Lois’s family raises potatoes and other crops on their farm in Florida. Lois wonders if too much water can damage a potato crop. In an experiment, she thoroughly soaks the soil beneath a few of the potato plants. Then, she compares their growth with the rest of the potato crop.

What is the control group of the experiment?

• the potato plants that have soaked soil

• the potato plants that do not have soaked soil

• all of the farm’s plants, except for the potato plants

• the potato plants that are damaged by heavy rain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Mr. Arthur, the science teacher, says that adding salt or sugar can make a pot of water boil at a higher temperature. Matt and Karen decide to investigate this claim.

With the teacher’s supervision, Matt and Karen prepare mixtures of water with salt or sugar, boil the mixtures on a hot plate, and use a digital thermometer to measure the temperature of the boiling mixture.

The data table shows their results

When Mr. Arthur reviews the data, he suggests that an error occurred during one of the trials. Which trial most likely was performed incorrectly?

• Trial 1

• Trial 3

• Trial 4

• Trial 6

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Declan and Rachel are investigating the speeds that golf balls roll across different surfaces, such as long grass, short grass, concrete, and sand. Declan plans an experimental investigation. Rachel plans a descriptive investigation at a golf course. Rachel’s investigation will not include an experiment. Which is a difference between the two investigations?

• Only Rachel will be observing golf balls.

• Only Declan will observe golf balls on different surfaces.

• Only Rachel will be reporting her observations.

• Only Declan will test a hypothesis with variables and controls.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

Marni is planning an investigation of the insect pests that damage Florida citrus trees. Which of these actions must be included in any useful investigation of these insects?

• observing the insects, either in a laboratory or outdoors

• stating a hypothesis about the insects

• identifying a variable and controls for an experiment

• proposing a way to prevent damage to citrus trees

Ted and Cheryl are visiting the school band to investigate how sounds are made. Which of their comments are useful observations? Select the sentences that are the most useful.

• The saxophone is my favorite instrument.

• I hear only one note from the bass drum.

• The piccolo is the smallest instrument.

• The piccolo makes the highest sounds.

• The piccolo makes the highest sounds because it is the smallest instrument.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Alden and Jhonna are investigating a new spray for removing stains from clothes. They explain that the spray changes many stains so they can dissolve in warm, soapy water, but the process can also damage the fibers in clothes. To provide the strongest support for this explanation, what should the report of their investigation include?

• a list of the ingredients in the new spray

• a comparison of the new spray to other stain-removing products

• a recommendation for the amount of spray to use on a stain

• photographs of clothes both before and after they were treated with the spray

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Savon and Julia read that a cylinder-shaped table leg can hold more weight than a leg with edges. To investigate this claim, they test table legs made of cardboard in a variety of shapes. They add weight to the table until it collapses.  

What is the benefit of repeating these tests several times?

• Repeated tests might identify the strongest possible shape for a table leg.

• Repeated tests might identify the ideal number of legs for a table.

• Repeated tests could help show that the results are accurate and useful.

• Repeated tests could measure the effect of other variables, such as the material of the leg.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Manuel and Oliver are discussing the solar system. Manuel says that life might exist on Enceladus, a small moon of Saturn. What is the most useful way for Oliver to evaluate this claim?

• Design an experimental investigation to conduct at school.

• Read a book about school children who explore outer space.

• Research Enceladus on the website for NASA, the government agency that explores space.

• Ask other friends if they have heard about Enceladus and life that might exist there.

Professor Claypool, an astronomer, is the director of an observatory in Florida. The professor’s team has just completed an investigation of distant objects of the solar system. In their report, the team claims to have discovered a new comet.

Who should be able to observe the comet?

• only Professor Claypool

• only Professor Claypool and other members of the team

• any scientist who is interested in comets

• any scientist who can follow the team’s procedure

Mr. Alonzo, the science teacher, asks students to predict which animals live in the pond near the school. Then, he leads the class on a walk around the pond. All of the students look and listen for animals and record their observations.

What type of investigation are the students conducting when they predict which animals live in the pond and then observe and record their findings?

• Descriptive investigation

• Experimental investigation

• Unscientific investigation

• Mathematical investigation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2