Shared Flashcard Set

Details

science praxis
elementary ed science praxis
103
Education
Undergraduate 1
03/11/2019
Click here to study/print these flashcards.

Create your own flash cards! Sign up here.

Additional Education Flashcards

 

 

Cards

Term

 

 

Which of the following is a chemical change?

 

A.     Burning wood

 

B.     Melting butter

 

C.      Breaking glass

 

D.     Tearing paper

 

 Definition

 

 

 

      Option (A) is correct. The burning of wood involves a chemical reaction between wood and oxygen that produces substances such as carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Term

 

 

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

 

A.     Tornadoes

 

B.     Hurricanes

 

C.      Tsunamis

 

D.     Earthquakes

 

 

 

 Definition

 

 

 

 

          Option (D) is correct. The Richter scale is used to express the magnitude of an earthquake based on measurements of seismic waves.
Term

 

 

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

 

 Definition

 

 

Option (B) is correct. Milk-producing glands are a unique characteristic of mammals.
Term

 

 

 

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

 

 Definition

 

 

      Option (C) is correct. Maritime air masses are air masses that form over large bodies of water, such as seas and oceans
Term

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 Definition

 

 

      Options (B) and (C) are correct. Iron and steel are materials that are strongly attracted to magnets.
Term

 

 

 

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

 

 Definition

 

 

 

      Option (A) is correct. Compared with a more active lifestyle, a sedentary lifestyle usually leads to the burning of fewer calories and an increase in fat storage.
Term

 

 

 

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

 

 Definition

 

 

     Option (B) is correct. After completing an experiment, the next logical step is to analyze the data that resulted from the experiment.
Term

 

 

 

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

 

A.     Skeletal

 

B.     Muscular

 

C.      Nervous

 

D.     Endocrine

 

 Definition

 

 

 

      Option (C) is correct. The brain and spinal cord are part of the nervous system.
Term

 

 

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

  1. circulatory
  2. respiratory
  3. digestive
  4. nervous
 Definition

 

 

 

Option a is correct. The circulatory system is responsible for the transport of blood and nutrients.
Term

 

 

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

Definition

 

 

Option (C) is correct. A device that converts electrical energy directly into mechanical energy is an electric motor.

Term

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

 

 Definition

 

Options (A), (B), and (D) are correct. Commuting to work by public transportation will reduce the miles traveled by private, gasoline-powered vehicles, which will reduce gasoline consumption. Setting a thermostat to a higher temperature in warm weather will reduce the operation of a home cooling system, which will reduce electric energy consumption. Unplugging electrical appliances when they are not in use will reduce the amount of electric power used by the appliances, which will reduce electric energy consumption.

Term

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

 

 

 Definition

 

 

 

Option (C) is correct. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose levels.

Term

 

Which of the following is an example of a mixture?

 

 

 Definition

 

 

Option (B) is correct. A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
Term

 

 

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

 

 

 Definition

 

 

Option (C) is correct. Gravitational attractive forces hold the stars in a galaxy relatively close to one another.

Term

Phytoplankton →→Shrimp →→Penguin →→Seal

 

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The seal is a tertiary consumer in the food chain shown, making it the top predator.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. In the absence of air resistance, all objects near Earth's surface will accelerate toward Earth at the same rate.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Plants are multicellular organisms that have the ability to carry out photosynthesis.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Because the Moon is much closer to Earth than the Sun is, the tide-generating force between the Moon and Earth is greater than that between the Sun and Earth. As a result, the Moon has a greater influence on the tides of Earth’s oceans than the Sun does.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The electrostatic force is the force of attraction or repulsion between charged objects. Clothes that are tumbled and dried in a clothes dryer often carry static charges.
Term

One Earth year is the length of time it takes for

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Earth completes one revolution (orbit) around the Sun in one year (365.25 days).
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Bacteria have short generation times and large populations, and populations of bacteria typically adapt quickly to environmental changes.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Volume is a measure of the amount of space occupied by an object.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Condensation is the change of water vapor to liquid water. Clouds are formed by the condensation of water vapor in the air.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Sexual reproduction increases the genetic diversity of the organisms in a population through recombination of alleles.
Term

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

 

 Definition
Options (A), (C), and (D) are correct. Earthquakes are likely to occur in California because the state is located on the San Andreas Fault. Tornadoes are likely to occur in Oklahoma because the state is located in a geographic area that is ideally situated for the formation of the supercell thunderstorms that produce tornadoes. Hurricanes are likely to occur in Texas because the state is located on the Gulf of Mexico, where tropical disturbances that may result in hurricanes occur frequently.
Term

