Science Quizzes

Which of the following steps in making coffee involves a chemical change?

None of these. All of the choices provided are physical, not chemical, changes.

Which of the following is not true of compounds?

They cannot contain more than one element. Compounds must contain more than one element.

Of the following, which is a sedimentary rock?

shale Shale is a sedimentary rock.

Which of the following models would be most appropriate for a geologist to use to show the locations and relative elevations of mountain ranges in the United States?

a topographic map of the United States A topographic map of the United States best illustrates the locations and relative elevations of mountain ranges in the United States.

Which is the most appropriate unit to measure length of the average football field?

meters A meter is close to a yard which is the actual unit for measuring a football field.

After instruction and practice interpreting distance vs. time graphs with his fourth-grade science class, Mr. Lee wants to check his student's understanding. Which activity would be the best first activity for this check?

Ask students to walk the motion shown in a graph of distance vs. time. Since the focus of the lesson was on interpreting graphs, interpreting and then trying to walk the motion shown by a graph is a good way to demonstrate understanding.

Which of the following behaviors is not an example of an adaptation to changes in the environment?

sweating to cool off during hot weather Sweating to cool off is a behavior in response to immediate environmental conditions. This is an individual accommodation or adjustment to the change, not an adaptation, which occurs in a population over a long period of time.

A material in which heat moves freely is called a:

conductor. A material in which heat is free to flow is a conductor. Metals are often good conductors.

Which of the following environmental effects occurs because of gravity?

erosion Gravity shapes the earth's surface through erosion, pulling rocks and rivers downhill to reshape the landscape.

Which is the most appropriate unit to measure the height of the average adult human?

inches Inches are of an appropriate scale to measure the height of a human because most human adults measure between 50-80 inches, which are whole numbers that are not too large nor too small. Numbers between 0-100 are easy to understand and conceptualize.

A liquid is heated to its boiling point temperature. If further heat is added to the liquid it will:

stay at its boiling point temperature until all of the liquid has evaporated. When heat is added to a liquid at its boiling point temperature, the heat energy breaks the bonds holding the atoms together as a liquid rather than raising the temperature of the liquid. The temperature remains at the boiling point temperature until all of the liquid has evaporated.

What is the primary source of energy for most life on earth?

the sun Solar radiation from the sun fuels most food chains on earth.

Which body system acts as a scaffold by providing support and protection for the soft tissues that make up the rest of the body?

skeletal system The skeletal system includes all of the bones and joints in the body. The skeletal system supports the body and protects all tissues within the body.

Which of the following is an example of a physical change?

water boiling A physical change takes place when water boils. The process does not form a new substance.

Which set of the following factors can affect the growth of an organism?

water, temperature, and light Water, temperature, and light can all affect the growth of an organism .

Which of the following adaptations would best allow a plant to survive in an arid environment?

waxy leaves A waxy leaf will reduce water loss, aiding in surviving in an arid environment.

Which type of graph or chart would be best used to show the breakdown of coat colors in a rabbit population?

circle graph Circle graphs are used to show parts of a whole. This is the best graph for this instance.

Which of the following interventions would be most beneficial for a visual learner who is struggling to differentiate between DNA and RNA?

Ask the student to color a picture of the DNA molecule and RNA molecule. Ask the student to highlight the differences. This intervention will give the student a visual product that they can reference in the future to easily see the differences between DNA and RNA.

Which of the following is an example of an element?

C (carbon) Carbon is a single type of atom and is therefore an element.

What is the difference between groundwater and surface water?

Groundwater is held under Earth's surface or in saturated rock and soil, and surface water is water on Earth's surface. Groundwater is located underground or in saturated rock and soil, and surface water is any form of water on Earth's surface.

Which of the following describes a compound?

Groups of two or more different elements held together by ionic or molecular bonds. Compounds form from two or more different elements, and can have either ionic or molecular bonds.

What quality makes evidence reliable?

It is factual and is gathered through concrete means. Reliable evidence is unbiased, concrete data gathered during scientific investigations.

Which bodily process aids in maintaining homeostasis?

Shivering when cold Shivering helps maintain stable body temperature which aids in maintain homeostasis.

Which of the following correctly sequences the levels of organization for all living things?

cell—tissue—organ—organ system—organism All living things are composed of cells. Cells make up tissues, tissues make up organs, organs make up organ systems, and organ systems make up organisms.

White perch live on the bottom of a pond and eat worms. If a group of turtles live on the edge of the pond and swim to the bottom for food, for which resources are the turtles and perch most likely to compete over?

food Since the turles and perch both eat from the bottom of the pond, they are likely to compete over food.

When is the best time to teach lab safety rules?

immediately before the students begin an experiment Reminding students immediately before they begin using equipment is the best time because they can better remember and apply the specific safety rules to the specific equipment used during the experiment.

Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?

mixing baking soda and vinegar Mixing baking soda and vinegar is a chemical change. A new substance, carbon dioxide, forms in the reaction.

About how long does each of the four main phases of the lunar cycle last?

one week Each major phase of the lunar cycle lasts about one week. The entire cycle takes about 28 days.

The semester exam administered to students at the end of the term is considered to be a:

summative assessment. A semester exam is a form of summative assessment.

Which of the following best describes the primary function of the human skeleton system?

supporting the structure of the body This is the primary purpose of the human skeleton system. The human skeleton provides a form and structure for the body's other systems.

Where is the majority of nitrogen on Earth?

the atmosphere The majority of nitrogen on Earth is located in the atmosphere.

Which of the following would be the most appropriate occasion for a scientist to use carbon dating?

to determine the age of a newly-discovered fossil Carbon dating is often used to determine the age of fossils, since they contain carbon.

The gravitational force from the sun extends:

to infinity. The gravitational force from any object extends to infinity. The strength of the force decreases with distance, but the force never decreases to zero. This means every object in the Universe is pulled by every other object in the Universe.

In which layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?

troposphere The layer closest to the Earth, where weather occurs, is called the troposphere.

Which of the following is an example of sexual reproduction?

two horses having a foal In sexual reproduction, two different organisms create an offspring (foal) that has a mix of their genes.

Symbols on a meteorologist's weather map are best used to show:

wind movement. Meteorologists use symbols and numbers on their weather maps to indicate the speed of the wind and its direction.

Which quality would a scientist be measuring if he were using an anemometer?

wind speed An anemometer is used to measure wind speed.

Value of Die 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 John creates a probability model for rolling two six-sided die as shown above. The value of each die is on the outside, the sum of the two is on the inside. What is the probability of rolling two dice and having a sum of 4?

1/12 Looking at the table above, there 36 possible combinations and three ways in which a sum of 4 can be achieved. 3/36 reduces to 1/12.

Rae Anne has 3 children. The first is a boy, the second is a boy, and the third is a boy. What is the probability that her fourth child is also a boy?

1/2 Each pregnancy is an independent event, so Rae Anne has a 50 percent chance of having a boy.

Brianna spun each of the spinners shown. What is the probability that Brianna landed on "A" on the first spinner?

1/3 In the first spinner, there are three possible places that the spinner can land, only one of these places is "A". Recall that probability = # of successes/ total # possible: P(A) = 1/3.

Of the following, which is most likely the distance from a classroom on the second floor to the playground outside at the end of the wing?

105 meters This is a reasonable distance as it is about the length of a football field.

How many different outcomes are possible when a pair of standard six-sided dice are rolled?

36 There are 36 possible outcomes. Each combination takes into account that a 1 on the first die is different from a 1 rolled on the second. The roll of each die is an independent event. There are 36 possible outcomes or 36 different ways to roll the sums of 2 through 12.

If 2.54 cm = 1 in, about how many inches are in 1 meter?

39.4 in There are 100 cm in 1 m, so 100cm/m ÷ 2.54 cm/in ≈ 39.4 inches/m.

Susan travels at a rate of 60 miles per hour for 3 hours. Her car uses on average one gallon of gas per 30 miles. How many gallons of gas does she use on her trip?

6 The two unit rates: (30 miles per 1 gallon) and (60 miles per hour) can be used to convert from 3 hours to gallons of gas.

Which of the following is an example of interspecific competition?

A mountain lion and a wolf both hunt within the same deer population. Interspecific competition deals with competition between two different species, so this is the correct answer.

Of the following, which is a statement of Newton's second law of motion?

An object's acceleration depends on its mass and the net force acting on the object. Newton's second law can be expressed by F = ma, where F is the net force on the object, m is the object's mass, and a is the object's acceleration.

Mr. Shepherd is beginning a unit on ecological organization. Which of the following activities can he use during the first step of the 5E Model of Instruction?

Ask students to partner up and complete a scavenger hunt for examples of populations around the school. Engagement is the first step of the 5E model. This activity does not feature direct instruction, and it grabs student interest in populations. They are probably already somewhat familiar with populations, and partnering up allows them to fill each other in on information they may need to complete the task.

A teacher asks each small group of students to build a balance from pins, straws, wooden blocks, paper, and tape. Some of the groups try ideas that do not work. Which of the following teacher actions will best encourage these students to think critically while solving problems?

Ask students what they have tried, what happened, and what other thoughts they had. Questions such as these foster critical thinking in problem solving by asking students to think about what worked and what did not work and allowing them to come up with alternate solutions.

A teacher places the following items into a container: sand, a sponge, pebbles, rocks, coral, tree bark, and water. The teacher has students place their hands in the container, without looking at the items, to feel the items and guess what they are. How could she best use this activity to move into a lesson on physical properties?

Ask the students how they would group the different items and why. A discussion on how to group the items could lead to a discussion about what physical properties are.

A student is struggling to differentiate between artificial selection and natural selection. Which of the following interventions would best help this student?

Asking students to pair up and create a Venn diagram of artificial selection and natural selection together. This intervention allows students to collaborate with one another and address their gaps in knowledge, and the Venn diagram provides concrete evidence of the similarities and differences between the two types of selection.

Which of the following is the basic structure of every living organism?

cells All living things have cells as their basic structure. Cells combine to make tissue, tissue combines to form organs, and organs group together to make organ systems.

Which of the following would be the best setting for a teacher to use the geologic time scale?

discussing the formation and changes of the planet Earth The geologic time scale was devised to describe the formation and changes of Earth.

The flow of electrons through a conductive material is also known as what?

electric current Electric current is the flow of electrons through a conductive material

Michelle is assigned homework to flip a coin 10 times, then 100 times, then 1000 times. She decides to use her computer to generate a 1 for heads or a 2 for tails. She has the following results: Number Of Trials Number of Heads (1s) Number of Tails (2s) 10 7 3 100 45 55 1000 507 493 The students are then asked to calculate the percentage of flips that are heads versus tails. What topic is the teacher wanting students to explore?

empirical probability Empirical probability looks at the exact percentage of outcomes that occurs in a real situation.

Ecologists refer to a large collection of food chains as a:

food web. A large collection of food chains is referred to as a food web.

Which layer of the Earth is represented by the label "3b" in the diagram?

inner core The inner core is the very inner layer of Earth. In this diagram, it is labeled 3b.

The five components of soil are mineral components, organic material, water, gases, and:

living organisms Living organisms, like nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are essential to soil.

Which of the following particles resides in the nucleus of an atom? Select all answers that apply.

neutron The neutron is found in the nucleus of the atom. proton The proton is found in the nucleus of the atom.

Which of the following would be found at the bottom of a food chain in an ecosystem?

plants Plants are the lowest level in the food chain. In a food chain, the primary producers are always at the bottom. The primary producers of any food chain are plants.

The outer layers of the Earth are broken into pieces that shift and move. What are these pieces of crust called?

plates The pieces of the outer layer that shift and move are called plates. The impact of these plates, due to movement, is known as plate tectonics.

Which is the most likely way to engage a class of elementary students in a lesson on the connection between the frequency of a sound, its pitch, and its wavelength while still presenting the best learning opportunity? After giving a few examples:

play recordings of sounds at different pitches, while for each, students wiggle fast or slow to indicate frequency and then draw a transverse wave on a whiteboard to indicate the relative wavelength. Students must individually process and apply the information, which allows teacher to check for understanding and allows immediate reteaching if needed.

Ms. Jones assigns her students a task in which they must act out a play with students representing color-coded chromosomes. The play must illustrate the process of crossing-over, and show the resulting cells having different color combinations than the parents to show that they are genetically different. This would be a good activity for students to learn about which topic?

sexual reproduction Crossing over occurs during meiosis, which is part of the process of sexual reproduction. This activity would benefit kinesthetic/tactile learners.

The average temperature on Europa, a moon of Jupiter, gets as high as -113°C near the equator. Scientists believe water (H2O) may exist on Europa. Which of the following best describes the states of water scientists would expect to find on Europa's surface?

solid only This temperature is well below the freezing point of water (0°C). Any water on Europa's surface will be in the solid state.

After a completed lesson on reflection, Ms. Zoya looks at herself in a hand-held mirror, smiling and commenting on her reflection. She then tries to look at her image in a piece of white paper and acts puzzled because she cannot see herself. She asks students why she can see herself in a mirror but not in the paper, writes their theories on the board, and asks for ideas on how to test their theories. What concept about light is Ms. Zoya most likely using as she teaches the science process of experimental design?

specular and diffuse reflection Specular reflection is reflection from a smooth surface in which an image can be seen. Diffuse reflection is reflection that is scattered off a rough surface so light, but no image, can be seen.

Which of the following can lessen the impact human population growth has on the environment?

technology Technology can help mitigate some of the impacts of humans.

An equatorial air mass that originates over a large body of water is most likely to be described as:

warm and humid. An air mass that generates over a large body of water will most likely be warm and humid. The air will be warm because water near the equator is warm, and the air will be humid because it is forming over water.

Which of the following is true about the carbon cycle?

Carbon may become part of sedimentary rock and enter the rock cycle. Carbon may become part of sedimentary rock and enter the rock cycle.

What is the most important use of a control group in an experimental investigation?

Control groups give a baseline to compare results to. Control groups allow scientists to compare the experimental results with a baseline expectation.

A sling psychrometer is used to measure humidity in the air. The psychrometer has two thermometers, one wet and one dry, on a hinged handle. The psychrometer is held above the head and spun so the two thermometers swing around the handle. Mr. Daniels has a class set of psychrometers, and wants to teach his class how to use the instrument to measure humidity. Which of the following is the most appropriate way to accomplish this goal?

Demonstrate how to use the psychrometer, review the need for caution while using the equipment, and allow students to do the activity for themselves. Students learn a procedure best by doing it. Reviewing safe use of the equipment and how it works just before giving the equipment to students will encourage them to use it correctly.

Ms. Martinez knows what unit she will be teaching in April. When school starts in the fall, she wisely hangs a papier-mâché sun from the ceiling in the center of her classroom. She hangs a small globe, tilted at 23.5 degrees, from the ceiling near the edge of her room. Each day, after discussing the calendar and the day's date, Ms. Martinez moves the globe to a new position not too far from its old position. By the end of the year the globe will have nearly orbited the sun. Which science concept is Ms. Martinez most likely preparing her class to learn in April, based on this activity?

Earth's yearly revolution around the sun Ms. Martinez is most likely preparing her class to learn about the Earth's yearly revolution around the sun. Performing the activity daily will give them a sense of the time it takes Earth to orbit the sun.

Which of the following statements is true regarding electrons?

Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the outside of the nucleus of the atom. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the outside of the nucleus of the atom.

Which of the following is true of evolution?

Evolution can result in new species. Evolution can indeed result in new species over many years.

Which of the following is not a major component of the earth's atmosphere?

Fluorine Fluorine gas is not a major component of Earth's atmosphere.

Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a first-quarter moon?

From Earth's point of view, half of the Moon is lit by the Sun during a quarter moon. This occurs when a line from the Earth to the Moon is perpendicular to a line from the Earth to the Sun.(MOON ABOVE EARTH)

Which of the following is not true of mutations

Genetic mutations are only present in physically deformed organisms. Genetic mutations do not always result in a physical deformity.

Which of the following can be attributed to active geothermal activity?

Geysers Geysers occur due to active geothermal activity underground.

Gina said "sound waves only travel through a medium." Fernando disagrees, saying "no, sound can travel through a vacuum like the vacuum of space." With whom do you agree, and why?

Gina, because sound is a series of high and low pressure regions and pressure only exists in a medium. Gina is correct. Sound is a series of high and low pressure regions. Pressure has no meaning when no particles are present. When alternating high and low pressure regions reach our ears, our eardrums vibrate and send signals through our nerves to our brains.

Mrs. McCauley is asking students about statistical experiments. Most students are giving brief answers and justifications. What can she do to increase student participation?

Give sentence stems and time to think before calling on someone. Give students an opportunity to think through an answer prior to giving it may allow for more thorough explanations. The sentence stems will allow them to know they are providing a complete answer.

Which of the following is an example of a compound?

H₂O (water) Water, H₂O, is a compound (as well as a molecule). Compounds form from 2 or more different atoms held together by ionic or molecular bonds.

Which of the following is the best example of a heterogeneous mixture?

Layered gravel at the bottom of an aquarium. The layered gravel is not uniformly mixed, therefore, it is a heterogeneous mixture.

Which organ facilitates the transferring of oxygen to blood?

Lungs The lungs hold in oxygen while blood passes through the lungs and absorbs the oxygen.

Jesse concludes she will not sell the new flavor in her shop because the average of her responses is 5, meaning there was not a strong preference for this flavor. Which measure of central tendency would provide a better indicator for her to base her decision?

Mode If Jesse considered the mode of her data set, she would see her data has two modes, 10 and 2. The customers that tried her ice cream either really liked it or really disliked it which is different than her conclusion that no one had a strong preference either way.

Which of the following lists are all examples of alternative fuels humans can use instead of fossil fuels?

Solar, hydroelectric, geothermal Solar, hydroelectric (energy from falling water), and geothermal (energy from the Earth's heat) are all examples of alternative fossil fuels humans can use.

The table represents the number of arrows shot by the archers and the number of targets hit by the respective archer. If each archer continues to be as accurate as depicted in the table, which of the following archers is most likely to hit their next target? Name Arrows Shot Targets Hit Bob 18 6 John 24 15 Susan 12 8 Charlotte 14 4

Susan Susan has the highest accuracy of the archers. The accuracy of each archer can be found by dividing the number of targets hit by the number of arrows shown. Susan's accuracy is .66, or 2/3. Which means for every three arrows Susan shot, two of the arrows hit the target.

Kevin enjoys watching an eclipse. What caused the lunar eclipse he observed tonight?

The Earth moved directly in between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun's light from fully hitting the moon. When the Earth comes directly between the sun and the moon, the Earth casts a shadow on the moon and blocks most of the sun's light, creating a lunar eclipse.

Different organisms undergo different stages, or cycles, during their lifetime. Most organisms, including dogs, snakes, and fish, have a life cycle that includes 3 stages, while others like the butterfly have 4. Which of the following statements is true regarding organisms that have a three-stage life cycle?

The appearance of the young resembles the adult; the young are just smaller in size. Three-stage life cycles have eggs, young, and adults. The young look very similar to the adults

Jeanette wants to determine if a diabetes drug is effective. She has a group of 100 diabetic rats. She gives 50 rats the new drug and the other 50 rats no medicine. She finds that the blood glucose levels of the rats who received the treatment is 20 points lower than the rats who did not receive treatment. Which of the following is true?

The new drug was effective at lowering blood glucose. The drug lowered the blood glucose of the rats.

Why does a red dress appear red when white light shines on it?

The pigments in the red dress reflect red light and absorb most other colors. We see the color of the light that is reflected from a colored object. Pigments in the red dress reflect red and so we see red. Most of the other colors are absorbed by the pigments, so we do not see those colors.

What is the probability that the sum of the two dice is between 2 and 12, inclusive?

1 The sum being between 2 and 12 includes all possible outcomes, therefore the probability is 1.

Approximately what fraction of the population is within one standard deviation of the mean in a dataset with a normal distribution?

2/3 68.2% of the population will be within one standard deviation of the mean. The closest benchmark fraction to this percentage is ⅔.

Which of the following is equivalent to 3 meters?

300 centimeters 1 meter is equal to 100 centimeters. "Centi" sounds like "century" which has 100 years.

Which of the following would be considered a phase change?

A change in state from a solid to a liquid. A phase change is a change in the state of matter, generally caused by heating the material. The change of solids to liquids and liquids to gases when heated, and from gases to liquids and liquids to solids when cooled, are phase changes.

Of the following scenarios, which would be appropriate for use of the Mohs scale?

A field scientist needs to identify an unknown mineral. The field scientist would use the Mohs scale of mineral hardness to classify a mineral. The scale places talc at 1, quartz at 7, and diamond at 10.

When asked to list sources of error in an experiment, a majority of Mr. Crone's fifth-grade students included "human error" and "calculator error". What is their most likely misunderstanding about sources of error in an experiment?

All of the above are commonly misunderstood by students. All of the above are common misunderstandings.

The Law of Universal Gravitation indicates that all objects in the universe are attracted to one another by the force of gravity. This means that:

All of the above are true statements. All objects in the universe means ALL, including objects on Earth. It's not only objects out in space that are attracted by the force of gravity, but every object that has mass. The gravitational force of the sun is stronger than the gravitational force of the person sitting next to you because the sun is much more massive than the person. The gravitational pull of an object is directly proportional to the interacting masses.

Which of the following activities would be most effective to teach students that populations, not individuals, adapt to environmental conditions?

An activity in which students are given different "adaptations" or tools to carry out a task. Students cannot change their tools, and only successful students move on to the next level. Students observe which tools the remaining students have. This activity provides a good representation of a change in a population due to environmental fitness, and the activity is engaging.

Which of the following is an example of risk assessment for societal advancement in science?

An agent of the Environmental Protection Agency performs an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to the construction of a new bridge. An Environmental Impact Assessment is a form of risk assessment that weighs the risks to the environment against the societal and economic gain to be achieved by the new construction.

Newton's third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Which of the following is the best example of the application of this law?

An airplane moves in the opposite direction of the air pushed out by its engines. Newton's third law explains why objects move in the opposite directions. The law states, for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. For example, if the engine pushes air backward, the air pushes the plane forward.

Students were asked to observe chemical reactions taking place and then record their observations in a data table. Which of the following observations would indicate a chemical reaction has most likely occurred?

Any of the above could indicate a chemical reaction has taken place. All of these observations could indicate that a chemical reaction has taken place.

Mr. Thompson would like to teach his students about the differences between somatic cells and gametes. Which of the following techniques would be the most beneficial for this purpose?

Ask students to pair up and create a poster comparing and contrasting the types of cells, with diagrams of each. This technique effectively allows student collaboration, as well as requiring students to compare and contrast between the cell types.

A large round boulder rolls down hill after it is pushed from point X on the illustration, near the top of a steep hill. Assuming the boulder and the hill are a closed system, and neglecting any effects from friction, if the boulder has 800 J of potential energy at point X, how much and what type of energy will it have halfway down, at point Y?

At point Y the boulder will have 400 J of potential energy and 400 J of kinetic energy. Potential energy is energy an object has due to its position or configuration. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object's motion. At point X, the energy is all potential because the boulder is not moving. As the boulder rolls down the hill, its height decreases and its speed increases, so its potential energy decreases and its kinetic energy increases. At point Y, halfway down, the potential energy is half of its maximum, 400 J, and the rest of its initial energy has become kinetic energy at 400 J.

For a class experiment, Mark pollinates two red flowering plants. One of the plants created produces white flowers. Which of the following is an inference Mark could make?

Both parents were hybrids and carried one recessive allele for the recessive trait. Two hybrids (Rr) would not show the recessive trait, but 25% of their offspring could have a genotype of rr and the recessive trait would be visible.

Morgan runs a study on children's exposure to television at home. She surveys 100 parents about their children's TV watching and vocabulary. She finds that toddlers who watch zero hours of television have an average vocabulary of 30 words. Toddlers who watch two or more hours of television per day have an average vocabulary of 15 words. What conclusions can she draw?

Children who watch more TV have a smaller vocabulary on average than children who watch less TV. An observational study like this can only show a correlation, not causation. Therefore, the correct choice is that children who watch TV have a smaller vocabulary than children who watch less TV.

