Science Released Items

2002

Which of these uses the force of gravity to make it move?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 A

sai

lboat

movi

ng a

c...

A c

ar m

akin

g a ri

ght turn

A s

now sle

d goin

g ...

A b

icyc

le ro

lling to

a ..

.

25% 25%25%25%A. A sailboat moving across a lake

B. A car making a right turn

C. A snow sled going downhill

D. A bicycle rolling to a stop

The presence of permafrost is acharacteristic of which major biome?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Tundra

B. Taiga

C. Temperate forest

D. Grasslands

Plants release oxygen into the air as aresult of photosynthesis. Which of these

do plants need for photosynthesis?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Carbon dioxide

B. Nitrogen

C. Methane

D. Hydrogen

A student wanted to test the hypothesis that adding antifreeze to water lowers the freezing

point of water. The student found that pure water froze at 0°C, while the water/antifreeze mixture

froze at 20°C. In order to confirm the results, the student should repeat the experiment using —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 a

con

tain

er o

...

a d

iffer

ent .

..

a d

iffer

ent .

..

exa

ctly

the

...

25% 25%25%25%A. a container of a different size

B. a different amount of antifreeze

C. a different amount of water

D. exactly the same set-up as the first experiment

This experiment was set up to test thehypothesis that plants grow faster in green

light. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. Type of plant

B. Amount of water

C. Color of light

D. Size of pot

Which of the following elements has16 protons?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. Oxygen

B. Chlorine

C. Sulfur

D. Germanium

The amount of gravitational attractionbetween the Earth and an object

depends on the object’s distance fromthe Earth and the object’s —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. shape

B. mass

C. state of matter

D. size

Of the following, which is the correctprogression in the food chain?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Producers → herbivores → carnivores

B. Herbivores → producers → carnivores

C. Producers → carnivores → herbivores

D. Carnivores → herbivores → producers

Which of these are found in plant cellsbut not in animal cells?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

Mito

chond

ria

Chlo

ropla

sts

Cel

l mem

bran

es

Endop

lasm

ic re

ticulu

m

25% 25%25%25%A. Mitochondria

B. Chloroplasts

C. Cell membranes

D. Endoplasmic reticulum

A student predicts that more sugar willdissolve in warm water than in cold water. She

puts some water in a container, adds sugar, and then stirs. The amount of undissolved sugar is then observed. When this student

repeats the experiment to verify her prediction, the only thing that should change is the —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 a

mou

nt of .

..

tem

perat

ure...

am

ount o

f ...

am

ount o

f ...

25% 25%25%25%

A. amount of water used

B. temperature of the water

C. amount of sugar used

D. amount of time stirring

Which of the following molecules does not contain three atoms?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 O

3 N

2 H

2O C

O2

25% 25%25%25%A. O3

B. N2

C. H2O

D. CO2

The function of a cell nucleus is to —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 d

irect

the

activ

ities

of..

.

hel

p th

e ce

ll ex

pel w

aste

dig

est f

oreig

n subst

...

tran

sport

subs

tance

s...

25% 25%25%25%A. direct the activities of the cell

B. help the cell expel waste

C. digest foreign substances

D. transport substances around the cell

Which of these best shows what is happening to the cell in pure water?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. B. C. D.

Which of these processes in the water cycle causes dew to form in

the morning?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Condensation

B. Evaporation

C. Transpiration

D. Precipitation

A student conducted an experiment on plant growth that required adding about one cupful of liquid fertilizer to several plants each week. In order to accurately measure the fertilizer givento each plant, the fertilizer volume should be

measured in —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. cubic meters

B. milliliters

C. cubic feet

D. kiloliters

Early space flights were unmannedbecause —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 h

uman

s had

no

inte

re..

relia

ble li

fe-s

upport

...

rock

ets

flew

too fa

st f.

.

hum

ans

could

not w

i...

25% 25%25%25%A. humans had no interest in space exploration

B. reliable life-support systems were not yet developed

C. rockets flew too fast for human survival

D. humans could not withstand the force of takeoff

One way plants and animals are alike is that they both —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 m

ove

to g

et th

eir f

ood

mak

e th

eir o

wn food

use

car

bon dio

xide

use

oxy

gen

25% 25%25%25%

A. move to get their food

B. make their own food

C. use carbon dioxide

D. use oxygen

Consumers of electrical energy arebilled according to how much energy they

use. The unit most commonly used for measuring electrical energy consumption

is the —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

mill

ivolt

ohm

met

er

new

ton-

met

er

kilo

watt-h

our

25% 25%25%25%

A. millivolt

B. ohmmeter

C. newton-meter

D. kilowatt-hour

Which of these cannot be separated into its parts by an ordinary chemical

or physical process?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. A mixture of salts (NaCl, KI)

B. A compound of nitrogen (NH3)

C. An atom of carbon (C)

D. An acid of chlorine (HCl)

A student determined the mass andvolume of a gold ring. What physical

property of the gold can be determinedusing these two measurements?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Its reactivity

B. Its expansion rate

C. Its density

D. Its melting point

Which of these best shows particles in a mixture?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. B.