Which of the following is true about electrons?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Electrons that are shared between atoms or transferred from one atom to another play a major role in the formation of chemical bonds, such as covalent bonds and ionic bonds.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Earth is the only planet in the solar system with a significant amount of liquid water on the surface. Liquid water is required for the development of a complex biosphere.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. pH is a measure of the acidity of an aqueous solution.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. DNA replication occurs during interphase in preparation for mitosis.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The view of stars from Earth changes as Earth revolves around the Sun.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. White-flowered plants of the species are homozygous recessive and will pass on to their offspring only the allele associated with white flowers.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. When the pond water is placed in the freezer, it is in a closed container. 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.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Porosity is related to the amount of open space (holes) in rock and is a measure of the rock’s ability to hold water.
Term

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

 

 Definition
Options (A), (C), and (D) are correct. Wearing safety googles for hands-on activities is an appropriate practice to protect the eyes from injury. Using heat-resistant mitts when working with hot materials is an appropriate practice to protect the hands from injury. Washing hands with soap and water after working with live organisms is an appropriate practice to protect the body from exposure to potentially harmful substances.
Term

Most of an atom's volume is

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Most of the volume of an atom is empty space.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. X-linked disorders in humans are associated with genes that are located on the X chromosome. Both males and females have at least one copy of the
X chromosome.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Scientists believe that the solar system was formed when a cloud of gas and dust was squeezed together by gravitational waves that resulted from the explosion of a nearby star.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The mass of a solid object will remain unchanged when the object remains intact.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Spores enable asexual reproduction in mosses.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. During a total lunar eclipse, the Sun and the Moon are on opposite sides of Earth, which is what occurs during the full-moon phase of the lunar cycle.
Term

Which of the following best describes homeostasis in organisms?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. A chemical reaction is a process in which substances are transformed into other substances. The products of a chemical reaction usually have properties that are different from those of the reactants.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. The four planets that are farthest from the Sun are less dense than are the four planets that are closest to the Sun.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Each chromosome in a eukaryotic cell is made of a single molecule of DNA that is wrapped around protein complexes called nucleosomes.
Term

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

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Because some seismic waves react differently when moving from a liquid to a solid, studies of seismic waves from earthquakes have provided evidence that Earth’s inner core is solid.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Objects released near the Moon’s surface will accelerate toward the Moon with a constant acceleration.
Term

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?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Sickle-cell anemia is an inherited disorder associated with a mutation in the gene encoding the beta-globin subunit of hemoglobin.
Term

Which of the following is a true statement about temperature?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. The temperature of a substance is a measure of the average molecular kinetic energy of the substance. For example, the average molecular kinetic energy of a substance at a high temperature will be greater than that of the same substance at a low temperature.
Term

The process by which a gas becomes a liquid is called

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Condensation is the process by which a gas becomes a liquid.
Term

Which of the following human organs is responsible for the formation of sperm cells?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. In human males, the testis is the organ in which the formation of sperm cells occurs.
Term

Which of the following best describes the approximate length of time it takes Earth to rotate once about its axis?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. On average, it takes 24 hours, or one day, for Earth to rotate once about its axis. The rotation of Earth about its axis leads to the cycle of day and night.
Term

Which THREE of the following are generally acceptable rules for laboratory activities?

 

 Definition
Options (A), (B), and (D) are correct. To prevent accidental ingestion or absorption of potentially harmful substances, students should wash their hands after working with chemicals. To help maintain a safe environment, accidents and spills in the laboratory should be reported to the teacher immediately so that a correct response can be implemented. To safely and effectively complete laboratory procedures, students should read instructions thoroughly before starting the procedures. Cracked glassware is a safety hazard and should never be used.
Term

Which of the following processes most directly involves the movement of water from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Precipitation is the process by which atmospheric water falls to Earth’s surface in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Because atmospheric water returns to Earth’s surface primarily through the process of precipitation, it is an important part of the water cycle. Infiltration is the process by which water on Earth’s surface enters the subsurface soil and rock. Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates from plant leaves and enters the atmosphere. Sublimation is the process by which a substance transitions directly from the solid phase to the gas phase without going through the liquid phase.
Term

Which of the following is an important function of the digestive system?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The digestive system includes organs that break down food into small molecules, which are then absorbed into the body. The primary location of absorption is the small intestine.
Term

