WorksheetsGrade 8 Science FSA review
Total questions: 45
Worksheet time: 2hrs 36mins
To compare how different types of materials absorb water, Mei set up a science experiment. She poked the same number of holes into the bottoms of each of three plastic cups. She then filled one cup with sand, one with soil, and left the third cup empty. Next, she placed each cup in a stand over a beaker. Mei poured 400 milliliters (mL) of water into the cup containing the soil. She measured the amount of water collected in the beaker beneath the cup at one-minute (min) intervals for three min. Finally, she repeated the process two more times, first with the cup containing sand and then with the empty cup.
Which of these conditions is NOT held constant in this experiment?
the number of holes in each cup
the time intervals
the type of material in each cup
the amount of water in each cup
Three students perform an experiment. Each student analyzes their data and reports results. If the students find that the results of their experiment are replicable, which statement would you expect to be true?
The students’ results will all be the same.
The students’ results will be similar.
The students will have different results.
The students’ results will be based on multiple trials.
Which statement best describes the use of scientific replication?
Multiple scientists observe another scientist’s work, and they compare their notes on the results obtained.
A scientist conducts multiple trials of the same experiment and compares the results obtained.
A scientist performs several different experiments and compares the results obtained.
Multiple scientists independently perform the same experiment and compare their results.
Scientists perform different types of scientific investigations. Which of the following is an example of a scientific experiment?
placing a rock in an acid such as lemon juice, developing a procedure for observing it, and carefully recording your findings over a period of time
using three samples of the same kind of rock, place one rock in lemon juice, one in vinegar, and one in orange juice to observe how different types of acids affect the speed of weathering
placing a rock in an acid such as lemon juice and inferring, after a few days of careful observation, that rocks weather faster in an acid than they do in water
placing several different types of rocks in various types of acids and observing what changes take place in each type of rock
Scientific explanations must be formed and supported by empirical evidence. Which of the following is NOT an example of empirical evidence?
numerical data
a prediction
an observation
measurable results
Models are used to study things that are too big, too small, too distant, or too complicated to study through direct observations. Which is NOT a model?
a weather map
a diagram of the water cycle
a list of supplies in a science lab
a computer simulation of a developing hurricane
Geologists study the Earth’s geosphere to better explain fast and slow changes to Earth’s surface. One of the features geologists study are mountains.
Which of the following is the most useful to a geologist constructing an explanation of mountain building?
Geologists construct topographic maps of mountain ranges.
Geologists study the effects of weathering and erosion in mountain ranges.
Geologists observe the formation of new mountain ranges each year.
. Geologists use models to show what happens to the Earth when mountains are formed.
Which statement best describes the relationship between a scientific law and a scientific theory?
Scientific laws are always true, while scientific theories are only sometimes true.
Scientific laws are unrelated to scientific theories.
Scientific theories explain why and how nature follows specific scientific laws.
Scientific theories are not supported by much evidence, while scientific laws are supported by lots of evidence.
Scientific theories are not supported by much evidence, while scientific laws are supported by lots of evidence. What evidence best supports the scientific theory that continents on Earth were once part of a large supercontinent called Pangaea before they drifted apart?
The fossils of some organisms are only found on one continent on Earth.
Organisms alive today on Earth’s continents look very different from their fossil ancestors.
The sediment found along the coasts of continents was transported there by wind or moving water.
In several locations, the shape of one continent matches the shape of a nearby continent, like puzzle pieces.
Analyze the diagram. Which fossil is the youngest according to the law of superposition?
Ammonite
Coral
Crinoid
Fern
Which of the following statements is true about weathering?
Water breaking apart rocks by freezing and thawing is an example of physical weathering.
A river carving a canyon is an example of chemical weathering.
Tree roots breaking up rock is an example of chemical weathering
Glaciers scrapping the surface of Earth is an example of chemical weathering.
Which of the following correctly describes sedimentary rock?
Pieces of other rocks and fossilized organisms
Rocks made from the melting of other rocks
Pieces of rock made from the cooling of rocks
Rocks formed from heat and pressure
Which of the following best describes how igneous rocks are formed?
Rock changed by heat and pressure
Molten rock that cools and hardens
Tiny pieces of rock cementing together
Layered rock splitting apart
Which of the following would scientists classify as a surface event in the rock cycle?
