Science Practice 6

Life would not be possible on Earth without the water that covers much of its surface, and the air that surrounds it. Earth’s water and air affect each other in many ways. Which of the following situations represents an interaction between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere?

• volcanoes erupting

• underwater earthquakes

• greenhouse gases forming

• evaporation from lakes and rivers

How does the energy provided by the Sun affect global ocean currents?

• The Sun heats the land, which causes currents to flow close to coasts.

• The Sun heats the world’s oceans evenly, which causes currents to flow around Earth.

• The Sun heats waters near the equator, which then move toward the poles where the waters cool.

• The Sun heats waters near the poles, which causes the waters to move toward the equator to cool.

A fever is a response to infection that helps the body to maintain homeostasis. Which body systems work together to detect and fight infection and regulate temperature?

• immune and circulatory

• respiratory and nervous

• immune and respiratory

• circulatory and respiratory

The body of a person or other mammal is a complex organism. The structure of the body has several levels of organization. Which of the following lists the structural levels of the body from smallest to largest?

• cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism

• cell → organ → organ system → tissue → organism

• organ → organ system → cell → tissue → organism

• organ → organ system → tissue → cell → organism

Candice is examining a cell under a microscope. She has identified a cell wall, a nucleus, and a chloroplast. What type of organism does this cell most likely belong to?

• a plant

• a fungus

• an animal

• a bacterium

Over the course of a year, areas near Earth’s equator receive more direct energy from the Sun than areas near Earth’s poles. Which of the following correctly describes one result of this heating pattern?

• The poles lose all their heat at night.

• Atmospheric and oceanic currents distribute heat from the tropics to the poles.

• Sunlight overheats the oceans near the equator, making it impossible for sea life to exist there.

• Sunlight evaporates a massive amount of surface water near the tropics, creating flooding in this part of the world.

Many interactions occur among systems, such as the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Of the systems mentioned, which scenario describes an interaction between two different “spheres”?

• Arctic hare eating woody plants in Alaska

• runoff from farming areas into local streams

• erupting volcano releasing water vapor into the air

• magma cooling and solidifying before it reaches Earth’s surface

In what direction and with how much net force will the satellite move?

• The net force is 0 N, so the satellite will not move.

• The net force is to the right at 1500 N.

• The net force is to the left at 1000 N.

• The net force is to the left at 500 N.

Kiko writes a report to compare and contrast the cells of plants and animals. Which of the following statements is accurate and belongs in Kiko’s report?

• The cell membrane of animals is much thicker than those in plants.

• Vacuoles in plants are much larger than those in animals.

• Animal cells do not have chromosomes.

• Plant cells do not have chloroplasts.

Homeostasis describes the stable environment that the human body maintains, enabling the body to function properly. When an outside stimulus threatens to disrupt homeostasis, body systems work to bring things back into balance. Which of the following correctly describes systems working together to maintain homeostasis?

• The circulatory system moves waste products from the stomach to the excretory system.

• The nervous system senses cold temperatures and causes muscles to contract and relax rapidly.

• The respiratory system releases hormones to regulate the immune system and fight germs in the body.

• The digestive system releases heat as it digests food, which the circulatory system spreads throughout the body.