PRAXIS Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Science (5005) Practice Test Questions (forms 1 & 2)

Which of the following is a chemical change?

A.Burning wood

B.Melting butter

C.Breaking glass

D.Tearing paper

A.Burning wood

The magnitude of which of the following can be measured using the Richter scale?

A.Tornadoes

B.Hurricanes

C.Tsunamis

D.Earthquakes

D.Earthquakes

Which of the following characteristics is (are) unique to mammals?

A.A bony endoskeleton

B.Milk-producing glands

C.A vertebral column

D.Circulating blood cells

B.Milk-producing glands

A maritime air mass is an air mass that forms over

A.an equatorial desert

B.tall mountains

C.a large body of water

D.the South Pole

C.a large body of water

Which TWO of the following objects are strongly attracted to magnets?

A.Rubber band

B.Iron nail

C.Steel safety pin

D.Plastic paper clip

B.Iron nail

C.Steel safety pin

Which of the following is generally thought to be a contributing factor to obesity?

A.A sedentary lifestyle

B.Restricting fat in the diet

C.A sensible diet

D.Regular exercise

A.A sedentary lifestyle

After a person completes an experiment and collects the data in a scientific investigation, which of the following is the next logical step?

A.Forming a hypothesis

B.Analyzing the results

C.Writing a paper

D.Deciding on a variable

B.Analyzing the results

In which of the following organ systems are the brain and spinal cord found?

A.Skeletal

B.Muscular

C.Nervous

D.Endocrine

C.Nervous

Which of the following scientists is best known for research with electricity?

A.Louis Pasteur

B.Thomas Edison

C.Marie Curie

D.Gregor Mendel

B.Thomas Edison

Which of the following organ systems is responsible for the transport of blood and nutrients?

A.Circulatory

B.Respiratory

C.Digestive

D.Nervous

A.Circulatory

A device that converts electrical energy directly into mechanical energy is best described as which of the following?

A.A resistor

B.A prism

C.A motor

D.A battery

C.A motor

Which THREE of the following actions will result in reduced energy consumption?

A.Commuting to work using public transportation instead of driving alone in a gasoline-powered car

B.Setting the thermostat for a home cooling system to a higher temperature in warm weather

C.Leaving the engine of a gasoline-powered car running when the car will be parked for more than five minutes

D.Preventing electrical appliances from drawing power in standby mode by unplugging them when they are not in use

A.Commuting to work using public transportation instead of driving alone in a gasoline-powered car

B.Setting the thermostat for a home cooling system to a higher temperature in warm weather

D.Preventing electrical appliances from drawing power in standby mode by unplugging them when they are not in use

A.

Four different containers holding the same amount of water are left undisturbed and open to the atmosphere on the same laboratory bench. From which container will the water most likely evaporate at the fastest rate?

Which of the following is an example of a mixture?

A.Compound

B.Solution

C.Molecule

D.Element

B.Solution

Which of the following hormones is most directly involved in the regulation of blood glucose levels?

A.Testosterone

B.Estrogen

C.Insulin

D.Progesterone

C.Insulin

Which of the following holds stars together in the form of a galaxy?

A.Magnetism

B.Electricity

C.Gravity

D.Radiation

C.Gravity

Phytoplankton →Shrimp →Penguin →Seal

In the food chain above, which of the following organisms is the top predator?

A.Seal

B.Shrimp

C.Penguin

D.Phytoplankton

A.Seal

A 5 kg bowling ball and a 0.5 kg basketball are dropped from the same height. In the absence of air resistance, which of the following is true?

A.The basketball will hit the ground first.

B.The bowling ball will hit the ground first.

C.Both balls will hit the ground at the same time.

D.Earth exerts an equal gravitational force on both balls.

C.Both balls will hit the ground at the same time.

Multicellularity and the ability to carry out photosynthesis are characteristics of which of the following groups?

A.Animals

B.Plants

C.Fungi

D.Protists

B.Plants

Which of the following best explains why the Moon has a greater effect than the Sun on the tides of Earth's oceans?

A.The Moon is larger than the Sun.

B.The Moon has a greater mass than the Sun.

C.The Moon has phases as viewed from Earth.

D.The Moon is much closer to Earth than is the Sun.

D.The Moon is much closer to Earth than is the Sun.

Clothing items that cling together after being tumbled and dried in a clothes dryer best illustrate which of the following?

