Instructions
Read each question carefully. For Part A, select the best answer for the multiple-choice questions and determine if the statements are true or false. For Part B, write your answer in a complete sentence or two in the space provided.
Part A: Objective Questions
- What is often called the "powerhouse" of the cell because it generates most of the cell's supply of chemical energy?
- a) Nucleus
- b) Ribosome
- c) Mitochondrion
- d) Cell Membrane
- The force that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth is called:
- a) Friction
- b) Magnetism
- c) Gravity
- d) Momentum
- Which of these is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming?
- a) Oxygen
- b) Carbon Dioxide
- c) Nitrogen
- d) Helium
- True or False: The Earth is the fourth planet from the Sun.
- Plants use a process called ________ to convert light energy into chemical energy.
- a) Respiration
- b) Transpiration
- c) Germination
- d) Photosynthesis
- What are the three primary states of matter?
- a) Solid, Liquid, Plasma
- b) Gas, Liquid, Metal
- c) Solid, Liquid, Gas
- d) Water, Ice, Steam
- The movement of the Earth's tectonic plates can cause:
- a) Hurricanes
- b) Tornadoes
- c) Earthquakes
- d) Blizzards
- True or False: Sound travels faster in a vacuum than in air.
- The largest organ in the human body is the:
- a) Brain
- b) Liver
- c) Lungs
- d) Skin
- What is the chemical symbol for water?
- a) H2O
- b) CO2
- c) O2
- d) HO
- An animal that only eats plants is called a(n):
- a) Carnivore
- b) Omnivore
- c) Herbivore
- d) Predator
- True or False: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth.
- The center of an atom is called the:
- a) Electron
- b) Proton
- c) Nucleus
- d) Neutron
- Which of the following is NOT a renewable energy source?
- a) Solar Power
- b) Wind Power
- c) Natural Gas
- d) Hydropower
- What part of your blood is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body?
- a) Plasma
- b) White Blood Cells
- c) Platelets
- d) Red Blood Cells
- True or False: All living things are made up of one or more cells.
- The process of liquid water turning into water vapor (a gas) is known as:
- a) Condensation
- b) Precipitation
- c) Evaporation
- d) Collection
- An object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force. This is Newton's:
- a) First Law of Motion
- b) Second Law of Motion
- c) Third Law of Motion
- d) Law of Gravitation
- A mixture in which one substance dissolves completely into another is called a:
- a) Suspension
- b) Colloid
- c) Solution
- d) Compound
- True or False: The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.
Part B: Subjective Questions
Write a short explanation for each of the following questions.
- Explain the primary difference between a vertebrate and an invertebrate animal.
- Why do we experience seasons on Earth?
- Describe what a food chain is and provide a simple example with three organisms.
- What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?
- Name two features that a plant cell has but an animal cell does not.
- Briefly describe the three main types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
- What is friction? Give one example of when friction is helpful.
- Explain the main purpose of the ozone layer in Earth's atmosphere.
- What is the difference between an acid and a base?
- Use the terms evaporation, condensation, and precipitation to describe the water cycle.
Answer Key
Part A: Objective Questions
- c) Mitochondrion
- c) Gravity
- b) Carbon Dioxide
- False (It is the third planet.)
- d) Photosynthesis
- c) Solid, Liquid, Gas
- c) Earthquakes
- False (Sound cannot travel in a vacuum.)
- d) Skin
- a) H2O
- c) Herbivore
- False (That describes a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse is when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon.)
- c) Nucleus
- c) Natural Gas
- d) Red Blood Cells
- True
- c) Evaporation
- a) First Law of Motion
- c) Solution
- True
Part B: Subjective Questions (Sample Answers)
- A vertebrate is an animal with a backbone or spinal column, while an invertebrate is an animal that does not have a backbone.
- We experience seasons because of the tilt of the Earth's axis. As Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the planet receive more direct sunlight for longer periods of time.
- A food chain shows how energy is transferred from one living organism to another. For example: Grass (producer) is eaten by a rabbit (primary consumer), which is then eaten by a fox (secondary consumer).
- Potential energy is stored energy an object has because of its position or state. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
- A plant cell has a cell wall and chloroplasts, which an animal cell does not have.
- Igneous rock is formed from cooled magma or lava. Sedimentary rock is formed from layers of compressed sediment. Metamorphic rock is formed when other rocks are changed by heat and pressure.
- Friction is a force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact. It is helpful when using the brakes on a bicycle to slow down.
- The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
- An acid is a substance with a pH less than 7, while a base is a substance with a pH greater than 7. Acids typically taste sour, while bases are often slippery.
- In the water cycle, evaporation occurs when the sun heats water and turns it into vapor. This vapor rises, cools, and undergoes condensation to form clouds. When the water droplets in clouds become too heavy, they fall back to Earth as precipitation (rain, snow, etc.).