ASVAB GS

Which of these reduces friction? (a) car brakes (b) tire tread (c) ball bearings (d) sandpaper

ball bearings

If you place bean seeds between moist paper towels and watch the stem/leaves appear, you will see a demonstration of (a) transpiration (b) germination (c) fertilization (d) pollination

germination

Any astronomical body that revolves around a larger body is called a (a) nova (b) comet (c) satellite (d) asteroid (e) meteoroid

satellite

In chemistry, to be classified as an organic substance, a substance must contain (a) sugar molecules (b) sodium atoms (c) carbon atoms (d) water molecules

carbon atoms

Which element does NOT contain any neutrons? (a) iron (b) carbon (c) oxygen (d) hydrogen

hydrogen

Regeneration in humans is mainly limited to (a) reproduction (b) fertilization (c) experimentation (d) healing of wounds

healing of wounds

How many atoms are in a single molecule of water (H2O)? (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

3

Which of the following is a renewable resource? (a) copper (b) aluminum (c) peanut oil (d) natural gas

peanut oil

When scientists measure a liquid's resistance to flow, they are measuring the liquid's (a) density (b) solubility (c) viscosity (d) permeability

viscosity

The chemical formula of a compound describes the elements the compound contains and the (a) pH of the compound (b) conduction of the compound (c) ratio of elements in the compound (d) ratio of neutrons to protons

ratio of elements in the compound

The filament in an electric light bulb is made from (a) platinum (b) fiberglass (c) aluminum (d) tungsten

tungsten

When sodium atoms form sodium ions, they (a) share protons (b) gain neutrons (c) lose electrons (d) share photons

lose electrons

A perpetual

motion machine can never be built because it is not possible to eliminate (a) momentum (b) inertia (c) elasticity (d) friction

A human skin cell divides by (a) osmosis (b) mitosis (c) glycolysis (d) hydrolysis

mitosis

What are the two main gases that make up stars? (a) hydrogen and helium (b) chlorine and fluorine (c) nitrogen and hydrogen (d) oxygen and carbon dioxide

hydrogen and helium

What is the symbol for the hydroxyl ion? (a) H− (b) OH− (c) H2O (d) H3O+

OH−

The tympanic membranes are also known as the (a) eye lids (b) sinuses (c) ear drums (d) vocal cords

ear drums

Choking is prevented by the (a) diaphragm remaining down (b) vibration of the vocal cords (c) esophagus moving the food (d) epiglottis covering the voice box

epiglottis covering the voice box

Which of the following actions produces a chemical change? (a) boiling water (b) burning the rice (c) adding salt to hot water (d) melting butter

burning the rice

Which of the following is a non

renewable resource? (a) wood (b) water (c) copper (d) biomass

What do a hydrogen molecule and an oxygen molecule have in common? (a) atomic structure (b) the charge on each electron (c) the number of protons (d) the size

the charge on each electron

A genus classification contains several related (a) species (b) families (c) orders (d) phyla

species

Particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom are (a) anions (b) electrons (c) positrons (d) photons

electrons

As a human breathes, air is first warmed and filtered in the (a) trachea (b) pharynx (c) oral cavity (d) nasal cavity

nasal cavity

In the food chain dandelion → rabbit → fox → coyote, the tertiary consumer is the (a) dandelion (b) rabbit (c) fox (d) coyote

coyote

Homo sapiens is the scientific name for (a) the species that preceded humans (b) primates (c) human beings (d) mammals

human beings

The process by which a solid becomes a gas is known as (a) boiling (b) sublimation (c) melting (d) diffusion

sublimation

The gravitational force the Moon exerts on Earth is (a) less than half (b) half as much (c) the same as (d) more than

the same as that exerted by Earth on the Moon

Fungi that break down dead matter are examples of (a) producers (b) decomposers (c) consumers (d) mutualists

decomposers

What is the freezing point of water in Kelvin? (a) −273 K (b) 0 K (c) 100 K (d) 273 K

