Tests for Higher Standards Grade 8
Virginia Simulation Test 6-8
6.1i
1. A flashlight is very bright when you hold it up close and look at the beam. From across the room, it doesn’t look as bright. From a block away, it appears quite dim.
How is this a model of why some large stars are not as bright as some small stars?
A It explains why a focused beam of light is brighter than a bare bulb.
B It suggests that a large star, that is far away, could look dimmer on Earth than a smaller, closer star.
C It demonstrates that a flashlight gets dimmer as the batteries are worn out, just as an old star gets dimmer.
D It shows that light from far away is redder than light that is near. This is why the distant flashlights look red.
The graph below shows children’s heights by age. Use this graph to answer the next 2 questions.
LS.1h
2. What is the average height of 3-year-old females?
A 92 cm
B 95 cm
C 100 cm
D 105 cm
LS.1h
3. What is the best estimate of the average height of 20-year-old males?
A about 163 cm
B about 165 cm
C about 170 cm
D about 178 cm
6.1e
4. A theory that has been tested many times, by many different scientists, under many circumstances and has always proven true is a —
A hypothesis.
B conjecture.
C prediction.
D law.
LS.1c
5. What temperature in Fahrenheit most closely matches 0°C? ______°F
LS.1g
6. An experiment is designed in which one quantity is varied, such as the amount of fertilizer applied. If there is one condition where no fertilizer is applied, what is that condition called?
A a starting value
B a zero
C a control
D a test value
PS.1a
7. Which symbol indicates a hazardous material?
A
B
C
D
PS.1d
8. What tool is used to measure the mass of an object?
A a meter stick
B a yardstick
C a clock
D a balance
Use the information below to answer the next 5 questions.
You did an experiment by rolling a steel ball down a variable-angle ramp. The time it took for the ball to hit a block at the end of the ramp was recorded in the table below.
Time (in sec.) To Roll Down Ramps of Different AnglesAngle of the Ramp / Trial 1 / Trial 2 / Trial 3 / Mean
30° / 2.25 / 2.45 / 2.35
45° / 1.85 / 1.80 / 1.95
60° / 1.05 / 1.00 / 1.05
PS.1h
9. The values that belong in the last column are —
A medians.
B averages.
C ranges.
D values.
PS.1h
10. How many different levels of the independent variable were used in this experiment?
A one
B two
C three
D nine
PS.1h
11. How many times was the experiment repeated for each ramp angle? ___
PS.1h
12. At what ramp angle were the results most consistent?
A 30°
B 45°
C 60°
D All were equally consistent.
PS.1h
13. Which set of numbers should go in the last column, labeled “Mean”?
A
B
C
D
LS.1c
14. Which of these is a unit of area in the metric system?
A m2
B square yard
C cm3
D square inch
6.2e
15. What energy transformation do electrical batteries perform?
A stored electrical → kinetic → electrical
B chemical → electrical
C stored heat → electrical
D heat → mechanical → electrical
6.2d
16. This picture best represents which type of energy?
A potential energy
B electromagnetic energy
C mechanical energy
D geothermal energy
6.3b
17. Choose the correct labels that identify energy heat transfer in the picture.
A X – conduction, Y – convection, Z – radiation
B X – convection, Y – conduction, Z – radiation
C X – radiation, Y – conduction, Z – convection
D X – radiation, Y – convection, Z – conduction
PS.2c
18. In which state(s) of matter is a substance called a “fluid”?
A gas only
B liquid only
C liquid and solid
D gas and liquid
PS.11b
19. Electric fields are often associated with what other kind of field?
A magnetic fields
B gravity fields
C nuclear fields
D force fields
6.4a
20. Which diagram best shows the arrangement of subatomic particles in a typical atom?
NOTE: (P = proton, E = electron, N = neutron)
A
B
C
D
PS.5c
21. Matter can be separated or broken apart by physical means, by chemical actions, or by nuclear reaction. Which statement below is correct?