Magma cools, hardens, and crystallizes to form igneous rock.
Sediment is cemented and compacted to form sedimentary rock.
late movement exposes rock to heat and pressure to form metamorphic rock.
Water or Wind erodes rock into sediment that is transported and deposited elsewhere.
Which of the following would scientists classify as a subsurface event in the rock cycle?
A volcano erupts and lava cools and hardens into igneous rock.
Plate movement buries rock and exposes it to intense heat and pressure.
Gravity erodes rock into sediment that is transported and deposited elsewhere.
Rain and wind interact with rock causing it to break down into sediment.
If humans cleared a forest and built homes where the forest once was, we would expect which of the following?
More development of soil
Fewer tree-dwelling animals
More frequent thunderstorms
Increased insect populations
Which type of tectonic plate boundary and example would be associated with earthquake activity?
Transform; Pacific Plate/North American Plate
Transform; Cocos Plate/Nazca Plate
Divergent; Cocos Plate/Nazca Plate
Convergent; Cocos Plate/Caribbean Plate
If students were to make a graph of data they collected, which of the following could they label the y axis (vertical axis)?
Plant Number, because there are three separate parts.
Plant Growth, because height is the dependent variable
Time of Day, because otherwise it is not accounted for.
Duration of time passed, because it is the independent variable.
farmer wants to increase the rate at which he can grow corn. Which of the following is NOT an independent (test) variable the farmer could investigate?
the brand of corn seed
the size of the corn seed
the time it takes the corn to grow 1 meter
the number of corn seeds in the package
Flowering plants are complex organisms composed of various structures that work together to perform specific functions. What type of structure is formed by a group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function?
an organism
an organ
a tissue
an organ system
As conditions change inside and outside the cell, the cell must adjust to maintain a stable internal environment. Which of the following is NOT an example of how cells maintain homeostasis?
The cell membrane regulates what enters and exits the cell.
The nucleus contains all the genetic information of the cell.
Lysosomes break down molecules to excrete from the cell.
A cell began to repair skin cells through the process of mitosis.
The body absorbs nutrients through the small intestines. The blood transports these nutrients to every cell in the body. The blood also carries oxygen to every cell. The cells use the nutrients and oxygen to supply the energy the body needs. What three body systems are working together in this situation?
nervous, digestive, and circulatory systems
digestive, circulatory, and excretory systems
respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems
nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems
Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are types of infectious agents that may infect the human body and cause disease. How do bacteria, fungi, and parasites differ from viruses?
Bacteria, fungi, and parasites are all smaller than viruses.
Bacteria, fungi, and parasites are not microscopic organisms.
Diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all be treated with antibiotics.
Bacteria, fungi, and parasites are all living organisms, but viruses are not.
Which of the following statements is true about the carbon dioxide that is used by a tomato plant?
It is absorbed through the roots of the tomato plant and combined with water to make sugar molecules in the leaves of the plant.
It is absorbed through the roots of the tomato plant and combined with oxygen to make sugar molecules in the leaves of the plant.
It is taken in through the leaves of the tomato plant and combined with water to make sugar molecules in the leaves of the plant.
It is taken in through the leaves of the tomato plant and combined with oxygen to make sugar molecules in the leaves of the plant.
Most organisms carry out cellular respiration Which of the following best summarizes the process of cellular respiration in animals?
Sugar and oxygen combine to produce energy, carbon dioxide and water.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide combine to produce energy, sugar and water.
Water and carbon dioxide combine to produce energy, oxygen and sugar.
Carbon dioxide and sugar combine to produce oxygen and water.
Which statement best demonstrates the law of conservation of mass in living systems?
The total mass of dead organisms equals the total mass of decomposers and the matter returned to the environment.
The total mass of an organism in an ecosystem remains constant over time.
The total mass of producers is equal to the total mass of consumers in an ecosystem.
The total mass of a consumer is equal to the mass it consumes over time
Scientists use models to help them understand how the natural world operates. These models can take different forms. However, all models have one limitation. What is that limitation?
Models must be physical objects.
Models must be three-dimensional.
Models are never exactly like the real thing.
Models must be based on mathematical laws.