School administrators often require their staff to write common assessments. Which of the following is important to consider regarding the writing of common assessments in a team of four teachers, all of whom teach third grade on the same campus?

Common assessments need to be a collaborative effort, aligned to the curriculum, and administered regularly. All of these are important to consider when teachers are writing common assessments.

Which is the most age-appropriate approach for teaching early elementary students to understand the meaning of "renewable" when discussing renewable and non-renewable resources?

Compare how long it would take to grow, gather, or form more of each resource (i.e. grow a tree, gather sunlight, or make coal). Renewable resources can be replenished in a relatively short time. Early elementary students can understand a comparison of times like these to gain an understanding about the differences of renewable and non-renewable resources.

Which of the following would best assess students' abilities to formulate testable scientific questions?

Demonstrate a science event with an unexpected outcome and ask each to write a related question that they might be able to answer with classroom experiments. The most effective assessment of the ability to formulate scientific questions involves having students actually write scientific questions. Demonstrating a discrepant event gives students a focus for their questions

The students in Ms. Dukes' fifth-grade class are using electronic scales to measure the weights of various rocks during a geology lesson. One group has consistently high values for the weights. What is the first thing she should ask the group to help them get back on track?

Did you zero the scale before you started measuring? The students have an ongoing accuracy error. Students often forget to zero a scale when measuring weights, which produces errors in accuracy.

Mr. Muldoon is teaching about converting between metric and English units. One of his students refuses to engage in the activity and states "I am never leaving America so I don't need to learn this." How should he respond?

Explain the many ways in which people in America use the metric system. Relating current learning to the real world is always a good idea. Information should be shown to be relevant.

Mr. Grubb is teaching about accuracy and precision. He asks students to write an essay explaining the difference between the two. He gets a couple of essays that are two sentences long. How can he improve this?

Give a rubric which clearly communicates expectations. Rubrics help clarify expectations and should be given for most open ended assignments.

Mrs. Walker just completed a unit on the anatomy of a rat with her fifth graders. Which of the following is the most effective way for a teacher to assess the students' understanding of the concept?

Have students draw a rat and label the parts. This is an engaging activity that will assess the students' understanding and knowledge of rat anatomy.

An appropriate learning goal for upper elementary students is that the force of gravity always pulls objects toward the center of the Earth. Which activity best piques student's curiosity and encourages them to accept the learning goal as true?

Have students sketch the Earth as a circle, then drop various objects while they imagine they are in different places on opposite sides of the world (China, Peru, India, Texas). Have students draw arrows at each place to show the direction of the force of gravity there. Guide the class into developing a conclusion. Allowing students to draw conclusions from observations is a way to develop deep understanding.

One of Mr. Hawkins' students believes that all mutations happen after the organism's birth. How should Mr. Hawkins address this misconception?

Have students work with manipulatives to represent genes and show how the gene mutates during DNA copying, not after birth, and use those manipulatives to illustrate how genes are passed from parent to offspring. This activity allows students to learn about how genes mutate during DNA replication, and the use of manipulatives is engaging.

Many personal listening devices warn that listening to loud sounds for a long time can damage one's hearing. Why do loud sounds damage one's hearing?

High amplitudes apply large pressures to structures in the ear. Sound is a compression wave with regions of high and low pressure that can cause damage to the ear if the pressures are too great.

Which of the following statements is true regarding protons and atoms?

In an atom, the protons are located inside the nucleus. Protons in an atom are located inside the nucleus, as are the neutrons.

Ms. Hoffman has already taught her students about north and south poles and how to use a magnetic compass to determine which end of a magnet is north. She has also taught her students how to magnetize a paperclip. Now she wants to teach them that monopoles do not exist. She asks the class to predict what will happen to the magnetic poles of a paperclip if it is cut in half. She writes student predictions on the board using words and pictures, without commenting on the accuracy of their predictions. Ms. Hoffman then gives pairs of students a magnetized paper clip and a small compass, and asks them to find and mark the north and south ends of the paper clip. When students are ready, Ms. Hoffman and her aide move around the classroom, cutting students' paper clips in half, encouraging them to investigate the poles of the halves with their compasses. If they want a second cut, she obliges and cuts a half in half. When done, Ms. Hoffman leads a class discussion about the process and the findings. Other than solidifying the content, what is the most likely reason Ms. Hoffman led her students in a class discussion after the experiment?

It gives students a chance to argue from evidence and practice their communication skills. Although all listed reasons are positive, a class discussion of the results and conclusions gives students a chance to develop the scientific practices of arguing from evidence and communicating findings.

Which metric prefix indicates a factor of 1000?

Kilo- Kilo- indicates a factor of 1000.

Mr. Singer's class wonders why the United States is colder in the winter, since the Earth is closer to the sun at that time. Mr. Singer proposes that they design experiments to investigate the relationship between the angle of the sunlight and temperature on Earth. He divides his students into lab groups, has them plan their experiments, and sets out globes, lamps, and thermometers. Mr. Singer notices that one student group is not letting the globe cool off between trials and is, therefore, getting misleading readings. What should he do?

Look at the group's data and initiate a discussion by wondering out loud why their temperatures seem to be so similar at all the different angles. Initiating a discussion by wondering is an excellent way to help students think about possible mistakes in their techniques.

Which of the following is a list of planets?

Mars, Venus, and Saturn Mars, Mercury, and Saturn are planets.

The data above is presented in a stem and leaf plot. The data represents the grades on a recent math test given by Mr. Davis and Mrs. Smith. How do the means for Mr. Davis' class and Mrs. Smith's class compare with each other?

Mr. Davis' class has a mean of about 76, 2 points lower than Mrs. Smith's For Mr. Davis the sum of his data is 1912; 1912 ÷ 25 = 76.48 ≈ 76. For Mrs. Smith the sum of her data is 1949: 1949 ÷ 25 = 77.96 ≈ 78. So, the mean for Mrs. Smith's class is about 2 points higher than that of Mr. Davis'.

Which of the following is the best reason that each muscle cell has many mitochondria organelles present?

Muscle cells expend a lot of energy. In biology, function is closely related to structure. Muscle cells do work and expend a lot of energy, so they need many mitochondria present.

Many rodents living in the Sahara Desert have sand-colored hair. Which of the following best explains this phenomenon?

Natural selection favors this color. Natural selection favors the sand-colored hair because this color helps protect the rodents by camouflaging them from predators

A woman accidentally left her purse on top of her car and drove out of her driveway. She traveled a short distance down the road and a deer darted out in front of her, causing her to quickly apply the brakes. When she hit the brakes, she saw her purse slide down her windshield and onto the hood of her car. Which one of Newton's Laws does this scenario relate to?

Newton's First Law of motion Newton's First Law of motion states that an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an external net force. In this scenario, the woman's car stopped when she hit the brakes, but her purse kept moving forward.

Mr. Thomas is teaching measures of central tendency to his class that is mostly comprised of English Language Learners (ELL). What is the best support for teaching the new vocabulary words?

Put the words on a Word Wall with the word, picture, and definition. Word Walls give students something to reference when thinking of vocabulary.

Which of the following would best help students learn to protect themselves against potential health hazards in the laboratory?

Require students to wash their hands after a lab experience. Requiring hand washing after touching equipment can lead to good safety habits for all students.

Mrs. Smith surveyed her first grade class to ask what their favorite snacks were. She gave each of her 17 students a wedge that represented 1/17 of the circle. She then asked them to color it based on their answer. The class then created the pie chart below using their wedges. Why is this an effective way to teach data analysis to elementary students?

Students can see how each person is represented individually and the class preferences as a whole. Students gain a basic understanding by participating and seeing the individual pieces make one whole.

Mr. Gentry is teaching his class about genetic disorders. One of his students says that people with dominant traits never have genetic disorders, because dominant traits are better. How should Mr. Gentry address this misconception?

Tell the student that many other students think the same thing, and teach the students about dominant disorders like Huntington's disease. This strategy acknowledges that it is not an uncommon belief, but still teaches students the correct information.

The Sun pulls on the Earth with a certain gravitational force. Which other statement is true about the gravitational force between the Sun and the Earth?

The Earth pulls back on the Sun just as hard as the Sun pulls on the Earth. According to Newton's Third Law, if the Sun pulls in one direction on the Earth, the Earth pulls in the opposite direction with an equal force. The force of gravity is proportional to both masses, and has the same strength in either direction.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Earth's materials and the different states of matter?

The Earth's materials can be in any one of the three states of matter. The Earth's materials can be in one of all three states of matter. Rocks are solid, water is liquid, and the atmosphere contains gases.

Marah watches a hot air balloon floating in the sky. Suddenly the balloon starts moving toward the east. Which of the following would be the best explanation for why the balloon started moving?

The balloon started moving due to an unbalanced force acting on it. An object changes its state of motion when an unbalanced force acts on it. An unbalanced force, or net force, occurs when the forces acting the object do not cancel each other. For example, if a pen moves when you push it across a desk, then the force you apply is greater than the resisting force of friction and an unbalanced force acts on the pen. However, if the pen keeps moving at constant speed (no additional change in motion), then your applied force and the force of friction are equal and opposite, so they cancel each other. At that time, no unbalanced forces act on the pen.

A teacher tells the following true story to her fifth-grade class. "Some scientists in Utah had made a wonderful discovery! They discovered a source of huge amounts of cheap energy that was easy to produce. They performed experiments, analyzed their data, and published their results. Scientists at research centers all over the world tried to do the experiments in their own labs, but there was a problem: no one could get the same results as the original scientists. The original results could not be reproduced and eventually their conclusions were rejected. Their experiment had not worked in any other lab, and no cheap and abundant energy source was developed." Of the following choices, which concept is she most likely preparing to teach?

The importance of repeatability in science. She was preparing to teach about repeatability in science. The original conclusions were proved faulty because the experiment was not repeatable.

How do the loudness and the intensity of a sound change when the amplitude of the sound wave increases?

The loudness and the intensity both increase. The amplitude, loudness, and intensity of a sound wave all increase together. The amplitude is related to the amount of energy that produces the sound wave. The intensity is related to the amount of energy delivered by a sound wave. The loudness is the human perception of the intensity.

The table shown compares two properties of sound by listing a few characteristics of each property and an example. Which phrase would best replace the letter Z in the table? Intensity X Characteristics: Characteristics: Related to the amount of energy transported by a sound. Related to the human perception of a sound. Y Measured in descriptive words. Example: Example: The softest sound intensity that can be heard is 0 dB. Z

The softest sound is called the threshold of hearing. A sound intensity of 0 dB represents a loudness called the threshold of hearing.

Solutions are composed of two parts: the solute, and the solvent. What is the solute?

The substance that is dissolved in the solvent. The solute is the substance that is dissolved in the solvent. For example, if you dissolve sugar in water, the solute is the sugar and the solvent is the water.

A second-grade teacher wants to perform a check for understanding of the difference between an element and a compound before she goes on with the rest of the lesson. Which activity will best help her check the understanding of each student

The teacher gives each student 3 small piles of differently colored beads. One at a time, she asks students to make an element, and then a compound. After each instruction she walks the class to observe. With this activity the teacher can immediately check the understanding of each individual student and remediate as she walks around.

A second-grade teacher wants to perform a check for understanding of the difference between a heterogeneous and a homogeneous mixture before she goes on with the rest of the lesson. Which activity will best help her check the understanding of each student?

The teacher gives each student 3 small piles of differently colored beads. One mixture at a time, she asks students to make a heterogeneous, and then a homogeneous mixture. After each instruction she walks the class to observe. With this activity the teacher can immediately check the understanding of each individual student and remediate as she walks around.

Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a new moon?

This positioning occurs for a new moon when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon's face appears dark because it is illuminated only by reflected light from the Earth.(RIGHT SIDE OF EARTH)

Is matter conserved during a chemical change?

Yes, the atoms are rearranged during a chemical change, but the same number and types of atoms are still present. Yes, matter is conserved during a chemical change. The same number and types of atoms are still present before and after a chemical reaction, but they will be combined differently than before the reaction.

According to the weather chart, what formation is currently in the middle of the great plains?

a cold front Cold fronts are denoted by lines with blue triangles

According to the weather chart, what formation is currently over the Gulf of Mexico?

a cold front Cold fronts are denoted by lines with blue triangles.

In which stage of life does the butterfly reproduce?

adult The adult life stage is when reproduction takes place in the butterfly life cycle. The butterfly is not able to reproduce during the egg, larva, or pupa stage.

Which of the following devices operates mainly because of an electromagnet?

an audio speaker Audio speakers are made from a coil of wire that is free to move inside the poles of a permanent magnet. An audio signal causes the current to switch back and forth, and the movement of the coil pushes air molecules back and forth, making sound.

Neutral sodium atoms become positively charged sodium ions when:

an electron is removed from the atom. All electrons have a negative charge of -1. Removal of one negatively charged electron from a neutral sodium atom leaves the sodium with a positive charge of +1.

Which of the following activities for studying cell organelles would best serve a kinesthetic learner?

assigning each student an organelle and acting out a play about them Acting in a play would best serve a kinesthetic learner, who learns by doing. Assigning each organelle as a character would help the student draw connections between organelles and show how they work together

Which are the smallest particles of an element?

atoms Atoms are the smallest particles of an element. If broken into protons, neutrons, and electrons, the element no longer exists.

Which of the following is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure?

barometer A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure.

Which of the following is an example of a negative feedback system?

body temperature regulation Body temperature is a negative feedback system, with the result of the feedback being a return closer to the normal status of the system.

Which of the following is the principal type of energy is stored in a AA battery?

chemical potential energy Chemical energy is energy stored in the bonds of a chemical compound. The breaking of the chemical bonds releases energy. In a battery, energy in the chemical bonds becomes electric potential energy.

Fifth-grade students are working on an experiment and writing down their discoveries. Which of the following should the teacher be doing as the students work on the experiment?

coaching and guiding children as needed This is the best answer because the teacher is able to guide instruction on an as-needed basis.

Cattle egrets are birds that live near cattle because as the cattle graze, insects in the ground are stirred up to the surface. When the insects are stirred to the surface, the birds eat the insects. The cattle are unaffected by the birds or the insects. This relationship between the cattle egrets and the cattle can best be described as:

commensalism. Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms where one organism receives benefits from the relationship (cattle egrets) and the other organism is unharmed or unaffected (cattle).

A material in which electrons move freely is called a:

conductor. A material in which electrons are free to flow is a conductor. Conductors such as copper wire are often used in circuits so electrons can flow freely between components in a circuit.

To complete the cycle of life, dead plants and animals must be broken down to return nutrients to the soil. What is the term for organisms that complete this process of the food chain?

decomposers Decomposers break down the tissue of dead plants and animals, returning the nutrients to the soil.

While Jessica is viewing membrane-stained cells under a compound microscope, she notices that the cells appear to have specialized organelles. These cells are most likely which of the following?

eukaryotic cells All eukaryotic cells contain specialized, membrane-bound organelles

Which of the following is an example of the application of force?

friction between a child and a playground slide Friction is a contact force. A child sliding down a playground slide is an example of this force.

All objects in the universe are governed by the laws of universal forces. One of these laws says that all objects in the universe are attracted to one another, due to which of the following forces?

gravity All objects in the universe are attracted to one another due to the force of gravity. The amount of gravitational pull an object exerts is directly correlated to the masses involved. For example, the gravitational force of the moon upon the Earth results in different ocean levels, called tides.

The Guarani Aquifer is an example of which type of resource?

groundwater Aquifers are groundwater reserves situated below the water table.

Patrick likes to play horseshoes. He consistently tosses the horseshoes about one meter to the left of the stake. Which of the following accurately describes his results?

high precision, low accuracy The horseshoes are consistently close together, so they have high precision. The horseshoes are not close to the stake, so they have low accuracy.

Terrance lives near a river and is concerned about the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Which alternative energy in his area would be the best solution for his concern

hydroelectric energy Since Terrance lives near a river, water would be the best choice for an energy resource. The generation of hydroelectric energy is possible with flowing water.

Which of the following is the best way to engage students from diverse cultural backgrounds in the practices of science?

incorporate science lessons that develop from the actual experiences of students in their culture Incorporating science lessons that tie to students' cultural experiences engages these students by providing connections between their world and scientific study, and shows that science is not only for the culture of the majority.

As humans burn more and more fossil fuels on Earth, the amount of carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere increases, causing the average temperature of the Earth to:

increase. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps more solar energy, increasing the average temperature of the Earth.

The volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 deposited a large amount of ash in the local atmosphere. Which of the following changes to the Earth's system was reflected in the aftermath of the explosion?

increased solar reflection that resulted in lower temperatures in the affected areas The ash in the atmosphere increased the probability that light rays would reflect off the ash and back into space instead of the light rays reaching Earth. When less sunlight passes through the atmosphere, Earth's surface and atmosphere remain cooler.

Sea otters eat sea urchins. This keeps the number of sea urchins in check and protects kelp forests, which are vital to their ecosystem. Which of the following best describes the most important role of the sea otter?

keystone species Sea otters are keystone species due to the large influence they have on these ecosystems.

A wind turbine converts:

kinetic energy into electrical energy. Wind supplies kinetic energy, which is converted to mechanical energy within a wind turbine and then to electrical energy by the wind turbine's generator.

The climate in a specific location is affected the most by:

latitude, elevation, and ocean currents. The latitude, elevation, and ocean currents can all influence a location's climate.

Which of the following systems in the human body would you use to throw a baseball?

muscular The muscular system works with the skeletal system to move limbs, such as what is needed to throw a baseball.

In which organelle is the cell's genetic information stored?

nucleus The genetic information of the cell is stored in the nucleus.

What period of time can be measured by roughly one revolution of the moon around the Earth?

one month A month is roughly the time it takes for the moon to revolve around the Earth.

Electromagnetism is possible because:

positive and negative charges exist. All electromagnetism depends upon the existence of electrical charge. Electricity is possible because opposite charges attract each other and similar charges repel. Moving electrical charges produce magnetism.

An increase in the population of which of the following will most likely cause a population increase in every other level of the food chain?

producers Producers are the plants upon which primary consumers feed. Primary consumers feed on the producers, secondary consumers feed on primary consumers, and so on, up the food chain. All levels of the food chain are affected by population changes in the producers.

While Susan is viewing membrane-stained cells under a compound microscope, she notices that the cells do not appear to have any specialized organelles. These cells are most likely which of the following?

prokaryotic cells Prokaryotic cells do not contain specialized, membrane-bound organelles

Mr. Orlando is teaching a unit about projectile motion. He would like students to experimentally determine the effects of initial conditions on the range of a projectile. Which of the following pairs of equipment should Mr. Orlando provide to his students for this task?

protractor and meter stick With a protractor and a meter stick, students could examine the effect of the launch angle on the horizontal distance a projectile travels.

Which of the following types of stars is a large, relatively cool star with a small core that fuses helium into carbon?

red giant A red giant has high luminosity and relatively low surface temperature.

Of the choices listed, which is the best analogy for resistance in a circuit?

security screening at the airport Resistance can be modeled as security screening at the airport, which reduces the number of people that get through the airport. Resistance in a circuit reduces the current, which is flow of charge.

Ms. Samson is explaining nitrogen fixing to her third-grade class. Which of the following demonstrations would best accompany her explanation?

showing students a raw egg and a peeled hard-boiled egg, and asking students which they would prefer for breakfast Ms. Samson could use her raw/cooked egg demo to explain that, just as we prefer our eggs cooked, plants in the soil need their nitrogen to be "fixed" or changed before they can use it.

A weatherman on the local news is describing a cold front reaching and pushing up warm air later in the day. Which of the following is the weatherman most likely explaining? Select all answers that apply.

the development of thunderstorm clouds When cold and warm air meet in the atmosphere, then inclement weather develops, usually rain. D the likelihood of rain When cold and warm air meet in the atmosphere, then inclement weather develops, usually rain.

A Punnett square is used to predict which of the following?

the probability of inherited traits Punnett squares provide the probability of inherited traits to appear in offspring.

An organism's niche refers to its "occupation" within an ecosystem and how it interacts

with the physical and biological factors in its environment. A niche is the specific way that an organism lives and interacts within the habitat, including living and nonliving things.

What is the formula for work?

work = force x distance The formula for work = force x distance.

The table lists the three ways thermal energy can be transferred. Which phrase would best replace the letter Z, which represents an example of radiation? Transfer of Thermal Energy Types & Examples Conduction X Radiation 1. vegetables gets hot after sitting in a pan of boiling water 1. the warmer air is at the top of a room and cooler is at the bottom 1. person can feel the heat standing next to a fireplace 2. Y 2. air above a cup of hot chocolate rises and is replaced with cooler air 2. Z

you can feel the heat coming from the light bulb in a lamp The heat from a light bulb is an example of radiation. Radiation occurs when energy from the lamp travels without touching you, yet you can feel the heat.

When oxygen and hydrogen combine to form water, what type of change has occurred?

Chemical When oxygen and hydrogen combine to form water, a chemical change has occurred. The oxygen and hydrogen have formed a new substance.

Which organelle is responsible for the packaging and export of proteins?

Golgi apparatus The Golgi apparatus is responsible for the packaging and export of proteins.

Why does a simple machine (pulley, inclined plane, lever) make work easier? Select all answers that apply.

It can decrease the amount of force needed to move an object. Work is the product of force times distance. A simple machine can increase the distance the object travels or decrease the amount of force needed. It can increase the distance an object travels. Work is the product of force times distance. A simple machine can increase the distance the object travels or decrease the amount of force needed.

Which of the following is true of a statistical experiment?

Its outcome is determined by chance. The outcome of a statistical experiment is determined at random. Only one outcome will occur for each statistical experiment and all possible outcomes are known beforehand, but which outcome will occur is not predetermined.

Which of the following statements regarding meteorites is true?

Meteorites are meteors that actually strike the Earth. Not all meteors reach the Earth. Those that make it through the atmosphere and strike the Earth are called meteorites.

Which of the following is the best way for a teacher to help elementary students deeply understand the various types of energy?

Model different types of energy with objects or situations and ask students to explain why that object/situation is able to do work. Having students connect the ability to do work with various types of energy they see enables them to understand the classifications of energy.

Which of the following describes an object's tendency to resist changes to its state of motion?

Newton's First Law Newton's first law deals with an object's inertia, or its tendency to resist changes to its state of motion. It states "An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force."

Which of the following is true about stars?

Star color is dependent upon their temperature. Star color is dependent upon temperature. Hotter stars are blue while cooler stars are red.

How are form and function related?

They have a complementary relationship, with form allowing function and function enforcing the need for the specific form. This is the correct answer. Form and function complement each other, with form providing the mechanism for function, and function enforcing and requiring the specific form.

Global weather patterns or short-term climatic changes can be impacted by which of the following?

changes in global winds and ocean currents Changes in ocean currents or in global winds can ultimately influence or impact global weather patterns or cause short-term climatic changes. El Nino is an example.

Which of the following characteristics always describes a gas? Select all answers that apply.

changing volume A gas can change volume depending on pressure and temperature. can be compressed (squashed) A gas can be compressed.

When Terry put a marble in a graduated cylinder of water measuring 47 mL, the water level increased to 51 mL. Which principle describes the increase in water volume?

conservation of matter Matter takes up space, or has volume, and has mass. When the marble is dropped into the graduated cylinder of water, the new reading on the graduated cylinder is the sum of the volume of the water and the volume of the marble.

Which layer of the Earth is represented by the label "2" in the diagram?

mantle The mantle is just below the crust. In this diagram, it is labeled 2.

Which of the following units represents the shortest distance?

nanometer A nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter.

A large round boulder is pushed from the top of a steep hill and rolled to the bottom. Which point on the illustration shows the greatest potential energy as the boulder rolled down the hill?

point X Potential energy is the boulder's energy due to its position (height in this case) or the arrangement of its particles. Of the points listed, point X is the highest point above the ground; therefore, the gravitational potential energy is a maximum at point X.

