Fcat Practice Booklet 8th Grade

FCAT PRACTICE BOOKLET
Life Science
FCAT Preparation

Organized by Gradelevel Benchmarks
GRADE 8

SC.8.L.18.4 Cite evidence that living systems follow the Laws of Conservation of Mass and Energy.
SC.8.L.18.1 Describe and investigate the process of photosynthesis, such as the roles of light, carbon dioxide, water and
chlorophyll; production of food; release of oxygen.
SC.8.L.18.2 Describe and investigate how cellular respiration breaks down food to provide energy and releases carbon dioxide.
SC.8.L.18.3 Construct a scientific model of the carbon cycle to show how matter and energy are continuously transferred
within and between organisms and their physical environment.

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. Worms break down dead plants in the soil to release nutrients. Which property of nutrients shows that they are
matter?

A. Nutrients are warm.
B. Nutrients can do work.
C. Nutrients contain energy.
D. Nutrients have mass.

2. Biologists measure the length of a tagged sea turtle. They learn that the turtle is 2.3 cm longer than the last time it
was measured. Where did the sea turtle get the nutrients it needed to grow?

A. from the jellyfish it ate
B. from sunlight it absorbed
C. from the oxygen it breathed
D. from nutrients it absorbed from the water

3. An alligator lives in a swamp with deer, birds, fish, trees, and other plants. The alligator eats a bird that eats the
seeds and plants. What is the original source of the energy that the alligator gets from eating the bird?

A. the flowing water in the swamp
B. the energy that the bird creates
C. the sunlight that the plants absorb
D. the heat from the air in the swamp

4. One of the largest cypress trees in Florida has a tree trunk with a diameter of about 3.5 m. What is the source of

most of the carbon in the cypress trees trunk?

A. The carbon created by the tree during photosynthesis.
B. The carbon stored in tree seeds.
C. The carbon dioxide molecules the tree absorbed from the atmosphere.
D. The nutrients containing carbon that the tree absorbed from the soil.

5. A coral reef is damaged during a hurricane. The waves and currents move broken pieces of coral onto the beach.
What happened to the matter in the broken pieces of coral?

A. It is still part of the coral reef ecosystem.
B. It was removed from the environment.
C. It became part of the beach ecosystem.
D. It was lost due to the energy in the waves.

CompiledbyJohnettaHaugabrookStaffDeveloper 1|P P M S

w shows an eneergy pyramid. In a marine eecosystem, alggae carry out p
photosynthesiis. Barracuda
6. The diagram below
napper fish. Reeef sharks eat barracuda.
eat sn

Which
h organism wo
ould be at the top of the eneergy pyramid??

A. allgae
B. baarracuda
C. reeef shark
D. sn
napper fish

grass takes in llight energy during photosy
ynthesis. Whatt happens to m
most of this en
nergy?
7. Saw g
A. Itt is stored as cchemical energgy.
B. Itt disappears as it is used up by the plant.
C. Itt is transferred
d to organisms that eat the grass.
D. Itt is used to hellp the saw graass grow and rreproduce.

otosynthesis and respiration
n. Dead plantss are broken d
down and beco
ome part of th
he soil. Which
8. Plantss perform pho
of the following maatter do plantss help to cycle through ecosyystems?
A. caarbon only
B. caarbon and oxy
ygen only
C. caarbon, oxygen
n, and nitrogen
n only
D. caarbon, oxygen
n, nitrogen, and water

n plants produ
uce their own ffood during ph
hotosynthesiss. This image sshows the pro
ocess of photosynthesis.
9. Green

Which of these subsstances is also a product of
photossynthesis?
A. carrbon dioxide
B. chllorophyll
C. oxyygen
D. waater

Com
mpiledbyJohnettaHaugab
brookStaffDeveloper 2|P P M S
10. Plantss can provide tthe materials that animals u

use in cellularr respiration, aand animals can provide some of the
materrials needed by plants for ph
hotosynthesiss. This image sshows the relaationship.

oes cellular
According too the diagram, which of thesse materials do
provide that plants can use in photosynth
hesis?
respiration p

A. ATP
B. carbon diioxide
C. chloroplaasts
D. mitochon
ndria

11. Theree is a connectio

on between ph
hotosynthesiss and cellular rrespiration. The products frrom one provide the raw
materrials for the otther. This imagge shows the rrelationship b
between the tw
wo processes.

Whaat products of photosynthessis are startingg materials forr cellular
respiration?

A. glucose and oxxygen
nd ATP
B. heat energy an
C. caarbon dioxidee and water
D. light energy an
nd chlorophylll

Com
12. When
n sunlight strik
kes a plant, thee leaves captu
ure most of thaat energy to u
use for photosyynthesis. The image below
showss the process o
of photosynth
hesis in action..

h of these matterials helps p
plants use enerrgy from
Which
sunligght?
A. ch
hlorophyll
B. glu
ucose
C. ro ots
D. so il

g things can bee grouped dep
pending on how they get foood. Some orgaanisms get foo
od from eatingg other
13. Living
organ
nisms. Other orrganisms can make their ow
wn food. In wh
hich group do organisms th
hat can make their own food
d
belong?
A. co
onsumers
B. decomposers
C. predators
D. producers

n takes place in
n both prokarryotic and eukkaryotic cells. T
This diagram shows the diffferent parts of
14. Cellular respiration
a eukaaryotic cell.
In which p art of the cell does cellular respiration taake place in
eukaryotess?

mbrane
A. cell mem
B. mitochoondria
C. nucleuss
D. ribosom
mes

prokaryotic ceells that have no nuclei. Thee diagram belo
ow shows a prrokaryotic celll.
15. Bacterria are single p

Wheere in the prokkaryotic cell d
does cellular rrespiration tak
ke place?

t
m and the cell m
membrane
A. the cytoplasm
B. the cell memb
t
brane only
C. the cell wall on
t
nly
D. the cell memb
t
brane and the cell wall

Com
16. People rely on the ffermentation p

process to pro
oduce certain kinds of food.. Which of these items is mo
ost likely
made as a result of fermentation??
A.
B.
C.
D.

n, or anaerobicc respiration, occurs withou
ut oxygen. Durring anaerobicc respiration, lactic acid is
17. Cellular respiration
uced. When peeople do certaiin strenuous p
physical activiities, the cells of their musccles may produ
uce lactic acid.
produ
Which
h of these activ
vities would m
most likely reesult in a build
dup of lactic accid?
A. bowling
olf
B. go
C. sp
printing
D. walking
w

on exists in maany forms on E
Earth. The diaagram below sshows part of tthe carbon cycle.
18. Carbo

What is happeening in Step 1?

nt and storing
A. Animals aare releasing eenergy into the environmen
carbon.
nto the soil.
B. Animals aare decomposiing and releassing carbon in
C. Animals aare convertingg carbon dioxide from the attmosphere to
oxygen.
down organic m
molecules and
d releasing
D. Animals aare breaking d
carbon dioxide into thee atmosphere.

19. A freshwater marsh
h is a type of eecosystem. Graasses, fish, waading birds, fro
ogs, and alligaators live togetther in
freshw
water marshes. Pieces of deecaying materiial sink to the bottom of thee marsh. In wh
hich of these p
places can
carbon be found in the marsh?
A.
B.
C.
D.
phere and watter only

in the atmosp
in living thing
gs only
in living thing
gs and decayin
ng materials only
in the atmosp
phere, water, living things, aand decaying m
materials
Com

20. Kristine exercises regularly. The process of cellular respiration makes it possible for Kristine to run on the
treadmill and to lift weights. What do her cells do during cellular respiration?
A.
B.
C.
D.

convert kinetic energy into chemical energy

absorb light energy through the chlorophyll in their chloroplasts
combine water and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and glucose
break down food molecules to release energy in the form of ATP
GR
RADE 7
7

SC.7.L.15.2 Explorre the scientiific theory of evolution by
y recognizingg and explainiing ways in w
which geneticc variation
and e
environmenttal factors con
ntribute to ev
volution by n
natural selecttion and dive
ersity of organisms.
SC.7.L
L.15.1 Recogn
nize that fossill evidence is co
onsistent with
h the scientificc theory of evo
olution that livving things evvolved from
earlieer species.
SC.7.L
L.15.3 Exploree the scientificc theory of evo
olution by relaating how the inability of a species to adaapt within a ch
hanging
envirronment may contribute to the extinction
n of that speciees.
SC.7.L.16.1 Underrstand and ex
xplain that ev
very organism
m requires a set of instrucctions that sp
pecifies its tra
aits, that this
s
hereditary inform
mation (DNA)) contains gen
nes located in
n the chromo
osomes of eacch cell, and th
hat heredity is the
passa
age of these iinstructions ffrom one gen
neration to an
nother.
SC.7.L
L.16.2 Determ
mine the probaabilities for geenotype and ph
henotype com
mbinations using Punnett Sq
quares and pedigrees.
SC.7.L
L.16.3 Compare and contrast the general processes of sexual reprod
duction requirring meiosis an
nd asexual rep
production
requiiring mitosis.
SC.7.L.17.2 Compa
are and contrrast the relattionships among organism
ms such as mutualism, pre
edation, para
asitism,
comp
petition, and commensalism.
SC.7.L
L.17.1 Explain
n and illustratee the roles of aand relationsh
hips among prroducers, conssumers, and d
decomposers iin the process
of energy transfer in a food web.
SC.7.L
L.17.3 Describ
be and investig
gate various liimiting factors in the local eecosystem and
d their impactt on native populations,
including food, sheelter, water, sp
pace, disease, parasitism, prredation, and nesting sites.

Multtiple Choice
Identtify the choice that best comp
pletes the stattement or answ
wers the questiion.

1. Predaation can influence which in

ndividuals surv
vive, causing p
populations to
o evolve throu
ugh natural selection. Many
kinds of predators h
hunt mice as p
prey. The diaggram below sh
hows how haw
wk predation ccan affect a po
opulation of
mice.

nel 1, the popu
ulation of micee has equal nu
umbers of grayy and white in
ndividuals. If aa new species of hawk
In pan
comess into this env
vironment, thee mice will be affected by th
he new predato
or. If this haw
wk species seleectively
attack
ks white mice, how will the mouse populaation change aas it evolves th
hrough naturaal selection?
A. The mouse pop
pulation will b
become extinct due to predaation.
B. The mouse pop
pulation will n
not change in rresponse to haawk predation
n.
C. The mouse pop
pulation will eeventually hav
ve more gray m
mice than whiite mice.
D. The mouse pop
pulation will eeventually hav
ve more white mice than graay mice.
Com

ow, each circlee represents an
n individual. E
Each circle is cconnected by lines to other circles below
w
2. In thee diagram belo
it thatt represent offfspring. So, each row is a separate generaation of individ
duals that aree related to eacch other. The
patterrn of each circcle represents types of variaation in the geenes of these in
ndividuals.

he right explain
ns what is hap
ppening to
The text to th
each generatiion of individu
uals. What scieentific processs
is represented
d by this seriees of events?

A. natural selection
B. species exxtinction
C. primary su
uccession
D. individuall developmentt

3. The birds shown beelow live on a single island.

d all of them sshare a commo
on ancestor w
with a single sp
pecies. What
Thesee four bird speecies are closely related, and
enviro
onmental facto
or is most lik
kely to have caaused this diveersity of speciies?
A. When the ance
W
stral species aarrived at the island, there w
was only one food source, sso the
an
ncestral species left the islaand immediateely.
B. When the ance
W
was only one food source avvailable and
no need for diffferent beak sh
hapes.
W
were multiplee food sourcess available,
C. When the ance
an
nd different beak shapes ev
volved for the most efficientt eating.
D. When the ance
W
were multiplee food sourcess available,
an
nd the different beak shapees were equallly efficient forr eating differeent food sourcces.

males are very
y colorful. Varriation in thesee color pattern
ns is under geenetic control.
4. In a ceertain populattion of birds, m
Some males have orrange featherss, some have y
yellow, and soome have red. Females choo
ose which malles to mate
by females. If ssome females have
with. Males chosen as mates havee more offspriing than male s not chosen b
d, what could happen to the
e
offsprring with mutaations that afffect their behaavior so they aare attracted tto the color red
maless in this populaation?
A. Males that have
M
e no red feath
hers will suddeenly develop rred feathers.
B. Males that have
M
e red featherss will have more offspring, aand red featheers will spread
d through
th
he population.
C. Males that have
M
e no red feath
hers will have m
more offsprin
ng, and red feaathers will disaappear from
th
he population.
D. Males that have
M
e red featherss will attract m
more mates, bu
ut the feather coloration of the
population in g
general will no
ot change.
Com

5. Cheetahs are a species of large wild cats that live in Africa. Their populations have very low levels of genetic
variation. How could this affect a cheetah populations ability to evolve in response to changes in their
environment, such as decreased numbers of a favorite prey?
A. When populations have low genetic diversity, they will all adapt quickly to a changing
environment.
B. When populations have low genetic diversity, they will be unable to gain variation through
mutation.
C. When populations have low genetic diversity, they have high diversity in physical traits, and
some individuals will probably find a new kind of prey to eat.
D. When populations have low genetic diversity, it is less likely that they will be able to adapt to
changed environment and find a new kind of prey to eat.

6. Abby analyzed data to determine whether larger habitats have a higher diversity of organisms. She collected data
about biodiversity of birds in temperate forests by counting the number of species that live in each of 5 habitats
that differed in size. The table below shows her data.

HABITAT SIZE AND NUMBER OF BIRD SPECIES

Number of Bird Species
Habitat Size (km2)
Habitat A
5
37
Habitat B
17
248
Habitat C
4
16
Habitat D
12
123
Habitat E
13
190

Based on the data, what can Abby conclude about the relationship between habitat size and diversity of birds?
A. There is no relationship between habitat size and number of bird species.
B. As habitat size increases, the number of bird species in the habitat decreases.
C. As habitat size decreases, the number of bird species in the habitat decreases.
D. As habitat size decreases, the number of bird species in the habitat increases.

7. Linda owns an orchard of orange trees, and she is worried because she notices that many of her orange trees are
unhealthy. They appear to have very little resistance to attack by a certain fungus that is destroying their leaves.
She consults with some biologist friends, and they tell her that her orchard is threatened by low genetic diversity.
How could she improve the ability of her orchard to resist disease in the future?
A. She could spray a chemical that kills the fungus, so trees will not have to fight off the fungus
attack.
B. She could introduce another species of fungus to the orchard, so the current damaging fungus
has to compete in order to survive.
C. She could pollinate her trees with pollen from other trees in the orchard, so new trees will
have the same sources of genetic variation.
D. She could pollinate her trees with pollen from trees from a different orchard, so new trees
will have new sources of genetic variation.

8. Fruit flies reproduce quickly, so scientists can easily study changes that occur over generations of fruit flies as
they adapt to an environment. Carlos was conducting an experiment to see how quickly different populations of
fruit flies could evolve resistance to cold temperatures. He predicted that fruit flies from northern climates would
evolve resistance to extreme cold more quickly than fruit flies from southern climates. To conduct his experiment,
he completed these steps:
1) He raised fruit flies from 3 different northern climates in separate enclosed artificial environments. Some
environments were set at extremely cold temperatures and some were set at normal temperatures.
2) He calculated the percentage that died in each artificial environment.
3) He let the survivors mate within their artificial environment.
4) He then calculated the percentage of each population that died in each artificial environment the next
generation and repeated steps 2 through 4 many times.
5) He plotted the data on a graph and compared how the percentage of fruit flies dying in each generation differed
between fruit flies in the extremely cold versus the normal temperature enclosures.
6) He found that that there was no difference between the two conditions.
7) He concluded that there is no difference in between northern and southern fruit fly populations ability to
adapt to cold temperatures.
Carlos made a mistake when he designed the experiment. What is the flaw, and how could he improve his design?
A. Carlos needs to compare fruit flies from a greater number of northern climates. He could use
fruit flies from 6 instead of 3 different northern climates.
B. Carlos needs to focus on fruit flies from only one location. He needs to conduct the same
experiment but use fruit flies from only one northern climate.
C. Carlos needs to compare fruit flies from northern and southern climates. He could conduct
the same experiment with fruit flies from southern climates and compare the results.
D. Carlos needs to compare fruit flies to other organisms, such as grasshoppers, in order to make
his conclusion. He could conduct the same experiment on grasshoppers and compare the
results.

9. When a volcano erupted on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, the lava and ash covered much of the surrounding
forest. The birds that lived in this forest were able to fly to safer parts of the forest, but they stayed on the island
because it was too far to fly to other islands. As a result, the number of appropriate nest sites available for birds
that already lived in the remaining forest was suddenly very limited. Which birds do you think would be most
likely to survive after the volcano erupts?
A. Competition for nesting sites would be too great for any of the birds to survive.
B. Birds that establish nesting sites after the time of year when most birds establish their
nesting sites would survive.
C. Birds that establish nesting sites during the time of year when most birds establish their
D. Birds that establish nesting sites before the time of year when most birds establish their

10. Xavier was conducting a longterm study of two populations of butterflies. Both populations had the same
number of individuals. Both populations lived in forests that were the same size. Population A lived in a forest
that was full of milkweed, the favorite food of this butterfly species. Population B lived in a forest that had limited
amounts of milkweed and other foods. Over many years, Xavier found that one of the populations was showing
signs of evolutionary change. Their mouth parts were changing, and they could get food from new kinds of plants.
Which statement explains why one population would be more likely to evolve in response to natural selection?
A. Population B would be more likely to change because it has a ready supply of food, and only
certain butterflies would be able to survive.
B. Population A would be more likely to change because it has a ready supply of food, and would
be healthy enough to respond to natural selection.
C. Population A would be more likely to change because it has a limited amount of food, and
some butterflies might be better able to get enough food, survive, and reproduce.
D. Population B would be more likely to change because those butterflies have a limited supply
of food, and some butterflies might be better able to get enough food, survive, and reproduce.


nisms pass herreditary inform
mation encoded in cellular structures fro
om one generaation to the neext. Which list
11. Organ
gives structures in o
order from the smallest uniit of organizattion to the larggest unit of orrganization?

D
ome, gene
A. DNA, chromoso
B. DNA, gene, chr
D
omosome
C. geene, chromoso
ome, DNA
D. geene, DNA, chromosome

out heredity an
nd hereditaryy information. They are usin
ng the
12. Nico aand Lila are prreparing a preesentation abo
illustrration below in
n their presen
ntation.

his illustration
n?
Whaat title should they use for th

A. Figure 1. A geene
ucleotide
B. Figure 1. A nu
ngle strand of
f DNA
C. Figure 1. A sin
mosome
D. Figure 1. A replicated chrom

13. Karim
m and Amal aree researchers and are usingg a highpowerred microscop
pe to observe bacteria. The drawing
below
w is a sketch off one bacterium they observ
ve. They can s ee a structuree that is involvved in the passsage of
hered
ditary information from onee generation to
o the next.

What does the
W
m represent?
circle inside tthe bacterium

A.
A a gene
B.
B the nucleaar membrane
C.
C ribonucleic acid (RNA)
D.
D the bacterial chromosom
me

nd Naomi are related and have many thin
ngs in commo n. They both h
have dark bro
own eyes and d
dark brown
14. Lyn an
hair, sspeak English and Japanese fluently, and have blood tyype A. Which o
of these similaarities is NOT d
due to
hered
dity?
A.
B.
C.
D.

ey
ye color
hair color
blood type
laanguage fluenccy
Com
mpiledbyJohn
nettaHaugabrookStaffD
Developer 1
11|P P M S
15. A grou
up of research
hers is studyin
ng watercress,, a small floweering plant thaat lives in fresh water. Theyy are studying
the heereditary inforrmation (DNA
A) of watercresss, to learn moore about how
w different gen
nes influence tthe growth of
the plant. The reseaarchers take tiissue samples from plants oof the same sp
pecies of waterrcress that livve in different
m the petals, rroots, or leaves of a plant. Th
he
parts of the United States. The tisssue samples aare taken from
NA from each sample. The ssamples taken
n are shown in
n the table belo
ow.
researrchers separatted out the DN

WATE
ERCRESS TISSSUE SAMPLESS
Leaf
Petal
Root

Plant 1
x
Plant 2
x
x
Plant 3

x
x
Plant 4

x

h samples willl contain identtical DNA?
Which

A. saamples from aall parts of all four plants
B. saamples from tthe petal of Plaant 1 and the p
petal of Plant 2
C. saamples from tthe root of Plant 3 and the leeaf of Plant 3
D. saamples from tthe petals of Plants 1 and 2, the roots of P
Plants 2 and 3,, and the leavees of Plants
3 and 4

ditary informaation is passed
d from one gen
neration to thee next. Which two processees are responssible for the
16. Hered
passage of hereditaary information from generaation to generration in mam
mmals, birds, reeptiles, fish, an
nd other
animaals?
A. meiosis and fer
m
rtilization
B. mitosis and chr
m
romosomes
C. DNA replicatio
D
n and mitosis
D. assexual reprod
duction and DN
NA replication
n

ganism is mad
de up of many
y millions of liv
ving cells. Whaat portion of tthese living ceells contains genes located
17. An org
in chrromosomes?
A. nearly all living
g cells
bout half of all living cells
B. ab
C. only a majority
y of reproductive cells
ortion of specialized cells
D. only a small po

g things are made up of man
ny different ty
ypes of molecu
ules. One type of molecule ccontains hered
ditary
18. Living
inform
mation that is passed from o
one generation
n to another.

What type of moleccule is shown iin the
illustrration above?

A. carrbohydrate
B. DN
NA
C. lipid
D. pro
otein

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
12|P P M S
19. Plant and animal ceells are compleex structures w

with many diffferent internaal compartmeents. Chromosomes contain
mation (DNA)). In which parrt of a plant orr animal cell aare
genes, which are seegments of herreditary inform
mosomes found?
chrom
A. ceell membranee
B. cy
ytoplasm
C. nucleus
D. vaacuole

dity and repro
oduction. How
w
20. Geness, chromosomees, and DNA aare important structures forr processes related to hered
are th
hese three stru
uctures related
d?

G
ions of DNA th
hat make up a chromosomee.
A. Genes are secti
B. Many chromos
M
omes make up
p a gene, and m
many genes m
make up DNA.
C. A chromosome
A
e is the same th
hing as a genee, and both aree made of DNA
A.
D. DNA is made up
D
p of chromoso
omes, and chromosomes arre made up of genes.

y the diagram o
of various anim
mals and plan
nts below.
21. Study

h of the interactions among species are exxamples of prredatorprey rrelationships?

