SCIENCE PRACTICE TEST

ITEM #1

BIRD MIGRATION BIRD MIGRATION

Question 1/2 Bird migration is a seasonal large-scale movement of birds to and from their breeding grounds.
Every year volunteers count migrating birds at specific locations. Scientists capture some of the
Refer to “Bird Migration” on the right. Click birds and tag their legs with a combination of colored rings and flags.
on a choice to answer the question. The scientists use sightings of tagged birds together with volunteers' counts to determine the
migratory routes of birds.
Most migratory birds gather in one area and
then migrate in large groups rather than
individually. This behavior is a result of
evolution. Which of the following is the best
scientific explanation for the evolution of
this behavior in most migratory birds?

a. Birds that migrated individually or in

small groups were less likely to
survive and have offspring.
b. Birds that migrated individually or in
small groups were more likely to find
adequate food.
c. Flying in large groups allowed other
bird species to join the migration.
d. Flying in large groups allowed each
bird to have a better chance of
finding a nesting site.

CORRECT ANSWER

ITEM #2

BIRD MIGRATION BIRD MIGRATION

Question 2/2 Golden Plovers

Refer to “Golden Plovers” on the right. Click Golden plovers are migratory birds that breed in northern Europe. In autumn, the birds travel to
on one or more boxes to answer the where it is warmer and where more food is available. In spring the birds travel back to their
question. breeding grounds.

Remember to select one or more boxes. The maps below are based on more than ten years of research on the migration of the golden
plover. Map 1 shows the southward migratory routes of the golden plover during autumn, and
☐The maps show a decrease in the map 2 shows the northward migratory routes during spring. Areas colored gray are land, and
number of golden plovers migrating areas colored white are water. The thickness of the arrows indicates the size of the migrating
southward in the past ten years. groups of birds.

☐The maps show that northward migratory Migratory Routes of the Golden Plover.
routes of some golden plovers are different
from southward migratory routes.

☐ The maps show that migratory golden

plovers spend their winter in areas that are
south and southwest of their breeding or
nesting grounds

☐The maps show that the migratory routes

of the golden plover have shifted away from
coastal areas in the past ten years.

Correct Answer

ITEM #3

SLOPE- FACE INVESTIGATION SLOPE- FACE INVESTIGATION

Question 1/1 Data Analysis

Refer to “Data Analysis” on the right. Click A group of students notices a dramatic difference in the vegetation on the two slopes of a valley:
on a choice and then type an explanation to the vegetation is much greener and more abundant on slope A than on slope B. This difference
answer the question. is shown in the illustration on the right.

Two students disagree about why there is a The students investigate why the vegetation on the slopes is so different from one slope to the
difference in soil moisture between two other. As part of this investigation, the students measure three environmental factors over a given
slopes. period of time:

- Student 1 thinks that the difference - Solar radiation: how much sunlight falls on a given location
in soil moisture is due to a - Soil moisture: how wet the soil is in a given location
difference in solar radiation on the - Rainfall: how much rain falls on a given location
 two slopes
The students take the average of the measurements collected over a given period of time from each pair of instruments
- Student 2 thinks that the difference
in soil moisture is due to a
difference in rainfall on the two
slopes

According to the data, which student is

correct?

O Student 1
O Student 2

Correct Answer
ITEM #4

ACID RAIN Student selects Student 1 and gives an explanation that indicates that there is a difference
Question 1/2 in solar radiation between the two slopes and/or that rainfall does not show a difference.
- Slope B gets much more solar radiation than slope A, but the same amount of rain.
Normal rain is slightly acidic because it has - There is no difference in the amount of rainfall the two slopes get.
absorbed some carbon dioxide from the air. There is a big difference in how much sunlight slope A gets compared to slope B.
Acid rain is more acidic than normal rain
because it has absorbed gases like sulfur
oxides and nitrogen oxides as well.

Where do these sulfur oxides in the air

come from?