273 K

Tough elastic tissues in joints that connect bones to bones are called (a) ligaments (b) tendons (c) cartilage (d) muscles

ligaments

Stress, poor diet, smoking, and heredity contribute to developing (a) diarrhea (b) high blood pressure (c) gall stones (d) anemia

high blood pressure

Which clouds are thin and wispy and occur high in the atmosphere? (a) cirrus (b) cumulus (c) stratus (d) stratocumulus

cirrus

Fossils are most likely to be found in (a) igneous (b) metamorphic (c) sedimentary (d) volcanic

sedimentary

Animals that consume only plants are called (a) saprophytes (b) herbivores (c) carnivores (d) omnivores

herbivores

What type of star is the Sun? (a) red dwarf (b) blue giant (c) white dwarf (d) yellow dwarf

yellow dwarf

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same region is a (a) biome (b) ecosystem (c) community (d) population

population

Which planet is NOT an outer planet? (a) Jupiter (b) Saturn (c) Uranus (d) Earth

Earth

A boulder that begins to roll down a hill is an example of energy conversion from (a) potential to thermal (b) potential to kinetic (c) kinetic to thermal (d) kinetic to potential

potential to kinetic

The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere is called the (a) ionosphere (b) mesosphere (c) stratosphere (d) troposphere

troposphere

According to the law of conservation of energy (a) energy is capacity to do work (b) energy cannot be created or destroyed (c) energy is possessed by moving objects (d) energy is stored due to position

energy cannot be created or destroyed

As an ambulance passes, its pitch seems to change. This is best explained by (a) convection (b) Newton’s Third Law (c) the Doppler effect (d) momentum

the Doppler effect

A concave lens is also known as a (a) focal point (b) converging lens (c) convex lens (d) diverging lens

diverging lens

The smallest particle of a covalent compound that can exist freely and still retain characteristics is a (a) proton (b) quark (c) atom (d) molecule

molecule

Which is most responsible for oceanic tides? (a) Earth’s rotation (b) Earth’s magnetic polarity (c) Moon orbiting Earth (d) Earth orbiting Sun

the Moon’s gravity/orbit around Earth

In the periodic table, elements in a column are a (a) period (b) group (c) configuration (d) unit

group

In a chemical change, the molecules that enter the reaction are called (a) reactants (b) products (c) compound (d) elements

reactants

Which of these undergo metamorphosis? (a) butterfly (b) bacteria (c) snake (d) chicken

butterfly

When a lobster grows a claw to replace one lost, the process is called (a) mutation (b) regeneration (c) respiration (d) diffusion

regeneration

A smooth round stone most likely became smooth because (a) freezing and thawing (b) volcanic action (c) it fell off a cliff (d) it was in a stream a long time

it was in a stream a long time

Which enables a ballpoint pen to work? (a) hydraulic force (b) capillary action (c) centrifugal force (d) vacuum pressure

capillary action

The term “meiosis” is usually associated with (a) digestion (b) respiration (c) reproduction (d) photosynthesis

reproduction

By definition, an aquifer is (a) layer of sedimentary rock formed by deposits (b) ocean floor muds (c) river bottom gravel (d) permeable rock/sediment that stores or transmits groundwater

permeable rock/sediment that stores or transmits groundwater

Which of the following reproduce by spawning? (a) butterflies (b) birds (c) bats (d) fish

fish

Best illustration of centripetal force is (a) ice skater spinning (b) skier zigzagging (c) bicycle rider coasting (d) rock falling straight down

ice skater spinning

Argon (Ar) and neon (Ne) are (a) ionic (b) radioactive (c) liquid metals (d) noble gases

noble gases

In a fertilizer test, a control group would (a) get no fertilizer (b) get all fertilizers mixed (c) be unnecessary (d) be grown elsewhere

not be given any fertilizer

In a balanced aquatic ecosystem, the greatest population would be (a) fish (b) crabs (c) sharks (d) plankton

plankton

Water cycle correct order: sunlight heats → evaporation → vapor cools → condensation → precipitation corresponds to (a) 1→4→2→5→3 (b) 5→2→1→4→3 (c) 1→3→2→4→5 (d) 5→3→1→4→2