Which
A. birds eat insectts and insects eat ferns
nsects eat fern
ns and leaves ffrom trees
B. in
C. sk
kunks eat inseects and wolvees eat skunks
D. deer eat insectss and small plants and wolv
ves eat deer

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
13|P P M S
22. The sm
mall clown fish lives amongg the poisonou
us tentacles off the anemonee. The clown fiish is immune to the poison
n
and sw
wims around tthe tentacles, cleaning the aanemone. In tu
urn, the anem
mone provides the fish with protection
from p
predators. Wh
hat kind of sym
mbiosis do theese two speciees show?
A. parasitism
m
B. mutualism
C. co
ommensalism
m
D. predatorprey relationships

of drawings beelow, each pan
nel shows anim
mals living in tthe same areaa at different ttimes.
23. In thee four panels o

g from the botttom to the top
p panels, whatt behavior likeely increased aamong the aniimals?
Going
A. co
ommensalism
m
B. parasitic relatio
onships
m
ween two species
C. mutualism betw
D. co
ompetition forr food and waater

y shrimp lives among the po
oisonous spinees of a sea anim
mal called thee fire urchin. T
The spines pro
ovide the
24. A tiny
shrim
mp with protecction from eneemies. The firee urchin gains no benefit fro
om the shrimp
p, but the shrim
mp causes it
no harrm. What term
m is used to deescribe this ty
ype of relation ship?
A. mutualism
m
B. co
ompetition
C. predatorprey
ommensalism
m
D. co

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
14|P P M S
25. A tapeeworm attaches to the intesstines of a pig. The tapeworrm eats partiallly digested fo
ood entering th
he pigs
intesttine. Without eenough nutrieents from the ffood, the pig c ould die. In th
his relationship, what is the tapeworm
and th
he pig called?
A. The pig is the h
host and the taapeworm is th
he parasite.
B. The pig is the h
host and the taapeworm is th
he predator.
C. Both the tapew
worm and the p
pig are called competitors.
D. The tapeworm is a predator,, the pig is preey, and both arre competitorrs.

worms from th
he ground and
d gather inseccts. They eat so
ome of the foo
od and carry
26. To feeed their chickss, robins pull w
some back to the baabies in the neest. During a spring season, when there iss more rain th
han usual, the number of
worms at the grounds surfaace increases. How might th
his increase in
n the worm po
opulation affecct the robin
earthw
population?
A. There would bee no effect on robins.
B. The robin popu
ulation would become extin
nct.
C. The robin popu
ulation would increase with
h more availab
ble worms.
D. The robin popu
ulation would decrease becaause worms w
would drown iin the rainwatter.

ows cows and
d calves in a paasture.
27. This illlustration sho

Which two resourcess do the adult animals
compette for?
A. milk and grass
B. graass and water
C. treees and grassess
D. sun
nlight and watter

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28. The grraph below reecords the num

mber of individuals in a squ
uirrel populatiion between 1
1980 and 2000
0.

did the squirreel population change and w
what might be the reason(s) for this changge?
How d
A. The squirrel po
opulation incrreased and deccreased becau
use of predators.
B. The squirrel po
opulation incrreased becausee the number of squirrel prredators increased.
C. The population
n increased beecause the amo
ount of food aavailable for sq
quirrels decreeased.
D. The increasing squirrel popu
ulation rose faaster after 199
90, because th
he number of p
predators
decreased and the food supp
ply increased.

h
29. Alligators in the Eveerglades are ccarnivores thaat compete witth each other for food, matees, and places to live. Which
defines the organizational level of all the alligators in tthe Evergladess?
term d
A. habitat
B. population
C. eccosystem
D. co
ommunity

wig when it is standing stilll. How does th
his camouflage
e
30. An herbivorous insect called the walking stick looks like a tw
fit the walking
g stick?
benefi
A. Itt hides the insect from pred
dators.
B. Itt helps the insect fight off prredators.
C. Itt helps the insect lure prey tto its nest.
D. Itt hides the insect as it huntss for prey.

d the history oof life. His assiignment was tto use logic to interpret the
31. Jacob was studying a timeline thaat represented
hat during a peeriod of time ccalled the Cam
mbrian period,, many new
patterrns he saw theere. The timeliine showed th
speciees of multicellular animals ssuddenly appeeared in the foossil record. So
ome of the mu
ulticellular aniimals that
appeaared in the fossil record beffore the Camb
brian period sh
hared similar traits with some of the new
w species that
appeaared in the fossil record durring the Cambrrian period. W
Which statemeent is a logical interpretation
n of these
facts?
A. The species thaat lived in the Cambrian perriod are still liiving today.
B. The species thaat lived in the Cambrian perriod were anceestors of the sspecies that livved prior to
th
hat period.
C. The species thaat lived in the Cambrian perriod could havve descended from the speccies that
lived prior to th
hat period.
D. The species thaat lived in the Cambrian perriod were unr elated to the sspecies that livved prior to
th
hat period.
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of fossilized d
dinosaurs.
32. Sonessh worked at aa museum giviing tours. He loved showingg guests the grreat halls full o
Guests often commented on how
w the dinosaur skeleton foss ils looked likee enormous lizzards, and Son
nesh would
smile and explain th
hat similarity between dino
osaur fossils an
nd living lizarrds indicates tthat dinosaurss and todays
ded from a com
mmon ancesto
or. Sonesh exp
plained that th
his generalizattion can be app
plied to
lizards are descend
underrstand other relationships b
between livingg organisms an
nd fossils. Wh
hich of these fo
ossils would come from an
organ
nism that is mo
ost closely related to eleph
hants as we kn
now them todaay?
A. a fossil of a fourlegged reptiile that had a sshort tail
h that had tusk
klike whiskerrs growing froom its face
B. a fossil of a fish
mammal that h
had a very lon
ng neck, no tussks, and no tru
unk
C. a fossil of a tall fourlegged m
mammal that w
walked on lan
nd, had four tu
usks, and a sho
ort trunk
D. a fossil of a tall fourlegged m

beth worked in
n a lab that stu
udied how salamanders resspond to changing environm
ments. She waas comparing
33. Elizab
two sp
pecies of salam
manders that looked similarr, but had diffferent levels of genetic diverrsity.

ved in the sam
me forest, and both were thrreatened by a change in thee environmentt. A local pet
The saalamanders liv
store had accidentaally allowed seeveral exotic turtles to escap
pe, and the tu
urtles made their way into aa surrounding
were thriving in their new eenvironment, aand they weree eating the saalamanders. Elizabeth
forestt. The turtles w
wanteed to protect tthe salamandeers from extincction, so she w
was studying ttheir genetic d
diversity to prredict their
ability
y to adapt to th
he introductio
on of exotic tu
urtles. She foun
nd that the sm
mallerspotted
d salamanderss had very high
h
genetiic diversity, w
while the largerspotted salaamanders had very low genetic diversity.. What can shee conclude
aboutt how the turtlle introduction
n will affect saalamander pop
pulations?
A. The largerspotted salamand
ders would bee in danger of eextinction, because low gen
netic
diversity mean
ns it is likely th
hat the populaation could adaapt over geneerations.
potted salaman
nders would b
be in danger o f extinction, b
because high ggenetic
B. The smallersp
diversity mean
ns it is likely th
hat the populaation could adaapt over geneerations.
ders would bee in danger of eextinction, because low gen
netic
C. The largerspotted salamand
diversity mean
ns it is unlikely
y that the popu
ulation could adapt over geenerations.
potted salaman
nders would b
be in danger o f extinction, b
because high ggenetic
D. The smallersp
diversity mean
ns it is unlikely
y that the popu
ulation could adapt over geenerations.

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34. Ricard
do wanted to u
understand w
what causes some species to become extin
nct, while otheers survive thrrough
enviro
onmental chan
nges. He colleccted data from
m several stud
dies about frogg populations that were exp
posed to
enviro
onmental chan
nges. He comp
pared how thee speed of chan
nge, type of ch
hange, and population size related to
how the frog populaations respon
nded to the chaange. His dataa is organized in the table beelow.

POPULATION
P
N RESPONSE T
TO DIFFEREN
NT KINDS
OF EN
NVIRONMENT
TAL CHANGE
E
Popula
ation
Ty
ype of change
e Speed of Population Populatio
on Response
change size
A
haabitat loss
slow
large
population
n decline with
h
survival
B
inttroduction of
a n
new predator
haabitat loss
fast
small
population
n died out
fast
large
population
n died out
lon
ng period of
draught
slow
small
population
n decline with
h
survival
spread of a new
w fast
dissease
small
population
n died out

do wanted to ffind patterns iin the data thaat might explaain why some species survivve environmeental changes
Ricard
and otthers do not. W
What pattern best fits the d
data he collectted so far?
A. Populations ten
nd to survive w
when populattion size is sm
mall.
nd to die out w
when populatiion size is largge.
B. Populations ten
nd to survive w
when the speeed of environm
mental changee is slow.
C. Populations ten
nd to die out w
when the speeed of environm
mental changee is slow.
D. Populations ten

ominant to wriinkled seeds ((r). A pea plan
nt with the gen
notype Rr is
35. For a type of pea plant, round seeeds (R) are do
with the genottype Rr. What percent of th
he offspring arre expected to have
crosseed with another pea plant w
wrink
kled seeds?
A. 100
B. 75
C. 50
D. 25

o track a heritaable condition
n or disease. A
A circle represents a female and a square
36. Pedigree charts aree often used to
A shaded circlle or square m
means that thee person is affeected by the d
disease.
repressents a male. A

bove, what can
n you concludee about the
Baseed on the ped igree chart ab
diseease?

nt has the diseease.
A. Neither paren
B. Only males caan get the diseease.
C. The disease iss a dominant ttrait.
ng have the dissease.
D. Both offsprin

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37. Different organisms reproduce in different ways. Some organisms are able to reproduce asexually while others
are only able to reproduce sexually. What is one way that sexual reproduction is different from asexual
reproduction?
A. Sexual reproduction involves mitosis, while asexual reproduction does not.
B. Sexual reproduction involves meiosis, while asexual reproduction does not.
C. Sexual reproduction produces more offspring than asexual reproduction.
D. Sexual reproduction produces offspring with less variation than asexual reproduction.

38. Plants, fungi, and many singlecelled organisms are able to reproduce asexually. What is a main characteristic of
asexual reproduction?
A. offspring that are genetically unique
B. offspring that are not able to reproduce
C. only one parent organism that is required
D. sperm and egg that join through fertilization

39. Energy gets transferred through the food web as plants that produce food are consumed by animals that consume
plants. The energy is further transfer through animals that consume other animals. Which statement explains
what happens to this energy when a plant dies before it is consumed?
A. The energy disappears.
B. The energy must go to new plants that grow out of dead organisms.
C. The energy can only go to an animal scavenger that eats the dead organism.
D. Decomposers that break down the dead organism take in the stored energy.

40. Which statement correctly describes the role of an herbivore in a food web?
A. An herbivore only consumes plants.
B. An herbivore eats both plants and animals.
C. An herbivore is a scavenger that feeds on dead animals.
D. An herbivore converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food.

41. Florid
da biologists n
noted that after 2001 the population of a ssmall frog speecies declined along a sectio
on of the
Kissim
mmee River. O
Once a year, beeginning in 1995, a group off volunteers h
had counted th
he frogs in the area by
listeniing for individ
dual frog calls.. The biologistts used the datta to make a ggraph.

After studying the ttrend in the grraph, what waas most likelyy the next step
p in the biologists research on the
probleem?
A. They counted tthe frogs once a month insteead of once a yyear.
B. They increased
d the frogs foo
od supply by b
bringing insecct larvae to thee river.
C. They formed a hypothesis th
hat there was aa limiting facttor on the frogg population aand set out
to
o determine w
what it could b
be.
D. They formed a hypothesis th
hat the count w
was not accuraate and sent vvolunteers to gget a more
acccurate countt by looking for, rather than just listening
g for, frogs.

42. Blowing sand formss dunes along Floridas beacches. Trees doo not grow on the dunes, bu
ut small plantss do. The rootss
of smaall plants then
n hold the dun
nes in place. In
n what way is tthe sand a lim
miting factor on
n the size of plants that can
grow on the dunes??
way before any
y plants can grrow.
A. Saand blows aw
B. Saand cannot ho
old enough waater for trees tthat grow on d
dunes.
C. Saand cannot prrovide enough
h support for p
plants that havve large roots.
D. Saand does not h
have enough ffood for large plants that grrow on the dun
nes.

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GRADE 6

SC.6.L.14.1 Describe and identify patterns in the hierarchical organization of organisms from atoms to molecules and
cells to tissues to organs to organ systems to organisms.
SC.6.L.14.2 Investigate and explain the components of the scientific theory of cells (cell theory): all organisms are
composed of cells (singlecelled or multicellular), all cells come from preexisting cells, and cells are the basic unit of
life.
SC.6.L.14.3 Recognize and explore how cells of all organisms undergo similar processes to maintain homeostasis, including
extracting energy from food, getting rid of waste, and reproducing.
SC.6.L.14.4 Compare and contrast the structure and function of major organelles of plant and animal cells, including
cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles.
SC.6.L.14.5 Identify and investigate the general functions of the major systems of the human body (digestive,
respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, excretory, immune, nervous, and musculoskeletal) and describe ways these
systems interact with each other to maintain homeostasis.
SC.6.L.14.6 Compare and contrast types of infectious agents that may infect the human body, including viruses, bacteria, fungi,
and parasites.
SC.6.L.15.1 Analyze and describe how and why organisms are classified according to shared characteristics with
emphasis on the Linnaean system combined with the concept of Domains.

Multiple Choice

1. Luis is making a chart of compounds that are found in the human body. What is the most common compound
found in the human body?
A. water
B. table salt
C. carbon dioxide
D. sodium bicarbonate

2. Kayla has a cat with blue eyes. The color of her cats eyes is determined by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The DNA
directs which substance to construct these eyes?
A. lipids
B. water
C. proteins
D. carbohydrates

3. Carbohydrates are made up of three of the six major molecules found in living things. The general chemical
formula for a carbohydrate is CH2O. Which elements combine to make a carbohydrate?

A. copper and cobalt
B. chlorine and oxygen
C. carbon, helium, and oxygen
D. carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

4. Ling is planning a long hike. To make sure his body has sufficient water, he packs two bottles of water. What
happens to body cells that lose too much water?

A. The cells shrivel and die.
B. The cells swell and burst.
C. The cells are not affected.
D. The cells absorb nutrients more efficiently.

ndro is doing aa science expeeriment. He is given a substaance containin
ng one of the ffour main molecules found
5. Alejan
in the cells of living
g things. He neeeds to find ou
ut what kind o f molecule thee substance is made of. He aadds a few
ule to water
dropss of the molecu

not mix with w
water, what caan Alejandro
Bassed on the factt that it does n
con
nclude about th
he molecule?

A. It is a lipid.
n.
B. It is a protein
C. It is a nucleicc acid.
hydrate.
D. It is a carboh

has the shape of a cube with
h edges that a re 3 cm long. Use the follow
wing equation below, to find
d
6. Imagine a cell that h
urfaceareatovolume ratio of this cell.
the su

=
surfface area
A. 27 cm3
surfacceareatovolume ratio

volu
ume
B. 54 cm2
C. 27 : 54
D. 54 : 27

d prokaryotic cells have som
me parts in coommon. Which
h of the follow
wing pairs of parts would
7. Eukarryotic cells and
you find in both typ
pes of cells?
A. cy
ytoplasm and nucleus
B. ceell membranee and cytoplasm
m
C. DNA and memb
D
branebound o
organelles
D. ceell membranee and membranebound orgganelles

8.
ollowing pictu
ure shows a prrokaryotic orgganism.
The fo

hat part of the organism is laabeled A?
Wh

A. DNA
B. cytoplasm
ne
C. cell membran
bound organellle
D. membraneb

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9. Eukarryotic cells and

d prokaryotic cells have som
me parts that are different. Which of the following wou
uld you find
only iin a eukaryotic cell?
A. membranebou
m
und organelless and a nucleu
us
B. a nucleus and o
organelles witthout membraanes
ne and organeelles without m
membranes
C. a cell membran
m
und organelless and DNA in ccytoplasm
D. membranebou

ms have multip
ple cells. Whicch of the follow
wing is a charaacteristic of
10. Some organisms haave one cell. Otther organism
cells in a multicellular organism??
A
he same function.
A. All cells have th
B. Every cell has aa different fun
nction.
D
s of cells have the same funcction.
C. Different kinds
D. Different kinds
D
s of cells have different funcctions.

ulticellular org
ganisms, cells fform tissues. IIn turn, tissuees form organss, and organs fform organ syystems. What
11. In mu
is an iimportant job of all of thesee tissues, organs, and organ
n systems?
A. to
o maintain hom
meostasis
B. to make sugar
t
rs for energy
C. to
o transport nu
utrients in the body
D. to
o take in nutriients and elim
minate wastes

ng. What is onee reason why cells divide?
12. Some cells in multiccellular organisms are consstantly dividin
o that an organism can elim
minate wastes
A. so
B. so
o that an organism can grow
w by adding new cells
C. so
o that an organism can obtaain the energy
y that it needs
D. so
o that an organism can exch
hange materiaals with its envvironment

udes four stagges,
13. Janinee drew the folllowing diagram to show a ccell process. N otice that thiss process inclu
repressented by labeels G1, S, G2, aand M. Label M
M indicates wh
hen mitosis haappens duringg this process.

hat process is JJanine illustraating in her diaagram?
Wh

A. the cell cyclee
B. exocytosis
C. endocytosis
piration
D. cellular resp

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14. Pedro
o examines a tiissue sample u
under a highp
powered micrroscope. He m
makes a sketch in his lab nottebook of one
of the cells he obserrves. His sketcch is shown heere.

Which labeel should Pedrro use for structure A?

A. cytoskeeleton
B. lysosom
me
C. mitochondrion
D. nucleuss

pe, Dan sees aa cellular organ
nelle. The orgganelle has a d
double membrrane, and the
15. Underr a highpowered microscop
inner membrane is folded. He run
ns a test on th
he organelle an
nd finds that iit contains DN
NA. Which orgaanelle does
Dan seee?
A. en
ndoplasmic reeticulum
B. mitochondrion
m
n
C. nucleus
D. riibosome

oscope. They b
both notice a certain structture. Lisa conccludes that
16. Lisa and Vinay are sstudying cells under a micro
ugh endoplasm
mic reticulum,, but Vinay con
ncludes that itt is the Golgi ccomplex. Whicch of the
this sttructure is rou
follow
wing choices describes a way to support o
one of their coonclusions?
A. Lisas conclusio
on would be supported if th
hey observed tthat the structture contains DNA.
on would be supported if th
hey observed rribosomes preesent on the structure.
B. Lisas conclusio
V
sion would be supported if they observed
d that the stru
ucture producees ATP
C. Vinays conclus
molecules.
m
D. Vinays conclus
V
sion would be supported if they observed
d that the stru
ucture carries out
photosynthesiss

n a cell under aa microscope.. He notices th
hat the organeelle has a doub
ble membrane
e.
17. Hakeeem observes aan organelle in
Which
h of the follow
wing describes what Hakeem
m could have oobserved?
A. He could have o
H
observed a cell wall or a vaccuole.
B. He could have o
H
observed a ch
hloroplast or aa lysosome.
C. He could have o
H
observed a rib
bosome or a m
mitochondrion
n.
D. He could have o
H
observed a miitochondrion or a chloroplaast.

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18. Mariella is studying a new type of organism that she has found. She observes that the cells of the organism have
ribosomes, mitochondria, and lysosomes. She also observes that the cells do not have a cell wall. What type of
organism is Mariella most likely to have found?
A. a plant
B. a fungus
C. an animal
D. a prokaryote

19. When virus particles enter a persons body, the body responds by following a specific pattern. Which of the
following steps happens earliest in the fight against an invading virus?
A. Viral particles are engulfed by macrophages.
B. B cells divide to make cells that can make antibodies.
C. Helper T cells recognize the viral antigens on macrophages.
D. Killer T cells recognize viral antigens and destroy the infected cells.

20. The male reproductive system produces and stores sperm cells. What is the function of the epididymis in this
system?

A. make sperm
B. store sperm
C. make testosterone
D. store testosterone

21. At puberty, hormones encourage the development of sexual characteristics. Hormones also aid in reproduction.
Which of the following are female sex hormones?
A. corpus luteum
B. gonads, gametes
C. estrogen, progesterone
D. androgens, testosterone

22. Jeff fell while playing basketball and dislocated his shoulder. Jeffs doctor told him that he had injured an
important part of his skeletal system. But luckily, it will heal quickly. What part of the skeletal system is injured
when a shoulder is dislocated?
A. joint
B. spongy bone
C. bone marrow
D. compact bone

23. The human muscular system can suffer injury or disease. Which of the following is most likely caused by a
persons heredity?
A.
B.
C.
D.

tendonitis
muscular dystrophy
a muscle strain
a muscle tear
24. Study
y the following
g picture.

Wh
hich mode of in
nfectious diseease transmisssion does this picture show
w?

A. animal to peerson
B. person to peerson
C. contaminateed object
D. contaminateed water or foood

nal hygiene im
mportant for lim
miting the sprread of disease?
25. Why iis good person
A. Regular bathin
R
g makes it imp
possible for an
ny bacteria too grow on the sskin.
B. Keeping the bo
K
ody clean and ttaking antibio
otics every dayy can prevent a person from
m ever
geetting sick.
C. Washing the sk
W
kin removes alll diseasecaussing bacteria aand leaves beneficial bacterria in place.
D. Sh
howering and
d brushing the teeth reduce the number oof bacteria and
d other pathoggens in and
on the body.

uin to match tthe numbers o
on the diagram
m
26. Joaquins teacher giives him a listt and a branching diagram. SShe asks Joaqu
to the characteristiccs on the list.

Joaqu
uins list
spinall cord
teeth for eating meaat
hair and mammary
y glands
jaws aand vertebral column
eggs w
with internal m
membrane

What ccharacteristic should appeaar at point 4?

A. spiinal cord
B. teeeth for eating meat
C. haiir and mammary glands
D. jaw
ws and vertebral column

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27. During a laboratory

y project, Suniita and William
m use a dichottomous key to
o identify diffeerent insects. T
The
dichottomous key an
nd one of the iinsects they need to identify
fy are shown in
n the followin
ng figure.

In what step of the dichotomous key will Sunitta and William
m identify the iinsect?

A. sttep 1
B. sttep 2
C. sttep 5
D. sttep 6

different leavees, as shown in
n the followingg figure. Afterr the trip, Thuy
y
28. During a field experriment, Thuy ccollects four d
makess a dichotomo
ous key to iden
ntify each of th
he trees from which the leaves were colleected.

h of the follow
wing pairs of sttatements wou
uld be the besst first step in Thuys dichottomous key?
Which

A. a.. Leaf is large.
b. Leaf is small..
gh edges.
B. a.. Leaf has roug
b. Leaf has smo
ooth edges.
nted lobes.
C. a.. Leaf has poin
b. Leaf has roun
nded lobes.
D. a.. Leaf has one main vein.
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mpiledbyJohn
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b. Leaf has more than one main vein.

29. Selenas teacher shows the class photographs of four different animals. The class has 1 min to write down the
physical characteristics of an animal as they view its photo. Selena makes her notes in the following table.

Animal 1
Animal 2
Animal 3
Animal 4
has gills
has gills
has one fin on its
has fur
has scales
has very shiny scales back
has four feet
has a vertical tail fin has vertical tail fin
has flat tail
has flipper like rear
has one large fin and has one fin on its
has one set of paired feet
one small fin on its
back
flippers
has whiskers
back
has one set of paired has smooth skin
has sharp teeth
has one set of paired fins
has long, skinny
is mostly black with
fins
has one fin on
nose
lightercolored head
has two single fins
bottom
has blowhole in top
on bottom
has sawlike ridges
of head
fins are spiny
on back and bottom
is gray colored
is dark colored
behind the fins

Based on Selenas notes, which two animals may be more closely related to each other than to the other animals?

A. 1 and 2
B. 1 and 3
C. 2 and 3
D. 3 and 4

30. Hank discovers a new squirrel that lives near another group of squirrels. The new squirrels have very distinct fur
colors and have slightly different ears and tails. Otherwise they look much the same physically as the other group
of squirrels. How can Hank best determine if the new squirrels belong to the same species as the other group of
squirrels?
A.
B.
C.
D.

He could study their diets.

He could study their behavior.
He could study their genetic material.
He could study their internal physical structures.
Physical Science
FCAT Preparation

G
Grade 8
8

SC.8.P.8.4 Classify
y and comparre substancess on the basiss of characterristic physica
al propertiess that can be
demo
onstrated or measured; fo
or example, d
density, therm
mal or electr ical conductiivity, solubiliity, magnetic properties,
meltting and boiling points, an
nd know that these properrties are indeependent of tthe amount o
of the sample..
SC.8.P
P.8.3 Explore and describe the densities o
of various materials througgh measuremeent of their maasses and volu
umes.
SC.8.P.8.5 Recogn
nize that there are a finite number of elements and that their atoms combine
e in a multitu
ude of ways to
o
prod
duce compoun
nds that mak
ke up all of th
he living and n
nonliving thi ngs that we e
encounter.
SC.8.P
P.8.1 Explore the scientific ttheory of atom
ms (also know
wn as atomic th
heory) by usin
ng models to eexplain the mo
otion of
particles in solids, liquids, and gases.
SC.8.P
P.8.6 Recognizze that elemen
nts are groupeed in the perio
odic table accoording to simiilarities of their properties.
SC.8.P
P.8.7 Explore the scientific ttheory of atom
ms (also know
wn as atomic th
heory) by reco
ognizing that aatoms are thee smallest unitt
of an element and are composed
d of sub? Atom
mic particles (eelectrons surrrounding a nucleus containiing protons an
nd neutrons)
SC.8.P
P.8.8 Identify basic examplees of and comp
pare and classsify the prope rties of compo
ounds, includiing acids, basees, and salts.
SC.8.P
P.8.9 Distingu
uish among miixtures (includ
ding solutionss) and pure sub
bstances.
SC.8.P.9.2 Differentiate between physical cchanges and cchemical chaanges.
SC.8.P
P.9.1 Explore the Law of Co
onservation of
f Mass by demonstrating an d concluding tthat mass is conserved wheen substances
undeergo physical aand chemical cchanges.
SC.8.P
P.9.3 Investigaate and descriibe how temperature influeences chemicaal changes.

