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MS 8th Grade Science Beginning of Year Diagnostic

Last updated over 5 years ago

63 questions

Note from the author:

beginning of the year assessment

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Question 1

1.

F

G

H

J

Question 2

2.

A tiger cub has a pattern of stripes on its fur that is similar to that of its parents. Where are the instructions stored that provide information for a tiger's fur pattern?

In cytoplasm inside cells

On genes within chromosomes

On the cell membrane

In the mitochondria

Question 3

3.

A

B

C

D

Question 4

4.

F

G

H

J

Question 5

5.

F

G

H

J

Question 6

6.

F

G

H

J

Question 7

7.

Which inference is best supported by these data?

Pine trees in a dense forest can grow taller than pine trees in an open meadow.

Pine trees in a dense forest compete for sunlight with the surrounding trees.

Pine trees in a dense forest are part of a less-complex food web than pine trees in an open meadow.

Pine trees in a dense forest have more living branches than pine trees in an open meadow.

Question 8

8.

A

B

C

D

Question 9

9.

A

B

C

D

Question 10

10.

F

G

H

J

Question 11

11.

W

X

Y

Z

Question 12

12.

A

B

C

D

Question 13

13.

F

G

H

J

Question 14

14.

1

2

3

4

Question 15

15.

F

G

H

J

Question 16

16.

F

G

H

J

Question 17

17.

Gamma rays have the shortest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are blocked from reaching Earth by the atmosphere. They can also kill living cells. Which of the following is one way gamma rays are being used in the modern world?

To destroy cancer cells

In microwave ovens

To power satellites

In X-ray photography

Question 18

18.

Which form of energy from the Sun is MOST responsible for heating Earth's lower atmosphere?

Gamma Rays

Infrared Radiation

Radio Waves

Visible Light

Question 19

19.

Abrasion

Chemical Weathering

Erosion by moving water

Deposition

Question 20

20.

Which of these would strengthen resistance to erosion?

Grading hillsides to have steeper slopes

Cutting areas of forest along streams

Planting trees and grasses on slopes

Introducing new herbivores into an area

Question 21

21.

How does decayed organic matter improve the soil?

It decreases bulk of the soil.

It increases fertility

It makes the soil lighter in color

It adds more living things in the soil.

Question 22

22.

How does sexual reproduction affect genetic variation in a species?

The male offspring receive the taits from the male parent, and the female offspring receive the traits from the female parent.

All the offspring will have the traits exhibited by the male parent.

Sexual reproduction does not change the genetic combinations of the offspring.

Sexual reproduction results in possible new combinations of genes in the offspring.

Question 23

23.

Which of the following adaptations helps birds fly?

Hollow bones in birds

Bright, colorful feathers

Sweet-smelling, colorful flowers

Doing a complicated courtship dance

Question 24

24.

Which of the following does not offer evidence of evolution?

Fossil record

Homologous structures

Vestigial structures

Habitat

Question 25

25.

The cells resulting from this process have half the DNA of the original cell.

The cells resulting from this process have twice as much DNA as the original cell.

The cells resulting from this process have traits that are very different from the original cell.

The cells resulting from this process have traits that are identical to the original.

Question 26

26.

F

G

H

I

Question 27

27.

F

G

H

I

Question 28

28.

Which of these organisms reproduces sexually?

virus

amoeba

bacterium

cherry tree

Question 29

29.

100 nm

200 nm

300 nm

400 nm

Question 30

30.

F

G

H

I

Question 31

31.

F

G

H

I

Question 32

32.

visible light

infrared light

ultraviolet light

radio waves

Question 33

33.

A

B

C

D

Question 34

34.

A

B

C

D

Question 35

35.

480

1920

120

4

Question 36

36.

F

G

H

I

Question 37

37.

SS, Ss

SS, ss

Ss, ss

Ss, Ss

Question 38

38.

F

G

H

I

Question 39

39.

A

B

C

D

Question 40

40.

In many parts of the world, people burn wood to provide heat for their homes and for cooking. Wood is an example of:

A renewable resource.

A nonrenewable resource.

An inexhaustible resource.

a manufactured resource.

Question 41

41.

It will harm the environment by making sunlight less available to plants.

It will increase the amount of fossil fuels used to generate electricity in the area.

It will decrease the amount of the Sun's energy available to future generations.

It will have no effect on the availability of solar energy.

Question 42

42.

A

B

C

D

Question 43

43.

The geologic time scale is a record of

Radioactive decay on Earth.

The rate of fossil formation on Earth.

All the sedimentary rock layers on Earth.

Life forms and geologic events in Earth's history.

Question 44

44.

In the process of sea-floor spreading, where does molten material rise from the mantle and erupt?

Along the edges of all the continents

Along the mid-ocean ridge

In deep-ocean trenches

At the north and south poles

Question 45

45.

The process by which the ocean foor sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle is known as

Convection

Continental drift

Subduction

Conduction

Question 46

46.

A

B

C

D

Question 47

47.

A

B

C

D

Question 48

48.

A

B

C

D

Question 49

49.

Most water pollution is the result of

human activities

volcanic eruptions

storms

drought

Question 50

50.

A

B

C

D

Question 51

51.

A

B

C

D

Question 52

52.

The damage caused by an earthquake is likely to be greatest

far from the epicenter

at a point below the focus

on a normal fault

near the epicenter

Question 53

53.

Heat and pressure deep beneath Earth's surface can change any rock into

chemical rock

organic rock

metamorphic rock

sedimentary rock

Question 54

54.

A fossil that forms when hardened minerals replace all or part of an organism is called a

petrified fossil

carbon film fossil

mold fossil

trace fossil

Question 55

55.

What is the correct order (starting from the surface) of Earth's layers?

crust, outer core, inner core, mantle

mantle, outer core, inner core, crust

crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

outer core, inner core, crust, mantle

Question 56

56.

Geologists' main evidence about the structure of Earth's interior comes from

temperature measurements in deep mines

observations of other planets

exploration of caves

rock samples and seismic waves

Question 57

57.

Suppose heat has caused convection currents to form in a fluid. When the heat source is removed from the fluid, the convection currents will

speed up

change direction

eventually stop

continue at the same rate forever

Question 58

58.

Rock that forms when magma cools below Earth's surface is called

coal

petroleum

igneous rock

metamorphic rock

Question 59

59.

Which of the following is used to classify igneous rocks?

only its origin

only its mineral composition

its origin, texture, and location

its origin, texture, and mineral composition

Question 60

60.

A tuning fork starts to vibrate when a certain note is played on a piano. This is an example of:

Resonance

Reflection

Refraction

Diffraction

Question 61

61.

Consider the model of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Use steps (I-III) to guide you through the steps to describe how Darwin would explain antibiotic resistance.

There is a change in the environment. An antibiotic is added. Some of the bacteria adapt to the new environment. They survive and reproduce.

In any population, variation exists. Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. Most bacteria die, but the bacteria that are resistant survive and reproduce.

Sexual reproduction of bacteria cause variation. Some bacteria survive antibiotics and some do not. Regardless, over time all of the bacteria should become extinct.

In a population of bacteria that are exposed to antibiotics, some bacteria are able to change their genetic make-up and survive. The new genotype is passed on to offspring. 

Question 62

62.

Whales are thought to have evolved from land animals similar to large otters. As evidence of this, whales have useless leg bones (structure C) that float inside their bodies. These leg bones are ________________ structures.

vestigial

homologous

analogous

diverse

Question 63

63.

The bones in the front limbs of many mammals are similar in their structure and arrangement. What term is used to describe physical similarities between related species that indicates a common ancestry?

homologous

analogous

vestigial

non-relatable