One of the most commonly used examples of a solution is:

the atmosphere. The atmosphere is one of the most commonly used examples of a solution because it is something we see every day of our lives and is a homogeneous mixture that contains a large number of different gases which we are unable to visibly distinguish.

Which of the following causes the lunar cycle as observed from Earth?

the orbit of the moon around the Earth The lunar cycle is a result of the moon orbiting the Earth in relation to the sun. The illumination of the moon by the sun from the perspective of the Earth allows people on Earth to track the lunar cycle. As the moon orbits the Earth, different angles of the moon are visible from Earth because of how the moon is illuminated by the sun. This variance in illumination from the perspective of Earth results in people on Earth being able to monitor the orbit of the moon.

The tilt of the Earth causes

the seasons. The tilt of the Earth causes the four seasons based on which region is tilted toward or away from the sun.

A pendulum swings back and forth in a vertical semicircle pattern. When does the pendulum have its greatest potential energy?

when the pendulum is at the top of the arc Potential energy is the energy stored in an object by virtue of an object's position relative to other objects. At the top of the arc the pendulum has its maximum height, therefore it has its maximum potential energy.

Which of the following is an example of asexual reproduction?

a cutting from a plant growing into a new sapling This is asexual reproduction. The new sapling is genetically identical to the plant it was cut from.

Which of the following causes the Coriolis Effect?

the rotation of the Earth The Coriolis Effect is due to the rotation of the Earth. As objects move across the Earth, their path appears to be deflected because the Earth is rotating beneath them. For example, a missile's path will be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Pam and Vanessa looked through a telescope at two stars next to one another. The stars were equally as bright, but one was red and one was orange. Which of the following is the best explanation for the difference in the color of the stars?

the stars have different surface temperatures Stars with different temperatures shine with different colors. For example, blue giants are hotter than red giants.

Jessica looks out her window and sees the moon as shown below. About how many days will it take for the moon to first look this way again?

28 days Jessica saw a moon in the first quarter phase. The lunar cycle lasts roughly 28 days. So, it will take 28 days for the same phase to be seen again.

Assuming the population trend continued in the same manner, what would be a reasonable estimation for what the population of the United States was in 2010?

290 million people The population increases by 20 million people every 10 years. 290 million people is correct.

A journalist in a town with a population of 15,200 takes a random sample of 200 people and finds that 60 of them read the local newspaper. Based on this sample, which of the following is the best estimate for the number of people in the town that read the local newspaper?

4500 Of the 200 people sampled, \frac{60}{200}20060​ or 30% read the paper. 30% of the town's population is (0.30)(15200) = 4560. Therefore about 4500 people read the local paper.

What is the mean of the data set below? 15, 18, 19, 54, 74, 94, 67, 82, 48, 31, 15

47 To find the mean, or average, of a data set simply add all the values together and then divide by the total number of values. The total value of the data set is 517 and there are 11 numbers. 517 / 11 = 47.

Two fish that are heterozygous for a specific trait (Aa) have 20 baby fish. About how many of these baby fish will likely show the recessive trait?

5 Since both parents are hybrids, they will each give a recessive trait half the time so 1/4 of the offspring will receive two recessive alleles. Since 1/4 of 20 is 5, we can expect 5 baby fish to be recessive.

Consider the following Punnett square. If A is dominant over a, what percentage of the offspring would be expected to show the dominant phenotype?

50% Because half of the boxes contain a dominant allele (A), 50% of offspring would be expected to show the dominant phenotype.

Black colored fur is dominant over white colored fur in rabbits. A black colored rabbit (Bb) is mated with a purebred, white colored rabbit (bb). What percentage of their offspring will have black fur?

50% The black rabbit will provide B or b. The white rabbit will always provide b. So the genotypes would be Bb half the time and bb the other half. Therefore, 50% of their offspring will have black fur.

If 2.2 lb = 1 kg, and Mary weighs 120 lbs, how much does she weigh in kg?

55 kg \frac{1 \text{ kg}}{2.2 \text{ lb}} = \frac{x \text{ kg}}{120 \text{ lb}}2.2 lb1 kg​=120 lbx kg​ Cross multiply and divide to find 54.54, which rounds to 55 kg.

Michelle is assigned homework to flip a coin 10 times, then 100 times, then 1000 times. She decides to use her computer to generate a 1 for heads or a 2 for tails. She has the following results: Number Of Trials Number of Heads (1s) Number of Tails (2s) 10 7 3 100 45 55 1000 507 493 What can be said about the results of her simulation?

As she performed more trials, the experimental probability became closer to the theoretical probability. In simulations the experimental probability becomes closer to the theoretical probability as more trials are performed.

Ms. Havrah found that students in her class could describe mechanical energy transformations, such as the transformation of kinetic energy to gravitational potential energy, but could not understand how chemical reactions could produce thermal energy. Which background knowledge did the students most likely not understand?

Chemical bonds release energy when chemicals combine to form a compound. Students most likely do not understand that energy is stored in or released from chemical bonds during a chemical reaction.

Mr. Schmidt is teaching statistics and the data lists are long. Finding the mean would take a long time so he has decided students may bring a calculator from home to use on the unit test. What can he do to ensure that all students have a device?

Give advance notice to bring calculators and provide devices for those who do not have one. Give students an opportunity to bring their own and allow them to borrow one if they forget or do not have one.

Mr. Bielenberg asks students to measure 5 different objects from home using different units of measurement. He does not receive a wide variety of objects. How could he improve this activity in the future?

Give clear guidelines for expected objects. Students need to know what is expected of them.

A teacher wants to help her elementary students understand what is meant by a "complete circuit." Which activity is most likely to develop a deep understanding that students will remember?

Give each student a battery, a wire, and a small light bulb and ask them to find ways to light the light. Follow the experiment with a class discussion of what worked, what didn't, and why. Students will likely struggle to light the bulb, but in their struggles they will see for themselves the meaning of the term "complete circuit". During the discussion the teacher can point out why a complete circuit is needed to light the bulb.

A teacher's goal in a math lesson to have students extract data from various charts and displays. What is the best way to do this?

Give each student a chart or display and have them create questions and then trade with a partner. Creating questions and discussing answers with a partner demonstrates mastery of a concept at a high level of learning.

Mrs. Stone has just finished teaching her students the difference between a line graph and a bar graph. She wants to evaluate if they have mastered this concept before the end of class. She plans to give them sets of data and then have them respond with the correct type of display. The best method to do this is:

Give each student a wipe board so they can all answer independently. this method allows for a quick check for understanding and every student can respond

Mr. Peterson wants his students to learn the major characteristics of different animal groups. Which of the following would be the best for him to use in class?

Give groups of students example photos of animals and have them group them under characteristics he provides. Having students sort the examples under the characteristics will best help students remember each group's features.

Ms. Babu feels her class has a good understanding of the definitions and theories associated with physical and chemical changes, but she wants them to apply the concepts. Which homework assignment would best help students connect the concepts to their everyday lives?

Have students look for a chemical or physical change they see after they leave school, and then tell the class about it the next day. Once students have a good idea of a scientific concept, asking them for examples from their own lives will motivate and help them apply the idea outside of school.

Which of the following is the most appropriate assignment for helping early elementary students begin to consider their own effect on the environment?

Have them look for and talk about ways they and their family pollute the land, water, or air in everyday life. Students may be surprised at the impact their lives have on the environment. This assignment will personalize care of the environment.

Which of the following is an inner planet?

Mercury The planets are divided into two group, one on either side of the asteroid belt. The inner planets -- Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars -- are between the sun and the asteroid belt. The outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - are located beyond the asteroid belt.

Students in Ms. Carson's class are having trouble understanding how genetic variation allows natural selection to happen. What can Ms. Carson do to address this misconception?

Ms. Carson can buy a bag of multi-colored fruit candy and ask each student to pick out their favorite flavor. Afterwards, Ms. Carson can show students the candy so they can see that their least favorite flavors are less likely to get picked. This activity shows students that when there is already genetic variation in a population (different candy colors), some organisms are more likely to survive than others, and soon the population all exhibits the beneficial traits (less-desired candy colors).

Edward wants to make a plot that depicts his classmate's favorite types of juice. Which of the following plots would be best suited for that?

Pie Chart Pie charts are useful for plotting categorical data.

Mr. Delmonico has an exciting lesson planned. He wants to demonstrate the electromagnetic force by showing his students the behavior of charged balloons. But alas, it is a very humid day and nothing holds a charge. What should he do during class instead?

Postpone the lesson until a drier day and spend the time on a different subject. Flexibility and being prepared can be an asset. Instead of substituting a weaker lesson on the electromagnetic force, if Mr Delmonico is prepared, he can substitute another lesson, perhaps from a different subject, and use the time he frees up on another day to teach his lesson on balloons.

Which of the following statements is NOT likely to happen to precipitation once it reaches the Earth?

Precipitation can create air currents. Precipitation does not create air currents. The clouds that carry the precipitation are moved by the air currents.

The graph below shows the points scored by various teams in a game. Which data table correctly lists the information from the graph?

Table D Teams 1 and 2 are about half way between lines showing they scored 25 and 35 points respectively. Team 3 scored just above the 10 point line giving them 11 points. Team 4 scored just below the 40 point line giving them 39 points.

Which of the following is not true regarding global warming and climate change?

Temperatures around the world are universally increasing. Temperatures may decrease in some parts of the world. For example, when the ice caps melt, they release cooler water into the ocean, which reduced the temperature in those locations.

Mr. Singer's class wonders why the United States is colder in the winter, since the Earth is closer to the sun at that time. Mr. Singer proposes that they design experiments to investigate the relationship between the angle of the sunlight and temperature on Earth. He divides his students into lab groups, has them plan their experiments, and sets out globes, lamps, and thermometers. Which of the following should be the independent variable in this experiment?

The angle of the surface of the globe where the thermometer is located relative to the lamp light. Students will measure final temperature versus the angle of the globe's surface. The angle is what the students control in the experiment, so it is the independent variable.

A frozen popsicle was left in the sun and melted. Which statement is true regarding the physical properties of the popsicle after it melted?

The arrangement of molecules had changed. The popsicle changed state from a liquid to a solid phase. A phase is a physical property and describes the current arrangement of the molecules. The molecules themselves, however, do not change.

Which statement best describes why a cork floats in water

The density of cork is less than the density of water. Corks float because they are less dense than water. For example, 100 mL of water has more mass than 100 mL of cork. The upward buoyant force on the cork equals the weight of the water that is displaced by the cork. Since the density of water is greater than the density of cork, the cork experiences a large buoyant force and is pushed upward by the water.

Which of the following is an example of thermal energy?

The motion or vibration of particles of matter. Thermal energy is stored in the vibrations of atoms and molecules in matter.

A snowball is pushed from rest down a smooth, steep side of a mountain and maintains its shape until the bottom of the mountain. Which of the graphs shows the correct acceleration vs. time graph of the snowball as it down the mountain?

The snowball speeds up uniformly (smoothly), so the acceleration is constant. In other words, the speed increases by the same amount each time.(STRAIGHT LINE THRU MIDDLE)

Which of the following is NOT a valid reason for giving all elementary students opportunities to design and perform investigations?

To learn that all of the questions in science have answers. Not all questions in science have answers.

Which of the following is an example of intraspecific competition?

Two herds of elephant compete for access to the same watering hole. Intraspecific competition is between members of the same species. This is the correct answer.

Which of the following statements regarding weather and climate is true?

Weather happens today, and climate happens over a long period of time. Weather changes and happens every day. It happens on a daily basis, whereas climate is the average weather conditions of a given area over a long period of time. A specific geographic area's climate is based on years and years of weather data.

Which of the following questions is most likely to pique student interest in studying the details of a specific planet, such as Mars?

What do you think you would find, see, and hear if you were the first person on Mars? This relates to a student's personal experience and imagination, based on background knowledge, and is therefore most likely to pique their interest. It may lead to a desire to know more so they can elaborate on what they would experience there.

Metal cooking utensils often have wooden handles. Which property of wood makes it a good material for the handle on a cooking tool?

Wood is a poor conductor of heat. The electrons of wood, glass, plastic, and air are examples of materials that have electrons which stay close to the nucleus of the atom making them poor conductors of heat and electricity. These poor conductors of heat and electricity are used as insulators. Insulation is the positive factor that makes wood a good tool for cooking.

Which of the following is the best example of a learned behavior in animals?

a horse runs toward the food trough when it hears a whistle A horse will not naturally associate a whistle with food. This is a learned behavior.

Individuals in a population of small lizards in an area have different coloration. While 80% of the lizard population is a light tan, 20% is a dark reddish-black. A city planner is allowing a new subdivision to be built in the area, but wants to protect the lizard population as much as possible. Which of the following themes for concrete colors should the city planner suggest be used, and why?

a mixture of light tan and reddish-black; every lizard can find camouflage for protection from predators An organism that blends into the environment is more difficult to spot by predators and is therefore safer. Requiring a mix of colors will ensure maximum survival of individuals.

A teacher is teaching an early elementary class that all animals grow and develop over time. Which of the following supports would best enhance a visual learner's ability to explain the changes during the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly?

a pictorial diagram of using labeled arrows to indicate the changes A pictorial diagram is a visual support that helps visual learners make sense of material.

Pieces of broken rock often become cemented together to form a new rock. This rock is referred to as:

a sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments or pieces of broken rock are cemented together to form a new rock.

A science teacher would like to determine students' understanding at the end of a unit. Which of the following activities would be best suited for this purpose?

a test featuring a variety of questioning methods A unit test is a good summative assessment to gauge student understanding of all topics in the unit.

Jennifer moves her wheelchair up a ramp to enter a building. The ramp she is using is an example of which simple machine?

an inclined plane All the answers listed are simple machines. An inclined plane, or ramp, is the example of a simple machine which increases the distance of travel but decreases the force needed.

Inertia refers to which of the following definitions?

an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion in the absence of an outside force Inertia refers to an object's tendency to resist changes to its motion. It is summarized by Newton's first law of motion.

The wind speed in two different cities was recorded on a line graph. Which instrument was most likely used to gather the data recorded?

anemometer Anemometers are the instruments used to measure wind speed.

All living organisms are classified into one of the six kingdoms used in the modern-day classification system. The kingdoms are:

animals, plants, fungi, protists, eubacteria, archaebacteria. These are the six kingdoms.

Review the food web provided of Lake Michigan. What term best describes a sea lamprey?

apex predator In the food web as shown, no species preys upon the sea lamprey. It is, therefore, the apex predator.

Which specific part of a plant makes reproduction by budding possible?

apical meristem The apical meristem contains the undifferentiated plant cells and makes reproduction by budding possible.

Which would be the recommended sequence to follow when asking questions in the classroom?

ask the question, wait 5-10 seconds, and then call on a specific student to answer The recommended sequence is to ask the question, wait for 5-10 seconds, and then call on a specific student to answer. This gives every student a chance to reflect.

The burner on a stove glows red. A fire can be orange, yellow, or red after it dies into embers. The sun glows white, a combination of all colors. Some of the hottest stars glow with a blue light. The frequency of light emitted from a glowing object is directly proportional to the temperature of the object. Of those listed, which color of light has the highest frequency?

blue Blue light has the highest frequency. The hottest stars glow with a blue light.

Examples of Changes in Matter "X" Changes Chemical Changes Melting an ice cube Burning a piece of wood Tearing a piece of paper "Z" "Y" Lighting a match Use the table to answer this question. Matter can undergo two types of changes. The table lists those two changes and some examples of each. Which term would best replace the letter "Y" in the table?

breaking a mirror Breaking a mirror is an example of a physical change. Once you break the mirror you have pieces of the mirror, but you still have the same substance you had when you started. The mirror is still chemically a mirror; it just changed physically.

Which of the following is one way carbon is returned to the atmosphere?

cellular respiration Cellular respiration returns carbon to the atmosphere.

Which of the following structures can be found in animal cells but not in plant cells?

centrioles Centrioles can be found in animal cells. They help organize the spindle during cell division. They are typically not found in plant cells, which are able to organize the spindle without centrioles.

Climate is different than weather because weather:

changes on a daily basis. Weather changes on a daily basis because heat energy, air pressure, wind, and moisture interact differently each and every day. This affects temperature and atmospheric conditions.

When a substance undergoes a _____ change, one or more new substances are formed.

chemical A chemical change results in the production of one or more new substances that have different properties from the original substance. The new substance is chemically different from the original (Ex. burning wood is a chemical change because it changes the wood into ashes.)

The water cycle includes: Select all answers that apply.

condensation. The water cycle includes condensation, the change in water from a gas to a liquid. B evaporation. The water cycle includes evaporation, the change in water from a liquid to a gas. C transpiration. The water cycle includes transpiration, the change in water from a liquid to a gas on leaves.

A group of students are on a nature walk. They notice that a tall tree is shedding some leaves, even though it is spring. What is this type of tree called?

coniferous Coniferous trees shed leaves year round.

Which of the following object best conducts electricity?

copper A good electrical conductor has relatively free electrons that can move through a material. Metals, notably copper, are a good conductors because they allow electrons to move along the wire easily.

A year on Earth is approximately 365 days, while a year on Venus takes about 224 Earth days, and a year on Mars takes about 687 Earth days. What causes the number of days in a year on each of these planets to differ from one another?

different distances A year is measured by how long it takes a planet to revolve around the sun. These planets have years that are longer lengths because they are longer distances from the sun and thus have wider orbits.

Which of the following substances would be safest for use in a fifth-grade science experiment?

dish soap Dish soap is a relatively safe substance for use in a classroom. It will not cause irritation to students' skin.

Samuel rides his bike around the park and over to the pond, and then back to where he started. Which is greater: the distance he traveled or his displacement?

distance His distance was the greatest. It includes the length of the entire path he followed. His displacement is zero.

Of the motion concepts listed, which grouping lists concepts that are the most appropriate for concrete learners in the early elementary grades to understand?

distance and speed Concrete learners learn best using physical senses. Distance and speed can be directly observed, measured, and compared, and are appropriate for an understanding that forces can change speed.

While Samantha is viewing membrane-stained cells under a compound microscope, she notices that the cells appear to each have one nucleus. These cells are most likely which of the following?

eukaryotic cells All eukaryotic cells contain specialized, membrane-bound organelles, such as a nucleus.

Kim bought some fireworks to shoot off on the 4th of July. She noticed several different powders mixed together in the tube. As the fireworks were ignited, what evidence best indicates a chemical reaction had occurred?

fire and an explosion There are indicators that show a chemical reaction has occurred: gas production (bubbles), change in temperature (release or absorption of energy), burning, color change, and/or production of a precipitate (formation of a solid) The fire and explosion are results of a chemical change.

Students are asked to set-up a freshwater aquarium in their classroom. In addition to the water for the aquarium, they include some aquarium gravel, a goldfish, an aquatic snail, and some aquatic plants. Which of these items in the aquarium are composed of cells?

fish, snail, and plants All of the item are examples of living things, so they are composed of cells.

Which of the following is a chemical property?

flammability Chemical properties involve chemical reactions in which the atoms and molecules in a substances interact to form a new substance. When something burns, a chemical reaction occurs between the substance and oxygen. For example, burning wood involves a chemical reaction. The substances that interact are wood and oxygen, one of the new substances is ash.

Mrs. Johnson's class is learning about ecology. She asks them to draw a picture of an example of interspecific competition and intraspecific competition. Then, she posts the pictures on the board and asks students to identify which type of competition is pictured. What type of activity is this?

formative assessment This activity is a formative assessment, because it allows Mrs. Johnson to informally assess student knowledge on one specific topic.

Examples of Changes in Matter "X" Changes Chemical Changes 1. Melting an ice cube 1. Burning a piece of wood 2. Tearing a piece of paper 2. "Z" 3. "Y" 3. Lighting a match Use the table to answer this question. Matter can undergo two types of changes. The table lists those two changes and some examples of each. Which term would best replace the letter "Z" in the table?

forming rust on a piece of iron Forming rust on a piece of iron is an example of a chemical change. The rust is not iron; it's a new and different substance from what you started with.

When examining the color and clarity of 1 gram of sugar in 30 milliliters of water, which of the following would be the best substitute for a test tube?

graduated cylinder Graduated cylinders tend to be narrower than beakers and designed for accurately measuring small amounts of liquid.

Which of the following in the food chain below is a producer? grass → antelope → lion

grass only Grasses make their own food using energy from the sun, so they are producers.

Which of the following is the principal type of energy stored behind a hydroelectric dam?

gravitational potential energy Gravitational potential energy is energy stored due to the position of an object. The water held behind the dam has gravitational potential energy and can be converted as it flows through the dam to the river below.

Which of the following is an example of a community?

groups of flamingos, reeds, fish, and shrimp living together in one area Multiple organisms of the same species form a population and multiple populations form a community.

Which of the following characteristics always describes a liquid? Select all answers that apply.

has a fixed volume A liquid has a fixed volume. D has a non-fixed shape A liquid can reflow into new shapes.

After teaching a complex unit, what is the best way to assess what students have learned?

have the students take an end-of-unit exam The best way to test students' knowledge on a complex unit after it has been covered in class is to have the students take an end-of-unit exam.

This image depicts the moon in which phase of the lunar cycle?

last quarter The last quarter moon shows half of the of the moon's lighted hemisphere. This is called the "last quarter" because the moon is three quarters of the way around its orbit of the Earth. While half of the moon is illuminated, observers from Earth only see half of the illuminated hemisphere because of the moon's position relative to the Earth. In the last quarter, observers from Earth are able to see the left half of the moon illuminated.

The table shown compares two properties of sound by listing a few characteristics of each property and an example. Which term would best replace the letter X in the table? Intensity X Characteristics: Characteristics: 1. Related to the amount of energy transported by a sound. 1. Related to the human perception of a sound. 2. Y 2. Measured in descriptive words. Example: Example: The softest sound intensity that can be heard is 0 dB. Z

loudness The loudness of a sound is related to human perception.

Patricia is measuring the volume of a chemical in the lab using a graduated cylinder. She takes three measurements at 40 mL, 35 mL, and 50 mL. She pours the chemical into a 50-mL beaker, and it reaches the 50-mL marking exactly. Which of the following descriptions of her data is likely correct?

low accuracy, low precision The values are far from the actual value, so they have low accuracy. The values measured are far apart, so they have low precision.

Which of the following body systems plays an important role in one's immune system and removing toxins, waste, and unwanted materials from the body?

lymphatic system The lymphatic system is made of lymphatic vessels and nodes that are filled with lymph, a colorless fluid filled with white blood cells nodes that fight infections.

Which of the following body systems is responsible for getting rid of toxins, waste, and other unwanted materials in the body?

lymphatic system The lymphatic system is part of the immune system and is responsible for filtering the blood to rid the body of unwanted materials.

Mario watches his friends run the relay at a high school track meet on a warm, Friday afternoon. Jack was at the starting line, ready to take off. The starting gun boomed and Jack took off. Jack ran his part of the relay and handed his wooden baton off to Azrial, who ran and handed the baton to Juan. Roberto finished the last stretch of the race. Which type of energy was least likely to have been a part of the race?

magnetic Although electromagnetic energy from the sun and heat were a part of the afternoon, magnets were not involved in the race

When reading the volume of a liquid in a test tube, data measurements should always be taken from where?

meniscus The curve on the surface of the liquid is called the meniscus. This is where volumes of liquid should be measured.

Sometimes, rocks are drawn into the Earth and experience a great deal of heat and pressure and turned into a different kind of rock. Rocks can also be subjected to chemicals which change the rock's composition. What type of rock has undergone one of these changes?

metamorphic Metamorphic rocks are igneous or sedimentary rocks that have undergone changes such as intense heat or pressure or chemical reactions.

The Earth's atmosphere is mainly composed of oxygen and which of the following elements?

nitrogen The atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen.

The survival of any living thing is directly dependent upon air, water, shelter, and which of the following?

nutrition All living things require nutrition for survival. Even plants, which make their own food using light energy, still need nutrients such as nitrogen from the soil.

