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2019 STAAR Grade 8 Science

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Last updated over 3 years ago
42 questions
1
7.5.B
8.3.B
1
6.11.B
8.3.B
1
8.5.B
1
8.2.E
8.8.A
1
7.10.C
1
8.6.A
1
8.3.B
8.9.B
1
8.5.E
1
6.6.A
8.2.A
1
8.6.A
1
8.11.A
1
8.2.D
8.5.C
1
6.8.A
1
7.12.B
1
8.6.C
1
8.5.D
1
7.11.A
8.2.C
1
8.10.B
8.2.E
1
8.2.E
8.8.C
1
7.14.C
1
6.6.B
8.4.A
1
8.11.B
1
8.7.B
1
6.9.C
1
8.3.B
8.7.B
1
8.11.A
1
8.2.C
8.5.A
1
8.11.A
1
8.3.B
8.7.A
1
8.3.D
8.5.D
1
7.8.C
8.3.B
1
6.8.D
8.2.E
1
8.11.B
8.2.A
1
8.6.A
1
8.2.E
8.9.C
1
8.3.B
8.5.B
1
8.8.A
1
8.11.B
8.3.A
1
8.6.C
1
7.6.A
8.2.E
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Question 1
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Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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Question 7
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Question 8
8.

A group of students used this diagram to classify three organisms into different kingdoms.

1
6.12.D
8.2.E
Question 10
10.

Question 11
11.

The net force on a vehicle that is accelerating at a rate of 1.5 m/s2 is 1,800 newtons.

What is the mass of the vehicle to the nearest kilogram?

Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document. Be sure to use the correct place value.

Question 12
12.

Question 13
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Question 14
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Question 15
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Question 16
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Question 17
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Question 18
18.

Question 19
19.

Question 20
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Question 21
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Question 22
22.

Question 23
23.

Question 24
24.

The distance a toy car travels over time is shown in the graph.

1
6.8.C
8.2.E
Question 26
26.

Question 27
27.

Question 28
28.

Question 29
29.

Question 30
30.

Question 31
31.

Question 32
32.

Barium sulfate, BaSO4 , is a white crystalline solid that is insoluble in water. It is used by doctors to diagnose problems with the digestive system. Barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2 , is also a white crystalline solid and is used in wastewater treatment.

How many more oxygen atoms are represented in the formula for barium sulfate than in the formula for barium hydroxide?

Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document. Be sure to use the correct place value.

Question 33
33.

Question 34
34.

Question 35
35.

Question 36
36.

Question 37
37.

Question 38
38.

Question 39
39.

Question 40
40.

Question 41
41.

Question 42
42.

The chart lists organisms in five different categories living near the Texas Gulf Coast.


Based on the chart, which food chain best models a flow of energy in this ecosystem?
A student makes a model of the sun-Earth system by swinging a ball around her head. Using this model, the student is trying to explain how Earth stays on a path around the sun.


The student explains that this path is the result of —
the magnetic attraction between Earth and the sun
potential energy stored in Earth that originated in the sun
the gravitational attraction between the sun and Earth
electromagnetic energy from the sun pulling on Earth
Atoms of which two elements have a combined total of 23 protons?
Sodium, Na, and magnesium, Mg
Boron, B, and carbon, C
Copper, Cu, and zinc, Zn
None of these
The spectral classes of four stars are shown in comparison with a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.


Based on the information, which star is most like the sun?
Star 1
Star 2
Star 3
Star 4
Primary succession occurs when pioneer species move into an area that has no plants. Which organisms are common pioneer species?
Conifer trees and tall grasses with roots that loosen the soil
Mosses and lichens that can grow on rocky surfaces
Grasses and weeds that arrive as seeds carried by the wind and then germinate in rich soil
Vines and shrubs that help prevent the erosion of shallow soil
A mother and daughter press their hands together and then push apart while ice skating.


Immediately after they push away from each other, how does the motion of the mother and daughter change?
The mother moves forward, and the daughter moves backward with a greater acceleration.
Both move forward, but the mother moves with a greater acceleration.
The mother moves backward, and the daughter moves forward with a greater acceleration.
Both move backward, but the daughter moves with a greater acceleration.
A teacher asks students to make a model of a transform plate boundary. The students use blocks to represent tectonic plates and slide the blocks past each other in the directions of the arrows as shown.


Which event can the students best demonstrate with their model?
An earthquake
A volcanic eruption
Formation of a rift valley
Building up of a mountain
Which statement best describes evidence that a chemical reaction occurs as a cake bakes?
The water in the cake batter evaporates.
The cake rises as gas bubbles form in the baking cake.
The cake takes the shape of the container in which it is baked.
The water in the cake batter is used to keep the cake moist as it bakes.
Question 9
9.

