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CAPT GRADE 9 & 10
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Q 1
Prior to building a pool, engineers use computer models to compare which of several designs require the least amount of energy to be heated. What is the dependent variable in the computer models?
a. Size of the poolb. Shape of the poolc. Location of the poold. Temperature of the pool
Q 2The picture below shows the extent of summer in the Arctic Sea ice in 1979 and 2005.
Which hypothesis is best supported by the changes in sea‐ice coverage?
a. Arctic Sea ice is migrating away from Earth’s poles.b. Global warming is caused by human activity, not nature.c. Global warming is occurs only at Earth’s poles during the summer.d. Earth’s climate is gradually warming.
Q 3The figures below show the reaction rate of a specific enzyme at different temperatures and different pHs.
What can be concluded about the enzyme?
a. The enzyme works best at a pH of 8 and a temperature of 25oC.b. The enzyme only works at a pH of 8 and a temperature of 25oC.c. The enzyme is used up at a pH of 11 and a temperature of 35oCd. The enzyme works better at a pH of 8 than a temperature of 25oC
Q 4Students in a science class decided to investigate the strength of two types of polymers. They obtained one petroleum‐based polymer bag and one plant‐basedpolymer bag of the same size and thickness. They added 100 gram weights to each bag until it broke.
What is the independent variable in this investigation?
a. The size of the bagsb. The type of polymer the bags are made ofc. The thickness of the bagsd. The number of 100 grams weights added to each of the bags
Q 5
Students in a science class decided to investigate the strength of two types of polymers. They obtained one petroleum‐based polymer bag and one plant‐based polymer bag of the same size and thickness. They added 100 gram weights to each bag until it broke.
The students found that the plant‐based grocery bag held 500 grams before breaking and the petroleum‐based polymer grocery bag held 600 grams before breaking. In order to increase confidence in their results, the students should repeat the investigation using
a. Only plant‐based polymer bagsb. Two other types of polymer bagsc. A double thickness of each polymer bagd. Both the plant and petroleum polymer bags
Q 6 In a laboratory investigation, a student mixes 1 cup of warm water (30oC) with 30 grams of sugar and 5 grams of yeast. She pours the mixture into a glass bottle and secures a balloon over the opening. After several minutes, she observes that the balloon begins to inflate, as shown in the picture below.
The student performs 2 additional trials. In trial 2 she uses water at 25oC, and in trial 3 she uses water at 20oC. She observes that the colder the water, the longer it takes the balloon to inflate. After reviewing her data, the student decides to perform an additional trial at 35oC. She observes that the balloon inflates faster than during the trial in which the 30oC water was used. This additional trial supports which of the following hypotheses?
a. The warmer the temperature the more favorable for yeast fermentation.b. Yeast requires less sugar when maintained at lower temperatures.c. The best temperature for yeast fermentation is less than 30oC.d. The time for fermentation increases with increasing temperature.
Q 7
The graph below shows changes in a yeast cell population over the course of a year.
The yeast were placed on a nutrient dish and allowed to grow. On which day wasadditional nutrient most likely added to the yeast culture?
a. Day 3b. Day 4c. Day 6d. Day 7
Q 8
A student wanted to design an experiment to determine the effect of nitrates on algaegrowth. Which procedure would create the most valid results?
a. Vary both the temperature and the amount of nitratesb. Keep the temperature constant and vary the amount of nitrates.c. Vary the temperature and keep the amount of nitrates constant.d. Keep both the temperature and the amount of nitrates constant.
Q 9The common cold is caused by a virus that enters the human body and causes mild, flu‐like symptoms. Some people believe that the common cold can be treated by digesting the herb Echinacea. The following table shows results from a study conducted to explore the effects of Echinacea on children with colds.
Data in the table show that the use of Echinacea can
a. Reduce the length of cold infection from 10 to 7 days.b. Increase the incidence of colds in children from 52% to 64%.c. Increase the percent of children with skin rash from 2.7% to 7.1%.d. Reduce the numbers of children having colds from 370 to 337 cases.
Q 10
A possible conclusion from the data is that Echinacea
a. Is a safe remedy for the common cold.b. Is effective only for children.c. Has side effectsd. Reduces the length of colds.
The common cold is caused by a virus that enters the human body and causes mild, flu‐like symptoms. Some people believe that the common cold can be treated by digesting the herb Echinacea. The following table shows results from a study conducted to explore the effects of Echinacea on children with colds.
Q 11A group of students was studying simple electromagnets. They carried out the followingexperiment.
