SCIENCE PRACTICE TEST

ITEM #1

BIRD MIGRATION BIRD MIGRATION

Question 1/2 Bird migration is a seasonal large-scale movement of birds to and from their breeding grounds. Every
year volunteers count migrating birds at specific locations. Scientists capture some of the birds and tag
Refer to “Bird Migration” on the right. Click on a their legs with a combination of coloured rings and flags. The scientists use sightings of tagged birds
choice to answer the question. together with volunteers' counts to determine the migratory routes of birds.

Most migratory birds gather in one area and then

migrate in large groups rather than individually. This
behavior is a result of evolution. Which of the
following is the best scientific explanation for the
evolution of this behavior in most migratory birds?

a. Birds that migrated individually or in small

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

CORRECT ANSWER A

ITEM #2

BIRD MIGRATION BIRD MIGRATION

Question 2/2 Golden Plovers

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

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

☐ The maps show that migratory golden plovers

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

☐The maps show that the migratory routes of the

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

Correct Answer The student selects BOTH of the following 2 responses:

- The maps show that northward migratory routes of some golden plovers are different
from southward migratory routes.
- The maps show that migratory golden plovers spend their winter in areas that are south
and southwest of their breeding or nesting grounds

ITEM #3

SLOPE- FACE INVESTIGATION SLOPE- FACE INVESTIGATION

Question 1/1 Data Analysis

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

Two students disagree about why there is a The students investigate why the vegetation on the slopes is so different from one slope to the other.
difference in soil moisture between two slopes. As part of this investigation, the students measure three environmental factors over a given period of
time:
- Student 1 thinks that the difference in soil
moisture is due to a difference in solar - Solar radiation: how much sunlight falls on a given location
radiation on the two slopes - Soil moisture: how wet the soil is in a given location
- Rainfall: how much rain falls on a given location
- Student 2 thinks that the difference in soil
moisture is due to a difference in rainfall on The students take the average of the measurements collected over a given period of time
the two slopes from each pair of instruments on each slope and calculate the uncertainty in these
averages. Their results are recorded in the following table. The uncertainty is given
According to the data, which student is correct? following the "士 " sign.

O Student 1
O Student 2
Correct Answer Student selects Student 1 AND gives an explanation that indicates that there is a difference in
solar radiation between the two slopes and/or that rainfall does not show a difference.
- Slope B gets much more solar radiation than slope A, but the same amount of rain.
- There is no difference in the amount of rainfall the two slopes get.
- There is a big difference in how much sunlight slope A gets compared to slope B.

ITEM #4

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

Where do these sulfur oxides in the air come from?

______________________________

______________________________

Correct Answer Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are put in the air from pollution and burning fossil fuels.

ITEM #5

ACID RAIN ACID RAIN

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

a. Less than 2.0 grams

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

Correct Answer A.

ITEM #6

THE GRAND CANYON THE GRAND CANYON

Question 1/2 The Grand Canyon is located in a desert in the USA. It is a very large and deep canyon containing
many layers of rock. Sometime in the past, movements in the Earth's crust lifted these layers up. The
About five million people visit the Grand Canyon Grand Canyon is now 1.6 km deep in parts. The Colorado River runs through the bottom of the canyon.
national park every year. There is concern about the
damage that is being caused to the park by so many See the picture below of the Grand Canyon taken from its south rim. Several different layers of rock can
visitors. be seen in the walls of the canyon.

Can the following questions be answered by

scientific investigation? Circle “Yes” or “No” for each
question.

How much Yes / No

erosion is
caused by use of
walking tracks?

Is the park area Yes / No

as beautiful as it
was 100 years
ago?
Correct answer BOTH of the questions should be answered correctly
- How much erosion is caused by use of walking tracks? YES
- Is the park area as beautiful as it was 100 years ago? NO

ITEM #7

THE GRAND CANYON THE GRAND CANYON

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

a. Freezing water dissolves warm rocks

b. Water cements rocks together
c. Ice smoothes the surface of rocks
d. Freezing water expands in the rock cracks.

Correct Answer D

ITEM #8

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

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

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

Correct Answer D
ITEM #9

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

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

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

ITEM #10

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Introduction

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

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

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Question 1/3
Refer to the information below. Use drag and drop to answer the question. (Manipulative)

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

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

The following organisms will also be used in the farm:

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

A. B. C. D.

Correct Answer: Ragworms and Common Sole into Tank 2 and Marsh Grass and Shellfish into Tank 3

ITEM #11

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Question 2/3

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

〇 More nutrients 〇 More ragworms 〇 More shellfish 〇 More marsh grass

Correct Answer: More Marsh Grass

ITEM #12

SUSTAINABLE FISH FARMING

Question 3/3

Click on a choice to answer the question. (Manipulative)

Which procedure would make fish farming more sustainable?

〇 Increasing the rate of water through the tanks.

〇 Increasing the amount of nutrients added to the first tank.

〇 Using filters that allow larger organisms to move between tanks.

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

Correct Answer: Using the wastes produced by the organisms to make fuel to run the water pumps