A.The electrostatic force

B.The gravitational force

C.The strong nuclear force

D.The magnetic force

A.The electrostatic force

One Earth year is the length of time it takes for

A.the Moon to make one revolution around Earth

B.Earth to rotate once on its axis

C.Earth to make one revolution around the Sun

D.Earth to make one revolution around the center of the Milky Way galaxy

C.Earth to make one revolution around the Sun

The most rapid rates of evolution are typically observed for populations of which of the following?

A.Bacteria

B.Trees

C.Rodents

D.Insects

A.Bacteria

Which of the following represents the amount of space an object takes up?

A.Mass

B.Weight

C.Density

D.Volume

D.Volume

Of the following processes, which is most directly responsible for the formation of clouds?

A.Precipitation

B.Surface runoff

C.Condensation

D.Transpiration

C.Condensation

Which of the following is a major advantage of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction?

A.Increasing the social interaction among organisms that might otherwise live apart

B.Increasing the number of genes in the offspring produced

C.Increasing the size of a population at a more rapid rate

D.Increasing the genetic diversity of organisms in a population

D.Increasing the genetic diversity of organisms in a population

Which THREE of the following natural disasters are correctly paired with a state where they are likely to take place?

A.Earthquakes , California

B.Landslides , Florida

C.Tornadoes , Oklahoma

D.Hurricanes , Texas

A.Earthquakes , California

C.Tornadoes , Oklahoma

D.Hurricanes , Texas

Which of the following is true about electrons?

A.They have a positive charge.

B.They have a larger mass than protons.

C.They play a major role in chemical bonding.

D.They are most often found in the nucleus.

C.They play a major role in chemical bonding.

Earth is considered to be the only planet in the solar system that can sustain a complex biosphere because it is the only planet that has

A.a significant amount of surface water in liquid form

B.large populations of humans living on its surface

C.an approximately 24-hour period of rotation about its axis

D.an atmosphere made up of a mixture of different gas

A.a significant amount of surface water in liquid form

Which of the following is a measure of the acidity of an aqueous solution?

A.Density

B.pH

C.Molar mass

D.Odor

B.pH

Before a dividing cell can begin mitosis, the DNA of the cell must undergo

A.disintegration

B.mutation

C.replication

D.translation

C.replication

The positions of stars seen in the summer at 11 P.M. are different than those seen in the winter at the same time. Which of the following best explains this?

A.Earth revolves around the Sun.

B.The Moon revolves around Earth.

C.Constellations are moving away from Earth.

D.Constellations revolve around Earth.

A.Earth revolves around the Sun.

In a species of flowering plant, red flowers are dominant to white flowers. When breeding the plants, which of the following will produce only plants with white flowers?

A.Crossing a red-flowered plant with itself

B.Crossing a red-flowered plant with another red-flowered plant

C.Crossing a red-flowered plant with a white-flowered plant

D.Crossing a white-flowered plant with another white-flowered plant

D.Crossing a white-flowered plant with another white-flowered plant

A student measures the mass of a sample of cloudy pond water in a closed container. Under which of the following treatments will the mass of the sample most likely remain the same?

A.Placing the pond-water sample and container in a freezer overnight

B.Adding water-soluble substances to the pond-water sample

C.Transferring the pond water to an open container and boiling it for one hour

D.Filtering the pond water using a stemmed funnel and a paper filter

A.Placing the pond-water sample and container in a freezer overnight

(A change in the pond water from liquid to solid will not result in a change in the mass of the pond-water sample inside the closed container.)

Which of the following properties has the greatest influence on the amount of water that can be stored in an underground rock?

A.Hardness

B.Porosity

C.Streak

D.Luster

B.Porosity

Which THREE of the following practices by a teacher are most appropriate for modeling safety in an elementary science classroom?

A.Wearing safety goggles when doing or observing hands-on activities

B.Waiting to clean up spilled liquids until after a classroom activity is completed

C.Using heat-resistant mitts when working with hot materials

D.Washing hands with soap and water after working with live organisms

A.Wearing safety goggles when doing or observing hands-on activities

C.Using heat-resistant mitts when working with hot materials

D.Washing hands with soap and water after working with live organisms

Most of an atom's volume is

A.occupied by the nucleus

B.occupied by protons

C.occupied by neutrons

D.empty space

D.empty space

Which of the following is generally true about X-linked disorders in humans?

A.Males can have the disorder, but females cannot.

B.Females can have the disorder, but males cannot.

C.Both males and females can have the disorder.

D.Neither males nor females can have the disorder.

C.Both males and females can have the disorder.

Scientists believe that the solar system formed from which of the following?

