Science: Core Subjects Study Material Part 1

Which of these practices is inappropriate when teaching science to linguistically diverse students?

A. Accommodating assignments by including pictures

B. Modifying assessments to include fewer answer choices for some students

C. Scaffolding lab reports by adding sentence stems

D. Not allowing any translation tools

D is correct because prohibiting translation tools creates barriers to learning and denies students valuable resources that support their understanding of scientific concepts.

Which of the following introduces new alleles into a population?

A. Genetic drift

B. Non-random mating

C. Gene flow

D. Mutation

D is correct because mutation is the only evolutionary mechanism that creates entirely new alleles, thereby introducing novel genetic variations into a population.

What is error analysis in scientific experiments?

A.  The process of developing a hypothesis

B. The identification of variables

C. The identification of origins and effects of inaccuracies

D. The reporting of conclusions based on data

C is correct because error analysis is the essential scientific process of identifying potential sources of error in an experiment and understanding how these errors might affect the results, which helps ensure the reliability and accuracy of scientific findings.

What force makes it harder to slide a heavy box across carpet than across a smooth floor?

A. Balanced force

B. Velocity

C. Friction

D. Acceleration

C is correct because friction is the force that opposes motion between surfaces in contact.

The earth provides many non-renewable resources that cannot be replaced quickly or at all after they have been used.  An example of a nonrenewable resource is:

A. hydroelectric energy.

B. gold.

C. geothermal energy.

D. solar energy.

B is correct because gold is formed through geological processes that take millions of years, requiring specific conditions of heat, pressure, and volcanic activity, making it impossible to replenish at the rate humans extract it.

What is an assessment that is given to all students in the classroom or grade level to determine which students are struggling in certain content areas like reading or mathematics called?

A. Formative assessment

B. Summative assessment

C. Formal assessment

D. Universal Screener

D is correct because a universal screener is specifically designed to assess all students at regular intervals throughout the year to identify those who may need additional support in core content areas.

What are the scientific skills involved in the process of scientific inquiry?

A.  Memorizing, summarizing, and explaining

B.  Observing, categorizing, comparing, and generalizing

C. Speculating, specifying , and concluding

D. Hypothesizing, theorizing, and predicting

B is correct because scientific inquiry fundamentally relies on observing phenomena, categorizing observations, comparing them with other phenomena, and developing generalizations based on those comparisons.

The sun is predominantly composed of which two elements?

A. Hydrogen and Oxygen

B. Hydrogen and Helium

C. Iron and Helium

D. Helium and Oxygen

B is correct because hydrogen and helium make up approximately 98% of the sun's composition, with hydrogen being the most abundant element followed by helium.

Which of the following is a unique feature of plant cells compared to animal cells?

A. Presence of a nucleus

B. Presence of mitochondria

C. Presence of chloroplasts

D. Presence of lysosomes

C is correct because chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that are responsible for photosynthesis, a process that converts light energy into chemical energy.

Which process creates a new substance with different properties from the original material?

A. Rusting of iron

B. Boiling water

C. Chopping vegetables

D. Making ice

A is correct because rusting is a chemical change where iron reacts with oxygen to form a new substance (iron oxide) with different properties from the original iron.

How does heat energy travel across the vacuum of space from the sun to Earth?

A. Conduction

B. Convection

C. Radiation

D. Geothermal

C is correct because radiation transfers energy through electromagnetic waves, allowing heat from the sun to travel through space to warm Earth.

Which of these describes an ineffective teaching and learning strategy?

A. Discouraging talking or discussion

B. Asking open-ended questions

C. Encouraging student input through voice and choice

D. Developing a shared classroom learning agreement

A is correct because discouraging classroom discussion prevents students from engaging in collaborative learning, developing communication skills, and deepening their understanding through peer interaction.

Which type of severe weather system develops from low pressure systems over warm ocean waters, gaining energy through thunderstorm activity?

