Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

2021 STAAR Practice

Total questions: 65

Worksheet time: 55mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The limbs of several organisms are shown in the illustrations below. Scientists sometimes compare the limbs of these organisms to look for evidence of common ancestry.

These limbs provide evidence of common ancestry because they —
a)
have the same basic structure
b)
perform the same function
c)
are the same size
d)
are parts of mammals
2.
Genome maps provide the DNA sequences of chromosomes. Some scientists have compared the genome maps of a hedgehog and a sloth. What do these genome maps allow the scientists to determine?
a)
The color patterns of the offspring of each species
b)
How much the size ranges of the two species differ
c)
The methods of protein synthesis that each species uses
d)
How closely related the two species are to each other
3.
Leaves are part of a plant's shoot system. The xylem tissue in leaves transports -
a)
the bacteria needed for nitrogen fixation in root nodules
b)
the wax required to coat the surface of actively growing tissue
c)
the water and minerals that are absorbed by the roots
d)
the oxygen that regulates the rate of carbohydrate production
4.
Copper is a micronutrient that can be found in soil. Copper is important for reproductive growth in plants and plays an indirect role in chlorophyll production. Which statement correctly describes the interaction that occurs between the root and the shoot systems of plants to allow reproduction to occur?
a)
Copper is produced in the roots when copper-containing compounds are hydrolyzed.
b)
Copper that is absorbed by the roots is transported to reproductive tissues by the shoot system.
c)
The shoot system stores copper for later use by the roots and the reproductive structures.
d)
The shoot system transports copper to the roots after it is taken in through stomata in the leaves.
5.
Some students are instructed to put a celery stalk in a red dye solution for a lab activity. First the students carefully cut the bottom of the stalk with a scalpel. Then they put the stalk in the beaker with the solution and place the beaker on a shelf in the lab room. The next day they check the stalk and make observations. The students note that the leaves at the end of the stalk have changed color from green to red. The students cut across the celery stalk and use a hand lens to see that the small tube openings along the edge of the celery stalk are also red. The cross section is shown below.
How do the plant systems work together to make this movement of liquid possible?
a)
The roots absorb water and minerals and move them up to the stem, while the stem moves food produced in the leaves down to the roots in tiny tubes.
b)
The roots anchor the plant in the soil, and the stem holds the leaves up.
c)
The roots absorb their own water and minerals, while the stem absorbs its water and minerals through the leaves.
d)
The roots lose water vapor to the soil, and the stem loses water vapor through the leaves.
6.
Which of the following functions at the same organizational level as the kidney in the human excretory system?
a)
Skeleton
b)
Epithelial tissue
c)
Urinary bladder
d)
A squamous cell
7.
Animals in the wild must be able to store large amounts of energy because they may go for some time without finding food. Their long-term store of energy is in the form of lipids. Plants store energy for use over the winter in the form of carbohydrates such as starch. What is the advantage to animals of storing energy in the form of lipids rather than carbohydrates for long-term energy needs?
a)
Lipids can be used in different parts of the cell
b)
Lipids are much easier to digest
c)
Lipids contain more calories per gram
d)
Lipids are insoluble in aqueous parts of blood
8.
A model of a DNA molecule is shown below.
The arrow indicates -
a)
the bond between adjacent phosphate and deoxyribose molecules
b)
the junction of introns and exons in the sense strand of DNA
c)
the hydrogen bond between complementary nucleotides
d)
the junction of a codon and a DNA triplet
9.
How does DNA in cells determine an organism's complex traits?
a)
DNA contains codes for proteins, which are necessary for the growth and functioning of an organism
b)
DNA seperates into long single strands that make up each part of an organism
