TCAP Tips for Science

The graphic shows the stages in the development of the solar system. Which statement best describes the process of the formation of the solar system?

• Gravity pulled the gas and dust together.

• A black hole pulled the gas and dust together.

• Magnetism attracted the gas and dust together.

• An explosion pushed the gas and dust together.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A heavy flood washed away over five meters of soil and rock. The layer of rock that was exposed by the flood contained remains of brachiopods, crinoids, and corals that existed in warm, shallow seas 350 million years ago. Some of the fossils that were found are shown.

Which statement is the best explanation for the presence of these marine fossils in an inland area of the United States?

• The brachiopods could live in water and on land.

• The crinoids and corals grew on terrestrial surfaces.

• The fossils were carried to the area by floodwaters.

• The area used to be covered by an ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Students develop a simple model to illustrate how the movement of the mantle can predict the movement of plates above the mantle. This same phenomenon that influences plate movement can also influence fault formation. They demonstrated this process by using an aquarium, two foam blocks, water, and a heat source. he students decide to model how the motion of two plates occurs.

Which statement best describes the ability of the model to predict plate movement?

• The motion of the plates cannot be modeled on a scale that is much smaller than the plates themselves.

• The motion of the plates cannot be modeled by simplifying the factors that contribute to plate movement.

• The motion of the plates can be modeled by including only the main factors that contribute to plate movement.

• The motion of the plates can be modeled only by including every factor that contributes to plate movement.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A student sets up a box with a flashlight that shines on a mirror located at position X. Other possible locations for objects in the box are labeled A-E. How can the student place objects in the box to have all the light from the flashlight shine back on the flashlight?

• Place a mirror at position E to reflect the light to a prism placed at position C to refract all the light back to the flashlight.

• Place a prism at position E to refract the light to mirrors placed at positions C and D to reflect the light back to the flashlight.

• Place a mirror at position E to reflect the light to a prism placed at position A to refract all the light to the flashlight.

• Place mirrors at positions A and E to reflect the light around the box and back to the flashlight.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What happens to the particles of a substance when it changes from a solid to a liquid?

• The particles move closer together.

• The particles move farther apart.

• The particles stop moving.

• The particles disappear.

Tags

DOK Level 1: Recall

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of matter?

• It has mass.

• It occupies space.

• It is always visible.

• It can exist in different states.

Tags

DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

The image shows four locations (A-D) on the island of Japan, which resides on or near four different tectonic plates. Which location and explanation describes where engineers should design buildings that can withstand earthquakes?

• location A; earthquakes occur near plate boundaries

• location B; earthquakes occur far away from mountains

• location C; earthquakes occur along the coast

• location D; earthquakes occur in the middle of continents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

The image shows the emission spectrum measured from a star once a year for three years. Based on the shifts of the spectral lines, how is the star moving with respect to Earth?

• The star is moving toward Earth.

• The star is moving away from Earth.

• Initially, the star moves away and then starts moving toward Earth.

• Initially, the star moves toward and then starts moving away from Earth.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

A diagram of seven rock layers is shown. The diagram represents a section of Earth that a paleontologist, a scientist who studies fossils, has been working with for years. Which statement correctly describes this diagram?

• Layer W contains fossils of organisms that existed on Earth after the organisms found in layers U and R.

• Layer U contains fossils of organisms that are older than the organisms found in layer R.

• Layers R and W contain fossils that are both types of plant species.

• Layers W and U contain fossils that are animal species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Some scientists compared fossils of the common ancestor of horses with modern horses. The table shows what the scientists found during their analysis.

The scientists claim that modern horses are better adapted for survival in the present-day environment than the common ancestor would have been. Which statement best support this claim?

• Organisms with four legs will develop a hoof because of the need to balance on four legs.

• Organisms will acquire helpful traits from their surroundings to survive.

• Organisms that have hooves are more likely to reproduce.

• Organisms with multiple toes are easily seen by predators, so parents choose not to pass the trait on to their offspring.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2