A. Tornado

B. Hurricane

C. Blizzard

D. Snowstorm

B is correct because hurricanes form over warm ocean waters when low pressure systems interact with tropical waves, creating thunderstorms that gain energy from the warm water temperatures.

Which system regulates body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure?

A. Immune system

B. Nervous system

C. Skeletal system

D. Reproductive system

B is correct because the nervous system is specifically responsible for regulating vital physiological functions including body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure through its network of nerve impulses and coordinated responses.

In an 8th grade chemistry lesson on balancing chemical equations, students learn that equations must be balanced because of the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Which unifying scientific concept does this demonstrate?

A. Patterns

B. Matter and energy

C. Models

D. Cause and effect

B is correct because balancing chemical equations demonstrates the conservation of matter and energy principle, showing that atoms cannot be created or destroyed during chemical reactions but are instead rearranged.

Referring to the population pyramid above, which statement is true. 

A. This population pyramid represents a country with a rapidly increasing population. 

B. This population pyramid represents a country with a slowly increasing population. 

C. This population pyramid represents a country with a stable population; no growth and no loss.  

D. This population pyramid represents a country with a decreasing population. 

A is correct because a triangle shaped pyramid indicates a large population at young ages, which indicates a large number of people moving into child bearing years, and therefore a growing population.

Which assessment is an example of a summative assessment?

A. End of a unit exam

B. Exit ticket

C. An interview

D. A quick tech based game

A is correct because an end of unit exam is a final evaluation that measures student learning against specific objectives after all instruction has been completed.

Which system works in coordination with the skeletal system to produce body movements?

A. Digestive system

B. Circulatory system

C. Muscular system

D. Respiratory system

C is the correct answer because the muscular system, in coordination with the skeletal system, produces body movements. Skeletal muscles, attached to bones, contract and relax to generate movement.

What is a substance that contains only one type of atom and cannot be broken down further?

A. Element

B. Compound

C. Mixture

D. Solution

A is correct because an element is made up of only one type of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances through any physical or chemical means.

Which type of magnet can be turned on and off to lift heavy metal objects?

A. Permanent magnets

B. Electromagnets

C. Temporary magnets

D. Big magnets

B is correct because electromagnets can be switched on and off and produce extremely strong magnetic fields needed for lifting heavy metal objects and powering maglev trains.

Which rock formation process involves the cooling and solidifying of magma?

A. Igneous

B. Metamorphic

C. Sedimentary

D. Conglomerate

A is correct because igneous rocks form through the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava), creating rocks like granite and pumice.

When should safety goggles be worn in the laboratory?

A. During experiments that last over 30 minutes

B. Whenever chemicals, a heating source, particulate matter or glassware are present

C. While working with solid materials 

D. When the teacher wears the goggles

B is correct because safety goggles must be worn whenever there are potential eye hazards present in the lab, including chemicals, heat sources, particulate matter, or glassware, throughout the entire experiment and cleanup process.

Which evolutionary piece of evidence shows the population size of extinct organisms?

A. Fossils

B. DNA sequencing

C. Embryology

D. Homologous structures

A is correct because fossils provide direct physical evidence about extinct organisms' population sizes through their preserved remains and traces found in different geological layers.

What causes a tsunami to occur?

A. Gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the ocean

B. Wind and depth of a river

C. Periodic rise and fall of the ocean levels along the shore

D. Earthquake on the ocean floor

D is correct because tsunamis are primarily caused by underwater earthquakes that suddenly displace large volumes of ocean water, creating powerful waves that travel across the ocean.

What occurs when the moon is passing directly between the Earth and the sun?

A. Lunar eclipse

B. Total eclipse

C. Solar eclipse

D. Partial eclipse

C is correct because a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the Sun's light from reaching Earth.

Which system helps maintain homeostasis by defending the body against infections, promoting tissue repair, and removing harmful substances?