1. Take a nail and wrap a 10 cm wire around the nail five times.2. Connect both ends of the wire to a 1.5 volt battery.3. Measure how many paper clips can be lifted by the end of the nail.4. Repeat for three trials.5. Repeat steps 1‐4 using the same wire and increasing the number of loops of wire around
the nail be five.
Which of the following would most improve the design of this experiment?
a. Replace the nail with a wood pencil.b. Increase the length of the wire as the number of loops increased.c. Keep the number of paper clips lifted constant in the experiment.d. Increase the number of loops of wire beyond 15
Q 12 A group of students was studying simple electromagnets. They carried out the following experiment.
Which graph correctly displays the results of this experiment?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Q 13Students are exploring what happens to potatoes when placed in liquid. They cutone potato into slices and placed the slices in 3 different solutions, as describedin the data table below.
Solution Amount of salt (grams)
Initial mass of potato (grams)
Mass of potato after 25 minutes (grams
100 cc distilled water 0 10 12
100 cc saltwater A 7 10 10
100 cc saltwater B 25 10 8
Which of the following is the independent variable in the students’ experiment?
a. The amount of salt in the waterb. The amount of time in the waterc. The mass of the potatoesd. The concentration of the solution
Q 14
The following data are recorded during an experiment.
Type of container Total burning time (min)
Amount of fuel at start (grams)
Amount of fuel remaining (grams)
Closed 5 100 73
Open 12 100 0
What question was the investigator most likely trying to answer?
a. How does the presence of oxygen affect burning time.?b. What are the byproducts of an incomplete combustion reaction?c. Does the amount of fuel in a combustion reaction affect the burn time?d. How does the starting amount of fuel affect the remaining amount of fuel?
Q 15A teacher provides her class with a table displaying the relative greenhouse effectper molecule of different gases compared to carbon dioxide.
Based on this data table, a student made the conclusion that carbon dioxide is not themain cause of the greenhouse effect. What other data are needed to make a stronger
conclusion?
a. Data about the origin of the gases.b. Data about the size of each type of molecule.c. Data about the absorption of these gases by plants.d. Data about the amount of each gas in the atmosphere.
Q 16 The diagram below shows the fossil record of different species.
When did a major extinction event most likely occur?
a. At the end of the Cenozoic erab. At the end of the Permian erac. At the beginning of the Silurian erad. At the beginning of the Cambrian era
Q 17 The diagram below shows the fossil record of different species.
According to the records of fossil species V and W, which statement is most likely true?
a. Fossil species W appeared before fossil species V, allowing fossil species W to survive longer.
b. Fossil species W was ancestral to fossil species V because it appeared before fossil species V.
c. Fossil species W had greater genetic variability than fossil species V, allowing fossil species W to adapt and survive longer.
d. Fossil species W had lower reproductive success than fossil species V, allowing smaller populations to adapt and survive.
Q 18
The growth rate of a local population is dependent on the birth rate minus thedeath rate and
a. The ratio of males to females in the population.b. The lifespan of females beyond the reproductive age.c. The amount of genetic variation that exists in the population.d. The immigration and emigration of individuals to and from the population.
Q 19 A group of students carried out the following investigation. “Our hypothesis is thatthe greater the wire diameter used in a toaster, the greater the resistance in the wire.”
1. We took a 4 meter length of wire with a diameter of 0.5 millimeters.2. We attached the wire to a3 volt battery and measured the current.3. Knowing the voltage and current, we calculated the resistance of the wire.4. We repeated the same steps with wires of increased diameter.5. We organized our data in the data table below.
Diameter of wire (mm) Measured current (milliamps)
Calculated resistance (ohms)
0.5 10 300.0
1.0 40 75.0
1.5 80 37.5
2.0 100 30.0
2.5 250 12.0
To be certain that data in the table are correct, you will have to
a. Go online and find additional information. c. Ask for your teacher’s opinion.b. Repeat the experiment with different variables. d. Repeat the experiment again.
Q 20In a section of the Grand Canyon, scientists have found the fossil remains of severaldifferent groups of organisms. The diagram below represents the number and age ofthe fossils the scientists have found. The width of each shaded area in the diagrambelow indicates the relative number of fossils found.
Which of the following statements is supported by the fossil record?
a. Group C is now extinct.b. Group D has been in existence the longest.c. Group A is the most recent organism to come into existence.d. Group B was the most numerous organism 10 million years ago.
Q 21 In a section of the Grand Canyon, scientists have found the fossil remains of several different groups of organisms. The diagram below represents the number and age of the fossils the scientists have found. The width of each shaded area in the diagram below indicates the relative number of fossils found.