Mr. Singer's class wonders why the United States is colder in the winter, since the Earth is closer to the sun at that time. Mr. Singer proposes that they design experiments to investigate the relationship between the angle of the sunlight and temperature on Earth. He divides his students into lab groups and sets out globes, lamps, and thermometers. Before they can use the equipment, however, each lab group first designs their experiment. Which of the following should students identify in their experimental design?

one independent variable, one dependent variable, and several constants A valid experimental design will include only one independent and one dependent variable. All other potential variables should be held constant.

Which of the following is least likely to have a negative effect on organisms within a forest?

pollution control Controlling pollution would likely have a positive, not negative, effect on organisms.

What are the functions of the integumentary system?

protects body, regulates temperature, and eliminates wastes The integumentary system is primarily composed of the skin which protects the body, regulates body temperatures, and eliminates some wastes.

Casey is building a treehouse in his backyard. He works on it every day with all of his friends. Casey has little interest in science until Mrs. Baker teaches simple machines, and uses Casey's construction project as an example for how pulleys make lifting the building materials much easier. What process does Mrs. Baker use to encourage Casey's love for science?

real-world situations for application Research shows that if teachers want to engage their students in learning, they must first provide connections to their students' real-world. When students can understand the real-world connection, they are more interested in the content. In addition to this connection, hooking the content to the interests of the students builds a love for that content.

Which of the following would be the most effective strategy to reduce greenhouse gases?

reducing the use of fossil fuels The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.

Which of the following are statistical experiments? Select all answers that apply.

rolling a die 6 times in a row A statistical experiment is a repeatable trial whose outcome is determined by chance and rolling a die leads to 6 possible outcomes which are not controlled by the roller. rolling two dice until you get doubles A statistical experiment is a repeatable trial whose outcome is determined by chance rolling dice leads to 12 possible outcomes which are not controlled by the roller. flipping a coin 12 times A statistical experiment is a repeatable trial whose outcome is determined by chance and flipping a coin leads to heads or tails which is not controlled by the flipper.

A scientist wants to show the correlation between the genre and the number of songs downloaded from the internet. Which type of graph would be best suited for this?

scatter plot A scatter plot is used to show correlation and relationships between variables

Our solar system contains many components. Which object is at the center of the solar system?

sun The sun is the center of the solar system. All objects in the solar system revolve, or orbit, around the sun.

Mr. Hardy asks his students to play a card matching game in which they match organisms that live in close relationship with one another. The students then explain to each other what kind of relationship those organisms have, why, and how each organism is affected. This activity is effective for teaching which of the following topics?

symbiosis This game is a good strategy for teaching symbiosis. Symbiosis happens when organisms live in close relationship with one another.

Mr. Hirohoto ties a weighted Superman figure to the end of a long spring hanging from the ceiling. He lifts the action figure and lets it go. The figure repeatedly bounces up and down. Mr. Hirohoto asks his students to describe what they observe about its motion. "Where is Superman moving the fastest?" he asked. "Does he stop anywhere?" "Why do you think he speeds up and slows down?" "Tell me how Superman's height changes." Which science concept is Mr. Hirohoto most likely introducing to his class?

the conservation of energy Mr. Hirohoto is introducing a discussion of the conservation of energy by demonstrating the transformations from potential energy to kinetic energy and back.

What must a scientist consider when deciding which tools to use to gather data?

the expected outcome of the investigation The expected outcome of the investigation is the most important factor when determining which tools to use to gather data.

Which of the following would not be characterized as an adaptation to warmer than average global temperatures in recent decades?

trees dropping leaves in winter An adaptation is a common feature in a population because it is advantageous. In a changing environment, some pre-existing traits will become adaptations. Deciduous trees drop their leaves in winter to protect against the cold. As average global temperatures increase, this is less advantageous.

Chelsea made a quick trip to the store to pick up 6 items. The costs of the items are listed below. What is the range of the prices for this trip? $2.31, $1.97, $2.58, $2.87, $1.54, $2.86

$1.33 The range is the difference between the largest and smallest number: 2.87 - 1.54 = 1.33.

If the producer trophic level of a food web had 10,000 KJ of energy, what level would you expect at the secondary consumer level?

100 KJ The amount of energy at each trophic level goes down by 10%. Since secondary consumers are two levels up, it would go down by 10% twice, leaving 1%, or 100 KJ in this case.

In a certain species of flower, red flowers (R) are dominant over white flowers (r). If a homozygous red-flowered plant (RR) is crossed with a heterozygous plant (Rr), what percent of the offspring can be expected to have red flowers?

100% If an RR plant is crossed with an Rr plant, all of the offspring can be expected to receive at least one R from the RR parent. Since red (R) is dominant over white (r) , 100% of the offspring can be expected to have red flowers.

Use the table below to answer the question that follows. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 10 3 8 23 10 8 7 7 9 13 14 20 The table above shows the total precipitation each month. What is the average amount of precipitation in a month?

11 To find the average, sum all of the values and divide by 12 (the number of months in the dataset). 132/12 = 11

Tim rolls a pair of dice 25 times and records the sum of the two numbers. How many different sums are possible?

11 To work these sorts of problems, draw a sample space. In this case, you would list the possible sums when adding 1-6 on one die and 1-6 on the other die. This would give you a list of "2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, 12" which is 11 possible unique sums.

The circle graph shows the results of a survey of 150 students. How many students chose basketball as their favorite sport?

12 8% of students chose basketball as their favorite sport. To find how many students 8% represents, simply multiply 8% by 150. In decimal form, 8% is represented by .08 (100% is represented as 1). 150 * .08 = 12.

The debate team has averaged 108 points in the last 5 tournaments. If they scored 120, 98, 92, and 108 in the first 4 tournaments, how many points were scored in the fifth tournament?

122 If the average is 108 for 5 tournaments, then the total number of points scored is 540: (5 tournaments x 108 points) = 540 points. So, 540 - 120 - 98 - 92 - 108 = 122 points.

A survey was taken of all 1,400 students at Ash Valley Elementary and ⅛ said that their favorite lunch menu item was spaghetti. Which of the following computations can be used to determine the number of students who claimed spaghetti as their top choice?

1400 × 0.125 The fraction ⅛ can be converted to a decimal by dividing 1 by 8 for 0.125. This multiplied by the total number of students (1400) will provide a solution for the number of students picking spaghetti.

The formula for permutations is: nPr = \frac{n!}{ \left( n-r \right) !}(n−r)!n!​ while the formula for combinations is: nCr= \frac{n!}{r! \left( n-r \right) !}r!(n−r)!n!​. How many 3-letter combinations can be formed from the word "mathematics" where MAT is the same as ATM?

165 The correct formula is nCr= \frac{n!}{r! \left( n-r \right) !}r!(n−r)!n!​ so 11!÷3!(11-3)! = 11!÷3!(8)! 11x10x9x8!/3!8! = 11x10x9/3! = 165.

Which of the following is the best definition of a hypothesis?

a predicted outcome based on an observation that can be further tested by experimentation This is the definition of a hypothesis.

Nitrogen gas, N2, is classified as which of the following?

an element A molecule is an element if it consists only of elements with the same number of protons.

Students are investigating the nature of light with a flashlight, a mirror, and a piece of white paper. The teacher circulates among the groups of students, asking questions as they experiment and discussing what they see. Which two of the following teacher questions will best foster critical thinking during the student investigation? Select all answers that apply.

"How do you know?" Asking students to support their thinking with evidence causes them to look for and find patterns, connect separate pieces of information, and form an accurate mental image, all of which are components of critical thinking. D "What makes you think that?" Asking students for evidence to support what they say requires them to evaluate their thinking, apply their observations to the situation, and develop explanations, all of which are components of critical thinking.

Students in a fifth-grade class are arguing about whether evolution is a hypothesis, a theory, or a law. After giving the definitions of each, how might a teacher best help her students resolve their argument and understand the differences in the three terms?

As a class, gather and categorize examples of hypotheses, theories, and laws and ask students to develop a valid reason for categorizing evolution as one of the three. Helping students gather and categorize examples enables them to determine the correct term to use with evolution, and enables them to discern the important differences in the three terms.

Which distance vs. time graph best represents the motion of a child running toward you at constant speed?

A Graph A best represents the motion. The child starts at a distance far from you and moves toward you, as represented by the line starting high on the y-axis and moving toward 0 distance. The child runs at constant speed, so they cover the same distance each second as represented by the straight line with uniform slope. (diagonal down)

Which of the following best describes the human digestive system?

A continuous tube of organs, that each perform different functions. The digestive organs go from the mouth down to the anus. This chain of organs each perform a function to help break down and ingest the food along the way.

A hockey puck is sliding to the right at constant speed. In which of the cases below would the puck speed up as it moves to the right?

A force of 10 N pushing leftward on the puck and a force of 20 N pushing rightward on the puck. The force pushing pushing rightward on the puck is greater than the force pushing leftward on the puck. The puck would accelerate to the right.

Which of the following accurately summarizes the difference between a hypothesis, a scientific theory, and a scientific law?

A hypothesis is a predicted outcome, a theory is a proposed explanation based on evidence, and a law is a documented description of observations surrounding a phenomenon. This is the correct distinction

Consider the following diagram:According to this image, which of the following statements is true?

A new moon always occurs when the side of the moon facing the earth is shadowed from the sun. A new moon is caused by the side of the moon visible from the earth being shaded from the sun's direct rays. Therefore, a new moon is fairly dark in the sky.

Which of the following is the best example of a structural adaptation?

A parrot has a thick beak to crack open hard nuts. This is a structural adaptation because it is a change in a physical feature (thick beak).

Which of the following is the best example of homeostasis?

A person's blood pressure is too high and their brain sends signals to slow their heart rate. Homeostasis is the tendency to maintain a stable equilibrium. The heart rate decreases in response to high blood pressure, resulting in a lowering of the blood pressure.

Which of the following is the best example of a response to an external stimuli?

A plant grows toward the sunlight. The stimuli (sunlight) originates outside the plant. Therefore, this is a response to an external stimulus

Which of the following statements best illustrates how to help students develop ethical thinking in science?

A regular and consistent focus on how science can affect society, for good or bad. Regular and consistent are key words in teaching ethics. It is important to examine how science benefits society, but also how it could harm or do damage.

The table shown compares the two types of wave travel by listing a few characteristics of each type and an example. Which phrase would best replace the letter Z in the table? Reflection X Characteristics: Characteristics: 1. Wave bounces off surface at a boundary 1. Wave changes direction at a boundary 2. Y 2. Wave moves forward into new medium Example: Example: 1. Shows an image in a mirror 1. Z

A straw in a glass of tea appears to bend at an angle. A wave refracts at the boundary between two media because the speed of the wave changes at the boundary. This causes the wave front to bend. Light from the part of the straw in the tea reaches the eye from a different angle than light from the straw in the air.

Which of the following activities would be most useful for students who are struggling to differentiate between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition?

A think-pair-share activity in which students pair up to think of examples of each type, and then present those examples to the class and identify how many species are involved. This is a good, interactive activity that requires students to work with others. The teacher can informally assess student knowledge by listening to their explanations.

Which description best fits the motion in the speed vs. time graph shown

A toy car rolls down a smooth ramp, starting from rest. The graph starts at a speed of zero and increases at a steady rate, matching the motion of a toy car starting with a speed of zero and increasing its speed at a steady rate as it rolls down the hill.

Some traits or characteristics in humans are either dominant or recessive. For example, brown eye color is dominant over blue eye color. If an individual has two alleles for blue eyes, his eye color will be blue. However, if he has one allele for brown eyes and the other one is for blue eyes, his eye color will be brown. Based on this example, which of the following statements is true?

Dominant characteristics mask the presence of recessive characteristics. Dominant characteristics will always mask or hide the recessive characteristics. In this example, a genotype of BB or Bb would be dominant and would result in brown eyes; bb would be recessive and would result in blue eyes

Which statement explains a direct correlation between form and function in the structure of the circulatory system?

Arteries spread into tiny capillaries, increasing the surface area for gas exchange. Because the parts of a system have a distinct function, their form and function must have a direct correlation. The only answer choice that correlates form and function focuses on surface area of capillaries for gas exchange.

Which of the following activities would be most effective for a teacher wishing to show factors affecting carrying capacity?

Assign an ant farm to each group of students. Provide differing amounts of food and water and ask students to graph the populations of ants in their ant farm. Compare the results. This activity allows students to compare results with other groups and shows how the different amounts of the limiting factors, like food and water, affect the population growth and carrying capacity.

Black colored hair is dominant over white colored hair in horses. A black colored horse (Bb) is mated with a purebred, white colored horse (bb). What are the genotypes of their offspring that would appear in a Punnett square?

Bb, Bb, bb, bb The black haired horse will provide B or b. The white haired horse will always provide b. So the genotypes would be Bb half the time and bb the other half. Therefore, 50% of their offspring will have black hair.

A population of lizards, some with green coloring and some with brown coloring, is introduced into a field that is mostly dirt. A few generations later, the majority of the lizards have brown coloring. Which of the following best explains this change?

Brown colored lizards are better able to hide from their predators. The brown lizards blend in with the soil, enabling them to grow and reproduce more than the green lizards.

Mr. Robinson posts the image below in his classroom for his students to discuss in groups. What concept is he most likely hoping his students discover

Carbon can be moved throughout an ecosystem by living and non-living things. This diagram shows how carbon can be captured, stored, and released by living things.

Which of the following statements about chimpanzees most effectively relates structure to function?

Chimpanzees have opposable thumbs on all four hands to swing from trees. This connects the form of chimpanzees, having thumbs on all four hands, to function, which they use the thumbs to help them hold onto tree branches.

Which of the following organisms would likely have cells that have centrioles and small vacuoles?

Earthworm Centrioles and small vacuoles are commonly found in animal cells. Earthworms are a type of animal.

Which of the following describes a molecule?

Electrically neutral particles of two or more atoms joined by molecular bonds. Molecules are electrically neutral particles made of 2 or more atoms (not necessarily 2 different elements) joined together by a molecular bond.

Which of the following statements best describes a formative assessment?

Formative assessments measure what students know along the way. Formative assessments measure what students know along the way. They should be given on a regular basis. These are not summative assessments, which are used to determine what students know at the end of the year or at the end of a unit.

Gabrielle, a student in Ms. Reech's class does not understand the cause of eclipses. Ms. Reech has an opportunity to work with her one-on-one during lunch. Which of the following is the best way Ms. Reech can help Gabrielle construct her own understanding of eclipses?

Guide Gabrielle as she uses a light and balls to model the Earth-sun-moon positions during an eclipse. To demonstrate a concept with a model, Gabrielle must process the relationship between the sun-moon-Earth positions during an eclipse. Also, she will be processing the information verbally, kinesthetically, and visually.

Mr. Popov is teaching his second-grade class about the benefits of the metric system. Which of the following activities is the most effective way to convey its ease of use to second graders, as compared with the U.S. customary system of measurement?

Hand out objects of varying length and ask students to measure the lengths in centimeters and in inches. Discuss the results. Measuring length with rulers is an appropriate task for second grade students. Second grade students can learn to use a metric ruler to measure and record tenths of a centimeter, and quickly accomplish this task on their own. Measuring and reporting lengths that are not multiples of ½ inch will be more difficult with the U.S customary system.

Mrs. Powell is teaching her class about adaptations. Which of the following activities would be most effective as an extension activity for this topic?

Having the students create a new organism, indicate which type of habitat it would live in, identify structural and behavioral adaptations, and draw the organism. This activity is a good extension activity for adaptations. Students should already know the difference between structural and behavioral adaptations, and this activity allows them to apply that knowledge in a new scenario.

In studying the average height of people in her class, Joanna finds the mean height to be 62 inches with a standard deviation of 4 inches. If Ramon is 76 inches tall, what can be said about him?

His height is an outlier. Since Ramon's height is more than 3 standard deviations above the mean, he is taller than nearly everyone in the class. Therefore his height is an outlier.

Why is it important for scientists around the world to adhere to the same system of measurement?

It allows for easier and more consistent communication of results. A consistent system of measurement allows scientists to compare results more easily and remain consistent in their findings.

What happens to a liquid when its temperature cools to its melting point temperature?

It begins to solidify. The melting point is the temperature at which solids begin to melt into liquids and liquids begin to condense into solids. The melting point is also called the freezing point.

Suppose Mike's actual weight is 165 lbs. His scale says his weight is 164 lbs. What can be said about his scale?

It is accurate. This scale is accurate because it gives a weight close to his actual weight.

Mrs. Conner wants to pre-assess the class regarding their knowledge of the periodic table of elements, inquire about their interest in the subject, then follow up with what students have learned. Which of the following formative assessment tools would be a good choice for Mrs. Conner?

K-W-L chart Pre-assessing student knowledge helps the teacher focus the direction of the lesson where needed and adjust the pacing to meet the needs of the learners. The K-W-L chart helps the teacher pre-assess the learners' knowledge, explore the interest the students have in the content, then assess the learning after the lesson.

Which of the following is the proper order for the taxonomic hierarchy?

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species The correct order is Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. You can remember this with a mnemonic, such as Kings Play Chess On Fancy Glass Squares.

What does it mean when we say light has a dual nature?

Light is both a particle and a wave at all times. Light is unlike anything else we experience in everyday life. It is both a particle and a wave at all times.

Which of the following scientists won two Nobel Prizes, one in physics and one in chemistry, and discovered the elements Radium and Polonium?

Marie Curie Marie Curie, along with her husband Pierre, discovered Radium and Polonium.

Mr. Orlando is on the far side of the room when he sees a student mishandling equipment during a laboratory activity. Which of the following is the best first step Mr. Orlando should take to resolve the problem?

Move closer to the student. Using proximity, or moving close to a misbehaving student, is an excellent first step. It does not escalate the issue, but lets the student know you see what he or she is doing and that it is inappropriate. Often the student will then self-monitor. The next steps might involve quietly correcting the student and talking with the student individually during recess.

Mr. Montana and Mr. Perry both purchase the same model of refrigerator. Mr. Montana pushes his refrigerator up a frictionless ramp and into his truck. Mr. Perry picks his refrigerator up and directly lifts it into his truck. Who applied more force in moving the refrigerator and why?

Mr. Perry because he had to lift the entire weight. Mr. Montana did not need to apply as much force, but had to push the refrigerator a greater distance (up the ramp). Both did the same amount of work. The amount of force needed to lift the refrigerator is greater than the amount of force needed to push the refrigerator up the ramp. When the refrigerator is pushed up a ramp, the ramp holds some of the refrigerator's weight, requiring less force to move the refrigerator up the ramp. However, Mr. Montana must push over a greater distance.

Two north magnetic poles repel each other and a north and south magnetic pole attract each other. What happens if you put a negatively charged balloon very close to either pole of a magnet?

Neither pole of the magnet will attract the balloon. Neither pole of the magnet will attract the balloon. Stationary magnetic poles do not attract or repel stationary electric charges because poles and charges are not the same thing. Poles are not positively or negatively charged. Poles are either north or south and attract or repel only other north and south poles.

The atmosphere surrounding Earth is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen. How do multicellular organisms obtain this atmospheric nitrogen?

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria release forms into the soil. For nitrogen to be converted to a usable form, it must be converted by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

A fourth-grade class built a model of the solar system. Each student group worked in isolation and was responsible for building one assigned representation of a planet, moon, or other object. Which limitation is the greatest concern for the class, with regards to the solar system model, once it is put together?

Planet sizes will not be built to scale If every group builds their own representation, the parts of the solar system will not be in accurate proportion. The size of a model is a limitation

If P represents the trait for purple flowers and p represents the trait for white flowers, which of the following genotypes would be considered to be a hybrid plant in this flowering plant species?

Pp A genotype of Pp is a hybrid because it has two different alleles (one is P and the other is p).

Gases are often difficult to see so students might interpret a phase change from a liquid to a gas as if the liquid had disappeared. What is the best way for an elementary school teacher to use an interactive simulation showing drawn molecules in a phase change from a liquid to a gas?

Project the simulation for the class while performing the same experiment for the class using water, heat, and ice. Ask students what to do (turn on the heat, bring in the ice). While repeating each action, ask for students' observations and explanations of what they see and what the molecular behavior means. By watching the simulation and the actual experiment together as a class, and having students concurrently describe what they see and what they think is happening, the teacher can hear student interpretations of what they see and correct any misconceptions by asking probing questions. Discussions among students with differing opinions can lead to deeper understanding.

Which of the following is the most effective way for a teacher to help a tactile learner understand the consistency of Earth's mantle?

Provide students with modeling clay to touch and squish while the teacher describes the mantle. A tactile, or kinesthetic, learner learns best through physical activities. Feeling the texture of the modeling clay, which is solid yet pliable, is more effective for a tactile learner than a verbal description, a picture, or a demonstration.

Which of the following are examples of physical weathering? Select all answers that apply.

Rocks lifted by swift water fall down and strike other rocks, breaking off tiny pieces. The shattering of rocks by water lifting and dropping other rocks is an example of physical weathering because the process does not alter the composition of the rock. C Surface materials are removed from a rock by erosion and the pressure on the rock decreases. The rock expands and fractures. The expansion and cracking of a rock when surface materials are removed is an example of physical weathering because the process does not alter the composition of the rock.

Which of the following is a major organ of the integumentary system?

Skin The integumentary system is the organ system that protects the body from damage from outside elements and is comprised of the skin, hair, and nails.

Which of the following statements about sound is true?

Sound is a longitudinal wave. Sound is a disturbance carried by a vibrating medium, therefore it is a wave. Sound waves cause the medium to vibrate along the same axis as the sound moves, therefore it is longitudinal.

Jonathan compared the length of daylight in the United States during the months of December, February, and June. The amount of daylight increased with each observation, with December having the fewest hours of daylight and June having the most. Which of the following statements is an accurate explanation for the results of this observation?

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun in the summer months. The Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees on its axis. During the winter months, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, causing fewer of the sun's rays to shine directly on that part of the planet. As the seasons change, the Earth revolves around the sun, and the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, which causes more of the sun's rays to shine directly on the Northern Hemisphere for longer periods of time.

Which of the following statements can be inferred from the graph?

The city with the most rainfall over three years had more than 160 inches of precipitation. Willow had the greatest precipitation with 45 + 65 + 60 = 170 inches. D The precipitation in Springfield more than tripled from 2009 to 2010. In 2009, the precipitation was slightly less than 25 inches whereas it was approximately 85 inches in 2010. E The year with the most precipitation was 2010. The total approximate precipitation for 2010 was 210 inches. The next closest year was 2011 at 175 inches.

Misconceptions are very robust. Thinking she was dispelling a common misconception that forces must continue to be applied if an object is to keep moving, Ms. Rambu put a disk on an air-hockey table (frictionless) and gave it a little push to get it going, then let go. The disk continue to move across the table until it hit another edge. Which additional misconception might Ms. Rambu need to address after this demonstration?

The force of Ms. Rambu's push continued even after she let go of the puck. Students often think that since a puck can't keep moving without a continually applied force (a misconception), that the force of the push does not end when the person lets go of the puck (another misconception).

Señora Gomez teaches Spanish at Bill Cline Preparatory School. The number of students in each of her classes is shown in the bar chart. Which of the following statements is true?

The median is 28. Arrange the class data in order by the number of students from least to greatest: 18 22 24 28 28 29 32 The median is the middle number, which is 28.

A frozen popsicle was left in the sun and melted. Which statement is true?

The molecules started to move more and became more loosely packed. When something melts from a solid to a liquid, its molecules move faster and spread further apart.

Michelle enjoys watching an eclipse. What caused the solar eclipse she observed today?

The moon moved directly in between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun's light from fully hitting the Earth. When the moon lines up between the Earth and the sun, a solar eclipse occurs.

Rachel is thinking about buying her first house. The data below represents the houses sold in her city in the last month. $90k, $120k, $200k, $350k, $459k, $750k, $775k, $800k, $990k Rachel concludes she can't buy a house because the median home price is $459k and her budget is only $200k. Why is the use of the median misleading in this situation?

The small amount of data might be skewing the median higher than normal. This is a small sample and may be a month in which more expensive homes sold compared to less expensive homes. She should look at the data from the last 3-6 months in order to make a better decision. In addition, the data set shows there are still homes in her price range.

