PSSA Grade 8 Science

Last updated over 1 year ago

20 questions

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Which question could best be investigated using scientific inquiry?

When do most people plant flower gardens?

Which color of flowers do people like to grow in their gardens?

How many flowering plants have become extinct throughout Earth’s history?

How does the amount of sunlight received affect the growth of flowering plants?

Which unintended effect could result from overusing chemical pesticides to control insects on agricultural crops?

crops producing their own chemical pesticides

insect pests switching to a different food source

crops requiring more water and nutrients to survive

insect pests becoming resistant to certain pesticides

A family adopts a pet dog from the local animal shelter. The family does not know the breed of the dog. To help determine the breed, the family compares the traits of the dog to the traits of known dog breeds. The family concludes that the dog’s parents were two different breeds. Which scientific concept did the family most likely use to form this conclusion?

natural selection

Newton's first law

Mendelian genetics

the theory of evolution

Fires are common in grassland ecosystems. Dead grasses and small shrubs that accumulate on the ground provide an excellent source of fuel for the fires. Which statement describes how grassland ecosystems benefit from periodic fires?

Ash left over from fires provides plants with additional nutrients.

Fires reduce ground cover, which creates new habitats for nonnative organisms.

The darker color of burned plant material is able to absorb more energy from sunlight.

The increased temperatures allow soil bacteria populations to remain active during winter.

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

In a science class, students release the same toy car down four different ramps. Each ramp has the same length but a different height. Which dependent variable could be measured to find out how the ramp height affects the car?

mass of each ramp

length of each ramp

weight of the car when it reaches the bottom of each ramp

distance the car rolls after it reaches the bottom of each ramp

Use the drawing below to answer the question.

A researcher hypothesizes that a specific temperature is optimal for the growth of a type of algae. To test this hypothesis, the researcher grew algae in culture dishes each kept at a different temperature. The data collected from which measurements would be needed to support the hypothesis?

the initial and final mass of the algae colony

the initial and final volume of the culture dish

the initial and final surface area of the culture dish

the initial and final temperature of the algae colony

A student is measuring the volume of a rectangular object. Which two tools could the student use to measure the volume of the object?

beaker or microscope

thermometer or stopwatch

ruler or graduated cylinder

balance scale or hand lens

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

The diagram shows two genetic processes. Which statement best describes one of the processes shown?

RNA is the input of process 1.

Protein is the output of process 2.

Process 1 is a feedback mechanism.

Process 2 is a feedback mechanism.

Which list correctly shows characteristics of fungi and animals?

Fungi: have a cell wall, break down dead organisms 
Animals: have no cell wall, feed on other organisms

Fungi: have a cell wall, feed on other organisms 
Animals: have a cell wall, make food from sunlight

Fungi: have no cell wall, make food from sunlight 
Animals: have a cell wall, feed on other organisms

Fungi: have no cell wall, make food from sunlight 
Animals: have no cell wall, break down dead organisms

A student observes a large amount of fallen tree leaves on the school grounds. Which solution for cleaning up the leaves would have the most positive impact on the environment?

piling the leaves to burn them

piling the leaves to compost them

raking the leaves into plastic bags to store them

raking the leaves into trucks to transport them to a landfill

Use the chart below to answer the question.

A student made a chart to compare energy sources. Which energy source was incorrectly placed in the chart?

coal

uranium

geothermal

hydropower

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

Polar areas of Earth receive lower levels of direct sunlight than other areas on the planet. Which statement best describes how the lower levels of direct sunlight affect the environment in polar areas?

Polar areas have a cold environment and a low diversity of plants and animals.

Polar areas have a warm environment and a high diversity of plants and animals.

Polar areas have a cold environment and a high diversity of plants and animals.

Polar areas have a warm environment and a low diversity of plants and animals.

Which statement describes the energy of a ball after it is thrown straight up into the air?

When the ball is about to hit the ground, its kinetic energy is lowest.

When the ball is about to hit the ground, its potential energy is highest.

When the ball is at its highest point, its kinetic energy is equal to its potential energy.

When the ball is at its highest point, its potential energy is highest and its kinetic energy is lowest.

Sometimes people must clear grassland areas to grow crops. This practice often replaces deep-rooted native plant species with shallow-rooted crop plants. In addition, most crop plants must be harvested and replanted each year, leaving the soil bare for part of the year. Which effect would replacing grassland with farmland most likely have on the area?

increased erosion of soil

increased nutrients in the soil

increased diversity of species

increased water available to plants

Water system X brings fresh water from mountaintops to water system Y. Water system Y is a large basin filled with salt water. What are these two types of water systems?

water system X: wetland 
water system Y: river

water system X: lake 
water system Y: ocean

water system X: lake 
water system Y: stream

water system X: river 
water system Y: ocean

A student observes two high tides and two low tides along an ocean shoreline during a fixed 24-hour period. Which combination of factors is most responsible for causing this pattern of tides?

