CSET Science Practice Questions

Which of the following statements is true about the giant star Betelgeuse based on the red color of the star? A. The star is relatively large. B. The star is millions of light years away. C. The star is relatively cool. D. The star is extremely hot.

- C. The star is relatively cool. -Stars with the highest surface temperature appear blue, while stars with the lowest surface temperature appear red.

The composition of the earth is made up of an inner core, outer core, lower mantle, upper mantle, and crust. What would most likely determine whether solid rock in the interior will become magma?

- The combination of LOW PRESSURE and HIGH TEMPERATURE in the Earth's mantle melt rock and form magma, liquid rock.

The earth's climate is influenced by natural events such as volcanic eruptions. What is the most logical global climatic consequence of cataclysmic volcanic eruptions?

-A decline in the sun's energy that reaches the earth, resulting in lower global temperatures. -Cataclysmic volcanic eruptions can influence climate by sending tremendous volumes of dust, ash, and smoke into the atmosphere. -The resulting dust layer would act as a shield, blocking out much of the sun's rays. -This would result in lower global temperatures and a general cooling of the earth. Scientists theorize that massive volcanic eruptions on a global scale contributed to the earth's cooling, resulting in the onset of the Ice Age.

What is the continental drift theory?

-A theory that all continents were connected into a super-continent, Pangaea. Through tremendous tectonic forces and millions of years, the continents gradually separated. -The discovery of two extinct plants species on two continents would support this theory.

What is the most significant environmental disadvantage of obtaining biofuel energy from biomass?

-Biofuels contribute to deforestation and compete with existing food prices. -As more potential food producing land is converted to energy use, less food becomes available, food costs increase, and underdeveloped countries feel the greatest impacts.

What two factors keep the planets in their orbits?

-Both gravity and inertia work together to keep the planets in orbit around the sun. -Inertia makes a planet travel in a straight line. By definition, inertia is the tendency of a moving object to stay in a straight line or a stationary object to remain in place. -However, the power of the sun's gravity pulls the planets toward the sun. -The sun's gravity pulls the planets while their inertia keeps them moving forward in an elliptical orbit around the sun. -The strength of gravity in our solar system depends on both the masses of the celestial objects and the distance between them. -Gravity helps to explain the tides on Earth. Without inertia, a planet would be pulled into the sun.

Photosynthesis is essential for all life forms. Which compounds constitutes the raw materials for photosynthesis?

-Carbon dioxide and water -Plants use carbon dioxide gas and water as the raw materials for photosynthesis in the presence of the energy in sunlight to produce the products of sugar and oxygen. -The sunlight strikes the chlorophyll in the chloroplasts of the plant's cells, initiating complex chemical reactions. -The chlorophyll in green leaves absorbs blue and red light and reflects green light (the color of the leaves).

Dew forms on a plant leaf in the morning. Windows on a car fog up after a humid night. Water forms on the outside of a cold glass of water. Droplets collect on frozen peas removed from the freezer. What causes this reaction?

-Condensation occurs when a humid air contacts a cold surface. -Condensation is the process whereby water vapor (gas) becomes a liquid and adheres to the surface of an object. -Condensation occurs because the capacity of air to hold water decreases as the air surrounding an object is cooled to its dew point.

After a person consumes carbohydrate, in which organ of the digestion system do the nutrients enter the bloodstream?

-Digestion of food into nutrients is completed in the small intestine, the nutrients are absorbed through the walls. -The breakdown of food in the digestive system takes place in the following series: mouth->esophagus->stomach-> small intestine->large intestine->rectum.

The process by which an organism's internal environment is kept stable in spite of changes in the external is described as ________________________.

-Homeostasis -Homeostasis allows an individual to maintain a stable internal environment, regardless of changes in the external environment.

Metamorphosis is an important stage in the life cycle of some animals. In the metamorphosis stage of both a bullfrog and a monarch butterfly, what is a shared characteristic?

-In both a bullfrog and a butterfly, the animal's offspring each go through the same stages of metamorphosis.

What would be the most likely effect if the Sun, Moon, and Earth, in that order, were directly aligned?

-Increased gravitational pull on the tides -The gravitational attraction of the moon causes tides. Since the moon is nearer to the Earth, the moon's mass attracts and distorts the oceans, causing the highest tides.

