Science Test Practice Day 03

Ms. Brooks demonstrated phase changes to her class. She lit a candle and let the melting wax drop into a beaker of cold water, as shown below. The temperature of the water was four degrees Celsius (4°C). Which statement best explains what happened to the wax as it came in contact with the cold water in the beaker?

• The wax changed from a liquid to a solid as it gave off heat to its surroundings.

• The wax changed from a liquid to a solid as it increased in temperature.

• The wax remained in the liquid phase as it decreased in temperature.

• The wax remained in the liquid phase as it absorbed heat.

Answer explanation

The wax changed from a liquid to a solid as it gave off heat to its surroundings. When the hot wax dropped into the cold water, it lost heat quickly, causing it to solidify.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The planet Saturn takes 10,747 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun. Why does Saturn take longer to complete one orbit around the Sun than Earth does?

• Saturn has stronger gravity.

• Saturn is farther from the Sun.

• Saturn has a thicker atmosphere.

• Saturn is the only planet with rings.

Answer explanation

Saturn takes longer to orbit the Sun because it is farther from the Sun than Earth. The greater distance means it has a larger orbit to complete, resulting in a longer orbital period.

Coyotes share their habitats with gray foxes, which are related to coyotes and are active at night. Gray foxes eat plants and animals, including some of the same animals that coyotes eat. Which of the following describes the most likely effect that coyotes have on gray foxes in locations with large human populations?

• decreased exposure to parasites and disease

• increased protection from larger predators

• decreased cooperation when finding food

• increased competition over prey species

Answer explanation

Coyotes and gray foxes compete for similar prey. In areas with large human populations, resources may be limited, leading to increased competition over food sources between the two species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A chemist observes a reaction between two substances in a closed container. Which of the following would most likely happen if the temperature is increased inside the container?

• The rate of the reaction would increase.

• The mass of each of the atoms would increase.

• The two substances would release nuclear energy.

• The two substances would not change into different compounds.

Answer explanation

Increasing the temperature provides more energy to the reacting molecules, leading to more frequent and effective collisions. This results in an increased rate of reaction, making it the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A group of students slowly poured 100 milliliters (mL) of vegetable oil, 100 mL of colored water, and 100 mL of corn syrup into a 500-mL beaker. The students observed the beaker after 5 minutes and recorded their observations in their science notebooks. Which of the following are the students most likely trying to compare?

• the volume of the liquids

• the density of the liquids

• the weight of the liquids

• the color of the liquids

Answer explanation

The students are likely comparing the density of the liquids, as they will separate into layers based on their densities. This observation helps them understand how different liquids interact based on their physical properties.

A yeast is a single-celled organism that can reproduce sexually or asexually. Which of the following would confirm that a yeast had reproduced asexually?

• offspring with its own unique genetic information unlike that of the parent

• offspring with the same genetic information as each of its two parents

• offspring with half the genetic information from each of two parents

• offspring with the same genetic information as the parent

Answer explanation

Asexual reproduction in yeast results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. Therefore, the correct choice is 'offspring with the same genetic information as the parent', confirming asexual reproduction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Earth's atmosphere is important to the living organisms of the biosphere. Which of the following describes how the atmosphere best protects living organisms?

• by providing enough carbon dioxide in the ocean to support sea animals

• by changing oxygen into nitrogen, which can be used as a nutrient for animals

• by refracting visible light, allowing certain animals to see and capture their prey

• by trapping electromagnetic radiation, keeping temperatures within a range best suited for animal life

Answer explanation

The atmosphere traps electromagnetic radiation, which helps maintain temperatures suitable for life. This regulation is crucial for the survival of living organisms, making it the best protective function of the atmosphere.

All plants and animals have threadlike structures in the nucleus of each cell. These structures contain a set of instructions in the form of DNA. Which of the following terms identifies these threadlike structures?

• alleles

• chromosomes

• cytoplasm

• mitochondria

Answer explanation

The threadlike structures in the nucleus that contain DNA are called chromosomes. Alleles are variations of genes, cytoplasm is the cell's fluid, and mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles. Thus, the correct answer is chromosomes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

Which statement describes how humans in an expanding city most likely affect the wild boars that live nearby?

• Humans decrease the effect that natural predators have on wild boars.

• Humans remove the plants that wild boars rely on for food and shelter.

• Humans create new ponds and lakes that wild boars must travel around.

• Humans increase the area of fields available for wild boars and other wildlife.

Answer explanation

As cities expand, humans often clear land for development, which removes the plants that wild boars depend on for food and shelter, negatively impacting their habitat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean affect climate and weather patterns in the United States. The map below shows some of these ocean currents. A student researches climate data and determines that the eastern United States usually has higher humidity than the western United States does. Based on the ocean currents shown, which statement best explains the difference in humidity?

• The air mass in the Atlantic Ocean is warmer than the air mass in the Pacific Ocean is, and a warmer air mass holds more water vapor than a colder air mass does.

• The air mass in the Pacific Ocean is colder than the air mass in the Atlantic Ocean is, and a colder-air mass causes more evaporation than a warmer air mass causes.

• The cold ocean current in the Pacific Ocean causes stronger winds than the warm ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean causes, and moisture evaporates from the Pacific Ocean air mass.

• The warm ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean produces denser air masses than the cold ocean current in the Pacific Ocean produces, and the dense air mass in the Atlantic Ocean cannot release precipitation.

Answer explanation

The air mass in the Atlantic Ocean is warmer than in the Pacific Ocean, allowing it to hold more water vapor. This results in higher humidity in the eastern United States compared to the western United States.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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