The tides are caused by the rotation of Earth and the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Sun.

The tides are caused by the rotation of Earth and the gravitational attraction between Earth and the Moon.

The tides are caused by the rotation of the Moon and the gravitational attraction between Earth and the Moon.

The tides are caused by the rotation of the Moon and the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Sun.

A student is testing if the mass of a balloon rocket affects how far it travels on a string by attaching metal washers to the balloon. The student measures the initial circumference of the balloon at the beginning of each trial.

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Part A: Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the number of washers it carries.

Required

1

Part B: In a second investigation the student uses no washers but changes the balloon’s circumference. Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the circumference of the balloon.

In England before the industrial revolution, peppered moths were mainly white with black speckles, but a small group within the population had a genetic mutation that caused them to appear dark gray. After industrialization, the increase in air pollution caused tree bark to darken. Eventually, the lighter-colored peppered moths became less common than the dark-gray moths.

Required

1

Part A: Identify one possible advantage dark-gray peppered moths had over the lighter-colored moths after the industrial revolution.

Required

1

Part B: Predict what will most likely happen to the coloration of peppered moths as pollution control measures increase in England.

Which question could best be investigated using scientific inquiry?

When do most people plant flower gardens?

Which color of flowers do people like to grow in their gardens?

How many flowering plants have become extinct throughout Earth’s history?

How does the amount of sunlight received affect the growth of flowering plants?

Which unintended effect could result from overusing chemical pesticides to control insects on agricultural crops?

crops producing their own chemical pesticides

insect pests switching to a different food source

crops requiring more water and nutrients to survive

insect pests becoming resistant to certain pesticides

A family adopts a pet dog from the local animal shelter. The family does not know the breed of the dog. To help determine the breed, the family compares the traits of the dog to the traits of known dog breeds. The family concludes that the dog’s parents were two different breeds. Which scientific concept did the family most likely use to form this conclusion?

natural selection

Newton's first law

Mendelian genetics

the theory of evolution

Fires are common in grassland ecosystems. Dead grasses and small shrubs that accumulate on the ground provide an excellent source of fuel for the fires. Which statement describes how grassland ecosystems benefit from periodic fires?

Ash left over from fires provides plants with additional nutrients.

Fires reduce ground cover, which creates new habitats for nonnative organisms.

The darker color of burned plant material is able to absorb more energy from sunlight.

The increased temperatures allow soil bacteria populations to remain active during winter.

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

In a science class, students release the same toy car down four different ramps. Each ramp has the same length but a different height. Which dependent variable could be measured to find out how the ramp height affects the car?

mass of each ramp

length of each ramp

weight of the car when it reaches the bottom of each ramp

distance the car rolls after it reaches the bottom of each ramp

Use the drawing below to answer the question.

A researcher hypothesizes that a specific temperature is optimal for the growth of a type of algae. To test this hypothesis, the researcher grew algae in culture dishes each kept at a different temperature. The data collected from which measurements would be needed to support the hypothesis?

the initial and final mass of the algae colony

the initial and final volume of the culture dish

the initial and final surface area of the culture dish

the initial and final temperature of the algae colony

A student is measuring the volume of a rectangular object. Which two tools could the student use to measure the volume of the object?

beaker or microscope

thermometer or stopwatch

ruler or graduated cylinder

balance scale or hand lens

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

The diagram shows two genetic processes. Which statement best describes one of the processes shown?

RNA is the input of process 1.

Protein is the output of process 2.

Process 1 is a feedback mechanism.

Process 2 is a feedback mechanism.

Which list correctly shows characteristics of fungi and animals?

Fungi: have a cell wall, break down dead organisms 
Animals: have no cell wall, feed on other organisms

Fungi: have a cell wall, feed on other organisms 
Animals: have a cell wall, make food from sunlight

Fungi: have no cell wall, make food from sunlight 
Animals: have a cell wall, feed on other organisms

Fungi: have no cell wall, make food from sunlight 
Animals: have no cell wall, break down dead organisms

A student observes a large amount of fallen tree leaves on the school grounds. Which solution for cleaning up the leaves would have the most positive impact on the environment?

piling the leaves to burn them

piling the leaves to compost them

raking the leaves into plastic bags to store them

raking the leaves into trucks to transport them to a landfill

Use the chart below to answer the question.

A student made a chart to compare energy sources. Which energy source was incorrectly placed in the chart?

coal

uranium

geothermal

hydropower

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

Polar areas of Earth receive lower levels of direct sunlight than other areas on the planet. Which statement best describes how the lower levels of direct sunlight affect the environment in polar areas?