Multtiple Choice
wers the questiion.

perties. A phyysical propertyy is one that does not changge the
1. All maatter has both physical and chemical prop
chemiical nature of matter. Which
h of these choiices is a physiical property??
A. so
olubility
B. flammability
bility to rust
C. ab
D. reeaction with w
water

w show four ob
bjectsa papeer clip, a pair oof scissors, a n
needle, and a h
horseshoe. Asssume that

2. The pictures below
object is madee of the same m
metal.
each o

h of these physical properties is not simillar in all four oof these objeccts?
Which

m
A. mass
B. magnetism
m
C. sp
pecific heat
D. ellectrical condu
uctivity

Com
3. Kavish
h mixes a blacck liquid and aa clear liquid. H
He knows the two liquids d
do not mix welll. Kavish allow
ws the mixture
to setttle for 30 minutes.

4.
5.
6.
7.

h of these statements is true
e?
Which
A. The clear liquid
d is less densee than the blacck liquid.
B. The clear liquid
d is less solublle than the blaack liquid.
C. The clear liquid
d is less reactiive than the bllack liquid.
D. The clear liquid
d is less condu
uctive than thee black liquid..

mical propertiees. These prop
perties can be used to identify the type off matter.
All maatter has physsical and chem
Which
h of these choiices describess a chemical p
property?
A. flexibility
B. boiling point
C. reeactivity with water
D. ellectrical condu
uctivity

nd chemical properties of a solid object. SShe subjects th
he object to a number of
Esther is studying tthe physical an
ons. Which of these statemeents describess a chemical p
property of th
he object?
tests aand observatio
A. The object is w
white in color.
B. The object has a powdery texxture.
C. The objects deensity is 2.11 gg/cm3.
D. The object reaccts with acid to form water.

bstances havee properties w
we can use to id
dentify them. Properties of
f matter are eitther physical properties or
All sub
chemiical propertiess. Which of these statementts is true for cchemical prop
perties?
A. Chemical propeerties include how dense an
n object is.
nts of an objectts mass.
B. Chemical propeerties include measuremen
which the sub
bstance exists..
C. Chemical propeerties describe the state in w
bstance reacts with other su
ubstances.
D. Chemical propeerties describe how the sub

ws the rock
ol. The picturee below show
Cassandra is perforrming some teests on a rock sshe found outtside her schoo
metal file.
samplle being scratcched with a m

h property of m
matter is Casssandra most liikely testing?
Which

A. roock color, a physical propertty
B. roock color, a cheemical properrty
C. roock hardness, aa physical pro
operty
D. roock hardness, aa chemical pro
operty

Com
8. Which
h of these choiices is not a ch
haracteristic p
property of a ssubstance?
A. volume
m
B. melting point
C. sp
pecific heat
D. density

own liquid to ttest in the labooratory. Sal th
hinks the liquid
d might be waater. Which off
9. Sal is given a samplle of an unkno
perties would be most helpfful for Sal to d
determine the identity of thee liquid?
these physical prop
A. itts color
B. itts mass
C. itts volume
D. itts boiling poin
nt

m (Ca) is locatted in the seco
ond group on the periodic ttable.
10. The ellement calcium

me group as caalcium have ch

hemical propeerties similar tto those of callcium. What ellse do these
Elemeents in the sam
elemeents have in co
ommon?
A. attomic numberr
B. number of neutrons
verage atomicc mass
C. av
D. number of valeence electronss

Com
11. The periodic table, shown below,, arranges elem

ments accordiing to their prroperties. Elem
ments at the leeft are metals
and haave the propeerties youd exxpect a metal tto have.

Based
d on its locatio
on in the perio
odic table, whaat statement b
best describess the element C
Ca?
A. Itt breaks easily
y like glass.
B. Itt is shiny and ccan be bent an
nd shaped.
C. Itt is doesnt con
nduct electriciity.
D. Itt is definitely n
not a metal.

C.
12. Reactaant A and reacctant B underggo a chemical reaction to foorm product C

What type of substaance is reactan
nt B?
A. a nucleus
B. a mixture
n element
C. an
D. a compound

d said that watter can be creaated in a lab by
y burning hyd
drogen gas in aair. He said th
hat water is no
ot a compound
d,
13. David
becau
use only hydro
ogen is used to
o make water. What is wron
ng with Davids statement?
A. A compound on
A
nly contains o
one type of element.
B. Hydrogen is ma
H
ade up of two different typees of atoms.
C. Water was not
W
ormed when h
he burned hyd
drogen.
the product fo
D. Compounds mu
ust contain tw
wo elements, aand oxygen froom the air wass what combin
ned with
hydrogen to maake water.
Com
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

o physical and
d chemical chaanges. A physiccal change is aa change of maatter from onee form to
Matter can undergo
anoth
her without a cchange in the iidentity of thee substance. W
Which process is an examplee of a physical change?
A. icce melting
B. milk souring
m
C. metal rusting
m
D. wood burning
w

mportant to un
nderstand thee differences b
between chem
mical and physiical changes. C
Chemical chan
nges result in
It is im
new substances, bu
ut physical chaanges do not. W
Which processs is an examplle of a physicaal change?
W
steam when b
boiled over a B
Bunsen burneer.
A. Water turns to
B. Carbon combin
nes with oxygeen to form carrbon dioxide ggas.
W
down into hyd
drogen and oxy
ygen gases ovver time.
C. Water breaks d
D. Limestone breaaks down into
o lime and carb
bon dioxide w
when heated.

ugh two types of changes: physical changges and chemiccal changes. C
Chemical changges result in
Matter can go throu
new substances, wh
hile physical cchanges do nott. Which proceess is an exam
mple of a physiical change?
A. paper burning into ash
B. dough being baaked into breaad
pple juice turn
ning into vinegar
C. ap
D. ro
ock being crusshed into grav
vel

Marco
o tears a piecee of notebook p
paper into sm
maller pieces, aas shown below
w.

Tearing paper into pieces is an example of what
kind of cchange?

A. a chaange in mass
B. a ph
hysical change
C. a chemical changee
D. a chaange in energy

ut physical chaanges do not. W
Which processs is an examp
ple of a
Chemical changes rresult in new ssubstances, bu
chemiical change?
A. ch
hopping a treee
B. co
ooking a steak
k
C. making a cup o
m
of tea
D. drying clothes in the dryer

notices water droplets on th
he grass in thee morning. It d
did not rain du
uring the nigh
ht. Which stateement is true
Nora n
aboutt this change o
of state?
A. Mass was adde
M
ed to the waterr particles, ressulting in depoosition.
B. Energy was add
ded to the watter particles, rresulting in evvaporation.
M
oved from the water particles, resulting in
n.
C. Mass was remo
n sublimation
D. Energy was rem
moved from th
he water partiicles, resultingg in condensattion.

Com
20. Density is the ratio of mass to volume. Troy listed the densitty of four metaals at 20 C.

Material
M
Densityy (g/cm3)
brass
8
8.9
gold
abou
ut 19.3
iron
7
7.8
lead
abou
ut 11.3

y has a 4cm3 cube of each o
of these metalls, which cubee will have thee greatest masss?
If Troy

A. brass
old
B. go
C. irron
D. leead

ds are groupe d in a certain section.
21. Look aat the periodicc table below. The metalloid

h statement teells where the metalloids arre located in th
he periodic tab
ble?
Which
A. Metalloids are
M
the elements to the left of the zigzag line .
B. Metalloids are
M
ne.
the elements to the right off the zigzag lin
C. Metalloids are
M
order the zigzaag line.
the elements that do not bo
D. Metalloids are
M
num, that borrder the zigzagg line.
the elements, except alumin

Com

with oxygen to
o produce a brright flame. W
Which is the sm
mallest particlee that will also
o
22. The ellement phosphorus reacts w
react w
with oxygen tto produce a bright flame?
A. a phosphorus aatom
molecule
B. a phosphorus m
n electron in aa phosphorus atom
C. an
D. th
he nucleus of aa phosphorus atom

w acidic or how basic these compounds
23. Some compounds aare classified aas acids or basses. The pH scaale shows how
pH, the more aacidic a compo
ound is. The h
higher the pH, the more basic it is. Sodium
m hydroxide, a
a
are. The lower the p
ound common
nly found in drrain cleaners, has a pH of 13
3.
compo

h of these phraases describess sodium hydrroxide?
Which
A. highly basic
B. highly acidic
C. sllightly basic
D. sllightly acidic

ne of these con
ntainers has a mixture and oone does not. You can only shine a light tthrough them
24. You arre two that on
to dettermine which
h one is which.

y to be in contaainer A?
Wh at substance iis most likely
A. water
B. apple juice
C. mayonnaise
D. gelatin

Com
25. Trini adds 10 g of baking soda to 100 g of vinegar. The mixture begins to bubble. When the bubbling stops, Trini
finds the mass of the resulting mixture. She determines its mass is 105 g. Why has the mass changed?
A. A gas has formed and left the mixture.
B. Vinegar evaporated during the experiment.
C. Mixtures always are less massive than their parts.
D. Mass was destroyed when vinegar reacted with baking soda.

26. Rita wants to make some toast for breakfast, which she knows involves a chemical change to the bread. She puts a
slice of bread in the toaster, but, after 10 minutes, she notices that the sides of the bread are black. What caused
this chemical change to go too far?
A. an increase in temperature
B. a decrease in temperature
C. the size of the bread
D. the type of bread

G
Grade 7
7

SC.7.P.10.1 Illustrrate that the ssun? s energ
gy arrives as rradiation witth a wide ran
nge of wavelengths, includ
ding infrared,,
visib
ble, and ultrav
violet, and th
hat white ligh
ht is made up of a spectrum
m of many diifferent colorrs.
SC.8.E
E.5.11 Identify
y and compare characteristtics of the elecctromagnetic sspectrum such
h as wavelenggth, frequency,, use, and
hazarrds and recognize its appliccation to an un
nderstanding o
of planetary im
mages and sattellite photogrraphs.
SC.7.P.10.3 Recog
gnize that ligh
ht waves, sou
und waves, an
nd other wavves move at different spee
eds in differen
nt materials.
SC.7.P
P.10.2 Observ
ve and explain that light can
n be reflected, refracted, and
d/or absorbed
d.
SC.7.P.11.2 Investtigate and de
escribe the tra
ansformation
n of energy frrom one form
m to another.
SC.7.P
P.11.3 Cite eviidence to expllain that energgy cannot be ccreated nor deestroyed, onlyy changed from
m one form to another.
SC.6.P
P.11.1 Exploree the Law of C
Conservation o
of Energy by d
differentiatingg between poteential and kinetic energy. Id
dentify
situattions where k
kinetic energy is transformeed into potentiial energy and
d vice versa.
SC.7.P.11.4 Obserrve and descrribe that heatt flows in pre
edictable wayys, moving fro
om warmer o
objects to coo
oler ones
untill they reach tthe same tem
mperature.
SC.7.P
P.11.1 Recogn
nize that addin
ng heat to or removing heatt from a system
m may result iin a temperatu
ure change an
nd possibly a
changge of state.

Multtiple Choice
wers the questiion.

g the sunny daay at the beach
h. He told his ffriend Carl thaat he was reallly enjoying th
he warm
1. Felipee was enjoying
feeling
g that he was getting as he ssat in the Sun. Carl explaineed that the eleectromagneticc radiation was responsible
for thiis warm feelin
ng. Which partt of the electro
omagnetic speectrum was reesponsible for making Felipe feel warm?
A gaamma rays
B microwaves
m
C viisible light
D in
nfrared waves

ur types of eleectromagneticc waves.
2. The grraphs below sshow the waveelengths of fou

TROMAGNET
TIC WAVES
ELECT

kely illustrates
Which ggraph most lik
radio waaves?
A A
B B
C C
D D

Com

y radio wavess. What other ttype of electro
omagnetic rad
diation is used
d
3. Both rradio and television signals are carried by
to sen
nd information
n over long disstances?
A Xrays
B microwaves
m
C gaamma rays
D ulltraviolet lightt

w two differentt types of electtromagnetic rradiation.
4. Thesee graphs show

TROMAGNET
TIC RADIATIO
ON
ELECT
Graph I showss ultraviolet raadiation, whatt
If G
typ
pe of electrom
magnetic radiaation would
Grraph II show?
A infrared lightt
B microwaves
C violet light
D Xrays

uum. However, different kin
nds of electrom
magnetic
5. All eleectromagneticc waves travel at the same speed in a vacu
wavess have differen
nt wavelength
hs. For examplle, microwavees have longerr wavelengths than visible liight. How is it
possib
ble for both m
microwaves and visible light to travel at th
he same speed
d in a vacuum
m if they have d
different
wavellengths?
A Microwaves an
M
nd visible lightt have the sam
me energy.
B Microwaves an
M
nd visible lightt have differen
nt frequenciess.
C The waves of viisible light hav
ve less energy
y than microw
waves.
nt on one wavee to the identi cal point on th
he next wave is the same
D The distance beetween a poin
or both microw
waves and visible light.
fo

y substance thrrough which aa wave can
6. Waves can pass thrrough a solid, lliquid, or a gass. What is the name for any
pass?
A a crest
B a trough
C a medium
D a frequency

d wave depen
nds on its frequ
uency. A high frequency ressults in a high pitch, while aa low
7. The pitch of a sound
n a low pitch. T
The diagram b
below shows tthe frequencyy of a sound wave.
frequeency results in

How should this diiagram be chaanged to show
h?
that tthe wave has aa higher pitch
A Elliminate half tthe dots in thee diagram.
B Move the areas labeled N and
d M closer to
eaach other.
C Make the entiree diagram look
k like the
arreas labeled N and M.
D Move the areas labeled N and
d M farther
part from each
h other.
ap

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
10|P P M S
8. In 194
47, pilot Chuck
k Yeager became the first person in an ai rplane to fly ffaster than thee speed of sou
und. He flew
his plaane about 12,0
000 meters ab
bove sea level. At that altitu
ude, the speed of sound travvels at 290 meeters/second.
At seaa level, the speeed of sound iss about 340 m
meters/second
d. What conclu
usion can you make from th
his
inform
mation?
A The speed of so
ound does nott depend on altitude.
ound depends on the type o
of plane flown..
B The speed of so
nd increases.
C As the altitude increases, thee speed of soun
nd decreases.
D As the altitude increases, thee speed of soun

peed of a soun
nd wave throu
ugh a substancce depends on
n the vibration
ns caused by ccollisions of th
he particles
9. The sp
that m
make up that substance. Thee more collisio
ons there are, the faster the sound wave ttravels. Thee particles in a
a
liquid
d are more clossely packed to
ogether than the particles in
n a gas. What w
would you preedict to happeen to a sound
wave as it travels frrom a liquid in
nto a gas?
he sound wavee would increaase.
A The speed of th
he sound wavee would decreease.
B The speed of th
wave would in
ncrease.
C The amplitude of the sound w
wave would d
decrease.
D The amplitude of the sound w

da hates the so
ound of her allarm clock in tthe morning. W
What would be the best waay for Kalinda not to hear
10. Kalind
the so
ound even if th
he alarm clock
k is ringing?
A Pu
ut the alarm cclock in a jar, aand put it in heer closet.
B Pu
ut the alarm cclock in a jar, ffill it with cotton, and seal itt.
C Pu
ut the alarm cclock in a jar, rremove all thee air from it, an
nd seal it.
D Pu
ut the alarm cclock in a sealeed jar and cover it with a haand towel.

Center. She tel ls John that a rocket requires a large amo
ount of energy
y
11. Johnss mom works as a scientist aas the Space C
to launch. The requ
uired energy iss generated by
y burning liqu
uid fuel.

n the liquid fu
uel?
Which type of enerrgy is stored in
k
A kinetic energy
B th
hermal energy
y
C chemical energgy
D electrical energgy

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
11|P P M S
12. During a science exxperiment, students compreess four springgs and then reelease them.

In which po
osition would tthe greatest
conversion of elastic enerrgy to kinetic
ur when the sp
pring is
energy occu
released?

A Position 1
B Position 2
C Position 3
D Position 4

13. Juan sserves a tenniss ball. He throws the tennis ball into the aair and hits it with his rackeet when it reaches its
highesst point. Once he hits the baall, it moves fo
orward and doownward, eventually hittingg the ground aafter it goes
over tthe net. At whiich point is kin
netic energy cconverted to ggravitational p
potential energgy?
A ju
ust before Juan
n throws the b
ball
B ju
ust after Juan tthrows the ball into the air
C ju
ust after Juan h
hits the tenniss ball
D ju
ust before the tennis ball hitts the ground

with his family
y. His torch ru
uns on two battteries. Which
h type of energgy is stored in the batteries??
14. Alonso is camping w
ght energy
A lig
B th
hermal energy
y
C ch
hemical energ
gy
D ellectrical energ
gy

which of the fo
ollowing electtrical appliancces is
15. Racheel is cooking breakfast beforre she leaves ffor school. In w
electrical energy co
onverted to kin
netic energy?
A bllender
B ov
ven
C sttove burner
D to
oaster

d objects in contact with eacch other. Whicch property deetermines thee direction of tthe flow of
16. Joe plaaces two solid
heat b
between the tw
wo objects?
A
B
C
D

objects
material of the
m
vo
olume of the o
objects
deensity of the o
objects
teemperature off the objects
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
12|P P M S
17. Myra places two objects in contact. One object is warmer than the other object. Which type of heat transfer is she
most likely testing?
A conduction
B convection
C insulation
D radiation

18. Jeriah places two metal cubes in contact with each other. Energy as heat flows from Cube A to Cube B. What
conclusion can you draw regarding Cube A?
A It is larger than Cube B.
B It is cooler than Cube B.
C It is smaller than Cube B.
D It is warmer than Cube B.

19. Kirby leaves a beaker of water at 80 C to stand in a room with an air temperature of 20 C. He measures the
temperature of the water in the beaker every five minutes. At what temperature will the water temperature stop
decreasing?
A 0 C
B 20 C
C 50 C
D 80 C

20. Tran places a warm plate with a temperature of 60 C on a bench that is at a temperature of 25 C. After an hour,
the plate and the bench are at the same temperature. Which of the following best describes what occurs during
the hour?
A The temperature of the plate stays the same, while the temperature of the bench increases to
60 C.
B The temperature of the bench stays the same, while the temperature of the plate decreases to
25 C.
C The temperature of the plate and the bench both decrease until they reach a temperature of 0
C.
D The temperature of the plate decreases to 30 C, while the temperature of the bench increases
to 30 C.

21. As Miguel walked farther from the soccer field after the evening game, the lights from the field got dimmer. What
causes a beam of light to get dimmer the farther it travels through the air?
A absorption
B reflection
C refraction
D scattering


w shows what h
happens when
n light strikes a material.

Which behaavior of light iss NOT shown
in this diagrram?
A absorptio
on
B reflection
n
C refraction
n
D transmission

does Emma ob
bserve happen
n
23. Emmaa sets up an exxperiment to sstudy light passsing through different matterials. What d
to ligh
ht at the point when it passees into a material where thee speed of ligh
ht changes?
A The light is brig
ghter.
B The light is refllected.
C The light is refrracted.
D The light is absorbed.

orbed, and reffracted. What causes the reffraction of ligh
ht?
24. Tyler observed thatt light can be rreflected, abso
y fast.
A Liight waves traavel extremely
B Liight waves mo
ove at differen
nt speeds thro
ough different materials.
C Liight waves can
n have different wavelength
hs and differen
nt frequenciess.
D Liight waves maaintain the sam
me speed as th
hey travel throough a differeent material.

ndro walked in
nto the classro
oom before an
nyone else, inccluding the teaacher, had arrrived. Becausee it was too
25. Alejan
dark tto see anything, he turned o
on the lights. H
He was then ab
ble to see his d
desk. Why waas Alejandro ab
ble to see the
desk?
A The desk refleccted the light.
me a light sourrce.
B The desk becam
when he turneed it on.
C The desk absorrbed the light w
wavelengths of f visible light.
D The desk separrated the light into all the w

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
14|P P M S
26. Allan places a slice of butter on a cob of hot corrn. Heat flowss from the corn
n to the butter.

h change of staate does the butter undergo
o?
Which

A gaas to solid
B so
olid to gas
C liq
quid to solid
D so
olid to liquid

27. When
n Roberto heatts margarine in a hot skillett, what modificcation causes a change of sttate?
A The margarine loses thermall energy.
B The margarine loses chemicaal energy.
C The margarine gains thermal energy.
D The margarine gains chemicaal energy.

d places it on tthe kitchen cou
unter. Over
28. During the summerr, Chang takes a glass of milk from the reffrigerator and
time, eenergy as heat is transferreed to the milk from the air. W
Which changee would most likely occur?
A The temperature of the milk will increase.
B The temperature of the milk will decrease.
hange from a lliquid to a gass.
C The milk will ch
hange from a lliquid to a solid.
D The milk will ch

29. Allison visits the beeach. She noticces that the icee cubes in herr water bottle melt over thee course of thee day. Which of
describes whaat occurs when
n ice cubes meelt?
the following best d
bes absorb heeat energy from
m the air, and eventually th
he ice cubes m
melt.
A The cold ice cub
bes absorb heeat energy from
m the air, and eventually th
he air freezes.
B The cold ice cub
bes release heeat energy into
o the air, and eeventually thee ice cubes meelt.
C The cold ice cub
bes release heeat energy into
o the air, and eeventually thee air freezes.
D The cold ice cub

nts places the same amountt of water in fo
our identical b
beakers in
30. During a science exxperiment, a grroup of studen
four d
different locatiions in the classroom. The sstudents meassure the temperature of thee water in each
h beaker after
one ho
our. The studeents make thiss graph to sho
ow the results of the experim
ment.

Which con
nclusion is besst supported b
by the results??

bed the most
A The waater in the beaaker by the wiindow absorb
heat en
nergy.
B The waater in the beaaker by the wiindow changeed from one
state too another.
C The waater in the beaaker in the bacck corner did not absorb
any heeat energy.
D The waater in the beaaker in the bacck corner releeased the heatt
energyy it received.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
15|P P M S

hown below, eenergy is convverted from
31. Peyton throws a baaseball at practice. As the baaseball travelss in the path sh
otential energy and from po
otential energyy to kinetic en
nergy.
kinetic energy to po

A
At which poin
nt is the kinetic energy of the baseball at
iits minimum??
A
B
C
D
point W
point X
point Y
point Z
orm and that tthis energy conversion is uttilized in manyy home

32. Will leearns that elecctrical energy can change fo
appliaances. What fo
orm would som
me of the enerrgy take in eveery energy con
nversion?
A lig
ght energy
B so
ound energy
C th
hermal energy
y
D ellectrical energ
gy

ooks with the same mass on
n four shelves of a bookcasee. Each book h
has gravitation
nal potential
33. Noah places four bo
ve the ground..
energy because of its height abov

If each bookk falls from itss position, whiich statement correctly
compares th
he kinetic eneergy of the boo
oks just beforee they hit the
ground?