Which of the following is usually most helpful in determining the age of these fossils?
a. The size of the fossil.b. The color of the fossil.c. The amount of surface area of the rock layer in which the fossils are found.d. The depth of the rock layer in which the fossils are found.
Q 22 In a section of the Grand Canyon, scientists have found the fossil remains of several different groups of organisms. The diagram below represents the number and age of the fossils the scientists have found. The width of each shaded area in the diagram below indicates the relative number of fossils found.
Fossils from both Group B and Group C have recently been found together in anotherpart of the world. What is the probable age of these fossils?
a. Less than 10 million years oldb. 10 – 20 million years oldc. 20 – 30 million years oldd. More than 30 million years old
Q 23In a section of the Grand Canyon, scientists have found the fossil remains of several different groups of organisms. The diagram below represents the number and age of the fossils the scientists have found. The width of each shaded area in the diagram below indicates the relative number of fossils found.
The scientists hypothesize that the four groups of fossilized organisms originated from acommon ancestor. Which of the following would provide the best evidence that theirhypothesis is correct?
a. The number of fossils found in each group is similar.b. Present day members of the groups live in the same environment.c. Fossils from each group were found in the same rock layer.d. Members of the groups have similar physical structures.
Q 24 Scientist have recently been studying the fossil remains of a group of organisms(Group E). Two theories have been proposed about the relationship of Group Eto the other groups. The family trees below represent the two theories. Familytrees show the relationship between different groups of organisms over time.
One of the scientists made the following statement: “Group E came into existence afterGroup C.” The statement is true for
a. Theory 1b. Theory 2c. Both theoriesd. Neither theory
Q 25
The scientists have recently examined the DNA of present-day organisms from groups A,Cand E. They have found that the DNA of group E is more like group A than group C. Thisevidence
a. Supports Theory 1b. Supports Theory 2c. Supports both theoriesd. Supports neither theory
Q 26The graph below shows the correlation between pollutants and human deathsduring the London smog disaster of 1952.
Which conclusion is best supported by the data?
a. Acid rain fell from December 4 to December 10.b. Smoke caused more deaths than sulfur dioxide.c. Sulfur dioxide remains in the air longer than smoke.d. Air pollution peaked between December 7 and December 8.
Q 27
Which government action was most likely the result of the London smogdisaster of 1952?
a. Establishment of youth curfews after dark.b. Creation of a privately funded healthcare system.c. Conversion from underground mining for coal to strip mining for coal.d. Provision of grants for homeowners to convert to gas or oil-fueled heaters.
Q 28The pictures below show the structures of two polymers.
What can be concluded from comparing these two pictures?
a. Polymers are easily broken down into their component parts.b. The same number of carbon atoms may be arranged in various ways.c. Linear polymer structures are stronger than ringed polymer structures.d. It takes fewer monomers to form a linear polymer than a ringed polymer.
Q 29
Researchers have developed a bipolymer made from orange peels andcarbon dioxide. According to the researchers, using carbon dioxide to make polymers could reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted intothe atmosphere. What question would an environmentalist most likelywant answered before accepting this statement as credible?
a. How long will it take the bipolymer to decompose?b. Is the bipolymer as strong as hydrocarbon polymers?c. Can other types of citrus peels be used to produce bipolymers?d. What happens to the carbon dioxide when the bipolymer decomposes?
Q 30
This data table shows the results of an investigation. What information shouldbe used for the column headings marked X?
a. Trial numberb. Number of seedsc. Predicted value for the resultsd. Average of the data in each column
Q 31
A student predicts that similar ice cubes will melt faster in a microwave than ina pot on the stove. How should this hypothesis be tested?
a. Measure and compare the volume of the pot and the microwave.b. Determine the volume of liquid water made by each ice cube.c. Observe and record the time for each ice cube to completely change to a liquid.d. Identify and record the temperature of each ice cube before each trial.
Q 32
A student suspects that there is a relationship between the amount of sunnyweather in a given state and the amount of solar energy used by its inhabitants.In order to find out if this idea is correct, the student will need which information for each state?
a. The efficiency of solar technology used in that stateb. The location and type of solar cells used in that statec. The percentage of days that have enough sunlight to power a solar water heaterd. The number of sunny days per year and the amount of solar power used per year
Q 33
Students conducted an investigation to determine if unknown liquids were acids or bases.What was the independent variable in this investigation?
a. Sampleb. Indicatorc. Color changed. Identification
Q 34
According to the graph, which air pollutant decreased the most from 1970 to 1991?
a. Carbon monoxideb. Sulfur oxidesc. Particulatesd. Lead
Q 35
Which animal has a life span closest to that of sheep?
a. Dogb. Catc. Horsed. Cow
Q 36
From the data given in this table, which characteristics help classify the seashells asbelonging to the Tellin family?
a. Color, size, and hinge typeb. Color, size and water temperaturec. Hinge type, location, and water temperatured. Size, hinge type and location
Q 37Which of these would be the best way to prove that a pine stick is moreflexible than an oak stick?
