CAST High School Science (4/7/2025)

Last updated 11 months ago

54 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

HS-LS4-4

Required

HS-PS1-2

Required

HS-PS1-7

Required

HS-ESS2-5

Required

HS-LS1-6

Required

HS-ESS1-3

Required

HS-PS4-1

Required

HS-LS3-3

Required

HS-ESS2-1

Required

HS-PS2-1

Required

HS-PS3-5

Required

HS-LS4-6

Required

HS-LS1-1

Required

HS-ETS1-4

Required

HS-ESS1-4

Required

HS-PS2-3

Required

HS-ETS1-3

Required

HS-LS1-3

Required

HS-LS2-2

Required

HS-PS2-2

Required

HS-PS3-1

Required

HS-LS4-5

Required

HS-ESS1-6

Required

HS-PS1-3

Required

HS-LS4-6

Required

HS-PS2-2

Required

HS-ESS2-6

Required

HS-LS2-1

CAST High School Science (4/7/2025)

Last updated 11 months ago

54 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

The leaf beetle, Chrysomela aeneicollis, lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Scientists studying the beetles found that exposure to high temperatures during the summer, when the eggs are laid and the larvae are developing, causes physiological stress. The impact is on metabolic enzymes and heat shock protein expression. One allele, Pgi-4, increased in frequency in the beetle population that was exposed to hotter, drier summers in Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Complete the sentence about this change by selecting the correct words from the menus.

If the temperature in the Sierra Nevada Mountains continue to increase, the frequency of the Pgi-4 allele is expected to __________ as a result of __________.

HS-LS4-4

Required

Students use the periodic table to predict reactions between different elements and elemental bromine (Br2). An incomplete equation for the reaction between an element and Br2 is shown. Bromine atoms have seven valence electrons.

Based on the number of valence electrons of elements in a compound, which is an ionic compound that can form in a reaction between an element and Br2?

HS-PS1-2

Students are investigating the relationship between human population density and biodiversity. The amount of forest cover was used as a measure of the biodiversity of an area. The students averaged human population density and forest cover from locations with a range of population densities. The graph shows teh students' results.

Part A
Select a phrase from the menu to complete the sentence. 

Based on the graph, if the population density increases from 1 to 500 people/km2, the forest cover will likely __________ in that area.

HS-ESS3-3

Required

The reaction A2(g)+2AB(g) \rightarrow 2A2B(g) is carried out in a closed, 1.0 L container. The diagram shows the relative amounts of A2 and AB used for the reaction.

Assuming the reaction is complete, drag the correct number of molecules of A2B that will be produced to the empty box.

Students noticed that a nearby pond, fed by a single stream, was filling up with sediment. The students want to determine what factors are contributing to the amount and type of sediment entering the pond. Which investigation is most likely to produce data that will help answer their questions?

HS-ESS2-5

Required

A biochemist conducted an experiment to follow the movement of glucose molecules in animal cells. Glucose with radioactivity labeled carbon atoms was added to a culture of liver cells growing in a Petri dish. Over the next 18 hours, the biochemist assessed selected biomolecules in the culture for radioactivity. The results are shown in the table.

Explain how adding labeled glucose molecules to the culture resulted in labeled glycogen and describe what happened to the labeled glucose molecules during the 18-hour period. Enter your answer in the space provided.

HS-LS1-6

Required

HS-ESS1-3

Required

Laser light of wavelength 785 nm in air travels from air (index of refraction = 1) into a glass block (index of refraction = 1.5). The frequency of the light does not change when the light enters the glass. How does the wavelength of the light change, if at all, when the light enters the glass, and what reasoning supports this claim?

HS-PS4-1

Required

In a particular species of plant, yellow seed color is dominant to green seed color. Two plants of this species that are heterozygous for seed color are crossed.

What is the predicted ratio for seed color in the offspring of this cross?

HS-LS3-3

Required

This diagram shows the boundary between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.

Select the best terms from the menus to complete the following statements.

The mountains were formed as a result of the Indian Plate __________ the Eurasian Plate.

