Science Pass

A student researches changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the past 2,000 years.

- Forests help absorb CO2.

- Burning and deforestation add CO2 to the atmosphere.

- Agriculture and fossil fuel use result in CH4 production.

- The average lifetime of N2O in the atmosphere is 121 years and of CH4 is 12.4 years.

- The industrial era began around the year 1750.

Which argument about the primary cause for the atmospheric changes is best supported by the evidence?

• The changes are caused by deforestation because it removes trees that absorb CO2.

• The changes are mostly caused by Earth’s current position in the solar system, which is different than it was 2,000 years ago.

• The changes are caused by the long periods of time needed for N2O and CH4 to break down in the atmosphere.

• The changes are mostly caused by industrial activities since those activities began at a similar time as the major changes in greenhouse gas concentrations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

A student is using a pendulum to demonstrate energy transformation. The student pulls the ball back before releasing it. Which list best describes the energy of the ball on the pendulum in each diagram?

• all potential energy potential energy transferring to kinetic energy kinetic energy transferring to potential energy

• all kinetic energy kinetic energy transferring to potential energy potential energy transferring to kinetic energy

• all potential energy kinetic energy transferring to potential energy potential energy transferring to kinetic energy

• all kinetic energy potential energy transferring to kinetic energy kinetic energy transferring to potential energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Electrical energy flowing through a circuit is measured in voltage. A teacher measured the voltage at four points on an electrical circuit. Which statement best explains the voltage change as the current moves through the electrical circuit?

• The voltage decrease is due to the chemical energy of the battery transforming into light and heat energy.

• The voltage decrease shows energy being destroyed as the current moves through the electrical circuit.

• The voltage decrease is due to the light energy of the battery transforming into heat and chemical energy.

• The voltage decrease shows energy being created as the current moves through the electrical circuit.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-2

One open container and three insulated, closed containers are filled with 1000 mL of ice cream. Each container is placed in the same location for one hour and the ice cream is checked for melting. The data are recorded in the graph.

According to the graph, which container is MOST effective in keeping the ice cream from melting?

• the open container

• the rubber-lined container

• the aluminum-lined container

• the fiberglass-lined container

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Based on this information, what inference can be made?

• Both species are cold-blooded.

• Both species are warm-blooded.

• Species A is cold-blooded and Species B is warm-blooded.

• Species A is warm-blooded and Species B is cold-blooded.

When a plant is lit from one side, cells on its unlit side become longer. This bends the plant toward the light source. Which two properties of living organisms does this best demonstrate?

• growing and developing

• responding to stimuli and reproducing

• obtaining energy resources and reproducing

• obtaining energy resources and responding to stimuli

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A student observing animals at a zoo answers the following questions.

1. How many limbs does the animal have?

2. Does the animal have gills or lungs?

3. Does the animal have a backbone?

During which task is the student most likely to use this information?

• drawing a food chain containing each animal

• using physical characteristics to classify each animal

• identifying the preferred food sources of each animal

• understanding how traits are inherited by each animal

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

This map shows the normal path of the subtropical jet stream over North America. Scientists have observed that the subtropical jet stream is moving farther north. How could this movement affect climatic conditions in North America?

• Rainfall in the southern states could decrease.

• Air pressure over North America could increase.

• The number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean could decrease.

• Warm, tropical conditions in the southern states could increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A group of students wants to build a ramp to move boxes from the floor up to a stage. How can the students reduce the amount of effort needed to push the boxes up the ramp?

• by making the ramp as long as possible

• by making the ramp’s height and length equal

• by building the ramp out of a lightweight material

• by covering the ramp’s surface with a soft rubber mat

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

Which structure of a dolphin has the same function as the gills of a fish?

• fin

• heart

• lung

• mouth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2