______________________________

Correct Answer

ITEM #5

ACID RAIN ACID RAIN

Question 2/2
The effect of acid rain on marble can be modeled by placing chips of marble in vinegar overnight.
A marble chip has a mass of 2.0 grams Vinegar and acid rain have about the same acidity level. When a marble chip is placed in vinegar,
before being immersed in vinegar bubbles of gas form. The mass of a dry marble chip can be found before and after the
overnight. The chip is removed and dried experiment.
the next day. What will the mass of the
dried marble chip be?

a. Less than 2.0 grams

b. Exactly 2.0 grams
c. Between 2.0 and 2.4 grams
d. More than 2.4 grams

Correct Answer
ITEM #6

THE GRAND CANYON THE GRAND CANYON

Question 1/2 The Grand Canyon is located in a desert in the USA. It is a very large and deep canyon
containing many layers of rock. Sometime in the past, movements in the Earth's crust lifted these
About five million people visit the Grand layers up. The Grand Canyon is now 1.6 km deep in parts. The Colorado River runs through the
Canyon national park every year. There is bottom of the canyon.
concern about the damage that is being
caused to the park by so many visitors. See the picture below of the Grand Canyon taken from its south rim. Several different layers of
rock can be seen in the walls of the canyon.
Can the following questions be answered
by scientific investigation? Circle “Yes” or
“No” for each question.

How much Yes / No

erosion is
caused by use of
walking tracks?

Is the park area Yes / No

as beautiful as it
was 100 years
ago?

Correct answer

ITEM #7

THE GRAND CANYON THE GRAND CANYON

Question 2/2 The Grand Canyon is located in a desert in the USA. It is a very large and deep canyon
containing many layers of rock. Sometime in the past, movements in the Earth's crust lifted these
The temperature in the Grand Canyon layers up. The Grand Canyon is now 1.6 km deep in parts. The Colorado River runs through the
ranges from below 0 ℃ to over 40 ℃ . bottom of the canyon.
Although it is a desert area, cracks in the
rocks sometimes contain water. How do See the picture below of the Grand Canyon taken from its south rim. Several different layers of
these temperature changes and the water rock can be seen in the walls of the canyon.
in rock cracks help to speed up the
breakdown of rocks?
 a. Freezing water dissolves warm
rocks
b. Water cements rocks together
c. Ice smoothes the surface of rocks
d. Freezing water expands in the rock
cracks.

Correct Answer

ITEM #8

SUNSCREENS SUNSCREENS
Question 1/2
Mimi and Dean wondered which sunscreen product provides the best protection for their skin.
Which one of these statements is a Sunscreen products have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) that shows how well each product
scientific description of the role of the absorbs the ultraviolet radiation component of sunlight. A high SPF sunscreen protects skin for
mineral oil and the zinc oxide in comparing longer than a low SPF sunscreen.
the effectiveness of the sunscreens?
Mimi thought of a way to compare some different sunscreen products. She and Dean collected
a. Mineral oil and zinc oxide are both the following:
factors being tested. - two sheets of clear plastic that do not absorb sunlight;
b. Mineral oil is a factor being tested - one sheet of light-sensitive paper;
and zinc oxide is a reference - mineral oil (M) and a cream containing zinc oxide (ZnO); and
substance. - four different sunscreens that they called S1, S2, S3, and S4.
c. Mineral oil is a reference substance
and zinc oxide is a factor being Mimi and Dean included mineral oil because it lets most of the sunlight through, and zinc oxide
tested. because it almost completely blocks sunlight
d. Mineral oil and zinc oxide are both
reference substances. Dean placed a drop of each substance inside a circle marked on one sheet of plastic, then put the
second plastic sheet over the top. He placed a large book on top of both sheets and pressed
down.
 Mimi then put the plastic sheets on top of the sheet of light-sensitive paper. Light sensitive paper
changes from dark gray to white (or very light gray), depending on how long it is exposed to
sunlight. Finally, Dean placed the sheets in a sunny place.

