Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or
answers the question.
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1.
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High tides and low tides exist due to the proximity of the Moon to one side of
Earth at any one time in the lunar orbit. Which combination of tides is most correct?
a. | There are two high tides, one on the side of Earth closest to the Moon and one on the
opposite side. Everywhere else there are low tides. | b. | There is one high tide on the side of Earth
closest to the Moon. Everywhere else there are low tides. | c. | There is one low
tide on the side of Earth closest to the Moon. Everywhere else there are high
tides. | d. | There are two low tides, one on the side of Earth closest to the Moon and one on the
opposite side. Everywhere else there are high tides. |
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2.
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What term describes the force which holds protons and neutrons together in the
nucleus?  a. | electrostatic force | c. | weak force | b. | strong force | d. | gravitational
force |
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The gravitational attraction between objects can be calculated based on
their masses (mass1 and mass2), in kilograms (kg); their distance (d) from each other, in meters (m);
and the universal gravitational constant (G) (m3/kg/s2). The gravitational
force (F) between two objects is calculated according to the following formula:
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3.
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Refer to the information above. How would the gravitational force change if the
mass of object two (mass2) decreased?
a. | The force would increase. | b. | The force would not change. | c. | The force would
fluctuate randomly. | d. | The force would
decrease. |
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Rita conducted an experiment which involved placing a thermometer in each
of four identical beakers containing four unknown liquids, each of equal volume. All four beakers had
just been removed from an oven maintained at 92 degrees Celsius (°C) where they had been for the
previous one hour. They were placed on a lab table in a room that was maintained at a constant
22°C. Rita recorded the temperatures read on the four thermometers every 15 minutes (min.)
for one hour. The data collected is in the following table:Liquid Temperatures in degrees Celsius (°C) | Liquid | 0 min. | 15 min. | 30 min. | 45 min. | 60 min. | A | 92 | 82 | 70 | 64 | 50 | B | 92 | 73 | 51 | 39 | 22 | C | 92 | 77 | 65 | 56 | 40 | D | 92 | 77 | 65 | 56 | 40 | | | | | | |
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4.
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In Rita’s liquid temperature experiment from above, following removal from
the oven, the heat energy that was in the four liquids ____.
a. | stayed the same | b. | decreased by one half | c. | transferred to the
surrounding room air and furnishings | d. | was transferred from the surrounding room air
and furnishings into the beakers |
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5.
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Gary’s science teacher, Mr. Pendleton, commented on a winter day that the
cold air outside had much more internal energy than air in the classroom. The temperature outside
that day was 5 degrees Celsius (°C) and the classroom was a comfortable 20°C. What is the
best explanation for Mr. Pendleton’s statement and was his statement correct?  a. | The statement is incorrect because the higher the temperature a substance is, the
less internal energy it has. | b. | The statement is incorrect because the higher
the temperature a substance is, the more internal energy it has. | c. | The statement is
correct in that a substance with a higher temperature has a smaller amount of heat
energy. | d. | Even though the air outside is at a colder temperature than the air in the classroom,
there is so much more air outside that the total internal energy is greater than that of air in the
smaller classroom. It is a correct statement. |
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6.
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Mike is driving a boat west on a river at a water speed of 8.9 meters per
second (m/s). The river current is flowing east at 3.2 m/s. A friend of Mike’s is sitting
in the back of the boat and throws a ball to the front with a speed of 12.4 m/s relative to the
boat. What is the speed of the ball relative to the shore?
a. | 24.5 meters per second | c. | 18.1 meters per
second | b. | 21.3 meters per second | d. | 15.6 meters per second |
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7.
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Tyler is driving his car in a hilly region. He reaches the top of a hill,
traveling at a speed of 3.9 meters per second (m/s). To save fuel, he lets the car coast down
the hill. He reaches the bottom of the hill at a speed of 14.3 m/s after 6.2 seconds (sec).
What was Tyler’s average acceleration driving down the hill?
a. | 2.9 meters per second squared | c. | 0.6 meters per second
squared | b. | 2.3 meters per second squared | d. | 1.7 meters per second
squared |
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8.
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On the graph below, a straight line is plotted from a set of data points
indicating the acceleration of Object A resulting from several applied net forces. What is the
approximate mass of Object A in kilograms (kg)? Force vs. Acceleration |   | |
a. | 900.0 kilograms | c. | 0.09 kilograms | b. | 11.1 kilograms | d. | 9 kilograms |
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9.