A.A large meteorite

B.A collapsing black hole

C.A cloud of gas and dust

D.A cooling white dwarf star

C.A cloud of gas and dust

Which of the following properties of a solid object is most likely to remain unchanged as the object accelerates down an inclined ramp that has a frictionless surface?

A.Mass

B.Speed

C.Kinetic energy

D.Potential energy

A.Mass

Which of the following is a structure formed during the asexual phase of the moss life cycle?

A.Sperm

B.Spore

C.Ovum

D.Zygote

B.Spore

Which of the following best describes homeostasis in organisms?

A.A decrease in the average reproductive rate of the organisms in a population

B.A decrease in the skeletal and muscle strength of an aging organism

C.The maintenance of the unlimited growth potential of an organism

D.The maintenance of a constant internal environment by an organism

D.The maintenance of a constant internal environment by an organism

A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. What is the Moon's phase when a total lunar eclipse occurs?

A.Full moon

B.New moon

C.First quarter

D.Third quarter

A.Full moon

Which of the following is a true statement about chemical reactions?

A.The total volume of the products is always equal to that of the reactants.

B.The color of the products must be the same as that of the reactants.

C.The total mass of the products is usually greater than that of the reactants.

D.The chemical properties of the products are usually different from those of the reactants.

D.The chemical properties of the products are usually different from those of the reactants.

Which of the following cell structures are made only of DNA and protein?

A.Vacuoles

B.Ribosomes

C.Mitochondria

D.Chromosomes

D.Chromosomes

Which of the following is true of the four planets farthest from the Sun compared with the four planets closest to the Sun?

A.They have fewer moons.

B.They are less dense.

C.They are smaller.

D.They have shorter years.

B.They are less dense.

Evidence that Earth's inner core is solid was acquired largely from studying which of the following?

A.Drilled core samples

B.Meteorites

C.Seismic waves from earthquakes

D.Satellite photographs

C.Seismic waves from earthquakes

A rock is released from rest at a certain height near the surface of the Moon. Which of the following correctly describes the motion of the rock after it is released?

A.It accelerates downward, toward the surface of the Moon.

B.It falls with a constant speed toward the surface of the Moon.

C.It remains at rest at the point where it was released.

D.It moves upward, away from the surface of the Moon.

A.It accelerates downward, toward the surface of the Moon.

Sickle-cell anemia is an inherited disorder that results from a change in the amino acid sequence of the beta-globin molecule. The change in the beta-globin molecule is the result of which of the following?

A.Damage to cell nuclei

B.Mutation of a gene

C.Damage to bone marrow

D.Alteration of blood vessel structure

B.Mutation of a gene

Which of the following is a true statement about temperature?

A.Temperature is one of the three principal states of matter.

B.Temperature is the mass of a substance per unit volume.

C.Temperature is a physical property that remains unchanged when a substance absorbs heat energy.

D.Temperature is a measure of the average molecular kinetic energy of a substance.

D.Temperature is a measure of the average molecular kinetic energy of a substance.

Which of the following represents a biome?

A. An extended family of chimpanzees

B. A stand of bamboo

C. An orchid and the insects that feed on it

D. A tropical rain forest

D. A tropical rain forest

Which of the following planets is closest to the Sun?

A. Mars

B. Mercury

C. Saturn

D. Venus

B. Mercury

Which of the following substances is readily attracted to a magnet?

A. Gold

B. Nickel

C. Carbon

D. Nitrogen

B. Nickel

A graduated cylinder is typically used to measure which of the following?

A. Temperature

B. Composition

C. Volume

D. Mass

C. Volume

Which THREE of the following statements about stars are true?

A. The Sun is a star.

B. Most stars orbit planets.

C. Various stars have different surface temperatures.

D. Some stars exist for longer periods than other stars.

A. The Sun is a star.

C. Various stars have different surface temperatures.

D. Some stars exist for longer periods than other stars.

Chloroplasts are found in the cells of which of the following organisms?

A. Clams

B. Tulips

C. Parrots

D. Starfish

B. Tulips

The tendency of an object to resist change in motion is called

A. mass

B. inertia

C. friction

D. velocity

B. inertia

Which of the following best describes how a small saltwater spill should be cleaned up in the elementary classroom?

A. Allow the spill to spread so that the water can quickly evaporate, then sweep up the salt.

B. Wipe up the spill with paper towels from the outer edge toward the center to minimize the spread of the spill.

C. Add water to dilute the salt water and increase the volume of the spill to ensure that all the students can help wipe up the spill.

