Science CER Examples Quiz

Scenario: A student notices that plants growing near a window grow taller than plants in the middle of the room. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Plants grow better with sunlight.

• Plants are living things that grow.

• Plants near the window grow taller because they receive more direct sunlight for photosynthesis.

• Plants near the window grow taller than plants in the middle of the room.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Scenario: When a student puts salt on ice, the ice melts faster than plain ice. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Salt makes ice disappear.

• Ice and salt are different substances.

• Ice melts faster when salt is added to it.

• Ice with salt on it melts faster because the salt lowers the freezing point of water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Scenario: A metal spoon gets hot faster than a wooden spoon when placed in hot soup. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Metal spoons get hotter than wooden spoons in soup.

• Metal spoons heat up faster than wooden spoons because metals are better conductors of thermal energy.

• Spoons can be made of different materials.

• Metal is warmer than wood.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Scenario: A rubber band stretches farther when pulled with greater force. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Rubber bands are made of elastic material.

• The rubber band stretches more when pulled with more force.

• The rubber band stretches more when pulled harder because greater force causes more separation between the molecules.

• Rubber bands are stretchy.

Scenario: A candle flame always points upward, regardless of how you hold the candle. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Candles produce light and heat.

• Fire goes up.

• The candle flame always points up, no matter how you hold it.

• The candle flame points upward because hot air rises while cooler air sinks, creating upward convection.

Scenario: A ball rolls farther on smooth concrete than on grass. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Smooth surfaces are better for rolling.

• The ball rolls farther on concrete because there is less friction to convert motion energy into heat energy.

• Balls can roll on different surfaces.

• The ball rolls farther on the concrete surface than on grass.

Scenario: Wet laundry dries faster on a hot day than on a cool day. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Clothes dry more quickly when it's hot outside.

• Hot weather dries things.

• Wet clothes dry faster on hot days because increased temperature speeds up the evaporation of water molecules.

• Laundry gets dry eventually.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Scenario: A louder sound can be heard from farther away than a quieter sound. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Sounds can have different volumes.

• Loud things are easier to hear.

• Louder sounds can be heard from farther away.

• Louder sounds can be heard from greater distances because they transfer more energy through the air waves.

Scenario: A plant grows taller in fertilized soil than in unfertilized soil. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• The plant grows taller in fertilized soil because the additional nutrients support more cell growth and development.

• Plants need soil to grow.

• Fertilizer makes plants bigger.

• Plants grow taller when fertilizer is added to their soil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Scenario: Sugar dissolves faster when the water is stirred. Identify the best claim according to the rubric.

• Moving water dissolves things better.

• Sugar dissolves faster in stirred water because stirring increases the contact between water and sugar molecules.

• Sugar and water can be mixed together.

• Stirring makes sugar dissolve faster in water.