A solid gold bar is melted in a smelter. Which of the following statements correctly compares the volume of the solid bar to the volume of the liquid gold?

The volumes will be different because the solid takes up less space than the liquid. Volume is a measure of space occupied. Although both have the same number of molecules, the heat needed to melt the gold increases the spaces between molecules in the liquid. The liquid will have a greater volume.

Mr. Montana and Mr. Perry both purchase the same model of refrigerator. Mr. Montana pushes his refrigerator up a frictionless ramp and into his truck. Mr. Perry picks his refrigerator up and directly lifts it into his truck. Who does more work?

They do the same amount of work. Simple machines do not change the amount of work that is done. Since work = force x distance, they can only change the force and the distance over which the force is applied. The amount of force needed to lift the refrigerator is greater than the amount of force needed to push the refrigerator up the ramp. When the refrigerator is pushed up a ramp, the ramp holds some of the refrigerator's weight, requiring less force to move the refrigerator up the ramp. However, Mr. Montana must push over a greater distance.

Which of the following would result if two objects with opposite electrostatic charges are placed near one another?

They will attract one another. Opposite electrostatic charges attract one another.

When two different species of animals live in the same habitat and occupy the same niche, what will most likely occur?

They will compete for the same resources until the niches change. Competition exists between organisms that have the same niche. Over time, the species will adapt so that their niche overlap is reduced and competition for a resource is reduced.

Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a full moon?

This positioning occurs for a full moon when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. The Moon's face is fully illuminated by the Sun.(MOON LEFT OF EARTH)

In a typical science class, the "science kit," or the teacher herself, selects and prepares the tools that will be used for lab measurement. Later in the year, after having had experience with various tools, would it benefit students to have a variety of tools available from which to choose rather than a preselected set of tools? Why or why not?

Yes, a variety of tools requires the student to think about why a particular tool should be used. Once students are familiar with a selection of tools, they should be given the opportunity to select their own tools for the job. As the teacher mingles with the lab groups, she could ask why a particular tool was selected. If the reason is not valid, she could ask questions or make suggestions to change the students' thinking.

Which of the following occurs because of the electromagnetic force?

You can sit on a chair without falling through. The electromagnetic force keeps you from falling through your chair when you sit down. The charges in your body repel like charges in the chair and your atoms will not intermingle.

In the middle of a lesson on plant systems, a teacher asks students to raise their hand if a statement she says about roots is true. She reads four statements and notes how accurate the class is for each statement. This exercise is an example of:

a formative assessment. A formative assessment is given during a unit to inform further instruction. The teacher can use how well the students rated the statements to decide if they understand roots.

Condensation occurs when:

a gas cools to its boiling point temperature. Condensation is the phase change from a gas to a liquid. This occurs at the boiling point temperature of the material, which is also called the condensation point.

Mr. Harris, a second-grade teacher, wants to demonstrate the use of a lever to his students. Which of the following would be the best piece of equipment at his school for Mr. Harris to use?

a seesaw A lever is a beam resting on pivot point to reduce the force required to move a load. A seesaw is a great example.

A test given at the end of a unit on evolution is an example of:

a summative assessment. A summative assessment is given at the end of a unit to find out what standards students have met.

Which of the following refers to the amount of light emitted by a star?

absolute magnitude The absolute magnitude refers to the actual light a star gives off.

Scientists believe that Earth formed through the collision and gradual accumulation of smaller particles into larger bodies. What is this process called?

accretion Accretion is the process by which smaller particles collide and accumulate into larger bodies.

Which of the following is a key component to living a healthy lifestyle?

adequate water, nutrition, and exercise Adequate water, nutrition, and exercise are key components of a healthy lifestyle.

When a meteorologist says: "The humidity is very high in Houston, Texas, today," what is he referring to?

amount of moisture in the air Humidity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air.

Which of the following instructional strategies would be the best for students who are struggling to identify environmental and genetic sources of variation?

an activity in which groups of students are assigned an ecosystem and must work together to identify three genetic sources of variation and three environmental sources of variation the ecosystem has This activity deals with both sources of variation. It would be engaging and relevant.

An increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on Earth is thought to be responsible for which of the following?

an increase in Earth's average temperatures Emissions of CO2 by humanity have increased because of the industrialization of the world. Increasing the amount of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere is thought to provide a greenhouse effect that causes average global temperatures to increase.

A girl is sledding down a hill. At which point would she have the least potential energy?

at the bottom of the hill An object's potential energy increases with height. The girl would have the most potential energy at the top of the hill and the least at the bottom of the hill.

Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?

baking a cake Baking a cake is an example of a chemical change. Chemical changes occur when substances combine to form new ones or substances decompose into different substances. Signs of chemical changes include odor, temperature change, precipitate formation, production of gas bubbles, and changes in color.

Which type of graph or chart would be best used to show comparisons between the volume of water drunk by athletes competing in two different sports?

bar graph Bar graphs are used to compare populations or groups. This is the correct graph.

A group of students are watching an organism they found in the corner of the classroom. Their science teacher walks over to the group and quickly identifies the organism as a member of the insecta class. The students ask how the teacher can tell so quickly. Which of the following would be an appropriate answer by the teacher?

because the organism has three pairs of legs By definition, insects have a three-part body, three pairs of jointed legs, and one pair of antennae.

Which of the following best describes an ionic bond?

bonds that form when electrons are removed from one atom and given to an atom of another element Ionic bonds are bonds that form between two oppositely charged atoms after one of the atoms has donated electrons to the other.

Sound waves and seismic waves are alike because they:

both have to travel through a medium. Both sound and seismic waves are mechanical waves and travel only through a medium.

The diagram shows the life cycle of which of the following organisms?

butterfly The butterfly is the only organism listed that undergoes complete metamorphosis, which includes a pupa stage.

How does heat from the sun travel to the Earth?

by the process of radiation Heat from the sun reaches Earth by the process of radiation.

A population of antelope normally graze on the abundant grasses in the savannah. However, a drought occurs and the amount of grass decreases. That year, many young, sick, and old antelope starve to death. A change in what variable lowered the antelope's population?

carrying capacity Carrying capacity is the the number of organisms an ecosystem can support. Since the amount of grass (the food source) decreased, the antelope's carrying capacity decreased, which reduced their population levels.

Which of the following is the smallest structure within a bird?

cell All living things have cells as their basic structure. In all animals, cells combine to make tissue, tissue combines to form organs, and organs group together to make organ systems.

Which of the following is the the correct order of organization, from smallest to largest, within animals?

cell, tissue, organ, organ system All living things have cells as their basic structure. In all animals, cells combine to make tissue, tissue combines to form organs, and organs group together to make organ systems.

Four electrical circuits are built by following the circuit diagrams below. In which circuit will all of the lamps light when the switch is closed?

circuit C The lamps in this circuit will light. The circuit is complete. Current will flow from the battery, through lamp A, through the closed switch, and through lamps B and C.

Which of the following systems in the human body functions as the system responsible for transporting food and water waste?

circulatory system The circulatory system is responsible for transporting nutrients and water waste.

Ms. Medure's fourth-grade class is studying volcanoes. Which of the following activities linked to science practices best supports the instruction of "change in natural systems" as related to volcanic eruptions?

constructing explanations about how landscapes are altered by volcanic activity Constructing explanations about how volcanic eruptions change the landscape helps students understand change due to a natural phenomenon.

Muscles facilitate movement of the human body by:

contracting and relaxing. Muscles contract and relax to facilitate movement.

Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback system?

contractions during labor and childbirth Contractions during labor and childbirth are an example of a positive feedback system, where the action causes a result further in the direction the system was already moving, as in, the process of labor advances.

Which of the following is a list of ideas for formative assessment?

creating a graphic organizer, cooperative learning activities, and a foldable Formative assessment provides an insight to the learning along the way. Activities such as graphic organizers, cooperative learning, and foldables allow students to discuss the content and provide an opportunity for the teacher to check for understanding during the process.

Which layer of the Earth is represented by the label "1" in the diagram?

crust The crust is the outermost layer of Earth. In this diagram, it is labeled 1.

Which of the following is primarily a result of the Earth's rotation around its axis?

day and night Day and night occur because of the rotation of the Earth on its axis. As it rotates, half is lit by the Sun and half is in darkness.

While the loudness of a sound is measured descriptively, the intensity of a sound can be measured quantitatively in which units?

decibels (dB). The unit of intensity is decibels, abbreviated dB.

A group of students are on a nature walk in the fall. They notice that a tall tree is shedding all of its leaves. What is this type of tree called?

deciduous Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall.

In a temperate forest ecosystem, which of the following organisms is a primary consumer?

deer The deer are the primary consumers in this ecosystem. They are the organisms that consume the producer (blackberry).

One of the main purposes of the circulatory system is to:

deliver nutrients to cells within the body. This is the main function of the circulatory system.

Which of the following systems in the human body breaks down food into a simpler form of energy?

digestive The digestive system breaks down food for energy.

Which of the following is an example of a natural phenomenon?

earthquake along a fault line A natural phenomenon is not affected by human interference or activity. An earthquake happens without human activity.

The table lists the three ways thermal energy can be transferred. Which phrase would best replace the letter Y, which represents an example of conduction? Transfer of Thermal Energy Types & Examples Conduction X Radiation 1. vegetables gets hot after sitting in a pan of boiling water 1. the warmer air is at the top of a room and cooler is at the bottom 1. person can feel the heat standing next to a fireplace 2. Y 2. air above a cup of hot chocolate rises and is replaced with cooler air 2. Z

end of a metal wire gets hot when roasting a marshmallow Conduction occurs when energy is transferred due to direct contact. It occurs in solids. In this example, the wire is the solid.

A school's PTA volunteered to make outside improvements to the school. A pile of sand and river rock was delivered to the school for the repair of the playground. After a week of rain, the river rock was still piled high, but the sand was no longer in a pile. What could have happened to the sand?

erosion Erosion is the gradual wearing away or decrease of soil due to natural processes. The particles of sand are less dense than the river rock, making it easier for flowing water to carry it away. Rain is a natural process that eroded the sand.

Where did all atoms on earth come from?

explosions in space Lighter elements can form in stars like our sun, but it takes massive amounts of energy to fuse elements heavier than iron. Elements heavier than iron form when stars much larger than our sun explode (supernova). The incredible heat and pressure fuses heavy elements into even heavier elements.

A population of fruit flies are placed in a terrarium with fresh water, food, and air. In the first few weeks, their population grows rapidly. Which term describes this type of growth?

exponential growth Exponential growth is a result of no limits on a population. If a population has all of its needs met, it will grow rapidly along an exponential growth curve.

Which of the following is the appropriate piece of safety equipment to use if chemicals are splashed in someone's eye?

eyewash station When chemicals get into someone's eyes, the best safety equipment to use is the eyewash station. Eyes should be flushed for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Of the following, which contributes the most to water pollution in streams?

fertilizers and pesticides Groundwater that drains into streams is most likely to be polluted by fertilizer and pesticide use. Runoff and drainage bring the pollutants to streams.

In humans, the allele for freckles (F) is dominant and the allele for no freckles (f) is recessive. Which of the following is a genotype of people without freckles?

ff Both alleles must be recessive if a person is to exhibit a recessive trait such as lack of freckles

This image depicts the moon in which phase of the lunar cycle?

first quarter The first quarter moon shows half of the of the moon's lighted hemisphere. This is called the "first quarter" because the moon is one quarter of the way around its orbit of the Earth. While half of the moon is illuminated, observers from Earth only see half of the illuminated hemisphere because of the moon's position relative to the Earth. In the first quarter, observers from Earth on the northern hemiscphere are able to see the right half of the moon illuminated.

Which of the following characteristics always describes a solid? Select all answers that apply.

fixed volume A solid has a fixed volume. B rigid A solid is rigid. definite shape A solid has a definite shape.

A teacher plays a game-show style review game with her students halfway through the unit. Which of the following types of assessment is this an example of?

formative assessment The review game is an informal formative assessment. It provides information to the students and the teacher about areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Malik set up a conversion: 3 gallons \times \frac{4 quarts}{1 gallon} \times \frac{2 pints}{1 quart} \times \frac{2 cups}{1 pint}×1gallon4quarts​×1quart2pints​×1pint2cups​ Which of the following conversions is he making?

gallons to cups The conversion begins with gallons and ends with cups. All of the other units will cancel out.

Meiosis in multicellular animals results in the production of _____ cells.

gametes Meiosis results in specialized sex cells called gametes.

Which of the taxonomic levels listed is the smallest and most specific?

genus Class, order, and family are larger and more inclusive than genus.

When determining the accurate measurement of a liquid, which piece of laboratory equipment would be best to find the liquid's volume to the nearest milliliter?

graduated cylinder A graduated cylinder has graduated milliliter measurement lines to measure volume.

The diagram shows the life cycle of which of the following organisms?

grasshopper The grasshopper nymph grows into an adult. All the other choices require a pupa stage.

Humans shiver when exposed to cold temperatures. This is an example of which of the following?

homeostasis Homeostasis is the maintaining of stable internal conditions. Shivering helps maintain a stable body temperature by creating warmth.

Cells pump sodium and potassium in and out, in order to maintain an ideal concentration of these elements within the cell. This is an example of:

homeostasis. Maintaining stable internal conditions is homeostasis.

Which of the following scenarios includes an environmental source of variation?

hydrangeas having blue or pink flowers in pots with different soil acidity The soil is part of the plants' environment. Its acidity determines the expression of the flower color trait. This is an environmental source of variation.

Which of the following is not used by scientists to determine the history of life on Earth?

hydrolysis of water Scientists do not use the hydrolysis of water to determine the history of life on Earth.

Which of the following rocks are formed from molten material?

igneous Igneous rock is rock that is solidified lava or magma.

Freshwater is a limited resource that is needed to sustain much of life on Earth. Which of the following reduces the availability of fresh drinking water for humans and animals?

increased crop irrigation As humans increase their use of freshwater to water crops, there is less available for other uses.

Which list has the layers of the Earth in the correct order, from center outward?

inner core, outer core, mantle, crust From center outward, the layers are inner core, outer core, mantle, crust.

Which of the following systems in humans is the primary barrier for foreign particles?

integumentary The integumentary system includes the body's skin, which forms a barrier from the human and it's environment.

Which of the following is based on evidence and describes, mathematically or in words, how changes in one quantity affect changes in another?

law A law describes what happens during a scientific process. Laws are based on observations and experiments and are often expressed mathematically. For example, the equation for the force of gravity between planets is a law.

Which of the following types of energy do plants use during photosynthesis?

light Plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis.

A group of students want to find out the specific temperature at which chocolate will begin to melt. To determine the correct temperature, the students would rely on which science processing skill?

measuring Measurement would be used during the experiment to find a specific temperature.

What is the median and mean of the data set below? 10, 8, 5, 3, 7, 4, 5, 9, 2, 3, 7, 3, 8, 6, 4, 1, 2, 1, 10, 3

median: 4.5; mean: 5.05 Remember that before you can find the median, the data must be arranged in order from least to greatest or greatest to least. 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 Since there is an even number of terms (20) the median is the average of the two middle scores: (4 + 5) ÷ 2 = 4.5(4+5)÷2=4.5 The mean is the sum of all of the numbers in the data set divided by 20, the number of items in the data set: 101 ÷ 20 = 5.05101÷20=5.05

Mrs. Azul had each of her first graders separate a small bag of M&Ms into groups by color, arrange the groups into side by side bars, and determine which color they had the most of. What concept is Mrs. Azul introducing to her first-grade class?

mode Mrs. Azul is having her students arrange their data (M&Ms) into bars in order to compare the heights or lengths of the bars. This is a visual representation of the bar that is the longest or has the most M&Ms - the mode. A good way for students to remember mode is to think about the word most. The mode is the piece of data (M&Ms in this case) that occurs the most frequently.

Albinism (lack of pigmentation) in an organism is most likely the result of which of the following?

mutation A mutation results from a sudden change in an organism's genetic code. Albinism results from a change in the genetic code for pigmentation in skin, hair, or eyes. If this mutation is located in a sex cell, it can be passed down to the next generation.

The remora is a fish that attaches itself to a shark by using a suction disk on its head. The sharks do not like to eat the remora, and the remora feeds on parasites that live on sharks' skin as well as the shark's leftovers. This is an example of which of the following?

mutualism In mutualism, both organisms benefit. The remora benefits by getting food, and the shark benefits by the remora eating potential parasites.

Several types of jays live in North America including the Stellar Jay, the Blue Jay, and the Canada Jay. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism through which the different jays developed?

natural selection Jays diversified through natural selection in which certain characteristics enhanced their abilities to survive or reproduce in different environments.

Which of the following macromolecules is responsible for holding genetic information?

nucleic acid Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, hold genetic information.

What period of time can be measured by one rotation of the Earth on its axis?

one day One day is equivalent to the 24 hours it takes for the Earth to rotate on its axis.

What period of time can be measured by one revolution of the Earth around the sun?

one year The Earth takes 365.24 days, or one year, to revolve all the way around the sun.

Which of the following is the largest structure within a snake?

organ system All living things have cells as their basic structure. In all animals, cells combine to make tissue, tissue combines to form organs, and organs group together to make organ systems.

Which of the following must be present in large quantities in order for fossil fuels to be created?

organic matter Fossil fuels form from organic matter: the remains of dead organisms.

Which of the following is a correct order of ecological organization, from smallest to largest?

organism-population-community-ecosystem Multiple organisms of the same species form a population and multiple populations form a community. A community plus the nonliving matter it interacts with is an ecosystem.

Which layer of the Earth is represented by the label "3a" in the diagram?

outer core The outer core is the layer above the inner core, but below the mantle. In this diagram, it is labeled 3a.

Which of the following types of cells can pass DNA mutations to future offspring?

ovum Ovum (egg) cells are gametes that carry genetic information to offspring.

The purpose of selective breeding in plants and animals is always to maximize the

pairing of good genes. You maximize the pairing of good genes by selectively breeding individuals with desirable traits.

Ticks are mites that attach themselves to animals, such as dogs, and suck blood. In doing so, ticks transmit diseases, such as Lyme disease, to the animals. Which type of interaction does this describe?

parasitism The dog and tick example describes parasitism. Parasitism is a form of symbiosis in which an organism benefits from or lives off the other

Small ticks often live on deer. The ticks pierce the skin of the deer and drink its blood for nutrition. This relationship between the ticks and deer can best be described as:

parasitism. Parasitism is a relationship between two organisms where one organism receives benefits from the relationship (ticks) and the other organism is harmed (deer).

A group of students are looking at a circle graph. Each sector is labeled with a number followed by a symbol. Which of the following are the students most likely studying?

percentages Percentages can be displayed on a circle graph (pie graph) using a number and a percent symbol.

Which of the following does NOT help mammals maintain or increase body warmth in cold weather?

perspiring Perspiring is another term for sweating. As perspiration evaporates off the skin, the skin is cooled. Perspiring helps the body reduce body heat, not maintain or increase it.

Which type of change has taken place if a substance's shape, appearance, color and/or volume has changed?

physical A physical change has occurred if a substance's shape, appearance, color and/or volume has changed.

When a substance changes state, it undergoes a ____ change.

physical A physical change physically alters a substance, but its chemical composition remains the same. A change of state, such as freezing water to form ice, changes the physical structure of the water, but does not change water into a different substance.

Which of the following characteristics of a sound wave is most related to the frequency of the wave?

pitch The frequency of a sound wave is directly related to pitch. The higher the frequency, or number of waves that pass a given point in one second, the higher the pitch.

A teacher places the following items into a container: sand, a sponge, pebbles, rocks, coral, tree bark, and water. The teacher has students place their hands in the container, without looking at the items, to feel the items and guess what they are. This activity would best illustrate which of the following concepts?

properties of matter Shape and size are physical properties of matter. By touching the items, the students are able to feel the texture, size, and consistency of the items which are all physical properties.

Which atomic particles are located inside the nucleus?

protons The protons are located inside the nucleus of an atom.

Which of the following colors of visible light has the longest wavelength?

red Red has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum.

Which of the following groups of organisms never have gills at any point in their life after birth?

reptiles Reptiles do not have gills at any point in their life after birth. They breathe using lungs.

Which of the following systems in humans is mainly responsible for removing carbon dioxide from the body and taking in oxygen?

respiratory The respiratory system is responsible for gas exchange. It removes the carbon dioxide and exchanges it for oxygen.

Which of the following body systems is responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide?

respiratory system The respiratory system is responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.

Which cell structure is responsible for the assembly of proteins?

ribosome The ribosomes are responsible for assembling proteins.

Schist is a layered substance. It contains layers visible to the naked eye. The layers are made of various minerals and substances such as muscovite. What type of substance is schist?

rock Schist is classified as a metamorphic rock. Rocks are composed of various substances.

On average, the majority of soil is made up of:

rocks and minerals. Normally rocks and minerals make up the majority of soil.

Which of these is a good electrical insulator?

rubber The electrons in rubber generally stay in their respective atoms and do not easily conduct an electrical current, making rubber a good electrical insulator.

In the water cycle, energy from the sun heats the water, changing the liquid water into a gas. It loses energy and falls back to Earth. Which step in the water cycle is #3 in the diagram shown?

runoff Runoff is water moving from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, such as running down a hill.

Which of the following pieces of safety equipment is most important to use when students are performing an investigation mixing chemicals?

safety goggles Any time students work with chemicals and/or glassware, they must wear safety goggles.

Students in Mr. Miller's class are given a worksheet with the different combinations that can be reached when flipping a coin and rolling a standard die. Students then work in pairs to flip and roll all of the combinations. What topic is Mr. Miller teaching?

sample space The sample space is the list of all possible outcomes.

Mr. Jones shows his class a photo of a hummingbird with a narrow curved beak feeding from a narrow tube-shaped flower. What principle is he likely trying to illustrate?

specialized niches The hummingbird and flowering plant both have matching structures. Both species have adapted into a specialized niche dependent on one another.

When deciding to house a live animal in the classroom, the risk of a potential health hazard to the student or animal must be weighed against the educational value added. What guidelines must first be considered to address this potential hazard, prior to making a choice of getting the animal for the classroom?

the children that might be affected by allergic symptoms Safety standards require that any live animal in the classroom must be fed and kept in sanitary conditions every day. Although the care and comfort of the animal is important, the safety concern with regards to the students is the teacher's first priority.

Which of the following is the Coriolis Effect most likely to influence?

the circulation pattern of global winds The Coriolis Effect is the apparent deflection of moving objects when the motion is described relative to a rotating frame of reference. In this context, it is the appearance that global winds spiral.

During lessons, teachers should provide effective feedback to students. Which of the following explains why immediate specific feedback is essential?

to ensure a positive learning experience in science Effective feedback has been shown to connect students to the teacher and the content. This connection ensures a positive learning experience.

Mr. Reynolds is working through a unit on healthy lifestyles. He wants to incorporate the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Which of the following causes of death should Mr. Reynolds use?

tobacco use Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in America.

The three major climatic zones of the Earth include:

tropical, temperate, and polar. These are the three climatic zones: tropical, temperate, and polar.

What is the correct sequence of the four layers of the Earth's atmosphere starting with the layer closest to the Earth moving outward into outer space?

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere The four layers of Earth's atmosphere starting with the layer closest to the Earth and moving outward toward outer space are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

A yellow pea plant with a Yy genotype has which of the following?

two different alleles; Y and y The big Y represents one allele and the little y represents a different allele.

Which of the following is the most important rationale for the scientific study of Mars?

understanding the evolution of the solar system Understanding the evolution of the solar system could allow humans to better understand the Earth.

Which of the following is an example of a heterogeneous mixture?

vegetable soup Vegetable soup is a heterogeneous mixture. Heterogeneous mixtures do not have uniform composition throughout. Each spoonful of soup will have a different composition; some will have only broth, some vegetables, some broth and vegetables, etc.

Which of the following geological processes is most likely to move rock from below the surface of the Earth to the surface?

volcanic activity Volcanic activity takes rock from below the Earth through a volcanic eruption and ejects the rock onto the surface of the Earth.

