Science: Core Subjects Study Material Part 2

In which cellular organelle does photosynthesis primarily occur?

A. Nucleus

B. Mitochondria

C. Chloroplast

D. Golgi apparatus

C is correct because photosynthesis occurs primarily in chloroplasts, which are specialized organelles found in plant cells and some algae. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and other pigments that capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

A bee stinging a person to protect their hive in an example of which type of behavior?

A. Kin selection

B. Altruism

C. Reasoning

D. Imprinting

B is correct because altruism specifically describes behavior where an organism sacrifices itself for the benefit of others, as demonstrated by a bee dying after stinging to protect its hive.

Which of the following best describes the difference between a hypothesis, a law, and a theory?

A. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a phenomenon, a law is a well-established fact that describes a phenomenon, and a theory is a hypothesis that has been proven true.

B. A hypothesis is a well-established fact that describes a phenomenon, a law is a tentative explanation for a phenomenon, and a theory is a hypothesis that has not yet been proven.

C. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a phenomenon, a law is a statement that describes a pattern in nature, and a theory is a well-substantiated explanation for a wide range of phenomena.

D. A hypothesis is a statement that describes a pattern in nature, a law is a well-substantiated explanation for a wide range of phenomena, and a theory is a tentative explanation for a phenomenon.

C is correct because it accurately describes the distinct roles of each scientific concept - a hypothesis serves as a tentative explanation for an observed phenomenon, a law describes a consistent pattern found in nature, and a theory represents a comprehensive, well-supported explanation that accounts for multiple phenomena.

During a lesson on human overpopulation's impact on Earth, which of these topics is unrelated to human environmental influence?

A. Deforestation

B. Animal habitats

C. Global ozone depletion

D. Continental Drift Theory

D is correct because Continental Drift Theory explains the movement of Earth's tectonic plates over geological time and is not related to the environmental impacts of human population growth.

What type of weathering occurs when oxygen reacts with iron to form iron oxide (rust), causing rocks to change color and become more fragile?

A. Mechanical weathering

B. Chemical weathering

C. Erosion

D. Mechanical erosion

B is correct because chemical weathering occurs when minerals in rocks undergo chemical reactions that change their composition, as seen when oxygen reacts with iron to form iron oxide.

Which optical instrument uses a convex lens system primarily to magnify objects beyond their original size?

A. Microscope lens

B. Camera lens

C. Eye lens

D. Bifocal lens

A is correct because microscope lenses use convex glass in a tube to refract light and magnify objects beyond their original size.

Which of the following is an example of a selectively permeable membrane in a cell?

A. The nuclear membrane

B. The cytoplasmic membrane

C. The cell membrane

D. The extracellular membrane

A is correct because selective permeability is a property of membranes that allows them to regulate the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Which of these is a summative rather than formative assessment?

A. Practice problems

B. Observations

C. Science experiment drafts

D. End of unit test

D is correct because an end-of-unit test is designed to evaluate overall learning after instruction is complete, making it summative in nature.

Which of the following statements is true about high quality assessments?

A. If an assessment is reliable, it assesses what it is intended to.

B. An assessment can be reliable but not valid.

C. An assessment has to be valid in order to be reliable.

D. Rubrics should be vague.

B is correct because an assessment can consistently produce the same results (reliability) while not actually measuring what it's intended to measure (validity).

Which of the following is an example of a positive-feedback mechanism in a cell?

A. Blood clotting

B. Thermoregulation

C.  Insulin release

D. Sodium-potassium pump

A is correct because positive-feedback mechanisms are processes in which the body's response to a stimulus amplifies or reinforces the initial stimulus, rather than opposing or reversing it. Blood clotting is an example of positive-feedback, as the clotting process involves a series of reactions that amplify the initial signal and ultimately result in the formation of a clot.

A seventh-grade science teacher emphasizes that safety is the first priority in the classroom and lab. On the second day of the new school year, students receive a lab safety contract for review. Which of these items belongs in a course syllabus rather than a lab safety contract?

A. Expectations on how to use technology

B. Expectations on how to handle lab equipment

C. Expectations on how to handle living and nonliving things

D. How labs will be graded

D is correct because grading policies belong in a course syllabus rather than a lab safety contract, which should focus exclusively on safety procedures and expectations.

When looking toward the center of the earth, which of the following is true?