A They wiill all have zero kinetic enerrgy.
B They wiill all have the same kinetic energy.
C The boook on the top sshelf will havee the greatest k
kinetic
energy.
om shelf will h
have the greattest kinetic
D The boook on the botto
energy.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
16|P P M S
34. When
n Meagan strik
kes her drum, the skin of thee drum movess. The kinetic eenergy of the skin is converrted to sound
energy. Which stateement best exxplains why all of the kineticc energy is NO
OT converted tto sound enerrgy?
A So
ome of the kin
netic energy iss lost as heat.
B The skin of the drum absorbs kinetic energgy.
C Frriction slows tthe movement of the drum skin.
D The kinetic eneergy is convertted to potential energy.

m a diving boarrd.
35. Caroliine dives from

h statement be
est describes the energy co
onversion thatt occurs from tthe moment she dives to th
he moment she
e
Which
hits th
he water?
A En
nergy is gaineed as she movees upward and
d then lost shee moves down
nward.
B En
nergy is lost aas she moves u
upward and th
hen gained as she moves do
ownward.
C Kinetic energy is gained as sh
he moves upw
ward and then
n lost as she moves downwaard.
D Po
otential energ
gy is gained ass she moves up
pward and theen lost as she moves downw
ward.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
17|P P M S
G
Grade 6
6

escribe types of forces inclluding contacct forces and
d forces acting
g at a distancce, such as
electtrical, magnetic, and graviitational.
SC.8.P
P.8.2 Differentiate between
n weight and m
mass recogniziing that weigh
ht is the amou
unt of gravitatiional pull on aan object and
is disstinct from, tho
ough proportiional to, mass.
SC.6.P
P.13.2 Exploree the Law of G
Gravity by reco
ognizing that eevery object eexerts gravitattional force on
n every other o
object and
that tthe force depeends on how m
much mass thee objects havee and how far aapart they aree.
escribe that an unbalanced
d force actingg on an objecct changes itss speed, or dirrection of
motiion, or both.
SC.6.P
P.12.1 Measurre and graph d
distance versu
us time for an object movingg at a constant speed. Interp
pret this relattionship.

Multtiple Choice
wers the questiion.

ox of new socccer balls across the floor. In the followingg picture, the aarrow on the b
box is a vectorr
1. Luis iss pushing a bo
repressenting the force Luis exertted.

n of the arrow represent?
What do the length and direction

he distance an
nd direction off the motion of the box
A. th
B. th
he strength an
nd direction off the force app
plied to the boox
C. th
he motion of the box and the direction of the force app
plied to it
D. th
he strength an
nd direction off the unbalancced force appl ied to the boxx

ket burns fuel to create hot gases that exp
plode violentlyy out of the ro
ocket engine. T
This explosion
n creates
2. A rock
thrustt. Thrust is a fo
orce that push
hes the rockett upward. Whaat force must tthrust overcome in order to
o send a
rockett up into space?
A. grravity acting o
on the rocket
B. grravity acting o
on the explodiing gases
C. frriction betweeen the rocket aand the groun
nd
D. frriction betweeen the rocket aand the explod
ding gases

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
18|P P M S
3. In ord
der for a spacee shuttle to leaave Earth, it m
must produce aa great amoun
nt of thrust. Itss rocket boostters create thiss
thrustting force by b
burning great amounts of fu
uel. However, oonce in space,, the shuttle needs very littlle fuel. It
circless Earth while gravity pulls iit toward Eartth. What term describes thee circular path
h the shuttle m
makes in
space?
A. orbit
B. grravity
C. frree fall
D. weight
w

m of the orbitss of several ob
bjects in spacee.
4. Justin drew the following diagram

nd object B?
What keeeps object A iin orbit aroun

bjects A and B
A. the fforce of gravitty between ob
B. the fforce of gravitty between ob
bjects A and C
C. the fforce of gravitty between ob
bjects A and E
D. the fforce of gravitty between ob
bjects B and X

5. The diagram showss the componeents of motion
n that affect an
n object in orb
bit around a pllanet.

How is the dot
H
tted arrow related to the tw
wo solid arrow
ws?
A.
A It shows th
he path the ob
bject would tak
ke if it had no inertia.
B.
B It shows th
he path the ob
bject would tak
ke if there were no gravity.
C.
C It shows th
he path the ob
bject would tak
ke if the objecct were not in
motion.
D.
D It shows th
he path the ob
bject takes beccause of its mo
otions from
inertia and
d gravity.
uring acceleraation requires the appropriaate units. Scien

ntists measurre acceleration
n using a stand
dardized set of
6. Measu
units tthat are part o
of the SI system
m. Which are SI units for accceleration?
A. N
N
B. m/s
m
C. m/s
m 2
D. kgm/s

uantities are kn
nown as vecto
ors. Acceleratiion is one typee of vector. Which of the folllowing would
d
7. In scieence, some qu
identiify an acceleraation vector?
A.
B.
C.
D.

5 m/s
8 m/s south
5 m/s2
5 m/s2 south
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
19|P P M S
8. Elizab
beth is a wildliife biologist. She traveled by
y boat in the E
Everglades to observe alligaators. The follo
owing graphs
show the motion off her boat at seeveral times d
during the trip
p.

h graph showss her boat trav

veling when itt is not accelerrating?
Which

A. grraph A
B. grraph B
C. grraph C
D. grraph D

box.
9. Imagine a weightlesss box floatingg in space. Thee following piccture shows aall the forces aacting on this b

will this box acccelerate?
In what direction w

C.
A.

B.
D.
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
20|P P M S

The following picture showss all the forcess acting on thiis box.
10. Imagine a box floatiing in space. T

on this box?
What is the vvertical force o

pward
A. 100 N up
B. 50 N upw
ward
C. 50 N upw
ward
D. 100 N upward

n the floor. The following piicture shows aa push and a p
pull acting on tthe box.
11. A box of books is on

box?
What is the net forcce toward the right on the b

A. 0 N
B. 50 N
C. 100 N
D. 2,500 N

wo horizontall forces. One fforce measurees 200 N and th
he other force
e
12. Imaging that a chairr on the floor experiences tw
ures 200 N. W
Which of the fo
ollowing stateements describ
bes what is haappening to th
he object?
measu
A.
B.
C.
D.

The object is m
moving.
The object is no
ot moving.
The objects mo
otion is changging.
The objects mo
otion is not ch
hanging.
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
21|P P M S
13. Two b
balls are falling from the sam
me ledge. One ball falls stra ight down. Th
he other ball iss moving horizzontally when
n
it leav
ves the ledge.

Which
h of the follow
wing statementts describes th
he amount of ttime needed ffor the balls to
o reach the gro
ound?

he ground at th
he same time b
because graviity is the only unbalanced fo
orce acting
A. The balls hit th
on them.
ht down from the ledge hitss the ground fiirst because itt does not
B. The ball that is falling straigh
trravel as far.
C. The ball with m
more mass will hit the groun
nd first becausse it experiencces more acceeleration
due to gravity.
und first becaause it
D. The ball that is moving horizzontally away from the ledgge hits the grou
exxperiences acceleration in b
both direction
ns.

ollowing pictu
ure shows the path followed
d by two balls.. One is dropped from the leedge. The otheer ball is rolled
d
14. The fo
off thee ledge.

dont both ballls fall straightt down?
Why d

he ball that is moving to thee right
A. Th
co
ontinues to experience a forrce in that
diirection.
B. Th
he ball that is moving to thee right keeps
m
moving to the rright until gravvitational
fo
orce acts on it.
he force causin
ng the ball to move to the
C. Th
rigght stops afterr a few second
ds, and then
th
he ball drops sstraight down..
D. Th
he horizontal motion of the ball moving
to
o the right balaances the force of gravity, so
o
th
he ball does no
ot fall as quick
kly.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
22|P P M S
15. During a baseball game, a hitter sstrikes the balll with a bat. W
When this hap
ppens, the ball and the bat each exert a
force on the other. W
Why does the ball acceleratte away from tthe bat more tthan the bat accelerates aw
way from the
ball?

on the ball.
A. The ball has lesss mass, so an equal force caauses greater acceleration o
B. The ball has lesss mass, so it eexerts less force on the bat tthan the bat eexerts on the b
ball.
C. The ball has greater velocity
y before the co
ollision, so forcce affects the b
ball more than
n the bat.
D. The bat exerts more force th
han the ball because the battter is exertingg a force on the bat as it
hits the ball.

wimming racee, Miho swam the first 50 m in 42 s. She sw
wam the seco
ond 50 m in 40
0 s. What was Mihos
16. In a sw
averag
ge speed during the race?
A. 0.82 m/s
B. 1.19 m/s
C. 1.22 m/s
D. 1.25 m/s

17. Joannas family drove 360 km to visit relativess in Jacksonvil le. Joanna recorded the disttance they traaveled each
hour. The entire trip took 8 h.

Whaat was the averrage speed
durin
ng the last 3 h
h of the trip?
A. 4
45 km/h
B. 6
60 km/h
C. 1
120 km/h
D. 1
180 km/h

obcats can reaach speeds of up to 30 mi/h

h. What does tthe speed of a bobcat indicaate?
18. Monteez read that bo
A. th
he time it takees to reach its maximum speeed
B. th
he total amoun
nt of time it trravels in one d
direction
C. th
he distance it ttravels to mov
ve between tw
wo points
D. th
he distance it can travel in aa certain amou
unt of time

Masato hits it.
g his serve forr a tennis matcch. His coach m
measures the speed of the b
ball just after M
19. Masatto is practicing
What does the speeed indicate?
A. how fast the baall is moving
w
the ball movees
B. what direction
C. what distance t
w
the ball has traveled
D. how long the ball takes to reach the net

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
23|P P M S
20. Sita iss on the school diving team. She drew thee diagram beloow to show the path she tak
kes when she d
dives.

21. The fo
ollowing pictu
ure shows an o
object resting on a balance.

When Sita iss at the highest point, she is 12 m above
the pool. Wh
hich of the following does th
his statement
describe?
A. motion
B. path
C. position
D. speed

n the balance??
With what force dooes the object push down on

2
0
A. 0.500 kgm/s
2
B. 4.90 kgm/s
4
2
C. 9.3 kgm/s
9
2
D. 9.8 kgm/s
9

22. The fo
ollowing tablee lists the weigghts and volum
mes of severall items.

Mass

Volume
(g)
Objecct
(cm3)
bowling ball
3,600
5,400
golf baall
60
33
soccerr ball
450
5,400
tenniss ball
60
130

h object has th
he greatest force of gravity acting on it?
Which

A. bowling ball
olf ball
B. go
C. so
occer ball
D. teennis ball

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
24|P P M S
23. The ob
bjects shown in the followin
ng diagrams h
have different masses and aare different distances apartt. Which
diagraam shows the two objects th
hat have the g
greatest forcee of gravity actting between tthem?
A.
B.
C.
D.

24. High aand low tides are the regulaar pattern of rising and sinkking oceanwaater levels. Theey are caused when the
suns gravity and th
he moons grav
vity pull on occean water. Th
he moons graavity has a greater effect on Earths
ns than the sun
ns gravity. Wh
hy would the m
moon have a ggreater effect than the sun??
ocean
A. The moon is no
ot as hot as thee sun.
B. The moon has lless mass than
n Earth.
C. The moon has lless mass than
n the sun.
D. The moon is clo
oser to Earth tthan the sun.

ollowing diagrram shows a satellite in orbit around Eartth.
25. The fo

of the force
Which aarrow shows tthe direction o
that keeeps the satellitte in its circulaar path
around Earth?

ow A
A. arro
B. arro
ow B
C. arro
ow C
D. arro
ow D

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
25|P P M S
Earth Science
FCAT Preparation

G
Grade 8
8

SC.8.E.5.3 Disting
guish the hierrarchical rela
ationships between planetts and other astronomica
al bodies relative to solar
syste
em, galaxy, an
nd universe, including disstance, size, a
and composittion.
SC.8.E
E.5.1 Recognizze that there aare enormous distances bettween objects in space and apply our kno
owledge of ligh
ht and space
traveel to understan
nd this distancce.
SC.8.E
E.5.2 Recognizze that the universe contain
ns many billions of galaxies and that each
h galaxy contaains many billiions of stars.
SC.8.E.5.5 Describ
be and classiffy specific ph
hysical properrties of stars : apparent m
magnitude (brrightness), te
emperature
(colo
or), size, and luminosity (a
absolute brig
ghtness).
SC.8.E
E.5.6 Create m
models of solarr properties in
ncluding: rotation, structuree of the Sun, cconvection, sunspots, solar fflares, and
prom
minences.
SC.8.E.5.7 Comparre and contra
ast the prope
erties of objeccts in the Solaar System inccluding the S
Sun, planets, a
and moons to
o
those
e of Earth, su
uch as gravita
ational force, distance from
m the Sun, sp
peed, movement, tempera
ature, and atm
mospheric
cond
ditions.
SC.8.E
E.5.4 Explore the Law of Un
niversal Gravittation by explaaining the rolee that gravity plays in the fo
ormation of pllanets, stars,
and ssolar systems and in determ
mining their m
motions.
SC.8.E
E.5.8 Comparee various histo
orical models of the Solar Sy
ystem, includiing geocentricc and heliocen
ntric.
SC.8.E.5.9 Explain
n the impact o
of objects in sspace on each
h other inclu
uding: 1. the SSun on the Ea
arth including
g seasons and
d
graviitational attrraction 2. the Moon on the
e Earth, includ
ding phases, tides, and ecclipses, and th
he relative po
osition of
each body.

Multtiple Choice
wers the questiion.

1. Where do shortperriod comets orriginate?

he asteroid beelt
A. th
B. th
he Kuiper Beltt
C. th
he orbit of Jup
piter
D. th
he Oort cloud

picture shows the Kuiper Beelt.
2. This p

uiper Belt?
Approxximately how wide is the Ku

A. 12 AU
B. 25 AU
C. 55 AU
D. 11 0 AU

3. The fo
ollowing tablee shows the deensities of the planets in ourr solar system
m.

Planet
y (g/cm3)
Based on its density, w
which
Density
kind of planet is Uranus?
Mercury
5.4
427
A. gas giant
Venus
5.2
204
B. terresstrial
Earth
5.5
515
C. superrgiant
Mars
3.9
934
Jupiter
1.3
326
D. whitee dwarf
Saturn
0.6
687
Uranus
1.2
290
Neptune
1.6
638

Com

nets surface and
4. Venuss is the hottestt planet in thee solar system. The figure beelow shows paart of the plan
atmossphere.

Why is Veenus so hot?

urface of Venu
us absorbs energy from thee sun.
A. The su
B. The rootation of Ven
nus affects how
w the suns rays enter its
atmossphere.
C. The a tmosphere of
f Venus reflectts heat back do
own to the
surfacce of the planeet.
D. The a tmosphere of
f Venus allowss the suns rayys to go back
n.
into s pace to absorrb more energy from the sun

5. Astron
nomers have ccalculated thee sizes of the p
planets in the ssolar system. T
The graph bellow comparess the
diameeters of the gas giant planetts in the solar ssystem.

h gas giants arre the closest in size?
Which

U
piter
A. Uranus and Jup
B. Ju
upiter and Satturn
C. Saaturn and Nep
ptune
D. Neptune and U
N
Uranus

Com
6. Star sy
ystems are maade up of a sin
ngle star or a ssmall number of stars that o
orbit each oth
her. The table b
below
summ
marizes the number of stars in some star ssystems and ggives exampless of each type of system.

Types of Star
T
Systems
Examp
Number of S
Stars
ple
Type of Star System
Singlee
1
Sun
Binary
y
2
Sirius
Triplee
3
Polariss
Quadrruple
4
Mizar
Quintu
uple
5
Sigma Orionis
Sextup
ple
6
Castor

o have two staars. When a m
more powerfull telescope pro
ovides a better
Carloss is studying aa star system tthat appears to
imagee, he discoverss that one of th
he stars is actu
ually two star s. With which
h other star sysstem would he classify this
system
m?

un
A. su
B. Mizar
M
C. Polaris
D. Castor

ough a powerfful telescope. She wants to
7. Gloriaa is at the obseervatory and is examining aa newly discovvered star thro
find out how brightt the star actuaally is. What in
nformation dooes she need tto calculate the absolute maagnitude of a
star?
olor and temp
perature of thee star
A. co
B. co
olor and comp
position of thee star
C. ap
pparent magn
nitude and distance from Eaarth of the starr
D. co
olor and distance from Eartth of the star

our stars of diffferent colors.. Carly used th
he graph show
wn below to heelp compare
8. The teeacher gave Caarly a list of fo
the staars luminositty.

e
Based on the graph, a star of whicch color most likely has the
lowestt luminosity?

d
A. red
B. blu
ue
C. yelllow
D. wh
hite

Com
9. During a class astronomy project, the teacher displayed a table similar to the one below that relates the color of a
star to its surface temperature.

Temperature and Color of Various Stars
Color
Surface Temperature (K)
Example
blue
Above 25,000
10 Lacertae
bluewhite
10,00025,000
Rigel
white
7,50010,000
Vega
yellowwhite
6,0007,500
Canopus
yellow
5,0006,000
sun
orange
3,5005,000
Aldebaran
red
Below 3,500
Betelgeuse

The teacher gave Kwan a card with the following description of a star:

Star A
6,750 K

Based on the table above, what color should Kwan predict the star will be?

A. red
B. blue
C. orange
D. yellowwhite

10. Ashni is a member of the astronomy club. During a trip to an observatory, the members of the astronomy club
observe several different stars. Ashni records information about some of the stars in her journal. Of the following
four stars, which star should Ashni label as the hottest?
A. Wolf, red
B. Ceti, yellow
C. Cygni B, orange
D. Vega, bluewhite

11. Of the following bodies that orbit the sun, which body has the fastest orbital speed?
A. a dwarf planet between Mars and Jupiter
B. a comet as it nears the sun
C. an asteroid
D. a Kuiper Belt object

12. One w
way that astron
nomers measu
ure distances is by using thee astronomicaal unit (AU), w
which is equal to the average
distan
nce between E
Earth and the ssun. The diagrram below shoows the orbitss of the gas giaant planets.

hest from the ssun?
Which gass giant is farth

A. Jupiterr
B. Neptun
ne
C. Saturn
n
D. Uranus

Florida gets ab
bout 10.5 hours of daylight every day. On
n which gas giant is the lenggth of a day
13. During December, F
aboutt the same as tthe hours of su
unlight in Florrida during Deecember?
Plane
et
Day
Earth
23 h 56 m
min
Jupiteer
9 h 55 m
min
Neptu
une
16 h 7 miin
Saturn
n
10 h 39 m
min
Uranu
us
17 h 24 m
min

upiter
A. Ju
B. Neptune
N
C. Saaturn
D. Uranus
U

of the reason that we are able to live on Earth is the gasses that make up our atmossphere. The diagram below
14. Part o
showss a pie graph o
of the atmosph
heric composiition of a gas ggiant planet.
H
How would a p
pie graph of Eaarths atmosph
here differ
frrom the graph
h of the gas giaant?
A
A. The largestt sections wou
uld be nitrogen
n and oxygen,
not hydroggen and helium
m.
B
B. The largestt sections wou
uld be hydrogeen and
oxygen, nott hydrogen an
nd helium.
C . The helium
m section woulld be bigger, aand the
hydrogen ssection would be smaller.
D
D. The largestt sections wou
uld be carbon dioxide and
oxygen, nott hydrogen an
nd helium.
Com
15. Most p
planets in the solar system have moons. S
Some moons h
have surface ffeatures that aare similar to tthose found
on Earrth, such as acctive volcanoees. Which plan
net has a moon
n with the mo
ost volcanic acctivity in the So
olar System?
A. Earth
upiter
B. Ju
C. Mars
M
D. Saaturn

hout the year is shown in th
he diagram beelow.
16. The tilt of Earth at ffour different times through

At wh
hich point wou
uld the United
d States
receivve the fewestt hours of dayllight?

osition A
A. po
B. po
osition B
C. po
osition C
D. po
osition D

17. Zach iis visiting Hilo
o, Hawaii. He w
wants to collecct seashells, an
nd the local peeople tell him that the best time to collect
shells is at low tide.. According to the diagram b
below, at whaat time should
d Zach collect sshells?

00 a.m.
A. 9:0
B. noon
C. 3:0
00 p.m.
D. 7:0
00 p.m.

w show the aliignment of thee sun, the mooon, and Earth. Which diagraam shows an aalignment in
18. The diagrams below
h neap tides taake place?
which
A.
B.
C.
D.
Com

nomers use caameras on Earrth and in orbit to observe tthe solar systeem and other objects in spaace. Suppose
19. Astron
that a camera on Eaarth takes a piicture of an astronomical evvent. The pictu
ure shows an object that is large, dark,
Which event dooes this picturre most likely
y show?
and haas a bright areea immediatelly around it. W
A. to
otal solar eclip
pse
B. to
otal lunar eclip
pse
C. waning gibbou
w
s moon
D. waxing crescen
w
nt moon

not stationaryy. Rather, theyy are moving aat a rapid speeed. The
20. Space bodies, such as Earth and iits moon, are n
diagraams below sho
ow the relativ
ve movements of the sun (S)), Earth (E), an
nd the moon ((M). Which diaagram best
repressents the motion of Earth an
nd the moon, relative to thee sun?
A.
C.
B.
D.

21. Astron
nomers use th
he lightyear to
o describe thee relationship between objeects in space. F
For example, tthe
Andro
omeda galaxy is 2.5 million lightyears fro
om Earth. Whiich of the follo
owing units is most similarr to the
lighty
year?
A. grram
B. seecond
C. kilometer
D. degrees Celsiuss

un is much larrger than the m
moon. Howeveer, as viewed from Earth, th
he sun and mo
oon appear to be the same
22. The su
size. W
Why do the sun and moon aappear to be th
he same size w
when viewed ffrom Earth?
A. The moon is much hotter thaan the sun.
B. The moon is m
T
much denser th
han the sun.
C. The moon is much brighter tthan the sun.
D. The moon is much closer to E
Earth than thee sun.

Com
23. Space exploration h

has advanced our knowledgge of the univeerse. Which sp
pace journey w
would take thee longest?
A. a journey from Earth to the ssun
moon
B. a journey from Earth to the m
C. a journey from Earth to a staar in the consttellation Centaaurus
une
D. a journey from Earth to the ffarthest planet in our solar system, Neptu

dust. This mattter must be h
held together o
or the galaxy w
will break apaart. What is
24. A galaaxy contains sttars, gas, and d
responsible for hold
ding the stars,, gas, and dustt together in aa galaxy?
A. heat
B. light
C. grravity
D. frriction

95, the Hubblee Space Telesccope photograaphed a tiny sp
pot in the sky for a period o
of ten days; 34
42 exposures
25. In 199
were p
placed together to create an
n image know
wn as the Hubb
ble Deep Field
d. Although thee sample is tin
ny, it is
repressentative of th
he universe, w
which looks sim
milar in all dirrections. The image below sshows a collection of billions
of starrs. The Hubblee Deep Field sshows at least 3,000 groupss of these starss.

Which term
m describes thiis group of staars?

A. moon
B. galaxy
C. universee
D. solar syystem

hows the rotattion of the sun
n.
26. The figure below sh

n different frrom the rotatio
on of Earth?
How is the rotaation of the sun

A.. The parts oof the sun rotaate at differentt speeds and tthe parts of
Earth rotatte at the same speed.
B.. The suns eequator rotatees faster than iits poles and E
Earths
han its poles.
equator rottates slower th
C.. The suns p
poles rotate faster than its eequator and Eaarths poles
rotate slow
wer than its equator.
D. The parts oof the sun rotaate in differentt directions an
nd the parts off
Earth all rootate in the sam
me direction.

Com
27. In convection, hot gases rise through cooler gases as they travel to the top of the convective zone. Once they reach
the top of the convective zone, they cool. What happens to these gases next?
A. They create sunspots.
B. They sink back down.
C. They give off energy in solar flares.
D. They begin the process of nuclear fusion.

28. Convection cells in the suns convective zone carry energy from the top of the radiative zone to the photosphere.
In convection cells, hot gases rise to the photosphere, cool, and then sink back into the convective zone. What
causes the transfer of energy in this process?
A. the absorption and reemission of electromagnetic waves
B. the condensation of hot gas into liquid
C. the movement of matter
D. the process of nuclear fusion

29. Diana is explaining centripetal force to some younger students. Which example illustrates the concept of
centripetal force?
A. Centripetal force is a force that makes a body follow a curved path.
B. Centripetal force is a force that makes objects move in straight lines.
C. Centripetal force is a force that is directed away from a center of rotation.
D. Centripetal force is a force in which a smaller body acts gravitationally on a larger body.