c)
DNA produces the energy an organism needs in order to grow
d)
DNA folds into the nucleus of each of the cells of an organism
10.
The sequence of nitrogenous bases in DNA varies widely. The sequence of the bases in DNA is most important for which of the following?
a)
Providing the instructions for the traits of an organism
b)
Preventing mutations from occurring during DNA replication
c)
Allowing the DNA to have the shape necessary for replication
d)
Helping form the sugar-phoshpate backbone of DNA molecules
11.
A segment of DNA is represented in the illustration.
How is information for a specific protein carried on the DNA molecule?
a)
As a sequence of nucleotides
b)
In the double-helix shape of the condensed chromosome
c)
In the ratio of adenines to thymines
d)
As a pattern of phosphates and sugars
12.
If several pea plants with the genotype TTYy are crossed with pea plants with the genotype Ttyy, what percentage of the offspring will be expected to have the TTYy allele combination?
a)
25%
b)
40%
c)
50%
d)
75%
13.
In cocker spaniels the allele for a black coat color (B) is dominant over the allele for a brown coat color (b). If a brown cocker spaniel is crossed with a heterozygous black cocker spaniel, which of the following genotypic ratios can be expected?
a)
0 BB: 2 Bb: 2 bb
b)
1 BB: 2 Bb: 1bb
c)
2 BB: 0 Bb: 2 bb
d)
2 BB: 1 Bb: 0 bb
14.
Facial dimples and free earlobes are both considered dominant human traits. What are the expected phenotypes of the offspring of a female with dimples and free earlobes (DDFf) and a male with no dimples and attached earlobes (ddff)?
a)
50% with dimples and free earlobes and 50% with dimples and attached earlobes
b)
50% with dimples and free earlobes and 50% with no dimples and attached earlobes
c)
75% with dimples and free earlobes and 25% with no dimples and attached earlobes
d)
75% with dimples and attached earlobes and 25% with no dimples and free earlobes
15.
Scientists can bioengineer skin in a laboratory to treat severe burns and other types of skin injuries. This bioengineered tissue is grown from living cells. The cellular process that enables the cells to grow and develop into tissue is —
a)
conjugation
b)
meiosis
c)
budding
d)
mitosis
16.
In recent years humans have interfered with the natural balance within deer populations in various ecosystems. The interference includes eliminating predators of the deer. Which of the following statements correctly describes the long-term outcome of this interference?
a)
The deer that are the fastest and most agile will survive and reproduce.
b)
The deer population will be too large to be supported by producers.
c)
Other browsing species will thrive and out compete the deer.
d)
The producers will evolve into species that are less palatable to the deer.
17.
The diagram below represents the nitrogen cycle in a student’s aquarium. Ammonia, nitrites, and, to a lesser degree, nitrates can be harmful to fish. The student wants to keep the nitrogen in this aquarium cycling normally without having to continually change the water.
Which of the following should the student add more of to help remove nitrates and improve the natural cycling of nitrogen in this aquarium?
a)
Fish
b)
Plants
c)
Nitrobacter
d)
Water
18.
The diagram shows the flow of organic molecules through an ecosystem. One process that occurs in this ecosystem is labeled X, and another process that occurs is labeled Y.
Which two processes are identified by the labels X and Y?
a)
X: Respiration
Y: Predation
b)
X: Adaptation
Y: Decomposition
c)
X: Fermentation
Y: Nitrogen fixation
d)
X: Decomposition
Y:Respiration
19.
On March 24, 1989, an oil tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and spilled millions of liters of crude oil. The graph shows pink salmon populations in Prince William Sound from 1970 to 1999.
What do these data suggest about the effect the oil spill had on pink salmon?
a)
Pink salmon were nearly eliminated after the oil spill
b)
Pink salmon populations steadily declined in the 10 years following the spill
c)
Pink salmon populations declined and never fully recovered
d)
Pink salmon populations seemed to be minimally affected
20.