A student is trying to classify an unidentified, solid gray material as a metal or a nonmetal. Which question will best help the student classify the material?
Is the material malleable or ductile?
Does the material feel hard to the touch?
Will the material float in water?
Does the material feel rough or smooth?
Wild hogs introduced to Texas from Europe became feral after the hogs escaped from the ranches where they lived. Feral hogs are omnivores that feed on native plants, crops, and small animals. Feral hogs can damage an ecosystem by rooting through the soil to look for food and trampling small plants.


Which types of native organisms do feral hogs most likely compete with for food sources?
Carnivores and producers
Herbivores and carnivores
Producers and decomposers
Decomposers and herbivores
A scientist performs tests on a sample of an element. The element is a shiny solid that conducts electricity and heat. The scientist is able to bend and flatten the sample when pressure is applied to it.

Based on this information, the element could NOT be a member of which group on the periodic table?
Group 2
Group 8
Group 12
Group 18
A demonstration helps students understand a principle of roller coaster design.


Which answer choice correctly describes the ball’s kinetic and potential energy?
The ball has more potential energy at position X than at position Z.
The ball has more kinetic energy at position Y than at position W.
The potential energy and kinetic energy of the ball are equal at position X.
The potential energy and kinetic energy of the ball are greatest at position Z.
What are the main functions of the human skeletal system?
To support the body, protect the organs, produce blood cells, and store calcium
To regulate the composition of body fluids by removing metabolic wastes and retaining a balance of water, salt, and other nutrients
To regulate and maintain bodily functions by producing hormones and releasing them into the bloodstream
To enable the diffusion of oxygen into the bloodstream and the removal of carbon dioxide from the bloodstream
A large rock is motionless on a flat sidewalk. Which statement best explains why the rock remains motionless?
There are no forces acting on the rock.
The only force acting on the rock is directed toward the sidewalk.
The forces acting on the rock are all balanced.
The sidewalk exerts an unbalanced force on the rock.
A compound secreted by honeybees to paralyze intruders in their hive is known as 2-heptanone. The formula for this compound is shown.

How many atoms of each element are in one molecule of 2-heptanone?
4 carbon atoms, 11 hydrogen atoms, and 1 oxygen atom
7 carbon atoms, 14 hydrogen atoms, and 1 oxygen atom
7 carbon atoms, 11 hydrogen atoms, and 8 oxygen atoms
6 carbon atoms, 14 hydrogen atoms, and 3 oxygen atoms
A student uses this diagram to understand the parts of a fish. The student then uses an identification key to classify different types of fish.


Based on the key, which of these fish is most likely a bluegill?
The weather map shows air pressures in millibars.


Which set of conditions best describes the weather at the area of lowest air pressure?
Bright sun with no wind
Partly cloudy with no wind
Mostly sunny with light winds
Overcast skies with strong winds
A diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum is shown.


Earth’s atmosphere blocks short wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Which telescopes must be placed in orbit around Earth in order to observe short-wavelength radiation?
Gamma-ray telescopes
Visible-light telescopes
Infrared telescopes
Radio telescopes
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
The mass of an unidentified rock is 15.5 grams. Students determine the volume of the rock by placing the rock in a cylinder with water. The students calculate the density of the rock. They determine the identity of the rock based on the density ranges in the table.


The students most likely have which type of rock?
Coal
Dolomite
Peridotite
Sandstone
A student observes several species of plants growing in a drainage ditch. Some species have short roots, while others have long roots. During periods of heavy rain, the ditch fills with fast-moving water, which uproots more plants that have short roots than long roots.

Which short-term effect will most likely result from a year with more heavy rain than normal?
Most plants in the ditch will be plants with long roots.
Most plants in the ditch will be plants with short roots.
There will be no change in the numbers of plants with long roots and short roots.
There will be an equal number of plants in the ditch with long roots and short roots.
A student viewed the moon through binoculars one week after a new moon. Which image shows the phase of the moon that the student observed?
Question 25
25.

The blades of a wind turbine are at rest until the movement of air causes the blades to spin.


Which energy transformation happens when the blades are spinning as shown?
Electrical to mechanical
Chemical to electrical
Mechanical to electrical
Chemical to mechanical
A student models moon phases. She holds a foam ball on a stick in front of her body and then stands in front of a light as shown. The student uses herself to represent Earth. She turns her body slowly to represent four different moon phases.