30. Cara is explaining to her sister how the solar system formed. Which description would she use to explain the solar
nebula?
A. a rotating cloud of dust and gas
B. a disk of material surrounding a young star
C. a small body from which planets form
D. a rocky core surrounded by a deep atmosphere of gas and ice

31. Eric is creating a timeline of the formation of the solar system. Which flow chart best describes the formation of
the solar system?
A. solar nebula protostellar disk nuclear fusion sun planetesimals planets
B. solar nebula protostellar disk nuclear fusion planetesimals planets sun
C. protostellar disk nuclear fusion sun solar nebula planetesimals planets
D. solar nebula nuclear fusion sun planets planetesimals protostellar disk

32. Aristo
otle thought th
hat all objects in the universse move aroun
nd Earth. One astronomer d
developed a m
model based on
n
matheematical calcu
ulations that su
upported Arisstotles theoryy. This model is shown below
w.

del to supportt Aristotles th
heory of the
Who develloped this mod
universe?

A. Aristarrchus
B. Copern
nicus
C. Galileoo
D. Ptolem
my

w shows parallax.

From whicch viewing possition does thee star appear to be in the
black squaare?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

34. Aristo
otle thought th
hat if Earth weere moving, hee would see th
he positions off the stars chaange as Earth m
moved.
Howeever, he could not observe p
parallax, which
h is the appareent shift in thee position of aan object, such
h as a star,
when viewed from different posiitions. How miight Aristotle have interpreeted this probllem?
A. Earth is not mo
oving.
B. The stars are very far away.
C. Parallax is undetectable to th
he naked eye.
O
d to change po
osition to view
w parallax.
D. Observers need

different locatiions on Earth.. The distancees of the stars from Earth
35. An asttronomer observes four staars from two d
are sh
hown in the table below.

Star
onomer observve the
Distance from Earth in astronomiccal units F or which star will the astro
U)
grreatest paralllax?
(AU
1
4.2
A
A. 1
2
6.8
8
B
B. 2
3
3.4
4
4
10.4
C
C. 3
D
D. 4

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
10|P P M S
Grade 7

SC.7.E.6.2 Identify the patterns within the rock cycle and relate them to surface events (weathering and erosion) and
subsurface events (plate tectonics and mountain building).
SC.7.E.6.6 Identify the impact that humans have had on Earth, such as deforestation, urbanization, desertification, erosion, air
and water quality, changing the flow of water.
SC.6.E.6.1 Describe and give examples of ways in which Earth? s surface is built up and torn down by physical and chemical
weathering, erosion, and deposition.
SC.6.E.6.2 Recognize that there are a variety of different landforms on Earth? s surface such as coastlines, dunes, rivers,
mountains, glaciers, deltas, and lakes and relate these landforms as they apply to Florida.
SC.7.E.6.4 Explain and give examples of how physical evidence supports scientific theories that Earth has evolved over
geologic time due to natural processes.
SC.7.E.6.3 Identify current methods for measuring the age of Earth and its parts, including the law of superposition and
radioactive dating.
SC.7.E.6.5 Explore the scientific theory of plate tectonics by describing how the movement of Earths crustal plates
causes both slow and rapid changes in Earths surface, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain
building.
SC.7.E.6.1 Describe the layers of the solid Earth, including the lithosphere, the hot convecting mantle, and the dense metallic
liquid and solid cores.
SC.7.E.6.7 Recognize that heat flow and movement of material within Earth causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and
creates mountains and ocean basins.

Multiple Choice

1. When Daniel was studying for his Earth Science class, he asked his friend Cesar to quiz him about the rock cycle.
Cesar presented Daniel with a scenario. Imagine that a large area of sedimentary rock gets moved deeper into
Earths crust through tectonic plate movement. There, rising temperatures and high pressure change the rock.
Eventually the rock melts from the high temperatures and pressure. After some time in those conditions, there is
a time of cooling. Cesar asked Daniel to predict what kind of rock there will be at the end of all these steps. What
should Daniel predict?
A. magma
B. igneous rock
C. sedimentary rock
D. metamorphic rock


w shows one w
way that wind ccan affect sand
d.

don is building
g a model of how wind erosion can affect steps of the rrock cycle. He w
wants to show
w how sand ass
Brand
shown
n in the diagraam could be m
moved from place to place. H
His materials aare a long shallow wooden box, a bucket
of san
nd, a shovel, an
nd a batteryoperated fan. H
How could he model the pro
ocess of wind eroding sand to get the
resultt shown in thee diagram?
A. Sp
pread the sand through thee box, aim the fan at the sand
d, and use thee shovel to kno
ock down
an
ny peaks that form.
B. Sp
pread the sand through thee box; shape it with the shovvel to start, an
nd aim the fan towards
th
he sand so it m
moves the sand
d from one plaace to anotherr.
C. Sp
pread the sand through thee box, shape it into dunes wiith the shovel,, and aim the ffan towards
th
he external ed
dges of the boxx so it does not affect the sa nd.
h the shovel, aand place the fan inside
D. Sp
pread the sand through thee box, dig one d
deep hole with
th
he hole so thatt most of the ssand is not afffected by the aair motion.

n Raul went on
n a road trip w
with his family
y, they drove th
hrough some dramatic mou
untain chains in a national
3. When
park. Raul wanted tto understand
d how mountains form, so h
he did some reeading about m
mountain build
ding. Once he
ocess of mounttain building, he could makke an inferencee about what h
happened in tthat national
underrstood the pro
park m
millions of yeaars ago. What must have happened in thee national parkk?
A. Erosion must h
have moved all the surround
ding rock to exxpose the rockk that remains to make
up the mountaiin chain.
ust must have collided with
h each other, aand one of the plates was
B. Tectonic platess in Earths cru
pushed far up aabove the otheer one.
W
ust have occurrred to break down all the rrock that was surrounding tthe hard
C. Weathering mu
ro
ock that remains to make up
p the mountaiin chain.
D. Tectonic platess in the Earthss crust must h
have slowly erroded over tim
me, exposing th
he
reemaining rock
k that currentlly makes up th
he mountain cchain.

hrough erosion when riverss carrying largge amounts off sediments brroken down frrom various
4. River deltas form th
where the riverr meets the occean. Sediments can providee a diversity o
of minerals and
d
rocks deposit them in the area w
nutrieents to the soills where the ssediments are deposited. Deelta regions arre located in several places around the
world
d. What can yo
ou predict about the charactteristics of theese delta regio
ons?
A. The delta regio
ons should hav
ve fertile soil aand successfull agriculture.
B. The delta regio
ons should hav
ve poor quality
y soil that can
nnot support aagriculture.
C. The delta regio
ons should exp
perience frequ
uent subsurfaace events thaat influence thee rock cycle
in
n those places.
D. The delta regio
ons should exp
perience moun
ntain buildingg as more and more sedimen
nts are
deposited in th
he delta region
n.
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
12|P P M S

ng can break d
down Earths ssurface just ass physical weaathering can. W
When Taylor w
was working
5. Chemical weatherin
whether acid rrain could havve a negative impact on builldings that
for a cchemistry lab, she wanted to determine w
were constructed frrom different types of rock. She wanted tto compare slaate, a metamo
orphic rock, an
nd granite, an
us rock. She decided to com
mplete the follo
owing steps.
igneou
on A, acidic w
1) Shee set up four conditions thatt she could mo
onitor over tim
me. In conditio
water is applied
d to slate. In
condittion B, neutral water is applied to slate. In condition C,, acidic water is applied to ggranite. In con
ndition D,
neutraal water is app
plied to granitte.
2) After continuouss application ffor several mo
onths, Taylor p
planned to com
mpare the chaanges that took
k place in
condittions B and D to determine whether acidic rain has a sttronger effectt on one of theese types of ro
ock.
Taylors experimen
nt has a flaw. W
What is wrongg with her exp erimental dessign, and whatt is the best op
ption for
oving it?
impro
A. Comparing con
nditions B and
d D will not giv
ve any informaation about ho
ow acid rain aaffects the
ocks. Taylor sh
hould comparre conditions A
A and C to seee how acidity aaffects the two
o kinds of
ro
ro
ocks differently.
B. Comparing con
nditions B and
d D will not giv
ocks. Taylor sh
A and B to seee which changges are due to aacidity
ro
raather than to o
other changess that can be caused by wateer.
C. Comparing con
nditions B and
d D will not giv
ocks. Taylor sh
hould completely redesign her experime nt to look at rreal buildings made of
ro
sllate and granite that have existed for diffferent amountts of time.
D. Comparing con
nditions B and
d D will not giv
ocks. Taylor sh
A and C, and m
make sure thatt those resultss differ from
ro
B and D to be sure that the ch
hanges are du
ue to acidity raather than oth
her changes th
hat can be
caaused by wateer.

6. One principle used by scientists tto understand
d how the Eartth has changed
d over time is called uniform
mitarianism.
Which
h of the follow
wing statementts best supports the princip
ple of uniform
mitarianism?
A. Volcanoes happ
V
pen in the preesent, and volccanoes happen
ned in a similaar way in the p
past.
B. Crustal folding does not happ
pen in the preesent, so it is u
unlikely to havve occurred in
n the past.
W
happens in thee present, but wind erosion
n might have w
worked in a diffferent way
C. Wind erosion h
in
n the past.
D. Water erosion
W
does not chan
nge very much
h on Earth tod
day, so it is uniimportant to cconsider
water erosion w
w
when studying the history o
of changes on Earth.

ng different fo
ossils in differeent layers of rock in Earthss crust can pro
ovide physicall evidence abo
out how Earth
7. Findin
has ch
hanged over tiime. The diagrram below sho
ows fossils in different rockk layers.

Baased on the diagram, which is the best
staatement abou
ut how Earth h
has changed
ovver time?

Earth have nott
A. The organisms living on E
changed oveer time.
hs surface
B. The temperaature on Earth
changed witth each new ro
ock layer.
C. Different kin
nds of organissms have lived
d
in different periods of Earrths history.
D.. The sedimen
nts that are co
ompressed
and cemented into sedimentary rock
have changeed over time.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
13|P P M S

ollowing map shows the Paccific Ocean. It is marked witth squares thaat show the location of some planned
8. The fo
field sstudies.

Rosa was part of a team that waas planning to collect
ples of rock layyers from the ocean floor in
n the 8 marked
d
samp
locattions. She wan
nted to study n
natural changees in Earths
by looking at ffeatures of invvertebrates
climaate over time b
livingg on Earth oveer time. She w
was planning to
o use
inverrtebrates that were fossilizeed in amber ass physical
evideence, because that way she could study th
heir entire
bodyy rather than ju
ust the hard p
parts that beco
ome fossilized
d
in sed
dimentary rocck. Why is looking for organ
nisms
fossillized in amberr NOT a good idea?

Amber does no
ot fossilize wh
hole organisms, so it is not a
a
A. A
ggood choice for the planned study.

B. A
Amber only fosssilizes verteb
brate organism
ms, so it is nott
aa good choice ffor the planneed study.
C. A
Amber is hardeened sap from
m trees, so the planned
oocean field sitees probably w
wont have amb
ber in the rock
k
th
here.
D. A
Amber can onlly fossilize in aair, not in watter, so the
p
planned ocean
n field sites pro
obably will no
ot have amber
in
n the rock theere.

haracteristics of mountainss can be used aas physical eviidence of how
w Earth has changed over long periods of
9. The ch
time. W
When mountaains are youngg and have reccently formed,, they have jaggged edges an
nd high peaks. Since
weath
hering and ero
osion are constantly changin
ng Earths surrface, which off the followingg are differencces between
young
g and old mountain ranges?
A. Young mountai
Y
ins have moree organisms liv
ving on them than older mo
ountains do.
B. Young mountai
Y
ins have tall jaagged peaks, aand older mou
untains have lo
d peaks.
ower rounded
C. Young mountai
Y
ins have lower rounded peaaks, and olderr mountains haave tall jagged
d peaks.
D. Young mountai
Y
ins have moree fossilized orgganisms insid e of them than
n older mounttains do.

was consideriing attending aa presentation
n by a famous geologist. E
Evan could no
ot remember w
what the
10. Evan w
geolog
gist was going
g to talk aboutt, but he saw aa poster adverrtising the presentation. Thee poster preseented
inform
mation about h
how folding an
nd faulting can
n change laye rs of rocks, ho
ow volcanoes release magm
ma to Earths
surfacce, and how w
weathering and
d erosion breaak down partss of Earths surrface. After reading the postter, Evan has a
good iidea of what the talk is abou
ut. Based on th
he poster, whiich concept is most likely to
o be the topic of the
geolog
gists presentaation?
A. Landforms chaange over timee.
ms can tell us about Earths history.
B. Living organism
how life on Eaarth has changged over time..
C. The fossil recorrd can tell us h
D. The compositio
on of sedimen
ntary rock variies throughou
ut Earths histo
ory.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
14|P P M S

w shows a strik
keslip fault, w
where two plattes of Earths ccrust are movving in parallell but opposite
e
directtions.

ment can causse
This type of teectonic movem
earthquakes. What is the best explanatio
on for how the
e
hown in the diagram can leaad to
movement sh
earthquakes??

A. Stress buiilds as the roccks become beent and folded,
and eventtually energy iis released as an
earthquakke.
B. Compresssion stress inccreases as the rocks press
towards eeach other, and eventually rreleases
energy ass an earthquak
ke.
C. Shear streess causes eneergy to build aas the rocks
slide pastt each other, and the energyy is eventually
released aas an earthquaake.
D. Tension sstress increasees as the rockss are pulled
apart from
m each other, and eventuallly energy is
released aas an earthquaake.

map below sho
ows the locatio
ons of tectonicc plates aroun
nd the globe.
12. The m

hs surface to ooccur very quiickly. Based on the map and
d the
Earthquakes can caause major chaanges to Earth
uakes in which
h of the follow
wing places is an earthquak
ke most likely
y
princiiples of how teectonic plates cause earthqu
to occcur?
A. in
n Antarctica
B. in
n the center off the Eurasian Plate
C. in
n the center off the Pacific Occean
D. allong the edgess of the Philippine Plate and
d the Eurasian
n Plate

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
15|P P M S

w shows two piieces of the Eaarths crust, w
with arrows ind
dicating the direction they aare moving.

nt of tectonic plates can buiild up stress
The movemen
that causes ch
hanges in Eartths surface. W
What type of
stress is causeed when tecto
onic plates mo
ove as shown
in the diagram
m?

A. tension
p
B. strikeslip
C. shear streess
D. compresssion

or their earth sscience test. T
They were focu
using on wayss that the movvement of
14. Mark and Kevin weere studying fo
nic plates can change the Eaarths surface. Mark was havving trouble u
understandingg the concept o
of uplift, so
tecton
Kevin offered to quiz him on wheether differentt examples of movements in
n Earths crust were examp
ples of this
process. Which of th
he following is an example of the processs of uplift?
A. Old crust on th
O
e ocean floor is destroyed aas it moves doownward into a deep ocean trench.
B. Volcanic erupti
V
ions deposit n
new rock on Eaarths surface,, eventually fo
orming a moun
ntain.
C. Two plates scraape against eaach other as th
hey move in paarallel but opp
posite directio
ons at a
trransform boun
ndary.
D. When two ocea
W
anic plates colllide, one oceaanic plate sinkks deep undern
neath the otheer.

he result of diffferent kinds o
of tectonic plaate movement.
15. Many of the variablle characteristtics of Earths surface are th
ds each other, away from eaach other, or p
past each otherr. Each of thesse movementss
Tectonic plates can move toward
m refers to the
e
causes stress that can change thee shape of the rock along thee edges of thee plates. What scientific term
ks can changee shape as a reesult of stress??
varietty of ways rock
A. fo
olding
B. deformation
ompression
C. co
D. ellastic rebound
d

worked for a cconservation aagency that w
was trying to im
mprove local w
water quality. She had disco
overed a
16. Sofia w
chemiical in the grou
undwater of tthe local aquifeer that matcheed the wastess of a local facttory, suggestin
ng that there
was a leak somewh
here at the facttory. If her ageency worked w
with the factory to find the location of thee leak, they
d improve the water quality
y. What is the tterm for this ttype of pollution?
could control it and
hermal pollutiion
A. th
B. biological pollu
ution
ollution
C. pointsource po
D. nonpointsourcce pollution

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
16|P P M S
17. The grraph below sh

hows how the population off Los Angeles, California, ch
hanged in the 1
1900s.

of a city increaases, human acctivity can imp
pact the Earth
h in many wayys. Based on th
he graph, whatt
As thee population o
can yo
ou conclude ab
bout how the land space in Los Angeles cchanged durin
ng this period of time?
A. Most of the lan
M
urned into nattural areas.
d space was tu
B. Most of the lan
M
d space was tu
urned into rurral areas.
C. More natural la
M
and space wass covered by h
human structu
ures.
D. Less natural lan
nd space was covered by hu
uman structurres.

n soil becomess very dry, win
nd can cause h
huge dust stor ms that erodee the soil. The roots of plantts can reduce
18. When
the drrying out of so
oil and can help keep it in pllace. Which staatement best explains how
w human activiity could
contriibute to soil errosion?
A. When people fa
W
arm the land, it is impossiblle to avoid oveerfarming thee soil such thaat it
becomes pollutted and new p
plants cant gro
ow there.
W
use careful farm
ming practices, it is possibl e to maintain healthy soil such that it
B. When people u
will allow new
w
plants to grow
w there, and th
hus avoid ero sion.
C. When people o
W
overuse land b
by removing tthe natural plaants and then overfarmingg the soil so
new plants can
nt grow there,, it is easier for soil to dry ou
ut and erode.
D. When people fa
W
arm the land, it is impossiblle to avoid oveerfarming thee soil such thaat new
plants cant gro
ow there, mak
king it easier fo
or soil to dry oout and erodee.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
17|P P M S
19. Ariana was studying data about the thickness of Earths crust. She had crust thickness measurements for many
individual locations. She was confused because it varied a lot. In some places, the crust was 510 km thick, and in
other places, the crust was 3570 km thick. To understand this difference, she began to plot her data points onto a
map of the world. As she plotted more and more of her data, she noticed a trend. Her data is presented below.

THICKNESS OF EARTHS CRUST IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
Data Point Location (Ocean Basin or Continent)
Thickness (km)
A
Continent
62
B
Continent
45
C
Ocean Basin
7
D
Continent
55
E
Ocean Basin
5
F
Ocean Basin
9

What generalization can Ariana make about the thickness of Earths crust?
A. The crust is thicker in the ocean basins than the continents.
B. The crust is thicker in the continents than in the ocean basins.
C. There is no trend to how the thickness of Earths crust varies.
D. The crust is not as thick as the other layers that make up Earth.

20. Eduardo was learning about the layers of Earth and he was having difficulty understanding the difference
between Earths crust and Earths lithosphere. Which statement best describes the difference between the crust
and the lithosphere?
A. The lithosphere contains both the crust and the uppermost rigid layer of the mantle.
B. The crust contains both the lithosphere and the uppermost rigid layer of the mantle.
C. The lithosphere is located beneath the crust, and contains the uppermost rigid layer of the
mantle.
D. The crust is located beneath the lithosphere, and contains the uppermost rigid layer of the
mantle.

21. The characteristics of Earth vary from its surface to its core. When scientists try to map this variation to make
models of Earth, they must decide what kinds of variation are important. What are the two kinds of variation from
Earths surface to its core that scientists use to model the layers that make up Earths structure?
A. age and chemical composition
B. state of matter and physical properties
C. chemical composition and physical properties
D. tectonic plate distribution and physical properties

22. Carbo
on14, a radioaactive isotope of carbon, can
n be used for rradioactive daating, or meassuring the age of some
thingss on Earth that contain carb
bon. The diagram below shoows what happ
pens when carrbon14 decayys over time.

d carbon14 arre found in orrganic materiaals, such as plaants and anim
mals. Carbon12, a stable
Both ccarbon12 and
form o
of carbon, is itts most comm
mon isotope. Caarbon12 doess not decay ovver time. When
n plants and aanimals are
alive, they take in b
both kinds of ccarbon. When plants and an
nimals die, onlyy the radioacttive isotopes in their cells
hich of the folllowing is the b
best descriptiion about whaat happens to both the carbon12 and the
e
begin to change. Wh
ganism after itt dies?
carbon14 in an org

he same over time.
A. The amounts of carbon12 and carbon14 will remain th
B. The amount of carbon12 wiill remain the same over tim
me, but the am
mount of carbo
on14 will
in
ncrease over ttime.

C. The amount of carbon12 wiill remain the same over tim
me, but the am
mount of carbo
on14 will
decrease over ttime.
ver time, but th
he amount of carbon14 wiill remain
D. The amount of carbon12 wiill decrease ov
th
he same over ttime.

wn in the diagrram below and
d wanted to kn
now the age of
23. A geollogist collected the section of threelayerred rock show
the middle section.

middle layer co
ontains fossilss of organismss called ammo nites. Rachelss lab group haas been studyiing how
The m
ammo
onite species cchanged over ttime. They ideentified fossilss of ammonitees that formed
d at different p
periods of
Earths history as particular speccies. Many of tthese fossils m
meet the requirrements of beeing used as in
ndex fossils.
How ccould Rachelss group be mo
ost helpful to the geologist??
A. They could identify the fossils and tell the geologist wheen that speciees of ammonite lived. This
tiime period wo
ould be later th
han when the rock layer forrmed.
B. They could identify the fossils and tell the geologist wheen that speciees of ammonite lived. This
tiime period wo
ould be the sam
me as when th
he rock layer fformed.
C. They could say
y whether the type of rock in
n the middle laayer was com
mmonly associaated with
am
mmonite fossils. This would
d tell the geolo
ogist whetherr the ammonittes lived when
n the rock
laayer formed.
D. They could say
y whether the type of rock in
n the middle laayer was com
mmonly associaated with
am
mmonite fossils. This would
d tell the geolo
ogist whetherr the fossils weere actually am
mmonites
raather than ano
other kind of o
organism.
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 1
19|P P M S
24.
25.
26.
27.

was studying aan organism th
hat lived long ago in Earthss history. He w
was trying to cchoose a meth
hod to
Luis w
determ
mine when this organism liv
ved. He thougght that radioaactive dating b
based on carbo
on decay wou
uld work well,
becau
use he was working with thee remains of o
organisms. Speecifically, he w
was using fossiils found in layyers of rock.
What is wrong with
h this plan?
R
bon is not a go
ood way to datte the remainss of organismss.
A. Radioactive da
ting with carb
B. Radioactive da
R
ting with carb
bon can only b
be used for rel ative dating, n
not for absolute dating.
C. Once organic re
O
emains have b
become fossiliized there is n
no way to know
w when they llived on
Earth.
O
emains have b
become fossiliized they can n
no longer be d
dated by cond
ducting
D. Once organic re
raadioactive datting with carbon.

nks as the warrmer rock
Earths mantle conttains solid rocck that is very hot and flowss slowly. The ccooler rock sin
rises b
because of diffferences in deensity. What iss the scientificc term for this type of moveement?
A. teectonics
B. co
onvection
C. co
ontinental drift
D. seeafloor spreaading

hew was learning about the layers of Eartth in his sciencce class. When
n he learned th
hat under Earrths crust is
Matth
an eno
ormous amou
unt of hot moltten rock, he w
wondered why volcanoes do
o not occur eveerywhere morre frequently.
If hot rock rises, wh
hy dont volcan
noes happen aall the time?
A. Hot molten roc
H
ck that rises th
hrough the maantle is not thee source of maagma that flow
ws from a
volcano.
H
ck does not cau
use volcanoess because the h
hot molten ro
ock sinks whilee the cooler
B. Hot molten roc
ro
ock rises.
C. Hot molten roc
H
ck that rises th
hrough the maantle continuees rising as a vvolcano when there are
crracks in Earth
hs crust or thee crust is very thin.
D. Hot molten roc
H
ck that rises th
hrough the maantle continuees rising as a vvolcano only iff there is a
laarge earthquak
ke that exerts extra upward
d force on the rock.

w shows the foccus, epicenterr, seismic wavves, and fault liine of a cross section of the lithosphere
The diagram below
g an earthquaake.
during

Earthquaakes occur when large
blocks of
f Earths lithossphere
suddenlyy move, releasiing a lot of
energy. W
Which letter on
n the diagram
marks thee point wheree this first
movemen
nt actually occcurs, and whatt
is this point called?