Correct Answer

ITEM #9

SUNSCREENS SUNSCREENS
Question 2/2
Mimi and Dean wondered which sunscreen product provides the best protection for their skin.
Which one of these questions were Mimi Sunscreen products have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) that shows how well each product
and Dean trying to answer? absorbs the ultraviolet radiation component of sunlight. A high SPF sunscreen protects skin for
longer than a low SPF sunscreen.
a. How does the protection for each
sunscreen compare with the others? Mimi thought of a way to compare some different sunscreen products. She and Dean collected
b. How do sunscreens protect your the following:
skin from ultraviolet radiation? - two sheets of clear plastic that do not absorb sunlight;
c. Is there any sunscreen that gives - one sheet of light-sensitive paper;
less protection than mineral oil? - mineral oil (M) and a cream containing zinc oxide (ZnO); and
d. Is there any sunscreen that gives - four different sunscreens that they called S1, S2, S3, and S4.
more protection than zinc oxide?
Mimi and Dean included mineral oil because it lets most of the sunlight through, and zinc oxide
because it almost completely blocks sunlight

Dean placed a drop of each substance inside a circle marked on one sheet of plastic, then put the
second plastic sheet over the top. He placed a large book on top of both sheets and pressed
 down.

Mimi then put the plastic sheets on top of the sheet of light-sensitive paper. Light sensitive paper
changes from dark gray to white (or very light gray), depending on how long it is exposed to
sunlight. Finally, Dean placed the sheets in a sunny place.

Correct Answer

ITEM #10

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Introduction

An increased demand for seafood is placing a greater burden on populations of wild fish. To reduce this burden, researchers are investigating
ways to grow fish sustainably in fish farms.

Two challenges to creating a sustainable fish farm include (1) feeding the farmed fish and (2) maintaining water quality. Farmed fish require
large amounts of food. A fish farm that is sustainable will grow the food needed to feed the farmed fish. Waste from the fish can build up in the
farm to levels that are dangerous to the fish. In a sustainable fish farm, there is a constant flow of ocean water through the farm. Waste and
excess nutrients (food that algae and plants need to grow) are removed from the water before it is returned to the ocean.
SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING
Question 1/3

Refer to the information below. Use drag and drop to answer the
question. (Manipulative)

The diagram shows a design for an experimental fish farm with

three large tanks. Filtered salt water is pumped from the ocean before
flowing from tank to tank until it is returned to the ocean. The primary
goal of the fish farm is to grow common sole to be harvested in a
sustainable way.

● Common Sole: The fish being farmed. Their preferred food

is ragworms.

The following organisms will also be used in the farm:

● Microalgae: Microscopic organisms that only need light and

nutrients to grow.
● Ra see exs gworks: Invertebrates that grow very rapidly on
a diet of microalgae.
● Shellfish: Organisms that feed on microalgae and other small
organisms in the water.
● Marsh Grass: Grasses that absorb nutrients and wastes from
the water
The researchers need to decide in which tank each organism should be placed. Drag and drop each of the organisms below to the appropriate
tank above to ensure that the Common Sole is fed and that salt water is returned to the ocean unchanged. The micro-algae are already in the
correct tank
 A. B. C. D.

Correct Answer:

ITEM #11

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Question 2/3

Researchers have noticed that the water that is being returned to the ocean contains a large quantity of nutrients. Adding which of
the following to the farm will reduce this problem?

More nutrients More ragworms More shellfish More marsh grass

Correct Answer:

ITEM #12

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Question 3/3

Which procedure would make fish farming more sustainable?

Increasing the rate of water through the tanks.

Increasing the amount of nutrients added to the first tank.

Using filters that allow larger organisms to move between tanks.

Using the wastes produced by the organisms to make fuel to run the water pumps.

Correct Answer: