Elementary Education Content (K-6) Subtest 3

Fifth-grade students are playing tug-of-war. Team A pulls the rope to the left, with a force of 50 N. Team B pulls the rope to the right, with a force of 80 N. The net force is: A. 30 N to the right. B. 30 N to the left. C. 130 N to the right. D. 130 N to the left.

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0019) Net force is the sum of the forces acting upon an object. In this case, there is an unbalanced force to the right because Team B is pulling the rope with greater force than Team A. To determine the net force, subtract the difference between the forces: 80 N −

Regulation of water and salt balance in the human body is a function handled primarily by which of the following organ systems? A. excretory B. integumentary C. nervous D. endocrine

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0020) The kidney is the major organ of the excretory system. The kidney plays a significant role in osmoregulation. This is the function of maintaining homeostasis by regulating water and salt balance. For example, the kidney will conserve water in a dehydrated individual by excreting a more concentrated, less watery urine.

To construct a highway between two cities, a building crew must cut into the side of a mountain. Following approval of the plans for the road, local townships pass regulations forbidding logging on mountain sites near the new road. These regulations are most likely intended to reduce the risk of: A. landslides. B. earthquakes. C. deforestation. D. volcanic eruption.

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0021) The roots of trees growing on a slope of a mountain help increase stability by resisting erosion. The construction of a road on the side of a mountain must be undertaken very carefully, as this process can change the gradient of the hill, the flow of water, and the stability of the area. When heavy rains come, rocks can loosen and fall, resulting in landslides. In this case, limiting logging in an area can reduce the risk of landslide.

Which of the following types of tectonic plate movements is associated with most of the world's active volcanoes? A. subduction of an oceanic plate beneath a continental plate B. collision of two oceanic plates C. subduction of a continental plate beneath an oceanic plate D. collision of two continental plates

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0021) When an oceanic plate subducts under a continental plate, the oceanic plate begins to melt into magma. Under pressure, this magma can rise up through the crust and be released through a volcanic eruption. Most of the world's active volcanoes are caused by an ocean plate being forced under a continental plate. These types of volcanoes are commonly located along the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire."

Which of the following is the most direct example of the negative environmental effects of resource use in the United States? A. acid rainfalls on northeastern lakes and waterways B. hurricane damage to Gulf Coast ecosystems C. loss of western forest lands from wildfires D. decline of West Coast river ecosystems from droughts

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0023) Human actions, often involving the use of natural resources, contribute in some way to most environmental problems in the United States. Few examples, however, are as clear and direct as the link between the burning of fossil fuels in Midwest industries and power plants and the degradation of lakes and waterways in the Northeast. Emissions from burning coal produce sulfuric and nitric acids that are carried by prevailing winds to New England, where they fall on lakes and ponds in the form of rain and snow, raising the acidity of these waterways and compromising the health of fish and plants.

Which of the following factors contributed most to the "dust bowl" conditions experienced on the Great Plains in the 1930s? A. a major drought after several years of intensive cultivation without attention to soil conservation B. a rise in average temperatures after several decades of overgrazing by livestock herds C. a series of severe tornadoes after several decades of clear cutting forests for lumber D. a prolonged period of forest fires after several years of rapidly expanding rural population

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0023) When the Great Plains region, the semi-arid zone west of 100°degrees west longitude, was settled in the second half of the nineteenth century, agriculture was successful because rainfall was generally above the long-run average. To grow crops, farmers plowed through topsoil that had long been densely knotted with the roots of natural grasses. When the worst drought in the nation's history struck in 1930-to1941, the dried soil was unprotected from wind erosion. The resulting dust storms killed thousands, made farming impossible, and forced the migration of 3.5 million people away from the Great Plains in search of work.

Which of the following situations best illustrates the constitutional principle of checks and balances? A. Congress approves the president's nomination to the Supreme Court. B. The president confers with congressional leaders on a foreign policy initiative. C. The Supreme Court selects which cases it will hear from lower courts. D. Presidents report regularly to Congress on the state of the union.

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0024) Checks and balances is a fundamental principle of U.S. government that gives each branch of the federal government—legislative, executive, and judicial—various means of intervening to check, or restrain, the powers given to the other branches. For example, while presidents have the authority to nominate individuals to serve on the Supreme Court, those nominees must be confirmed by Congress.

In modern societies, a common function of religious and educational institutions is to: A. impart shared values that contribute to social unity. B. develop individuals' social and intellectual skills. C. add to a society's body of knowledge. D. provide emotional support to individuals.