In dry desert areas poor drainage can lead to a buildup of salt in water supplies. A student performed an investigation to study the effects of salinity on the germination rates of seeds. The student placed seeds in several solutions containing 0% to 3% salt. The length of the radicle, which is the root of the germinating seed, ranged from 49 mm in the 0% salt solution to 0 mm in the 3% salt solution. The data from this investigation suggest that increased salinity in more areas may lead to a decrease in which of the following?
a)
Air population
b)
Food production
c)
Oceanic evaporation
d)
Nonrenewable resources
21.
A mutation is least likely to affect a cell when the mutation -
a)
reverses the order of bases in a DNA strand
b)
allows the total number of bases in a DNA sequence to remain the same
c)
replaces a base with its complementary base
d)
produces a triplet that codes for the same amino acid as the original triplet
22.
A codon chart is shown below.
Which of these changes to the DNA triplet 3' GCT 5' will affect the protein produced?
a)
GTT
b)
TCT
c)
TCC
d)
GCA
23.
A mutation that occurs in the gametes of an organism will most likely be transferred to which of the following?
a)
The siblings of the organism
b)
The offspring of the organism
c)
The other organisms living nearby
d)
The mating partner of the organism
24.
Sickle-shaped red blood cells result from a mutation in the gene that codes for hemoglobin. This mutation results in sickle-cell anemia. A partial sequence of bases from a normal hemoglobin gene and a sequence that results in sickle-cell anemia are shown below.
What type of mutation is depicted in this sequence?
a)
Substitution
b)
Insertion
c)
Deletion
d)
Frameshift
25.
A segment of DNA produces methionine, threonine, histidine, aspartate, and glycine when translated. A substitution mutation occurs and causes the synthesis of the segment as shown.
Which is the new peptide chain when the new DNA segment is translated?
a)
Methionine, leucine, histidine, aspartate, glycine
b)
Methionine, phenylalanine, histidine, aspartate, glycine
c)
Methionine, proline, histidine, aspartate, glycine
d)
Methionine, serine, histidine, aspartate, glycine
26.
An ocean food chain is shown in the diagram above.  Which organism represents the trophic level containing approximately 1% of the initial amount of solar energy acquired by the phytoplankton?
a)
Copepods
b)
Sand eels
c)
Herring
d)
Humans
27.
Which of the following are missing from the food web shown above?
a)
Producers
b)
Decomposers
c)
Omnivores
d)
Predators
28.
The Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) lives in the Edwards Aquifer region around San Marcos. Along with other species the salamander lives in total darkness in the underground crevices and caves of the aquifer region. The table lists some of the organisms that live in this environment and their food sources.
In an energy pyramid for these aquifer cave dwellers, which of the following would be placed at the bottom?
a)
 Snails
b)
Blind shrimp
c)
Protoza
d)
Texas blind salamanders
29.
A marine ecosystem is represented below.
What is lost to the environment at each of the trophic levels of this ecosystem?
a)
Nutrients from the soil
b)
Living space for the organisms
c)
Food sources
d)
Heat
30.
A terrestrial food web is shown below.
Which of the following lists only organisms that are secondary consumers in this food web?
a)
Mice, rabbits, herbivorous insects, and squirrels
b)
Predacrous insects, toads, spiders, and foxes
c)
Spiders, foxes, owls, hawks, and snakes
d)
Insectivorous birds, seed-eating birds, owls, and hawks
31.
The food web shows the flow of energy through a sagebrush-steppe ecosystem.
Which of these organisms are in a trophic level that receives a larger percentage of the energy captured by the producers than the percentage received at the bats’ trophic level?
a)
Mountain lions
b)
Snakes
c)
Hawks
d)
Ground squirrels
32.
A student is asked to draw a food web in which the same organism is a primary consumer as well as a secondary consumer. How should the organism be represented in the food web?
a)
The organism must have an arrow pointing from it to a tertiary consumer and another arrow pointing from it to a decomposer.
b)
The organism must have an arrow pointing from it to a secondary consumer and another arrow pointing to it from the top predator.
c)
The organism must have an arrow pointing to it from a producer and another arrow pointing to it from a primary consumer.
d)
