Manatee School For the Arts 8th Grade Pre / Post-Test€¦ · Web viewB. Members of Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria are multicellular, and members of Domain Eukarya are usually

Manatee School For the Arts 8th Grade Pre / Post-Test

1. Jane is investigating to find out if bean plants grow taller in ordinary topsoil or special potting soil over a three week period. She sets up her investigation with 10 bean plants of equal size in each type of soil. What should Jane do each day to make sure she gets valid results?

A. Water only the plants in special potting soil.

B. Calculate the average plant height for each soil type.

C. Move the plants in ordinary topsoil to different locations.

D. Estimate the height of each plant's stem and record the estimate.

2. Which of the following is the main purpose of a scientific investigation?

A. to prove a scientific law

B. to determine the investigator's opinion

C. to answer questions about the natural world

D. to support results from previous investigations

3. Dr. Jones thinks she has just discovered a new plant species. How should she best communicate her findings with other scientists?

A. Try to find another plant to discover.

B. Post her discovery on the internet as fact.

C. Publish her discovery for other scientists to test.

D. Call her friends and tell them about the discovery.

4. In science, a theory is different from how we use the term “theory” to apply to everyday ideas. The statement “It’s only a theory” might mean something very different than “theory” when used as a scientific term. What is the best way to explain the word, “theory” when used in science?

A. In science, there is no difference between a law and a theory. B. In science, there are few principles that can be considered theories. C. In science, a theory is well supported by observations and/or experimental data. D. In science, a theory is a completely accurate and reliable fact about natural events.

5. In what way is a scientific law different from a scientific theory?

A. A law is true in all situations and all circumstances, while a theory is only true in certain instances. B. A law describes the major ideas of the universe, while theories are based on the smaller ideas of the universe. C. A law is based on testable facts and data, while a theory is just a combination of one or more hypotheses that have not been tested. D. A law expresses a relationship between two or more variables, while a theory explains the casual mechanism of how something happens.

6. Francesca creates a model that shows the movements of the tectonic plates of Earth’s surface. If she wants to use the model to understand the concept of how a mountain is formed, how does that model help her?

A. It shows all of the plates in there correct layout


B. It explains in detail how mountains are formed C. It displays details that cannot be seen in a drawing D. It speeds up a process that takes millions of years

7. A paleontologist who is trying to figure out if a meteor impact killed all the dinosaurs would not be able to find an answer by setting up an experiment. Which of the following would be the best way for the paleontologist to approach the problem?

A. search for dinosaur fossils in many places and note where the fossils stop appearing in the rock layers at each location B. study the evidence a meteor impact leaves in a rock layer, then look for that evidence in the layers of rock that formed after those layers with dinosaur fossils C. wait for a very large meteor to hit Earth again and see which kinds of animals are killed by it D. study similar kinds of disasters that result in large animals become extinct, like an oil spill

8. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed but transferred. This law was proven by Antoine Lavoisier, who heated various substances and documented quantitative relationships. His observations proved that the mass of the reactants is equal to the mass of the product in a chemical reaction. Justify why Lavoisier’s conclusions were considered a law instead of a theory.

A. Lavoisier attempted to explain the results of his experiments. B. Lavoisier provided sufficient empirical evidence to support his claim.

C. Lavoisier provided a correct explanation of an observed pattern in nature. D. Lavoisier applied the results of one experiment to explain a wide variety of circumstances.

9. Which of the following identifies the levels of classification in correct order?

A. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, speciesB. genus, species, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, familyC. domain, kingdom, genus, species, phylum, class, order, familyD. genus, species, phylum, class, order, family, domain, kingdom

10. How are members of Domain Eukarya different from members of Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria?

A. Members of Domain Eukarya are less complex than the members of Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria.B. Members of Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria are multicellular, and members of Domain Eukarya are usually single-celled organisms.C. Members of Domain Eukarya have cells with membrane-bound organelles, and members of Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria lack nuclei.D. Members of Domain Bacteria and Domain Archaea have structures for making their own food, and members of Domain Eukarya lack these structures.