A Molecules can only be broken apart physically.
B Elements can be broken apart only by nuclear reaction.
C Mixtures can only be separated chemically.
D Molecules can be broken apart only by nuclear reaction.
PS.5c
22. What are the two types of nuclear reactions?
______and ______
PS.7b
23. A liquid changing to a solid or gas is generally the result of a change in —
A the strength of the surrounding magnetic field.
B its temperature and/or pressure.
C the size of its molecules.
D its electric charge.
PS.3a
24. The way scientists have shown and thought about the atom has changed over the years. Order the atomic models below from the oldest to the most recent.
_____, _____, _____, _____
PS.8a
25. In the diagram below, what is the distance between points B and C called?
A crest-to-trough distance
B wave amplitude
C wave frequency
D wave distance
PS.4a
26. A portion of the periodic table is shown below. Na, Mg, and K are the symbols for the elements sodium, magnesium, and potassium, respectively. Which of the following is true for sodium?
A Its atomic number is 11, its atomic weight is 22.990, and it is in the same family as magnesium.
B Its atomic number is 22.990, its atomic weight is 11, and it is in the same family as potassium.
C Its atomic number is 11, its atomic weight is 22.990, and it is in the same family as potassium.
D Its atomic number is 22.990, its atomic weight is 11, and it is in the same family as magnesium.
PS.7a
27. What temperature is absolute zero?
A 0° C
B 273° C
C 0 K
D -273 K
PS.8d
28. Fill in the blank. An aircraft uses radar, as a submarine uses ______.
PS.9d
29. Electromagnetic waves are given different names, depending on their —
A velocity.
B wavelength.
C wave intensity.
D polarization.
PS.9b
30. What is the effect called when electro-magnetic waves interact by adding to or subtracting from other similar waves?
A reflection
B refraction
C diffraction
D interference
PS.10a
31. What is the definition of acceleration?
A the force of gravity
B the rate of change of velocity
C the momentum of a body
D a unit of work or power
PS.10b
32. Which of Newton’s Three Laws of Motion govern the flights of interplanetary spacecraft?
A 1st law only
B 1st and 3rd laws
C 3rd law only
D all three laws
PS.10d
33. What type of machine are you using when you use a screwdriver to pry the lid off a paint can?
______
PS.11a
34. Electrical current does not flow perfectly free in any material. The quality which hinders the flow of electric current is —
A friction.
B conductance.
C resistance.
D reluctance.
6.6d
35. Which of the following is a principal cause of acid rain?
A waste acid from chemical factories being pumped into rivers
B acid from chemical laboratories evaporating into the air
C gases from air conditioners and refrigerators escaping into the atmosphere
D gases from burning coal and oil reacting with water in the atmosphere
LS.2a
36. Fill in the blank. The clear, jellylike substance in cells is called ______.
LS.2c
37. The first person to look through a microscope at pond water and see tiny animals, which he called “animalcules,” was —
A Nicholas Copernicus.
B Galileo Galilei.
C Anton van Leeuwenhoek.
D Marie Curie.
LS.4a
38. Which of these statements about the value of scientific classification systems (taxonomies) is most correct?
A Classification systems are useful as long as they work; if they stop working, they are revised.
B Good classification systems generally last forever.
C Nature is too complicated for any classification system to be really useful.
D Classification systems need to describe everything found in nature.
LS.2b
39. What is the most obvious difference between plant and animal cells?
A Animal cells have chloroplasts but plant cells do not.
B Plant cells have no nucleus, which animal cells have.
C Only animal cells have energy- producing mitochondria.
D Plant cells have a stiff cell wall, which animal cells lack.
LS.2d
40. The terms mitosis and meiosis both refer to what general cell function?
A cellular division
B cellular metabolism
C cellular energy production
D cellular respiration
LS.5b
41. Which of the following is produced during photosynthesis, for use in storing energy?
A ATP
B starch
C lactose
D glucose
LS.7a
42. In a pack of wolves, usually only one or two of the females breed. This is an example of ―
A the territorial imperative.