Q 38
Ellen noticed that she soften sneezes when she visits her friend Robert, who hasa cat and a dog. Ellen wonders if she may have allergies to Robert’s pets anddecides to conduct a scientific investigation. What should Ellen do next?
a. Ellen should tell Robert that she cannot visit him until he gives away his petsb. Ellen should visit Sue who has a goldfish and a hamsterc. Ellen should call her doctor and ask for allergy shotsd. Ellen should visit a friend who has only cats and another friend who has only
dogs.
Q 39
Scientists have spent many years studying the peppered moth, which is a speciesthat has adapted its color from light to dark in reaction to environmental pollution.Which of the following line graphs represents the data from the table?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Q 40
The chart shows the results of an experiment to test the effects of different plant lights onplant seedling growth. Which group of plants showed the greatest gain in height?
a. Group 1b. Group 2c. Group 3d. Group 4
Q 41
The picture shows a test for non-slip surfaces to be used on a ramp. Which of these must be done to provide more meaningful results?
a. Use the same shoe on each surfaceb. Use boards of the same thicknessc. Use the same shoe size for each type of shoed. Use shoes with soles designed for sports
Q42
This graph shows that
a. More enzymes are present at a higher pHb. Pepsin is less sensitive to pH than trypsinc. Pepsin is less effective at low pH than trypsind. pH affects the activity rate of enzymes
Q 43
As a result of the above experiment, responses of a planarian to different environmentalstimuli were recorded. Planaria seem to have the strongest response to
a. lightb. soundc. magnetismd. gravity
Q 44
Which hypothesis is best supported by this graph?
a. A disease of cardinals spread throughout the parkb. Dominant cardinal chick were the first to be fedc. The population of cardinal predators increasedd. The cardinals’ food supply increased
Q 45
Which factor would need to be known before a valid conclusion could be based uponthese data?
a. The original average height of grassb. The length of the study periodc. The density of the phosphate solutionsd. The mineral content of the potting soil
Q 46
According to the graph, how many mice will be born in week 5 if the trend continues?
a. 90b. 100c. 140d. 160
Q 47
Scientists believe that a dinosaur known as a hadrosaurus was a plant eater.Which of the following pieces of evidence supports this conclusion?
a. Hadrosaurus fossils are found with fossils of other dinosaurs that were plant eaters.b. Fossilized plant remains are found with the fossils of the hadrosaurus.c. The fossilized teeth of the hadrosaurus are flat like the teeth of modern plant eaters.d. The regions where hadrosaurus fossils are found were heavily forested.
Q 48
According to the data in the graph, during which time period did the overall bluegill population decline?
a. 1990 – 1993b. 1993 – 1996c. 1996 – 1999d. 1999 – 2002
Q 49
A biology class of 24 students decides to measure the height of each student and thencalculate the average height for the class. Which of these is a possible source of errorin this activity?
a. The accuracy of making and recording measurements.b. The total number of students in the class.c. The number of males and females in the class.d. The difference in the ages of the students in the class.
Q 50A company that produces Brand X flea shampoo claims to have the most effectiveshampoo for killing fleas. Which of these sets of data supports the Brand X claim?
Q 51A student hypothesizes that thick leg muscles are an inherited trait in dogs. The student collects data on several dogs, and the data show that dogs thatlive outdoors have thicker leg muscles than dogs that live indoors. Whatshould the student conclude?
a. Dogs that inherit thick leg muscles may not survive indoors.b. Dogs with thick leg muscles may require more exercise than dogs with
thin leg musclesc. Inheritance alone may not account for thick leg muscles in dogsd. Inheritance of thick leg muscles may be associated with coat thickness
in dogs.