A. Immune system

B. Nervous system

C. Endocrine system

D. Reproductive system

A is correct because the immune system uniquely functions to maintain homeostasis through defending against infections, promoting tissue repair, and removing harmful substances from the body.

Which type of star is characterized by an expanded, cooler outer layer that gives it a reddish appearance and much larger size than our sun?

A. Red Giant

B. Supernova

C. Stellar Nebula

D. Black Hole

A is correct because a red giant is a late phase of stellar evolution characterized by an expanded, cooler outer envelope that gives it a distinctive red color and much larger size than main sequence stars.

Which of the following correctly identifies the products of meiosis?

A. 4 daughter cells with haploid DNA, genetically unique from the parent cell

B. 2 daughter cells with diploid DNA, genetically identical to the parent cell

C. 2 daughter cells with haploid DNA, genetically unique from the parent cell

D. 4 daughter cells with diploid DNA, genetically identical to the parent cell

A is correct because meiosis specifically produces four haploid daughter cells that contain half the original number of chromosomes and are genetically unique from the parent cell due to crossing over and independent assortment.

Which organisms make their own food with a process called photosynthesis?

A. Producers

B. Consumers

C. Decomposers

D. Predators

A is correct because producers are specifically defined as organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis using energy from the sun.

Wings are adapted for birds to fly.  Which unifying concept explains this piece of evidence?

A. Structure and function

B. Cause and effect

C. Evolution

D. Equilibrium

A is correct because the relationship between a bird's wing structure and its ability to fly demonstrates the fundamental scientific concept that structures in nature are specifically designed to serve particular functions.

The scientific inquiry that involves collecting quantitative data and/or qualitative data to draw conclusions about a natural or man-made system with no hypothesis included is called:

A. controlled experiment.

B. descriptive study.

C. comparative data analysis.

D. case study.

B is correct because a descriptive study involves gathering and documenting data about a phenomenon without testing a specific hypothesis, focusing instead on creating a detailed picture of what exists or occurs naturally.

Which of the following describes the process by which a small group of individuals colonizes a new area and evolves into a new species?

A. Convergent evolution

B. Divergent evolution

C. Sympatric speciation

D. Founder effect

D is correct because the founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals colonizes a new area and starts a new population. The genetic diversity of the new population is limited by the small number of individuals, and genetic drift can cause the population to diverge from the original population and evolve into a new species over time.

What climate zone is near the equator and has a wet and dry season?

A. Temperate

B. Tropical

C. Continental

D. Dry

B is correct because tropical climate zones occur near the equator and are characterized by consistently warm temperatures year-round with distinct wet and dry seasons.

What results when an atom has an unequal number of protons and electrons?

A. Electrical charge

B. Microwaves

C. Radio waves

D. Sound waves

A is correct because an imbalance between the number of protons and electrons in an atom creates an electrical charge - more electrons create a negative charge, while fewer electrons create a positive charge.

The state of California is located on the edge of the North American Continent. Which type of climate zone would California have?

A. Tropical

B. Temperate

C. Dry

D. Polar

B is correct because temperate climate zones, typically found along continental edges at mid-latitudes, are characterized by moderate temperatures and seasonal changes influenced by ocean currents and coastal effects.

Which approach is used to construct phylogenetic trees based on shared derived characteristics?

A. Genetics

B. Taxonomy

C. Cladistics

D. Gene flow

C is correct because cladistics is specifically designed as an approach that constructs phylogenetic trees by analyzing shared derived characteristics (synapomorphies) among organisms.

Which of the following statements best describes the main difference between descriptive studies and controlled experiments?

A. Descriptive studies are used to test a specific hypothesis while controlled experiments are used to describe a particular phenomenon.

B. Descriptive studies are observational and aim to describe a particular phenomenon while controlled experiments are manipulative and aim to test cause-and-effect relationships.

C. Descriptive studies are conducted in the laboratory while controlled experiments are conducted in naturalistic settings.