11. Mass and weight are different. Mass depends on ___________. Weight depends on ____.a. gravitational force, an object’s sizeb. placement, forcec. force, placementd. an object’s size, gravitational force

12. Velocity is changing if the speed changes or if which of the following changes?


A. Position B. Direction

C. Time D. Motion

13. Gravity is one of the fundamental forces in nature. It plays an important role in the formation of planets, stars, galaxies, and solar systems. To explain gravity, English physicist Sir Isaac Newton in 1687 published his Law of Universal Gravitation. Which statement gives the best overall definition of gravitation, or the force of gravity, according to Newton’s law?A. Gravitation is a force that makes the Earth rotate.B. Gravitation is a force that makes the Sun so hot that it shines.C. Gravitation is a force that pulls together all matter in the universe.D. Gravitation is a force that keeps the Sun, planets, and other objects apart.14. Sunlight is composed of energy that is visible to humans and energy that is not visible to humans. Which statement describes how the visible energy from the Sun is different from the nonvisible energy?

A. It travels at a different speed. B. It travels a different distance. C. It has different wavelengths. D. It has different amplitudes.

15. All electromagnetic waves travel across space at the speed of light, 9.46 trillion kilometers per year. Visible light and radio waves are both electromagnetic waves. Imagine that an interstellar probe could travel 9.46 trillion kilometers out in space. The probe sends radio signals back to Earth so that ground controllers can track it. Which length of time would it take radio signals from the probe to reach radio receivers on Earth?

A. one year

B. six months

C. 9.46 years

D. 9.46 trillion years

16. A model of the water cycle was made using an aquarium with a glass cover, a container of ice cubes, water, and a lamp

Which part of the water cycle causes the water droplets to form on the glass cover?

A. condensation B. evaporation C. precipitation D. runoff 17. The diagram shows the Moon in its complete orbit around Earth over a period of about 29 days. The Moon appears to have different shapes called phases.

Which phases occur at points 1 and 5, and what is causing the phases?

A. The new moon at point 1 and the full moon at point 5 are phases caused because the Moon changes its shape from night to night.


B. The new moon at point 1 and the full moon at point 5 are phases when the Moon looks like it is changing shape as Earth goes around the Moon.

C. The full moon at point 1 and the new moon at point 5 are phases caused because half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun, but only part of the Moon’s lit surface can be seen as the Moon orbits Earth and Earth orbits the Sun.

D. The new moon at point 1 and the full moon at point 5 are phases caused because half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun, but only part of the Moon’s lit surface can be seen as the Moon orbits Earth and Earth orbits the Sun.

18. The diagram below represents a cross section of four sedimentary rock layers containing fossil remains. The layers have not been overturned.

Which type of fossil is found in the most recently formed sedimentary rock layer?

A. early horses B. armored fishC. dinosaurs D. trilobites

19. The diagram shows how a crack in a rock gets bigger.

A. abrasionB. precipitationC. physical weatheringD. chemical weathering

20. In January, the temperature in the southern part of Florida dropped below freezing several nights in a row. One fruit grower commented that climate was really bad for the orange crop this year. Why was his comment incorrect?

A. Climate refers to precipitation instead of temperature so the climate did not change.B. Cold weather can sometimes occur even in a warm climate such as southern Florida.C. It would have to be cold for many nights in a row to indicate that the climate had changed.D. The climate in Florida does not ever change so it is only the weather that can be bad for the crop.

21. During recent years, floods have caused billions of dollars in damages each year. Flooding is common in


Florida. Why is Florida so susceptible to floods?

A. Limestone exists at or near the ground surface in most areas of the state of Florida.B. Much of Florida is located at or near sea level and can be easily covered by rising water.C. In much of Florida, the ground beneath the top layers of soil is made of organic material that can easily catch fire.D. Florida is located near warm oceans and has flat topography that is vulnerable to the full force of winds and storm surges.