Over time, the effects of __________ will counteract the process that builds the mountains.

HS-ESS2-1

Required

A student performs an experiment in which a cart is pulled across a table by exerting a net force of 0.05 N on the cart. Different amounts of mass are added to the cart for each trial. The graph shows data from the experiment.

Based on the results from the experiment, what claim can the student make about the relationship between net force, acceleration, and mass?

HS-PS2-1

Required

Students are discussing a model of a system that consists of two parallel conducting plates (called a capacitor) separated by a distance of d and a positively charged sphere directly in the middle of the two plates. The upper plate has a positive charge, and the lower plate has a negative charge.

In which direction should the charged sphere move to increase the energy stored in the system?

HS-PS3-5

Required

Students are given an assignment to design a simulation that will model effects of human activity on biodiversity in a particular town. A student decides to model changes in the biodiversity of bird species caused by human activity in a forested park next to the school. The part is home to many native bird species. Near the park is a housing development and an industrial area.

What three components should the students include in their simulation to best understand the effects of human activity on biodiversity?

HS-LS4-6

Scientists studied the extent of Arctic sea ice from 1978 to 2016. Observations from selected years are shown in the maps. The white areas show the extent of the sea ice in November of the indicated year. The dark blue areas are ice-free ocean and the green areas are continents in all of the maps.

Required

HS-ESS3-5

Required

Part B

Use the menus to complete the statement.

Melting Arctic sea ice contributes to a positive feedback loop in the Arctic. As Arctic sea ice melts, __________ sunlight is reflected and the temperature of the Arctic Ocean __________.

HS-ESS3-5

Required

The islets of Langerhans in the pancreas are made of a variety of cell types that release protein hormones. Among these cells are some that release insulin and others that release glucagon. These different cell types arose during embryonic development from identical stem cells that do not secrete either of these hormones.

Complete the statement by selecting the correct words or phrases from the lists.

The DNA sequence of the stem cells is most likely __________ the DNA sequence of the hormone-secreting cells. The two types of hormone-secreting cells produce different hormones because they express different __________.

HS-LS1-1

Required

A student uses a computer simulation to investigate the effect of earthquakes on buildings. The simulation shows damage to buildings of similar construction except for their height. The simulation settings and the data collected from the simulation are shown.

Type of soil — Soft clay
Magnitude of Earthquake — 8.0

Select terms from the menus to create a correct conclusion that is based on the simulation.

A building of a height of __________ floors could be expected to receive a severe amount of damage.

The severe damage to certain buildings is most likely due to __________.

HS-ETS1-4

Required

A comet is in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. Select from the menus to best describe what happens at locations in the orbit where the comet is getting closer to the Sun.

As the comet approaches the Sun, the gravitational force between the comet and the Sun __________ and the comet __________.

HS-ESS1-4

Required

A student is asked to evaluate two different bumper designs that will be used on bumper cars at a local amusement park. The bumpers have the same mass and are each attached to a test car that undergoes a controlled collision with a wall. The student measures the average impact force on each bumper during the collision and the duration of each collision. The student's results are shown in the table.

Which design will provide better protection for a rider in a collision, and why?

HS-PS2-3

Required

A town council of a small town in Southern California investigates the use of renewable sources of energy to generate electricity. They research both solar panels and wind turbines and collect the data in the table. Neither turbines nor solar panels release CO2 during their normal operation; however, CO2 is emitted during their manufacture.

The council determines that it requires about 40,000 solar panels to produce the same amount of energy per year as one wind turbine produces per year. Assume a 20-year lifetime for both turbines and solar panels.

Based on the table, complete these sentences by selecting the best phrases from the menus.

If the main goal of the town is to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere, then the town council should select __________ because the amount of CO2 __________ is lower.

If the main goal of the town is to reduce maintenance costs, then the town council should select __________.

HS-ETS1-3

Required

Students in a class are designing an investigation to determine the effect running on a treadmill has on heart rate. They decide to have several students run for 20 minutes on a treadmill.