As a rock begins tumbling down a hillside, most of its gravitational potential energy is converted into

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. As the rock begins moving down the hillside under the influence of gravity, most of the rock’s gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
Term

Which of the following is the best example of an interaction between different biotic factors in an ecosystem?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. A grazing animal eating plants is an example of an interaction between two different biotic factors (an animal and the plants it eats) in an ecosystem. The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is an example of a type of insect life cycle. A plant absorbing sunlight is an example of an interaction between a biotic factor (a plant) and an abiotic factor (sunlight). An icicle melting on a warm day is an example of an interaction between two abiotic factors (water and temperature).
Term

A neutral atom becomes a positive ion when it loses one or more

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Protons are positively charged, and electrons are negatively charged. A neutral atom has the same number of protons and electrons. A neutral atom becomes a positive ion when it loses one or more electrons, resulting in the ion having more positive charges than negative charges.
Term

Which of the following best describes a galaxy?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. A galaxy is a system composed of many stars, dust, and gas, which is held together by gravitational attraction.
Term

An object is moving in a straight line at a constant speed. What will happen if a constant force is then applied to the object in the same direction in which the object is moving?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. When a constant force is applied to the object in the same direction in which the object is moving, the object will accelerate in that direction.
Term

Which of the following molecules is a product of cellular respiration and is used for energy transfer in cells?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct.
Term

Researchers found fossils of marine organisms in rock layers that are located high above sea level. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the researchers’ observations?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Marine fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in shallow seas or other marine environments. The fossils were formed after the marine organisms died and became buried in sediment on the seafloor. The sediment containing the fossils hardened into rock over many millions of years and became exposed above sea level as a result of geological processes, such as the uplifting of land due to plate tectonic activity.
Term

During a total solar eclipse, the Moon is in which of the following phases?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. The new Moon phase of the lunar cycle is when 0% of the sunlit portion of the Moon is visible from Earth, which also occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun.
Term

Which of the following is a primary function of plant roots?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Anchoring the plant to the ground is an important function of plant roots. Other important functions of plant roots include absorbing water, storing nutrients, and forming new plants via vegetative reproduction.
Term

Which of the following best describes the type of chemical reaction that occurs when the acid is mixed with the base in a solution?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Mixing the acid with the base results in a neutralization reaction that produces water and the salt .
Term

Which of the following systems is responsible for the production of hormones?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. The endocrine system includes glands that produce, store, and secrete hormones, which are carried by the circulatory system to their target tissues.
Term

Which of the following is a method of heat transfer?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Convection is the transfer of heat from one area to another by the bulk movement of a liquid or gas. An example of convection is the upward movement of air that has been warmed over a hot surface. Warm air expands, becoming less dense than cold air. As a result, the warm air above a hot surface rises and is replaced by colder air. The upward movement of the warm air transfers heat away from the hot surface.
Term

Which of the following best describes where most earthquakes occur?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Most earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries. Tectonic plates are pieces of Earth’s solid outer layer (the lithosphere). The tectonic plates are resting atop a layer of hot, partially molten rock (the asthenosphere), which allows the plates to move over Earth’s surface over geologic time. The movement of the plates causes the plates to collide with or slide past one another. The sudden release of energy near the edges of two tectonic plates results in an earthquake.
Term

CH4(g)+2O2(g)→CO2(g)+2H2O(g)CH4⁢(g)+2O2(g)→CO2(g)+2H2O(g)

The balanced chemical equation shown above represents a reaction between methane ( CH4CH4 ) and oxygen ( O2O2 ) that produces carbon dioxide ( CO2CO2 ) and water ( H2OH2O ). Based on the balanced chemical equation, how many molecules of oxygen react with each molecule of methane?

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. In a chemical reaction between two substances, the atoms of the substances are rearranged to form other substances. In the chemical reaction represented by the equation, atoms in molecules of methane and oxygen are rearranged to form molecules of carbon dioxide and water. Because atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, the equation has been balanced so that the same number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms appear on both sides of the reaction arrow. Based on the balanced chemical equation, one molecule of methane reacts with two molecules of oxygen to produce one molecule of carbon dioxide and two molecules of water.
Term

Which of the following biomes has the greatest diversity of species?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Of the four biomes listed, tropical rain forests have the greatest diversity of species.
Term

Which THREE of the following types of household waste are most likely to be accepted by a curbside recycling program?

