PSSA Prep #9 (2023 Sampler)

1. Which question could best be investigated using scientific inquiry?

• When do most people plant flower gardens?

• Which color of flowers do people like to grow in their gardens?

• How many flowering plants have become extinct throughout Earth’s history?

• How does the amount of sunlight received affect the growth of flowering plants?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

2. 2. Which unintended effect could result from overusing chemical pesticides to control insects on agricultural crops?

• crops producing their own chemical pesticides

• insect pests switching to a different food source

• crops requiring more water and nutrients to survive

• insect pests becoming resistant to certain pesticides

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A family adopts a pet dog from the local animal shelter . The family does not know the breed of the dog . To help determine the breed, the family compares the traits of the dog to the traits of known dog breeds . The family concludes that the dog’s parents were two different breeds . Which scientific concept did the family most likely use to form this conclusion?

• natural selection

• Newton's first law

• Mendelian genetics

• The theory of Evolution

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Fires are common in grassland ecosystems . Dead grasses and small shrubs that accumulate on the ground provide an excellent source of fuel for the fires . Which statement describes how grassland ecosystems benefit from periodic fires?

• Ash left over from fires provides plants with additional nutrients

• Fires reduce ground cover, which creates new habitats for nonnative organisms .

• The darker color of burned plant material is able to absorb more energy from sunlight

• The increased temperatures allow soil bacteria populations to remain active during winter

See attached diagram

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

See attached diagram

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

7. 7. A student is measuring the volume of a rectangular object . Which two tools could the student use to measure the volume of the object?

• Beaker or microscope

• thermometer or stopwatch

• ruler or graduated cylinder

• balance scale or hand lens

See attached diagram

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

Which list correctly shows characteristics of fungi and animals?

• Fungi: have a cell wall, break down dead organisms Animals: have no cell wall, feed on other organisms

• Fungi: have a cell wall, feed on other organisms Animals: have a cell wall, make food from sunlight

• Fungi: have no cell wall, make food from sunlight Animals: have a cell wall, feed on other organisms

• Fungi: have no cell wall, make food from sunlight Animals: have no cell wall, break down dead organisms

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

10. 10. A student observes a large amount of fallen tree leaves on the school grounds . Which solution for cleaning up the leaves would have the most positive impact on the environment?

• piling the leaves to burn them

• piling the leaves to compost them

• raking the leaves into plastic bags to store them

• raking the leaves into trucks to transport them to a landfill

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3