Q 52Francesco Redi performed an experiment in 1668. In the experiment, he placedrotting meat in two jars. The first jar was left open. After a few days, fly larvaewere found on the decaying meat inside. The mouth of the second jar wascovered with gauze. After a few days the decaying meat inside was free of flylarvae, but the larvae were found on the gauze. This experiment supports the hypothesis that
a. Adult flies are not attracted to decaying meatb. Fly larvae prefer fresh meatc. Fly larvae only come from adult fliesd. Decaying meat produce fly larvae
Q 53
According to the table, as vertebrate embryos develop
a. Amphibians and humans develop the same structuresb. Only mammals develop both limbs and external earsc. Reptiles and amphibians grow external earsd. Limbs and external ears grow on mammals and birds
Q 54Harvester ants often strip a bush of all of its leaves. Some people believe this helps the plant grow thicker, healthier stems. In an experiment, a studentstripped off all the leaves from a set of plants. In a second set of identical plants,the student allowed ants to strip off the plants’ leaves. In order to improvethis experimental design, it is most important to add a set of plants
a. Exposed to a different ant speciesb. Of a different speciesc. With its leaves left intactd. That are a different shape
Q 55
This graph suggests that from 1840 to 1920, the carrying capacity for sheep in Tasmaniawas approximately
a. 0.75 millionb. 1.00 millionc. 1.75 milliond. 2.25 million
Q 56
These data were collected by observing responses of different organisms to light. Whichconclusion is supported by these data?
a. Organisms that use photosynthesis are attracted to lightb. Protists are not attracted to lightc. Animals are attracted to lightd. Decomposers are attracted to light
Q 57In 1869, DNA was discovered within the nuclei of cells. By the 1940s scientistsknew that chromosomes were made of both DNA and protein but did not knowwhich was the genetic material of cells. In the 1950s, scientists demonstratedthat DNA is the material responsible for heredity. In 1953, using informationcollected by other scientists, an American biologist and an English physicist builta three-dimensional model of DNA. These discoveries best illustrate the importance of
a. Independent researchb. Replication of resultsc. Collaborative efforts among scientistsd. Recent improvements in the scientific method
Q 58
The above information was collected in the field while studying the effect of pH onthe growth of the duckweed plant. The data shows that duckweed has optimum growth at a pH of
a. 4b. 6c. 8d. 12
Q 59
Which question cannot be answered scientifically because the quantitycannot actually be measured?
a. How fast can a tiger swallowtail butterfly fly?b. How heavy is a mature female elephant?c. How happy is a chimpanzee when it finds its favorite food?d. How much food does a water buffalo consume in one day?
Q 60
Four disinfectants were tested in two trials, each for their effectiveness in controllingbacterial growth. The table shows the bacterial growth in each trial after four days. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the results of this study?
a. Disinfectants kill most bacteria on contact.b. Strong concentrations of disinfectants can be harmfulc. Some disinfectants are more effective than othersd. Disinfectants cannot be used to control bacterial infections
Q 61A student soaked 50 lima beam seeds and 50 green bean seeds in water for 24hours. Then she planted the seeds in the soil at a depth of two centimeters,using the same amount of water, light, and heat for each kind of seed. She measured every three days to determine which type of seed grew the fastest.
The paragraph describes
a. An observationb. A hypothesisc. An experimentd. A conclusion
Q 62
A scientist wants to study the behavior of bald eagles. Which of these plans shouldbe used to study the hunting habits of bald eagles?
a. Analyze the eagles at a zoo for several monthsb. Observe the eagles along the Potomac River for a yearc. Ask a national park ranger questions about eaglesd. Research hawks and make inferences about eagles
Q 63
Which of these would be the best conclusion regarding the experimental results shown?
a. The tallest this species of plant will ever grow is 50 cm.b. This species of plant grew best between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius.c. The ideal temperature for all plant growth is 26 degrees Celsius.d. Plants will not grow above 26 degrees Celsius.
Q 64
Biologists surveyed four islands in a chain near a continent. They identified speciesfound on the mainland and those species that were unique to each island. Based onthese results, which island is probably farthest from the mainland?
a. Island 1b. Island 2c. Island 3d. Island 4
Q 65
In a student experiment, 4 earthworms were placed at each end of a compartment as shown.After 10 minutes, all of the earthworms were together in the same area. The students concluded that the earthworms had moved as far as they could in that period of time. Whichexplanation is also supported?
a. The earthworms moved to their preferred temperature range.b. The earthworms needed to be with other earthworms for warmth.c. The earthworms preferred to be in protected corners.d. The earthworms moved randomly until they grouped together.
Q 66The German physician Robert Koch provided evidence to support the germ theoryof infectious disease. Koch isolated bacteria from a cow with anthrax, then injectedthe bacteria into a healthy mouse. To support germ theory, what must havehappened to the healthy mouse?
a. It became sick.b. It spread smallpox.c. It produced antibiotics.d. It because immune to viral infections.