D. Use the classroom sponge to absorb the spill, then squeeze out the salt water into its original container so that it can be reused.

B. Wipe up the spill with paper towels from the outer edge toward the center to minimize the spread of the spill.

The force of electrostatic attraction increases when which of the following are brought closer together?

A. Two negatively charged objects

B. Two positively charged objects

C. Two neutral objects

D. One positively charged object and one negatively charged object

D. One positively charged object and one negatively charged object

Question:An x-ray image is typically used to diagnose which of the following?

A. A muscle tear

B. A broken bone

C. Cardiac arrhythmia

D. Low blood-oxygen levels

B. A broken bone

Which of the following is an example of chemical weathering?

A. The removal of soil along the banks of a river by the flowing water

B. The sculpting of rocks by sand carried by the wind

C. A sidewalk crack getting larger when water in the crack freezes

D. An iron fence rusting over time

D. An iron fence rusting over time

If the small projections on the roots of plants, “root hairs,” are removed, which of the following is likely to be the most direct effect on the plant?

A. Excess water will build up in the stem.

B. Transport of sugars throughout the plant will stop.

C. Carbon dioxide will not be able to reach the leaves.

D. Water and minerals will not be absorbed from the soil.

D. Water and minerals will not be absorbed from the soil.

Which TWO of the following are typically found in the nucleus of an atom?

A. Electrons

B. Protons

C. Neutrons

D. Photons

B. Protons

C. Neutrons

Fossils are most often found in which of the following kinds of rocks?

A. Metamorphic

B. Sedimentary

C. Igneous

D. Pumice

B. Sedimentary

Organisms that are in the same biological class must also be in the same

A. genus

B. family

C. phylum

D. species

C. phylum

A ball is thrown straight up about fifty meters into the air. As the ball is traveling toward Earth and returning to the person who threw it, which of the following is most likely to be true?

A. The speed of the ball is increasing.

B. The potential energy of the ball is increasing.

C. The mass of the ball is decreasing.

D. The frictional force of air resistance acting on the ball is decreasing.

A. The speed of the ball is increasing.

Which of the following is a major product of photosynthesis?

A. Oxygen

B. Carbon dioxide

C. Ammonia

D. Water

A. Oxygen

The density of a liquid is commonly expressed using which of the following units?

A. Grams

B. Milliliters

C. Grams per milliliter

D. Pounds per square foot

C. Grams per milliliter

Which of the following organisms primarily regulates its internal body temperature by external means?

A. Whale

B. Bear

C. Mouse

D. Butterfly

D. Butterfly

In which of the following is the water generally at a much higher temperature than the land that is nearby?

A. Lakes

B. Oceans

C. Geysers

D. Rivers

C. Geysers

Which of the following is true about sound waves with a high frequency?

A. They are loud.

B. They have a high pitch.

C. They travel at the speed of light.

D. They contain less energy than low-frequency sounds.

B. They have a high pitch.

Which THREE of the following phenomena are related to the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth?

A. Solar flares

B. Eclipses

C. Phases of the Moon

D. Tides

B. Eclipses

C. Phases of the Moon

D. Tides

Of the following, which is the most likely consequence of the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere that result from the burning of fossil fuels?

A. The formation of new islands in the South Pacific

B. More frequent volcanic eruptions

C. The thinning of the ozone layer

D. Rising sea levels

D. Rising sea levels

In the food chain, animals that primarily graze on grass as their food source are

A. producers

B. carnivores

C. primary consumers

D. secondary consumers

C. primary consumers

Which of the following could be the pH of an acid?

A. 2

B. 7

C. 10

D. 13

A. 2

(The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Acids have pHs that are less than 7. A pH of 7 is neutral. Bases have pHs greater than 7.)

Hurricanes are most likely to form over which of the following?

A. Tropical ocean water

B. Polar ocean water

C. Polar landmasses

D. Temperate landmasses

A. Tropical ocean water

When light passes from the air into a glass lens, the light changes direction. The phenomenon is known as

A. reflection

B. absorption

C. refraction

D. intensification

C. refraction

All the biotic and abiotic components in a specific region of Earth are called

A. a population

B. an ecosystem

C. a niche

D. a kingdom

B. an ecosystem

Which of the following is a mineral?

A. Shale

B. Marble

C. Granite

D. Diamond

D. Diamond

Which of the following body systems most directly defends the body against pathogens?

