GED Science Practice Questions

C H A P T E R 30 GED Science Practice Questions NOW IT’S time to put all that you have learned about science and scientific inquiry into practice In the following section, you will find 75 multiple-choice questions like those you will find on the GED Science Exam Directions Read the questions carefully and choose the best answer for each question Some questions may refer to a passage, illustration, or graph Be sure to answer every question; you will not be penalized for incorrect answers Do not spend too much time on any one question so you can be sure to complete all the questions in the allotted time Record your answers on the answer sheet provided on page 267 Make sure you mark the answer in the circle that corresponds to the question Note: On the GED, you are not permitted to write in the test booklet Make any notes or calculations on a separate piece of paper 265 – LEARNINGEXPRESS ANSWER SHEET – Answer Sheet 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c 267 d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Which of the following is NOT true about gravity? a The more massive two objects are, the greater the gravitational force between them b Gravitational force between two objects depends only on the mass of the larger object c Gravitational force between two objects depends on the distance between them d People can jump higher on the moon than on Earth because the gravitational force between a person and the moon is lower than the gravitational force between a person and the Earth e A gravitational force exists between the moon and the sun Change of phase is a process whereby matter changes form (solid, liquid, gas) Which one of the following constitutes a phase change? a condensation of water vapor b photosynthesis c digestion of food d dry-cleaning e exhaling Two negatively charged spheres a repel each other b attract each other c neither attract nor repel each other d can either attract or repel each other depending on their position e attract each other only when the distance between them is small 10 11 12 13 14 Oven cleaner Lye Ice floats on water because a ice is less dense than water b water conducts heat better than ice c ice has a lower temperature d heat from the Earth’s core travels upward, cooling the bottom first e it needs energy from the sun to melt Increasingly Basic Ammonia Beer Coffee Vinegar Battery acid Stomach acid Neutral Bleach Increasingly Acidic In an acid base reaction, an acid reacts with a base to produce water and a salt The pH scale can be used to describe the acidity of a liquid Look at the diagram below Saliva Blood Which two liquids could undergo an acid base reaction? a bleach and ammonia b lye and ammonia c blood and saliva d bleach and vinegar e stomach acid and beer According to Newton’s laws of motion, an object set in motion remains in motion unless a force acts on it If you suspend an object from a string and make it swing, the object will swing for a while, then slow down and stop Why does the suspended object stop swinging? a because an object at rest remains at rest unless a force acts upon it b because the mass of the object is too small to maintain the motion c because energy is the ability to work d because gravity is pulling it toward the Earth e because energy of motion is converted to heat through friction with air In an exothermic process, heat is released by the process to the surroundings An example of an exothermic process is burning wood An endothermic process requires the input of heat from the surroundings An example of an endothermic process is boiling water Which of the following is an endothermic process? a detonation of an explosive b melting ice c burning paper d the formation of helium on the sun e freezing water 269 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 11 Which statement about energy and/or matter is incorrect? a Matter and energy can’t be destroyed b Matter and energy can’t be created c All matter tends toward more disordered states d Energy can be stored and transferred e Heat energy is composed of heat atoms 400 nm Violet C C C H 14 H C C H H H H C C C H H H H In order to protect themselves from being eaten, animals resort to camouflage and chemical defense Animals camouflage by mimicking the appearance of their environment Animals that have chemical defenses contain chemicals noxious to predators Which of these is NOT an example of camouflage or chemical defense? a A walking stick insect looks just like a twig b A skunk has an awful smell c Feathers of the pitohui bird in New Guinea contain a deadly toxin d Roses have thorns e A harlequin crab looks just like the sea cucumber it lives on H H 10 C Which of the following is NOT true about sunlight? a It is a form of radiation b It is used as an energy source in solar-powered calculators c It contains the colors of the rainbow d Its speed is infinite e It can be absorbed by plants H H H H H e Red 13 H H H C H d C H H Orange What always stays the same when a chemical reaction takes place? a