Q 67
A researcher discovers two populations of birds that are similar. The two populationslive in habitats that are different. What evidence might suggest to the researcherthat the birds belong to different species rather than the same species?
a. Some birds appear to be hybrids of the birds in the two populations.b. The birds in the two populations have different mating behaviors.c. Birds in the two population sometimes feed in different locations.d. The two populations of birds feed at different times of the day.
Q 68
The table indicates the number of amino acids that differ in the amino-acid sequence ofthe hemoglobin from selected organisms when compared to human hemoglobin. On thebasis of this information, which organism would be classified as most closely related tohumans?
a. Lampreyb. Frogc. Dogd. Macaque
Q 69Which graph best illustrates the expected change in the finch (a type of bird)population if the environment changes to favor small beaks?
Q 70
A scientist observes that a species of insect appears to be more numerous during drysummers than during wet summers. Which is the next step to determine anexplanation of this phenomenon?
a. Develop a hypothesisb. Publish the observationc. Observe the species in the winterd. Present a theory in a scientific journal
Q 71A student is planning a field of study of a pond in which a large increase inalgae populations has been observed. Large numbers of dead fish have also been observed in the pond. To find out what caused the death of the fish, thestudent should do each of these EXCEPT
a. Test for chemicals that might poison fish and cause algae to grow.b. Measure the dissolved oxygen content in pond-water samples.c. Look for sources of pollution that may be affecting the pond.d. Measure the amount of light at various levels in the pond.
Q 72
Many residents in a small town have developed a bacterial infection. Two students hypothesize that the bacteria are coming from the town’s drinkingwater. They look for the bacteria in water samples from the lake that supplies 80 percent of the town’s drinking water. When they find no bacteria, thestudents conclude that the town’s residents are not getting the bacteria from theirdrinking water. Which is a source of error in the students’ experimental design?
a. Water from the lake was not tested for other possible pathogensb. Residents of other nearby towns ere not tested for the bacteriac. The resident’s genetic predisposition for getting ill was not determinedd. Other source of drinking water were not tested for the bacteria.
Q 73
Most populations introduced to a new ecosystem grow until factors such as lack of food and overcrowding limit their growth, as illustrated above. What does the portion ofthe graph labeled B represent?
a. Exponential growthb. Slowing growthc. Birthrate decreased. Death rate increase
Q 74A student plants to conduct an experiment to determine how a change in thepH of water affects the population growth rate of algae. To ensure that herexperimental data are valid, she should
a. Hold the acidity of the water constant.b. Vary the temperature of the water usedc. Control the final algae population sizes.d. Use the same species of algae in all trials.
Q 75
The graph shows the populations of ladybugs and the red mites on which they feed.On which date did the ladybug population begin to exceed the red mite population?
a. June 6b. June 10c. June 14d. June 20
Q 76
Each student in a science class of 25 conducts the same experiment. One student gathers all the data from her classmates and summarizes the results of the experiment for the class. She compares the data she personally recorded with the class data. Which of these might indicate to her that her results are valid?
a. Three other classes performed the same experiment.b. The same experiment was repeated two years in a row.c. Many other students recorded data similar to hers.d. Another student in her class reached a different conclusion.
Q 77
Thrips are tiny insects that can easily be seen on roses. The thrip population changesshown in the graph above are probably caused by
a. Increase in human population.b. A major climatic change.c. Seasonal changes.d. Increased use of insecticides.
Q 78
How far offshore is the deepest point of the ocean on this graph?
a. 0 mb. 160 kmc. 165 md. 250 km
Q 79The quality of air is monitored by the government to determine whether a cityneeds to take steps to control air pollution. To best measure air quality, the air should be tested
a. Once a year on a day with very little vehicle traffic.b. Once a day during rush hour when the most cars are on the road.c. Several times a day in all kinds of weather.d. At night when the air is probably less polluted.
Q 80
This experiment was set up to test the hypothesis that plants grow faster in green light.The same amount of water and fertilizer were added to each pot. Which of these wouldimprove the experiment?
a. Use green lights for all three plants.b. Add more types of plants.c. Use the same kind of plant in all trials.d. Use different pots for each plant.
Q 81
The line graph shows the heights of plants grown in fertilized and unfertilized soil. Basedon this information, what will most likely occur on day six?
a. Neither plant should increase by 1 cm in height.b. Plant A should increase about 1 cm in height.c. Plant B should increase about 1 cm in height.d. Plant A should increase about 2 cm in height.