Which two data sets must the students collect in order to determine the effect exercise has on heart rate?

HS-LS1-3

Required

Students created a computer model of an ecosystem process to predict the density of different tree species in an area over 100 years. The graph shows the outcomes of the model for one of the tree species.

Complete the sentences by selecting from the menus. The process being modeled is most likely __________ following a disturbance. In years 75 to 100, the population can best be described as having reached __________.

HS-LS2-2

Required

A railroad car with a mass of 90,000 kg is traveling along a straight, horizontal track at a constant speed of 2 m/s. The car collides with a second railroad car, also with a mass of 90,000 kg, that is initially at rest. The railroad cars stick together after the collision, as shown in the figure.

What is the speed of the two railroad cars immediately after the collision?

HS-PS2-2

In order to reduce air pollution, a particular community identifies three possible solutions. The community also proposes several criteria that the solutions must meet, including low cost and rapid impact. The three possible solutions are:

Solution 1: Begin phasing in renewable sources of electricity generation, which would involve building new types of power plants.
Solution 2: Encourage increased use of ride-sharing.
Solution 3: Encourage people to raise thermostat settings in the summer and lower them in the winter.

Required

HS-ETS1-2

Required

HS-ETS1-2

When scientists analyze the carbon cycle, photosynthesis and cellular respiration are often linked together because the same molecules represent the input and output for these two processes.

Select each molecule listed in the grid as an input or ouput of photosynthesis or cellular respiration.

Required

HS-LS2-5

Required

HS-LS2-5

Required

A student drops a tennis ball from the top of a building, as shown in the picture. Air resistance is negligible.

Explain how the student can determine the height of the building if the kinetic energy of the tennis ball is known when it hits the ground. In you explanation, use the terms kinetic energy, gravitation potential energy, acceleration due to gravity, mass, and height. Do not use equations. Enter your answer in the space provided.

HS-PS3-1

Required

Results from a wide range of climate model simulations suggest that Earth's average surface temperatures could be between 1.1 and 5.4\degreeC warmer in 2100 than it was in 2015. Some species, such as sugar maple trees, are adapted to survive cooler temperatures and have historically occupied northern parts of North America. Scientists claim that rising average temperatures will change the distribution of sugar maple trees in North America.

In addition to global surface temperature data, which data, if collected, would best support or refute the claim?

HS-LS4-5

Required

The Moon is thought to have formed shortly after the formation of Earth, and therefore the age of the Moon is comparable to that of Earth. The surface of the Moon is covered by ancient craters formed by impacts of small solar0system objects such as meteoroids, but the surface of Earth shows no such craters.

Which two statements are valid explanations for this observation?

HS-ESS1-6

Required

A student is planning an investigation to compare the strengths of the forces of attraction between the particles in the following solid substances: sulfur (S8), iodine (I2), sodium chloride (NaCl), and tin (Sn).

Which statement includes the best plan for the student to follow and the correct explanation?

HS-PS1-3

Required

HS-LS4-6

Required

A block with a mass of m is sliding to the right with a velocity of v on a horizontal, frictionless surface. It has a head-on collision with a larger block with a mass of 9m that is initially at rest. After the collision, the blocks are stuck together and move to the right, along the same path, with a velocity of 0.1v.

Which two statements are correct about the forces exerted on the blocks during the collision?

HS-PS2-2

Required

HS-ESS2-6

Required

Scientists studied a population of snowshoe hares adn their predators, Canadian lynx, in an ecosystem. The graph shows how the population sizes of lynx and snowshoe hares changed between 1855 and 1925. 

Complete the sentences using the lists to explain the relationship between the two species.

When the hare population increases, the lynx population __________. This is an example of a __________ factor resulting in cyclical changes.