The organism must have an arrow pointing from it to a primary consumer and another arrow pointing away from it to a decomposer.
33.
The fact that a strain of yeast with a certain defective gene can use the human version of the gene to repair itself is evidence that yeast and humans - 
a)
depend on the same food supply
b)
share a genetic code
c)
both have eukaryotic cells
d)
have identical genomes
34.
Four different types of cells are shown below.
Which characteristic is shared by all four cells?
a)
A mechanism for transforming sunlight into energy
b)
Self-locomotion
c)
Membrane-bound organelles that transport substances
d)
Genetic material composed of DNA
35.
Organisms can be classified based on homology, which are shared characteristics inherited from a common ancestor. In the past, homologies were based on studies of anatomical structures and patterns of embryonic development. In more recent years, the use of molecular biology techniques has allowed homologies to be compared at the level of nucleotide sequences. Nucleotide sequence comparisons are possible because all organisms share which of the following?
a)
DNA bases
b)
Cellular orgnaelles
c)
Division of the nuclear chromosomes
d)
Types of proteins needed for cellular functions
36.
A section of a nucleic acid is shown below.
The process represented in the diagram produces a molecule that is complementary to the template strand of DNA.  What type of molecule is produced?
a)
New DNA
b)
Polypeptide
c)
Messenger RNA
d)
Carbohydrate
37.
Which of the following polypeptides is coded for by the mRNA sequence
a)
Val, Lys, Phe, Gly, Ser
b)
Met, Asp, Phe, Ala, Arg
c)
Met, Val, Lys, Arg, Gln, Ser
d)
Ile, Gln, Lys, Asp, Gly, Leu, Ser
38.
Part of an important cellular process involving a DNA strand is modeled below.
What is the purpose of this cellular process?
a)
Preserving genetic information for future generations
b)
Deleting the information in the sequence produced from the DNA template
c)
Transcribing information in the DNA sequence for use by the cell
d)
Producing more nucleotides for the DNA sequence
39.
The diagram above shows the process of meiosis.  The segregation that occurs during meiosis results in a - 
a)
decrease in the total number of cells per organism
b)
reduction in the number of chromosomes per cell
c)
single fertilized egg cell
d)
group of genetically identical cells
40.
Crossing-over between nonsister chromatids during meiosis is significant in heredity. This process most likely leads to an increase in which of the following?
a)
The expression of dominant traits
b)
Number of gametes
c)
The occurrence of polyploidy
d)
Genetic variation
41.
Sexual reproduction in animals depends on the production of gametes. Which of these processes produces gametes in animals?
a)
Mitosis
b)
Fertilization
c)
Meiosis
d)
Binary fission
42.
Human body cells each have 46 chromosomes in their nuclei. Meiosis is necessary in order to ensure that each gamete produced in the human body has —
a)
12 chromosomes
b)
23 chromosomes
c)
46 chromosomes
d)
92 chromosomes
43.
The technique known as chromosome painting is the result of scientific research. Scientists use chromosome painting to mark the locations of genes on human chromosomes with fluorescent tags. It is also possible to apply this technique to the chromosomes of many different species. Chromosome painting allows for which of the following?
a)
A comparison of the genomes of different species
b)
The sequencing of proteins from many species
c)
An increase in mutations in many species
d)
The extraction of amino acids from different species
44.
Human body cells each have 46 chromosomes in their nuclei. Meiosis is necessary in order to ensure that each gamete produced in the human body has —
a)
12 chromosomes
b)
23 chromosomes
c)
46 chromosomes
d)
92 chromosomes
45.
The technique known as chromosome painting is the result of scientific research. Scientists use chromosome painting to mark the locations of genes on human chromosomes with fluorescent tags. It is also possible to apply this technique to the chromosomes of many different species. Chromosome painting allows for which of the following?
a)
A comparison of the genomes of different species
b)
The sequencing of proteins from many species
c)
An increase in mutations in many species
d)
The extraction of amino acids from different species
46.