Polar areas have a cold environment and a low diversity of plants and animals.

Polar areas have a warm environment and a high diversity of plants and animals.

Polar areas have a cold environment and a high diversity of plants and animals.

Polar areas have a warm environment and a low diversity of plants and animals.

Which statement describes the energy of a ball after it is thrown straight up into the air?

When the ball is about to hit the ground, its kinetic energy is lowest.

When the ball is about to hit the ground, its potential energy is highest.

When the ball is at its highest point, its kinetic energy is equal to its potential energy.

When the ball is at its highest point, its potential energy is highest and its kinetic energy is lowest.

Sometimes people must clear grassland areas to grow crops. This practice often replaces deep-rooted native plant species with shallow-rooted crop plants. In addition, most crop plants must be harvested and replanted each year, leaving the soil bare for part of the year. Which effect would replacing grassland with farmland most likely have on the area?

increased erosion of soil

increased nutrients in the soil

increased diversity of species

increased water available to plants

Water system X brings fresh water from mountaintops to water system Y. Water system Y is a large basin filled with salt water. What are these two types of water systems?

water system X: wetland 
water system Y: river

water system X: lake 
water system Y: ocean

water system X: lake 
water system Y: stream

water system X: river 
water system Y: ocean

A student observes two high tides and two low tides along an ocean shoreline during a fixed 24-hour period. Which combination of factors is most responsible for causing this pattern of tides?

The tides are caused by the rotation of Earth and the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Sun.

The tides are caused by the rotation of Earth and the gravitational attraction between Earth and the Moon.

The tides are caused by the rotation of the Moon and the gravitational attraction between Earth and the Moon.

The tides are caused by the rotation of the Moon and the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Sun.

Part A: Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the number of washers it carries.

Part B: In a second investigation the student uses no washers but changes the balloon’s circumference. Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the circumference of the balloon.

PSSA Grade 8 Science

PSSA Grade 8 Science

Which question could best be investigated using scientific inquiry?

Which unintended effect could result from overusing chemical pesticides to control insects on agricultural crops?

Fires are common in grassland ecosystems. Dead grasses and small shrubs that accumulate on the ground provide an excellent source of fuel for the fires. Which statement describes how grassland ecosystems benefit from periodic fires?

Use the diagram below to answer the question.In a science class, students release the same toy car down four different ramps. Each ramp has the same length but a different height. Which dependent variable could be measured to find out how the ramp height affects the car?

A student is measuring the volume of a rectangular object. Which two tools could the student use to measure the volume of the object?

Use the diagram below to answer the question.The diagram shows two genetic processes. Which statement best describes one of the processes shown?

Which list correctly shows characteristics of fungi and animals?

A student observes a large amount of fallen tree leaves on the school grounds. Which solution for cleaning up the leaves would have the most positive impact on the environment?

Use the chart below to answer the question.A student made a chart to compare energy sources. Which energy source was incorrectly placed in the chart?

Use the diagram below to answer the question.Polar areas of Earth receive lower levels of direct sunlight than other areas on the planet. Which statement best describes how the lower levels of direct sunlight affect the environment in polar areas?

Which statement describes the energy of a ball after it is thrown straight up into the air?

Water system X brings fresh water from mountaintops to water system Y. Water system Y is a large basin filled with salt water. What are these two types of water systems?

A student observes two high tides and two low tides along an ocean shoreline during a fixed 24-hour period. Which combination of factors is most responsible for causing this pattern of tides?

Part A: Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the number of washers it carries.

Part B: In a second investigation the student uses no washers but changes the balloon’s circumference. Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the circumference of the balloon.

Part A: Identify one possible advantage dark-gray peppered moths had over the lighter-colored moths after the industrial revolution.

Part B: Predict what will most likely happen to the coloration of peppered moths as pollution control measures increase in England.

Part A: Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the number of washers it carries.

Part B: In a second investigation the student uses no washers but changes the balloon’s circumference. Predict the general relationship between the distance the balloon rocket would likely travel and the circumference of the balloon.

Part A: Identify one possible advantage dark-gray peppered moths had over the lighter-colored moths after the industrial revolution.

Part B: Predict what will most likely happen to the coloration of peppered moths as pollution control measures increase in England.

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

In a science class, students release the same toy car down four different ramps. Each ramp has the same length but a different height. Which dependent variable could be measured to find out how the ramp height affects the car?

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

The diagram shows two genetic processes. Which statement best describes one of the processes shown?

Use the chart below to answer the question.

A student made a chart to compare energy sources. Which energy source was incorrectly placed in the chart?

Use the diagram below to answer the question.

Polar areas of Earth receive lower levels of direct sunlight than other areas on the planet. Which statement best describes how the lower levels of direct sunlight affect the environment in polar areas?