FCAT Science Review

Cinthia decided to find out if it was worth spending the money to buy bags of potting soil sold at the store. She bought one bag of potting soil and some bean seeds. At home she put potting soil in ten pots and soil she dug up from her yard in ten other pots. She planted one bean seed in each pot. After one week, all twenty seeds had sprouted and all the seedlings had two leaves. She concluded that her soil was just as good as potting soil. What would be the best thing for Cinthia to do next?

• Repeat the experiment to see if she gets the same results.
• Mix the potting soil with her soil and see how seeds grow in it.
• Begin watering some of the plants twice as much in each group.
• Let the plants grow in different soil types to see if they remain healthy.

Gabriel notices that when he looks at the stars at night, some appear to be brighter than other stars. Which three factors affect how bright a star appears to an observer on Earth?

• the star's energy, size, and temperature
• the star's color, size, and distance from Earth
• the star's size, temperature, and distance from Earth
• the star's movement, distance from Earth, and gravity

Howard and his friends were talking about what it would be like if they could go live on Mars someday. Summer said it would be much colder there than on Earth and it would hardly ever get above freezing, even in summer. Gabriel said there would be time periods on Mars like there are on Earth. What else might they experience if they ever went to live on Mars?

• A year on Mars would last almost as long as two Earth years.
• Water would run in the canals on Mars on only the warmest days.
• They would see four big moons and several smaller ones at night on Mars.
• They could breathe the air since Mars and Earth have similar atmospheres.

Alan puts some ice in a cup and poured some cold tea over the ice. He sets the filled cup on the kitchen table. In a few minutes, he notices that there are drops of water all over the outside of the cup. Where do the drops of water most likely come from?

• They evaporate out of the air above the cold liquid.
• They condense out of the air surrounding the cold cup.
• They drip off the ice cubes as he puts them into the cup.
• They come off his hands after holding the melting ice cubes.

Cloud formation sometimes signals severe weather may be approaching. Which type of cloud is associated with thunderstorms?

• stratus
• cumulus
• cumulonimbus
• cirrus

As the weather gets colder, the air pressure usually goes up. Why does this happen?

• Cold weather causes Earth to cool, and the heat that leaves Earth pushes against the air
  causing the pressure to increase.
• Colder weather makes the air denser, and the increased weight of the air means that
  there is more air pressure.
• When the weather is colder, the clouds weigh more as ice begins to form causing air
  pressure to increase.
• As the temperature drops, the air takes up more space and presses down harder on
  Earth.

The pancreas is an organ that plays an important role in the human body. What is the function of the pancreas?

• mixing blood and oxygen
• removing excess fluids from the body
• storing large quantities of blood, minerals, and vitamins
• helping with digestion by providing enzymes to process sugars

Nutrients are vital to the health of all organs in the human body. What organ processes most of the nutrients taken in by the human body?

• kidneys
• large intestine
• pancreas
• small intestine

The scales of fish and the feathers of birds are both made from the same protein called
keratin. What is another characteristic birds and most fish share?

• Both are animals that lay eggs.
• Both are animals that have teeth.
• Both are animals that are cold-blooded.
• Both are animals that care for their young.

In the 1800s, the US military used horses to transport weapons and supplies through the American West. The dry, hot weather was difficult on the horses, and the terrain lacked the grass that horses fed on. In 1836, a US Army explorer recommended to the military that camels should be used instead. Why would camels be better to use than horses?

• Camels are native to the American West.
• Camels are cheaper to use and eat less food.
• Camels are adapted to live in a hot, dry climate.
• Camels are easier to train and can carry more equipment.