Which numbered diagram represents the student modeling a full moon?
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
Giant salvinia is an aquatic plant that floats on water and reproduces rapidly. When these plants die, decomposition by bacteria affects oxygen levels in the water. As more plants die, less oxygen is available in the water. Students observe a pond covered by giant salvinia.


Which statement is the best prediction the students can make about the immediate future of the pond?
The depth of the water in the pond will increase.
Fish populations in the pond will begin to decrease.
The amount of bacteria in the pond will suddenly decrease.
The number of different types of plants around the pond will increase.
The atomic number of krypton is 36. If the mass number of a krypton atom is 84, which table shows the number of subatomic particles inside and outside the nucleus of the krypton atom?
Plants grow in many different shapes and sizes. Much of their shape depends on an internal structure that is composed of carbon-containing molecules such as cellulose and lignin. Plants that have a strong internal structure can grow larger than other plants because their structure can support their size.

Plants obtain the majority of the carbon necessary for building these structural molecules from —
air
microorganisms
soil
water
Which diagram models a hypothetical situation in which every location on Earth would have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness per day?
The model shows an area near a lake. Community leaders are planning new laws to help protect the lake from pollution. One proposed law will make it illegal to dump trash on the shore of the lake, but the law still allows trash to be placed in the area labeled “Flow-through wetland.”


Which statement about the proposed law is supported by the model?
The proposed law will protect the lake because plant roots between the wetland and the lake will stop pollution from entering the lake.
The proposed law will not protect the lake because animals that live in or near the lake will add pollution to the lake.
The proposed law will not protect the lake because groundwater will carry pollution from the wetland directly into the lake.
The proposed law will protect the lake because the high elevation of the water table will block pollution from entering the lake.
The graph shows the distance an object traveled in 11 seconds.


Which answer choice best describes the movement of the object between the times of 0 and 6 seconds on the graph?
Moving at a constant speed
Accelerating
Moving toward the north
Stopped
Researchers are studying lichens growing on trees in a forest ecosystem. At the beginning of the study, the researchers identified twelve lichen species in the forest. Later, a forest fire happened in the study area. The researchers returned to the area and found only six lichen species.

Which inference is best supported from the researchers’ observations?
Most lichen species are unaffected by forest fire.
The biodiversity in a forest increases after a fire.
Certain lichen species are better adapted to survive forest fires than others.
Forest fires will permanently remove certain species from the ecosystem.
The diagrams show forces acting on a toy car as it moves to the right. Which diagram shows the toy car that will most likely accelerate to the right based on these conditions?
A river area is shown on the topographic map. Four riverbank areas are labeled on the map.


Which two riverbanks are the steepest?
W and X
Y and Z
X and Y
W and Z
The diagram shows a model of an atom. The model has four different symbols on it. Each symbol represents a different role for one of the particles within the atom.


In this model, which particle determines the reactivity of this atom?
Particle W
Particle X
Particle Y
Particle Z
Which statement best describes a galaxy?
A cloud of gas that is the birthplace of stars
A system of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity
A ball of plasma that experiences nuclear fusion in its core
A mass of dust and ice that orbits a star in an elliptical pattern
An environmental change drastically reduced the population of milkweed plants in an area. The milkweed plants provided the only source of food for a nearby population of monarch butterfly caterpillars.

Which statement describes the most likely effect of this environmental change on this population of monarch butterflies?
The number of monarch butterflies will decrease because their caterpillars will not have enough food.
The number of monarch butterflies will stay the same because butterflies reproduce so rapidly their populations can withstand most food shortages.
The number of monarch butterflies will stay the same because their caterpillars will begin consuming nectar from different types of flowers.
The number of monarch butterflies will increase because their reproduction rate will increase to ensure some individuals survive.
A pitcher throws a ball toward a player holding a softball bat. The player uses the bat to hit the ball. The bat applies a 10-newton force to the ball.

Which statement correctly describes the reaction force between the bat and ball?
The reaction force is the force that causes the ball to move toward the bat.
The reaction force is the force applied to the bat by the player holding the bat.
The reaction force is the force that pulls the ball toward the ground.
The reaction force is the force of the ball on the bat.
Researchers are investigating processes that happen during digestion. Which answer choice describes only a physical change during digestion?
Hydrochloric acid in the stomach breaks down proteins.
Chewing in the mouth breaks food into small pieces
Enzymes in saliva start the digestion of starches before food is swallowed.
Bacteria in the intestines convert dietary fiber into fats.
Which table correctly identifies the three kingdoms?
Which table best shows the average speed of the toy car at different time intervals?
A
B
C
D