A. Letterr A; focus
B. Letterr B; epicenter
C. Letterr C; focus
D. Letterr D; epicenter

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
20|P P M S

w shows a cross section of Eaarths layers. A
Arrows show the direction of the flow of
f rock in the
outer layers of Eartth.

ment of rock iin Earths crusst can occur beecause of heatt flow, as hot rrock rises and
d cool rock sinks, and
Movem
becau
use of new rock pushing older rock away from ridges. W
What is the be
est description
n of how the o
older rock
movess to allow continents to mov
ve apart, leaviing behind oceean basins?
A. As new rock fo
A
rms at ocean rridges, the old
der rock is pullled towards tthe ridge. Thiss moves
Earths crust, so continental plates can mo
ove closer togeether, formingg ocean basinss.
A
der rock is pusshed up to forrm mountain rranges.
B. As new rock fo
These mountaiin ranges push
h continental p
plates farther apart, leavingg behind ocean
n basins.
C. As new rock fo
A
der rock is pusshed away fro
om the ridge. T
This moves
ove farther apart, leaving beehind ocean basins.
A
der rock is pusshed away fro
om the ridge. T
This moves
D. As new rock fo
ove closer togeether, formingg ocean basinss.

n magma reach
hes Earths surrface it cools aand becomes llava. The coolled lava can bu
uild up in layeers over time
29. When
as mo
ore magma reaaches Earths ssurface in repeated volcanicc eruptions. T
This cooled lavva can form a vvariety of
volcan
nic mountainss. The type of v
volcanic moun
ntain that form
ms depends on
n how resistan
nt the lava is tto flowing.
What describes how
w resistant a liquid material is to flowingg?
A. porosity
B. viiscosity
C. progression
ompression
D. co

way in the univ
verse in an und
discovered loccation, there iis a planet verry similar to Eaarth.
30. Imagine that far aw
of this planet iis not very hott, and its manttle is uniformly cool rock. T
Temperature d
differences
Howeever, the core o
influence the movem
ment of materrials within Eaarth. A planet with a cool m
mantle should eexperience diffferent levels
ould this be most likely to in
nfluence activvity on this plaanets surface??
of actiivity on its surrface. How wo
A. This planet would still experrience movem
ment of geologiic features, such as volcanoees,
eaarthquakes, an
nd mountain b
building.
B. Iff the mantle diid not have co
ool rock sinkin
ng and hot rocck rising, theree would be eveen more
volcanic eruptiions, earthquaakes, and mou
untain buildingg.
ool rock sinkin
ng and hot rocck rising, theree would not bee hot
C. Iff the mantle diid not have co
magma rising t
m
to the surface as volcanic erruptions, but ttectonic platess would still m
move past
eaach other caussing earthquaakes and moun
ntain building s.
D. Iff the mantle diid not have co
ool rock sinkin
ng and hot rocck rising, theree would not bee hot
magma rising t
m
to the surface as volcanic erruptions, and tthe flow respo
onsible for mo
oving the
teectonic plates would not occcur, so the con
ntinents woul d probably reemain in one lo
ocation.
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
21|P P M S
G
Grade 6
6

SC.6.E.7.4 Differen
ntiate and sh
how interactions among th
he geospheree, hydrospherre, cryospherre, atmosphe
ere, and
biosp
phere.
SC.6.E
E.7.2 Investigaate and apply how the cycling of water beetween the attmosphere and
d hydrospheree has an effectt on weather
patteerns and climaate.
SC.6.E
E.7.3 Describee how global p
patterns such aas the jet streaam and ocean
n currents influ
uence local weeather in meaasurable termss
such as temperature, air pressurre, wind direction and speed, and humidiity and precip
pitation.
SC.6.E
E.7.6 Differentiate between
n weather and climate.
SC.6.E
E.7.9 Describee how the com
mposition and structure of th
he atmospherre protects lifee and insulatess the planet.
SC.6.E.7.5 Explain
n how energy
y provided by
y the sun influ
uences globall patterns of atmosphericc movement a
and the
temp
perature diffe
erences betw
ween air, wate
er, and land.
SC.6.E
E.7.1 Differentiate among raadiation, cond
duction, and co
onvection, thee three mechaanisms by which heat is tran
nsferred
throu
ugh Earth? s ssystem.

Multtiple Choice
wers the questiion.

ontinent of An
ntarctica is cov
vered with an ice sheet. Wh
hich part of thee Earth system
m includes thee ice sheet?
1. The co

A. biosphere
B. crryosphere
C. hydrosphere
D. attmosphere

g things in the biosphere intteract with oth
her parts of th
he Earth systeem to exchange energy. Whiich picture

2. Living
repressents the basic source of en
nergy for the b
biosphere?

B.
A.
C.
D.

hows the amo
ount of Earthss freshwater in
n several kind
ds of locations.
3. The table below sh

Estimated vol
E
lume (km3) About what percentage off groundwaterr is all the
Sourcce
water combineed?
other freshw
Groun
ndwater
8,000,0
000
A. 0.02%
%
Lakes
125
5,000
B. 0.2%
Atmossphere
13,000
Wetlands
11,500
C. 2.0%
Riverss
1,000
D. 20.0%
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
22|P P M S

of the geospheere.
4. The picture below sshows a view of the layers o

Aboutt how thick is Earths mantlle?

A. 40 km
B. 2,,900 km
C. 3,,500 km
D. 6,,440 km

w shows the gaases that makee up the air w
we breathe.
5. The pie chart below

n is there in th
w many times more nitrogen
he air than oxyygen?
About how

A. about 2 times moree
B. about 4 times moree
C. about 5 times moree
D. about 6 times moree

n trees die, theey often fall on
n the ground aand decomposse. Which partt of the Earth ssystem includes dead and
6. When
decom
mposed trees??
A. biosphere
B. geeosphere
C. attmosphere
D. hydrosphere

hows the comp
position of airr.
7. The grraph below sh

Which two gas
W
ses represent tthe smallest p
parts of the composition of aair?

A.
A oxygen and nitrogen
B.
B water vapo
or and oxygen
n
C.
C carbon dio
oxide and oxyggen
D.
D water vapo
or and carbon
n dioxide

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
23|P P M S
8. Leann
ne created the following diaagram to show
w the process tthat warms th
he air above a llake. She decid
ded to label
each sstep with the eenergy transfeer that is happ
pening.

Which
h step should Leanne label cconduction?

A. sttep 1
B. sttep 2
C. sttep 3
D. sttep 4

w, the snow can be heated raapidly. When this happens, the snow can
n change
9. If a waarm wind passes over snow
directtly into water vapor without first becomin
ng liquid wateer. What is thee correct term
m for this proceess?
A. deposition
vaporation
B. ev
C. melting
m
D. su
ublimation

da beaches aree known for th
heir white sand, clear ocean
n water, and paalm trees. A picture of a Flo
orida beach is
10. Florid
shown
n below.

hich elements sseen would bee adding
Wh
he atmospheree?
watter vapor to th
A.
B.
C.
D.

palm trees on
nly
ocean water o
only
ocean water aand sand
palm trees, occean water, an
nd sand
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
24|P P M S
11. Wheth
her you live in
n a tropical clim
mate, a tempeerate climate, or a polar clim
mate, you sharre something w
with the rest
of the worldyourr climate is infl
fluenced by the latitude wheere you live. W
Which best describes why laatitudes closer
mates?
to the equator havee warmer clim
A. Latitudes closeer to the equattor are at loweer elevations tthan latitudes away from th
he equator.
ore solar energgy than latitud
des away from
m the
B. Latitudes closeer to the equattor receive mo
quator.
eq
C. Latitudes closeer to the equattor are nearer to ocean currrents than latiitudes away frrom the
quator.
eq
D. Latitudes closeer to the equattor get more w
wind carrying energy in the form of heat tthan
laatitudes away from the equaator.

he weather wh
here Cheyennee lives was coool. When the ttemperature d
did warm, Cheeyenne noticed
d
12. For seeveral days, th
that itt was also very
y windy. How could winds iinfluence the ttemperature?
A. Winds carry en
W
nergy in the fo
orm of heat aro
ound Earth.
B. Winds are caus
W
sed by the eneergy of the sun
n.
C. Winds move be
W
ecause of diffeerential heatin
ng.
D. Winds transfer
W
r energy in thee form of heat from the air tto the ground..

globe point to different latittudes and longgitudes.
13. The arrrows on the g

h arrow pointss to the area on Earth you w
would expect
Which
to be ccoldest based on its latitudee?

A. R
B. S
C. T
D. W

warmer than th
he water in th
he ocean.
14. Leah iis going for a sswim at the beeach. She noticces that the saand is much w
Which
h statement be
est explains w
why this happeens?
A. Water is unable
W
e to absorb en
nergy.
B. Water is unable
W
e to release en
nergy.
C. Water has a low
W
wer specific heeat capacity th
han sand.
D. Water has a hig
W
gher specific h
heat capacity tthan sand.

heats Earths aatmosphere. W
When the air b
becomes warm
mer, it expand
ds. Which typee of energy
15. Light from the sun h
n?
increaases to cause tthis expansion
A. ch
hemical
B. ellectrical
C. kinetic
D. potential

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
25|P P M S
16. Joseph
h made a postter for his Eartth science pro
oject. He includ
ded the follow
wing diagram tto show how E
Earths
surfacce receives sollar energy.

n solar energy
y
Which process is iinvolved when
ms the surfacee of Earth?
warm

A. cconduction
B. cconvection
C. rradiation
D. rreflection

17. Meggiie measures th
he wind speed
d every day forr 7 weeks. Shee constructs th
he following liine graph of th
he average
daily w
wind speed.

How many of the 7 weeks experience
d speeds grea
ater than 7.9
average wind
km/h?

A. 4 weeks
B. 5 weeks
C. 6 weeks
D. 7 weeks

ollowing figure shows a vallley between tw
wo mountainss. The arrows indicate direcction of air mo
ovement.
18. The fo

hich type of brreeze is illustrated in the
Wh
figu
ure?

A. a sea breeze
B. a land breezee
C. a valley breezze
breeze
D. a mountain b

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
26|P P M S
19. Air rissing and sinkin

ng in Earths aatmosphere fo
orms a pattern
n of smaller co
onvection cellss.

hese convectio
on cells create both high an
nd
Th
low
wpressure beelts. Where in the precedingg diagram are
thee highpressurre belts locateed?

A. A, B, C, D
B. A, C, E, G
C. D, E, F, G
D. B, C, D, E, F

ng in Earths aatmosphere fo
orms a pattern
n of smaller co
onvection cellss.
20. Air rissing and sinkin

hese convectio
on cells create both high an
nd
Th
low
wpressure beelts. Where in the precedingg diagram are
thee lowpressurre belts located
d?

A. A, D, G
B. B, D, F
C. C, D, E
D. D, E, F, G

model to investtigate what haappens to iceb
bergs in water. He placed an
n ice cube in a tray of water,,
21. Donniie created a m
as sho
own in the folllowing illustraation. Donnie o
observed thatt the ice cube sslowly melted
d.

What can Donnie coonclude from this observation?

he water has aa lower tempeerature than tthe ice cube.
A. Th
B. Th
he water has aa higher temp
perature than the ice cube.
C. Th
he water has aa lower speciffic heat capaciity than the ice cube.
D. Th
he water has aa higher speciific heat capaccity than the icce cube.

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
27|P P M S

how plant gro
owth is affected by the temp
perature of thee soil. The following picturee shows his
22. Kumaar is studying h
experiment.

wing processees is mainly rresponsible forr warming the
e
Whicch of the follow
soil?

c
A. conduction
B. convection
c
C. expansion
e
D. radiation
r

23. The teemperatures in Gainesville, Florida, vary more than thee temperaturees in Miami, Fllorida. The maap shows the
locatio
ons of both off these cities.

ons of the two
o cities explain
n the
How ccan the locatio
differ ences in theirr temperature ranges?

han Miami, so
o latitude will
A. Gaainesville is faarther north th
m
make its tempeeratures vary m
more widely.
B. M
Miami is closer
r to the ocean, and winds fro
om the ocean
caause its tempeeratures to varry greatly.
C. M
Miami is closer
r to the ocean, which affects its climate by
y
keeeping its tem
mperatures mo
ore consistent.
D. Gaainesville is fu
urther inland, which affects its climate by
y
keeeping it warm
mer at night an
nd colder during the day.

ollowing tablee shows the tem
mperature and precipitatioon levels of fou
ur different citties on the sam
me day. In
24. The fo
only o
one city on this day, it snow
wed.

City A
C
City B
City
y C
City D
Low T
Temperature
e (C)
15
19
9
11
High T
Temperature
e (C)
22
26
3
5
Precip
pitation (mm
m)
14
11
25
0

h city experien
nced snow on this day?
Which
A. City A
B. City B
C. City C
D. City D

orm, Annabellee observes haiil falling in herr yard. After tthe hailstorm, rain falls. Wh
hich of these
25. During a winter sto
statem
ments correctlly describes hail and rain?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Hail and rain ar

H
re both solids.
Hail and rain ar
H
re both liquids.
Hail is a liquid,
H
and rain is a ssolid.
Hail is a solid, a
H
and rain is a liquid.
Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
28|P P M S
26. Zuri iss a meteorolog

gist. She is usiing a barometer. What featu
ure of weatherr is Zuri studyying?
A. humidity
w
B. wind speed
C. teemperature
D. aiir pressure

p ocean current forms when
n ocean waterr becomes den
nser and sinkss. The followin
ng figure show
ws a major
27. A deep
globall deep ocean ccurrent.

ustration, whicch of the
Bassed on the illu
folllowing statem
ments describees the
relationship betw
ween density and
mperature?
tem

A. Cold water iss denser than warm water.
B. Warm waterr is denser thaan cold water.
old water have equal
C. Warm and co
densities.
of water is not affected by
D. The density o
temperaturee.

h cards for thee vocabulary in
n the chapter oon ocean currrents. For Coriiolis effect, he w
writes the
28. Donniie makes flash
follow
wing definition
n: the curving of the path of
f a moving objeect from a straaight path.

What important infformation did Donnie forgett in his definittion?

A. due to wind
B. due to Earths rrotation
C. due to the suns energy
ntal deflection
n
D. due to continen

mperature each
h day for a weeek at exactly 3:00 p.m. Thee temperatures she records
29. Elianaa measures the outdoor tem
are alll between 25 C and 30 C. E
Eliana conclud
des that the cllimate of her aarea is tropicaal. What is the most
imporrtant reason w
why her study and conclusio
on may not bee correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Sh
he recorded th
he temperaturre at only onee time of day in
nstead of morre often.
Sh
he made her cconclusion bassed only on temperature an
nd not also on precipitation.
Sh
he made her cconclusion bassed on only 1 w
week of data iinstead of oveer a long perio
od of time.
Sh
he did not calcculate the hum
midity, air preessure, and win
nd conditionss when she maade her
co
onclusion.

nday. It was su
unny on Tuesd
day. It rained again on
30. Aurorra records the following obsservations: It rrained on Mon
Wedn
nesday. What iis Aurora reco
ording?
A. observations of the weather
B. observations of the climate
C. observations of both weatheer and climate
D. observations of neither weatther or climate

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 2
29|P P M S
31. The gaases that mak

ke up Earths aatmosphere arre commonly rreferred to as air. Air consissts of major gaases and trace
e
gases.. What are thee two most abundant gases in the atmosp
phere?
A. nitrogen and oxxygen
w
nd argon
B. water vapor an
C. oxxygen and carrbon dioxide
D. nitrogen and caarbon dioxidee

phere. The atm
mosphere is tieed to Earth byy gravitation,
32. The laayer of gases tthat surroundss Earth is calleed the atmosp
so thaat it cannot dissperse into space. Refer to tthe following ccircle graph.

bundance of ggases in Earths atmospheree. Which
The graph shows the relative ab
nd(s) to label C
C in the figuree?
gas((es) correspon

A. oxygen
B. nitrogen
C. argon and carrbon dioxide
D. oxygen and caarbon dioxidee

Com
mpiledbyJohn
Developer 3
30|P P M S
FCAT PREPARATION
NATURE OF SCIENCE
(NOS)
The intent of these NOS practice problems is to help prepare
students for the Science FCAT 2.0. By using this practice
booklet, students will become familiar with the types of items
that annually assessed and possibly assessed.
SC.8.N.1.1 - Define a problem from the eighth grade curriculum using appropriate reference
materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various
types, such as systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize
data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and
defend conclusions.
SC.8.N.1.3 Use phrases such as? Results support? or? Fail to support? in science, understanding
that science does not offer conclusive? Proof? of a knowledge claim.
SC.8.N.1.4 Explain how hypotheses are valuable if they lead to further investigations, even if they
turn out not to be supported by the data.
SC.7.N.1.1 Define a problem from the seventh grade curriculum, use appropriate reference materials
to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigation of various types, such
as systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret
data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.
SC.7.N.1.3 Distinguish between an experiment (which must involve the identification and control of
variables) and other forms of scientific investigation and explain that not all scientific knowledge is
derived from experimentation.
SC.7.N.1.4 Identify test variables (independent variables)
SC.6.N.1.1 Define a problem from the sixth grade curriculum, use appropriate reference materials to
support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigation of various types, such as
systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data
in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.
SC.6.N.1.3 Explain the difference between an experiment and other types of scientific investigation,
and explain the relative benefits and limitations of each.
Compiled by Johnetta Haugabrook
1|PPMS
Multiple Choice
1. Many substances can be dissolved in water. The maximum amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a solvent is
called solubility. The solubility of a substance often changes with the temperature of the water. The graph shows the
solubility of NaNO3 (sodium nitrate) and HCl (hydrochloric acid).
How does the solubility of HCl (hydrochloric acid) change as the

temperature increases from 50 C to 80 C?
A. It increases by about 10 g per 100 g of water.
B. It decreases by about 10 g per 100 g of water.
C. It increases by about 32 g per 100 g of water.
D. It decreases by about 32 g per 100 g of water.
2. The temperature of an ice-filled beaker is measured and recorded every minute as the beaker is heated continuously.
The resulting temperature and time data are shown in the following graph.
Which portion of the graph takes the

greatest amount of time to happen?
A. from point 1 to point 2
B. from point 2 to point 3
C. from point 3 to point 4
D. from point 4 to point 5
3. Kenji must conduct a scientific investigation for a science project. Which step should Kenji complete first?
A.
B.
C.
D.
List the steps to be used for the procedure of the investigation.

Use appropriate tools to collect data, and then organize the data using tables and graphs.
Develop a testable question based on research or prior knowledge.
Analyze data, recognize any patterns, and make inferences based on those patterns.
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4. A scientist wants to calculate the density of an object that is the shape of a rectangular prism. She will find its density
based on its mass and volume. Which procedure should she use?
A. 1. Use a balance to measure the objects mass. B.
2. Use a scale to weigh the object.
3. Calculate the density.
C. 1. Measure the objects dimensions using a
D.
ruler.
2. Use the dimensions to calculate the objects
volume.
3. Use a balance to measure the objects mass.
4. Calculate the density.
1. Weigh the object using a scale.

2. Calculate the density from the weight.
1. Add the object to a water-filled
graduated cylinder.
2. Record the volume increase of the
graduated cylinder.
3. Use the volume to calculate the density
of the object.
5. Rodney has been training a mouse to run a maze. He has been recording the data in the chart below.
Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Time (s)
83
75
61
35
45
30
25
If Rodney graphed his data, which of the

following would show the shape of his
graph?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3|PPMS
6. Roberta experiments by rolling a steel ball down a ramp. She conducts multiple trials by releasing the ball from varying
heights on the ramp. For each trial, Roberta measures and records the release height of the ball and the distance the
ball travels from the ramp before falling to the ground. Robertas experiment is shown below.
Which piece of equipment does Roberta need to collect

her data?
A. balance
B. meterstick
C. stopwatch
D. scale
7. Observation is the process of gathering information through the senses, including sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch.
Which observation is an example of sensory data?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The mass of a pebble is 25.0 g.

The volume of a pebble is 5.0 cm3.
A white pebble is speckled with gray spots.
A pebble does not conduct an electric current.
8. Joshua investigates the effect of varying amounts of sunlight on the rate of plant growth. He experiments by exposing
seedlings to different amounts of sunlight each day. He stops the experiment when each seedling reaches 20 cm in
height. Which variable does Joshua control in the experiment?
A.
B.
C.
D.
rate of plant growth

amount of water per plant per day
amount of sunlight per plant per day
time needed to reach a height of 20 cm
9. Which source is most credible for a new study on the effect of different types of foods on human health?
A.
B.
C.
D.
story in a magazine by a restaurant critic

ad in the health section of a local newspaper
story on the Internet by a food manufacturer
article in a professional medical journal by a scientist
10. Which sequence of steps does a scientist follow during an experimental investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
collect data; analyze data; draw conclusions

draw conclusions; interpret data; graph results
plan an experiment; draw conclusions; collect data
identify variables; define a problem; plan an experiment
4|PPMS
11. Gemma wants to investigate the rain forest ecosystem of the Amazon jungle in South America. To conduct the
experiment, Gemma uses plants, reptiles, and insects native to New Jersey, where she lives, to build a terrarium such as
the one shown in the following figure.
Which limitation is true of Gemmas experiment?
A. It does not
B. It does not
C. It does not
insects.
D. It does not
model the interaction of certain insects and plants.

model the interaction of certain reptiles and plants.
model the interaction of certain reptiles and
model the exact conditions of nature in the Amazon.
12. Raul wants to investigate how the angle of a ramp affects the speed of an object rolling down the ramp. He can conduct
his investigation in a number of different ways. Which investigation should he perform?
A. observe different bicyclists riding down hills of varying steepness
B. record the time it takes one bicyclist to ride down hills of varying steepness
C. perform an experiment in a lab in which the angle of the ramp is controlled and the speed of a
rolling cart is measured
D. observe video of various objects rolling down hills and estimate the angle of the hill and the
speed of the object
13. Anton is a geologist. He wants to get the best possible information about lava flows from eruptions that are happening at
some specific locations around the world. He wants to be able to vary what he studies based on his initial findings. Which
type of investigation should Anton conduct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a survey
fieldwork
library research
a laboratory investigation
14. Raul wants to investigate how the angle of a ramp affects the speed of an object rolling down the ramp. He can conduct
his investigation in a number of different ways. Which INVESTIGATION should he perform?
A. observe different bicyclists riding down hills of varying steepness
B. record the time it takes one bicyclist to ride down hills of varying steepness
C. perform an experiment in a lab in which the angle of the ramp is controlled and the speed of a
rolling cart is measured
D. observe video of various objects rolling down hills and estimate the angle of the hill and the
speed of the object
15. Anton is tracking and observing two black bears in Northern Minnesota. He is trying to determine what bears in the wild
eat during different seasons. Which type of scientific investigation is Anton conducting?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a survey
fieldwork
library research
a laboratory investigation
5|PPMS
16. Carlos wants to investigate which cars cause the most pollution. He will measure the amount of exhaust that different
cars produce.
Which variable will NOT affect the amount of exhaust?

A. age of car
B. car color
C. engine size
D. model of car
17. Christy holds a pack of paper in her hands. She pushes the ends towards each other and the middle buckles.
If the peak represents a mountain and the dip represents a valley,
what idea is she investigating?
A. how mountains form
B. how many layers are in Earth
C. how tall a particular mountain is
D. how rivers and glaciers form valleys
18. Letti shows what happened to her backyard fence before, during, and after an earthquake.
Based on the diagram, why is the fence in two pieces after the
earthquake?
A. The fence is broken at the start.
B. Part of the fence falls into the fault.
C. The Pacific plate pushes up and breaks the fence.
D. The plates collide and force the fence onto itself.
6|PPMS
19. During an experiment, Cali places a thermometer in a beaker of water. She finds the temperature to be 40 degrees
Fahrenheit. However, she must report her findings in degrees Celsius.
What is the temperature of the water in degrees Celsius?

A. 0
B. 5
C. 10
D. 40
20. Bob and Matt drop a ping pong ball and a golf ball from 50 cm and measure the height of each bounce. The ping pong ball
bounces higher than the golf ball. Next, they drop the golf ball with the ping pong ball on top of it. The ping pong ball
bounces higher than it did when dropped alone, and the golf ball bounces lower than it did when dropped alone. Which
statement explains this effect?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The golf ball gains weight.