Correct Response: A. (Objective 0024) Promoting social cohesion is a common function of educational and religious institutions. Schools help integrate the diverse members of a society into a common culture through instruction in citizenship, national values, and social behaviors. Despite doctrinal differences, religious institutions do so as well through the inculcation of values and beliefs, such as mutual respect, that contribute to social solidarity.

A fourth-grade teacher plans to have students complete a scientific experiment to determine the role of different parts of the visible light spectrum on the growth of bean plants. Students will grow the plants, all of the same species, from seed in three different containers. One container of bean plants will be grown under red light, one container under green light, and one container under blue light. The plants will all be treated in the same way (e.g., regular watering, same soil mix) except for the different colors of light under which they will grow. Which of the following steps would most improve the design of the overall experiment? A. selecting different types of plants to grow under each type of lighting to increase the relevance of the results B. growing an additional container of plants in natural light to establish a control C. starting the plants as seedlings to avoid differences in the time required for germination of each plant D. increasing sample size by planting at least two containers of plants for each type of lighting

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0018) Chlorophyll and other pigments in plants absorb energy from full-spectrum light to carry out photosynthesis, a chemical process that allows plants to grow. The experiment should include a container of bean plants grown either in sunlight or under full-spectrum artificial light to ensure that the conditions for growth are sufficient to produce healthy bean plants and provide a baseline for comparing full-spectrum lighting growth to single-spectrum lighting growth.

Which of the following scientific tools is correctly paired with the property it is used to measure? A. scale: volume B. balance: mass C. thermometer: calories D. graduated cylinder: density

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0018) Matter is something that takes up space and has mass. Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in an object. A balance is a scientific tool that measures mass, generally in grams.

During a unit on plants, a third-grade teacher plans to take students on a field trip to a local farm. Before the trip, the teacher sends a packet home to parents and guardians. Included in the packet is a letter that explains the goal of the trip and states the trip's scheduled time, date, and destination. Also included in the packet is a permission slip that parents and guardians must sign and return before the field trip. Which of the following additional documents would be most important for the teacher to include in the packet? A. a fact sheet about the specific crops that are grown on the farm B. a blank form to use to provide information about students' medical needs C. a contingency plan the teacher will use in case of inclement weather D. a request for parents and guardians to volunteer as chaperones on the trip

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0018) When taking students off-campus, teachers must be aware of any medical conditions that students have that might require attention on the trip. For example, some students might have allergies or mobility issues, or need to receive prescribed medications on a particular time schedule.

Use the diagram for #10: http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MN193_SG_ITEMS.html A. point W B. point X C. point Y D. point Z

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0019) As a substance at a temperature below its melting point is heated, it begins to change to the liquid phase after it reaches its melting point. Until all of the solid phase has melted, however, the temperature of the substance does not change. For water, the process of melting begins at 32°F degrees Fahrenheit (0°Cdegrees celsius), which is represented by point W on the diagram. At this stage of the heating process any heat added to the system goes into the process of melting the remaining ice, not to raising the temperature of the ice-water system. Not until all the ice has melted at point X in the phase change diagram does the water begin to warm above 32°Fdegrees Fahrenheit.

Use the diagram for #8: http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MN193_SG_ITEMS.html A. point A B. point B C. point C D. point D

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0019) As the frozen water sample is heated, it will slowly absorb heat and move from the solid phase of water to the liquid phase. As more heat is added, the water sample will then move from the liquid to the vapor phase. 0°Cdegrees celsius is both the freezing point and melting point of water. Therefore, after Point A, the frozen water will begin to melt but remain at 0°Cdegrees celsius. At Point B, the sample is still not completely melted. This is indicated by the fact that the temperature has not yet risen. Therefore, some of the sample has melted, and is in the liquid phase, while the rest the sample has not yet melted, and is still in the solid phase.

Which of the following characteristics is unique to the vertebrate Class Amphibia? A. production of a shelled amniotic egg B. capacity to live on land and in water C. composed of hollow bones and feathers D. having a streamlined body and gills

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0020) Amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, have unique adaptations that enable them to live both in water and on land. For example, frog eggs are laid in a moist environment, and during early development gills are used for breathing. Later, in metamorphosis, lungs are fully formed, enabling frogs to breathe while on land. The thin skin of these animals is also adapted for oxygen absorption.