Seatbelts in a car were designed to address ___________________. -friction -centrifugal force -inertia -thermodynamics

-Inertia -Newton's First Law of Motion (law of inertia) states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an unbalanced force

Why is the length of a day on the planet Venus longer than the length of an earth year?

-It takes more time for Venus to rotate on its axis than to revolve around the sun.

If an individual weighs 200 pounds on Earth, in theory, on which planet would the same individual weigh the most?

-Jupiter -The gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, have diameters far larger than Earth's and have far greater masses. Jupiter's mass is more than 300 times Earth's mass.

A commercial glass thermometer is partially filled with mercury. What physical principle best explains the use of mercury in thermometers?

-Liquid mercury expands at regular intervals upon heating. --The scale marks on the thermometer are evenly spaced. Such a simple scale is possible only because liquid mercury expands regularly when heated, expanding upward.

What is the chronological order of the evolutionary appearance of the following plants? moss, pine, rose and fern

-Moss, fern, pine, rose -The moss and the fern are the two most primitive plants given. Neither reproduces by seeds so you can assume that the chronological order had to begin with one of the two. Of the two plants with seeds (the pine and the rose), the plant with flowers is the most advanced.

During the heat of the midday sun, air over land near the shore becomes warmer and absorbs more heat than the air over water; the warm air from the land rises, and cooler air from the water rushes in to take its place. What air pattern best describes this information?

-SEA BREEZE -A sea breeze results because of the unequal heating of land and sea surfaces and the resulting convection currents

What's one example of an individual demonstrating maximum potential energy?

-Sitting at the top of a medium slope. -Potential energy is energy that comes from position, the individual on top of the hill has the potential to do work (go down).

What are some of Charles Darwin's ideas on evolution?

-Species produce far more offspring than can normally survive. -A particular environment is not capable of supporting all organisms born into that environment. -Natural selection is the mechanism of evolution. -Favorable variations gradually accumulate in a species, while and unfavorable traits disappear over time.

In which of the following locations would soft tissue most likely avoid decomposition and survive as a fossil? A. In desert soil B. In beach sand C. In river silt D. In lake-bottom mud

-The correct answer is D. In lake-bottom mud -Soft plant and animal tissues decompose quickly in the presence of decay bacteria, which exist wherever oxygen exists. -Therefore, the correct answer will be the most oxygen-free environment listed. -Lake bottom mud prevents oxygen-rich air from reaching the tissues.

Igneous rocks are found throughout the world. What process yields an igneous rock?

-The eruption of a volcano -Lava from an erupting volcano is molten rock, which can reach a temperature of approximately 1,200 degrees Celsius. -An igneous rock is produced by the solidification of molten rock, which cools and becomes solid either deep within the earth or at the earth's surface.

A piece of ice of unusual tape is dropped into a large glass of water and instantly floats. What is the best explanation for this occurance?

-The ice has a density of less than 1.0. -Water has a density of 1.0, so anything below that will float.

The moon at night appears to be a white object in the night sky. At the same time, the planet Mars appears to be reddish. What is the explanation for the difference in color between the two objects?

-The light that is reflected by each. -All planets and moons are visible only by the sunlight reflected from them. -Only stars, suns, have an independent source of constant light.

Two atoms are dropped simultaneously from a ten-story building. The items are shaped similarly and are relatively the same weight. Does weight have an effect on the falling rate?

-The weight of an object does not affect the rate at which an object falls. - Two objects of different weights fall at the same time if they have the same shape.

What is the purpose of an electrolytic experiment?

-To break down water into its elements, hydrogen and oxygen -water contains 2 hydrogen and one oxygen, hence the decomposition gives off more hydrogen bubbles

What is biofuel and what are some of its production advantages?

-a fuel that is made from living things or their waste -advantages: renewable energy source, less dependency on fossil fuels, and possible reduction of greenhouse gases

According to the Richter scale, an earthquake with a magnitude 6 is how many times stronger than an earthquake with magnitude 4?

-a numerical scale for expressing the magnitude of an earthquake on the basis of seismograph oscillations -each ascending magnitude number, 1-10, dramatically increase the potential for damage -a magnitude from 4 to 6 would release 1,000 times more energy because each magnitude equals 10

What is a karyotype test?

-a test to identify and evaluate the size, shape, and number of chromosomes in a sample of body cells -humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes

All of the following must necessarily exist for all known forms of life, except: A. air. B. carbon atoms. C. nucleic acids. D. water.