(d) 5→3→1→4→2

Water droplets forming on the inside of a car window is (a) sublimation (b) condensation (c) evaporation (d) precipitation

condensation

Which process is movement of water through a plant and out the leaves? (a) germination (b) transpiration (c) fertilization (d) pollination

transpiration

Which part of the cell contains genetic material? (a) mitochondria (b) nucleus (c) ribosome (d) cell wall

nucleus

“Powerhouse of the cell” refers to the (a) chloroplast (b) mitochondrion (c) nucleus (d) vacuole

mitochondrion

The basic unit of life is the (a) organ (b) tissue (c) cell (d) atom

cell

A substance with pH 2 is (a) strongly acidic (b) neutral (c) basic (d) strongly alkaline

strongly acidic

pH 7 is (a) acidic (b) neutral (c) basic (d) corrosive

neutral

Boiling water is a (a) chemical change (b) physical change (c) nuclear change (d) combustion

physical change

Rusting of iron is a (a) physical change (b) chemical change (c) phase change (d) condensation

chemical change

The force that opposes motion between surfaces is (a) gravity (b) friction (c) magnetism (d) buoyancy

friction

Newton’s First Law is best described as (a) F=ma (b) action

reaction (c) inertia (d) conservation of energy

Acceleration is change in (a) distance (b) speed/velocity (c) mass (d) temperature

velocity

Conduction is heat transfer by (a) direct contact (b) fluid movement (c) electromagnetic waves (d) evaporation

direct contact

Convection is heat transfer by (a) direct contact (b) movement of fluids (c) radiation (d) friction

movement of fluids

Radiation transfers energy by (a) contact (b) fluid motion (c) electromagnetic waves (d) sound waves

electromagnetic waves

The Earth’s rotation causes (a) seasons (b) day and night (c) tides (d) eclipses

day and night

Seasons are mainly caused by (a) distance to the Sun (b) tilt of Earth’s axis (c) ocean currents (d) Moon phases

tilt of Earth’s axis

A light

year measures (a) brightness (b) time (c) distance (d) mass

The primary source of energy for Earth’s weather system is (a) the Moon (b) the Sun (c) volcanoes (d) Earth’s core

the Sun

Most weather occurs in the (a) stratosphere (b) mesosphere (c) troposphere (d) thermosphere

troposphere

The “Ozone layer” is mainly located in the (a) troposphere (b) stratosphere (c) mesosphere (d) ionosphere

stratosphere

The process plants use to make food is (a) respiration (b) photosynthesis (c) fermentation (d) decomposition

photosynthesis

In photosynthesis, plants take in (a) oxygen (b) nitrogen (c) carbon dioxide (d) methane

carbon dioxide

The main gas in Earth’s atmosphere is (a) oxygen (b) nitrogen (c) carbon dioxide (d) hydrogen

nitrogen

The layer of Earth made of molten metal is the (a) crust (b) mantle (c) outer core (d) inner core

outer core

Earthquakes are most often caused by (a) tides (b) plate movement (c) wind (d) precipitation

plate movement

Igneous rock forms mainly by (a) deposition (b) heat and pressure (c) cooling of magma/lava (d) fossil compression

cooling of magma/lava

Metamorphic rock forms mainly by (a) cooling lava (b) heat and pressure (c) evaporation (d) condensation

heat and pressure

A solution is (a) a pure substance (b) a mixture (c) a compound (d) an element

a mixture

The universal solvent is (a) alcohol (b) water (c) oil (d) mercury

water

The organ that pumps blood is the (a) lungs (b) liver (c) heart (d) kidney

heart

The structure that carries oxygenated blood from lungs to heart is the (a) vena cava (b) pulmonary vein (c) pulmonary artery (d) aorta

pulmonary vein

The largest organ of the human body is the (a) liver (b) skin (c) brain (d) lungs

skin

The part of the ear responsible for balance is the (a) cochlea (b) semicircular canals (c) eardrum (d) auditory nerve

semicircular canals