2023 STAAR Science Assessment (Practice)

How many planets in the solar system are farther from the sun than Jupiter is?

• one

• two

• three

• four

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Food chains show feeding relationships between organisms living within an ecosystem. Which food chain correctly shows the flow of energy that might be found in a grassland ecosystem?

• Foxes → beetles → grasses → songbirds

• Grasses → beetles → songbirds → foxes

• Foxes → songbirds → beetles → grasses

• Grasses → foxes → songbirds → beetles

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A student washes dishes using hot water. This causes fog to form on the student’s eyeglasses.

Which process caused the fog to form on the eyeglasses?

• Water vapor melted on the student’s eyeglasses.

• Water vapor evaporated off the student’s eyeglasses.

• Water vapor condensed on the student’s eyeglasses.

• Water vapor froze on the student’s eyeglasses.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

A student went outside one evening and saw a full moon. About how many days later can the student expect to see the next third quarter moon?

• 7 days

• 15 days

• 22 days

• 30 days

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A picture of trees, clouds, and a pond is shown.

Which process did light undergo on the pond’s surface to produce the image of the trees and clouds?

• Refraction

• Absorption

• Reflection

• Transmission

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

An old-growth forest has many tall trees. It also has many smaller shrubs and plants that grow much closer to the ground under the tall trees.

Which factor is MOST LIKELY responsible for limiting the growth of these smaller shrubs and plants in the forest?

• Limited access to sunlight

• Limited access to water

• Limited access to nutrients

• Limited access to oxygen

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A cold front moved through Austin, Texas.

Which statement BEST describes the changes in Austin’s weather after the cold front moved through?

• The weather became cooler and rainy.

• The weather became cooler and clear.

• The weather became warmer and rainy.

• The weather became warmer and clear.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

A student conducting an investigation dissolves salt in water and then adds the salt solution to a beaker containing sand. The student now wants to separate the salt and the sand from the mixture.

Which steps should the student perform to separate the salt and the sand from the mixture?

• 1. Use a magnet to remove the particles that are magnetic. 2. Pour the remaining mixture through filter paper.

• 1. Pour the new mixture through filter paper. 2. Use a magnet to remove the particles that are magnetic.

• 1. Boil the mixture. 2. Pour the new dry mixture through filter paper.

• 1. Pour the mixture through filter paper. 2. Boil the water that passes through the filter paper

A student watches a toy car speed up as it rolls down a ramp. After the car gets to the bottom of the ramp, the car slows to a stop as it rolls across the classroom floor.

Which force caused the car to speed up when rolling down the ramp, and which force caused it to slow down when rolling across the floor?

• Gravity caused the car to speed up when rolling down the ramp and slow down when rolling across the floor.

• Friction caused the car to speed up when rolling down the ramp and slow down when rolling across the floor.

• Gravity caused the car to speed up when rolling down the ramp, and friction caused the car to slow down when rolling across the floor.

• Friction caused the car to speed up when rolling down the ramp, and gravity caused the car to slow down when rolling across the floor

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

What are TWO likely reasons why the striped skunk has a much greater population in the wild than the giant panda?

Think about the question carefully. Then record your answer in the box provided.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4