22. The jet stream is generally stronger in winter than in summer. What causes this seasonal difference?

A. Temperature differences in the atmosphere are greater in winter.B. There is more water vapor in the air in the winter so the wind is stronger.C. Snow reflects sunlight in winter which increases the energy in the atmosphere.D. The air is colder in winter so there is less friction between the air and Earth’s surface.

23. Florida and the Atlantic Ocean surrounding Florida are a part of the North American plate. Therefore, although Florida faces the Atlantic Ocean, it is not at a tectonic plate boundary with an oceanic plate. However, plate boundaries can occur between continental plates and oceanic plates as shown in the figure below.

What can you conclude from this figure?

A. The two tectonic plates are sliding past each other horizontally along Earth’s surface

B. The two tectonic plates are moving apart to create a mid-ocean ridge on the sea floor.

C. The two tectonic plates are converging so that a mountain range forms on the continent.

D. The two tectonic plates are diverging causing the continental plate to buckle and form mountains.

24. Ethan is observing chemical and physical properties of a substance. He heats a substance and observes that the substance turns from a brown solid to a black powder. He


refers to several chemistry journals that claim this represents a chemical reaction. From his observation and research, he concludes that the substance goes through a chemical change when heated. How can Ethan best defend his conclusion?

A. by demonstrating that the substance will eventually melt if the temperature continues to increase

B. by verifying that the substance is now made up of different molecules than before it was heated

C. by verifying that the substance is made up of only one type of element

D. by demonstrating that the substance is less dense after it is heated

25. Mr. Roberts drives his car away from his house at a constant speed. Which of the following graphs best shows the relationship between the distance traveled and the time spent driving?

A. B.

C. D.

26. Ice forms in the cracks of a basalt rock formation and breaks some rock into smaller pieces. The diagram below shows part of the rock cycle.

At which point in the cycle shown above would the process of breaking down rocks occur?

A. JB. KC. LD. M27. An object moves through space with balanced forces acting on it. Which statement best describes the speed and direction of the object as long as the forces acting on it remain balanced?

A. The speed and direction of the object will both change.

B. The speed and direction of the object will remain constant.

C. The speed will change, but the direction will remain constant.

D. The speed will remain constant, but the direction will change.

28. A scientist performs an experiment and asks other scientists around the world to replicate it. Why would other scientists most likely try to perform the same experiment?


A. to find out if weather of various regions of the world would affect the results

B. to see if the experiment would be less expensive in another part of the world

C. to confirm the results of the experiment conducted by the scientist

D. to verify that the hypothesis of the experiment is a scientific law

29. Food webs show feeding relationships among different types of organisms. Those organisms each have a specific niche. Which of the following best describes a function of decomposers in food webs?

A. to recycle nutrients into soil

B. to convert solar energy into food

C. to provide food for secondary consumers

D. to compete with secondary consumers for oxygen

30. The interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere can have an impact on Earth’s oceans. Which of the following is an example of an interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere?

A. evaporation of water from oceans at the equatorB. release of fresh water into ocean water as icebergs meltC. decomposition of organic matter at the bottom of oceansD. release of large amounts of salt from icebergs into the ocean

31. Scientific knowledge may change as new evidence or information is discovered. Which of the following would NOT be a result of new scientific research and information?A. Binomial nomenclature is assigned to a recently identified plant species.

B. An endangered monkey species is put in a reserve for protection from extinction.C. A newly discovered chemical element will be added to the periodic table of the elements.D. A nonnative plant species will begin to reproduce rapidly after being introduced into a swamp ecosystem.32. Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Rubidium (Rb), Cesium (Cs), and Francium (Fr) are in the same column in the periodic table. Why are these elements in the same column in the periodic table?

