Instructions
- Complete all questions without using notes unless your teacher or tutor allows it.
- Show your work for every Math question.
- For written answers, use complete sentences and support your ideas with evidence when asked.
- Circle, underline, label, or sketch where the directions ask you to do so.
- Suggested time: 45–60 minutes.
- Total: 24 points, plus 4 optional challenge points.
Section 1: English
Read the passage.
Maya noticed that the empty lot beside her apartment building was filled with litter. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve the problem, she asked her neighbors for help. On Saturday, twelve people collected trash, planted flowers, and painted a small sign that read, “This space belongs to everyone.” By the end of the month, the lot had become a community garden. Maya learned that a small action can inspire many people when it is connected to a clear goal.
1. Multiple choice — Main idea
What is the main idea of the passage?
- A. Apartment buildings should always have gardens.
- B. One person’s responsible action can encourage a community to improve its surroundings.
- C. Painting signs is the best way to solve problems.
- D. Maya wanted to spend more time outdoors.
2. Short answer — Evidence
Give one detail from the passage that supports your answer to Question 1.
3. Vocabulary in context
What does inspire most nearly mean in the passage?
- A. Discourage
- B. Encourage
- C. Confuse
- D. Replace
Write a sentence using the word inspire correctly.
4. Editing practice
Rewrite the sentence correctly. Fix the capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.
last saturday maya and her neighbors cleans the lot they planted flowers too
5. Practical writing
Write a short persuasive message encouraging students to help improve a shared space at school or in the community. Include a clear reason and a specific action.
Section 2: Math
Show your work. Estimate first when appropriate.
6. Percent and money
A backpack costs $48. It is on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?
Work:
Answer: $____
7. Ratios
A recipe uses 3 cups of rice for every 2 cups of vegetables. If you use 9 cups of rice, how many cups of vegetables are needed?
Work:
Answer: __ cups
8. Algebra
Solve for x:
3x + 7 = 28
Work:
x = __
9. Data and averages
A student records the following daily screen times, in hours:
2, 3, 1, 4, 5
Find the mean, or average, screen time.
Work:
Mean: __ hours
10. Real-world problem
You have $60. You spend $18.75 on a book and $12.40 on lunch. You want to save at least $20. Do you have enough money left to save $20? Explain.
Section 3: Science
11. Multiple choice — Energy
Which form of energy is stored in food?
- A. Chemical energy
- B. Sound energy
- C. Light energy
- D. Nuclear energy
12. Scientific method
A student wants to test whether the amount of sunlight affects plant growth.
Identify each part of the investigation:
- Independent variable: __
- Dependent variable: ____
- One controlled variable: ____
13. Data interpretation
Two identical plants are observed for three weeks.
- Plant A receives 2 hours of sunlight each day and grows 4 cm.
- Plant B receives 6 hours of sunlight each day and grows 9 cm.
What conclusion is supported by the data?
14. Explanation
Explain why wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of serious injury during a fall. Use the ideas of force and motion in your answer.
15. Design a test
Describe a simple experiment to test which type of soil helps a bean plant grow best. Include the materials, what you would change, and what you would measure.
Section 4: Social Studies
16. Civics
Which action is an example of civic participation?
- A. Ignoring a community problem
- B. Voting in a local election
- C. Refusing to learn about current events
- D. Damaging public property
17. Primary and secondary sources
Classify each source as a primary source or secondary source.
- A diary written by a soldier during a war: _____
- A textbook chapter written 100 years after the war: ____
- A photograph taken during a historical event: __
18. Geography and resources
A town is built near a river. Give one benefit and one possible challenge of this location.
Benefit: _____
Challenge: ___
19. Cause and effect
Choose one historical or current event you have studied. Describe one cause and one effect.
Event: __
Cause: __
Effect: _____
20. Community decision-making
A town council must decide whether to build a new skate park or a public library. Identify two groups that might have different opinions. Explain why each group might support one choice.
Optional Challenge Questions
21. English and Social Studies
Write a claim about how young people can improve their communities. Give two reasons and one piece of evidence or example.
22. Math
A store increases the price of a $40 item by 15% and then offers a 15% discount. Is the final price exactly $40? Calculate the final price and explain why.
23. Science
Why is it important to change only one variable at a time in a controlled experiment?
24. Social Studies
Why might two reliable sources describe the same historical event differently? Give two possible reasons.
Answer Key
1. B. One person’s responsible action can encourage a community to improve its surroundings.
2. Accept any accurate supporting detail, such as: Maya asked her neighbors for help, twelve people collected trash and planted flowers, or the empty lot became a community garden.
3. B. Encourage. Sample sentence: The coach’s positive words inspired the team to keep practicing.
4. Last Saturday, Maya and her neighbors cleaned the lot. They planted flowers too.
5. Answers will vary. A strong response includes a clear request, a reason, and a specific action.
6. 25% of $48 = $12; $48 − $12 = $36.
7. The ratio is 3:2. Since 9 is three times 3, multiply 2 by 3: 6 cups.
8. 3x + 7 = 28; 3x = 21; x = 7.
9. Add the numbers: 2 + 3 + 1 + 4 + 5 = 15. Divide by 5: 3 hours.
10. $60 − $18.75 − $12.40 = $28.85. Yes, the student has enough to save $20 and will have $8.85 left.
11. A. Chemical energy.
12.
- Independent variable: Amount of sunlight
- Dependent variable: Plant growth, such as height
- Controlled variable: Any one of the following: type of plant, amount of water, soil type, container size, or length of time
13. The data suggest that the plant receiving more sunlight grew more. A complete conclusion should mention that Plant B received 6 hours of sunlight and grew 9 cm, while Plant A received 2 hours and grew 4 cm.
14. A helmet helps absorb and spread out the force of an impact. This reduces the force transferred to the head and lowers the risk of serious injury.
15. Answers will vary. A complete answer should include bean seeds, different soil types, equal amounts of water and sunlight, a changed variable of soil type, and a measurement such as plant height after a set number of days.
16. B. Voting in a local election.
17.
- Diary written by a soldier: Primary source
- Textbook chapter written later: Secondary source
- Photograph taken during the event: Primary source
18. Answers will vary. A benefit could be water for drinking, farming, transportation, or wildlife. A challenge could be flooding, erosion, or pollution.
19. Answers will vary. The response must correctly identify a cause and an effect connected to the selected event.
20. Answers will vary. For example, teenagers might support a skate park because it provides recreation, while families with young children might support a library because it offers books, study space, and educational programs.
21. Answers will vary. A strong response includes a clear claim, two logical reasons, and supporting evidence or an example.
22. The price after the 15% increase is $46. A 15% discount on $46 is $6.90, so the final price is $39.10. It is not exactly $40 because the discount is calculated from the increased price.
23. Changing only one variable makes it easier to determine what caused the results. If several variables change, the results cannot be connected confidently to one factor.
24. Reliable sources may differ because authors have different perspectives, access to different evidence, purposes for writing, or interpretations of events.