Gibberellins are hormones produced in the root tips of plants. The plant uses these hormones to stimulate the growth of shoots.


How are gibberellins able to affect other parts of the plant?

a)

Gibberellins are absorbed through the stomata and attach to chloroplasts.

b)

Gibberellins are transported through vascular tissues to other parts of the plant.

c)

Gibberellins become concentrated within the tissues of the plant during mitosis.

d)

Gibberellins become modified once they infect healthy cells and are later released to infect other cells.

47.

The fuzzy millipede, Polyxenus fasciculatus, is found in Texas and is preyed upon by most species of ants. To protect itself against the ants, it ejects fibers from a tuft located at the tail end of its body. The tufts have hooks at the tips and barbs along their length that lock and interlink with the ant’s setae, small hairs that cover the body of the ant. When an ant attacks, the millipede flexes its back end toward the ant and wipes the tufts against it. As the ant attempts to remove the tufts, it entangles itself more, becoming immobilized.

a)

Muscular and integumentary

b)

Immune and muscular

c)

Integumentary and endocrine

d)

Endocrine and immune

48.
Which four body systems interact to allow a person to sneeze?
a)
Muscular, immune, nervous, respiratory
b)
Nervous, respiratory, circulatory, skeletal
c)
Respiratory, endocrine, skeletal, circulatory
d)
Lymphatic, skeletal, respiratory, muscular
49.

A table of four types of carbohydrates is shown.

a)

Energy: glycogen and starch Structure: cellulose and chitin

b)

Energy: cellulose and chitin Structure: glycogen and starch

c)

Energy: chitin and glycogen Structure: cellulose and starch

d)

Energy: cellulose and starch Structure: chitin and glycogen

50.

The diagram illustrates the activity of vesicles during a cellular process.


Which statement best explains the function of the vesticles

a)

Delivering packaged materials to the Golgi apparatus for protein synthesis

b)

Exchanging genetic information between the Golgi apparatus of separate cells

c)

Extracting portions of the Golgi apparatus to be regenerated for growth within the cell

d)

Transporting packaged molecules from the Golgi apparatus to be released out of the cell

51.

In the 1880s, Louis Pasteur developed a method of weakening viruses. The weakened viruses could be injected into healthy individuals.


How is this method effective in fighting viral diseases?

a)

The immune system develops antibodies in response to the weakened viruses.

b)

The weakened viruses attach to unaffected viruses in the host and interrupt the viral reproductive cycle.

c)

The rate of genetic mutation in the host is decreased due to the introduction of weakened viruses.

d)

Weakened viruses are unable to enter the host organism.

52.

The activities in the cell cycle occur during specific phases. In which phase of the cell cycle is DNA replicated?

a)

Mitosis

b)

G1 phase

c)

G2 phase

d)

S phase

53.

An advertisement for a health supplement for dogs claims to build lean muscle and strengthen tendons and ligaments, as well as provide energy. Which two biomolecules must the supplement contain to provide these benefits?

a)

Carbohydrates and lipids

b)

Proteins and carbohydrates

c)

Nucleic acids and carbohydrates

d)

Lipids and nucleic acids

54.

When mammals get an infection, their internal body temperature often rises 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. The body gets the energy it needs to react to an infection by —

a)

increasing the rate of cellular division

b)

decreasing the rate of glucose movement into the cell

c)

increasing the rate of cellular respiration in mitochondria

d)

decreasing the rate at which carbon dioxide is removed from the cell

55.

Two biomolecules are shown.

a)

Molecule X and Molecule Y are both carbohydrates.

b)

Molecule X is a nucleic acid, and Molecule Y is a carbohydrate

c)

Molecule X and Molecule Y are both nucleic acids.

d)

Molecule X is a carbohydrate, and Molecule Y is a nucleic acid.

56.

This model of the cell cycle includes two arrows that each represent a process in the cycle.

a)

Arrow 1 represents prophase, and Arrow 2 represents interphase.

b)

Arrow 1 represents mitosis, and Arrow 2 represents meiosis.

c)

Arrow 1 represents interphase, and Arrow 2 represents mitosis.

d)

Arrow 1 represents meiosis, and Arrow 2 represents prophase.