the number of atoms b the number of molecules c the amount of gas d the amount of solid matter e the amount of disorder H H c Green Yellow 700 nm 730 nm 12 H H Blue 600 nm H H b 500 nm According to the diagram, blue-green light would most likely have a wavelength of a 670 nm b 550 nm c 350 nm d 470 nm e 700 nm The boiling point in hydrocarbons (molecules containing H and C) increases with increasing molecular weight due to larger intermolecular forces Which of these hydrocarbons would you expect to have the highest boiling point? a H H Different colors of light correspond to different wavelengths Wavelengths are often quoted in nanometers (nm) The wavelengths of the visible part of the spectrum are shown in the diagram below H H H C H H People wear woolen gloves in the winter because gloves a generate heat energy through radiation b increase the temperature of cold air through convection c decrease the loss of body heat to surroundings through insulation d increase the amount of heat energy generated by the body through conduction e transform cold wind energy into thermal energy 270 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 15 Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane in order to equalize the concentration (the amount of protein per milliliter of water) on two sides of the membrane Consider the diagram below The container is divided into two compartments, A and B, by a selectively permeable membrane Each circle represents 100 protein molecules that can’t pass through the membrane The amount of water on two sides of the membrane is initially equal What will happen as a result of osmosis? 17 Identical twins have exactly the same genes Identical twins result when a an egg fertilized by one sperm divides in two b two eggs are fertilized with two sperm cells c one egg divides in two and is fertilized by two sperm cells d the same sperm cell fertilizes two eggs e the same egg is fertilized by two sperm cells 18 In peas, the gene for green color is dominant over the gene for yellow color We will specify the gene for yellow peas as y, and the gene for green peas as Y Each pea has two genes for color (one from each parent) and donates only one gene for color to its offspring Yellow peas have the genotype yy Any other genotype leads to green peas Consider the following Punnett square: Membrane Water level A B Parent Y 16 Which of the following statements about human genetics is true? a Half the chromosomes in a human are inherited from the mother, and half from the father b A human looks 50% like the father, and 50% like the mother c Fraternal twins are genetically more similar than siblings who are not twins d Exposure to X-rays can have no effect on a human’s chromosomes e Genes are particles found in the nucleus of DNA atom Parent a Protein will flow from compartment B to compartment A b Protein will flow from compartment A to compartment B c Water will flow from compartment B to compartment A d Water will flow from compartment A to compartment B e Both water and protein will flow from compartment B to compartment A y y Yy yy y Yy yy The offspring of these two parents a could never be yellow b could never be green c could be either green or yellow d could be yellow-green e could be yellow, but could never have yellow offspring 19 271 Which of the following is NOT true? a All organisms are made of atoms b All organisms are made of molecules c All organisms are made of one or more cells d All organisms have genetic material e All organisms have a cell wall – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 20 21 In humans, a pair of chromosomes (one from each parent) determines the sex of the baby Females have two X chromosomes, while males have an X and a Y chromosome The baby always gets an X chromosome from the mother, so in humans, the father determines the sex of the baby by supplying it with either an X chromosome to make it female, or a Y chromosome to make it male In birds, like in humans, a pair of chromosomes determines the sex Birds with two W chromosomes are male Birds with a W chromosome and a Z chromosome are female Which statement is true about birds? a The male bird determines the sex of the offspring by supplying it with the W or the Z chromosome b The male bird determines the sex of the offspring by supplying it with one of its W chromosomes c The male bird determines the sex of the offspring by supplying it with the X or the Y chromosome d The female bird determines the sex of the offspring by supplying it with the X or the Y chromosome e The female bird determines the sex of the offspring by supplying it with the W or the Z chromosome A species may live in association with another species Such an arrangement is called symbiosis Symbiosis in which both species benefit is called mutualism If the symbiosis is beneficial to one species and neither beneficial nor harmful to the other, it is called commensalism If one species benefits at the expense of the other, the relationship is called parasitism A tick that attaches to the