HS-LS2-1

Required

HS-LS3-2

Required

HS-LS3-1

Required

HS-LS3-1

Required

HS-LS3-2

Required

HS-LS3-1

Required

HS-LS3-2

Required

HS-PS1-6

Required

HS-PS1-7

Required

HS-PS1-7

Required

HS-PS1-6

Required

HS-PS1-6

Required

HS-PS1-6

Required

HS-ESS1-1

Required

HS-ESS1-1

Required

HS-ESS1-4

Required

HS-ESS1-4

Required

HS-ESS1-2

Required

HS-ESS1-2

	Low-mass stars	High-mass stars
Has a higher core temperature during main sequence state
Spends a longer time on the main sequence
Burns hydrogen at a faster rate during main sequence state
Spends the majority of its lifetime burning hydrogen in its core
Can create elements heavier than iron during supernova event

	Change parameter	Keep parameter constant
Human population size
Sampling season
Sampling site
Number of samples

	Faucet (source)	Drain (sink)
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Ocean absorption
Volcanic eruptions
Converting farmland to forests

	Photosynthesis Input	Photosynthesis Output
CO2
H2O
O2
C6H12O6

	Cellular Respiration Input	Cellular Respiration Output
CO2
H2O
O2
C6H12O6

	Advantage	Disadvantage
Reduced reaction rates at low temperatures
High purchase and maintenance costs for high pressure machines
Pressures higher than 200 atm at 400\degreeC produce more than a 45% yield of NH3 at equilibrium
Temperatures lower than 400\degreeC at 200 atm produce more than a 40% yield of NH3 at equilibrium

	Long time to implement change	Requires change in people's behaviors	Provides benefits in a short time period
Solution 1
Solution 2
Solution 3

CAST High School Science (4/7/2025)

CAST High School Science (4/7/2025)

Students noticed that a nearby pond, fed by a single stream, was filling up with sediment. The students want to determine what factors are contributing to the amount and type of sediment entering the pond. Which investigation is most likely to produce data that will help answer their questions?

In a particular species of plant, yellow seed color is dominant to green seed color. Two plants of this species that are heterozygous for seed color are crossed.What is the predicted ratio for seed color in the offspring of this cross?

Students in a class are designing an investigation to determine the effect running on a treadmill has on heart rate. They decide to have several students run for 20 minutes on a treadmill.Which two data sets must the students collect in order to determine the effect exercise has on heart rate?

Students noticed that a nearby pond, fed by a single stream, was filling up with sediment. The students want to determine what factors are contributing to the amount and type of sediment entering the pond. Which investigation is most likely to produce data that will help answer their questions?

A student is learning about the life cycles of low-mass and high-mass stars and creates a chart comparing the properties of the stars.Complete the chart by selecting the box or boxes in each row to indicate if the property applies to low-mass stars, high-mass stars, or both.

In a particular species of plant, yellow seed color is dominant to green seed color. Two plants of this species that are heterozygous for seed color are crossed.What is the predicted ratio for seed color in the offspring of this cross?

Part ABased on the Arctic sea ice images from 1978 to 2016, what is most likely going to occur from 2017 to 2027?

Students in a class are designing an investigation to determine the effect running on a treadmill has on heart rate. They decide to have several students run for 20 minutes on a treadmill.Which two data sets must the students collect in order to determine the effect exercise has on heart rate?

Part AThe community identified three constraints to help determine the best approach to reduce air pollution. For each of the three potential solutions, select the circle if the solution meets the constraint.

Part BWhat additional information will be most helpful to the community to prioritize these approaches?

Part A

Part B

Which scientifically correct question best challenges the family member's argument?

Which three questions should the family ask their veterinarian that would most likely help the family understand the genetic basis for the recent color change of the rabbits?

Which scientifically correct question would best challenge the conclusions made about the kits' genotypes from the suggested Punnett square?

Based on the information in the tables, explain how both genetic and environmental factors can affect point color variation in Californian rabbits. Enter your answer in the space provided.

Based on this information, what two changes to the system at equilibrium should the engineer suggest in order to increase the amount of NH3 produced?

If 4 moles of N2 and 12 moles of H2 were consumed in the production of NH3, how many moles of ammonia were produced?

Using the information in both graphs, select the circles to indicate whether each description is an advantage or a disadvantage for the overall production of fertilizer.