 

 Definition
Options (A), (B), and (C) are correct. Dry newspaper, clean aluminum cans, and rinsed glass jars are typically accepted by curbside recycling programs. In contrast, waxed paper contaminated with food is not accepted by many curbside recycling programs.
Term

Which of the following processes in a plant’s life cycle involves the emergence of leaves and roots from a seed?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Germination is the development of the first roots and shoots from a seed after a period of dormancy. The process of germination results in a seedling.
Term

On the periodic table, the elements lithium, sodium, and potassium are grouped together in the first column. Based on their locations on the periodic table, which of the following is most likely true about the elements lithium, sodium, and potassium?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Atoms of lithium, sodium, and potassium have one valence electron. As a result of the similarity in their electron configurations, which is reflected in their locations on the periodic table, the three different elements have similar chemical properties. In contrast, they have different atomic numbers, different atomic masses, and different melting points.
Term

An animal is found to have the following characteristics.

  • It has a backbone.
  • It has soft, moist skin covered by a slippery layer of mucus.
  • It goes through complete metamorphosis in its life cycle.
  • It lives part of its life in water and part of its life on land.

To which of the following groups does the animal most likely belong?

 

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The characteristics presented are typical of frogs. Frogs belong to the class Amphibia, which also includes toads and salamanders.
Term

In an activity, students filled two identical containers with equal volumes of either freshwater or salt water. The students then placed different objects, one at a time, in the containers and observed whether the objects sank or floated. Which of the following statements best accounts for an observation that the same object sank in the freshwater but floated in the salt water?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. An object will sink in a liquid if its density is greater than that of the liquid, and it will float if its density is less than or equal to that of the liquid. The observation that the same object sank in the freshwater but floated in the salt water is best accounted for by concluding that the salt water is denser than both the object and the freshwater.
Term

Which of the following elements are most abundant in the Sun?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. The composition of the Sun is approximately 99.9% hydrogen and helium.
Term

In plants, the chlorophyll used in photosynthesis is contained in which of the following cell structures?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Plants are eukaryotes that have membrane-bound organelles. The chloroplast is the organelle in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is the site where photosynthesis occurs.
Term

Which of the following is true about the formation of a covalent bond?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. A covalent bond involves the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between two atoms.
Term

Which of the following demonstrations provides the best opportunity for students to gain an understanding of why the Sun appears larger than other stars, even though many stars are actually larger than the Sun?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. The bulb positioned closer to the observer will appear larger than the bulb positioned farther away, even though the two bulbs are the same size. Similarly, of two stars that have approximately the same size and temperature, the star that is closer to Earth will appear to be the larger star.
Term

Bread molds belong to which of the following groups of organisms?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. The molds that grow on bread belong to the kingdom Fungi.
Term

A teacher rubs an inflated balloon with a wool cloth and then holds the balloon over bits of paper that are lying on a table. The students in the class watch as the bits of paper rise from the table toward the balloon. Which of the following hypotheses is best supported by the observed interaction between the balloon and the bits of paper?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. The attraction of the bits of paper to the balloon is best explained by the hypothesis that the balloon has an electrostatic charge. Rubbing the balloon with a wool cloth transferred electrons from the wool to the balloon, resulting in an electrostatic charge on the balloon’s surface. Holding the charged balloon over the bits of paper induced a rearrangement of charges within the paper, resulting in positively charged areas in the bits of paper that caused them to be attracted to the negatively charged balloon.
Term

Two black mice have a litter that contains some black offspring and some brown offspring. In mice, black fur is dominant to brown fur. Which of the following best explains the presence of the brown offspring?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Both parents must have been heterozygous for black fur () because the brown offspring () must have inherited a recessive allele (b) from each parent.
Term

Which of the following factors best accounts for the seasonal changes in weather conditions that occur at a particular location on Earth?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Seasonal changes in weather conditions are largely due to the tilt of Earth’s rotational axis. As Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of Earth’s axis results in the Northern Hemisphere being tilted toward the Sun for one part of the year and away from the Sun for another part of the year. When tilted toward the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight, leading to generally warmer weather conditions. When tilted away from the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight, leading to generally cooler weather conditions. Because the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere experiences generally cooler weather during the same part of the year that the Northern Hemisphere experiences generally warmer weather.
Term

In an investigation of the rusting process, students soaked a sample of steel wool in vinegar for approximately 1 minute. After removing the steel wool from the vinegar, the students squeezed it and blotted it with a paper towel. The students then wrapped the steel wool around the bulb of a thermometer and placed the steel wool and thermometer together in a covered beaker to allow the rusting process to occur. The students observed that the temperature reading of the thermometer gradually increased.