A. They are the same size.B. They react with each other.C. They have similar properties.D. They have the same number of protons.

33. When a candle is lit, the wick burns, the wax melts, the candle changes shape, and the air around the candle heats up. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?

A. the wick burningB. the wax meltingC. the candle changing shapeD. the air around the candle heating up

34. One physical property of a star is apparent magnitude. Which of the following is used in determining the apparent magnitude of a star?

A. the constellation the star is inB. the distance the star is from EarthC. the number of times the star rotatesD. the number of prominences the star makes

35. The surface of Mercury has many more craters than the surface of Earth has. Which of the following statements best explains why Mercury has many more craters than


Earth has?

A. Mercury rotates faster than Earth does.B. Mercury has a smaller mass than Earth has.C. Mercury is much closer to the Sun than Earth is.D. Mercury has a thinner atmosphere than Earth has.

36. Students in Ms. Alvarez’s eighth grade science class are investigating how temperature, in degrees Celsius (˚C), affects the solubility of a compound in 100 milliliters (mL) of water. Ms. Alvarez provides the students with a graph that shows the solubility of a certain compound, as shown below.

She then tells the students that she will demonstrate how many grams (g) of the compound will dissolve in 100 mL of water at 40˚C. Based on the information in the graph, which of the following is the best prediction of how many grams of the compound will dissolve at 40˚C?

A. 40 gB. 65 g

C. 85 gD. 100

37. Deforestation occurs when large areas of trees are cut down. Which of the following impacts on the environment would result from deforestation?

A. increased erosionB. colder temperaturesC. excess ground moistureD. greater oxygen production

38. Several factors can cause weather patterns in the atmosphere. The diagram below shows how air movement near the equator can form thunderstorms.

Which process is the main source of this movement?

A. movement of ocean currentsB. decrease in relative humidityC. heating by energy from the SunD. warming in the upper atmosphere

39. The graph below compares the density, in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3 ), of four different substances.


Based on information from the graph, which of the following best compares the physical properties of two of the substances?A. Substance X has less mass than substance Y has.B. Substance W has less volume than substance X has.C. Substance Y would have less mass than substance Z would have if they had the same volume.D. Substance Z would have less mass than substance W would have if they had the same volume.

40. Keesha did an experiment to study the rate of photosynthesis in the water plant Elodea. She placed a piece of Elodea in a beaker of water and set the beaker 10 centimeters (cm) from a light source. Keesha counted the bubbles released from the plant every minute for five minutes (min). She repeated the process two more times. First, she moved the light to 20 cm from the beaker, and then she moved the light to 30 cm from the beaker. Keesha’s setup and data are shown below.

What is the outcome variable (dependent variable) in this experiment?

A. the number of bubbles producedB. the type of plant placed in the beakerC. the distance of the light source from the plantD. the amount of time the bubbles were counted

41. The water level at the beach changes during the day. What causes the different water levels?A. Earth’s revolutionB. the Moon’s rotationC. Earth’s magnetic fieldD. the Moon’s gravitational pull

42. The following statements were taken from the procedures of four different investigations. The statement from which investigation is an example of repetition?


A. Investigation 1B. Investigation 2C. Investigation 3D. Investigation 4

43. A timeline of some models of atoms throughout history is shown below. These models have contributed to the formation of the atomic theory.

Which statement best summarizes the development of the atomic theory over time?

A. Advancements in atomic models proved the atomic theory was accurate.B. The discovery of new evidence resulted in changes to the atomic theory.C. With the discovery of every new element, the atomic theory was modified.D. Changes in atomic models showed that the atomic theory was based on opinion.

44. The oldest rock formation identified on Earth is found on the shoreline of Hudson Bay in Canada. This rock formed 4.28 billion years ago. What information does a scientist need to more accurately determine the

age of a rock?

