SSA Practice Test

Camila followed these steps of an investigation:

Collect five objects made of different types of metal.

Place them on a large laboratory table.

Touch each metal object with a magnet and lift slowly.

Record observations.

Which of the following statements is Camila most likely testing?

• All types of metal are attracted to magnets.

• Each magnet can lift the metal object to the same height.

• Larger magnets can pick up heavier metal objects than smaller magnets can.

• Heavier metal objects are more attracted to magnets than lighter metal objects are

A radiometer is a device with fins that spin when light energy strikes them. A picture of a radiometer is shown below. As part of an experiment, a light source was placed 50 centimeters (cm) from a radiometer. The light source gave off four different-colored lights for 30 seconds (s) each. After each color of light was turned off, the amount of time the fins on the radiometer spun was recorded. The results are shown in the table.

Which color of light provided the greatest amount of light energy according to the data in the table?

• red

• green

• blue

• white

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Dannika adds 10 grams (g) of salt to a jar of water. She then adds 10 g of sand to a second jar of water. She covers and shakes both jars and sets them on the table for five minutes. The materials Dani uses are shown

What should Dani expect to observe after those five minutes?

A. Both the salt and the sand dissolved in the water.

B. Both the salt and the sand settled to the bottom of the jar.

C. The salt settled to the bottom of the jar, and the sand dissolved in the water.

D. The salt dissolved in the water, and the sand settled to the bottom of the jar.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Madje made a model to show the spinning of a tornado. She filled a 2-liter soda bottle with water.

Then she connected it neck-to-neck with an empty 2-liter bottle.

She flipped the water-filled bottle upside down and turned it a few times.

What is the difference between this activity and an experiment?

A. The activity is not repeatable.

B. There are no well-defined variables.

C. No prediction was made before the activity began.

D. The activity is not under controlled conditions.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Yoyo drew this graph to show the results of her experiment.

What is the control in this experiment?

A.Sample with 1 tablespoon of salt

B.Sample with 3 tablespoons of salt

C.Sample with no salt

D.temperature

• A

• B

• C

• D

Giovanny is comparing types of rocks. He writes as many descriptions as

he can for five rock samples.

A scientific method is a set of steps in many scientific investigations. The

steps are not always the same, nor are they always done in the same

order.

Which of these steps in a scientific method best describes what Gio is doing?

A.Form a conclusion

B.Make observations

C.Organize and communicate data

D.Design and conduct an experiment

• A

• B

• C

• D

Scientific explanations are different from everyday explanations.

Which of these is the most important feature of a scientific explanation?

A. It is supported by observations that are testable

B. It is supported by inferences made by scientists

C. It is based on the results of several different trials

D. It is based on the results of experiments done in a laboratory

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-6

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

NGSS.HS-PS2-5

Hudson is performing an investigation using several earthworms. He places a rectangular box under a bright lamp and covers one-half of the box so that it is shaded. Then, he puts the earthworms into the box on the side that is still brightly lit. Later, Hudson notices that all of the earthworms have crawled over to the shaded side of the box. Based on his investigation, which of the following is an observation and NOT a personal opinion?

A. Earthworms are afraid of light.

B. Earthworms like staying together.

C. Earthworms move away from light.

D. Earthworms like living in the ground.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Ben is designing an experiment to see whether sugar or artificial sweetener will attract the greater number of ants. Which statement best describes why Ben should write down his experimental procedure?

A. The exact experiment can be repeated by others and the results compared.

B. The experiment can be changed by others to get different results.

C. The data will help people decide what type of sweetener to use.

D. The data will show people which ants are more common.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Cassidy is designing an experiment to test effect of different types of solutions on Lima bean growth. She adds coffee to one plant, salt water to another plant and tap water to the third plant. Which statement best describes why Cassidy should perform her experiment on multiple sets of Lima beans?

A. Performing the same experiment multiple times makes her data more accurate.

B. In case one bean dies, she will still have data to write down.

C. So she can test even more solutions.

D. So others can repeat her experiment.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1