skin of a human or animal and feeds on its blood is an example of a commensalisms b parasitism c competition d coevolution e mutualism Questions 22 through 24 are based on the following passage An island in the Adriatic Sea was overpopulated with snakes Sailors who came to the island brought and let loose mongooses, animals that feed on snakes The population of snakes started decreasing, since the mongooses were eating them The mongoose population started increasing since there was ample food around The mongooses were not native to the island and there was no predator on the island to keep the mongoose population in check At some point, there were hardly any snakes left on the island, and people started populating it The mongoose, facing a shortage of snakes, started eating chickens that people kept for their eggs and meat However, people caught on and protected the chickens from getting eaten The mongoose population decreased Some remain on the island, but their number is now at equilibrium, kept in check by the availability of food 22 The passage illustrates a the interdependence of organisms b the fragility of an ecosystem c the ability of humans to change an ecosystem d the relationship between the population of predator and prey e all of the above 23 There were hardly any snakes left on the island because a mongooses had eaten them b people had killed them c there was no predator for the mongooses d sailors brought them prey e the chickens didn’t taste as good to the mongooses 272 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 24 25 Which statement best describes the change in population of mongooses on the island? a The population was zero before sailors brought a few The few then multiplied, and the number of mongooses on the island is still steadily growing b The population was zero before sailors brought a few The few then multiplied, increasing the number of mongooses When the snakes were almost gone, the mongoose population started decreasing c The population was small before sailors brought more mongooses, increasing the gene pool The number of mongooses kept growing, until the people started protecting the chickens d The population was small before sailors brought more snakes, increasing the food supply for the mongoose The number of mongooses kept growing, until the snake population was almost gone The mongooses died out, since they ran out of food e The population was initially large, but when a predator was brought by sailors, the number of mongooses decreased There are four blood types in humans: A, B, AB, and O An individual with blood type A has antibodies for B, so he or she can’t receive type B blood Similarly, a person with blood type B has antibodies for type A and can’t receive type A blood A person with AB blood type has no antibodies and can receive blood from anyone A person with type O blood has both A and B antibodies and can receive blood only from someone else with type O blood Based on this information, someone with type B blood can donate to a blood groups B and O b blood groups B and AB c only blood group B d only blood group AB e only blood group O 26 Two main chemicals are responsible for the communication of the brain with the organs you have no conscious control over (heart, digestive system, endocrine system) The chemical norepinephrine helps your body get ready for a fightor-flight action by stirring up energy stores In contrast, the chemical acetylcholine helps conserve energy by slowing the heart and increasing intestinal absorption Which of the following situations is least likely to lead to increased levels of norepinephrine? a being chased by a flesh-eating animal b running away from someone holding a knife c petting a rabbit d taking an important exam e going on a first date with someone 27 Most bacteria cannot grow in high concentrations of salt As a result, a salt acts as a preservative in ham, beef jerky, and other salty foods b people who don’t eat enough salt become anemic c Utah’s great Salt Lake is filled with bacteria d most antibiotics are sweet e there are no bacteria in fresh water 28 In the early 19th century, almost all peppered moths collected by biologists in the U.K were pale and mottled Only rarely was a collector able to find a dark-peppered moth After the Industrial Revolution, when furnaces filled the air with dark soot, the light-peppered moth became rare and the dark-peppered moth was most common in industrial cities A reasonable explanation for this change is that the dark moth was less likely to be seen and eaten by birds against the dark background This explanation illustrates the principle of a conservation of energy b natural selection c gene flow d male competition e acquired traits 273 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 29 All of the following are mammals EXCEPT a humans b rabbits c whales d penguins e rats 30 31 All of the following are primates EXCEPT a humans b gorillas c whales d chimpanzees e orangutans A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks our view of the sun Select the diagram that best represents the position of the sun, the Earth, and the moon during a solar eclipse, as well as the correct orbits a Moon Sun Earth b Moon Earth Sun c Moon Earth Sun d Sun Earth Moon e Sun Moon Earth 274 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Questions 57 and 58 are based on the following passage Farm animals can carry salmonella, a kind of bacteria that can cause severe food poisoning However, animals fed antibiotics can carry especially deadly strains of salmonella In Minnesota in 1983, 11 people were hospitalized with salmonella poisoning This number itself was not striking at all Fortythousand Americans are hospitalized with salmonella poisoning every year What was striking about the cases in Minnesota was that each patient had severe symptoms and all the patients were infected with the same, rare strain of salmonella, resistant to several common antibiotics A young scientist, Scott Holmberg, noted that eight patients were taking the same antibiotics for sore throats He ruled out the possibility that the antibiotics themselves were infected with the bacteria because three of the patients were not taking antibiotics at all He later showed that the people were infected with salmonella prior to taking the antibiotics, but that the antibiotics triggered the onset of salmonella poisoning He postulated that salmonella suddenly flourished when the patients took antibiotics, because the antibiotics killed off all other competing bacteria He was also able to trace the antibioticresistant salmonella to the beef that was imported to Minnesota from a farm in South Dakota, at which cattle were routinely fed antibiotics and at which one calf died of the same strain of salmonella 57 As a result of this finding, the Food and Drug Administration should a carefully regulate the prescription of antibiotics for sore throats b prevent the export of meat from South Dakota to Minnesota c limit the practice of feeding antibiotics to cattle d take the antibiotic that caused salmonella off the market e require special prescription for antibiotics resistant to salmonella 58 Based on the passage, which one of the following statements is false? a Salmonella poisoning is a common bacterial infection b Some strands of bacteria are resistant to antibiotics c Antibiotics kill off bacteria that are not resistant to antibiotics d Antibiotics transmit salmonella e Farm animals can carry salmonella 281 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 59 Which of the minerals listed in the table are you most likely lacking if you experience irregular heartbeat? a sodium b potassium c calcium d phosphorous e magnesium Which two minerals are necessary for formation of healthy bones and teeth? a calcium and magnesium b calcium and phosphorous c calcium and potassium d calcium and sodium e sodium and magnesium 62 Which of the following is the most common result of prolonged excessive alcohol consumption? a heart attack b brain tumor c lung cancer d liver damage e cataracts 63 Minerals are an important component of the human diet Some minerals are needed in relatively large amounts These include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, chlorine, and magnesium Others, including iron, manganese, and iodine, are needed in smaller amounts Humans need 26 minerals all together, but some of them are only required in tiny amounts Some minerals, such as lead and selenium, are harmful in large quantities Dietary supplements can decrease the chance of mineral deficiencies listed in the table below, but should be taken with great care, since overdose can lead to poisoning 60 61 Questions 59 through 61 are based on the passage below and the table at the bottom of the page Which of the following could be transmitted through kissing? a lung cancer b brain tumor c flu d diabetes e Down’s syndrome Taking several iron supplements per day can a decrease the chance of bone loss b make you stronger c help relieve PMS symptoms d cause poisoning e make up for an unbalanced diet MINERAL GOOD SOURCES SYMPTOMS OF DEFICIENCY FUNCTIONS Sodium Table salt, normal diet Muscle cramps Water balance, muscle and nerve operation Potassium Dairy, bony fish, leafy Irregular heartbeat, fatigue, Muscle and nerve opera- muscle cramps Calcium Fruits, vegetables, grains tion, acid-base balance Osteoporosis green vegetables Formation of bone and teeth, clotting, nerve signaling Phosphorous Dairy, meat, cereals Bone loss, weakness, lack of appetite Formation of bone and teeth, energy metabolism Magnesium Nuts, greens, whole grains Nausea, vomiting, weakness Enzyme action, nerve signaling 282 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Hormone concentration (units per ml) A woman is most likely to get pregnant if she has unprotected sex a few days before and on the day of ovulation, when the egg is released from the ovaries The release of the egg is hormonally stimulated, meaning that a hormone in the woman’s body triggers ovulation On average, women ovulate around the 