A. The temperature and pressure rapidly decrease

B. The temperature and pressure rapidly increase

C. The temperature and pressure stay the same

D. Only the temperature increases, the pressure decreases

B is correct because both temperature and pressure increase dramatically as depth increases toward Earth's center, with the highest values found in the core.

Which of the following is a unit of measurement commonly used in science?

A. Yards

B. Kilograms

C. Fahrenheit

D. Pounds

B is correct because kilograms are part of the International System of Units (SI) used in science globally, providing consistent and precise measurements for mass across scientific disciplines.

What form of energy allows people to see the colors of a rainbow?

A. Sound energy

B. Electrical energy

C. Light energy

D. Nuclear energy

C is correct because light energy travels in packets called photons and is the only form of energy directly visible to human eyes.

Which of the following best describes an anabolic reaction?

A. It involves the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones

B.  It releases energy in the form of ATP

C. It requires an input of energy to build larger molecules

D.  It is a type of reaction that occurs during cellular respiration

C is correct because anabolic reactions involve the building of complex molecules from simpler ones and require an input of energy to proceed. These reactions are important in processes such as protein synthesis and the formation of complex carbohydrates.

What type of energy is stored in a stretched rubber band?

A. Heat energy

B. Radiant energy

C. Gravitational energy

D. Elastic energy

D is correct because elastic energy is stored potential energy in objects that are stretched, compressed, or twisted, which converts to kinetic energy when released.

Solar radiation causes auroras to appear in which layer of the atmosphere?

A. Stratosphere

B. Mesosphere

C. Troposphere

D. Thermosphere

D is correct because the thermosphere is where charged particles from solar radiation interact with atmospheric gases to create the colorful light displays known as auroras.

In which type of circuit will all components stop working if one component fails?

A. Simple circuit

B. Series circuit

C. Parallel circuit

D. Abstract circuit

B is correct because a series circuit provides exactly one path for electrical current to flow through all components in sequence.

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that in a chemical reaction, mass is neither created nor destroyed. Chemical equations need to be balanced on the reactant and product side because of this law. According to this definition, which chemical equation is balanced?

Incorrect answer:

A.  H2 + O2 →H2O

B. 2H2 + O2 →2H2O

C. H2 + O2 → 2H2O

D. H + O2 → 2H2O

The answer is B. If there is a coefficient in front of a molecule, all the subscripts in the molecule must be multiplied by the coefficient.  This is why the balanced equation is b.  2 x 2 hydrogen atoms = 4.  There are 4 hydrogen atoms on the reactant side and 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side.  On the product side, there are 2 x 2 hydrogen atoms = 4.  There are 2 x 1 oxygen atoms on the product side.  A balanced equation MUST have EQUAL numbers of EACH type of atom on BOTH sides of the arrow.

There are different tools scientists use to try to measure components of weather so that weather predictions can be made.  Which of the following tools measures atmospheric pressure?

A. Thermometer

B. Anemometer

C. Barometer

D. Weathervane

C is correct because a barometer is specifically designed to measure atmospheric pressure, which is crucial for predicting weather changes.

Which of the following is an important factor in processing and organizing data?

A. Ignoring outliers in the data

B. Using non-standard units of measurement

C. Using scatter plots to represent all data

D. Labeling axes with appropriate units

D is correct because labeling axes with appropriate units is essential for accurate data representation, interpretation, and communication in scientific work, ensuring that measurements can be properly understood and compared.

Which describes ineffective feedback?

A. Specific

B. Timely

C. Addressing areas of growth only

D. Student involvement

C is correct because focusing only on areas of growth ignores student strengths and successes, which are important for motivation and building confidence.

Which of the following is the union of an egg and sperm that creates a new cell or set of cells distinct from the parents?

A. Asexual reproduction

B. Mitosis

C. Sexual reproduction

D. Gamete

C is correct because sexual reproduction is specifically defined as the process where an egg and sperm unite to create new offspring with unique genetic combinations distinct from the parents.

Which unifying concept in science constitutes scientists being able to observe interactions and relationships in order to understand systems and interconnectedness and explain those relationships?

A. Matter and energy

B. Systems

C. Patterns

D. Cause and effect

D is correct because cause and effect relationships form the basis for understanding how different components interact within systems, allowing scientists to observe, analyze, and explain the connections between actions and their consequences.