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Two electrically charged particles are moved closer to each other. Repelling
forces between the particles are detected to be getting stronger and stronger as the particles move
closer together. What can be determined about the two particles?  a. | The particles are of like charge. | b. | The particles are of unlike
charge. | c. | The particles are rotating around each other as in an orbit. | d. | The two particles
are an electron and a proton. |
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10.
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The picture below shows three electrically charged particles. The center
particle is equidistance away from the outer two. Which diagram most accurately depicts the
relative electromagnetic forces resulting from the amount of charge on each particle? 
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Organisms within food webs are interdependent and often compete for
resources.
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11.
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Study the statement about food webs above. Organisms such as rabbits, which feed
on plants, are known as ________.
a. | scavengers | c. | producers | b. | consumers | d. | autotrophs |
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The diagram below illustrates examples of how carbon dioxide
(CO2) and oxygen (O) cycle throughout an ecosystem.
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12.
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Refer to the diagram above. Which of these does NOT return carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere?
a. | burning fossil fuels | c. | decomposition | b. | photosynthesis | d. | animal
respiration |
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Nitrogen (N) is used and reused by various organisms and processes as it
cycles through the environment.
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13.
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Study the statement above. Which of the following statements about the nitrogen
cycle is false?
a. | Plants use nitrogen to make proteins and other molecules. | b. | Nitrogen-fixing
bacteria play a minor role in the nitrogen cycle. | c. | Urine from animals returns nitrogen to the
soil. | d. | Decomposers release nitrogen compounds into the soil. |
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14.
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Study the statement above. Which of these processes returns nitrogen to the soil
in a form plants can use?
a. | animal urination | c. | decomposition of plant matter | b. | decomposition of
dead animals | d. | nitrogen
fixation |
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The graph below shows the sources of energy used in the
United States.
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15.
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Refer to the graph above. Which of these provides the largest percentage
of energy used in the United States?
a. | natural gas | b. | coal | c. | biomass | d. | petroleum |
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Petroleum is a mixture of many chemical compounds, which are separated
through a process called fractional distillation.
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16.
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Refer to the information above. Which petroleum product is used to warm homes,
schools, and workplaces?
a. | plastic | c. | asphalt | b. | synthetic fabric | d. | heating oil |
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Environmental changes can occur in a given area over time.
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17.
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Study the statement given above. What is the term used to describe a mature
community which has become stable, with little or no change in species?
a. | climax community | c. | abiotic factors | b. | secondary succession | d. | primary
succession |
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Forest fires change ecosystems in many ways. Some changes are immediately
apparent, while others are not.
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18.
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Refer to the information above. How are animal populations affected by
fires?
a. | Animal populations increase immediately after a fire. | b. | Animal populations
decrease immediately after a fire. | c. | Animal populations are not affected by forest
fires. | d. | Animal populations show a dramatic increase, then decrease immediately after a
fire. |
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Soil is an essential natural resource. Farmers and others who work with
the land act to protect soil quality.
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19.
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Refer to the information above. How does leaving the remains of the last crop
standing, rather than removing them affect soil quality?
a. | This increases soil quality. | b. | This reduces soil quality. | c. | This has only a
limited effect on soil quality. | d. | This has no effect on soil
quality. |
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20.
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Which of these is not an example of genetic variation within a
species?
a. | Bacteria of the same species have differing abilities to resist drugs designed to
kill them. | b. | In a litter of five kittens, three are black, one is white, and one is
gray. | c. | Beaks of various species of Galápagos Island finches are shaped
differently. | d. | Zebras have different stripe patterns on their coats. |
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21.
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Within a fish species, variations exist in color, size, and the speed at which
individuals can swim. Which variation would be least likely to be passed on to future
generations of the species? a. | swimming speed which is less than that of predators | b. | color or markings
which aid camouflage | c. | size which enables hiding among small rocks and
in rock crevices | d. | reproduction by laying extremely large numbers of
eggs |
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22.
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Which of the following statements describes how air flows in a high pressure
system, as compared to how air flows in a low pressure system?  a. | Air flows counter-clockwise in a high pressure system and will sink at the center.