14th day of their menstrual cycle The following is a graph showing the levels of three hormones throughout the menstrual cycle of an average woman 66 The boiling point of water decreases with increasing pressure At high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure is lower than at sea level Where would you expect to find the highest boiling point temperature of water? a in the Grand Canyon Valley b at sea level c at the base of Mount Everest d at the top of Mount Everest e at the top of a small hill 67 64 As the pressure of a gas increases at constant temperature, the volume of the gas decreases 80 70 60 Apply pressure FSH LH Progesterone 50 40 30 GAS 20 GAS 10 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Day of menstrual cycle Based on the graph, which hormone is most directly responsible for triggering ovulation? a FSH b LH c progesterone d testosterone e cholesterol 65 Through friction, energy of motion is converted to heat You use this in your favor when you a wear gloves to make your hands warm b rub your hands together to make them warm c soak your hands with hot water to make them warm d place your hands near a fireplace to make them warm e hold a cup of tea to make your hands warm 283 If you were a diver and you wanted to take an oxygen tank with you, what would you do? a Pressurize the oxygen, so more of it can fit in a tank of a manageable size b Decrease the pressure of oxygen in the tank, so the tank doesn’t explode c Increase the temperature of oxygen in the tank, so that the cold oxygen doesn’t damage the lungs d Decrease the temperature of oxygen, so that it doesn’t escape from the tank e Increase the temperature of the oxygen and decrease the pressure, so the volume stays the same – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 68 The amount of solute that can be dissolved in a solvent at a given temperature is called solubility For most substances, solubility increases with temperature Rock candy can be made from sugar solutions that have an excess of sugar dissolved The amount of sugar per 100 grams of water at a given temperature has to be higher than the amount that is normally soluble in order to make rock candy Based on the solubility of sugar in water as a function of temperature, plotted in the graph, how much sugar would you need to dissolve in 100 grams of water to make rock candy at 40° C? Questions 70 and 71 are based on the following passage In 1628, English physician William Harvey established that the blood circulates throughout the body He recognized that the heart acts as a pump and does not work by using up blood as earlier anatomists thought To carefully observe the beating of the heart and the direction of blood flow, Harvey needed to see the works of the blood in slow motion Since there was no way for him to observe a human heart in slow motion, he studied the hearts of toads and snakes, rather than the rapidly beating hearts of “warm-blooded” mammals and birds By keeping these animals cool, he could slow their hearts down The main argument for his conclusion that the blood circulates stemmed from his measurement of the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat He calculated that the amount of blood pumped each hour by far exceeds the total amount of blood in the body and proved that the same blood passes through the heart over and over again Solubility (g of sugar/100 g of water) Solubility of Sugar in Water 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 a b c d e 69 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 Temperature (degrees Celsius) less than 50 grams between 50 and 100 grams between 100 and 150 grams between 150 and 200 grams more than 250 grams 70 Which of the following energy sources causes the least pollution to the environment? a coal b nuclear power c gasoline d solar e oil What misconception did scientist harbor before Harvey’s study? a The heart circulates blood b The heart pumps blood c The heart uses up blood d The heart contains no blood e The heart of birds beats faster than the heart of frogs 71 Which of the following did Harvey do? I Observe the heartbeat and blood flow in snakes and frogs II Determine that the heart acts as a pump III Count the number of blood cells that pass through the heart every hour IV Show that the blood circulates a b c d e 284 He did only I He did I and II He did I, II, and IV He did I, III, and IV He did II, III, and IV – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Questions 72 and 73 are based on the following passage Questions 74 and 75 are based on the following passage Radiation from radioisotopes can be used to kill cancer cells Chemist Marie Curie received two Nobel Prizes for her work with radioisotopes Her work led to the discovery of the neutron and synthesis of artificial radioactive elements She died of leukemia at 67, caused by extensive exposure to radiation Curie never believed that radium and other materials she worked with were a health hazard In World War I, glowing radium was used on watch dials to