What force makes a trampoline push the jumper back up after they land on it?

A. Applied force

B. Gravitational force

C. Acceleration

D. Spring force

D is correct because spring force describes how a compressed or stretched spring returns to its original position, as demonstrated by trampoline springs propelling jumpers upward after being stretched.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of enzymes in metabolic pathways?

A. Enzymes are consumed during the reaction in metabolic pathways.

B. Enzymes alter the reactants permanently in metabolic pathways.

C. Enzymes speed up chemical reactions in metabolic pathways.

D. Enzymes generate energy for the reactions in metabolic pathways.

C is correct because enzymes function specifically as biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in metabolic pathways by lowering the activation energy required, without being consumed or altered in the process.

Which of the following correctly lists a lab safety expectation?

A. Food and drink should be contained to lab benches

B. Broken glass should be cleaned up by students

C. Long hair should be pulled back

D. Open toed shoes are acceptable

C is correct because securing long hair is a fundamental lab safety requirement that protects students from potential hazards like flames, chemicals, or equipment.

Tree roots growing through and cracking a boulder would be an example of:

A. mechanical weathering.

B. chemical weathering.

C. erosion.

D. mechanical erosion.

A is correct because mechanical weathering involves physical processes that break rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition, as demonstrated when growing tree roots exert pressure that cracks rocks.

Which describes an inappropriate use of norm-referenced assessments?

A. Data collection for special education placement

B. Data collection for course placement

C. To find out if students are at grade level

D. To quickly assess a student's understanding

D is correct because quick checks for understanding should use formative assessments rather than norm-referenced tests, which are designed for more comprehensive evaluation purposes.

Which tool could help someone lift a heavy box with less effort?

A. Magnet

B. Graduated cylinder

C. Meter stick

D. Simple machine

D is correct because simple machines use mechanical advantage to multiply force and make work easier through leverage and other principles.

A high school geology teacher would like their student to develop some basic observational skills for identifying minerals. Which of the following activities would best support that goal?

A. Giving students a textbook reading on rock types

B. Inviting a geologist to speak with the class

C. Have students use a mineral test kit to observe, test, and identify an unknown sample

D. Ask students to color in a diagram on mineral types

C is correct because using a mineral test kit provides students with direct hands-on experience in developing observational and testing skills needed for mineral identification.

In an 8th grade science lesson about sharks, students learn that these creatures first appeared in the fossil record about 420 million years ago. The shark body design has changed very little since then, suggesting they are well-adapted to their environment. Which unifying science concept does this lesson demonstrate?

A. Systems

B. Scale and proportion

C. Evolution

D. Cycles

C is correct because the shark's minimal physical changes over 420 million years demonstrates evolutionary adaptation, showing how natural selection maintains successful traits when organisms are well-adapted to their environment.

What is an important step in experimental design?

A.  Analyzing data before conducting experiments

B. Developing a hypothesis

C. Reporting conclusions before data collection

D. Using qualitative data only

B is correct because developing a hypothesis is a crucial first step in experimental design that guides the investigation by providing a testable prediction based on prior knowledge and observations.

Which of these resources requires millions of years to replenish once consumed?

Correct answer:

A. Natural gas

B. Solar

C. Wind

D. Water

A is correct because natural gas is a fossil fuel that takes hundreds of millions of years to form from decomposed organic matter under intense heat and pressure, making it impossible to replenish at the rate we consume it.

Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between the moon and the tides? 

A. High tides occur when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth. 

B. Low tides occur when the moon is directly overhead.

C. The gravitational pull of the moon causes the tides to rise and fall.

D. Spring tides occur during the first and third quarter phases of the moon.

C is correct because the moon's gravitational force, combined with the sun's gravitational pull, directly influences Earth's ocean water levels, creating the daily cycle of high and low tides.

The sun’s warmth, a cup of hot coffee, and baking in an oven are all examples of which type of energy?

A. Radiant energy

B. Thermal energy

C. Chemical energy

D. Electrical energy

B is correct because thermal energy represents heat produced by the vibration of atoms and molecules in matter, which occurs in sun's warmth, hot coffee, and oven heating.

What is it called when a combination of salt and pepper can be physically separated?

A. Element

B. Compound

C. Mixture

D. Pure Substance

C is correct because mixtures contain multiple substances that retain their individual chemical properties and can be separated by physical means.