Natural resources are resources naturally occurring on Earth that are necessary or useful to humans. Natural resources include:

water, wood, and minerals. Natural resources occur naturally; they are not man-made materials. Water, wood, and minerals are all found naturally on Earth.

Which of the following is a transitory phase of the lunar cycle?

waxing crescent The waxing crescent is a transitionary phase between a new moon and the first quarter.

Which subatomic particles orbit around the nucleus of the atom?

electrons The electrons orbit around the nucleus of the atom.

Mrs. Smith surveyed her first grade class to ask what their favorite snacks were. She constructed the following pie chart. How many more students prefer ice cream than prefer fruit?

6 Eight students have ice cream as their favorite, while two have fruit as their favorite snack. Therefore six more students prefer ice cream than fruit.

Mrs. Harris writes all the numbers from 4 to 24 on slips of paper and places them in a hat. She then asks a student to pick a number from the hat. What is the probability that the number chosen by the student will be a prime number?

1/3 Mrs. Harris writes down 21 numbers (4-24). This number set has 7 prime numbers (5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, and 23). That leaves 7 numbers out of 21 being prime. A student has 7 chances in 21 to choose a prime number. This can be simplified to 1 out of 3, or 1/3.

Student council members are selling valentine cards as a fundraiser. They make $0.50 for each card they sell and want to sell 750 total. The graph shows the number of cards that have been sold thus far by each grade. How many more must be sold overall to meet their goal?

200 cards They have sold 550 cards and must sell 200 more to meet the goal of 750 cards. (Note that the profit per card ($0.50) is extra information) To find the total sold so far (550): There are 6 hearts on the top row, which equals 120 cards sold. There are 12 hearts in the second row, which equals 240 cards sold. There are 9 ½ hearts in the third row, which equals 190 cards sold. All together they have sold 550 cards.

Use the chart shown to answer the question that follows. What percent of the total energy from all sources comes from natural gas?

29% Add the percentages of all sources other than natural gas and subtract that number from 100% to find the percent that comes from natural gas: 100 - (14 + 9 + 11 + 37) = 29100-(14+9+11+37)=29

Black colored fur is dominant over white colored fur in hamsters. A black colored hamster (Bb) is mated with a purebred, white colored hamster (bb). What percentage of their offspring will have the genotype Bb?

50% The black hamster will provide B or b. The white hamster will always provide b. So the genotypes would be Bb half the time and bb the other half. Therefore, 50% of their offspring will have the genotype Bb.

A system has 45 J of kinetic energy and 15 J of potential energy. What is the mechanical energy of the system?

60 J Mechanical energy equals kinetic energy plus potential energy. In this case, 45 J + 15 J = 60 J.

Which of the following represents an occluded front on a weather chart?

A purple line with purple triangles and semicircles next to each other An occluded front, where warm and cold air intersect is represented by a purple line with purple triangles and purple semicircles next to each other.

Which of the following activities would be effective during the engagement stage of the 5E Model of Instruction during a lesson on the interdependence of organisms?

Have students stand in a circle and give them each a different-colored ball of yarn, with each color representing a species. Have them toss the balls of yarn to one another until they create a large knot. Ask them to try to untangle the knot. This activity is a good engagement activity, because it does not require students to have background knowledge. It grabs their attention and introduces the topic of interdependence.

Mr. Washington has invited a local meteorologist to visit his class. Mr. Washington would like to suggest the approach the meteorologist will use with the class. Which of the following recommendations is most likely to result in a visit that engages students' interest in a study of the atmosphere?

Having the meteorologist bring and demonstrate a weather balloon and the equipment it carries. Seeing and learning about the actual equipment used by meteorologist will best engage students' interest in a study of the atmosphere.

Which of the following is an example of a molecule?

H₂O (water) Water, H₂O is a molecule. It is formed from 3 atoms held together by molecular bonds.

Which of the following activities can contribute to an increase in the carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere? I. the burning of fossil fuels II. volcanic activity III. condensation

I and II The amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere can be increased by the burning of fossil fuels and by volcanic activity.

A hockey puck is sliding to the right at constant speed. Suddenly forces of 10 N to the left and 10 N to the right are applied to the puck at the same time. What is the resulting motion of the hockey puck?

It continues to move right at constant speed. The forces on the puck are equal and opposite. They cancel, leaving no unbalanced force on the puck. The puck will continue to move to the right at constant speed, and will experience no change in its motion.

A teacher carries around a bag of marbles with 10 of each of the following colors: blue, white, and yellow. She asks students to draw one marble from the bag. Before they draw, they must state the probability of drawing a certain color. The first student says the probability of drawing a blue is 1 out of 3 because 10 out of 30 simplifies to 1:3. The student holds onto his blue marble and the next student says his probability of drawing yellow is 1:3. Evaluate his statement.

It is incorrect and a common misconception about dependent events. The correct answer would be 10:29 because one blue marble has been removed. These events are dependent because the second event is affected by the first event.

Ms. Hoffman has already taught her students about north and south poles and how to use a magnetic compass to determine which end of a magnet is north. She has also taught her students how to magnetize a paperclip. Now she wants to teach them that monopoles do not exist. She asks the class to predict what will happen to the magnetic poles of a paperclip if it is cut in half. She writes student predictions on the board using words and pictures, without commenting on the accuracy of their predictions. Ms. Hoffman then gives pairs of students a magnetized paper clip and a small compass, and asks them to find and mark the north and south ends of the paper clip. When students are ready, Ms. Hoffman and her aide move around the classroom, cutting students' paper clips in half, encouraging them to investigate the poles of the halves with their compasses. If they want a second cut, she obliges and cuts a half in half. When done, Ms. Hoffman leads a class discussion about the process and the findings. What is most likely the primary reason Ms. Hoffman had her students make predictions before experimenting?

Making predictions piques student's curiosity and motivates attention to their investigation. Making predictions captures student interest and causes them to wonder about things they had not considered before. It prepares them for the investigation because they are interested in finding out the "right answer".

As Ms. Harrigan is teaching about alternatives to fossil fuels, a student speaks up complaining that alternative sources are not a good idea because they cost more. Which response would best lead the class through a learning experience related to this objection?

Ms. Harrigan says she will incorporate that question into a future lesson, and does it by having a lesson comparing the costs and benefits of alternative energy sources. By incorporating the question into a future lesson, Ms. Harrigan not only shows respect for the student who asked the question, but gives herself time to investigate the question, and gives the class an opportunity to make a cost/benefit comparison of alternative fuels. She also takes advantage of a teachable moment.

Ms. Prabha and Mr. Tsai are teaching their students about the requirements of life. Ms. Prabha plans to give the students 10 unknown specimens and ask them to make observations and then, with a partner, classify them as living or nonliving and give reasons why. Mr. Tsai plans to ask his students to go home and write down the names of 10 living things and 10 non-living things around their house. Which teacher's plan will be more effective?

Ms. Prabha's, because it provides an opportunity for collaborative, student-driven learning. Ms. Prabha can also catch students' misconceptions in real time and gauge student understanding. Ms. Prabha's lab activity allows students with diverse learning styles to benefit. Students can talk to each other about the requirements of life and handle the specimens in order to deepen their understanding. Ms. Prabha can catch misunderstandings quickly and have an immediate formative assessment of student knowledge.

Which of the following scientists is particularly noted for his or her contribution to atomic theory?

Niels Bohr Niels Bohr is known for his contributions to atomic theory.

Lee Elementary School's PTA volunteered to make outside improvements to the school. A pile of sand and river rock was delivered to the school for the repair of the playground. After a week of rain, the river rock was still piled high, but the sand was no longer in a pile. How might a fifth-grade teacher best use this event as a teaching moment during a unit on constructive and destructive processes?

Take the class outside to look at the sandpile, ask them for their observations, and lead a class discussion on what might have happened to the pile. Rather than a simple classroom experiment or a verbal description, the collapsed sandpile provides an opportunity for students to directly observe, and then discuss, the effects of erosion.

Which of the following statements provides an explanation for the reason lightning is formed?

The negative charge in the clouds attracts the positive charge of the ground. Opposite charges attract one another, negative to positive. Lightning occurs when negative charges in the clouds form a path through the air to the positive charges in the ground.

Students in Ms. Kitchen's third-grade class are cataloging the different types of plants and animals they find in a one square foot section of the lawn around the playground. She shows them different kinds of graphs and asks them to figure out how they want to record and present their data to the class. What is the most likely reason she asked the students to make the decision about presentation style instead of telling them which type of graph to use?

This method requires students to think about different ways to represent their data. Students who are actively engaged in selecting data representations will think about the pros and cons of each type of graph. Additionally, they will learn the pros and cons of other representations when they compare their graphs with those of others in the class. This also gives Ms. Kitchen the opportunity to point out the benefits and drawbacks of the different presentations.

A teacher provides students a table on the historical populations of the United States during the 19th century, divided by decade. Which of the following would be the most appropriate display for the information?

a histogram A histogram is best suited to numerical data that is sorted into bins, such as decades here.

Of the objects listed, which one could NOT be a source of visible light?

a human eye We see when light enters the eye. The eye does not produce visible light. Ancient peoples, and some students, think we see because light beams come out of our eyes. However, eyes and other parts of our bodies do glow in the infrared.

With which of the following substances could radiometric carbon dating be used

a leather sandal thought to be from 45,000 BCE Radiometric carbon dating (or radiocarbon dating) can be used on organic compounds which contain carbon-14 isotopes and are younger than about 60,000 years.

Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics, studied different traits of pea plants. One of the traits he studied that followed the Law of Dominance was the height of pea plants. He discovered that a purebred short plant had which of the following genetic makeup?

a pair of alleles for short height Two short alleles would result in a short plant (tt).

A school cafeteria offers 5 different meals and serves each meal on a set day of the week. A teacher takes a survey among her students of which of the 5 meals is their favorite. Which of the following should the teacher use to display the results of the survey?

a pie chart A pie chart is best to show how a whole data set is divided into parts. A pie chart is a great way to visually depict how many students named each of the 5 meals as their favorite because it visually divides a whole by percentages.

When the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, it can either partially or totally block the sun's light, keeping it from reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following options best describes this phenomenon?

a solar eclipse A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves directly between the Earth and the sun.

Which of the following is NOT a necessary part of a conducting circuit if current is to flow safely in the circuit?

a switch A switch allows someone to turn the circuit on and off, but current will flow and the circuit will operate properly without a switch.

Mrs. Hogan is wrapping up a unit on homeostasis. She would like to assess student knowledge before she moves on. Which of the following would be the best summative assessment?

a test over homeostasis and the processes involved Tests are summative assessments that allow the teacher to reflect and be sure there are no large gaps in knowledge.

According to the weather chart, what formation is currently over Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri?

a warm front Warm fronts are denoted by lines with red semicircles.

Mr. Chang's fourth-grade students are just finishing a unit on solar energy. They built solar cookers and solar heaters, and the students are excited about the potentials of using solar energy in the future. Which additional activity would best help students make wise decisions about using solar energy when they are home and business owners?

an age-appropriate cost/benefit analysis Alternative energy sources are becoming more and more prevalent, but each type has costs, as well as benefits. An age-appropriate cost/benefit analysis would help students see that solar energy is not free energy.

Which of the following is NOT an appropriate science activity for encouraging elementary students into adopting a healthier lifestyle?

an analysis comparing the cost of name brand versus store brand foods A cost analysis comparing name brand to store brand foods will not teach the students about a healthy lifestyle.

A local farmer cuts down a population of trees next to a river so that he can plant a field of crops. Which of the following will be the most likely result because of the loss of trees next to the river?

an increase of soil erosion into the river Without the trees and other vegetation near the river, the erosion of the soil would most likely increase. Vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, helps reduce soil erosion because of the root systems and natural barriers that prevent erosion of the soil. With the trees removed, there are less barriers for the soil to erode into the river.

Which of the following types of energy does a spider convert when it eats a mosquito and uses the energy to do work?

chemical The spider converts chemical energy from his food (the mosquito) into mechanical and thermal energy expended as work.

Which of the following energy transformations occurs when wood burns?

chemical energy into thermal energy When wood burns, chemical energy stored in atomic bonds is converted into heat energy.

Elements in the right-most column of the periodic table, such as neon and argon, are very chemically unreactive. Which chemical property does this statement describe?

chemical stability A chemically unreactive element is chemically stable. It is unlikely to undergo a chemical reaction.

Miss Austin gives her class 6 sets of data and asks them to identify which data set can best be summarized by the mean. What topic is she covering?

choosing measures of central tendency Students need to understand when to use the mean, median, and mode to identify data summaries.

Which of the following science skills would be best taught during an elementary school unit on rocks and minerals?

classification Rocks and minerals can be classified based on their properties.

During a sixth-grade unit on suspensions, Mr. Ricky teaches that the color of a suspension depends on how light reflects on the solutes. He uses the examples of glacial lakes, which contain silt from the glacier's movement. When sunlight hits the lake and reflects from this suspended silt, the lake appears a spectacular turquoise blue or green color. Of the following student activities, which would be most useful to include while assessing students' understanding of his unit on suspensions?

drawing a diagram of why glacial lakes are blue Mr. Ricky wants to assess understanding of the effect of solutes on the color of a suspension. Having students draw a diagram is a good way for him to see if they understand that light is reflecting on the solutes.

In the water cycle, energy from the sun heats the water, changing the liquid water into a gas. It loses energy and falls back to Earth. Which step in the water cycle is depicted by #4 in the diagram shown?

evaporation Water on the Earth is heated by the sun and changes from a liquid to a gas, or water vapor. This is called evaporation.

Variation of offspring is an important factor influencing the survival of a species. Which of these examples would create the most variation between a parent and its offspring?

fertilization of the egg and sperm Fertilization creates a mixture of genetic material between the source of the egg and sperm, creating variation between a parent and its offspring.

Karol placed a small cardboard box of books on a metal rolling cart. On her way to the bookshelf, her dog Nixie ran out in front of the cart, causing Karol to stop suddenly. Although the cart stopped suddenly, the box stayed in place on the cart. What force kept the box of books on the cart when she stopped?

friction Friction is a force that depends upon an object's mass and how hard the force of gravity pulls two surfaces together. The friction between the box and the cart kept the box in place.

Comets are composed of:

gas, dust, and ice. Comets are composed of gas, dust, and ice.

Which of the following environmental effects DOES NOT occur because of gravity?

global warming Global warming may occur because of changes in Earth's position relative to the sun, or from an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It does not occur because of gravity.

The Earth is divided into four layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the:

inner core. The four layers of Earth are: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core.

The monarch butterfly populations migrate to Central Mexico each winter and return to North America and Canada each spring. What kind of response is this?

instinctual The monarchs are born with the urge to migrate in the winter and spring. Therefore, this is an instinctual response.

A deer returns to your neighbor's yard every spring to eat apples fallen from the tree in their yard. Which type of response is this?

learned This is a learned response because the deer has learned to come to this specific yard for this apple tree.

Which of the following is the best example of refraction of a light wave?

light coming to a focus through a lens Light refracts, or bends, when it strikes the boundary between air and a lens. The lens is shaped to bring the light to a focus.

Density is measured by using the formula mass/volume. In addition to a scale, which of these tools would be helpful in finding the density of a regular-shaped, solid object?

metric ruler The density of an object is calculated by measuring both the mass and volume, and dividing the volume into the mass. The volume of a regular-shaped object is calculated by measuring the L x W x H of that object. This measurement is done with a metric ruler.

Quartz can be classified as which of the following?

mineral Quartz is an example of a mineral. It has an inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition and a network structure.

Which organelle is responsible for breaking down glucose into energy for the cell?

mitochondrion The mitochondria are responsible for breaking down glucose for energy.

The Earth's outer layer is divided into sections called plates. These plates essentially float around on the mantle of the Earth. If two continent boundaries collide with one another, Earth's crust is pushed together. Which of the following best describes the result of the collision?

mountains When two plates collide, one plate typically sinks beneath the other. If most of the crust remains, a mountain range can form.

Which of the following in the food chain below is a consumer? grass → mouse → owl

mouse and owl The mouse and the owl are both consumers. The owl consumes the mouse and the mouse consumes the grass.

A bee flies to a flower and gathers the nectar, which the bee will make into food. While the bee gathers the nectar, pollen from the flower covers the body of the bee. When the bee flies to another flower, the pollen rubs off into another plant. This relationship between the bees and flowering plants can best be described as:

mutualism Mutualism is a relationship between two organisms where both organisms receive benefits from the relationship.

Which system controls most of the functions of the body?

nervous system The nervous system contains the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The brain controls most of the functions of the body.

Examples of Changes in Matter "X" Changes Chemical Changes 1. Melting an ice cube 1. Burning a piece of wood 2. Tearing a piece of paper 2. "Z" 3. "Y" 3. Lighting a match Use the table to answer this question. Matter can undergo two types of changes. The table lists those two changes and some examples of each. Which term would best replace the letter "X" in the table?

physical All the examples in the left column of the table are physical changes because after the change takes place, you have the same substance you started with, water and paper—the substance just changes form.

The water lily depends on the neutral pH of pond water, pH 7, to maintain homeostasis. Because of air pollution, the precipitation increased the level of acidity in a pond's water. Which term describes the factor directly endangering the water lily in this pond?

physical factor Air pollution is causing acidity to rise. This is a physical factor in the pond.

Which of the following best represents a comparison of the percentage of healthy plants in a region to those that show stunted growth or yellowing?

pie chart A pie chart is a circle divided into sectors which each represent a proportion of the whole. Pie charts are useful for displaying the relative percentages of categories.

All atoms of a single element have the same number of:

protons. The number of protons in the nucleus characterizes the type of atom, i.e. all carbon atoms have 6 protons and all oxygen atoms have 8 protons.

A common misconception among students is that a force is needed to keep an object moving. Which of the following demonstrations could inadvertently reinforce this misconception?

pushing a book across a table Friction opposes a book pushed across a table; therefore, a force does needs to be applied to keep it moving. This could reinforce the students' misconception that a force is always needed

A swimming pool heats up during the day and cools off at night. Which is the primary type of heat transfer that warms the pool?

radiation Radiation from the sun is the primary type of heat transfer that heats the pool.

What is the range and mode of the data set below? 10, 8, 5, 3, 7, 4, 5, 9, 2, 3, 7, 3, 8, 6, 4, 1, 2, 1, 10, 3

range: 9; mode: 3 The largest piece of data in this set is 10, and the smallest piece of data is 1. Therefore, the range = 10 - 1 = 9. The mode is 3 because there are more 3's (there are 4 of them) than any other number in the data.

The table shown compares the two types of wave travel by listing a few characteristics of each type and an example. Which term would best replace the letter X in the table? Reflection X Characteristics: Characteristics: 1. Wave bounces off surface at a boundary 1. Wave changes direction at a boundary 2. Y 2. Wave moves forward into new medium Example: Example: 1. Shows an image in a mirror 1. Z

refraction Refraction is a wave characteristic in which the wave changes direction as it moves from one medium to another

If a species is going to survive, what must occur by individuals within the population?

reproduction Individuals must reproduce to carry the species forward.

The circuit diagram shown has a battery, two lamps, a switch and several conducting wires, however when the switch is closed, the lamps will not light and the battery will get hot. There is something wrong with the circuit. What is this kind of circuit called?

short circuit This is a short circuit. A conducting wire connects directly across the battery. A conducting wire has no resistance to the flow of current, so all of the current will flow through the wire and none will flow through the lamps. A short circuit can be dangerous as the battery will try to supply an infinite amount of current and the system could get very hot.

Which of the following is a major difference between the Earth and the sun?

size About 1.3 million Earths could fit into the sun. The sun is much larger than the Earth.

When a panel absorbs energy from the sun to power a yard light, which of the following best describes the transfer of energy?

solar energy to light energy Energy from the sun is known as solar energy. Solar panels absorb the energy, which is transferred to light through the panel and circuits in the lamp.

What is the source of energy on which most living organisms on Earth ultimately depend?

solar radiation The sun emits solar radiation, which is captured by producers. These form the base of the food chain. Most living organisms on Earth ultimately depend on the sun's solar radiation.

All objects in the universe are governed by four universal forces. Which force causes positively and negatively charged particles to interact with one another?

the electromagnetic force Electrically charged particles (either positive or negative) will naturally interact with one another due to the electromagnetic force.

Of the choices listed, which is the best analogy for voltage in a circuit?

the height difference between the top and bottom of a hill Voltage is related to the potential energy of the charges in a circuit. For example, charges at one terminal of a disconnected battery have the "potential" to make current flow as soon as the battery is connected.

The table compares the two sources of nuclear energy and lists a few characteristics of each and an example. Which term would best complete the table by replacing the letter Z? X Nuclear Fission Characteristic: Characteristic: 1. Light nuclei combine into a heavier nucleus 1. A heavy nucleus is split into lighter nuclei 2. Exothermic (gives off energy) 2. Y Example: Example: Z Nuclear power plants on Earth

the sun Nuclear fusion takes place in the sun. All the energy we receive from the sun comes from nuclear fusion.

Which of the following is an instrument used to measure temperature?

thermometer A thermometer is used to measure temperature.

The students in Mr. Polanski's class are learning about elements and compounds. Mr. P. has given each student an "atomic building kit" consisting of different colored balls with holes drilled into them and sticks that fit into the holes. Mr. P. shows students samples of a material, for example a chunk of coal or a shaker of salt, and explains which atoms are in the material, whether the material is formed from one type of atom or multiple types, and describes how the atoms combine. The students build a model of each material. As they build, Mr. P. explains what makes one material an element and another a compound. Which of the following best completes the follow-up question Mr. P. uses to check for student understanding of the difference between elements and compounds? "If you were a science supply company making kits to show the difference between compounds and elements

what variety must be included in the kits, and why?" Students will have to express that compounds form from two different kinds of atoms, whereas elements form from a single kind of atom.

What powers the ocean's surface currents?

wind currents, the uneven heating of Earth's surface, and the shape of landforms on Earth Wind currents, the uneven heating of Earth's surface, and the shape of landforms on Earth drive the ocean's surface currents.

Mr. Clark is setting up a demonstration of homeostasis for his students. He will have various organisms react to environmental changes. Which of the following things would be the worst choice for him to demonstrate on?

windup toy car A toy car may react to the environment (moving along after it is wound), but this is not a clear demonstration of homeostasis.

Ms. Jolly projects a picture of the night sky from NASA for her students. One student, Pam, exclaims "The stars are colored!" Which of the following is the best response for Ms. Jolly to make if she is to use Pam's outburst as a teaching moment?

"Shall we find out why the stars have colors?" Pam's exclamation and this question can be the beginning of an investigation about temperature and the color of starlight. This is the best response to the teaching moment.

Sally and Susie place 30 white marbles and 9 black marbles in a sack. They play a game where the object of the game is to accumulate more white marbles than the other person. On each turn, a person can take as many marbles as they would like, but if they grab a black marble then they must return all their marbles taken on that turn. On Sally's turn, she picks up 3 white marbles and no black marbles. If Susie grabs one more marble, what is the probability that she will grab a black marble? (Note: Sally has not yet returned her 3 white marbles to the sack.)

1 in 4 To find the probability of Susie grabbing a black marble, add all the remaining marbles together and divide the black marbles by the remaining marbles. Sally grabbed 3 white marbles, which leaves 27 white marbles in the sack. 27 white marbles plus 9 black marbles equals 36 total marbles. Choosing a black marble out of all marbles can be represented as 9/36 which reduces to ¼.

What is the mode of the data set below? 1.8, 1.5, 2.4, 2.1, 1.5, 2.1, 1.7, 1.5, 1.8

1.5 The mode is the number that appears the most in the data set. 1.5 appears 3 times, more than any other.

A student tosses a six-sided die, with each side numbered 1 through 6, and flips a coin. What is the probability that the die will land on the face numbered 1 and the coin will land showing tails?

