Fireflies are insects with a glowing light inside their bodies. A chemical reaction produces this light. The light helps fireflies in several ways. The list describes two ways the light helps fireflies.

Ways Fireflies Use Light

• Males flash lights in patterns to attract females.

• Light warns predators to stay away because the insects contain a chemical that tastes bad.

A student claims that a firefly population experienced a change that made it impossible for the insects to flash their lights. Which of these changes would support the student’s claim?

• The population would increase, because predators could no longer see the fireflies to catch them as prey

• The population would decrease, because the male fireflies could not attract mates without their lights.

• The population would increase, because more fireflies would move into the unlit area, thinking it was empty.

• The population would decrease, because prey for the fireflies would no longer be able to see their lights.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The graph shows the populations of two species over time. Species 2 is a parasite of Species 1. No other species is interacting with Species 1 or Species 2. If the population of Species 1 decreased, what would most likely happen first to Species 2?

• Species 2 would increase in number.

• Species 2 would decrease in number

• Species 2 would become extinct.

• Species 2 would find a different host.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Students are demonstrating the movement of wind. In Step 1, they blow up a balloon, trying to make it as round as possible. In Step 2, they draw a line around the middle of the balloon to represent the equator. In Step 3, one student spins the balloon. While the balloon spins, another student draws a line from the middle of the balloon to the top.

In which two ways can this model represent the Coriolis effect?

• Warm air rising causes cooler air to sink to the surface.

• Rotation of Earth causes the wind to appear to curve.

• Wind at the equator is denser than wind at the poles.

• Cool air flows faster than warmer air as it moves across Earth.

• The amount the wind appears to curve depends on the speed of Earth’s rotation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The zebra mussel is an invasive species that impacts waterways by clogging pipes and competing with native mussels for resources. In 2014, a new program began to inform and educate fishermen on ways to prevent the spread of these mussels. The table shows the percentage of waterways that are impacted by the zebra mussels. What has been the overall impact of the new program on the spread of zebra mussels?

• a decrease in the number of zebra mussels along the waterways

• an increase in the number of zebra mussels along the waterways

• no effect because more time is needed to determine an outcome

• no change in the number of zebra mussels infecting the waterways

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of these best explains how frontal boundaries can lead to severe storms?

• Cold air flows down the side of a mountain away from the ocean.

• Cold air remains over an ocean for an extended period of time.

• Warm air is forced up rapidly by a cold air mass.

• Warm air rises slowly over a cold air mass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Students study a rabbit population graph. They observe a dramatic decrease in the number of rabbits starting in 1924. Select the three factors that may have caused this decrease in the rabbit population.

• an increase in the predator population

• an increase in the producer population

• a disease in the rabbit population

• a slight decrease in the rainfall

• a decrease in the producer population

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Students wrote down four different science project ideas for heat transfer investigations. Which project idea is an investigation about heat transfer through conduction?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Which statement correctly describes one way ocean currents affect a region?

• Deep ocean currents push into estuaries, creating sand deposits that form barrier islands.

• Cold ocean currents along the equator increase evaporation rates, creating circular winds that produce tropical storms.

• Warm ocean currents keep coastal air temperatures warm, creating moderate climate conditions in coastal regions.

• Deep ocean currents move water from polar seas toward the equator, creating drafts of cold air that blow over polar regions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

In some parts of Hawaii, nonnative grasses have been planted for cattle feed, replacing some of the native rain forest plants. Which statement describes the most likely impact of the replacement of rain forest plants with nonnative grasses?

• The biodiversity of these areas will decrease

• Rain forest plants will outcompete nonnative grasses for resources.

• Less nitrogen will be absorbed from the atmosphere over these areas.

• Cattle will get fewer nutrients grazing on nonnative grasses than on rain forest plants.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Energy from the wind is used to turn windmills. These windmills then spin a generator and produce electricity. Which statement would not support the claim that wind energy is considered a clean, renewable resource?

• Wind energy is produced naturally

• Wind energy is used without giving off greenhouse gases.

• There is an abundant supply of wind energy available for use.

• There are only certain places that are suitable for collecting wind energy.