1. A group of students sets up an investigation to test which type of soil helps a tomato plant grow the tallest. The students plant seed sprouts in three identical pots with three different types of soil. What is the experimental variable in the students’ test? (1 point) the type of soil used in each pot
the amount each plant grows
the amount of sunlight each plant receives
the size and shape of the pot
2. What type of writing is represented in the following passage?

“Whales are mammals because they have lungs and breathe air, give birth to live offspring, and provide milk for their offspring.” (1 point)
narrative writing
persuasive writing
descriptive writing
informational writing
3. Which statement accurately describes a scientific law? (1 point)
A possible explanation or answer to a scientific question
The results of a scientific test that support or refute the hypothesis
A description of what scientists expect to happen every time under a set of conditions
An explanation that can be scientifically tested to provide evidence in support of or against
4. What is a factor in technological design that is an exchange of one benefit for another? (1 point)
a patent
a trade-off
a constraint
troubleshooting
5. Which statement correctly describes a trace fossil? (1 point)
A fossil that shows the shape of an animal
A fossil of a small bone from an animal skeleton
A fossil that provides evidence of the behaviors of animals
A fossil in which parts of an organism have been replaced with minerals
6. Scientists discovered a cross-section of rock with several fossils showing in different places in the cross-section. How can the scientists compare the relative ages of the fossils? (1 point)
The fossils that are smaller are older.
The fossils in upper layers are younger.
The fossils in darker rock layers are older.
The fossils that are more intact are younger.
7. Which of the following shows the divisions of geologic time in the correct order from shortest to longest? (1 point)
epoch Right arrow. eon Right arrow. period Right arrow. era
period Right arrow. epoch Right arrow. eon Right arrow. era
period Right arrow. era Right arrow. epoch Right arrow. eon
epoch Right arrow. period Right arrow. era Right arrow. eon
8. Which event was responsible for the increase in oxygen in the atmosphere during Precambrian time? (1 point)
a series of volcanic eruptions
the evolution of land animals
a comet crashing into the planet
the appearance of photosynthetic organisms
9. Which example shows how natural selection can affect the individuals in a species? (1 point)
The length of snakes increases as they grow older and eat more food.
The number of light-colored mice increases over time in a sandy environment.
Some individuals in an insect species prefer to eat one plant over another plant.
Individuals in a turtle species lay their eggs on different beaches near where they were born.
10. Which statement correctly describes both rocks and minerals? (1 point)
Rocks are naturally occurring and minerals are not naturally occurring.
Rocks only occur as solids and minerals occur as solids, liquids, and gases.
Rocks have uniform structures and minerals are formed by inorganic processes.
Rocks are made up of minerals and minerals have a definite chemical composition.
11. A student has four known minerals and one unknown mineral. The student wants to perform a scratch test to find out the hardness of the unknown mineral. The known minerals and their value on the Mohs Hardness Table are:
Quartz : 7
Fluorite : 4
Calcite : 3
Talc : 1
Which scratch test result would provide the most information about the hardness of the unknown mineral? (1 point)
The mineral is scratched by fluorite but not scratched by calcite.
The mineral is scratched by quartz but not scratched by talc.
The mineral is scratched by both quartz and fluorite.
The mineral is not scratched by calcite or talc.
12. How does an igneous rock form and then change into a metamorphic rock? (1 point)
Igneous rock forms from cooling lava and then forms layers to change into metamorphic rock.
Igneous rock forms from layers of rock and then melts in magma to form metamorphic rock.
Igneous rock forms from cooling lava and then changes into metamorphic rock under heat and pressure.
Igneous rock forms from layers of rock and then changes into metamorphic rock under heat and pressure.
13. A subduction zone forms when (1 point)
a continental plate slips past another plate causing earthquakes.
two continental plates collide and bend upwards as they move into each other.
an oceanic plate bends underneath a less dense plate and sinks into the mantle.
two oceanic plates move away from each other adding new crust to the ocean floor.