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STAAR Interim Practice - 8th Science

Total questions: 58

Worksheet time: 2hrs 58mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Where are the genes for the physical traits of an organism located?

a)

on a strand of RNA

b)

on a chromosome

c)

inside a hormone

d)

inside a carbohydrate

2.

A certain type of mite is a parasite of honeybees. Which statement best describes the relationship between the mites and the bees?

a)

The mites harm the bees by feeding on their blood.

b)

The mites get honey in return for helping the bees stay healthy.

c)

The mites help the bees find food but get nothing in return.

d)

The mites live in the hive of the bees but do not interact with the bees.

3.

Which of the following best describes an electron?

a)

It has no charge and about the same mass as a proton.

b)

It has a negative charge and much less mass than a proton.

c)

It has a positive charge and much more mass than a neutron.

d)

It has a negative charge and about the same mass as a neutron.

4.

Which of these describes a divergent boundary?

a)

Two continental plates moving away from each other, forming a rift valley

b)

Two oceanic plates rubbing against each other, forming a mid-ocean ridge

c)

Two continental plates colliding, forming a mountain range

d)

Two oceanic plates colliding, forming a volcanic arc

5.

Different species of carnivorous animals that share the same habitat in an ecosystem may –

a)

become decomposers

b)

compete for biotic food

c)

produce their own food

d)

mate with each other

6.

What is one way humans are trying to positively impact the ocean?

a)

Fishing

b)

Creating artificial reefs

c)

Harvesting oil and natural gas

d)

Transporting goods in ocean vessels

7.

A scientist spilled a few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) on a lab table. For safety purposes, the scientist sprinkled some baking soda (NaHCO3) onto the spill. Which observation would provide the best evidence that a chemical reaction occurred?

a)

The baking soda and hydrochloric acid combined, and bubbles formed.

b)

The baking soda absorbed the hydrochloric acid.

c)

Some of the baking soda dissolved in the hydrochloric acid.

d)

The hydrochloric acid evaporated, leaving only the baking soda.

8.

Some students measure the acceleration of a wheeled cart being acted on by varying forces. The students record their data in the table shown below. According to the data table, how much force is acting on the cart when the students measure an acceleration of 2.6 m/s?

a)

13 N

b)

7 N

c)

8 N

d)

12 N

9.

What is the primary energy source that drives all weather events, including precipitation, hurricanes, and tornados?

a)

the Sun

b)

the Moon

c)

Earth’s gravity

d)

Earth’s rotation

10.

Based on the key, which type of tree is the sample from?

a)

Ginko

b)

Sweet gum

c)

Horse chestnut

d)

Honey locust

11.

Some students take care of a vegetable garden. When it is time to plant in the spring, the students leave part of the garden empty in order to observe ecological succession. Which of these will most likely occur first?

a)

Development of the topsoil

b)

Growth of weeds and grasses

c)

Growth of trees and shrubs

d)

Development of a stream

12.

8.6C (2019-Q 16)

A large rock is motionless on a flat sidewalk. Which statement best explains why the rock remains motionless?

a)

F There are no forces acting on the rock.

b)

G The only force acting on the rock is directed toward the sidewalk.

c)

H The forces acting on the rock are all balanced.

d)

J The sidealk exerts an unbalanced force ont the rock.

13.

(8.6C 2019 – Q41)

A pitcher throwas a ball toward a player holding a softball bat. The player uses the bat to hit the ball. The bat applies a 10-newton force to the ball.


Which statement correctly describes the reaction force to the ball?

a)

A the reaction force is the force that causes the bat to move toward the bat.

b)

B The reaction force is the force appliked to the bat by the player h9oling the bat.

c)

C The reaction force is the force that pulls the ball toward the ground.

d)

D The reaction force is the force of the ball on the bat.

14.

(8.6C 2018 – Q14)

The picture shows an aerialist walking on a tightrope an holding a balancing bar. An anction-reaction pair of forces exists between -

a)

F the aerialist's feet and the rope

b)

G the rope and the balancing bar

c)

H the two ends of the rope

d)

J the aerialist's arms and legs

15.

(8.5C 2018 – Q31)

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

16.

(8.5C 2017-Q2)

a)

F

b)

G

c)

H

d)

J

17.

(8.5D 2019-Q17)

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

18.