Vernal pools are temporary aquatic habitats that form as winter snow melts in the springtime. Wood frogs mate and lay eggs in vernal pools that typically dry up by mid-summer. Their tadpoles live in the vernal pools until maturity and then migrate into the surrounding forest. Which of the following reasons is the most likely explanation that wood frogs evolved the use of vernal pools as temporary nurseries for their young? A. reduces interbreeding between separate populations of wood frogs B. protects the wood frogs from large aquatic predators C. provides a relatively warm habitat in which the tadpoles can grow rapidly D. limits the number of tadpoles produced each year

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0020) An adaptation is a change that a species has evolved that enables individual organisms to better survive in the environment. A tadpole is defenseless against fish and other aquatic predators. Thus, it needs a habitat that is free of these predators in order to survive. Because vernal pools disappear for months at a time, they are typically free of fish and other predators, making them a safe place in which tadpoles can survive.

Use the table in #20: http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MN193_SG_ITEMS.html A. row 1 B. row 2 C. row 3 D. row 4

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0021) An abrasive is a material that can grind down or smooth out the rough surfaces of another material. Sand is a gritty material and is typically silicate- or carbonate-based. It forms as rocks and shells are broken down into fine particles during weathering and erosion. The gritty texture of sand makes it effective for the function of abrasion.

Use the diagram in #19: http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MN193_SG_ITEMS.html A, B, C, or D?

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0021) In the diagram, Earth is the unlabeled circle and the moon is positioned at a 90 degree angle to the sun and Earth. At this angle, half of the moon would appear in sunlight and half in Earth's shadow—as viewed from Earth.

Which of the following texts would be considered a primary source for a research project about the Civil War? A. an encyclopedia article about the war B. a letter written by a soldier during the war C. a biography of a prominent Union general D. a novel set in northern Virginia during the war

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0022) Primary sources are original documents or objects that provide direct evidence or first-hand accounts about the subject of research. A contemporaneous letter written by a direct participant in the historical events being studied is a valuable primary source that can help give students a sense of the time and its complexity.

A researcher wants to explore intersections between economics and government. Which of the following research questions would most effectively address these two disciplines? A. Do economic recessions and depressions have clear political impacts? B. Is there a correlation between the distribution of wealth in a society and the status of democratic institutions? C. Do primarily agricultural societies have greater voter turnout than primarily industrial societies? D. Is there a relationship between economic leadership and political leadership in developing countries?

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0022) The most effective social science research questions are those that do not have a readily determined answer, that require detailed analysis, and that shed light on fundamental aspects of society. Determining whether there is a correlation between the distribution of wealth in a society and the status of democratic institutions involves considerations of occupational structure, tax policy, asset ownership, the role of corporations, and a host of other economic indicators, as well as the examination of both formal governmental structures and the independent groups and organizations necessary to healthy and sustainable democratic life.

The feudal society of Europe during the Middle Ages can best be described as a: A. society governed by strong monarchs who ruled large, independent nations. B. hierarchical society based on personal loyalty and tied together by a network of mutual obligations and responsibilities. C. society divided into city-states ruled by popularly chosen public officials. D. socially mobile society in which individuals could improve their circumstances through education and hard work.

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0023) Medieval Europe was a highly stratified, feudal society in which the most important political relationship was the feudal contract between lords and vassals. According to this arrangement, vassals pledged personal loyalty to a lord in exchange for the lord's protection and a grant of land. In fulfillment of their obligations, vassals were expected to furnish military assistance to lords during periods of warfare and provide a variety of other services.

Use the map in #31: http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MN193_SG_ITEMS.html A. Christianity B. Islam C. Buddhism D. Hinduism

Correct Response: B. (Objective 0023) The letters on the map correspond with the locations of Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. About 99 percent of Algerians, 97 percent of Saudis, and 86 percent of Indonesians are Muslims.

Which of the following situations presents the best example of an investigation that provides information for both science and social studies? A. An astronomer invents an improved reflecting telescope. B. An engineer designs an inexpensive medical syringe. C. A biologist examines human fossils discovered in Ecuador. D. A botanist discovers and names a new species of plant.

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0018) Biologists, such as paleontologists, study fossils to learn about human evolution and recent human ancestors, and to compare changes in anatomical structures over time. Social scientists, such as cultural anthropologists, use fossils to construct knowledge about human behaviors and activities, as well as the development of culture and community in specific locations over time.

Through which of the following practices have indigenous peoples living in tropical regions of the world contributed most significantly to modern science? A. developing farming practices that improve the nutrient levels of the soil B. tracking the apparent annual movement of the sun and stars C. identifying and using medicinal plants to treat illnesses and injuries D. desalinizing ocean water for use as fresh drinking water

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0018) Indigenous peoples in the tropical regions of the world have identified medicinal uses for many local plants. An example of an important medicine originating from the tropics is quinine, derived from cinchona bark, which is used to treat malaria.