-air -Some organisms (including many yeasts and bacteria) are anaerobic—that is, existing without free oxygen. -For these organisms, in the process of fermentation, glucose is changed into ethanol and carbon dioxide anaerobically. -All forms of life require water for biochemical reactions, reproduce by means of nucleic acid (DNA), and contain carbon atoms.

If you were conducting an experiment to identify the hardness of five unknown mineral samples, which of the following would not be a reliable indicator in identifying the hardness? A. Color B. Cleavage C. Density D. Scratch test

-color -Cleavage (breaking along flat surfaces) and density (how much matter is in the object) can aid in determining the hardness of unknown minerals. -Color is not a reliable method to identify a mineral's hardness. -Factors such as weathering and impurities can affect a mineral's color. -scratching/Mohs' scale of hardness.

Earthquakes vary in intensity, depending on many factors. However, the strongest earthquakes usually occur near the edges of:_______________________.

-convergent boundaries

During exploration for petroleum, varying amounts of oil, water, and natural gas are found in a porous rock reservoir. The substances occur as separate, horizontal layers. In what order would a continuous drill find these three substances? A. gas, water, oil B. water, gas, oil C. gas, oil, water D. water, oil, gas

-gas, oil, water -The three substances occur in their order of density, with the lightest substance on top and the heaviest on the bottom. Gas is lighter than the two liquids, and so it is at the top. Oil floats on water, and so it is second. On the bottom is the most dense substance, water.

When a mutation in a gene occurs in an individual, it does not have an effect on the group unless the: A. environment changes. B. threat of predators is reduced. C. individual lives long enough to breed. D. mutation increases the variability of the group.

-individual lives long enough to breed -For a mutation to be passed on, the genetic material must be passed on through breeding. -A mutation is the result of a change in the makeup of the chromosomes, which contain the genes that determine the characteristics of an organism. -When changes occur in sex cells, the result can be significant. -Mutations can be both successful and unsuccessful, with beneficial changes being preserved through natural selection.

In comparing the organelles found inside a plant and animal cell, a similarity of both cells is that _______________________.

-mitochondria are responsible for the oxidation of food, -both cells contain a mitochondria, a nucleus, and vacuoles -plant cells contain a cell wall and animal cells do not

Which subcellular organelle is the control center of the cell?

-nucleus -it has all the genetic instructions for the cell

Most deposits of ore that are rich in copper, lead, and zinc are believed to have been formed from hot-water solutions. What are some of the significant factors to be considered in exploration for those ores?

-recognizing the location of fissures and faults -exploration due to the fact the nearby rocks display intense changes due to the presence of water -exploration based on the fact that ore crystals contain microscopic bubbles filled with water

Is the space between two magnetic fields the weakest or strongest point?

-the weakest (the same sides repel each other) -the strongest point is at the poles (opposites)

What is the number of protons, electrons, and atomic number of iron?

26 protons, 26 electrons, and the atomic number is 26....the atomic number will always be equal to the number of protons

What is an amoeba?

A single celled organism. -they are protists that have a nuclei, cytoplasm, and food vacuoles and can live in soil and water.

What is an example of a chemical reaction?

An electric current is sent through the water, producing hydrogen and oxygen.

Assume a stable, habitat with all normal control mechanisms in place. Population statistics show little change over time in both the predator (fox) and prey (rabbit) populations. What would be the result if a significant number of foxes were introduced into the habitat?

Both predator and prey species are reduced over time. More predators means a decrease in prey. A decrease in prey mean less food to eat. That may cause starvation, parasitic diseases, which ultimately decreases predator numbers.

In what part of the subcellular organelle is genetic material stored?

Chromosomes contain all genetic material. Stored in each chromosome is the long DNA molecule that carries the coded messages that control all inherited traits. The chromosomes are in the nucleus of the cell.

Almost all weather and cloud formations occur in the troposphere. Which type of cloud indicates an upcoming thunderstorm?

Cumulonimbus cloud

During a full moon, what happens to the moon?

During a full moon the whole visible side of the moon is lit.

What is the position between the sun, moon, and earth during a neap tide?

During a neap tide, the sun, earth, and moon form a 90-degree (right) angle, with the Earth at its vertex. The combined effect of this alignment of the sun, earth, and moon results in tidal ranges on the earth.

