Science STAAR Released Questions

One type of fuel was used for thousands of years before other fuels were commonly used. Which fuel is an alternative resource that was most likely the first fuel used by humans?

• Coal

• Natural gas

• Petroleum

• Wood

This valley was most likely formed by —

• A a rapid series of earthquakes

• B volcanic activity

• C a flood with rapidly moving water

• D the movement of a glacier

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which organisms have a life cycle that is most like that of abalones?

• F Humans

• G Frogs

• H Birds

• J Snakes

The Grand Canyon is more than 400 km long and in some places almost 2 km deep. Which model best represents the main process that formed the Grand Canyon?

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• F The pan-like shape of the giant water lily leaves helps them catch rainwater. The slim shape of the mesquite leaves helps them avoid sunlight.

• G The broad shape of the giant water lily leaves helps them stay on the water surface.The slim shape of the mesquite leaves helps them prevent water loss.

• H The pan-like shape of the giant water lily leaves helps them attract small fish. The slim shape of the mesquite leaves helps them avoid herbivores.

• J The broad shape of the giant water lily leaves helps them attract aquatic birds. The slim shape of the mesquite leaves helps them attract pollinators.

• A Student 1 only

• B Students 2 and 4 only

• C Student 2 only

• D Students 1 and 3 only

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A family takes a group picture in a park where bluebonnets are blooming. The family notices that some of the blooms are white and others are blue.

The color of the blooms is most likely determined by —

• F air temperature

• G the age of the plant

• H the types of consumers that eat the plant

• J inheritance from parent plants

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A beaker with 115 mL of solution has a temperature of 21°C. The solution contains 5 g of salt and 115 mL of water. Students added two ice cubes to the solution and stirred the solution with a stirring rod.

Which properties of the solution changed as the ice cubes melted?

• A The color and physical state of the solution

• B The temperature, mass, and volume of the solution

• C The volume, temperature, and mass of the salt in the solution

• D The physical state and temperature of the solution

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A family was vacationing in the mountains in a cabin that had no electrical power. They needed boiling water in order to prepare dried soup mix.

With no electrical energy available, which method would most likely provide enough thermal energy to quickly heat the water to boiling?

• Using a microwave oven to heat water in a glass jar for 3 minutes

• Shaking the water in a closed, insulated plastic bottle for 3 minutes

• Shining a battery-powered flashlight on a metal container of water for 10 minutes

• Placing a metal pot of water over glowing charcoal in an outdoor grill for 10 minutes

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Aquatic plants have adaptations that help them live in water. For example, the structures needed for making food are located on the tops of floating plant leaves.This adaptation helps the plants —

• absorb sunlight

• stay anchored

• avoid predators

• capture fish

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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