Air flows clockwise in a low pressure system and will rise at the center. | b. | Air flows clockwise
in a high pressure system and will sink at the center. Air flows counter-clockwise in a low pressure
system and will rise at the center. | c. | Air flows counter-clockwise in a high pressure
system and will rise at the center. Air flows clockwise in a low pressure system and will sink at the
center. | d. | Air flows clockwise in a high pressure system and will rise at the center. Air flows
counter-clockwise in a low pressure system and will sink at the
center. |
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Climatic changes are complex and involve many factors. One of the main
factors is the influence heat energy changes have on air movement, cloud formation, and
precipitation. The transfer of heat energy can occur via any one of four mechanisms.
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23.
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Refer to the information above. The heat transfer mechanism that occurs when an
object comes in contact with another object is called ____.
a. | radiation | c. | conduction | b. | advection | d. | convection |
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24.
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Refer to the Periodic Table of Elements shown above. Based on the electron
configuration of the element sulfur (S), which action will result in the greatest atomic
stability?
a. | gaining one electron | c. | losing three electrons | b. | losing four
electrons | d. | gaining two
electrons |
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25.
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Refer to the Periodic Table of Elements shown above. What do the elements
chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I) have in common?
a. | Atoms of each lose one electron to achieve stability. | b. | Neutral atoms of
each have two valence electrons. | c. | Atoms of each gain one electron to achieve
stability. | d. | They are metalloids. |
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26.
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The process by which a solid changes directly to a gas without first becoming a
liquid is called ____.
a. | deposition | c. | condensation | b. | sublimation | d. | freezing |
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This phase diagram for water shows the relationship among temperature,
pressure, and the phase of matter in which water exists.
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27.
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Based on the information in the phase diagram for water, the normal freezing
point occurs at ____.
a. | 2.0 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 50 atmospheres | b. | 0.0 degrees
Celsius and a pressure of one atmosphere | c. | 10.0 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 218
atmospheres | d. | 150 degrees Celsius and a pressure of
180 atmospheres |
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28.
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When a tin atom loses two electrons, it ____.
a. | will not react with other ions | c. | becomes positively
charged | b. | also gains one additional proton | d. | remains electrically
neutral |
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29.
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In order to remain electrically neutral, an atom must ____.
a. | gain at least one electron | c. | lose at least one
electron | b. | gain at least one neutron | d. | neither gain nor lose electrons |
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30.
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Radiation emitted by unstable nuclei occurs in three different forms. Which type
of radiation is made up of particles which are helium (He) nuclei, consisting of two protons and two
neutrons?
a. | beta | c. | alpha | b. | gamma | d. | lepton |
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Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen (O2) gas combine
according to the following equation:
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31.
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Refer to the information above. If the concentration of SO2 is
doubled and the concentration of O2 is tripled, how will the reaction rate change?
a. | It will increase by a factor of six. | c. | It will
quadruple. | b. | It will triple. | d. | It will increase by a factor of nine. |
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Rita is interested in finding out what brand of dry cell battery will
power a motor longest before becoming depleted. She purchases the same size batteries in several
different brands, making sure that their expiration dates are the same. She builds an oval track and
measures its length. She puts a AA battery into a toy train, and allows it to run on the track. Rita
counts the number of times the train goes around the track before stopping and records this number.
She then repeats this process using a different brand of battery.
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32.
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Read the information above. Which of these is NOT a possible hypothesis in this
experiment?
a. | Brand X battery will cause the train to go around the track more times than
Brand Y. | b. | There is a relationship between track length and dry cell battery brand used.
| c. | The dry cell battery brand used affects the number of train trips around the
track. | d. | There is no relationship between battery brand and number of trips around the
track. |
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A scientific investigation is an organized approach to problem
solving.
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33.
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Study the statement describing the scientific method above. During what part of
a scientific investigation do researchers determine what they want to learn in the
investigation?
a. | identifying the problem | c. | gathering data | b. | analyzing the
data | d. | forming the
hypothesis |
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A meteorologist wants to study the relationship between jet stream
position and snowfall in an area.
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34.
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Refer to the information above. Determining the relationship between jet stream
position and snowfall amounts in an area is the ____ in the experiment.
a. | independent variable | c. | hypothesis | b. | dependent variable | d. | purpose |
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An oceanographer is collecting data over a two-week period to determine
how wave height is affected by wind speed.
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35.