(8.5D 2019-Q32)

a)

1

b)

2

c)

4

d)

5

19.

(8.5D 2018-Q22)

a)

F

b)

G

c)

H

d)

J

20.

(8.5D 2017Q-13)

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

21.

(8.6A 2019-Q6)

a)

F

b)

G

c)

H

d)

J

22.

(8.6A 2019-Q11)

The net force on a vehicle that is accelerating at a rate of 1.5m/s2 is 1,800 newtons. What is the mass of the vehicle to the nerarst kilogram? (Hint: Force=Mass x Acceleration; F=ma)

(a)  

23.

(8.6A 2019-Q36)

a)

F

b)

G

c)

H

d)

J

24.

(8.7B 2019-Q27)

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

25.
A dryer dries clothes primarily by converting —
a)
electrical energy to heat and mechanical energy 
b)
mechanical energy to heat and electrical energy
c)
electrical energy to heat and light
d)
mechanical energy to heat and vaporization
26.
The main function of this human body system is to —
a)
sense odors in the environment
b)
exchange gases with the environment
c)
chew food as it enters the mouth
d)
trap particles that enter the nose
27.
Based on the diagram, which of the following statements is valid?
a)
Owls are predators of bats, and bats are predators of moths.
b)
Beetles compete with bats and cave spiders.
c)
Snakes prey on bats and owls.
d)
None of the above
28.
Coal contains carbon and other elements. Carbon dioxide forms when coal burns in the presence of oxygen. Which of these is the best evidence that a chemical reaction occurs when coal burns?
a)
The shape of the coal changes.
b)
Oxygen is present.
c)
A new substance is produced.
d)
Coal is made up of more than one element.
29.
What should the student do in order to best model the cause of the day-and-night cycle?
a)
Spin the ball in different directions
b)
Tilt the ball while it is spinning
c)
Paint one half of the ball black and the other half white
d)
Shine a bright light on one side of the ball
30.
A bus travels 20 km in 30 minutes. What is the average speed of the bus?
a)
20 km/h
b)
30 km/h
c)
40 km/h
d)
50 km/h
31.
Why are there significantly more thunderstorms in Florida than in California?
a)
The state of Florida is smaller than the state of California.
b)
The air in Florida is more stable than the air in California.
c)
The air above Florida holds less moisture than the air above California.
d)
The ocean currents near Florida are warmer than the ocean currents near California.
32.
Which of these best explains why the coin fell straight down into the cup instead of remaining on the index card?
a)
The coin was at rest until the card was removed, so it tended to remain in the same location. Once the card was gone, the unbalanced force of gravity caused the coin to fall.
b)
Moving the card applied an action force on the coin. Since the card was gone, gravity applied a reaction force on the coin.
c)
The card had less mass than the coin, so a smaller force of gravity acted on the card. The larger force of gravity on the coin made it fall.
d)
The acceleration of the coin falling into the cup was equal and opposite to the acceleration of the card.
33.
The graph below shows the motion of a ball rolling on a straight track.
What was the ball's average speed during the time represented in the graph? 
a)
0.2 m/s
b)
0.5 m/s
c)
5.0 m/s
d)
10.0 m/s
34.
The H-R diagram shows how the sun is classified among the stars.
A star that is several thousand times brighter than the sun with a temperature lower than 4,000 K  would be classified as...
a)
A main-sequence star in spectral class B
b)
A supergiant in spectral class K
c)
A main-sequence star in spectral class K or M
d)
A white dwarf in spectral class B
35.
Tides are caused mainly by...
a)
Earth's rotation on its axis, causing water to move.
b)
Strong winds blowing water onto the beaches.
c)
Differences in how much the moon pulls on different parts of Earth.
36.
Dave read that on January 1st, the Earth was a little closer to the sun on July 1st. Why is it colder in Texas in January than in July?
a)
The greenhouse effect is stronger in the Northern Hemisphere in July?
b)
The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun in January.
c)
The moon pulls the heat away from Earth in January.
37.
What Hemisphere do we live in here in Texas?
a)
United States
b)
Northern Hemisphere
c)
 Southern Hemisphere
d)
South America
38.
a)
4N 
b)
6N 
c)
10 N 
d)
14 N 
39.
a)
As the fuel burns, gases push against the rocket, moving it upward. 
b)
As the fuel burns, gases move out of the rocket and reduce air resistance. 
c)
As the fuel burns, the mass of the rocket decreases. 
d)
As the fuel burns, the rocket moves faster. 
40.
A teacher rubbed a match against a piece of sandpaper. The match started to burn. Which statement best describes the energy changes that occurred? 
a)
The chemical energy stored in the match changed to thermal energy and light energy. 
b)
The thermal energy stored in the match changed to light energy and chemical energy. 
c)
The light energy and thermal energy stored in the match changed to mechanical energy. 
d)
The light energy and thermal energy stored in the match changed to chemical energy. 
41.
a)
The functions of living things occur in cells. 
b)
Cells exist only in multicellular organisms. 
c)
Living things are composed of cells. 
d)
Cells contain hereditary information. 
42.
The universe has many different components. Which list places four components of the universe in the most likely order from smallest to largest? 
a)
Planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae 
b)
Nebulae, stars, planets, galaxies 
c)
Galaxies, stars, planets, nebulae
d)
Planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies
43.
With the use of the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists recently discovered a giant runaway star. It is 90 times larger than the sun and is very hot and blue-white in color. Why does the sun appear to be brighter than this runaway star when viewed from Earth? 
a)
The sun is a different color than the runaway star.
b)
The sun is older than the runaway star. 
c)
The sun is closer to Earth than the runaway star. 
d)
The sun is made of different elements than the runaway star. 
44.