The ping pong ball loses weight.
Some energy from the hand transfers to the ping pong ball.
Some energy from the golf ball transfers to the ping pong ball.
21. Mr. Chan wants his students to understand the purpose of scientific inquiry: to acquire scientific knowledge. Which of
the following strategies is NOT useful for a scientist?
A. assumption
B. experimentation
C. investigation
D. observation
22. Michael wants to do an experiment involving the moon. Which of the following would be classified as an experiment?
A. He will identify the types of rock on the moon.
B. He will make a poster of the moon phases.
C. He will calculate his weight on the moon.
D. He will determine whether childrens test scores improve during a full moon.
7|PPMS
23. Carly is studying dominant and recessive traits. She will observe those around her, and make notes about whether or not
each persons earlobes are attached. Since attached earlobes are a recessive trait, she thinks the probability of having
them is very low.
Which strategy will she use to find the probability of a person having attached earlobes?
A. assumption
B. experimentation
C. invention
D. investigation
24. Paul wants to know whether the height from which a ball is dropped affects how high it bounces. He drops a ball and
measures how high it bounces after the first bounce.
Which strategy best describes this activity?

A. assumption
B. experimentation
C. invention
D. investigation
25. Taylor fills a jar with vinegar and places steel wool in the jar.
The answer to which question requires experimentation?

A. What is the rate of rusting in vinegar as compared to water?
B. What is the mass of the steel wool after it begins to rust?
C. How long does it take the steel wool to rust?
D. How much vinegar is in the jar?
8|PPMS
26. Patrick conducts an experiment to test how his watering habits impact the amount of apples his trees produce. He
divides his farm into four sections and gives the trees in each section a different amount of water each week. Which of
the following is the test variable in his experiment?
A. number of sections
B. number of fruits produced in each section
C. amount of water each section receives
D. amount of sunlight each section receives
27. Casey wants to determine whether the rate at which melted glass cools affects the strength of the glass. He pours
melted glass into a form and cools the glass at different rates. Then, he tests the breaking strength of each
form. Which of the following is the test variable in this experiment?
A. type of glass
B. strength of the glass
C. thickness of the glass
D. cooling rate of glass
28. Marleys moms company wants to test the effectiveness of its new sunscreen products.
Which of the following is NOT a test variable they might want to
investigate?
A. resulting sunburns
B. frequency of application
C. length of exposure to the sun
D. numerical strength of the sunscreen
29. A bicycle company wants to test the safety of its brakes. The test must contain both an outcome variable and a test
variable. Which of the following is the most appropriate experiment for testing the effectiveness of various brake
materials?
A. Measure the heat produced in the braking system for each type of material.
B. Measure the stopping distance required for various types of brake material.
C. Measure the stopping distance required for one brake material at various speeds.
D. Measure the stopping distance required for a braking material in different types of bikes.
30. Francess family is building a new home. She wants to know what types of soil best support structures such as buildings.
What are some examples of test variables for such an experiment?
A. bridges, skyscrapers, homes
B. 1-story, 2-stories, 10-stories
C. sand, clay, rocky soil, loam
D. collapse, crack, shift, no change
9|PPMS
31. Geologist Alfred Wegener believed that all the land on Earth once formed a giant continent called Pangaea. Wegener
theorized that Pangaea broke apart into smaller continents that moved away from each other. This theory is called
continental drift. The map below shows the continents as they exist today.
Which of these facts best supports the theory that todays continents were once part of a larger landmass that broke
up and drifted apart?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Asian and Australian continents are close together.

Most of the continents are north of the equator.
The continent of Asia is nearly twice the size of the continent of North America.
The Atlantic coastlines of South America and Africa fit together like jigsaw pieces.
32. Scientists are not certain what signals cause Florida manatees to begin migrating, although manatees seem to sense
when cold weather is coming. By tracking manatees, scientists have found evidence that manatees travel hundreds of
miles during their seasonal migration. The map below shows the migratory range of the Florida manatee.
According to the map, which are the farthest points in
the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico where manatees
commonly migrate?
A. Miami, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama
B. Savannah, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida
C. Pensacola, Florida, and Jacksonville, Florida
D. Wilmington, North Carolina, and Mobile, Alabama
10 | P P M S
33. Scientists hypothesize that manatees travel generally south in winter to stay in warm water. The map below shows
migration patterns observed for the Florida manatee.
According to the map, finding manatees in which area
during January would give the greatest evidence to support
this hypothesis?
A. between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola,
Florida
B. between Tampa, Florida, and Jacksonville,
Florida
C. between Savannah, Georgia, and
Wilmington, North Carolina
D. between Jacksonville, Florida, and Myrtle
Beach, South Carolina
34. What is the purpose of repeating trials after reaching a conclusion in an investigation?
A. to develop a new theory
B. to repeat experiments and verify results
C. to conduct experiments with more variables
D. to revise each step of their research procedure
35. Paleontologists study fossils. A team of paleontologists published an article in a scientific journal announcing which
dinosaur a set of fossil eggs came from. Which of these sources is a poor one for contributing to the knowledge
represented in the article?
A.
B.
C.
D.
research about the dinosaur that laid the eggs

media interview of a rival paleontologist about the work
part of a book on fossil eggs by a famous paleontologist
report from a professor of paleontology who reviewed the data
36. Clara tests a hypothesis that the heavier of two materials will insulate cold drinks better than the lighter-weight
material. She adds equal volumes of the same cold beverage to two cups. One cup is made of lightweight plastic foam,
and the other cup is made of a heavier, ceramic material. She records her results in a chart.
Material
plastic foam
ceramic
Time for beverage to warm

to room temperature
(hours)
3.25
2.50
How are these experimental results

valuable to Clara?
A. The results explain why the materials
perform differently.
B. Clara has to accept that her
hypothesis was not supported.
C. Clara can use a different heavier
material to see if she obtains
different results.
D. The results can be communicated
with others through newspapers,
magazines, and the Internet to
increase the validity of her results.
11 | P P M S
37. Shakira hypothesizes that hot objects cool at constant rates. She experiments by heating a metal object with a Bunsen
burner and then allowing it to cool to room temperature. She records her results in a graph.
Which choice describes the results of the experiment and tells
what Shakira should do next?
A. The result of the experiment is not conclusive. Shakira
should repeat the experiment.
B. The downward curve supports the hypothesis. Shakira
should present her results to the class.
C. The graph supports the hypothesis. Shakira should
conduct several more trials to increase the accuracy of
her data.
D. The graph does not support the original hypothesis.
Shakira should revise the hypothesis and design a new
experiment.
38.Adams hypothesis states that an objects speed constantly changes. Which data requires Adam to form a new hypothesis?
A.
B.
C.
D.
12 | P P M S
39. Dr. Misra is conducting an experiment in which she is testing a substance she believes will turn green when put into
different acid solutions. She finds that sometimes the substance turns green, but at other times it turns red. What
would be a logical hypothesis for her to develop for a new experiment with the substance?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The substance will turn red whenever it is put into an acid solution.
The substance will never turn green when it is put into an acid solution.
The substance will not change colors when it is put into an acid solution.
The substance will turn green when it is put into an acid solution with a pH between 3 and 4.
40. New experimental data does not support a currently accepted hypothesis. Which course of action should the researcher
take?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Do the experiment until the results support the hypothesis.

Change the data to fit the hypothesis.
Form a new hypothesis and plan a new experiment.
Change the procedure to obtain the desired outcome.
13 | P P M S
SC.7.N.1.2 Differentiate replication (by others) from repetition (multiple trials).

SC.8.N.1.2 Design and conduct a study using repeated trials and replication.
SC.6.N.1.2 Explain why scientific investigations should be
SC.6.N.1.4 Discuss, compare, and negotiate methods used, results obtained, and explanations among groups of students
conducting the same investigation.
Multiple Choice
1. Jennys mom has tracked the wolf and rabbit populations in a local forest from 1980 to 2000.
Based on this graph, what conclusion can she draw?

A. In 1990, the rabbits were eating the wolves.
B. The rabbit population will consistently decrease.
C. The rabbit and wolf populations are not related.
D. As one population increases, the other decreases.
2. Sherrie learns that Boyles Law says that with an increase in pressure, the volume of a gas will decrease.
Because Boyles conclusion is a law, what do you know about it?
A. It holds true in a lab only.
B. It cannot be observed in nature.
C. It has been replicated by other scientists.
D. It describes a possibility, but not a reality.
14 | P P M S
3. Which statement is an example of repetition?

A. George drops a ball from 10 meters.
B. Candace weighs four rocks using a balance scale.
C. Julio fills three beakers with alcohol, water, and hydrogen peroxide.
D. Daniel conducts six trials to determine the time it takes 1 liter of water to boil.
4. Which statement is an example of replication?
A. Ami rolls a toy car down a ramp 8 times.
B. Todd gets the same results from an experiment as Hank.
C. Paulas ball takes 9 seconds to hit the ground every time she drops it.
D. Caroline does not get the results she expects, so she runs the experiment again.
5. Using the same materials and process, Robert and Lori both plant seeds and place them in full sunlight. They each
measure the growth of their plants over 12 weeks.
Based on this graph, what conclusion can you draw

about the two experiments?
A. By increasing the water, they can replicate
the experiment.
B. Another student repeats the experiment
with the plants in the shade.
C. One plant grows more than the other, and
the results are not replicated.
D. Their measurements are not accurate
because they do not repeat the experiment.
6. Lance throws a ball three times and tracks its distance.
Why is this experiment NOT an example of repetition.

A. The ball reaches the same distance each time.
B. He needs to throw the ball more than three times.
C. He does not throw the ball at the same angle each time.
D. He changes from an overhand throw to an underhand throw.
15 | P P M S
7. Dan uses a thermometer to measure the temperature of alcohol in a beaker. He heats the beaker for 1 minute and
measures the temperature again. The temperature increases by 10 degrees. Which of the following experiments
replicates Dans experiment?
A. Teo repeats Dans experiment, but he replaces the alcohol with water.
B. Freda repeats Dans experiment, and the temperature increases 10 degrees.
C. Dan performs the experiment again, and the temperature increases by 12 degrees.
D. Dan heats another beaker of alcohol for 1 minute and measures the temperature before and
after heating.
8. Dallas, a corn farmer, is interested in a larger crop yield. He uses the same growing techniques for the next five years
and achieves good results. He shares the techniques with his friends, who try them and achieve high crop yields. Which
statement is an example of replication?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Dallas teaches his friends the techniques.

Dallas uses the same technique for five years.
Dallas experiments with different growing techniques.
Dallass friends use his techniques and achieve the same results.
9. Danielles group tests the pH level of four different substances and displays their results in a bar graph.
She retests bleach and confirms the result. Another
group tests milk and lemon juice. This groups results
show 6.7 for milk 4.9 for lemon juice.
Which statement is an example of repetition?
A. Danielles group retests bleach.
B. Danielles group tests four substances.
C. Another group finds the pH for milk to be
6.7.
D. Another group finds the pH for lemon
juice to be 4.9.
10. Vernon listens to his MP3 player and records the life of the battery in minutes. He charges the battery and repeats the
experiment. He asks his friends to run the experiment with their players. They do, and they record their results. The
results are identical to Vernons.
Which statement is an example of repetition?
A. Vernon records his results.
B. Vernon charges the battery and records the results.
C. Vernon records the life span of his MP3 player battery in minutes.
D. Vernons friends repeat the experiment and record the same results.
11. Scientific investigations involve many steps and processes. Which characteristics define a laboratory experiment?
A.
B.
C.
D.
hypothesis, models, and calculations

test variables, data, and uncontrolled conditions
data, conclusions, and unregulated environment
independent and dependent variables, data, and controlled conditions
16 | P P M S
12. Cathy designs an experiment to investigate how well cups made of different materials maintain the temperature of a
cold drink. Which step will increase the accuracy and validity of Cathys results?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Use a different beverage in each cup.

Conduct the experiment in a cool room.
Conduct multiple trials and have another scientist repeat the experiment.
Analyze the experimental results and organize experimental data in a table.
13. Repetition is an important element of a good scientific investigation. Which data table has places to record information
for repeated trials?
A.
B.
C.
D.
14. During several trials, a group of scientists tests the reaction of a new medicine on a strain of bacteria. Which step is
essential for proving the validity of the results?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Make the process public so the results can be replicated.

Change the procedure to check whether the same results take place.
Have another scientist check to make sure the medicine was properly produced.
Have each group member use a different medicine and see what happens when they test it on
the bacteria.
15. A good experiment has several characteristics. Which characteristic is part of a good scientific experiment?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Results can be reproduced.

Results are not reviewed by peers.
Results are based on a small sample size.
Results are based on an undisclosed process or procedure.
16. Lee wants to make sure she understands the components of a good scientific investigation. She knows that it should be
controlled and have a large sample size. Also, she thinks that the results should be communicated to other scientists.
Which is another component that is necessary for a good investigation?
A. It must be conducted in a big lab.
B. It must be run by a university scientist.
C. It must be done with expensive equipment.
D. It must be able to be replicated by other scientists.
17 | P P M S
17. In 1989, two university research scientists reported that they had produced a nuclear reaction during a simple tabletop
experiment. Other scientists, however, were unable to reproduce the results of the original experiment. What
characteristic of a good scientific investigation is missing from the original results?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The results were made public.

The research was conducted at a university.
The results of the experiment were not reproducible.
The experiment did not include sophisticated equipment.
18. Which practice greatly limits the value of experimental findings?

A.
B.
C.
D.
having the findings published

basing the findings on a large amount of data
having the findings reviewed by a panel of peers
using an experimental procedure that cannot be reproduced
19. Three different lab groups perform experiments to determine the density of samples of iron. They have all rounded the
density to the nearest whole number.
Group
1
2
3
Mass of iron
(g)
32
48
?
Volume of iron
(cm3)
4
6
5
Density of iron
(g/cm3)
8
8
8
What is the mass of iron for

group 3?
A.
5g
B.
8g
C.
40 g
D.
64 g
20. The result of an experiment about how the speed of an object changes over time is shown in the following graph.
Based on this graph, four different lab groups came to the
following conclusions. Which groups conclusion describes the
result shown in the graph?
A. Group 1: The speed of the object increases as time
passes.
B. Group 2: The speed of the object decreases as time
passes.
C. Group 3: The speed of the object does not change
as time passes.
D. Group 4: The speed of the object decreases, then
increases as time passes.
18 | P P M S
21. The following graph shows the results of an experiment done by four different groups. Each group took a different
rubber band and recorded how far it stretched as they added weights to it.
Which groups rubber band stretched the least as more

weight was added?
A. group 1
B. group 2
C. group 3
D. group 4
22. Three different lab groups perform experiments to determine the density of samples of iron. They have all rounded the
density to the nearest whole number.
Group
1
2
3
Mass of iron
(g)
32
48
?
Volume of iron
(cm3)
4
6
5
Density of iron
(g/cm3)
8
8
8
What is the MASS of iron for group 3?

A.
B.
C.
D.
5g
8g
40 g
64 g
23. The following graph shows the results of an experiment done by four different groups. Each group took a different
rubber band and recorded how far it stretched as they added weights to it.
Which of the following BEST explains why the four groups got
different results?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They all used metric rulers to measure.

They used different sized rubber bands.
They performed the test at different times.
They tested the rubber bands with the same weights.
19 | P P M S
SC.7.N.1.5 Describe the methods used in the pursuit of a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science
such as biology, geology, and physics.
SC.8.N.1.5 Analyze the methods used to develop a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science.
SC.8.E.5.10 Assess how technology is essential to science for such purposes as access to outer space and other remote
locations, sample collection, measurement, data collection and storage, computation, and communication of information. -
NOT INCLUDED
SC.7.N.3.2 Identify the benefits and limitations of the use of scientific models.
Multiple Choice
1. Paleontology is a field of science that studies prehistoric life. What is one method that paleontologists use to learn
about dinosaurs?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They observe dinosaur behavior.

They read reports from when dinosaurs were alive.
They use fossils to see how dinosaurs looked and acted.
They run repeated experiments to learn how dinosaurs respond to their environment.
2. Geologists explain why the Earth is shaped as it is.

What is one method that geologists have used to gain
knowledge and develop scientific explanations about how
mountains form?
A. Geologists make maps of current mountain ranges.
B. Geologists create new mountain ranges under the
ocean.
C. Geologists observe the formation of new mountain
ranges each year.
D. Geologists use models to show what happens to the
Earth when mountains are formed.
3. Biologists study living organisms. To learn more about humans, biologists often have mice in their labs.
Why might a biologist use mice in their pursuit of scientific explanations
of humans?
A. Mice and humans look alike.
B. Mice are smarter than humans.
C. Mice and humans are genetically similar.
D. Mice eat a lot and do not move very much.
20 | P P M S
4. Ecologists study the relationship among living organisms and their surroundings. An ecologist graphs the changes in
rabbit population over time.
How would a graph like this one NOT help a scientist

pursue scientific explanations about the populations?
A. It shows changes in the data.
B. It visually represents the data collected.
C. It reveals patterns and trends in the
data.
D. It compares the predictions scientists
made and the actual data.
5. Physicists study matter, energy, and forces. Physicists use many different methods as they search for evidence. Which
is NOT a method they would use in their pursuit of scientific explanations?
A.
B.
C.
D.
assuming
experimenting
measuring
observing
6. Geologists study earthquakes and where they occur.
How might this map help scientists pursue

scientific explanations about earthquakes?
A. It gives each earthquakes magnitude.
B. It predicts where the next earthquake
will occur
C. It identifies the amount of
devastation each earthquake caused.
D. It helps scientists identify where
earthquakes are more likely to happen.
7. Geneticists study genetics. What tool would be most necessary in their pursuit of scientific explanations?
A.
B.
C.
D.
beaker
microscope
scale
thermometer
21 | P P M S
8. A physicist studies matter, energy, and forces. She completes an experiment, but the results are not what she had
thought they would be. She forms a new hypothesis, makes some changes, and runs the experiment again. Which best
describes her methods used in pursuit of scientific explanations?
A.
B.
C.
D.
She formulates, tests, and modifies her hypothesis.

She does not carefully complete the experiment, so she has to do it again.
She makes observations and relies solely on the visual evidence from these observations.
She guesses what should happens and modifies the experiment to make it happen in the second
trial.
9. Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and its properties. Experimentation is the primary method by which
chemists pursue scientific explanations. How do they know if the results of their experiments are valid?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They are repeatable.

They are measurable.
They match their hypothesis.
They can be used to design another experiment.
10. A biologist studies living or once-living organisms. When a biologist thinks he has discovered a new plant, he classifies it.
What method is he most likely to use to in his pursuit of scientific explanation?
A. He uses experimentation.
B. He plants it and observes the growth.
C. He compares its traits to other plants he knows.
D. He measures it and draws a bar graph for its different parts.
11. Look at the figure below.
What is this an example of?

A. a model
B. a hypothesis
C. an experiment
D. an observation
12. A microbiologist investigates the outbreak of an unknown illness, which is thought to be caused by a new strain of
bacteria. Doctors have determined the bacteria are located in the lungs. Initial work on treating the illness is dependent
upon analysis of the bacteria. Which investigational method should the microbiologist use to start the process to analyze
the bacteria?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Review the patients medical charts.

Interview people who have become sick.
Review the treatment medications and their effectiveness.
Take samples of the bacteria and grow cultures in a lab setting.
22 | P P M S
13. Karsten is researching a recent, controversial scientific issue. Which of these sources is a reliable source for Karsten to
use for unbiased scientific information?
A.
B.
C.
D.
an encyclopedia article in a respected, older encyclopedia

a scientific journal with peer-reviewed articles
a personal website or blog
an informative pamphlet mailed to your home by a politician or lobby group
14. Part of cell theory says that all living things are made up of one or more cells. Scientists had to find ways to test this
theory. Which investigation could scientists use to test this part of cell theory?
A.
B.
C.
D.
heat plant or animal tissue on a hot plate

test plant or animal tissue with a pH meter
examine plant or animal tissue with a microscope
measure the mass of plant or animal tissue with a scale
15. Early scientists wondered how two parents with brown eyes could have a child with blue eyes. Which of these studies
would best help scientists investigate how blue eye color is inherited from brown-eyed parents?
A. study the history of the family eye color of 100 random people
B. study the history of the family eye color of 50 blue-eyed people
C. study the history of a family in which all individuals within the past five generations were born
with blue eyes
D. study the history of four generations of 20 different families in which brown-eyed parents
had at least one blue-eyed child
16. According to Gregor Mendels laws of genetic inheritance, when two parents have different genes for a trait, one form
of the trait will be dominant and the other recessive. The dominant form normally appears in the offspring. In this
illustration, one cat parent has genes for gray fur and the other has genes for white fur. Gray fur is dominant. The gene
for gray fur is A. The gene for white fur is a.
What color would the kittens have to be in order to
provide evidence supporting Mendels laws?
A. gray
B. white
C. white with gray spots
D. gray stripes
23 | P P M S
17. Biologists analyze signals from tracking devices on manatees to gather evidence about manatee migration patterns. The
map shows the migration range of manatees.
Suppose the scientists originally thought that manatees

lived no farther north than North Carolina. What
evidence would cause them to modify their ideas?
A. tracking data
Keys
B. tracking data
Mexico
C. tracking data
of Texas
D. tracking data
of Virginia
showing a manatee in the Florida

showing a manatee in the Gulf of
showing a manatee off the coast
showing a manatee off the coast
18. Scientists once believed that Earths continents were fixed in position. Then scientists began to theorize that the
continents started as one large landmass. Today, this idea is commonly accepted as part of the theory of plate tectonics.
Which of the following events could have led scientists to change their ideas and accept the theory that Earths crust is
made of moving plates?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the observation of changing sea levels

the idea that Earths core is made of mostly iron and nickel
the observation that earthquakes and volcanoes occur along certain lines
the observation that new rock forms on parts of Earths surface
19. What is the purpose of repeating trials after reaching a conclusion in an investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
to develop a new theory

to repeat experiments and verify results
to conduct experiments with more variables
to revise each step of their research procedure
20. Evan and his sister Jessica were in the house. Evan put his glass of orange juice on the kitchen table. He let the dog in
and then went to his room to get a book. When he got back to the kitchen, the glass was knocked over. Evan was pretty
sure the dog did it. Which statement offers the best support for Evans inference?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The dog barked.

The dog went back outside.
Jessica said she heard the dog bark.
Jessica said she heard a crash just after the dog went into the kitchen.
21. According to the current theory regarding the extinction of the dinosaurs, the extinction was triggered by the effects
of a large meteor that struck Mexico 65 million years ago. What is the best evidence of this theory?
A.
B.
C.
D.
fossil remains of dinosaurs found in Mexico

magnetic mapping of rocks that reveals a buried crater in Mexico
a permanent change in world sea levels about 65 million years ago
rock studies that show the age of the rocks where the meteor struck
24 | P P M S
22. One of the following scientists contributed to the modification of atomic theory by showing that electrons orbit an
atoms nucleus and that electron orbits have a particular amount of energy. Which scientist and his work led to the
modification of atomic theory?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Joseph Thomson discovered electrons, which he believed did not move.

John Dalton proposed a model of the atom showing it as a solid sphere.
James Chadwick found that, in addition to protons and electrons, atoms also contain neutrons.
Niels Bohrs research showed that electrons follow specific paths around the nucleus of an
atom.
23. In 1897, Joseph Thomson discovered that atoms contained electrons. He proposed a change in the atomic theory of that
time, and the theory was modified because of his discovery. Since Thomsons discovery, atomic theory has been further
modified. What is the best explanation for why scientific theories are modified?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Theories more than ten years old are usually out of date.
Scientists want to prove that the work of other scientists is wrong.
New evidence that supports a revision prompts scientists to modify earlier theories.
So much information is available today that it is harder to focus research and disprove
theories.
25 | P P M S
SC.6.N.2.2 Explain that scientific knowledge is durable because it is open to change as new evidence or
interpretations are encountered.
SC.8.N.1.6 Understand that scientific investigations involve the collection of relevant empirical evidence, the use of
logical reasoning, and the application of imagination in devising hypotheses, predictions, explanations and models to make
sense of the collected evidence.
SC.7.N.1.6 Explain that empirical evidence is the cumulative body of observations of a natural phenomenon on which
scientific explanations are based.
SC.7.N.1.7 Explain that scientific knowledge is the result of a great deal of debate and confirmation within the science
community.
SC.7.N.2.1 Identify an instance from the history of science in which scientific knowledge has changed when new evidence
or new interpretations are encountered.
Multiple Choice
1. The following map shows how likely it is for a storm to develop winds that are fast enough to become a tropical storm.
The map was made with a computer program that uses weather data and mathematical equations to make predictions
about the storm.
What type of model is shown in the diagram?