Which of the following structures is found only in animal cells? A. nucleolus B. golgi apparatus C. centriole D. cell membrane

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0020) A pair of centrioles is located in the centrosome of animal cells. During mitosis in animal cells, the centrioles migrate to opposite poles and spindle fibers form out of the microtubules generated at the centrioles. These structures are absent in other cells, whose cells divide in a slightly different manner.

The processes of formation, extraction, and use of charcoal involves interactions of many of Earth's spheres. Which of the following steps directly involves Earth's geosphere? A. Plants fix carbon during photosynthetic reactions. B. Water releases carbon by breaking down rocks over time. C. Rocks are removed during the process of mining. D. Fuel is burned to release energy and carbon dioxide gas.

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0021) The geosphere is composed of the solid parts of Earth (e.g., its mantle and crust). It therefore includes the processes associated with rocks. During the process of mining coal, large areas of rock are removed. This changes the external features of that area of the geosphere and can change how those rocks interact with other Earth spheres.

A political scientist would most likely use a flowchart for which of the following purposes? A. showing powers shared by the federal government and the states B. comparing major features of the Senate and House of Representatives C. illustrating how a bill becomes law in Congress D. listing the major powers of the president of the United States

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0022) A flowchart is a diagram that provides a detailed step-by-step rendering of a process. The various steps through which a legislative proposal must pass before it becomes law is the type of process that could be well illustrated on a flowchart.

One major responsibility of the president of the United States is to: A. raise revenue for the government B. declare war on other nations C. enforce federal laws D. manage the national economy

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0024) As chief executive of the United States, the president is responsible for ensuring that the nation's laws are carried out. In performing this duty, which involves enforcing Supreme Court decisions as well as congressional enactments, the president is assisted by the numerous personnel who work in the various departments and agencies of the executive branch of the federal government.

Use the map in #35: http://www.mtle.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MN193_SG_ITEMS.html A. City I1 B. City II2 C. City IV4 D. City V

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0024) City IV4 is situated at the center of the region shown on the map, linked to three other cities by roads, and surrounded by farmland—characteristics that set it apart from the other cities. Because of its geographic location, natural resources, and transportation linkages, City IV4 is much more likely than the other cities to engage in the types of commercial interactions and productive activities that contribute to economic development.

In a market economic system, an increase in the price of a good is generally explained by: A. the decisions of government regulators. B. the desire of producers to increase their profits. C. increases in consumers' willingness to pay or producers' costs. D. agreements between companies, labor unions, and consumer groups.

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0024) In a market economy, producers and consumers together determine what the price of a good or service will be at a given time. Price increases are generally the result of greater consumer demand for the good or service, or increased costs associated with the production of the good or the delivery of the service.

Human personality can best be described as: A. the ways in which an individual interacts with other people. B. the ways in which an individual has been shaped by his or her culture. C. an individual's characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. D. an individual's characteristic responses to common social stimuli.

Correct Response: C. (Objective 0024) While personality is shaped by many factors—including biology, family upbringing, and cultural norms—and has been defined in a number of ways, key elements of personality include individual characteristics that are enduring and behaviors that are consistent, along with intellectual perspectives and emotional reactions that collectively distinguish one person from another.

Which of the following contributions did Marie Curie make to the development of scientific knowledge? A. describing the structure of an atom B. creating the periodic table of the elements C. discovering the laws of inheritance D. identifying new radioactive elements

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0018) Marie Curie was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize. Curie was awarded Nobel Prizes in both Physics and Chemistry for her work in the field of radioactivity, a term she created. As one of the first scientists to work in this field, she helped discover the radioactive elements polonium and radium.

Fifth-grade students are submitting ideas to their teacher for their science fair projects. Which of the following proposals is best suited for a project utilizing scientific inquiry? A. Why do black bears hibernate in the winter? B. Which brand of crackers do fifth graders prefer? C. Why does exercise increase your heart rate? D. Which plant food works best on bean seedlings?

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0018) Scientific investigations must allow for a controlled and manipulated variable. A scientific investigation can be designed to test which type of plant food works best on bean seedlings. A student could obtain seedlings of the same species and height; keep the amount of food, sunlight, and water constant; and set up an experiment in which one or more types of plant food are compared to a control.

Which of the following statements best describes the changes that occur when a paper clip is magnetized by stroking it along a magnet? A. The paper clip gains electrons from the magnet and becomes negatively charged. B. The charge on the paper clip's electrons changes from negative to positive. C. The north and south poles of the paper clip's magnetic field become reversed. D. The magnetic domains in the paper clip become aligned in the same direction.