Q 82
This graph represents the type and number of items collected in a beach cleanup. Based on this graph, what percentage of the total items collected from the beaches was plastic?
a. 46%b. 49%c. 56%d. 70%
Q 83
Some seeds were studied in the experiment shown above. The seeds were placed in adish lined with a moist paper towel. Which of these is the independent variable inthis experiment?
a. The type of seedb. The number of seeds usedc. The amount of water given to the seedsd. The temperature of each dish
Q 84
According to this graph, which of these is most important in developing the biomass of these plants?
a. Nitratesb. Sulfatesc. Magnesiumd. Iron
Q 85John and Emily were experimenting with the effects of road salt on plant growth.To do this, they watered plants daily with the same amount of salt water. Theycould best improved their experiment by
a. Increasing the amount of salt added to the water each day.b. Cooling the salt water before watering the plants.c. Adding food color to see how far the salt penetrated the plants.d. Watering half the plants with pure water and half with salt water.
Q 86
In this food web, which organism has the greatest number of food sources?
a. Snake b. Hawkc. Shrewd. Mouse
Q 87
Crickets chirp to attract other crickets. The temperature and rates of their chirping aregraphed above. Which statement below is most likely true for the data represented inthe graph?
a. The cooler the temperature, the louder the crickets chirp.b. The crickets cannot chirp at temperatures lower than 10 degrees Celsius.c. The warmer the temperature, the more often the crickets chirp.d. The temperature and the chirping of crickets are not related.
Q 88
Lemmings are small mammals that experience a population explosion about onceevery four years. Snowy owls eat lemmings. Which of these statements is supportedby the data in this graph?
a. The snowy owls are becoming extinct.b. Lemmings live much longer than snowy owls.c. The habitat of the lemmings is continuously decreasing in size.d. The snowy owl population increases because of an increase in lemmings.
Q 89
The graph shows how the heart rate of Daphnia, a water flea, is affected by water temperature. Which statement is best supported by this data?
A. Daphnia do well in freezing water.
B. Daphnia have healthy hearts.
C. The pulse of Daphnia can double.
D. The rate of mutation in Daphnia varies with temperature.
Q 90
A student wanted to look at plant growth in five different soil samples. He planted thesame type of seeds in identical containers and left them together in full sunlight. He gave each plant the same amount of water and charted the growth of each plant stem.What is the independent variable in this experiment?
a. Soil typesb. Amount of lightc. Type of containerd. Number of seeds
Q 91A student wanted to look at plant growth in five different soil samples. He planted the same type of seeds in identical containers and left them together in full sunlight. He gave each plant the same amount of water and charted the growth of each plant stem. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
Q 92
A student wanted to look at plant growth in five different soil samples. He planted the same type of seeds in identical containers and left them together in full sunlight. He gave each plant the same amount of water and charted the growth of each plant stem. What are three controlled variables / constants for this experiment?
Q 93Which of the following methods would provide the most accurate informationfor students collecting data about local attitudes concerning the use of alternative fuels for automobiles?
a. Take an opinion poll of drivers.b. Listen to speeches given by politicians.c. Study newspaper articles.d. Track prices at nearby gas stations.
Q 94
An experiment is designed to clear an oak-hickory forest and replant the area with pines.Which of the following species would be most threatened by this experiment?
a. Field sparrowb. Cardinalc. Summer tanagerd. Hooded warbler
Q 95
In the above table, which item of data is most likely to be invalid?
a. Plot 1 on July 1b. Plot 2 on June 15c. Plot 3 on May 15d. Plot 4 on May 30
Q 96
In the lab setup pictured above, a student is trying to determine the effect of pollutants onthe growth of three groups of seeds. The results will not be valid because the experiment has no
a. Conclusionb. Hypothesisc. Control groupd. Independent variable
Q 97
The diagram shows a simplified nitrogen cycle. Which process is responsible for returningnitrogen to the air?
a. Excretionb. Decompositionc. Photosynthesisd. Oxidation
Q 98
This graph shows the size of lynx and hare populations between the years of 1845 and 1940.If a predator of the lynx enters the food chain, you might expect the number of
a. Lynx and hares to become equalb. Lynx to increasec. Hares to increased. Hares and lynx to decrease
Q 99
Orchids were studied to determine if the amount of humidity affected the floweringof these plants. What would be the independent variable in this study?
Q 100
Orchids were studied to determine if the amount of humidity affected the floweringof these plants. What would be the dependent variable in this study?
Q 101Orchids were studied to determine if the amount of humidity affected the floweringof these plants. How would you measure the dependent variable in this study?
Q 102
Orchids were studied to determine if the amount of humidity affected the floweringOf these plants. List three controlled variables in this study?
Q 103
Which variable appears to control leaf production in these plants?
a. The amount of water.b. The temperature.c. The number of daylight hours.d. The relative humidity.