What is the best explanation for alcohol being condensed in a beaker?

Each liquid becomes a gas at its given boiling point. Alcohol: 78 degrees Celcius water: 100 degrees Celcius

In a typical energy pyramid, which level would contain the largest amount of usable energy?

First level, the producers -At each step in an energy pyramid, the flow of available energy decreases as it moves through the system.

Within a natural community of many different plant and animal species, each species occupies its own niche in the environment. How does this help them?

It allows them to exist and reproduce.

What is the function of the mitochondrion?

It is the powerhouse of the cell and is responsible for respiration.

What causes the formation of rust? What kind of change is it?

It is the result of a chemical reaction. When atoms of oxygen come in contact with atoms in iron, a new compound, rust, results.

What does Charles' law state?

It states that higher temperatures cause molecules to move rapidly. As temperature of a gas increases, and pressure remains constant, the volume of the gas also increases.

Which of the classification levels is the biggest?

Kingdom -The kingdom is the broadest category and has the largest numbers. There are five main kingdoms: plants, animals, fungi, protists, and monerans. There are seven levels to classify organisms.

Which of the following organisms are most truly independent in obtaining nourishment? A. Bighorn sheep B. Palm trees C. Humans D. Salamanders

Palm trees -Obtaining food independently is most associated with green plants because they are the only organisms that can manufacture food through photosynthesis (obtaining energy from sunlight and storing that energy as sugar).

What is the process of pollination?

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther, male parts of a flower, to a stigma, the female part which is often sticky.

Amoebas can live in soil or water. Which biological process is most helpful in explaining the metabolism of an amoeba?

Respiration is the central life process during metabolism. Oxygen is taken in, allowing stored chemical energy to be released. Respiration takes place within a cell. In respiration, one inhales air rich in oxygen and exhales air rich in carbon dioxide.

Which of the elements in the section of the periodic table shown above are likely to have the most similar chemical properties?

Si and Ge

Ecology represents the interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. Which of the following is an abiotic feature of the environment? -soil -ducks -algae -phytoplankton

Soil -The abiotic, or nonliving, factors in the environment include such items as soil water, gases in the atmosphere, temperature, and light.

All life forms have common characteristics. What is the best evidence for considering viruses a life form?

Some key characteristics suggesting classification as a life form are metabolism, growth, respiration, excretion, motion, and reproduction. Viruses can be classified as living organisms and chemical compounds. -They can produce nucleic acids to reproduce themselves.

A spacecraft uses its engines to escape the earth's gravitational pull. Once in space, the spacecraft does not need it's engines to stay in orbit. What's the explanation for an astronaut in orbit being weightless?

The Earth's gravity pulls the spacecraft and the astronaut equally, but no force pulls the astronaut to the spacecraft.

Which corresponds to the tilt of the earth at its maximum and the sun at its lowest point on its path through the sky in the Northern Hemisphere?

The Winter Solstice happens when the sun reaches its lowest path in the sky and the earth is at its maximum tilt.

A student conducts an experiment to demonstrate changes that would possibly take place in the air in a sealed greenhouse containing many plants. What would happen to the air?

The air becomes poorer in carbon dioxide and richer in oxygen.

Why is the climate on the west coast of California relatively cool during the summer compared to temperatures on the east coast of New York?

The cold-water California current creates cooler climates in coastal areas.

Why are petals on a daffodil yellow, but the leaves are green?

The color observed depends on the color reflected and how the object absorbs the other colors.

What would be the major contribution of a live plant placed in a fish tank with a snail near sunlight?

The diagram clearly involves the photosynthetic process, in which green plants, producers, manufacture food. In this example, the major contribution of the plants is to produce the oxygen needed by the other organisms. Sunlight provides energy for plants to produce oxygen.

During a moderate windstorm, a bridge collapsed. After studying the structural failure, the Army Corps of Engineers issued an order mandating that soldiers cannot march in step while crossing the bridge. What was the principle on which the order was discussed based?

The marching night make the bridge vibrate at its own natural frequency. -Sound travels in sound waves, which consist of different layers of air pressure. When something vibrates, the air surrounding the object also vibrates.

During the new moon, what happens to the moon?

The moon is dark.

Students in a fourth-grade classroom are attempting to classify 5 unknown minerals placed on their lab table. Which test would be the most reliable for classifying the unknown minerals?