C. D.

Which of the following orientations ofmagnets would result in the greatestattraction between the two magnets?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. B.

C. D.

The Earth is warmed by solar energy. How is this energy transferred from

the sun to the Earth?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. Radiation

B. Convection

C. Conduction

D. Ultrasonic

An example of kinetic energy continuously being changed to potential energy and

back again might be —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. a girl swinging on a swing

B. a train moving down a track

C. electric charges moving in a straight path

D. a plate sitting on the edge of a table

A new medication dissolves blood clots. However, if too much is used, excessive bleeding occurs. Which method should scientists use to determine the best

dosage of this new medication?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Use people of many different ages as test

subjects

B. Have the test subjects eat a wide variety of foods with the medication

C. Change the times the medication is given to determine if timing affects bleeding

D. Vary only the dosages of the medication while keeping everything else constant

In an experiment combining vinegarand baking soda, gas is given off. In

this chemical reaction, the vinegar andbaking soda are —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. Reactants

B. Products

C. Elements

D. suspensions

Suppose that in a certain area, mice are the main food source for wolves. Based on the

graph, in which year would there be the least amount of competition among wolves for food.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. 1975

B. 1980

C. 1985

D. 1990

A wheel-and-axle is a lever that rotatesaround a fixed point. All of the following

machines employ a wheel-and-axle except a —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. bicycle

B. skateboard

C. pencil sharpener

D. crowbar

Scientists have been able to find noatmosphere around this planet becauseit has little gravity and is closest to the

sun. The planet described is —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Mercury

B. Earth

C. Venus

D. Saturn

As a supplement to some diets, iron istaken in tablet form. The mass of iron

in these tablets is often measured in —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. milliliters

B. calories

C. centimeters

D. milligrams

Some students counted the birds in an area. They counted the number of species present and the number of birds in each species. Which of these would be best

to use to report the results?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. B.

C. D.

Which amphibian is most aquatic?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. B.

C. D.

Between points 4 and 5, energy isbeing used to change water from a —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. solid to a liquid

B. solid to a gas

C. liquid to a gas

D. liquid to a solid

Which drawing shows a circuit thatwill cause the light to come on?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. B.

C. D.

A compound is a molecule made up ofatoms from at least two elements. Which of the following gases is a compound?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Ozone (O3)

B. Oxygen (O2)

C. Methane (CH4)

D. Nitrogen (N2)

Which of these correctly shows how alight ray is reflected from a mirror?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. B.

C. D.

This flashlight uses three different forms of energy. Which of these shows the energy

changes in the correct order?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. Mechanical → heat → chemical

B. Heat → chemical → light

C. Electrical → mechanical → chemical

D. Chemical → electrical → light

In humans, which of these is requiredfor carrying oxygen from the lungs to

body cells?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. Plasma

B. Platelets

C. Red blood cells

D. White blood cells

The only place visited by mannedexploration outside Earth is —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

the

sun

the

moon

Ven

us

Mar

s

25% 25%25%25%A. the sun

B. the moon

C. Venus

D. Mars

The primary producer in the ecosystem below is the —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. plant

B. rabbit

C. hawk

D. fox

During mitosis, the doubling ofchromosomes ensures that both

new cells —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. have identical genetic makeup

B. are twice the size of the parent cell

C. serve different functions

D. remain attached to each other

Many living organisms have body structures that go from very simple to very complex.

Which of these places the structures in the correct order, from least complex to most

complex?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%

A. System, organ, tissue, cell

B. Organ, tissue, cell, system

C. Cell, system, organ, tissue

D. Cell, tissue, organ, system

During the process of evaporation,liquid water becomes —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

tiny

drops

of wat

er

sep

arat

e at

oms

of wat

er

mol

ecul

es o

f wat

er v

...

ato

ms

of hyd

rogen

a..

25% 25%25%25%A. tiny drops of water

B. separate atoms of water

C. molecules of water vapor

D. atoms of hydrogen and oxygen

Which of the following is an example of a decomposer at work

in the food web?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

25% 25%25%25%A. A tree growing in a field

B. A grasshopper eating leaves

C. A seagull catching a fish

D. A fungus growing on a log

Because it can be transported easilyand converted into other forms of

energy, the energy form mostcommonly used in households is —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 chem

ical

nucl

ear

hea

t

ele

ctric

al

25% 25%25%25%A. chemical

B. nuclear

C. heat

D. electrical