B sexual competition.
C imprinting.
D a social hierarchy.
LS.12a
43. Which statement about the storage of genetic information in living cells is most correct?
A The cell’s genetic information is stored on strands of DNA.
B The cell’s genetic information is stored on RNA molecules, which float in a cell’s cytoplasm.
C The cell’s genetic information is located on amino acid chains that stretch from the nucleus to the cell membrane.
D The cell’s genetic information is stored in many of the cell’s organelles in the form of paired proteins.
LS.13a
44. A characteristic or set of characteristics that affects an organism’s chances for survival under different conditions is referred to as —
A a radiation.
B a mutation.
C an adaptation.
D a regression.
LS.6d
45. Which one of these organisms is a producer?
A mushroom
B fox
C bacteria
D clover
6.7e
46. Which answer describes estuaries?
A whirlpools
B brackish water
C tall forests
D deep water fish
LS.6d
47. Eucalyptus trees produce energy from sunlight. Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves for energy. This is an example of —
A competition.
B mutualism.
C a food chain.
D a food triangle.
LS.9a
48. What is the major difference between an ecosystem and a biome?
A Ecosystems exist in the water and biomes are found on the land.
B Biomes are broad classifications of climates, plants, and animals, whereas an ecosystem is the particular set of living things and nonliving conditions in a given area.
C A biome is the set of living organisms in an area, and an ecosystem refers only to the nonliving parts of an environment.
D An ecosystem is a very broad classification of a set of animals, plants, and geographical conditions, whereas a biome refers to a narrow set of local conditions.
LS.9a
49. Which biome is NOT found in the continental United States?
A desert
B tropical rainforest
C deciduous forest
D temperate grasslands
LS.10a
50. There are species of insects that are able to survive through the winter in Virginia despite temperatures falling below the freezing point of water. Yet many of these insects are unable to survive when the temperatures during an average spring fall below freezing, even if it's only for one night. What best explains this?
A Insects that survive the winter first prepare by storing energy, reducing metabolism, and entering a period of dormancy.
B During the spring time, insects are more likely trying to mate causing them to have greater exposure to the cold.
C If it is spring time, an insect is more likely to have food stored in its stomach that will freeze in the cold temperatures.
D An insect that is able to survive during the winter will not have enough energy stored to survive extra days without access to food.
LS.11d
51. It has recently been suggested that a species of oysters from Japan be seeded (placed for growth) in the Chesapeake Bay because too many of the native oysters are dying before reaching maturity. This has been a very controversial proposal. Which answer is the best set of reasons for and against seeding the Japanese oysters in the Chesapeake Bay?
A For — Filling the oyster niche in the Bay may keep the ecology stable.
Against — The natural species of oyster may become extinct.
B For — The oysters will clean up all pollution in the bay.
Against —Japanese oysters do not produce attractive pearls.
C For — The oysters may increase Virginia’s oyster harvest.
Against — It will probably cost too much money.
D For — Oysters are good to eat.
Against — The Japanese oysters will attack the native blue crabs.
LS.11c
52. In the United States, many of the top natural predators (wolves, mountain lions, eagles, etc.) have been eliminated or greatly reduced by humans. What effect has this had on the number of large native herbivores, such as deer?
A Their number has decreased.
B Their number has increased.
C Their number has stayed about the same.
D They have become extinct.
LS.11d
53. Scientists do not know for certain why the dinosaurs died out. Which of the following is one commonly held theory about why they became extinct?
A Dinosaurs got so big that they ran out of food.
B Human hunters killed all the dinosaurs.
C Mammals were smarter than the dinosaurs and out-competed them.
D A meteor struck Earth, killing many plants and causing a long, cold, and dark period.
LS.13b
54. Which answer is not usually used as evidence of the process of evolution?
A the existence and appearance of fossils
B the nature of ecological niches
C similarities of form in embryological development
D the existence of homologous structures in different organisms