STAAR Practice

A student drew the model to represent a part of a watershed and some human activities that affect the watershed. How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?

• The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere.

• Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table.

• The activities replace the groundwater used.

• All of the above

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

A scientist added bacteria and a nutrient medium that could support the growth of the bacteria to a sterilized Petri dish. No other materials were added. The graph models growth of the bacteria over time. Which of these most likely explains why the material population stopped growing?

• The bacteria competed for nutrients and died after all the nutrients were consumed.

• The bacteria did not reproduce in the system, and eventually each individual died at the end of its life cycle.

• The bacteria mutated from photosynthetic to carnivorous organisms and consumed one another until all the individuals were dead.

• The bacteria became diseased and were unable to survive in the closed system.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

DDT is a pesticide that was once widely used to control agricultural pests and mosquitoes. However, this pesticide caused the eggshells of certain birds, including the brown pelican, to become fragile and thin. The adults would then accidentally crush the eggs while trying to incubate them. What happened to brown pelican populations as a result of DDT use by humans?

• The populations increased much more slowly.

• The populations decreased as fewer eggs survived long enough to hatch.

• The populations remained stable over time.

• The populations increased as pelicans laid more eggs so that more offspring would survive.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A coastal area that once supported a thriving fishing industry is overfished. The number of species found living in the marine ecosystem decreases. Which of these activities is most likely to increase the natural biodiversity in the area?

• Building artificial reefs and limiting fishing activity

• Introducing non-native species to fill unoccupied habitats and banning fishing

• Building artificial reefs and increasing fishing activity

• Eliminating non-native species and encouraging fishing for large predatory fish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Students in a science class visited four local ecosystems. The students observed the species present in each ecosystem and recorded their observations in the table. Based on these observations, which ecosystem is likely to be the least sustainable?

• Ecosystem 1, because it has the fewest species

• Ecosystem 2, because it includes both aquatic and terrestrial species

• Ecosystem 3, because it has few predators

• Ecosystem 4, because it supports many animals

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Both primary and secondary succession begin with pioneer species that...

• change the area and make it safer from predatory organisms

• invade the area so that new organisms cannot be established

• modify the area and allow larger and more complex organisms to appear

• use up all the existing resources and prevent establishment of non-native organisms

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A student examines the winged insect. Based on the dichotomous key, in what order should this insect be classified?

• Mantodea

• Raphidioptera

• Coleoptera

• Lepidoptera

This drawing shows a human body system. What is the primary function of this body system?

• The protection of vital organs from injury.

• The chemical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.

• The transport of nutrients, water, and oxygen to body cells.

• The production of hormones that regulate growth and metabolism.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Plants use energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce sugar. Which structure is found only in plant cells and helps plants capture energy from sunlight?

• Vacuole

• Nucleus

• Chloroplast

• Cell membrane

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Which statement is true about convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans?

• The ocean currents in the atmosphere are created by the radiant energy from the Sun, and the currents in the oceans are created by volcanoes.

• Most of the convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are a direct result of the radiant energy from the Sun.

• Currents in the atmosphere and in the ocean are caused by the gravity of the Moon.

• The ocean currents in the atmosphere are created by volcanoes, and the currents in the oceans are created by the radiant energy from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6