What is the basic unit of life in all living organisms?

a)

Tissue

b)

Organ

c)

Cell

d)

Organism

45.

Which organelle is responsible for producing energy in the form of ATP in a cell?

a)

Nucleus

b)

Mitochondria

c)

Ribosome

d)

Golgi apparatus

46.

Which of the following is a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

a)

Water

b)

Sunlight

c)

Temperature

d)

Plants

47.

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

a)

To produce energy through photosynthesis

b)

To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients

c)

To consume primary producers

d)

To compete with herbivores for food

48.

Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem.

a)

Energy flows from consumers to producers.

b)

Energy flows from decomposers to producers.

c)

Energy flows from producers to consumers and then to decomposers.

d)

Energy flows in a circular pattern among all organisms.

49.

Which of the following is a chemical change?

a)

Melting ice

b)

Dissolving sugar in water

c)

Burning wood

d)

Breaking a glass

50.

What is the law of conservation of mass in a chemical reaction?

a)

Mass is created during a chemical reaction.

b)

Mass is destroyed during a chemical reaction.

c)

Mass is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction.

d)

Mass is converted into energy during a chemical reaction.

51.

Which of Newton's Laws of Motion explains why a person not wearing a seatbelt continues to move forward when a car suddenly stops?

a)

First Law of Motion

b)

Second Law of Motion

c)

Third Law of Motion

d)

Law of Universal Gravitation

52.

What is the formula for calculating force according to Newton's Second Law of Motion?

a)

F=maF = ma

b)

F=maF = \frac{m}{a}

c)

F=m+aF = m + a

d)

F=m−aF = m - a

53.

A 5 kg object is accelerating at 2 m/s22 \, \text{m/s}^2 . What is the force acting on the object?

a)

5 N5 \, \text{N}

b)

10 N10 \, \text{N}

c)

15 N15 \, \text{N}

d)

20 N20 \, \text{N}

54.

Which cell organelle is known as the "control center" of the cell?

a)

Endoplasmic reticulum

b)

Nucleus

c)

Lysosome

d)

Chloroplast

55.

What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

a)

It absorbs sunlight to convert it into chemical energy.

b)

It transports water throughout the plant.

c)

It provides structural support to the plant.

d)

It stores the energy produced during photosynthesis.

56.

What happens to the speed of an object if the net force acting on it is zero?

a)

The speed increases.

b)

The speed decreases.

c)

The speed remains constant.

d)

The object comes to a stop.

57.

Which of the following best describes a chemical reaction?

a)

A change in the state of matter

b)

A process where substances are transformed into different substances

c)

A physical change in appearance

d)

A change in temperature only

58.

Which of Newton's Laws of Motion is demonstrated by a rocket launching into space?

a)

First Law of Motion

b)

Second Law of Motion

c)

Third Law of Motion

d)

Law of Universal Gravitation

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