The most reliable classification in the scenario presented would come from a scratch test. -A scratch test can determine the relative hardness of the unknown minerals by scratching each mineral against each other. They can be classified from softest to hardest. -Mohs scale rates from softest,#1 talc, to hardest, #10 diamond.

What can be gathered from looking at the arm skeleton of a whale and that of a human?

The structures being compared share a similar evolution but different applications.

The tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the sun is responsible for the seasons of the year. Which corresponds to the tilt of the earth at its maximum and the sun at its highest point on its path through the sky in the Northern Hemisphere?

The summer solstice is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the earth is at its maximum tilt.

As a covered kettle of vegetable soup continues to boil gently on the stove, what happens to the temperature of the soup?

The temperature of the soup remains the same. While the soup is boiling, both liquid and vapor are present in the covered kettle. The temperature of the liquid cannot be higher than its boiling point (212° Fahrenheit), and the temperature of the water vapor cannot be less than the boiling point. Therefore, the soup stays at the boiling point.

Taking all things into consideration and on a global scale, which of the following is the primary factor in determining climate? A. The atmospheric conditions in the area B. The latitude of the area. C. The meeting of warm and cold air masses D. The rain shadow caused by mountains

The term climate refers to the long-term weather patterns of a large geographical area and takes into account temperature, humidity, and precipitation. -Of the choices given, latitude is the best determiner of climate, as it is consistently and directly correlated with temperature. -The equator, at zero degrees latitude, generally has a tropical climate (warm and wet); at the extreme northern and southern latitudes (polar regions), the climate is very cold and dry.

A tightly fitting metal lid on a glass jar was loosed by holding the metal lid under a stream of very hot water. What caused this reaction?

The thermal energy of the metal lid increased, its particles spread out, and the substance expanded. -Heat applied to metals results in the expansion of the metal. Heat energy makes molecules move faster and expand. Colder molecules move slower and contract.

During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, large reptiles dominated the Earth. The vast majority of fossil evidence from these periods is found in which types of rocks?

The vast majority of fossil remains are found in sedimentary deposits such as LIMESTONE, SANDSTONE, & SHALE-mudstone. -sedimentary rocks are the most common type of rocks; they cover 80 percent of the Earth's land area -they are formed as mud or sand

What would be the primary reason that a genetic counselor would want to know the karyotype of an individual's chromosomes?

To determine the number of pairs of chromosomes. The number of pairs would be an indicator to a genetic counselour if an abnormality occurs

Which corresponds to the dates of zero tilt to the earth's axis?

Vernal and Autumnal Equinox

An experiment is conducted in which 5 circular holes of equal size are cut into a large plastic bottle. The holes are arranged exactly one inch from the next. The holes are covered with tape, and the bottle is filled with water. What happens when the tape is removed?

Water from the bottom hole will squirt out farther than that from any other hole due to water pressure increasing with depth, the deeper the water, the greater the pressure.

A student in a science class drops a permanent magnetic bar and it breaks into two dissimilar pieces. what would happen to the pieces of magnet?

When brought together, the north pole of one broken piece would attract the south pole of the other broken piece. -like poles repel each other, opposites attract

During the first and third quarter the moon, is the moon half lit?

Yes, it is half lit during the first and third quarter.

Based on the configurations of the seasons in the diagram on the back slide, which letter would represent the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere?

You can infer from the diagram that, letter B, position of the sun in reference to the tilt of the earth, represents winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It is tilted farthest from the sun and receives less solar radiation. The days get shorter. December 21 is the Winter Solstice.

What's an example of a third class lever?

a baseball bat

What kind of change is taking place when a burner on a propane stove is lighted to heat water?

chemical change

A nuclear reactor that powers an electric generating plant relies on ___________________.

fission (splitting of atoms)

Which characteristic of a wave must change in order to affect the pitch of a sound?

frequency

There are many interactions between two species. What are pairs that demostrate symbiosis?

fungie and orchids, egrets and rhinos, whales and barnacles

Most of the elements in the periodic table are______________.

metals

In the periodic table, an element's atomic number indicates the number of _____________________.

protons

Which of the following liquids is the most acidic and will have the lowest pH? A. milk B. household ammonia C. distilled water D. vinegar

vinegar

What is the primary factor in soil formation?

weathering