STAAR Biology Category 1

Fossils of Mesosaurus, a freshwater animal that lived approximately 250 million years ago, have been found on continents separated by saltwater oceans. The discovery of the fossils in these locations suggests which of the following?

• Mesosaurus likely swam great distances between continents.

• Weathering, erosion, and deposition moved the fossils.

• The fossils must have been transported by humans or other animals.

• The fossils must have been separated as the continents slowly drifted apart over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Use the diagram. Based on the diagram, which statement about Star 1 and Star 2 is correct?

• Star 1 is cooler and less bright than Star 2.

• Star 1 is cooler and brighter than Star 2.

• Star 1 is hotter and less bright than Star 2.

• Star 1 is brighter and larger than Star 2.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Which statement is true about convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans?

• The ocean currents in the atmosphere are created by the radiant energy from the Sun, and the currents in the oceans are created by volcanoes.

• Most of the convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are a direct result of the radiant energy from the Sun.

• Currents in the atmosphere and in the ocean are caused by the gravity of the Moon.

• The ocean currents in the atmosphere are created by volcanoes, and the currents in the oceans are created by the radiant energy from the Sun.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

energy pyramid is shown with representative

organisms at each trophic level. Which statement best describes the flow of energy through this pyramid?

• The trophic level represented by catfish and gobies receives

  energy directly from the producers.

• The trophic level represented by shrimp and copepods receives

  energy directly from the tertiary consumers.

• The trophic level represented by redfish and flounder receives

  energy directly from the secondary consumers.

• The trophic level represented by wire grass and phytoplankton

  receives energy directly from the primary consumers.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Sodium and lithium have similar chemical properties. What characteristic of these elements explains why they are chemically similar?

• Their atoms both have one valence electron.

• Their atoms both have more neutrons than protons.

• Their atoms have the same number of energy levels.

• Their atoms contain equal numbers of protons and electrons.

Which of these observations is an indication that a chemical

reaction has occurred?

• Steam forms above boiling water.

• A solid forms when a clear solution is frozen.

• A solid forms when two clear solutions are mixed.

• Sugar crystals form on the sides of a boiling pot of sugar water.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Students performed a lab investigation on chemical reactions. The students put on goggles and plastic gloves and then followed these steps. Which observation would indicate that a chemical reaction occurred?

• The vinegar took the shape of the container in step 1.

• The steel wool sank into the vinegar in step 3.

• The temperature of the vinegar increased during step 4.

• The steel wool changed shape during step 6.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-2

In this image, the information to the RIGHT of the arrow (in BLACK) is called the_______.

• Product

• Reactant

• Chemical Subscript

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NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Which statement correctly describes the location and charge of the neutrons in an atom?

• The neutrons are inside the nucleus and have a positive charge.

• The neutrons are outside the nucleus and have a neutral charge.

• The neutrons are outside the nucleus and have a negative charge.

• The neutrons are inside the nucleus and have a neutral charge.

Which statement best describes an electron?

• Smaller mass than a proton and a negative charge

• Smaller mass than a proton and a positive charge

• Greater mass than a proton and a negative charge

• Greater mass than a proton and a positive charge

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3