TCAP Released Items

Wind is considered a renewable resource because the energy that drives the wind originally comes from

• the sun

• rain

• the ocean

• oxygen

Which hot and dry biome is home to large herds of herbivores that feed on the many kinds of grasses?

• tundra
• desert
• rain forest
• savannah

In a biotic response experiment, two plants with the same mass are placed in identical pots. Both plants are given the same amount of water, soil, and sunlight. After one week, the test plant is given one tablespoon of liquid fertilizer. Two weeks later, the data shows the test plant has the greater mass. What is the independent variable in this biotic response experiment?

• amount of sunlight
• soil temperature
• liquid fertilizer
• size of the pot

Which is a biotic factor of an alpine forest?

• elk
• rainfall
• soil
• mountains

The Gulf Stream is a warm water current that begins in the Gulf of Mexico. A diagram of the Gulf Stream is shown below. Which best describes the movement of the Gulf Stream?

• Cold currents carry cold water from the polar zones toward the equator
• Warm currents carry warm water from the tropics toward the poles.
• Warm currents carry cold water from the tropics toward the poles.
• Cold currents carry warm water from the polar zones toward the equator.

The following is a process that takes place in the atmosphere.
solar energy→warm air rises→air cools in upper atmosphere and sinks→air currents
This process can best be identified as

• wind formation
• could formation
• precipitation runoff
• static electricity

The illustration below shows the locations of a rock as it rolls down a slope. Which location best shows the rock with the greatest kinetic energy and the least potential energy?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Three healthy plants are placed in a dark cabinet. Another three are placed in a window. All the plants are given the same amount of water. After one month, only the plants in the window are living. These results support which conclusion?

• Darkness will cause plants to grow.
• Carbon dioxide is needed for growth.
• Leaves need more time to grow.
• Sunlight is needed for growth.

An object moves rapidly as it is thrown upward. Its motion slows as it reaches a maximum height, and then it falls back down. What causes the upward motion to become slower?

• The kinetic energy is converted to wind energy.
• The kinetic energy is converted to gravitational potential energy
• The gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
• The gravitational potential energy is converted to light energy.

Which of these contains both abiotic and biotic elements in a desert environment?

• rocks and sunlight
• water and pebbles
• scorpions and sand
• roadrunners and snakes