Q 104
The table below lists the positions of a free‐falling ball.
Calculate the position of the ball at 6.0 seconds.
Q 105
Josh practices stopping distances at different speeds in a small car. His older brother records the data in the table shown below.
Which graph best represents Josh’s stopping distance in table 1? Explain your answer.
Q 106
Tobacco companies argue that smoking is not directly related to lung cancer. People who smoke cigarettes have only a one‐percent change of getting lung cancer.
Which statement best contradicts this claim?
A. Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure is the same as lung cancer caused by smoking.
B. Eighty‐seven percent of lung cancer patients smoke cigarettes.
C. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 cancer causing substances.
D. Exposure to radon gas is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Q 107
The table below shows features of four different organisms.
Which organism is least related to the others?
A. Organism W
B. Organism X
C. Organism Y
D. Organism Z
Q 108
The graph below shows the production of antibodies following a flu shot.
Which of the following statements best describes the maximum antibody level of a person’s body after a flu vaccination?
A. It occurs immediately
B. It is never achieved
C. It is achieved on day 15.
D. It is achieved on day 18.
Q 109
The jackrabbit population sometimes decreases dramatically. One possible explanation for this decrease is that the coyote population has increased. This explanation is a scientific
A. ConclusionB. ExperimentC. HypothesisD. Law
Q 110
A prediction was made that the best conditions for earthworm growth occur when there are fewer than five earthworms per cubic meter of soil. This prediction is called a
A. Law.
B. Theory.
C. Hypothesis.
D. Conclusion.
Q 111
A mineral supplement designed to prevent the common cold was given to two groups of people during a scientific study.
After 8 weeks, neither group reported a case of the common cold. Which of the following would have made the outcome of this study more valid?
A. Test only 1 group with 150 mg of the supplement.B. Give the supplement to both groups for only 6 weeks.C. Create a third group that receives 75 mg of the supplement.D. Create a third group that does not receive the supplement.
Q 112
Students hypothesized that their normal pulse rates would double after doing 50 sit‐ups. After completing three trials, four students averaged their individual pulse rates and recorded their results below.
Based on the data above, a conclusion cannot be made because
A. The exercise was not strenuous enough to affect the pulse rates.
B. Control data of normal pulse rates for each individual are missing.
C. The variability in pulse rates among the students is too great.
D. Not enough trials were conducted to be able to draw a conclusion.
Q 113
Rainfall in a tropical region is below average for 10 consecutive years. Insect species adapted for dry conditions are much more plentiful at the end of 10 years. Which of the following statements best explains the increase in the populations of these insects?
A. Biodiversity in the region has increased due to the dry conditions.
B. Insects with a high tolerance for dry conditions have migrated out of the region.
C. Natural selection has favored insect species with a high tolerance for dry conditions.
D. Natural selection has selected against insect species that are adapted for dry conditions.
Q 114
Some students are designing an investigation to observe how the speed of a falling object is related to the distance it falls. Which set of equipment should the students use to make appropriate measurements during this investigation?
A. Stopwatch, metric ruler, calculator
B. Compass, graduated cylinder, metric ruler
C. Rubber ball, calculator, balance
D. Metric ruler, pH meter, thermometer
Q 115
The graph shows the optimal temperature ranges and rainfall for four crops. Long‐range weather forecasts predict temperatures averaging between 30°C and 40°C and less than 10 cm of rain per month. Under these predicted conditions, which of the following crops is most likely to grow best?
A. Pole beans
B. Squash
C. Watermelons
D. Corn
Q 116
Pepsin is a stomach enzyme that helps organisms digest proteins. An experiment was conducted to determine at which pH pepsin is most active. A valid conclusion based on the graphed data would be that pepsin…
A. Is most effective within a specific pH range.
B. Causes the pH of the solution to become lower.
C. Changed blue litmus paper to red
D. Stimulates the production of OH‐ ions.
Q 117
The graph shows distance versus time for two toy cars moving in straight lines along a level floor. Which of the following statements concerning the cars is best supported by this data?
A. Car 2 has the same weight as Car 1.
B. Car 1 has greater speed than Car 2.
C. Car 1 has greater momentum than Car 2.
D. Car 2 has greater acceleration than Car 1.
Q 118
Hypothesis: When environmental conditions become unfavorable, the bacterium E. coli forms Protein Q.
Which process indicates a proper step in testing this hypothesis?
A. Establish that Protein Q is present in higher‐level organisms
B. Produce a test for the presence of Protein Q
C. Determine that Protein Q can be artificially produced
D. Test for the types of chemical bonds found in Protein Q.