help soldiers read their watches in the dark and to synchronize their attacks Unfortunately, women who worked in factories were drawing their radium stained brushes to fine points by putting them between their lips As a result, their teeth would glow in the dark But this was an amusement for children more than a cause of worry About ten years later, the women developed cancer in their jaws and mouths and had problems making blood cells This exposed the dangers of radiation In the past, people thought that the Earth was flat and that a ship that sailed too far would fall off the edge of the world The Earth appears flat because the Earth is too large for humans on Earth to see its curvature Several events helped shed the misconceptions For one, during a lunar eclipse, the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon It eclipses the moon by casting a shadow on it The shadow the Earth casts is round When Magellan circumnavigated the Earth, he proved that one could not fall off the edge of the Earth, because the Earth was round and had no edges Finally, space missions provided us with images of our round Earth from far away and showed us how beautiful our planet looks, even from a distance 72 73 Based on the information in the passage, which statement about radioisotopes is false? a Radioisotopes can kill cancer cells b Radioisotopes can cause cancer c A radioisotope can glow in the dark d Einstein received the Nobel Prize for working with isotopes e A radioisotope was used in watch dials 74 a b c d e 75 Which dangers of radiation were mentioned in the passage? I Radiation can cause genetic mutations II Radiation can lead to leukemia III Radiation can cause chemotherapy a b c d e In the passage, what was cited as proof that the Earth is round? I Earth casts a round shadow on the moon during a lunar eclipse II Earth revolves around the sun III Magellan circumnavigated the Earth IV images from space danger I only danger II only danger III only dangers I and II dangers II and III 285 I and II I, II, and III I, II, and IV I, III, and IV II, III, and IV With which misconception about the Earth is the passage concerned? a that the Earth turned b that the Earth was in the center of the solar system c that the Earth was flat d that the Earth was created at the same time as the sun e that the Earth could be eclipsed by the sun – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 10 c Gloves provide insulation They can’t generate heat, choice a Gloves left out in the snow would be cold Gloves can’t have an effect on the temperature, choice b They also don’t affect the amount of energy your body produces, choice d, or transform energy in any way, choice e Answers and Explanations d It is the only pair of liquids listed in which one is acidic (vinegar—pH 3) and the other basic (bleach—pH 9) e The object set in motion slows down and stops swinging because the force of friction acts on it The kinetic energy of the object is converted to heat energy through friction with air Statements a, c, and d are true but are not the reason why the object stops swinging An object having any mass can maintain motion, so the statement in choice b is wrong 12 a The number of atoms stays constant throughout a chemical reaction The number of molecules can change (choice b) For example, in photosynthesis, molecules of carbon dioxide and molecules of water (total 12 molecules) can react to form molecule of glucose and molecules of oxygen (total of molecules) Similarly, the amount of gas and solid can change (choices c and d) The amount of disorder in the universe is always increasing, so it does not have to stay constant through a reaction (choice e) b An endothermic process requires the input of heat energy The only one that requires input of energy (heat) is melting ice (ice melts when heated) The rest of the processes listed give off heat, so they are exothermic a Things that float are less dense than the substance in which they float b The statement is false because the gravitational force between two objects depends on the masses of both objects All the other statements are true and consistent with Newton’s Law of Gravitation 13 d The statement is false because light has a finite speed It is very large, but it is not infinite The rest of the statements are true a When water vapor condenses, gas changes to liquid Choices b, c, and d involve chemical reactions and can’t be considered physical processes Through exhaling, choice e, air is pushed out of the lungs, but there is no phase change a Two like charges always repel e The statement is false because energy is not composed of matter (atoms) All other statements are true 11 d The wavelength of blue-green should be between the wavelength of blue light and green light The wavelength of blue light is about 450 nm and the wavelength of green light is at about 500 nm Midway between these wavelengths is 470 nm 14 d Thorns are a form of defense, but are neither camouflage nor chemical defense Choices a and e are examples of camouflage Choices b and