1/12 The probability of getting any number on a six-sided die is one out of six (1/6), because there are six equally possible sides. The probability of a coin landing on tails is one in two (1/2) because there are two equally possible outcomes. To find the probability of a 1/6 instance happening at the same time as a 1/2 instance, simply multiply the probabilities together. This yields (1/6) * (1/2) = (1/12).

Rick pulled a card at random from a normal deck, noted it, replaced it, shuffled, and drew again. His draws were as follows: 10, J, 10, K, 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 4 What is the probability that he will draw a 10 on the next draw?

1/13 If the cards are replaced and shuffled, each draw is an independent event. You should ignore the extra information of what he drew so far. Since there are 4 10's in a standard deck of 52 cards, the probability of a 10 is 4/52 = 1/13.

Brianna spun each of the two spinners. Which expression depicts the probability she spins an "A" on the first spinner and a "1" on the second

1/3 • 1/4 The probability that two independent events will occur (independent events are events that are not affected by the outcome of each other) is the product of the probabilities of each event occurring. The probability of spinning an "A" on the first spinner is 1/3 and the probability of spinning a "1" on the second spinner is 1/4. P(A and 1) = 1/3 • 1/4 = 1/12. Another approach to this problem would be to list all the possible outcomes for the spinning of both spinners: A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, C-1, C-2, C-3 C-4. There is a total of 12 possible outcomes; only one of these outcomes is A-1. So, P(A-1) = 1/12.

Jackie is building with blocks. She has 14 red blocks, 18 blue blocks, 22 yellow blocks, 10 green blocks, and 16 orange blocks. If she picks out a block at random, what is the probability that it is orange?

1/5 Since she has 80 total blocks and 16 are orange, the probability is 16/80 which reduces to 1/5

Julian rolled a normal 6-sided die 12 times. His rolls were as follows: 2, 4, 3, 3, 5, 1, 2, 6, 3, 1, 3, 5, 4. What is the probability that he will roll a 3 on the next roll?

1/6 Rolling a die is an independent event meaning that none of the previous rolls affect his next one. There are 6 equal sides so the probability of rolling a 3 is ⅙.

10 groups of 5 students spin the spinner shown. If each student spins the spinner 6 times, what is the expected number of times the spinner would land on A for all 10 groups of students? There is an equal chance the spinner lands on A, B, or C.

100 The odds of the spinner landing on the "A" is 1 in 3 because there are three equal options for the spinner to land on. If a group of students spins the spinner 6 times, it is expected each student will land on "A" 2 times, because out of 6 spins, they should land on "A" 1/3 of the time. If each student is expected to land on "A" 2 times, then each group of 5 students would expect to land on "A" 10 times. If there are ten groups, the expectation is "A" would be landed on 100 times. This equation can be written as (6 / 3) * 5 * 10 = 100.

A pool empties at a rate of 12 quarts every 2 minutes. How many hours and minutes will it take to completely empty the pool which contains 12,000 gallons? (1 gallon = 4 quarts)

133 hours and 20 minutes Both quarts and minutes needs to be converted. 12 quarts = 3 gallons. 12,000/3 = 4,000 x 2 minutes = 8,000 minutes/60 minutes = 133 hours and 20 minutes

The test scores in Mrs. Marsala's math class are as follows: 72 75 78 84 88 89 91 92 93 94 97 What is the range of scores?

25 The range is the difference between the highest and lowest value in the set. This data is already organized from lowest to highest. Therefore, the range is found by 97-72 = 25.

Jessie draws a marble from the bag shown and then, without replacing the first marble, he draws a second one. Which expression shows the probability that he drew a red marble both times?

3/10 • 2/9 This is an example of dependent events. P(red) = 3/10 for the first draw. In this situation the first marble is not returned to the bag, changing our sample to 9 marbles. If the first marble drawn was red, that leaves only 2 red marbles, so on the second draw, P(red) = 2/9; two red marbles out of 9 total. The probability of both events happening is 3/10 • 2/9.

Without looking, Jessie draws a marble from the bag shown, replaces it, gives the bag a good shake, and draws again. What is the probability that Jessie drew a red marble both times?

3/10 • 3/10 P(red) = 3/10. If the marble is replaced, the P(red) on the second draw is still 3/10. So, the probability of drawing red on both draws is: 3/10 • 3/10. This is an example of two independent events since the outcome of the first draw does not affect the outcome of the second.

Brianna spun each of the two spinners. What is the probability that she did NOT spin a "1" on the second spinner?

3/4 P(1) = 1/4 so the probability of NOT landing on a 1 is 1 - 1/4 = 3/4. Another way of seeing this is to think about what the probability of spinning a 2, 3, or 4 would be since these are the "successes" for NOT rolling a 1. P(2,3,4) = 3/4: three ways to not land on 1 out of 4 possible outcomes. A probability of 1 (or 100%) means that an event is certain, while a probability of 0 means that the outcome is not possible. For spinner #2, P(<5) = 1 (The probability of spinning a number less than 5 is a certainty). The sum of all the probabilities of possible outcomes will always be equal to 1 or 100%. So, the sum of the probability of a specific event occurring and the probability that it will not occur are 1 or 100%.

The graph shows the number of students graduating from a local community college between 1999 and 2003. According to the graph, how many students graduated before 2001?

320 In 1999, there were 140 graduates. In 2000, there were 180 graduates. 140 + 180 = 320.

The partially completed graph shows the attendance for the Houston Rodeo, excluding Saturday. If 156,000 people attended throughout the week, where should the bar for Saturday end?

35 121,000 people attended Sunday through Friday. 35,000 people must have attended Saturday to achieve a total of 156,000.

Black colored scales is dominant over white colored scales in a specific type of snake. A black colored snake (Bb) is mated with a purebred, white colored snake (bb). If 8 eggs hatch, how many will likely have white scales?

4 The black snake will provide B or b. The white snake will always provide b. So the genotypes would be Bb half the time and bb the other half. Therefore, 50% of their offspring will have the genotype Bb. Since they had 8 eggs, it is likely that half, or 4, will be white.

Third-grade students at Grace Moore Elementary just completed a math test. The number of questions missed by each student is graphed. How many students missed more than 2 questions on the test?

46 students More than 2 questions missed would include those that missed 3 or 4 questions: 38 + 8 = 46.

Red flowers are dominant over white flowers in roses. A heterozygous red flowering rose is mated with a purebred, white colored rose. What percentage of their offspring will have the genotype rr?

50% The red flowering rose (Rr) will provide R or r. The white rose (rr) will always provide r. So the genotypes would be Rr half the time and rr the other half. Therefore, 50% of their offspring will have the genotype rr.

The data shown is presented in a stem and leaf plot. The data represents the grades on a recent math test given by Mr. Davis and Mrs. Smith. What is the range for Mrs. Smith's class?

57 The range of data for Mrs. Smith's class is: high - low = 100 - 43 = 57.

The data shown is presented in a stem and leaf plot. The data represents the grades on a recent math test given by Mr. Davis and Mrs. Smith. What is the median score for Mr. Davis' class?

80 In a stem and leaf plot, the center column is the stem of the numbers in the data set. In this case the grades on the test have possible values of 0 to 100, so our stem is the 10's digit, except in the case of 100. The values to the right and left of the stem represent the units digit of the data points. So, if you look at the stem number 6 on the right, you will see the numbers 1, 3, and 7. This translates into scores of: 61, 63, and 67. On the left, for Mr. Davis' class, the scores represented are: 68, 65, 61, 60, and 60. Remember that before you can find the median, the data must be arranged in order from least to greatest or greatest to least. Once the data is in numerical order, the median is simply the middle term. Since there are 25 terms, the 13th term would be the median with twelve on either side of it. The thirteenth term is 80.

Which of the following best describes the conditions of a full moon?

A full moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the moon. A full moon occurs when the full face of the moon is illuminated by the Sun and visible from the Earth. This occurs only when the Earth is between the moon and the Sun.

A fifth-grade class has been learning why we need to define a system during an investigation. To reinforce the learning, the teacher asks students to imagine they are scientists getting ready to investigate something in their own lives, for example, a particular aspect of a sport, or an activity the student likes to do. After helping each student define the question they might investigate, the teacher wants the students to define the system of their investigation. Which of the following will best enable the students to successfully complete the task?

A handout with examples, prompts, and blanks where the student can write their investigation question and define their system. A structured handout breaks the task into smaller parts and allow the student to focus on one part at a time, without leaving out any important information. If students are stumped by one of the parts, they can ask and get answers to specific questions. The handout gives the student a scaffolded place to start.

How do a population and a community differ?

A population is a group of only one species. Multiple organisms of the same species form a population and multiple populations form a community.

Which activity would be most beneficial for students learning the structure and functions human body systems?

A project in which students run an election campaign for their assigned body system. Students write campaign speeches about why their body system is the most essential, make posters, and have a vote at the end of the project. This project allows students to engage creatively with the material, and they must know the body systems in order to run an effective campaign. Students will see that each body system is equally essential.

Which of the following describes the process of sublimation?

A pure solid changes directly into a gas. In sublimation a pure solid experiences a phase transition directly to a gas.

After teaching a unit on evolution, Mrs. Reed asks her students to write a paragraph on the likely reason that modern African Elephants have big ears while Asian Elephants have smaller ears. One of her students turns in the following: "All elephants had small ears. One year, it was very hot in Africa. Some of the African elephants started to grow bigger ears to help release more heat and cool off. The elephants that grew the biggest ears lived and were able to have more offspring. The offspring were born with the bigger ears from their parents." What is the student's misconception?

Acquired traits are passed onto offspring. Acquired traits are not passed onto offspring. Even if the elephants ears did grow in response to the heat, the offspring would not inherit these larger ears, only the capability to grow them in response to heat. Instead, it's likely that the elephants with the DNA for large ears grew them, happened to do well in the heat, and had more offspring.

Mrs. Spiser is teaching students about populations and samples. At the start of their lunch period, they are going to the cafeteria to take a randomized survey of how many students bought lunch. They will then compare that to the whole school to determine how many kids buy lunch each day. What should she include in her lesson plan that morning to reinforce the concept?

As students enter her room, they randomly draw a red or black card. She teaches the concept by explaining that the class is the population and students who drew a red card are the sample group. This demonstrates random sampling by showing that a random amount of students in the class (the population) will be surveyed (the sample group). When they go to the cafeteria, they will randomly sample some students (the sample group) to evaluate the entire school (the population).

A snowball is pushed down a smooth, steep side of a mountain and maintains its shape until the bottom of the mountain. Which of the graphs shows the distance the snowball traveled relative to the time it rolled down the mountain?

As the snowball rolls down the hill, it increases in speed and covers more distance each second. The line curves upward with an increasing slope to show the increasing speed. (CURVE)

Students in Ms. Wolf's class are struggling with differentiating between internal and external stimuli. Which of the following interventions would be most effective to bridge this gap?

Ask students to play a stimulus-response game where they identify internal and external stimuli, responses, and explain their answers in the process. Having students play a game where they explain the differences between internal and external stimuli will allow them to collaborate with their peers and correct each others' misconceptions.

How might scientific research be advanced in a society?

Assessing needs and using scientific research to address those needs in order to benefit society and our environment. This is the most responsible and ethical way of advancing scientific research.

A large round boulder is pushed from point X on the illustration, near the top of a steep hill, and rolled to the bottom. Assuming the boulder and the hill are a closed system, and neglecting any effects from friction, if the boulder has 800 J of potential energy at point X, how much and what type of energy will it have at the bottom of the hill at point Z just before it stops?

At point Z the boulder will have 0 J of potential energy and 800 J of kinetic energy. Potential energy is energy an object has due to its position or configuration. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object's motion. At point X, the energy is all potential because the boulder is not moving. As the boulder rolls down the hill, its height decreases and its speed increases, so its potential energy decreases and its kinetic energy increases. At point Z at the bottom, the potential energy (and height) are both 0 and all 800 J of the initial energy is kinetic.

In a cross between a black guinea pig and a brown guinea pig, all of the offspring are black and none of the offspring are brown. Which of the following is most likely true?

Black fur color is dominant in guinea pigs. It is most likely that black is a dominant color in guinea pigs because none of the offspring were brown. The black parent likely had two dominant alleles and each offspring received one. The recessive allele provided by the brown parent was masked by the dominant black allele.

Ms. Medure's fourth-grade class is studying volcanoes. She chooses to have her students build papier-mâché models of volcanoes, both to help them learn volcanic structure and also to help them learn the benefits and limitations of scientific models. In addition to building the models, which of the following activities best supports her learning goals about scientific models

Class discussions on how the models are like and different from real volcanoes. Models have benefits and limitations. A class discussion on the benefits and limitations of their volcanic models will help students understand this aspect of models.

Which metric prefix indicates a factor of 10?

Deca- Deca- indicates a factor of 10.

The uneven heating of the Earth results in which of the following?

Deserts commonly found near the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Deserts are commonly found near the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, due to warm, moist air losing its moisture before reaching the Tropics.

People have been using fossil fuels in the United States as a source of energy for many, many years. Why are scientists now searching for alternative fuel sources? Select all answers that apply.

Fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource. Fossil fuels are not renewable resource. Because they take millions of years to form, we are using them much faster than they are being replaced. B Alternative fuel sources create less pollution than burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels do pollute more than many alternative fuel sources.

Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a crescent moon?

From Earth's point of view, only a sliver of the Moon is lit by the Sun during a crescent moon. Most of the Moon appears dark, being lit only by reflected light from the Earth.(NORTHEAST)

Which kingdom would an organism belong to if it were a eukaryotic multicellular heterotroph with chitin in its cell walls?

Fungi This is the description of a fungus.

Which of the following is the most appropriate "warm-up" activity for a lesson on the rock cycle?

Giving small groups of students assortments of different types of rock and asking for observations. "Warm-ups", or motivational engagement activities, help students start thinking about the material they will be learning in an upcoming lesson. This activity is the most appropriate activity for engaging students before a study of the rock cycle because students will begin thinking about the similarities and differences in the rocks they see and handle.

Mrs. Gore is teaching about simple and compound events in probability. As she walks around the room, she has students draw a marble from a bag and answer the probability of drawing certain colors. What is the main motivation for teaching it this way?

Giving students an interactive way to learn The interaction increases participation and therefore learning.

John's family decided to drive to a beach that was 60 miles from their house. There was a great amount of traffic and their average speed was 30 miles per hour. Thirty minutes after they arrived at the beach, it began pouring rain. They ran back to the car and headed home. It took half as long to get home as it did to arrive at the beach. Which graph shows their distance from home in miles related to the time it took to make the trip?

Graph B The initial line shows the car traveling 30 mph for 2 hours. The car travels 60 miles in 120 minutes or 2 hours. (60÷2 = 30.) Then they are in the same location for 30 minutes and return to the starting point an hour later.

Which one of the following is true of grass in an ecosystem?

Grass makes its own food using nutrients from the soil and the energy from the sun. Grass is a type of plant. Plants make their own food from nutrients in the soil and energy from the sun.

Which of the following is the best example of a behavioral adaptation?

Grizzly bears in Alaska will hibernate in the winter. This is a behavioral adaptation because the grizzly bears perform a behavior (hibernation) in response to the environment.

Which of the following lists Earth's eons in the correct order from most ancient to most recent?

Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic This is the correct order of Earth's eons.

A mathematics teacher determines that the median score for the most recent test was 80 percent. Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the result?

Half the students scored below 80 percent. Median is the middle number in a data set. It is calculated by arranging the numbers from least to greatest and finding the number in the middle; if there is not one middle number, then the median is the average of the two numbers. For example, in the data set 1, 2, 3, 4 the median is 2.5 because 2.5 is the average of 2 and 3. If the median score is 80, then half the students scored below 80 and half the students scored above 80.

Most of the students in an elementary class are struggling to differentiate between amphibians and reptiles. Which intervention is most likely to help students understand the difference well enough to apply the concepts to a new situation?

Have small groups of students sort picture cards into the two categories and explain their choices in a class discussion with teacher input. Working in a small group allows students to process the concepts; explaining and discussing their choices with the class will correct misunderstandings and help students consider correct reasons for other categorizations. The discussion allows the teacher to discern who understands and who does not.

During a unit on environmental pressure on a population, Mr. Smith would like to show his students how humans contribute to these pressures. What is the best way for Mr. Smith to show students what personal impact they have on the environment?

Have students fill out a survey about what materials and resources they and their families use on a daily basis, then discuss their answers. Mr. Smith can guide the discussion to include the effects the use of these materials has on the environment. This activity requires students to consider their own contribution to pollution and consumption of resources. These environmental pressures affect the ecosystem.

Weather maps can be quite complex, often showing wind speed, isobars, fronts, and precipitation. Which technique is most likely to enable upper elementary students to begin to learn to read weather maps?

Have students interpret several maps, one at a time, which each show only one type of weather symbol. Using several maps, each with only one type of weather symbol, allows students to take the time to fully interpret and understand each type of symbol without getting confused by the other symbols.

NASA has published instructions for an elementary school activity in which students build greenhouse gas molecules out of gumdrops and toothpicks. After building the molecules, students glue them to construction paper and label each molecule with its name and chemical formula. Ms. Cartwright intends to use the activity with her third-grade students, but is concerned that the activity does not go far enough in helping students understand how greenhouse gases trap heat. How could Ms. Cartwright most effectively extend the NASA activity to incorporate her additional learning goals?

Have students represent heat with red-hot candies to show heat reflecting back to Earth from greenhouse gases and escaping Earth's atmosphere where greenhouse gases are absent. The red-hot candy activity visually explains why greenhouse gases heat the Earth.

Which activity would best help a kinesthetic learner understand the model of an atom?

In a large open space, have students hold signs with "+", "-", or "0" on them. Group students so all "+" and "0" signs are clustered together in one place. Have all students with "-" signs run randomly around the central group. A kinesthetic learner learns best when they use their body or hands to form, move, or manipulate objects.

Of the concepts about light listed, which concept is the most important for students to grasp because it applies across all science disciplines?

Light carries energy from one place to another. Energy is considered a cross-cutting concept, meaning it applies to all science disciplines. That energy is carried by light is important not only in the physical sciences, but in life science (photosynthesis), earth science (weather), and space sciences (optical telescopes).

Which of the following is NOT an example of acceleration?

Lionel rides the last mile of a race at a fast but steady speed. Acceleration measures how fast someone changes their velocity. Motion at a steady speed, no matter how fast, is constant velocity motion with no acceleration.

Julia buys a box of juice boxes containing the types and amounts listed in the table. All the juices are placed in a big bucket covered with ice. Micah reaches in and pulls out a juice box without looking. Which of the following statements is true?

Micah is equally likely to pick apple or grape juice. There are an equal number of grape juice boxes and apple juice boxes; each has a probability of being chosen 23.1%. Choosing an apple juice box or a grape juice box is equally likely, therefore, this is a true statement.

Some of Ms. Ringbloom's students are having trouble visualizing the relative size of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. Which intervention would be most effective to address this gap in knowledge?

Ms. Ringbloom can create a three-dimensional, scale model of one organ system so students can see the differences in size. A scale model will allow students to see the relative sizes, especially if Ms. Ringbloom uses three-dimensional materials.

Two third-grade teachers are discussing how to teach form and function to their classes. Ms. Garcia says "I plan to take the kids to the playground outside and have describe the form and function of four things they see." Ms. Rodrigues says "That sounds like a good idea, but perhaps two trips outside would be better. On the first trip students could identify the form of four things and then connect each form to its function. On the second trip, students could identify the function of four things, and then identify the form required for each function." Which plan will have the best learning outcomes for differentiating form and function, and why?

Ms. Rodrigues' plan for two trips will have the best learning outcomes because students can focus first on form supporting function and then on function requiring form. Ms. Rodrigues' plan will enable students to better understand the complementary nature of form and function and differentiate between their dependencies. With two trips, she can summarize after each, and better reinforce the similarities and differences.

Peter asked his neighbors for help when he was moving because he could not push his piano up the ramp of the moving truck by himself. Peter could not move the piano without help because of the piano's mass. This situation relates best to which of the following of Newton's Law?

Newton's Second Law of Motion Newton's Second Law states that the force needed to move an object is related to the mass of the object. Heavier objects require more force to move them. In this scenario, Peter can't move the piano by himself because he doesn't have enough strength to create a large enough force.

A boy was blowing up balloons for his birthday party. The balloon slipped out of his mouth and the air in the balloon came rushing out of the top of the balloon. This caused the balloon to move in the opposite direction than the direction the air was moving. Which one of Newton's Laws does this scenario relate to?

Newton's Third Law of Motion Newton's Third Law states that every action has an equal or opposite reaction. This is sometimes referred to as Newton's Action-Reaction Law. In this scenario, as the pushes air out of the top of the balloon the air pushes on the balloon and causes the balloon to move in the opposite direction from the air.

Ms. Sanborn wants to make a magnet with only a north pole and another magnet with only a south pole. She only has normal rectangular magnets with north poles on one of the long ends and south poles on the other long end. What should she do?

None of these efforts will produce magnets with only a north pole or with only a south pole. No one has ever formed or seen a monopole (a magnet with a single pole). Ms. Sanborn will have to discard her idea.

Mr. Schneider wants to give his students a physical and visual representation of how many offspring can be produced during asexual reproduction. He also wants to show students that the offspring are genetically identical to the parent. Which of the following would be the best way to do this?

Provide identical objects, such as marbles, to represent the organism and its offspring. Have students add objects when the organisms reproduce. The use of manipulatives helps students engage with the material. Using identical objects shows students that the offspring are genetically identical, but they are still individual organisms.

What is the most important reason for repeatability in scientific investigations?

Repeatability decreases the impact of human error, increases the reliability of results, and solidifies scientific law. This is the most important reason for repeatability in scientific investigations.

Why is learning the scientific process, such as collecting evidence, making models, and constructing explanations, as important to a science lesson as learning content?

Science processes unify science disciplines and phenomenon. Science processes are unifying concepts that span across the science disciplines and phenomenon. Once a student learns how science is done, they can apply the processes to other scientific concepts, including their own investigations. Understanding the process of science helps students evaluate the research and conclusions of others.

A teacher used the following activity to teach her elementary students about the process of science. She divided the students into teams of 3, provided them with paper, glue sticks, and scissors, and told them their goal was to build the highest tower, but only one student could touch the materials at a time. The teams would work as a relay, first one student building, with the other two coaching, then when a bell rings, switch builders, and so on until each student has had a chance to build. Which aspect of the scientific process was the teacher most likely trying to illustrate?

Scientific discoveries build on the discoveries of scientists who came before. Using the relay system, later builders on the team build on what has been done by earlier builders, similar to the process of science in which later scientists build on the work of earlier scientists.

Which of the following animals would be a secondary consumer in a food chain?

Sea otter, eating sea urchins Sea otters are carnivores, so they are secondary consumers. They feed on primary consumers (sea urchins)

A snowball is pushed from rest down a smooth, steep side of a mountain and maintains its shape until the bottom of the mountain. Which of the graphs shows the correct speed vs. time graph of the snowball's motion as it rolled down the mountain?

Since the slope of the mountain is smooth, the speed increases linearly with time, so a straight line with an upward slope, starting at (0,0) as shown in this graph is correct. (UP DIAGOAL)

Ms. Kingly is rather unsure about the cause of the Coriolis effect, so she decides to show a movie about it to her class instead of trying to teach it to them directly. What else should Ms. Kingly do in order to prepare for the lesson?

Study up on the Coriolis effect so she can confidently answer student questions and guide further exploration.

Students in Ms. Weikel's class are having difficulty remembering the metric unit prefixes. What should she do to help them remember the prefixes?

Teach students a helpful mnemonic device. Mnemonic devices can help students memorize essential information.

Jason was holding a ball and then threw it to Tommy, who caught the ball and held it in his glove before throwing it back. Which of the following is the most accurate statement about energy as the boys played catch?

The ball had kinetic energy while moving, which transformed into heat and sound when caught. In this situation, the ball's kinetic energy is due to its motion and the ball's potential energy is due to its height above the ground. Assuming the two gloves are at the same height, the kinetic energy does not transform into potential energy, but into sound and heat (or thermal energy in the glove and ball) each time the ball is caught.