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0019) The atoms making up a magnet each have their own individual magnetic fields. The term magnetic domain refers to the many magnetic fields of the individual atoms within a material. In magnetic materials, these domains are aligned. In this case, when the magnetic domains in a paper clip become aligned in the same direction—as a result of stroking it along a magnet—the paper clip becomes magnetized.

A chef uses a blender to mix bananas, pineapples, and strawberries into a smoothie drink. Which of the following types of energy transformation occurs during this process? A. thermal →to kinetic B. kinetic →to potential C. magnetic →to chemical D. electrical →to mechanical

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0019) When the blender is plugged in and started, electrical energy is used. This energy powers the blender and engages gears that move the blades. The resulting blade movement is an example of mechanical energy.

The allele for brown eyes (B) is dominant and the allele for blue eyes (b) is recessive. If a father has the genotype BB and the mother has the genotype bb, what is the probability that their child will have blue eyes? A. 100 percent B. 50 percent C. 25 percent D. 0 percent

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0020) Alleles are alternate forms of a gene, each of which control for the expression of a particular trait. A child's eye color is a trait that is determined by the genes inherited from the child's father and mother. In this case, the father will always contribute a B allele and the mother will always contribute a b allele. Therefore, the only possible genetic combinations for eye color that the child can inherit are Bb and Bb. Since B is dominant and b is recessive, the combination of Bb will produce only the eye color brown, never the eye color blue.

Which of the following discoveries is an example of trace fossils? A. a petrified leg bone from a dinosaur B. the cast and mold of a mollusk shell C. a carbon film of the leaves of a fern D. the footprint of a bird preserved in mud

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0021) A trace fossil is not a fossilized body part of an organism but evidence of an animal's actions. Footprints or tracks left by an animal, and preserved as sediment covered them and hardened, can provide information to paleontologists about the animal's behavior. Information about the environment in which the animal lived can also be inferred from many trace fossils.

Which of the following statements about the relationship between Congress and the President is an interpretation rather than a fact? A. Congress relies on the president to establish annual budget goals and priorities. B. The domestic programs that the president may want to see enacted can only be implemented through appropriations voted on by Congress. C. Congress oversees the programs and activities of numerous federal agencies. D. The president's expanded role in committing U.S. military forces has been more the result of Congressional inaction than presidential assertion.

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0022) Over the past seventy years, presidents have increasingly taken the lead in committing U.S. military forces to foreign conflicts with little or no authorization from Congress. This development has multiple, complex causes. The statement that it is the result of Congressional inaction is an opinion or interpretation, rather than a statement of fact.

Use the passage below to answer the question that follows. 1 Since 1970, nearly 20% of the Amazonian rainforest has been cleared for farming and other purposes. 2 Should this trend continue, a number of consequences are likely to follow. 3 Rainforests are responsible for removing tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each day, and if they are lost, they will no longer be able to perform this function. 4 A much more troubling aspect of deforestation is the large number of species facing extinction because of habitat loss. Which sentence in the passage most clearly expresses an opinion? A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 4

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0022) Unlike the information presented in the other sentences in the passage, which can be tested and shown to be true, the phrase "much more troubling" in sentence 4 is an unprovable assertion. This subjective observation makes the sentence an expression of opinion.

Between 1865 and 1885 the population of Minnesota tripled. Which of the following national developments contributed most to this surge in the state's population. A. the transformation of communications brought about by the telegraph and telephone B. industrialization and the growth of Great Lakes shipping C. the end of organized resistance by Native Americans to U.S. government control D. the Homestead Act of 1862 and the expansion of the railroads

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0023) After the Civil War, Minnesota became a favored destination of European immigrants seeking cheap and fertile land for farming. Two developments that greatly accelerated this trend were the Homestead Act of 1862, which offered ownership at no cost to settlers willing to occupy and improve the land, and the expansion of the railroad network. Railroad companies both advertised the state to potential homesteaders and facilitated their resettlement from eastern cities to the Midwest.

Banks offer a variety of ways of holding money for individuals. In order to earn a higher rate of interest, savers will generally need to choose an account with which of the following features? A. a low minimum average daily balance requirement B. the option of writing checks on the balance in the account C. online banking with paperless transactions, confirmations, and statements D. a period of time during which the money is not available for withdrawal without penalty

Correct Response: D. (Objective 0024) A certificate of deposit (CD) is a savings certificate with a specified maturity date and a fixed rate of interest. Access to the funds is generally restricted until the maturity date. In exchange for allowing the bank to make use of the money in the account for the fixed period of time, savers are offered a higher interest rate than what they can usually earn in regular savings accounts.