Earth's natural systems are divided into four interacting spheres. Which of the following is part of Earth’s geosphere?
clouds and air
lakes and rivers
rocks and minerals
glaciers and snowfields
Water evaporates from a lake into the air, forming clouds. The clouds eventually form rain and it falls to theground. In which spheres does this cycle happen?
geosphere and cryosphere
cryosphere and hydrosphere
hydrosphere and atmosphere
thermosphere and atmosphere
Most solar energy passes through the atmosphere and reaches Earth’s surface. Which process transfers energy from the sun to Earth’s atmosphere?
radiation
reflection
conduction
convection
Which correctly compares how land and water are affected by the sun’s energy?
Land changes temperature more quickly than water.
Water changes temperature more quickly than land.
Both land and water change temperature at the same rate.
Neither land nor water change temperature.
Jet streams are rapidly-flowing currents of air found high in the atmosphere. What two factors combine tocause the jet stream?
Earth’s rotation and the uneven heating of the atmosphere
ocean currents and Earth’s rotation
heating of the atmosphere and heating of the oceans
reflection of energy by clouds and absorption of energy by land
The sun emits harmful ultraviolet radiation, some of which reaches Earth's surface. Scientists recommend thatpeople who plan on being outdoors for at least 20 minutes apply sunscreen to protect their skin from ultravioletradiation. What blocks most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation from reaching Earth's surface?
wind
precipitation
clouds
atmosphere
The value of a light year is just under 10 trillion kilometers. On what factor is a light year based?
the parallax of light
the reflection of light
the refraction of light
the speed of light
The universe is made of many different bodies. Which of the following is ordered from largest to smallest?
galaxy, solar system, universe, star
universe, galaxy, solar system, star
star, solar system, universe, galaxy
solar system, galaxy, star, universe
Within the solar system, planets orbit the sun. What causes planets to orbit the sun rather than the sun to orbit the planets?
The planets have a smaller diameter than the sun.
The sun has a greater mass than the planets.
The sun is the center of the solar system.
The sun is the center of the universe.
The brightness of a star as seen from Earth is its apparent magnitude. How is apparent magnitude different from absolute magnitude?
Apparent magnitude depends on the size of a star; absolute magnitude does not.
Apparent magnitude depends on the color of a star; absolute magnitude does not.
Apparent magnitude depends on the temperature of a star; absolute magnitude does not.
Apparent magnitude depends on the distance of a star from Earth; absolute magnitude does not.
The diagram illustrates the effect of the moon’s gravity on Earth as it relates to the changing ocean tides. What is happening at point 4 in the diagram?
low tide
high tide
solar tide
average sea level
The diagram shows relationships between organisms based on how they get the food they need. Which pair of organisms in the food web has a predator/prey relationship?
mice and grasshoppers
rabbits and trees
snakes and mice
trees and grasses
The diagram below shows the budding of a simple animal called hydra. Budding is a method of reproduction. Which statement BEST summarizes this reproductive process?
sexual reproduction using meiosis
sexual reproduction using mitosis
asexual reproduction using meiosis
asexual reproduction using mitosis
The traits present in one generation are passed to the next generation when organisms reproduce. Which term means the passage of information from one generation to another?
DNA
heredity
nucleus
chromosome
Some organisms reproduce asexually and have only one parent. Others reproduce sexually and have two parents. How does the genetic information of a new organism produced through sexual reproduction compare to the genetic information of its parents?
It is an exact copy.
It is completely different.
It is opposite from its parents.
It is a blend of the genetic information of its parents.
What is the probability of an offspring with the genotype Hh resulting when parents with the genotypes Hh and Hh are crossed?
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Natural selection relates the adaptations organisms have to their fitness for survival within their environment. According to the theory of evolution by natural selection, what must take place in an environment in order for one characteristic of a species to be selected over another?
The environment must be cold
The environment must remain unchanged.
The environment must change in some way
The environment must be suitable for all living things.
n the process of reproduction, hereditary information is passed from one generation to the next. Some organisms reproduce asexually. How does an offspring produced by asexual reproduction compare to the parent organism?
All of its genetic information is the same as the parent organism.
Its genetic information is completely different from the parent organism.
One-half of its genetic information is the same as the parent organism.
One-quarter of its genetic information is the same as the parent organism.