A. the percentage of each mineral that makes up the rockB. the thickness of younger rock layers that cover the rockC. the amount of each radioactive element present in the rockD. the amount of weathering present on the surface of the rock

45. The climate of an area can be different from its weather. Which of the following statements describes the climate of an area?

A. There should be heavy rains tomorrow morning.B. The rains next week are expected to cause some flooding.C. The average temperature from 1930–1996 was 23°C (74°F).D. The high temperature on September 4, 2009, was 32°C (89°F).

46. The points labeled on the chart below represent the approximate size of Earth, the Milky Way, the Moon, and the Sun. The approximate size of the solar system is also shown.Which point on the chart best represents the approximate size of the Sun?A. W B. X C. Y D. Z


47. In order to maintain homeostasis, the systems of the human body work together to keep a constant internal temperature. Which of the following statements describes how the human body responds in a cold environment?

A. The nervous system moves the jaw bones and causes the chattering of teeth.

B. The nervous system signals the muscles of the muscular system to contract and warm the body.

C. The circulatory system delivers less carbon dioxide to the muscular system, resulting in stiffening of the muscles.

D. The skeletal system produces more blood cells that circulate through the blood vessels, increasing the warmth of the body.

48. Interactions between layers of Earth cause convection currents to move crustal plates. The diagram below shows four layers of Earth.

In which layer of Earth are the convection currents that directly result in tectonic plate motion found?A. 1B. 2C. 3D. 4

49. Matthew has six cubes of different materials. Each cube has a mass of 10 grams (g). Matthew sorts the cubes into two groups using one physical property.

Which physical property did Matthew most likely use to sort the cubes into two groups?A. densityB. magnetismC. melting pointD. electrical conductivity50. The arrows in the picture below show several ways heat is transferred from the Sun as it strikes sand on the surface of a beach. Which arrow shows convection?

A. 1 B. 2C. 3 D. 4

51. Sunlight is composed of energy that is visible to humans and energy that is not visible to humans. Which statement describes how the visible energy from the Sun is different from the non-visible energy?

A. It travels at a different speed.


B. It travels a different distance.C. It has different wavelengths.D. It has different amplitudes.

52. Luis rubbed a balloon on his hair and held the balloon next to the wall. He observed the balloon stick to the wall. Which of the following is responsible for the balloon sticking to the wall?

A. frictionB. gravityC. electric forceD. magnetic force

53. The diagram below demonstrates how a magnifying lens can make a penny appear larger.

What property of the magnifying lens is most responsible for allowing it to magnify the penny?

A. It can reflect light.B. It can refract light.C. It can increase the intensity of light.D. It can increase the wavelength of light.

54.Emma constructed a simple motor. When connected correctly, the coil of copper wire spins. Which of the following best describes the energy transformation that takes place between the paper clips and the spinning coil?

A. Chemical energy transforms into electrical energy.B. Mechanical energy transforms into electrical energy.C. Electrical energy transforms into mechanical energy.D. Mechanical energy transforms into chemical energy.

55. Structures in the human body work together to perform specific functions. The diagram below shows the organization of structures found in the human body.

A picture of which of the following structures belongs in the box above?A. cellB. organC. organelleD. tissue

56. Mrs. Aldaco added a copper (Cu) cube that is at room temperature and an aluminum (Al) cube that she just removed from the freezer to a beaker of boiling water. She left the cubes in the water for three hours. Which of the following describes a heat flow that took place during those three hours?


A. from the aluminum cube to the beakerB. from the copper cube to the boiling waterC. from the aluminum cube to the copper cubeD. from the boiling water to the aluminum cube


57. The cell theory applies to all organisms, including the five shown below.

Which of the following statements describes how these organisms are an example of the cell theory?

A. The organisms have cells that lack a nucleus.B. The organisms are made of one or more cells.C. The cells of the organisms undergo photosynthesis.D. The cells of the organisms are identical to each other.

58. Mushrooms, bread molds, and yeasts are classified together in the fungi kingdom. Specific characteristics are used to classify these organisms. Which of the following is a characteristic used to classify these organisms as fungi?