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Refer to the information above. Which of these factors should be held constant
in the experiment?
a. | average wave height | b. | average wind velocity during measuring
period | c. | weather conditions during the measuring period | d. | specific locations
at which wind speed is measured |
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36.
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The diagram below illustrates a technology which uses sound waves to create an
image of the ocean floor. How did data provided by this technology change our understanding of sea
floor topography?  a. | Data showed that the ocean floor was a flat, featureless
environment. | b. | Data showed that there were large mountain ranges, but no trenches on the
seafloor. | c. | Data showed ocean floor trenches, mountain chains, and other volcanic
features. | d. | Data showed that there were virtually no flat areas on the
seafloor. |
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37.
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The chart below shows how the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2)
in Earth’s atmosphere changed between 1935 and 1994. This data shows that ____. Global Levels of
Atmospheric CO2 | Year | Global Atmospheric CO2
Concentration
(parts per million) | 1935 | 306.6 | 1949 | 311 | 1958 | 312 | 1965 | 318 | 1974 | 330.1 | 1984 | 344.3 | 1994 | 358.8 | | |
a. | the burning of fossil fuels causes global warming | b. | global atmospheric
CO2 increased steadily between 1935 and 1994 | c. | human activities are
causing CO2 levels to rise | d. | CO2 levels will continue to rise
indefinitely |
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The table below shows how the world human population has changed between
1950 and 2000.Total
Midyear World Population, 1950 - 2000 | Year | Population | 1950 | 2,555,078,074 | 1960 | 3,039,332,401 | 1970 | 3,707,610,112 | 1980 | 4,456,705,217 | 1985 | 4,854,602,890 | 1990 | 5,283,755,345 | 1995 | 5,690,865,776 | 2000 | 6,080,141,683 | | |
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38.
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Refer to the table above. How did the world population change between 1995 and
2000?
a. | It increased by almost 5 billion. | b. | It increased by almost
400,000. | c. | It increased by almost 400 million. | d. | It decreased by more than 400
million. |
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39.
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The Human Genome Project, begun in 1990, was an international effort. Scientists
from across the globe worked to map and sequence over 35,000 genes on the 46 human chromosomes. By
2001, the Human Genome Project published a draft of its findings, which included a listing of the 3
million base pairs of DNA found in most human cells. Automated machines, under the direction of
skilled scientists, performed much of the actual sequencing process. Which of these is not a
reason why machines were instrumental in the completion of this project?  a. | Using machines decreased the time required to map and sequence the human
genome. | b. | Using machines made it easier for findings to be verified by other
scientists. | c. | Using machines added precision, but caused the project to take longer to
complete. | d. | Using machines made processing an overwhelmingly large amount of data
possible. |
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40.
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Scientists worldwide are concerned about the spread of the HIV virus which
causes AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Many in the scientific community are working to
find ways to fight this virus and counter its effects. By the end of 2003, scientists had
____.
a. | cured individuals who have this disease | b. | halted the spread of
the disease throughout the worldwide population | c. | developed a drug treatment course extending the
good health and life span of patients | d. | developed a vaccine which immunizes people
against this virus |
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Numeric Response
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In a particular breed of dog, dark hair (D) is dominant over light hair
(d). The Punnett square below illustrates the possible genotypes of offspring from parents that are
heterozygous for this trait.
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1.
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Refer to the information above. If a litter of eight puppies is produced, how
many are likely to be homozygous for this trait?
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Sex chromosomes are indicated by the letters X and Y. The 23rd pair of
chromosomes in a female is XX, while this pair in a male is XY. The male gamete determines the sex of
the offspring.
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2.
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Refer to the information above. What percentage of a population is likely to
have homologous sex chromosomes?
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3.
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Refer to the information above. What percentage of a population is likely to be
male?
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The element molybdenum has the electron configuration
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d4.
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4.
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Refer to the information above. An atom of this element has ____ valence
electrons.
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5.
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The table below shows the relationship between the melting point of
Group 1A elements and atomic number. What is the melting point in degrees Celsius (°C) of
potassium (K), which has atomic number 19? Melting Point in °C of Group 1A
Elements | Element | Melting Point
(°C) | | Lithium (Li) | 181 | | Sodium (Na) | 98 | | Potassium (K) | 63 | | Rubidium (Rb) | 40 | | Cesium (Cs) | 28 | | Francium (Fr) | 27 | | |
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