TCAP Practice

Scientists found some fossil bones from an extinct animal. The scientists used the bones to make a model of the animal’s skeleton. Based on the features shown, which of these is the best conclusion the scientists can make?

• The animal lived in water.

• The animal blended in well with its environment.

• The animal had many offspring each year.

• The animal migrated long distances to find food.

A student uses binoculars to observe how Ursa Major looks in the sky during different seasons of the year. Which of these most likely shows how Ursa Major looks in winter?

• M.

• R.

• P.

• S.

Five foals are born on a farm. All the foals have different parents. Which three foals most likely had parents with black coats?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

The Local Group is a group that contains the Milky Way and about 50 other galaxies. The table lists data for five galaxies in the Local Group. The distance across a galaxy is measured in light-years, which is a unit of distance that contains millions of kilometers. Which statement correctly compares the Milky Way to another galaxy in the Local Group?

• The Milky Way galaxy is larger than galaxy M31.

• The Milky Way galaxy is the same shape as the Pegasus Dwarf galaxy.

• The Milky Way galaxy is a different shape than galaxy M32.

• The Milky Way galaxy is smaller than the Triangulum galaxy.

Which piece of evidence supports the conservation of matter during the changes shown in the diagram?

• The combined mass of the glass and its contents is the same before and after the ice melts.

• The combined mass of the glass and its contents is less after the ice melts.

• The contents of the glass are wet before and after the ice melts.

• The contents of the glass are colorless before and after the ice melts.

Which three behaviors are examples of instincts?

• birds returning to a bird feeder for food

• monkeys using tools

• ants living in a colony

• sea turtles swimming

• geese flying in a group

When the student observes the night sky, which two stars will appear the brightest?

• 1 and 3

• 2 and 3

• 3 and 4

• 2 and 4

Scientists study a fossil of an extinct fish. The scientists compare the extinct fish to fish that are living today. Which of these is the best conclusion the scientists can make about the extinct fish?

• The extinct fish had fins on its body similar to the fins on many fish that are living today.

• The extinct fish had stripes on its skin similar to the stripes on some fish that are living today.

• The extinct fish could live for many years, similar to some fish that are living today.

• The extinct fish had many predators, similar to many fish that are living today.

A student performs an experiment. The student wants to study the fastest way to dissolve sugar in tea. The student uses 50 milliliters of tea and adds 50 grams of sugar cubes for each trial. The student waits two minutes before making the observations shown in the table. How can the experiment be changed to be sure that as much sugar as possible has dissolved?

• Use less water at all three temperatures.

• Stir the tea constantly at all three temperatures.

• Use larger sugar cubes in the 40°C tea.

• Use a larger cup to hold the 50°C tea.

In which two mixtures was a new substance formed?

• Mixture 1

• Mixture 2

• Mixture 3

• Mixture 4

• Mixture 5