D. Descriptive studies are more time-consuming and expensive than controlled experiments.

B is correct because it accurately distinguishes between the fundamental nature of these two research methods - descriptive studies observe and document phenomena without intervention, while controlled experiments deliberately manipulate variables to test cause-and-effect relationships.

When hydrogen and oxygen chemically combine to form water, what type of matter is created?

A. Element

B. Compound

C. Mixture

D. Solution

B is correct because compounds are substances formed when different elements combine chemically, creating new materials with unique properties distinct from their component elements.

Which practice is detrimental to effective classroom management?

A. Involving students in developing rules and procedures

B. Encouraging students to monitor their own behavior

C. Use of conflict resolution skills

D. Taking away recess for all students

D is correct because removing recess as a blanket punishment is counterproductive, ignores individual circumstances, and denies students important physical activity and social development opportunities.

Approximately how old is planet Earth?

A. 4.6 billion years old

B. 13.7 billion years old

C. 1 million years old

D. 545 million years old

A is correct because scientific evidence from radiometric dating of rocks and meteorites indicates that Earth formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago.

What kind of cloud brings thunderstorms?

A. Stratus

B. Cirrus

C. Nimbostratus

D. Cumulonimbus

D is correct because cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dense thunderclouds that extend high into the atmosphere and produce thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain, and sometimes hail.

Which of the following units should be used when students are measuring longer distances in science class?

A. Miles

B. Centimeters (cm)

C. Astronomical units (AU)

D. Meters (m)

D is correct because meters are the appropriate metric unit for measuring longer distances in a classroom setting while still being practical for student use.

Which layers of the earth are made of liquid nickel and iron?

A. Crust

B. Mantle

C. Outer core

D. Inner core

C is correct because the outer core is the only layer of Earth that consists of liquid nickel and iron, existing in a molten state due to intense heat and pressure.

An individual inherits two versions of each gene, one from each parent. What are these different versions of a single gene called?

A. Alleles

B. DNA

C. Codominant

D. Recessive

A is correct because alleles are, by definition, the different versions or variants of the same gene that can exist at a specific location on a chromosome.

Which of the following is a step in the scientific inquiry process?

A. Formulating a research question or hypothesis 

B. Conducting experiments without a clear hypothesis

C. Drawing a conclusion based on personal beliefs

D. Ignoring data that doesn't support the initial idea

A is correct because formulating a research question or hypothesis is a fundamental first step in scientific inquiry that guides the investigation and helps scientists systematically explore their curiosity about a phenomenon.

Why does a black car get hotter than a white car in sunlight?

A. Reflection

B. Absorption

C. Transmission

D. Refraction

B is correct because absorption occurs when light energy is taken in by an object and converted to heat energy.

The most abundant organelle in both plant and animal cells that make proteins are called:

A. lysosomes.

B. ribosomes.

C. vacuoles.

D. golgi apparatus.

B is correct because ribosomes are specifically the most numerous organelles in both plant and animal cells and are uniquely responsible for protein synthesis.

Recognizing that challenges exist that can negatively impact students' brain function and decision-making during childhood and adolescence, what type of school program focuses on building strong community and positive relationships as a way to support healthy choices and prevent engagement in risky behaviors like substance use?

A. Alcoholics anonymous (AA)

B. School counselor meetings

C. 4-H program

D. Substance abuse prevention program

D is correct because substance abuse prevention programs are specifically designed for school settings to help students build positive relationships, develop decision-making skills, and create supportive communities that prevent risky behaviors before they start.

What keeps satellites orbiting around Earth?

A. Applied force

B. Gravitational force

C. Balanced motion

D. Spring force

B is correct because gravitational force is the mutual attraction between masses that keeps celestial bodies in orbit, like the Moon around Earth.

Which organisms eat plants or other organisms for energy?

A. Producers

B. Consumers

C. Decomposers

D. Protists

B is correct because consumers are specifically defined as organisms that obtain their energy by eating plants or other organisms, converting this consumed material into usable energy.