When collecting scientific data, what is an example of qualitative data?

A. Measuring the temperature of a liquid

B. Counting the number of seeds in a fruit

C. Observing the color of a flower

D. Timing the duration of an experiment

C is correct because observing and describing the color of a flower represents qualitative data, which involves descriptive observations that cannot be measured numerically.

Which type of circuit consists of a single path containing a voltage source, conductor, and resistor?

A. Simple circuit

B. Series circuit

C. Parallel circuit

D. Complex circuit

A is correct because a simple circuit is the most basic type of circuit that contains the essential components: a voltage source, a conductive path, and a resistor in a single loop.

What type of plate boundary occurs when Earth's tectonic plates move away from each other?

A. Convergent

B. Divergent

C. Transform

D. Uniform

B is correct because divergent boundaries form when tectonic plates pull apart from each other, often creating new crust in the space between the separating plates.

Which era is also known as the "Age of Mammals"?

A. Paleozoic Era

B. Mesozoic Era

C. Cenozoic Era

D. Precambrian Era

C is correct because the Cenozoic Era marks the time period when mammals became the dominant form of life following the extinction of the dinosaurs, including the emergence and evolution of primates and humans.
A, B, and D are incorrect because the Paleozoic Era was dominated by marine life and early land plants, the Mesozoic Era was the "Age of Dinosaurs," and the Precambrian Era predated complex multicellular life forms.

What is the main factor that can alter the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium in a population?

A. Gene flow

B. Genetic drift

C. Natural selection

D. Mutations

B is correct because the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium assumes that a population is large, has random mating, no mutations, no gene flow, and no selection. Genetic drift, which is the random fluctuation of allele frequencies in a small population, is the main factor that can alter the equilibrium.

What type of cloud is represented in this image?

A. Stratus

B. Cumulus 

C. Altostratus

D. Cirrus 

D is the correct answer because this is a picture of Cirrus Clouds. Cirrus clouds are found high in the sky and are wispy, thin and streaky.

A, B, and C are incorrect because Stratus clouds are found low in the sky and are flat and uniform. They develop horizontally. Altostratus are similar but found more in the middle of the sky. Cumulus clouds are also found low in the sky, develop vertically, hand ave flat bottoms and rounded tops. 

Which type of motion is the rate at which an object moves?

A. Friction

B. Velocity

C. Speed

D. Balanced motion

C is correct because speed measures how fast an object moves, calculated as distance divided by time.

Which of these practices violates ethical research principles in science?

A. Fair & Voluntary Participation

B. Reasonable Risk to Benefit Ratio

C. Social Value

D. Secretive and Deceptive 

D is correct because secretive and deceptive practices violate fundamental research ethics by failing to provide participants with full information and informed consent, undermining the integrity of scientific research.

Which layer of the atmosphere is where clouds and weather occur?

A. Stratosphere

B. Mesosphere

C. Troposphere

D. Thermosphere

C is correct because the troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where all weather phenomena occur, including cloud formation, precipitation, and wind patterns.

Which of the following scenarios would have a minimal impact on a watershed's health?

A. Excessive rain or snow melt causing streams to rise above their banks

B. Human use through excessive irrigation

C. Nuclear power plants releasing thermal pollution

D. The Department of Forestry adding 100 trout to a river system

D is correct because adding trout to a river system, while affecting the ecosystem, has minimal impact on the watershed's overall drainage and water flow patterns.

If one lightbulb burns out in a string of holiday lights and the others stay lit, what type of circuit are they wired in?

A. Simple circuit

B. Series circuit

C. Parallel circuit

D. Abstract circuit

C is correct because parallel circuits provide multiple pathways for current to flow, allowing components to operate independently.

The scientist who discovered vaccines and founded germ theory is:

A. Johannes Gutenberg.

B. Antoine Lavoisier.

C. Louis Pasteur.

D. Dimitri Mendeleev.

C is correct because Louis Pasteur made revolutionary contributions to modern medicine and science by discovering the principles of vaccination, developing the process of pasteurization, and establishing germ theory.

What type of energy travels in electromagnetic waves and includes X-rays, visible light, and radio waves?

A. Radiant energy

B. Mechanical energy

C. Light energy

D. Chemical energy

A is correct because radiant energy travels in electromagnetic waves through space, encompassing various forms including X-rays, sunlight, and radio waves.