A. Nervous system

B. Immune system

C. Respiratory system

D. Endocrine system

B. Immune system

The boundary where two air masses converge is called

A. a cyclone

B. a tornado

C. an isobar

D. a front

D. a front

Which of the following statements about weight and mass is true?

A. Mass is the same as weight.

B. The weight of an object on the Moon is more than its weight on Earth.

C. The mass of an object on the Moon is the same as its mass on Earth.

D. The mass of an object on the Moon is less than its mass on Earth.

C. The mass of an object on the Moon is the same as its mass on Earth.

Which of the following must be present in a population in order for natural selection to occur?

A. Elevated birth rate

B. Genetic variation

C. Geographic isolation

D. Equal numbers of males and females

B. Genetic variation

If a small piece of iron that has a temperature of 25°C is placed in a container of 1,000 g of water that has a temperature of 99°C, which of the following is likely to occur?

A. The iron will melt if the piece is small enough.

B. The temperature of the water will increase to 100°C and start to boil.

C. Some heat will be transferred from the water to the iron.

D. The temperature of the iron will decrease.

C. Some heat will be transferred from the water to the iron.

Of the following, which is most directly related to plate tectonics?

A. El Niño

B. Global warming

C. Mountain formation

D. Surface currents in a pond

C. Mountain formation

When one animal enters an area inhabited by another animal of the same species, the fighting that may occur is most likely associated with which of the following?

A. Predation

B. Territoriality

C. Mimicry

D. Parasitism

B. Territoriality

Object-Mass-Speed

1 - 100 kg - 1 cm/s

2 - 100 kg - 2 cm/s

3 - 10 kg - 2 cm/s

4 - 10 kg - 300 cm/s

Which of the objects listed in the table above has the greatest momentum?

A. Object 1

B. Object 2

C. Object 3

D. Object 4

D. Object 4

Which THREE of the following human body parts are directly involved in homeostasis?

A. Sweat glands

B. Lungs

C. Tendons

D. Kidneys

A. Sweat glands

B. Lungs

D. Kidneys

Which of the following is a stage in the life cycle of a massive star?

A. Eclipse

B. Asteroid

C. Corona

D. Supernova

D. Supernova

Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?

A. The cooking of an egg

B. The mixing of salt and pepper

C. The breaking in half of a pencil

D. The freezing of water in a plastic tray

A. The cooking of an egg

Which of the following is typically considered a renewable energy resource?

A. Petroleum

B. Natural gas

C. Wind

D. Coal

C. Wind

For a certain mammal, the allele associated with black fur B is dominant and the allele associated with white fur b is recessive. An individual that is homozygous for black fur BB mates with an individual that is homozygous for white fur bb. What is the probability (in percent) that one of their offspring will have white fur?

A. 0

B. 25%

C. 50%

D. 75%

A. 0

Which of the following statements best describes an element?

A. It is very similar to a compound.

B. It is the smallest known particle.

C. It is a combination of different types of atoms.

D. It is a pure substance consisting of one type of atom.

D. It is a pure substance consisting of one type of atom.

The DNA in an animal cell is found in which of the following locations?

A. Nucleus

B. Ribosome

C. Plasma membrane

D. Endoplasmic reticulum

A. Nucleus

Which of the following best describes how far the Moon is from Earth and the Sun?

A. The Moon is much closer to the Sun than it is to Earth.

B. The Moon is much closer to Earth than it is to the Sun.

C. The Moon is closer to either Earth or the Sun depending on the time of year.

D. The Moon is about the same distance from Earth as it is from the Sun.

B. The Moon is much closer to Earth than it is to the Sun.

A battery in a circuit causes a lightbulb to glow by providing energy to which of the following in the wires of the circuit?

A. Electrons

B. Protons

C. Heat

D. Light

A. Electrons

Which of the following is the basis of one Earth year?

A. One complete revolution of Earth around the Sun

B. One complete rotation of Earth on its axis

C. One complete rotation of the Moon on its axis

D. One complete cycle of the phases of the Moon

A. One complete revolution of Earth around the Sun

Which of the following is an amphibian?

A. Eel

B. Lizard

C. Snake

D. Salamander

D. Salamander

Which TWO of the following biological molecules in humans are metabolized by the body as sources of energy?

A. RNA

B. Fats

C. Hormones

D. Carbohydrates

B. Fats

D. Carbohydrates

Which of the following is the most common gas in Earth's atmosphere?

A. Nitrogen

B. Water vapor

C. Carbon dioxide

D. Ozone

A. Nitrogen