A. They are parasites.B. They are unicellular.C. They are prokaryotes.D. They are heterotrophs.

59. A certain reptile species is a herbivore and exists only on an isolated island. Which of the following would most likely result in the extinction of the reptile species over a period of twenty thousand years?

A. The reptile species produces many offspring with many unique traits, and the vegetation remains constant.

B. The reptile species produces few offspring with some unique traits, and the vegetation remains constant.

C. The reptile species produces few offspring with no unique traits, and the vegetation changes quickly.

D. The reptile species produces many offspring with some unique traits, and the vegetation changes slowly.

60. Plant cells are different from animal cells. The diagram below identifies four different structures in a plant cell. Compared to the structures in an animal cell, which of the following structures is found only in a plant cell?


A. Mitochondrion B. CytoplasmC. Cell Wall D. Nucleus


61. Mangrove trees are common to the Florida Everglades. The tree roots serve as a place for freshwater oysters to attach when the tide is high, as shown in the picture below. The oysters are protected from predators when attached to the roots underwater.

The oysters do not harm the trees nor do they provide any benefit to the trees. Which of the following relationships is most similar to the relationship between the mangrove trees and the oysters?

A. African ants living in acacia trees feed on leaf-eating insects found on the tree.

B. Spider crabs are camouflaged by the green-brown algae growing on their shells.

C. A whale is unaffected by the attached remora fish feeding on the whale’s leftover food.

D. Bees fly from one flowering plant to another gathering nectar and pollinating the flowers.

62. The gene for curled ears (C) is dominant over the gene for straight ears (c). The picture below shows a cat with curled ears (Cc) and a cat with straight ears (cc). What percent of the offspring are expected to have curled ears as a result of a cross between the cats shown?

A. 100 B. 75

C. 50 D. 25

63. A diagram of the carbon cycle is shown below.

Each arrow represents a process in the cycle. Which of the following best describes the process that occurs at arrow X?


A. Bacteria break down molecules in animals into carbon-based soil nutrients. B. Animals release oxygen that is used by bacteria to produce carbon dioxide. C. Animals release carbon dioxide that is used by bacteria for growth and reproduction. D. Bacteria combine carbon-based nutrients from plants and animals to produce glucose.


INSTRUCTIONS: Use the information and figures below to answer the next three questions.

The Indian River Lagoon An estuary is a body of water in which fresh water draining from the land mixes with salt water from the ocean. The result of this mixture is an environment with abundant plant and animal life. The Indian River Lagoon is a 156-mile-long estuary on Florida’s east coast. It is a diverse estuary, supporting thousands of species of plants and animals. The food web and food pyramid shown below are examples of the relationships that exist in the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem.

64. Which of the following has the largest population in the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem? A. crab B. egret C. flounder D. sea grass

65. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the energy transfer between the levels of the food pyramid in the Indian River Lagoon? A. Energy stays in the phytoplankton at the lowest level. B. Energy is released into the environment only from the egret. C. Energy travels up from the phytoplankton to the clam worm. D. Energy moves from the flounder to both the clam worm and egret.

66. In the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem, many organisms compete with one another for food sources. Which organism in the food web competes with the egret for food? A. clam worm B. crab C. flounder D. heron

67. What is the primary source of energy used by producers during photosynthesis?A. Thermal energy from the sunB. Light energy from the sunC. Chemical energy from food and oxygenD. Chemical energy from carbon dioxide and water

68. One relationship between organisms is that of predator-prey. Which of the following is the best description of a predator?A. An organism that eats another organism


B. An organism that participates in symbiosisC. An organism that is eaten by another organismD. An organism that benefits at the expense of another organism

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Manatee School For the Arts 8th Grade Pre / Post-Test€¦ · Web viewB. Members of Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria are multicellular, and members of Domain Eukarya are usually