c are examples of chemical defense 15 d The concentration of protein in compartment B is higher Because of the nature of the membrane, the protein can’t pass through it The only way for concentration to reach the same level in two compartments is for water to flow from A to B e The molecule in choice e has the most atoms and the largest molecular weight It therefore has the highest boiling point 286 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 16 a Every human normally inherits 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father However, that doesn’t mean that humans look exactly 50% like the father and 50% like the mother (choice b), since one parent’s genes can be more dominant, and since genes from two parents sometimes produce a blended effect Fraternal twins happen to be in the womb at the same time, but genetically, they are not any more similar than two siblings who are not twins (choice c) Fraternal twins come from two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm cells Exposure to X-rays can alter chromosomes (choice d) Genes are not particles DNA is not an atom and it doesn’t have a nucleus (choice e) Genes are found in the nucleus of a cell and are made of DNA 23 a There was no mention of choice b in the passage Choice c is true, but not as directly related to snake disappearance as choice a Choice d is false Sailors did not bring prey for the snakes; they brought a predator There isn’t enough information to support choice e, and even if it were true, it wouldn’t be directly related to the disappearance of snakes 24 b There is no support for other statements in the passage 25 b Someone who has blood type B can donate blood to those who don’t have antibodies for B These include other people with type B blood (they have antibodies for A only) and those with type AB blood (they don’t have any antibodies) 26 c Levels of norepinephrine rise when there is a potential for danger, stress, or excitement Choice c, petting a rabbit, is the only choice that would tend to calm, rather than scare or excite, a person 17 a In order for twins to have the same genes, they need to come from one egg and one sperm cell 18 c According to the Punnett square, the combination of genes of Parent I with the genes of Parent II results in either offspring with yy (which is yellow) or Yy (which is green) 27 a Salty foods are less prone to bacterial attack because most bacteria can’t grow in environments that are too salty Being anemic (choice b) is not related to bacteria Choice c is inconsistent with the question Choices d and e are not true and are inconsistent with the question 19 e The statement is false Animal cells usually don’t have a cell wall Other statements are true 20 e In humans, the sperm determines the sex of the child because the male has two different chromosomes In birds, the female has two different chromosomes, so she determines the sex of the offspring Birds have Ws and Zs, not Xs and Ys like humans, so choice d is incorrect 28 b Natural selection is the process whereby the members of the species who are best able to survive and reproduce in an environment thrive, passing their genes on to next generations The pollution in the environment selected for darkness in peppered moths 21 b The tick is a parasite It benefits, while the animal it feeds from suffers 22 e Statements a through d were illustrated in the passage Mongooses depend on snakes for food, choice a The balance in the ecosystem was disturbed when a new predator was introduced, choice b Humans entirely changed the ecosystem when they brought the mongooses, choice c When the population of mongooses increased, the population of snakes decreased, causing a drop in the population of mongooses, choice d 29 d Penguins are birds They hatch from eggs and have wings They are not mammals; they don’t give birth or breastfeed their young 30 c Whales are not primates Primates have five digits on each hand and foot, binocular vision, and flexible shoulder joints 287 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – 31 a This diagram corresponds to the correct arrangement of Earth, moon, and the sun during a solar eclipse The moon is located between the Earth and the sun, blocking the Earth’s view of the sun It also corresponds to the correct orbits, with the moon orbiting around the Earth, and the Earth around the sun Choice b is wrong because it shows the sun orbiting around the Earth, and the moon around the sun Choice c is wrong because the Earth, moon, and sun are not aligned as they should be during an eclipse, and the moon is not orbiting around the Earth Choice d shows correct orbits, but the moon is not blocking the sun from the Earth’s view In fact, choice d corresponds to a lunar eclipse Choice e is wrong because it shows the Earth and the sun orbiting around the moon 39 b Webbed feet enable ducks to swim better by increasing the surface area on their feet In swimming, being hydrodynamic, not aerodynamic, is important (choice a) Stuck particles between a duck’s toes, choice