In the pair of dice that Tim rolled 25 times, he recorded a sum of 4 on three of those rolls. What is the difference between the theoretical probability and the experimental probability of rolling a pair of dice and getting a sum of 4 based on Tim's experiment?

The experimental probability is about 4% greater than the theoretical probability. Theoretical probability is determined by analyzing the situation, in this case the rolling of a pair of dice, and determining the number of successful outcomes divided by the number of possible outcomes. The experimental probability is the probability that occurred in this specific experiment. The theoretical probability of rolling a sum of 4 is PT(4) = 3/36 = 1/12, about 8.3%. When Tim rolled his dice 25 times, he got a 4 on three of those rolls. While the theoretical probability of rolling a pair of dice and getting a sum of 4 is always about 8.3%, the probability that occurred in Tim's experiment, the experimental probability, is PE(4) = 3/25 = 0.12 = 12%. This means his experimental probability was about 4% greater than the theoretical probability (12% - 8.3% = 3.7%, about 4%).

A teacher tells the students the mode of the scores on the most recent exam was 85. Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the result?

The most common score on the test is 85 percent. This would be correct if the mode score was 85. Mode is the number that appears the most in a data set.

A forest was cleared and turned into a field of organic soybean plants. Which of the following most likely occurred?

The number of insect species decreased. A forest is a more complex ecosystem than a field of one crop. When ecosystems are more simple, they support fewer species.

Moshi put on a magic show for his classmates. He made a metal car move by waving a paper wand behind it. Which of these is probably the secret to his successful magic trick?

The paper wand had a magnet inside that attracted the metal car. The property of magnetism is a physical property of metal. The magnet in the wand would attract the metal of the car.

Mrs. Gruntle is planning a health unit on substance abuse. Before beginning the unit, Mrs. Gruntle prepares a pretest to give the students. Which of the following is the most important advantage of the pretest?

The pretest will help Mrs. Gruntle recognize misconceptions students have about substance abuse Many students develop misconceptions about substance abuse. To best educate the students on the effects of substance abuse, Mrs. Gruntle will need to know what misconceptions the students have, so they can be adequately addressed. The pretest will allow Mrs. Gruntle to identify various misconceptions the students have and this will allow her to develop instructional activities to correct misconceptions and develop a correct view of substance abuse among her students.

Students are learning about probability. The teacher explains the theoretical probability of a two-sided coin landing on any one side. Students then work in groups and flip a two-sided coin several times. The first group of students flips the coin 20 times and finds the coin lands on side A 13 times and side B 7 times. Which of the following observations, based on the scenario, about probability is accurate?

The theoretical probability of the coin landing on side A is less than the experimental results recorded. The students' coin landing on Side A 13 out of 20 times was greater than the theoretical probability (10 out of 20 times).

Mr. Klement's science class is studying factors affecting the growth rate of different plants. He sees a group of students has made a mistake in their measurements. What is the best way for him to correct this mistake?

Walk over to the group and ask guiding questions about their experimental design and results. This technique gives the students a chance to catch their mistake themselves and does not draw the entire class' attention to them.

The table shown compares the two types of wave travel by listing a few characteristics of each type and an example. Which phrase would best replace the letter Y in the table? Reflection X Characteristics: Characteristics: 1. Wave bounces off surface at a boundary 1. Wave changes direction at a boundary 2. Y 2. Wave moves forward into new medium Example: Example: 1. Shows an image in a mirror 1. Z

Wave moves back toward original source. When a wave reflects, it bounces off the surface of the new medium, moving back in the general direction of the source of the wave.

Ms. Solokov's fourth-grade class has come up with a list of possible investigation questions about soil. Which of the following questions is most likely to lead to a fruitful introductory student investigation about soil, with the possibility of a follow-up question about "how soils form"?

What is soil made of? Fourth-grade students could use soil, tweezers, blotter paper, and a magnifying glass to determine the composition of soil.

Boiling point temperature is NOT considered a chemical property of a material. Why is the boiling point temperature NOT classified as a chemical property?

When a substance evaporates, it does not become a new substance. Chemical properties only describes situations in which the atoms and molecules in a substances interact to form a new substance

After a "warm-up" exercise about the water cycle, Mr. Ortiz intends to ask his students some questions to start their thinking. Of the following questions, which is the best question to ask in order to arouse student curiosity?

Why does it rain? A question about why something happens is most likely to arouse student curiosity.

Which of the following is the best example of a response to an internal stimuli

You feel tired and decide to go to bed. The stimuli (tiredness) originates inside your body. This is a response to an internal stimulus.

A third-grade teacher is working with her students to study and categorize animals. The teacher wants to give a formative assessment in which they categorize animals as domestic animals, pets, or wild animals. Which of the following will best for the students to create?

a Venn diagram map A Venn diagram will allow students to categorize and see the categorization of the animals.

Which of the following is the best example of a homogeneous mixture?

a bag of rice Rice in the bag is uniformly mixed; therefore, it is a homogeneous mixture.

Which of the following is the best example of an instinctual behavior in animals?

a bear hibernating in winter A bear automatically (instinctually) responds to winter by hibernating and does not learn the behavior.

Bears are warm-blooded animals that have fur and thick claws. They hibernate in the winter. What is the hibernation behavior an example of?

a behavioral adaptation to environmental changes An adaptation helps an organism survive, and a bear naturally hibernating is an example of a behavior adaptation.

Which of the following is the best example of an acquired trait?

a child learning how to play basketball This is an acquired trait because it is learned during the child's lifetime. It's not inherited, it's learned.

From the list below, which activity is most likely to help students understand the impacts of humanity and technology on the environment?

a field trip to a nearby location where humans have impacted the environment Personally examining the effect of humans on a nearby location (for example, a dam in the dry west, levees in a flood zone, or even litter in a park) allows students to point out what has been done and how technology can be both help and hurt the environment.

Which of the following could best be used by a teacher to illustrate the difference between surface water and groundwater?

a glass aquarium (no fish), sand, rocks, a small bowl, and water A teacher could mix sand and rocks in the bottom half of an aquarium, fill it about ⅓ full of water, and place a bowl of water on top of the sand and rock mix to differentiate between groundwater and surface water.

Mr. Buckler wants to teach his first-grade students that matter is conserved during a physical change. One demonstration he plans is to pour a given quantity of water from one clear container to another. The containers have different shapes and sizes. Mr. Buckler will ask his class to tell him when the amount of water has changed. What tool should Mr. Buckler include as part of his demonstration to ensure that students develop a correct understanding of the concept of conservation of matter?

a graduated cylinder With a graduated cylinder, Mr. Buckler could measure the amount of water that remains after pouring it into each container. If he marks the graduated cylinder with colored tape to show the initial volume of the water, the students will see that the same amount of water returns to the graduated cylinder no matter the shape of its container.

What is a neutral material?

a material with neither a positive nor a negative charge A neutral material has no net charge. The number of positive charges in the material equals the number of negative charges in the material, so the net charge is zero.

Which of the following is an example of a scientific model?

a mathematical formula A mathematical formula is an example of a mathematical model - a representation of phenomena.

Different systems of measurement are used for different purposes. Scientists typically use the metric system to communicate results to other scientists. Which of the following describes a situation when a scientist might use a different system of measurement to communicate data?

a meteorologist reporting the temperature to the viewing audience Scientists all over the world communicate measurement using the metric system of measurement. However, when communicating results, it is important to make sure the recipient of the information is familiar enough with the measurement to understand the communication. A meteorologist reporting weather to a viewing audience who understands English standard measurement would use the English unit for temperature (degrees Fahrenheit).

Which of the following instruments would be most useful to find the volume of a very large textbook?

a metric ruler Volume is found by multiplying the height, width, and length of an object. To best find these measurements of a large textbook, a metric ruler would be most appropriate.

A teacher is teaching a class that all of our food comes from the sun through a series of energy transfers. Which of the following supports would best enhance a visual learner's ability to explain the energy transfers that occur during this process?

a pictorial diagram using arrows to indicate the series of energy transfers A pictorial diagram is a visual support that helps visual learners make sense of material.

A test given at the end of a unit on weather and climate is an example of:

a summative assessment. A summative assessment is given at the end of a unit to find out what standards students have met.

Ms. Hoffman has already taught her students about north and south poles and how to use a magnetic compass to determine which end of a magnet is north. She has also taught her students how to magnetize a paperclip. Now she wants to teach them that monopoles do not exist. She asks the class to predict what will happen to the magnetic poles of a paperclip if it is cut in half. She writes student predictions on the board using words and pictures, without commenting on the accuracy of their predictions. Ms. Hoffman then gives pairs of students a magnetized paper clip and a small compass, and asks them to find and mark the north and south ends of the paper clip. When students are ready, Ms. Hoffman and her aide move around the classroom, cutting students' paper clips in half, encouraging them to investigate the poles of the halves with their compasses. If they want a second cut, she obliges and cuts a half in half. When done, Ms. Hoffman leads a class discussion about the process and the findings. In addition to teaching about monopoles, what else was Ms. Hoffman most likely trying to teach her class?

about the scientific process In addition to content, Ms. Hoffman was focusing on the scientific processes of asking questions and predicting, observing, carrying out an investigation, constructing explanations, and communicating information.

The formula for permutations is: nPr = \frac{n!}{ \left( n-r \right) !}(n−r)!n!​ while the formula for combinations is: nCr= \frac{n!}{r! \left( n-r \right) !}r!(n−r)!n!​. As a warm-up, Ms. Caulkins asks her students to compare these two formulas and identify the differences and similarities before she has taught what the formulas are used for. What is her goal in this exercise?

activating prior knowledge of reducing fractions Activating prior knowledge allows students to build on prior concepts with new material.

Mr. Popov's students are building circuits. The ends of the conducting wires have alligator clips that students use when making connections. Mr. Popov notices that several students are connecting the alligator clips to the plastic that coats each of the conducting wires instead of connecting the metal clips to metal. What did Mr. Popov specifically forget to include in his lesson plans?

activating students' prior knowledge about conductors and insulators Mr. Popov would have been wise to activate students' prior understanding about insulators and conductors, including that metals are conductors and insulators are not. Then, when a circuit does not work, students might recall that they must connect metal to metal when making a complete circuit.

Which nitrogen base pairs with thymine in the DNA molecule?

adenine Hydrogen bonds pair adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine.

Which of the following scenarios would have the greatest chance of forming fossil fuels

an aquatic organism that falls to the bottom of a small pond In a stagnant body of water, a high accumulation of sediments buries the organisms and protects them from being decomposed or eaten by other organisms. As the sediments accumulate over a long period of time, this increases heat and pressure and creates oil and gas.

Ms. Santiago, a fourth-grade teacher at Santine Elementary school, was given a grant to purchase a weather station for her class. After installing the station, Ms. Santiago has had her students record the weather each day for an entire month. One day Ms. Santiago divides her students into groups and asks each group to categorize and draw conclusions from their month-long wind direction measurements. Of the following science practices, which one is the primary focus of this lesson plan?

analyzing and interpreting data By having students examine and make sense of wind direction data collected over the last month, Ms. Santiago is having her students analyze and interpret data.

One of the main purposes of the digestive system is to:

breakdown food to absorb energy. This is the main function of the digestive system.

Which of the following is not a function of nucleic acids?

breaking down waste within the cell Lysosomes break down waste within the cell.

Which of the following cell organelles is not present in animal cells?

cell wall Animal cells do not have cell walls, but plant cells do.

Which of the following best summarizes the energy transformations that occur in a car engine while the engine is running?

chemical energy to mechanical energy Chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted to thermal energy when the fuel is burned. The thermal energy, in turn, is converted to mechanical energy.

In the savannah, a pride of lions stalks antelope. When they spot a weak one, they work together to kill it. Sometimes, hyena appear and attempt to steal the carcass. This relationship between the lions and hyena can best be described as:

competition. In this example, the lions and hyena are competing over the carcass.

The life cycle of a mosquito is shown here. According to this diagram, what kind of development do mosquitoes have?

complete metamorphosis In complete metamorphosis, there are four-stages of life (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) and the adults look significantly different than the larva stage. Shown here, the larva of the mosquitos are very different and there is a pupa stage.

In the water cycle, energy from the sun heats the water, changing the liquid water into a gas. It loses energy and falls back to Earth. Which step in the water cycle is depicted by #1 in the diagram shown?

condensation Condensation is when the water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes from a gas to a liquid, forming clouds.

A teacher is teaching a unit on weather to the class. As a demonstration, the teacher heats a beaker on a hot plate and adds blue food coloring to the water. The students observe the movement of coloring in the water. Which of the following processes is best demonstrated by the movement of the food coloring?

convection Convection is the process of heat transfer by currents in fluids, which is observed in the teacher's experiment.

This table lists the three ways thermal energy can be transferred. Which term would best replace the letter X in the table shown? Transfer of Thermal Energy Types & Examples Conduction X Radiation 1. Vegetables gets hot after sitting in a pan of boiling water 1. the warmer air is at the top of a room and cooler is at the bottom 1. person can feel the heat standing next to a fireplace 2. Y 2. air above a cup of hot chocolate rises and is replaced with cooler air 2. Z

convection Thermal energy is transferred by conduction, convection, and radiation.

Which of the following activities will provide students an inquiry-based activity to think critically about the role of vegetation in an ecosystem?

create and maintain a saltwater aquarium with fish and plants A saltwater aquarium is a delicate ecosystem that requires live vegetation to maintain proper balance of nutrients. This is an engaging, student-centered activity.

Clownfish live in the ocean. While the clownfish hatch their eggs, they hide them in and around sea anemones. When the eggs develop, the clownfish explore the ocean in search for food. If the sea anemones were damaged by strong ocean currents, what would most likely be the first thing to happen to the clownfish?

decrease in population Without protection, the clownfish eggs are more likely to be eaten, lowering the overall population.

During a lesson on simple machines, Ms. Zhang set up levers, pulleys, ramps and weights for her third-grade students to manipulate and observe. She noticed that the majority of students were just playing with the materials, for example, launching paper wads with the levers, rather than applying what they had learned about simple machines. What is the best thing Ms. Zhang could have started with to keep students more on task during the manipulation activity?

demonstrations on use of the machines and guidance on what to explore and why Often a quick direct instruction with a demonstration is ideal before a lab. Students need to know what to look for and what to think about as they manipulate equipment in a science class. Inquiry does not mean simply giving materials to students and letting them explore without guidance. Demonstrations on how to use the equipment, and guiding questions such as "Lever: Explore how hard you must push to lift a weight when the fulcrum is moved closer to or father from the weight." will help students use the time as a learning experience.

Which of the following is a chemical reaction?

digesting food Digestion changes the chemical compound of the food and is, therefore, a chemical reaction.

Mr. Slater is planning a unit on magnetic forces. He would like to engage his students about the misconceptions of magnetic forces. Which of the following instructional strategies would be most appropriate for Mr. Slater?

discussing how magnetic forces work while using a battery, copper wire, and a nail to create an electromagnet This is the best option because it engages students with an example of the concepts in Mr. Slater's discussion. Providing students a manipulative, or a real example, showing magnetic forces will help students better understand how magnets work.

Gregor Mendel crossed a pea plant with seeds that were wrinkled (rr) with another pea plant with seeds that were round (RR). All the resulting plants had seeds that were round. This cross illustrates Mendel's Principle of:

dominance Mendel's principle of dominance states that the dominant gene (round seed) will hide the recessive gene (wrinkled seed). That explains why all the resulting plants had round seeds.

Energy can be transformed from one type to another. What type of energy transformation is most likely occurring when you turn on a light switch?

electrical to light When you turn on a light switch, you are completing a circuit which is transferring electrical energy into light energy.

Which of the following particles can be found orbiting outside the nucleus of an atom?

electrons Electrons have a negative charge and orbit outside the nucleus of an atom.

In the middle of a unit on lunar cycles, Mr. Rice hands out drawing paper and gives his students the following task: A new moon is always high in the sky at noon. Use what you know about the positions of the sun, moon, and Earth during a new moon to draw a diagram to show why a new moon is in the sky at noon. After the students finished their drawings, Mr. Rice looked at them before he planned the next unit in the lesson. Mr. Rice used this activity as which of the following?

formative assessment A formative assessment tests student knowledge during a unit to inform the teacher regarding the direction of further instruction. This is a formative assessment because Mr. Rice can use the results to determine whether the students understand the concept that moon phases are caused by the relative positions of the sun, moon, and Earth. If they do not yet understand that key concept, he can figure out new ways to reteach the ideas.

Which order of steps correctly illustrates the process of risk assessment?

identify problems, predict an outcome, conduct research, interpret results, make decisions This is the correct order of risk assessment.

Mr. Lee shares a scientific study on stimulus and response in rats with the class. As a class, they draw conclusions from the study. He then asks them to find potential flaws in the study. What goal is Mr. Lee trying to achieve?

identifying key components of a valid study Students who can identify the key components of a scientific study can identify potential flaws in the research and conclusions.

Which of the following is the responsibility of the teacher with regard to the use of chemicals?

knowing the chemicals used in each laboratory experiment and reviewing the material safety data sheet for them The teacher is responsible for knowing the substances and reviewing the safety guidelines.

Ms. Wilcox has planned a game for her students. In this game, the students draw five characteristics out of a hat, and they cannot change these. Ms. Wilcox reads a scenario aloud, and each student gets to select another characteristic they would like to have, in light of the scenario. The students decide whether or not they would survive the scenario, given their characteristics. Then, Ms. Wilcox reads another scenario aloud and continues the process. What concept is Ms. Wilcox most likely teaching her students about?

learned and inherited traits This activity can represent inherited traits (the traits the students cannot change) and learned traits (the traits the students would like to have).

When placed next to a window, a plant will start to grow toward the window. To which stimuli is this plant responding?

light The plant is growing toward the light source (the sun). This growth in response to light is called phototropism

Which type of graph or chart would be best used to show the velocity of a moving vehicle at different points of a road trip?

line graph Line graphs are used to show change over time. This is the best graph for this instance.

Calvin planted a tree that measured 0.5 meters tall. If he recorded the growth of the tree every month for two years, what would be the best way to display his findings, in order to visually compare the progression of growth over time?

line graph Recording the growth of a tree for two years shows a trend measured over a period of time. A line graph is the best visual representation to use to display this data.

Which of the following is an example of a producer?

long-leaf pine tree A long-leaf pine tree is a plant. It creates its own food using energy from the sun, so it's a producer.

You know that your height is 5 ft 3 in. A friend measures you three times and gets these results: 5 ft 10 in, 5 ft 9.5 in, and 5 ft 10.5 in. How can these measurements be explained?

low accuracy, high precision Accuracy is how close a value is to the true value. Precision is how close two measurements are to one another. The heights measured by your friend have low accuracy and high precision.

Honey badgers like to eat honey. Honeyguide birds lead honey badgers to beehives, and the badgers break the hives open. Honeyguide birds feed on the honey, as well. Which type of relationship is this?

mutualistic In a mutualistic relationship, both organisms benefit. Since the honeyguide and the honey badger both benefit with a meal of honey, this is a mutualistic relationship.

What is the term Charles Darwin coined for the mechanism powering evolution?

natural selection Darwin's overall process was termed Natural Selection.

Which of the following best describes a resource that, once used, cannot be replaced or reused?

nonrenewable A nonrenewable resource is a resource that cannot be renewed, replaced, or reused.

Which of the following is not a renewable resource?

nuclear fuel Nuclear fuel is a nonrenewable resource. There is a finite amount of radioactive material to use.

Which of the following human activities is least likely to alter the environment?

overwatering the lawn Overwatering a lawn can cause erosion, decrease water as a resource, and eventually decrease a number of organisms in that specific area. However, the overall negative impact is not as detrimental as the other answer choices.

Which of the following is not considered a greenhouse gas?

oxygen Oxygen is not a greenhouse gas. It does not significantly contribute to increasing global temperatures

Which of the following is a primary way carbon dioxide is naturally taken out of the atmosphere?

photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the primary way carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere. Plants use carbon dioxide to create sugars.

In the water cycle, energy from the sun heats the water, changing the liquid water into a gas. It loses energy and falls back to Earth. Which step in the water cycle is #2 in the diagram shown?

precipitation Precipitation is water falling to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

A student measures the volume of 12.8 ml of liquid with a graduated cylinder, checking the measurement three times to obtain volumes of 13.2 ml, 13.2 ml, and 13.1 ml. The student's measurements are:

precise but not accurate. The student's measurements are precise, since the student obtained a close reading each time, but they are not accurate, since their average is not close to the correct volume. The student may have been measuring from the top of the meniscus.

In the savannah, a pride of lions stalk antelope. When they spot a weak one, they work together to kill it. This relationship between the lions and antelope can best be described as:

predation. Predation is a relationship where one organism hunts or feeds upon another (lion upon antelope).

Review the food web provided of Lake Michigan. What term best describes a mollusk?

primary consumer Primary consumers directly eat producers. Since there are arrows pointing to the mollusks from the green algae and other producers, they are a primary consumer.

Energy flows through an ecosystem from one organism to another. Which of the following depicts the correct order in this cycle?

producer → consumer → decomposer Energy is captured by producers, then consumers, then decomposers.

Which of the following is an instrument used to measure atmospheric humidity?

psychrometer A psychrometer, or hygrometer, is used to measure the amount of humidity in the air.

A scientist is performing an experiment to determine the conductivity of a specific substance. Which of the following actions would increase the reliability of the results?

recording the results of repeated experiments To increase reliability, at least three trials for every experiment should be completed and the data recorded.

The Earth's outer layer is divided into sections called plates. These plates essentially float around on the mantle of the Earth, which is a rock layer underneath the crust. As these plates move around, constructive forces can cause the boundaries between the plates to pull apart. Which of the following best describes the result of this constructive force? Select all answers that apply.

ridges As the plates pull apart, new crust appears, which can form ridges. D rift valleys As the plates pull apart, new crust appears, which can form rift valleys.

Which of the following is primarily a result of the Earth's tilt on its axis?

seasons The tilt of Earth's axis, 23.5°, causes the Northern Hemisphere to point toward the Sun during its summer and to point away from the Sun during winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. This causes Earth's seasons.

What phenomenon has resulted in hundreds of new species of corn within the last few decades?

selective breeding Humans have selectively bred corn to fit different needs, creating new species.

The Four Layers of the Earth's Atmosphere and Their Characteristics Name of Layer Characteristics Troposphere Layer closest to Earth's surface Layer where weather occurs X Layer directly above troposphere Layer containing ozone Mesosphere Layer with coldest temperature This layer slows down meteors Thermosphere Extends into outer space Y Use the table above to answer the following question: which phrase would best replace the letter "X" in the table above?

stratosphere The stratosphere is the layer directly above the troposphere, which contains ozone.

Michelle pours lemonade powder into a cup of ice and water. She stirs it with a spoon to mix up the powder more quickly. What is the solvent?

the liquid water The material that the object is dissolved within is the solvent. The lemonade powder is dissolved into the water, so the water is the solvent.

There are three different types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Over time, each of these rock types can be transformed into one of the other rock types. For example, if limestone which is a type of sedimentary rock is exposed to high heat, it can be transformed into marble, which is a metamorphic rock. This process of rocks changing from one form into another form is typically referred to as:

the rock cycle. The rock cycle is the process by which rocks are transformed from one rock type into another rock type.

Which of the following is the ultimate energy source of most of life on Earth?

the sun The sun is the ultimate energy source of life on Earth, as it is responsible for heating the Earth and provides energy to plants through photosynthesis.

What is the correct sequence of the four layers of the Earth's atmosphere starting with the layer farthest from the Earth moving closer to the surface?

thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere The four layers of Earth's atmosphere starting with the layer farthest from the Earth and moving closer to the surface are thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere.

Formative assessments provide information that can be used for which of the following?

to change and improve instruction The purpose of formative assessments is to determine what students know about what they just learned. They are intended to be administered frequently throughout learning, not at the end. The teacher should use this information to change and improve instruction. In most instances, it is not appropriate to use a formative assessment as a grade.