 

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the students’ observation?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. The observed temperature increase best supports the conclusion that energy was released into the surroundings. Soaking the steel wool in vinegar removed a protective coating on the steel wool, resulting in the exposure of iron in the steel wool to oxygen in the air. The reaction of iron with oxygen in the presence of water produces rust, which is a process that releases energy in the form of heat.
Term

In which of the following ways can a tree-fall gap result in increased species diversity in a mature forest community?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. When a tree falls in a forest, a gap in the forest canopy is created, allowing more sunlight to reach the forest floor. Plant species that prefer sunny spots can colonize the area until trees regrow and create a full canopy.
Term

Which of the following statements best describes how the individual molecules in water vapor are different from those in liquid water?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Water vapor is the gaseous phase of water. The average distance between water molecules is greater when water is in the gaseous phase than when it is in the liquid phase. Because water molecules are always composed of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom, the average mass of a water molecule does not change as a result of a phase change. The attractive forces between water molecules are weaker in the gaseous phase than they are in the liquid phase.
Term

Researchers are measuring surface salinity in different areas of an ocean. In which of the following areas will the researchers most likely find the highest surface salinity?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Salinity is a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in water. Processes that increase the concentration of dissolved salts in water lead to increased salinity. Evaporation is the process by which a liquid changes to a gas. Water evaporating from an ocean surface enters the atmosphere but leaves behind dissolved salts, resulting in an increase in the surface salinity in that area of the ocean. Heavy rainfall, the melting of icebergs, and inflow from a river are processes that add freshwater to the ocean, causing the surface salinity in those areas of the ocean to decrease.
Term

The scientific name for a domestic cat is Felis catus. Which of the following classification levels is indicated by the first part of the scientific name?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. In binomial nomenclature, the first term refers to the genus, and the genus and specific epithet together define the species. Felis is the name of the genus that includes some small and medium cat species, including the domestic cat, Felis catus.
Term
CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Type of Sedimentary Rock Approximate Size Range of Fragments (micrometers) Fragment Type
Conglomerate 2,000 Rounded particles
Breccia 2,000 Angular particles
Sandstone 62.5 2,000 Sand
Mudstone 4.0 62.5 Silt

 

Based on the information presented in the table, sedimentary rock made up mostly of angular fragments that have an average size of 3,000 micrometers should be classified as which of the following?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Sedimentary rocks are composed of particles of various sizes and types. Based on the data in the table, sedimentary rocks made up mostly of angular particles that have an average size of 3,000 micrometers are classified as breccia.
Term

Which of the following most likely accounts for structural and functional differences between the skin cells, smooth muscle cells, and liver cells of the same person?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Structural and functional differences between the body cells of a person are best accounted for by differences in gene expression. Because they originated from a single fertilized egg, the body cells of a person contain the same genetic information. However, some genes are expressed only in certain types of cells, such as skin cells, but not in other types of cells, such as smooth muscle cells or liver cells. The expression of different sets of genes results in the production of different sets of proteins in different cells, leading to structural and functional differences between the cells.
Term

In a demonstration of the Doppler effect, an observer who is standing still will most likely hear a sound’s pitch increase when the source of the sound does which of the following?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. An observer who is standing still will most likely hear a sound’s pitch increase when the source of the sound moves toward the observer. As the source of the sound moves toward the observer, each successive sound wave starts at a point closer to the observer, resulting in the sound waves reaching the observer with increasing frequency. Because the frequency of the sound waves increases, the observer perceives an increase in the sound’s pitch.
Term

In which of the following types of power plants would the normal generation of electricity most likely produce the least amount of carbon dioxide gas?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Under normal operation, nuclear power plants release only water vapor from cooling towers. In contrast, the other types of power plants rely on the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, which results in the release of significant amounts of carbon dioxide gas.
Term

[image]

 

The graph represents the motion of an object traveling along a straight path. Based on the graph, the object’s average speed between the 4-second and 7-second time points was most nearly

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Speed is distance divided by time. The average speed of an object traveling along a straight path can be calculated by dividing the distance the object traveled by the amount of time it took to travel that distance. Based on the graph, the object traveled approximately 13 meters between the 4-second and 7-second time points: 13 meters divided by 3 seconds is approximately equal to 4.3 meters per second.
Term

Which of the following typically increases with increasing depth in the open ocean?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Pressure increases with ocean depth. As ocean depth increases, the weight of water above that is pushing down on the water below increases. Biomass, sunlight, and temperature typically decrease as ocean depth increases.
Term

Which of the following phenomena best accounts for an observation that an object underwater appears to be closer to the water’s surface than it really is?