A. data model
B. visual model
C. conceptual model
D. mathematical model
2. Medical students use a three-dimensional reproduction of a human skeleton to learn about bones. Which item describes
this learning tool?
A. an x-ray model
B. a physical model
C. a computer model
D. a mathematical model
3.The following weather map shows current conditions in the area. Ten hours later, the operator inputs new weather data into
the computer. These data differ from the earlier data, which produced this map.
26 | P P M S
As a result of the new weather data, what will happen to

the map?
A. The map will remain unchanged.
B. The map will change to reflect the new data.
C. The map will show new weather patterns in
Europe.
D. The map will predict all characteristics of a
weather pattern.
4. The diagram shows Niels Bohrs theory about how electrons are arranged in atoms. He thought electrons traveled on
specific paths around a nucleus. The current theory is that electrons exist in certain cloudlike regions around a nucleus.
How would a model of the current theory differ from Bohrs model?
A. It would be the same as Bohrs model.
B. Object A would differ from Bohrs model.
C. Object B would differ from Bohrs model.
D. Both objects A and B would differ from Bohrs
model.
5. Although a scientific theory is well supported and widely accepted, what might cause it to change?
A.
B.
C.
D.
new evidence
a scientific law
individual claims
a scientific model
6. The theory of evolution describes how organisms change over time. Scientists now use information in the DNA of living
organisms to understand how they are related. The theory of evolution was developed before scientists discovered
DNA; however, these new data still fit with and support the theory. What does this sequence of events tell us about the
theory of evolution?
A. It is a bad theory because it makes scientists biased.
27 | P P M S
B. It is a good theory because it is able to explain new evidence.

C. It is a good theory because it has changed greatly over time.
D. It is a bad theory because it was formed before the discovery of DNA.
7. The table shows events that led to the current theory that the sun is the center of the solar system.
1
2
3
Event
Scientists observe planetary motion that cannot be
explained if Earth is the center of the universe.
Scientists accept the theory that the planets and
sun travel around Earth.
Scientists develop the theory that the planets
travel around the sun.
Which sequence of events is correct?

A. 1, 2, 3
B. 1, 3, 2
C. 2, 1, 3
D. 3, 1, 2
8. Ishya researches how the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed over time. She finds two graphs on
the Internet, shown in the following diagrams.
Which graph is likely to be more reliable?

A.
B.
C.
D.
graph 1, because it is more complicated

graph 2, because it shows a best fit line
graph 1, because it is from a government source
graph 2, because it shows fewer variations in the data
28 | P P M S
9. The following graphs show how the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed over time.
How might a researcher label graph 2?

A.
B.
C.
D.
unreliable source
reliable source
matches theory
does not match theory
10. Scientists use evidence to determine how old something is. Look at this fossilized tree trunk.
Which is NOT an example of empirical evidence?
A. The depth at which a fossil is uncovered
indicates its age.
B. The amount of carbon-14 in a rock tells how
old a trees fossil is.
C. The number of rings in a trees trunk shows
how many years old it is.
D. A scientist sees that the tree has fallen and
assumes that it is 10,000 years old.
29 | P P M S
11. What is NOT a way that scientists gain empirical evidence?

A.
B.
C.
D.
assumptions
experiments
measurement
observations
12. What would NOT be empirical evidence that the moon orbits the Earth every 27.3 days?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Scientists observe the phases of the moon.

Scientists read myths that explain the moons phases.
Scientists use images from space to see the moon orbiting the Earth.
Scientists measure the distance the moon travels as well as its speed as it orbits the Earth.
13. On what do scientists base their explanations of natural events?

A.
B.
C.
D.
legends
assumptions
empirical evidence
opinions of other scientists
14. A scientist wants to know how well different materials conduct heat. The materials are stainless steel, plastic, silver,
and wood.
Hot water and the four spoons made of different

materials are put into a bowl. What empirical evidence
explains how well the materials conduct heat?
A. the shape of the spoons
B. the temperature of each spoon
C. the change in the depth of the water
D. the number of seconds the spoons are in the water
15. While scientists already know a great deal about DNA, they continue to learn more about its role in genetics.
What is the basis of scientists current understanding of
DNA?
A. They guess how they think it
works.
B. They use combined empirical
evidence from many scientists.
C. They only use evidence that
they have personally proven.
D. They assume they already
know all there is to know, even
when evidence contradicts
that assumption.
30 | P P M S
16.Scientists study the impact of human activity on the climate, and global warming is an international concern.
Which is NOT empirical evidence on which scientists base their concerns?

A. reduction in the size of icebergs due to melting
B. rising average temperatures
C. increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
D. greater personal desire to protect the planet
17. Which of the following is NOT empirical evidence supporting what scientists understand about genetics?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Identical twins look almost identical.

Bioengineering produces plants with desired traits.
Cloning is thought to be immoral by some people.
Recessive traits may skip generations before appearing again.
18. Which of the following is empirical evidence that supports scientists understanding of the orbit of the moon around the
Earth and the Earth around the sun?
A.
B.
C.
D.
solar eclipse
story of Apollo
temperatures on the sun
humans traveling to the moon
19. A scientist finds the fossil of a fish.

Which statement would be empirical evidence related to this
fossil?
A. This is the best fossil ever found.
B. This fossil should be put in a
museum.
C. This fossil is unique because Ive
never seen one like it.
D. This fossil shows that water must
have covered this land at one time.
31 | P P M S
20. Scientists often use visual or mathematical representations to investigate items that are very large, very small, or
otherwise difficult to study. What are these visual or mathematical representations called?
A. experiments
B. hypotheses
C. models
D. observations
21. Identifying the independent and dependent variables in an experiment will help you better interpret and convey results.
What is the difference between the independent and dependent variables in an experiment?
A. The independent variable is always a number, and the dependent variable is never a number.
B. The independent variable is what you control, and the dependent variable is what changes as a
result.
C. The dependent variable is what the investigator controls, and the independent variable is what
happens as a result of this.
D. The dependent variable is typically found in the first column of a table, and the independent
variable is typically found in the second column.
22. The school physician performed an experiment to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on high school freshmen.
He examined 25 student volunteers and found them to be in good health. He then had the students perform aerobic
exercises, such as jogging, swimming, and bicycling. The doctor recorded the students pulse rates before each activity,
during each activity, and after each activity. Which was the dependent variable in this experiment?
A. the physician
B. the exercises
C. the volunteers
D. the pulse rates
23. A graph can help scientists display and convey data. What part of a line graph shows trends?
A. title
B. legend
C. x- and y-axis labels
D. line of best fit
24. A biomedical company uses a certain type of bacteria to manufacture a new medicine. A researcher for the company
studies how temperature affects the rate at which the bacteria reproduce. He records his results in a graph.
Currently, the company grows the bacteria in a lab maintained at 18 C. If

the company wants to grow the bacteria as quickly as possible, which
recommendation should the researcher make?
A. The current lab temperature is ideal for growing the bacteria.
B. The lab temperature should be increased to between 20 C and 30 C.
C. The lab temperature should be increased to between 30 C and 40 C.
D. The lab temperature should be increased to between 40 C and 50 C.
32 | P P M S
25. Cindy predicts that plastic foam insulates cold drinks better than metal or ceramic materials do. To test the hypothesis,
she fills cups made from these materials with equal amounts of cold water. She records the temperature of the water in
each cup, using scientific thermometers, every 10 minutes until the water reaches room temperature. Which of these
conditions must be the same for this experiment to be valid?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the thermometer that is in each cup

the starting temperature of the water in each cup
the ending temperature of the water in each cup
the material that makes up each cup
26. Which term describes the information that a scientist gathers during an investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
data
hypothesis
observation
variable
27. In the 1950s, a scientist conducted a study on the changes in a population of moths. Dead moths of the same species,
but of two different color types were fastened to trees to study which color of moth was most likely to be eaten by
birds. On dark trees, the light moths were eaten. On light trees, the dark moths were eaten. Other scientists criticized
the investigation because birds food choice using live moths should also have been studied. Which personal trait
prompts scientists to question the validity of an investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
creativity
determination
imagination
skepticism
28. The figure below shows a sequence of steps that a scientist might take during a scientific investigation.
Which letter best represents the step where a scientist takes accurate measurements?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
33 | P P M S
29. Scientists depend upon various traits to carry out their work. An example is shown in the figure below.
Which of these terms best describes the scientist in this figure?

A. creative
B. logical
C. observant
D. skeptical
30.Four scientists run the same experiment and graph their results.
What must happen before any of the results are confirmed if they get different results?
A. The scientists are fired.
B. The first results are accepted as fact.
C. They must come together and debate their findings.
D. The experiment is declared invalid, and the results are rejected.
34 | P P M S
31. The genetics behind the Punnett square model has been debated thoroughly by scientists. Pete learns to use Punnett
squares to predict the outcome of a cross-breeding experiment.
Why does he think that he can use the scientific knowledge behind
this model to predict the outcomes of his experiment?
A. Models are always accurate.
B. Reginald C. Punnett was a scientist.
C. The square is made from four smaller squares.
D. Punnett squares have been confirmed by the scientific
community.
32. Which does NOT result in scientific knowledge?

A.
B.
C.
D.
empirical evidence
more assumptions by scientists
communication and debates within the scientific community
confirmation through more experiments through repetition and replication
33. Over time, scientists have used different models to describe the atom.
What does this indicate the scientific community does before confirming new knowledge?
A. It cannot use models accurately.
B. It accepts theories without researching them.
C. It does not really understand what it attempts to describe.
D. It debates scientific knowledge and changes it with new evidence.
35 | P P M S
34. Scientists use many different tools to conduct experiments. The results of their experiments cannot be confirmed until
the scientific community has thoroughly debated them.
When scientists complete experiments, which is the main
reason that they communicate their results?
so that they win prize money
A.
B. .so they get a building named after them
C. so their results can be used by other scientists
D. so their results can confuse others scientists
experiments.
35. Paleontologists use fossils to develop a picture of the history of life on Earth. Which of the following discoveries
provided evidence that some dinosaurs had feathers?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the discovery
the discovery
the discovery
the discovery
of
of
of
of
a fossil of a bird-like dinosaur

a bird fossil that shows feathers
fossils of reptiles that has the ability to fly
bird and dinosaur fossils from the same time period
36. When scientists first discovered Pluto, they classified it as a planet. In 2006, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet.
Which of the following discoveries most likely contributed to the reclassification of Pluto?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the discovery
the discovery
the discovery
the discovery
that Pluto has moons

that Pluto has an atmosphere
of Earth-sized planets orbiting stars in other solar systems
of similarly sized objects in the outer parts of the solar system
37. Greek astronomers tried to explain the motion of the planets they observed. Their model of the universe is shown below.
Copernicus tried to explain the motion using a different model. He proposed that the planets orbit the sun in circular
orbits.
How did Copernicuss interpretation of planetary motion lead to changes in
the model of the Greek astronomers?
A. The model would include a sun for each planet.
B. The model would match our current understanding of the
universe.
C. The model would show the sun in the center surrounded by
planets.
D. The model would include several solar systems which have
different suns.
36 | P P M S
38. Chemists today look to the periodic table when they need to find information about elements. Dimitri Mendeleev
organized elements in the first periodic table based on their properties. What is the most likely way that the periodic
table has changed the understanding of chemistry?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Scientists could infer the subatomic structure of the atom.

Scientists could predict the properties of undiscovered elements.
Scientists could find ways to combine any element with any other element.
Scientists could identify the elements found in compounds in living things.
39.Today scientists understand that radioactive elements decay to become more stable. Which discovery provided evidence
that led to the current understanding of radioactive elements?
A. the discovery that atoms contain a nucleus
B. the discovery that atoms contain electrons
C. the discovery of elements that gave off energy on their own
D. the discovery that certain elements give off light when they are exposed to light
40. Isaac Newton developed the universal law of gravity to explain the attractive force between two objects that are not
touching. This law has changed scientific knowledge in a variety of fields. Which of the following is most affected by
this law?
A. the eruptions of volcanoes
B. the effect of the moon on the tides
C. the ability of runners to accelerate
D. the effect of friction on moving objects
37 | P P M S
SC.7.N.3.1 Recognize and explain the difference between theories and laws and give several examples of scientific
theories and the evidence that supports them. (Also assesses SC.6.N.3.1 and SC.8.N.3.2.)
SC.8.N.3.2 Explain why theories may be modified but are rarely discarded.
SC.6.N.3.1 Recognize and explain that a scientific theory is a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature
and is not simply a claim posed by an individual. Thus, the use of the term theory in science is very different than how it
is used in everyday life.
Multiple Choice
1. In developing a theory, scientists must have evidence to support it. An example is the cell theory. Look closely at the
diagram below.
This diagram shows evidence used to support the cell theory.

Which statement of the cell theory is supported by this
diagram?
A The cell is the smallest form of life.
B Cells contain hereditary information.
C Cells come only from preexisting cells.
D The cell is the basic unit of all organisms.
2. On June 30, 1908 a tremendous explosion occurred in Siberia in Russia. The explosion was equivalent to the detonation
of about 15 million tons of TNT. Many hypotheses have been proposed for what caused the explosion. One hypothesis is
that the explosion was caused by the impact of an extraterrestrial ship. Why is this explanation considered a hypothesis
and not developed into a theory?
A
B
C
D
A hypothesis can never lead to the development of a theory.

A hypothesis must be verified by repeated tests using empirical evidence before it can become
a theory.
Unlike a hypothesis, a theory is based on careful observations and experimental evidence.
Unlike a hypothesis, a theory can help scientists make predictions by forming if-then
statements.
38 | P P M S
3. The law of universal gravitation states that both mass and distance of objects affect the gravitational force between
them. Gravitational force increases as the mass of the objects increase. Gravitational force decreases as distance
between the objects increases. Why are these statements considered scientific law, and not scientific theory?
A
B
C
D
The statements tells what happens, and not why the event occurs.
This statement involves mass and distance measurements.
This statement explains the attractive force between two objects.
This statement predicts what will happen under certain conditions.
4. Scientists can use the law of conservation of mass to predict how much product will form in a chemical reaction. This law
is based upon atomic theory and how atoms behave during reactions. What can you conclude from this information?
A The atomic theory has limited application in the area of chemistry.
B Atoms form the basis of all scientific theories.
C A scientific theory can help us understand a scientific law.
D A scientific law is the same as a scientific theory.
5. When scientists study the natural world, they may form scientific theories and scientific laws. How does a scientific
theory differ from a scientific law?
A Unlike a theory, a law is not universal.
B Unlike a theory, a law describes how the natural world operates.
C Unlike a law, a theory is based on observations and experiments.
D Unlike a law, a theory can be modified as new evidence is obtained.
6. Scientists often use mathematical relationships when they study the natural world. Which of the following describes the
natural world in terms of a mathematical relationship?
A theory of evolution
B law of superposition
C theory of plate tectonics
D law of universal gravitation
7. In the 1860s, Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution. His theory stated that populations change very slowly
over a very long period of time. Then in 1972, some scientists took a closer look at the fossil record. They concluded
that evolution involves long periods of little change in populations which are interrupted by short periods of rapid
change. This finding became part of the theory of evolution. What can you conclude from this information?
A New evidence can cause a scientific theory to be modified.
B New evidence can cause a scientific theory to be discarded.
C New evidence can cause a scientific theory to become a law.
D New evidence can cause a scientific theory to change into a new theory.
8. Sedimentary rocks are formed particle by particle. Over time, layers of particles are piled one on top of the other.
Therefore, in any sequence of layered rocks, a given layer must be older than any layer on top of it. This is know as the
law of superposition. This law is fundamental to the interpretation of Earths history because it indicates the relative
ages of rock layers and the fossils in them. What evidence would support the law of superposition?
A
B
C
D
An earthquake occurs so that the rock layers are disturbed.

Sedimentary rock gradually turns into another type of rock.
Fossils in higher layers are not as advanced and complex as the fossils in lower layers of
sedimentary rock.
Radiometric dating shows that fossils in lower layers are older than fossils in higher layers of
sedimentary rock.
39 | P P M S
9. Kalinda was trying to explain to her friend the difference between a theory and a law in science. She used the theory of
plate tectonics and the law of superposition as examples. Kalinda explained the difference by using nonscientific
language. Which statement did Kalinda use to correctly describe the difference between a theory and a law in science?
A A theory describes a natural event, while a law explains it.
B A theory explains a natural event, while a law predicts it.
C A theory explains a natural event, while a law describes it.
D A theory predicts a natural event, while a law explains it.
10. The atomic theory has been modified many times to explain new experimental data. However, the data have never led to
atomic theory being discarded. Why are theories sometimes modified but rarely discarded?
A Scientists find it easier to modify a theory rather than reject it.
B Discarding the theory would mean that all the data used to form the theory were false.
C Once a theory has been formed, scientists no longer carry out investigations to test the
validity of the theory.
D Before scientists form a theory, they have repeatedly verified the hypotheses leading to the
theory by carrying out experiments.
11. According to the current theory regarding the extinction of the dinosaurs, the extinction was triggered by the effects
of a large meteor that struck Mexico 65 million years ago. What is the best evidence of this theory?
A
B
C
D
fossil remains of dinosaurs found in Mexico

magnetic mapping of rocks that reveals a buried crater in Mexico
a permanent change in world sea levels about 65 million years ago
rock studies that show the age of the rocks where the meteor struck
12. One of the following scientists contributed to the modification of atomic theory by showing that electrons orbit an
atoms nucleus and that electron orbits have a particular amount of energy. Which scientist and his work led to the
modification of atomic theory?
A
B
C
D
Joseph Thomson discovered electrons, which he believed did not move.

John Dalton proposed a model of the atom showing it as a solid sphere.
James Chadwick found that, in addition to protons and electrons, atoms also contain neutrons.
Niels Bohrs research showed that electrons follow specific paths around the nucleus of an
atom.
13. In 1897, Joseph Thomson discovered that atoms contained electrons. He proposed a change in the atomic theory of that
time, and the theory was modified because of his discovery. Since Thomsons discovery, atomic theory has been further
modified. What is the best explanation for why scientific theories are modified?
A
B
C
D
Theories more than ten years old are usually out of date.
Scientists want to prove that the work of other scientists is wrong.
New evidence that supports a revision prompts scientists to modify earlier theories.
So much information is available today that it is harder to focus research and disprove
theories.
14. Joe tells Mai his theory about why sea turtles nest on the beach instead of in the ocean. He says, The turtle eggs would
sink to the bottom of the ocean, and the baby turtles would drown. Joe says his uncle, a fisherman, told Joe this
information. Mai tells Joe that his theory is not scientific. Why does Joes idea not meet the requirements to be a
scientific theory?
A
B
C
D
Joes idea is already a scientific law.

Joes idea is not supported by scientific evidence.
Joes idea is a good guess that can be tested by experiments.
Joe and his uncle are not scientists.
40 | P P M S
15. Which phrase defines a scientific theory?

A an untested idea
B an educated guess
C an accepted description
D a well-supported explanation
16. Which statement belongs in a scientific theory about how hurricanes form?
A
B
C
D
Hurricanes get bigger over warm water.

The eye is the calmest part of the storm.
Hurricanes have wind speeds greater than 119 km/h.
Rotating thunderstorms gain energy over warm tropical waters.
17. In which statement does the word theory mean scientific theory?
A
B
C
D
In theory, the experiment will work as planned.

She has a theory about why the storm arrived later than predicted.
The atomic theory explains that all objects are made up of atoms.
The doctors prescription for curing a cold is based on his best theory or guess.
18. The fact that atoms and molecules are always in motion helps scientists explain how solids turn into liquids. What is this
explanation an example of?
A
B
C
D
a prediction
an observation
a scientific law
a scientific theory
19. The following diagram below shows Niels Bohrs theory about how electrons are arranged in atoms. The electrons are
labeled A and the nucleus in the center of the atom is labeled B.
Which statement describes this model?

A It is a mathematical model.
B It is a representation of a real atom.
C It is a representation of a solid object.
D It is a smaller version of a real atom.
41 | P P M S
20. This diagram shows one type of model of the brain.

Which item represents another type of brain model?
A a copy of the human skull
B the results of a lie detector test
C the results of an intelligence test
D a three-dimensional brain x-ray
21. Although a scientific theory is well supported and widely accepted, what might cause it to change?
A new evidence
B a scientific law
C individual claims
D a scientific model
22. Cesar reads about the big bang theory, which explains that the universe expanded as the result of an explosion. He
wants to evaluate whether this theory is a good one. Which statement is a characteristic of a good theory?
A
B
C
D
It is the idea of only one scientist.

It does not change as time passes.
It is not supported by scientific evidence.
It changes with new observations made by astronomers.
23. The theory of evolution describes how organisms change over time. Scientists now use information in the DNA of living
organisms to understand how they are related. The theory of evolution was developed before scientists discovered
DNA; however, these new data still fit with and support the theory. What does this sequence of events tell us about the
theory of evolution?
A
B
C
D
It is a bad theory because it makes scientists biased.

It is a good theory because it is able to explain new evidence.
It is a good theory because it has changed greatly over time.
It is a bad theory because it was formed before the discovery of DNA.
42 | P P M S
24.
The table shows events that led to the current theory that the sun is the center of the solar system.
1
2
3
Event
Scientists observe planetary motion that cannot be
explained if Earth is the center of the universe.
Scientists accept the theory that the planets and
sun travel around Earth.
Scientists develop the theory that the planets
travel around the sun.
Which sequence of events is correct?

A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 3, 2
C 2, 1, 3
D 3, 1, 2
25. The diagram shows Niels Bohrs theory about how electrons are arranged in atoms. He thought electrons traveled on
specific paths around a nucleus. The current theory is that electrons exist in a certain cloudlike region around a nucleus.
How would a model of the current theory DIFFER from Bohrs model?
A It would be the same as Bohrs model
B object A would differ from Bohrs model
C object B would differ from Bohrs model
D both objects A and B would differ from Bohrs model
43 | P P M S

Fcat Practice Booklet 8th Grade

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FCAT PRACTICE BOOKLET

10. Plantss can provide tthe materials that animals u

11. Theree is a connectio

16. People rely on the ffermentation p

phere and watter only

convert kinetic energy into chemical energy

19. Plant and animal ceells are compleex structures w

h of the interactions among species are exxamples of prredatorprey rrelationships?

28. The grraph below reecords the num

9. Eukarryotic cells and

27. During a laboratory

b. Leaf has more than one main vein.

He could study their diets.

me group as caalcium have ch

11. The periodic table, shown below,, arranges elem

22. The diagram below

orm and that tthis energy conversion is uttilized in manyy home

uring acceleraation requires the appropriaate units. Scien

h graph showss her boat trav

obcats can reaach speeds of up to 30 mi/h

Why is Veenus so hot?

23. Space exploration h

2. The diagram below

11. The diagram below

17. The grraph below sh

28. The diagram below

19. Air rissing and sinkin

Hail and rain ar

26. Zuri iss a meteorolog

31. The gaases that mak

Compiled by Johnetta Haugabrook

How does the solubility of HCl (hydrochloric acid) change as the

Which portion of the graph takes the

List the steps to be used for the procedure of the investigation.

Compiled by Johnetta Haugabrook

1. Weigh the object using a scale.

If Rodney graphed his data, which of the

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Which piece of equipment does Roberta need to collect

The mass of a pebble is 25.0 g.

rate of plant growth

story in a magazine by a restaurant critic

collect data; analyze data; draw conclusions

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model the interaction of certain insects and plants.

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Which variable will NOT affect the amount of exhaust?

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What is the temperature of the water in degrees Celsius?

The golf ball gains weight.

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Which strategy best describes this activity?

The answer to which question requires experimentation?

Compiled by Johnetta Haugabrook

Compiled by Johnetta Haugabrook

The Asian and Australian continents are close together.

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research about the dinosaur that laid the eggs

Time for beverage to warm

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How are these experimental results

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