Quarter 2 PSSA Review

Fossils of extinct corals are commonly found in Pennsylvania. scientists who study these coral fossils indicate that they are similar to living corals. Which statement best explains why these fossils provide valuable information about prehistoric Pennsylvania?

• They may indicate that the earliest settlers moved inland from the coasts and brought coral-based fertilizer for their crops.
• They may provide evidence for evolution by comparing adaptations for living on land with aquatic adaptations in the same species.
• They may indicate that corals may have lived on land at some point in history because corals presently live in aquatic envitonments.
• They may provide evidence that Pennsylvania was once covered by warm ocean waters since most corals are presently found in these environments.

Which health concern is most associated with areas containing a high density of factories and vehicles with gas-burning engines?

• increased sensitivity to solar radiation
• bacterial infections in the digestive tract
• asthma and other breathing-related issues
• weakened resistance to infections and viruses

Which process of heat transfer is shown in the diagram?

• convection
• conduction
• radiation
• insulation

A student observes a large amount of fallen tree leaves on the school grounds. which solution for cleaning up the leaves would have the most positive impact on the environment?

• piling the leaves to burn them
• piling the leaves to compost them
• raking the leaves into plastic bags to store them
• raking the leaves into trucks to transport them to a landfill

A fossil collector found crinoid fossils. The collector did some research and read the information shown. What can the collector best infer about the area where the fossil was found?

• They may provide evidence that Pennsylvania was once covered by warm ocean waters since most corals are presently found in these environments.
• They may indicate that the earliest settlers moved inland from the coasts and brought coral-based fertilizer for their crops.
• They may provide evidence for evolution by comparing adaptations for living on land with aquatic adaptations in the same species.
• They may indicate that corals may have lived on land at some point in history because corals presently live in aquatic environments.

The diagram shows an area where fossils were discovered in different rock layers. Which sequence best represents how the environment in this area changed over time?

• dry land → ocean
• dry land → ocean → dry land
• ocean → dry land → ocean
• ocean → dry land

Which statement best explains the importance of fossils to scientists?

• Fossils show how animals viewed their surroundings, so scientists know more about the past animals.
• Fossils show what color animals once were, so scientists know more about what they ate.
• Fossils show where animals once lived, so scientists know more about the environment and how it has changed.
• Fossils show that animals lived in the same location today as they once did, so scientists know more about today's environment.

Which conclusion is best supported by the map?

• Earthquakes are caused by sudden movements in Earth’s crust.
• Northern areas have more destructive earthquakes than do southern areas.
• The West Coast has conditions that lead to more earthquakes than other parts of the United States.
• A greater number of earthquakes were recorded in the United States after 1960 than were recorded before 1960.

Which question could best be investigated using scientific inquiry?

• When do most people plant flower gardens?
• Which color of flowers do people like to grow in their gardens?
• How many flowering plants have become extinct throughout Earth’s history?
• How does the amount of sunlight received affect the growth of flowering plants?

A student is investigating seed growth in different light conditions. The student places one container with seeds in sunlight and another container in the dark. The student leaves the containers there for three days. Which experimental setup allows the student to perform a fair test?

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