 

 

 Definition
Option (D) is correct. Light waves travel through different substances at different speeds. When light waves pass from one substance to another, their path changes (or bends) as a result of a change in speed. When light waves that have bounced off an object underwater pass from water to air, the change in the path of the light waves makes the object appear closer to the water’s surface than it really is.
Term

In an activity, students create models of landscapes by cutting two-liter plastic bottles in half lengthwise and filling them with different combinations of soil, sand, pebbles, and small plants. After positioning the models at an angle, the students pour equal amounts of water onto each model’s raised end and collect the runoff in beakers placed under each model’s lower end. The students then determine the dry mass of the sediment contained in the runoff from each model.

 

Which of the following scientific questions can the students investigate most directly in the activity described?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. In the activity, the students are simulating the flow of water down a hillside. Erosion is the movement of soil and rock particles by water, wind, or other natural agents. The sediment contained in the runoff from each model is the result of erosion. By determining the dry mass of the sediment collected in the runoff from each model and then comparing their results, the students can investigate how the different combinations of soil, sand, pebbles, and small plants affect erosion by water.
Term

Which of the following identifies the ultimate source of genetic variation in a population of organisms?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Genetic variation results from random changes in genetic information. The genetic information of an organism is encoded in its , and heritable changes in the base pair sequences of are called mutations. Organisms in a population pass some mutations on to their offspring, and over multiple generations the accumulation of different mutations leads to greater genetic variation in the population.
Term

Which of the following scientists did pioneering research on the properties of radioactive elements?

 

 

 Definition
Option (B) is correct. Marie and Pierre Curie are credited with the discovery of the radioactive elements polonium and radium. Marie Curie also investigated the properties of radioactive elements and their compounds.
Term

Which of the following conditions is required for the rapid replenishment of an aquifer?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Aquifers are underground layers of porous rock that hold groundwater. Water removed from an aquifer can be replenished naturally by the infiltration of precipitation into the ground, a process that occurs rapidly when the subsurface soil is permeable.
Term

Which THREE of the following statements about are true?

 

 Definition
Options (B), (C), and (E) are correct. Genetic information is stored in in the form of different base pair sequences, and transmission of genetic information occurs when is replicated and transferred from one cell or organism to another. molecules have two complementary strands of nucleotides that form a double helix. In eukaryotic cells, long molecules are coiled around histone proteins into structures called chromosomes, which at certain times during the cell cycle become condensed into more compact structures that in some cases can be observed under a light microscope. is not typically used by cells as a source of energy. All organisms, including animals and bacteria, store genetic information as inside their cells.
Term

In which of the following layers of Earth’s atmosphere does most weather occur?

 

 

 Definition
Option (A) is correct. Most weather in Earth’s atmosphere occurs in the troposphere. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and contains approximately 75% of the mass of the atmosphere.
Term

[image]

 

Based on the graph shown, a decrease in the string length of a simple pendulum will most likely result in which of the following?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. Based on the graph shown, a decrease in the string length of a simple pendulum will result in an increase in the pendulum’s frequency. For example, reducing a simple pendulum’s string length from 11 centimeters to 2 centimeters will cause the pendulum’s frequency to increase from 1.5 oscillations per second to 3.5 oscillations per second, approximately.
Term

Which TWO of the following examples illustrate the application of genetic engineering in agriculture?

 

 Definition
Options (B) and (D) are correct. Genetic engineering is the targeted modification of an organism's genetic information. Modifying the genetic information of tomato plants by inserting a basil-plant gene and modifying the genetic information of corn by inserting a bacterial gene are examples of genetic engineering.
Term

As part of a unit on plate tectonics, students use various materials to construct physical models of Earth’s layered structure. The students will use the models to explore how the separate plates of the lithosphere, Earth’s solid outer layer, move over the asthenosphere, the partially molten upper portion of Earth’s mantle, over geologic time.

 

Based on the description provided, which of the following materials would best represent the asthenosphere?

 

 

 Definition
Option (C) is correct. The asthenosphere is a hot, malleable layer of rock immediately beneath the lithosphere. Compared with the lithosphere, the asthenosphere has a weaker mechanical strength that allows the rigid crustal plates above it to move across Earth’s surface over long periods of time. Of the materials described, the soft wax would best represent the asthenosphere because of its malleability.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!