57.
Which of these best demonstrates mutualism between certain types of bacteria and humans?
a)
Intestinal bacteria obtain nutrients from the gut and produce vitamin K used by humans.
b)
Bacteria become resistant to antibacterial medication that humans use for treatment.
c)
Invasive bacteria at an area of injury produce toxins that damage healthy tissues of the human body.
d)
Bacteria in improperly prepared food is consumed by humans, causing food poisoning.
58.
In the mid-1980s an aggressive strain of algae known as Caulerpa was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea when a seaside aquarium cleaned out its tanks. The algae contains a toxin that prevents native herbivores from consuming it. Caulerpa quickly spread over the sea floor, crowding out many species including sponges, corals, sea fans, and lobsters. Which statement explains the most likely impact Caulerpa has had on the biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea?
a)
The presence of Caulerpa within an ecosystem is an indicator of the ecosystem’s health.
b)
The spread of Caulerpa improved the habitat for many species of sea grasses, and increased the biodiversity.
c)
Caulerpa interbred with native species with the same adaptations within the ecosystem.
d)
Caulerpa became dominant within the ecosystem and reduced the biodiversity.
59.

The table lists some organisms found in a swamp ecosystem and their sources of energy.

a)

Grass carp

b)

American alligator

c)

Eastern mud turtle

d)

Great blue heron

60.

Scientists have observed many types of tropical fish moving beyond their traditional ocean ranges into waters that have historically been more temperate. These fish compete for food with native fish, consuming much from the kelp forests and beds of sea grass.


The expansion of the ranges of tropical fish was most likely caused by —

a)

agricultural runoff that contributes to dead zones in the ocean

b)

global droughts that raise the salt concentration of ocean waters

c)

the rising temperatures of ocean waters

d)

acid rain pollution that lowers the pH of ocean waters

61.

A partial Texas food web is shown.

a)

Grasses and ants

b)

Ants and grasshoppers

c)

Grasshoppers and Texas cottonmouths

d)

Texas cottonmouths and red-shouldered hawks

62.

The diagrams show a partial food web containing Glyptapanteles wasp and the life cycle of this wasp.

a)
b)
c)
d)
63.

The diagram shows molecules that a mitochondrion uses and produces during a cellular process.

a)

DNA

b)

RNA

c)

CHO

d)

ATP

64.

In a study of physical endurance, researchers observed significant increases in the heart rates and breathing rates of participants immediately after they engaged in strenuous exercise.


Which statement best explains the increase in the heart rate and the breathing rate during exercise?

a)

The water concentration in the blood increases.

b)

Body cells require increased oxygen as energy is expended.

c)

Muscle cells increase in temperature and require fluid to reduce the temperature.

d)

An increase in muscle activity causes increases in glucose levels in red blood cells.

65.

In 1898 Friedrich Loeffler and Paul Frosch found evidence that the cause of the highly contagious hoof-and-mouth disease in livestock was a microscopic infectious particle. It was discovered that this particle requires a host cell to reproduce.


Which pathogen is most likely responsible for causing hoof-and-mouth disease in livestock?

a)

A bacterium, because it is contagious

b)

A fungus, because it infects livestock

c)

A protist, because it is microscopic

d)

A virus, because it requires a host cell to reproduce

Similar Resources on Wayground

Earth Systems

67 questions

Earth Systems

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade - University

Chemistry: Atoms & Elements Unit Exam

60 questions

Chemistry: Atoms & Elements Unit Exam

quiz

Worksheet

•

9th Grade

H Disease Diagram Practice

64 questions

H Disease Diagram Practice

quiz

Worksheet

•

9th - 12th Grade

Biodiversity and Biomes

60 questions

Biodiversity and Biomes

quiz

Worksheet

•

9th Grade

Mental maths / gk

60 questions

Mental maths / gk

quiz

Worksheet

•

1st - 12th Grade

Weather

60 questions

Weather

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 9th Grade

SVA and Graphs Review

60 questions

SVA and Graphs Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 10th Grade

Physical & Mental Health

63 questions

Physical & Mental Health

quiz

Worksheet

•

9th - 12th Grade