Using Le Chatelier's principle, explain how an increase in pressure in the system at a constant temperature and volume would also disrupt the equilibrium and increase the amount of NH3 when equilibrium is restored. Enter your answer in the space provided.

Based on the graph, the student should classify the Sun as which type of star?

What should the student say to the astronaut to explain the shape of the planets' orbits around the Sun? In your answer, discuss distance from the Sun and the shape of the orbits. Enter your answer in the space provided.

Part ACompared to the orange wavelength of light emitted from the star, which wave diagram best represents the observed red color of light?

Part ABased on the Arctic sea ice images from 1978 to 2016, what is most likely going to occur from 2017 to 2027?

Part AThe community identified three constraints to help determine the best approach to reduce air pollution. For each of the three potential solutions, select the circle if the solution meets the constraint.

Part BWhat additional information will be most helpful to the community to prioritize these approaches?

Part A

Part B

Which scientifically correct question best challenges the family member's argument?

Which three questions should the family ask their veterinarian that would most likely help the family understand the genetic basis for the recent color change of the rabbits?

Which scientifically correct question would best challenge the conclusions made about the kits' genotypes from the suggested Punnett square?

Based on the information in the tables, explain how both genetic and environmental factors can affect point color variation in Californian rabbits. Enter your answer in the space provided.

Based on this information, what two changes to the system at equilibrium should the engineer suggest in order to increase the amount of NH3 produced?

If 4 moles of N2 and 12 moles of H2 were consumed in the production of NH3, how many moles of ammonia were produced?

Using the information in both graphs, select the circles to indicate whether each description is an advantage or a disadvantage for the overall production of fertilizer.

Using Le Chatelier's principle, explain how an increase in pressure in the system at a constant temperature and volume would also disrupt the equilibrium and increase the amount of NH3 when equilibrium is restored. Enter your answer in the space provided.

Based on the graph, the student should classify the Sun as which type of star?

What should the student say to the astronaut to explain the shape of the planets' orbits around the Sun? In your answer, discuss distance from the Sun and the shape of the orbits. Enter your answer in the space provided.

Part ACompared to the orange wavelength of light emitted from the star, which wave diagram best represents the observed red color of light?

In a particular species of plant, yellow seed color is dominant to green seed color. Two plants of this species that are heterozygous for seed color are crossed.

What is the predicted ratio for seed color in the offspring of this cross?

Students in a class are designing an investigation to determine the effect running on a treadmill has on heart rate. They decide to have several students run for 20 minutes on a treadmill.

Which two data sets must the students collect in order to determine the effect exercise has on heart rate?

A student is learning about the life cycles of low-mass and high-mass stars and creates a chart comparing the properties of the stars.

Complete the chart by selecting the box or boxes in each row to indicate if the property applies to low-mass stars, high-mass stars, or both.

In a particular species of plant, yellow seed color is dominant to green seed color. Two plants of this species that are heterozygous for seed color are crossed.

What is the predicted ratio for seed color in the offspring of this cross?

Part A

Based on the Arctic sea ice images from 1978 to 2016, what is most likely going to occur from 2017 to 2027?

Students in a class are designing an investigation to determine the effect running on a treadmill has on heart rate. They decide to have several students run for 20 minutes on a treadmill.

Which two data sets must the students collect in order to determine the effect exercise has on heart rate?

Part A

The community identified three constraints to help determine the best approach to reduce air pollution. For each of the three potential solutions, select the circle if the solution meets the constraint.

Part B

What additional information will be most helpful to the community to prioritize these approaches?

Part A

Compared to the orange wavelength of light emitted from the star, which wave diagram best represents the observed red color of light?

Part A

Based on the Arctic sea ice images from 1978 to 2016, what is most likely going to occur from 2017 to 2027?

Part A

The community identified three constraints to help determine the best approach to reduce air pollution. For each of the three potential solutions, select the circle if the solution meets the constraint.

Part B

What additional information will be most helpful to the community to prioritize these approaches?

Part A

Compared to the orange wavelength of light emitted from the star, which wave diagram best represents the observed red color of light?