezing water dissolves warm rocks

• 1. Water cements rocks together

• 1. Ice smoothed the surface of rocks

• Freezing water expands in the rock cracks.

Which one of these statements is a scientific description of the role of the mineral oil and the zinc oxide in comparing the effectiveness of the sunscreens?

• Mineral oil and zinc oxide are both factors being tested.

• Mineral oil is a factor being tested and zinc oxide is a reference substance.

• Mineral oil is a reference substance and zinc oxide is a factor being tested.

• Mineral oil and zinc oxide are both reference substances.

Which one of these questions were Mimi and Dean trying to answer?

• How does the protection for each sunscreen compare with the others?

• How do sunscreens protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation?

• Is there any sunscreen that gives less protection than mineral oil?

• Is there any sunscreen that gives more protection than zinc oxide?

Researchers have noticed that the water that is being returned to the ocean contains a large quantity of nutrients. Adding which of the following to the farm will reduce this problem?

• More nutrients

• More ragworms

• More shellfish

• More marsh grass