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
Refer to “Bird Migration” on the right. capture some of the birds and tag their legs with a combination of coloured rings and
Click on a choice to answer the flags. The scientists use sightings of tagged birds together with volunteers' counts to
question. 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.

ITEM #2
BIRD MIGRATION BIRD MIGRATION
Question 2/2 Golden Plovers

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

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

ITEM #3
SLOPE- FACE INVESTIGATION SLOPE- FACE INVESTIGATION
Question 1/1 Data Analysis

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

Two students disagree about why The students investigate why the vegetation on the slopes is so different from one slope
there is a difference in soil moisture to the other. As part of this investigation, the students measure three environmental
between two slopes. factors over a given period of time:

- Student 1 thinks that the - Solar radiation: how much sunlight falls on a given location
difference in soil moisture is - Soil moisture: how wet the soil is in a given location
due to a difference in solar - Rainfall: how much rain falls on a given location
radiation on the two slopes

- Student 2 thinks that the

difference in soil moisture is The students take the average of the measurements collected over a given period of time from each pair of instrumen
due to a difference in rainfall
on the two slopes

According to the data, which student is

correct?

O Student 1
O Student 2
ITEM #4

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

Where do these sulfur oxides in the air

come from?

______________________________

______________________________

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
A marble chip has a mass of 2.0 overnight. Vinegar and acid rain have about the same acidity level. When a marble chip is
grams before being immersed in placed in vinegar, bubbles of gas form. The mass of a dry marble chip can be found
vinegar overnight. The chip is before and after the experiment.
removed 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

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
About five million people visit the lifted these layers up. The Grand Canyon is now 1.6 km deep in parts. The Colorado
Grand Canyon national park every River runs through the bottom of the canyon.
year. There is concern about the
damage that is being caused to the See the picture below of the Grand Canyon taken from its south rim. Several different
park by so many visitors. layers of rock can 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?
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
The temperature in the Grand Canyon lifted these layers up. The Grand Canyon is now 1.6 km deep in parts. The Colorado
ranges from below 0 ℃ to over 40 ℃ River runs through the bottom of the canyon.
. 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
How do these temperature changes layers of rock can be seen in the walls of the canyon.
and the water in 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.

ITEM #8

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

ITEM #9

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

More nutrients More ragworms More shellfish 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?

Increasing the rate of water through the tanks.

Increasing the amount of nutrients added to the first tank.

Using filters that allow larger organisms to move between tanks.

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