Science STAAR Released Test

Which list contains only processes that must occur in order for fossil fuels to form.

• Formation of faults, burial, glacier formation

• Organism growth, burial, volcanic eruption

• Organism growth, burial, compaction

• Erosion, burial, earthquakes

Which diagram models the process of compaction leading to the formation of sedimentary rock?

• 
• 
• 
• 

This photo shows plants growing on the surface of a pond. How do plants like these form fossil fuels?

• The dead plants sink to the bottom of the pond and get buried by sediment for millions year.

• The dead plants get buried for millions of years and forms fossils that attract carbon.

• The dead plants sink to the bottom of the pond and are consumed by decomposers.

• The dead plants produce carbon that is consumed by fish, which form fossils.

Erosion is one of the processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rock. Which of these best describes the process of erosion?

• Rocks are broken into smaller pieces that remain in the same location.

• Pressure compacts layers of sediment and turns them into rock.

• Pieces of rock or soil are carried from one place to another.

• Sediments grains fall to the bottom lake to form sedimentary layers.

Fossil fuels formed over long periods of time after particles in water settled to the sea floor and formed marine mud. What kinds of particles needed to be present in the marine mud in order for fossil fuels to form?

• Mostly sand and a few small bits of wood

• mostly decaying organisms

• mostly lava and a few sedimentary rocks

• mostly metal minerals

Students make a model to show first step in formation of sedimentary rock. They pour 2 cm of light colored sand into a clear plastic box. They add 1 cm of gravel. Finally they pour 2 cm of dark colored sand on top of gravel. Which characteristic of sedimentary rock does this model show?

• Sedimentary rock is made of layers

• Sedimentary rock is made of cemented bits of rock

• Sedimentary rock is often limestone

• Sedimentary rock is often common in Texas.

All of these are related to the formation of natural gas and oil EXCEPT....

• decomposed animals

• decayed plants

• sedimentary rock

• active volcanoes

The model above shows layers of sediment on an ocean floor. Which of the following can explain how these layers can become rock over many years?

• sand in the sediment melts and turns into rock

• weight of the water compacts the sediment into rock

• changing water temperatures turn sand in the sediment into rock

• pollution caused by humans turns sediment into rock

The diagram above shows the sequence of the process that turn solid rock into sandstone. Which two processes best complete this diagram?

• Melting and cooling

• Erosion and compaction

• Compaction and cementation

• Evaporation and dissolving

Some plants have roots that reach deep under the ground. Which soil sample would most likely stop the water from travelling to the lowest roots of these plants?

• Soil 1

• Soil 2

• Soil 3

• Soil 4