c, would most likely not be a frequent problem Webbed feet would not affect the duck’s density, choice d, by much The rate of heat loss, choice e, may be slightly higher because of larger surface area, but heat loss is not essential for swimming 40 d The top division on the graduated cylinder is the 10 ml mark There are 10 divisions, so each one is ml The bottom of the meniscus is between ml and ml, so 7.5 ml is the best answer 32 a Sunlight is caused by nuclear reactions on the sun, not by convection currents of molten rock within the Earth mantle 41 b This is what the object looks like when it is inverted left to right (mirror image) When the object is flipped upside down, there is no change in its appearance 33 e Ozone cannot directly change the surface of the Earth Processes in a through d can 42 b This is a statement that can’t be tested by scientific means All the others can 34 d When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa (choices II and IV) On average, the Southern Hemisphere is not warmer than Northern Hemisphere (choice I) The sun always sets in the west, everywhere on Earth 43 b Choice a is not consistent with observation II Choices c and d are not testable and are therefore invalid Choice e is not relevant to the observations 35 b Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in air 45 c Tropical rain forests are the most productive 36 b A light-year is a measure of the distance that light travels in a year (about 5.88 trillion miles) 37 a The passage states that the sun will first expand (not shrink—choices b, c, and e) when it runs out of hydrogen (not helium—choice d), and then 500 million years later, it will shrink 38 c Choice c is the correct answer based on the passage 44 c This is the only statement supported by the graph 46 e The number of species lost was greatest in ants 47 b “She also found that the decrease in volume was highest in the container with the largest radius In container 1, volume decrease was barely detectable.” Choice d and e are false because the container with the larger radius reached the set temperature faster 48 d There is nothing wrong with I and IV Using different hot plates can have an effect because some hot plates may be heating more efficiently than others Heating water in all the containers 288 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – for the same amount of time, rather than up to a fixed temperature, would be better because the rate of evaporation is the amount of water lost per unit of time By using different times, the student is changing an important variable 49 c Choice a is wrong because initially, the concentration decreases There is no information about the product on the chart, so choice b is incorrect Choice d is wrong because at 500 seconds, the concentration is not zero Choice e is wrong because at 300 seconds, the concentration is lower than at other times, at the start of the experiment 56 d The needle on the compass responds to the Earth’s magnetic poles 57 c Choice a is already being done, and since the antibiotics weren’t directly making people ill (choice e), these measures wouldn’t be necessary There is nothing that indicates that all meat from South Dakota has salmonella or that meat from everywhere else is always healthy, so choice b would not be necessary Choice d is wrong because antibiotics are not resistant to salmonella; some salmonella is resistant to antibiotics 58 d The statement, as noted in the previous question, is false 50 e This is the weakest argument because it is justified with authority, tradition, and past belief, rather than scientific facts People have been wrong in the past, and noting that something has been done a certain way for years does not mean that there are no better ways, and it is not a convincing scientific argument 59 d Taking too many minerals can lead to poisoning None of the other choices was discussed in the passage or listed in the table 60 b No other mineral deficiency has this symptom 51 e The passage states that Pluto’s density is closer to an asteroid’s than to any of the planets’ This would lead the reader to think that Pluto, based on its density, may be an asteroid But the passage states that this is not the case and does not give arguments to support the statement The statements in all other choices are supported with facts 61 b The table lists that the function of both calcium and phosphorous is the formation of healthy bones and teeth 52 b Binoculars are used to view objects or animals in the distance They don’t have the kind of magnification necessary for studies in choices a, c, d, and e 63 c Only certain contagious diseases can be transmitted through kissing Health problems associated with the other choices are not contagious One can’t get lung cancer, a brain tumor, diabetes, or Down’s syndrome by kissing someone who has it 62 d While alcohol damages other tissues as well, most alcoholics first experience liver failure One of the functions of the liver is to rid the body of toxins Alcohol is a toxin to the body 53 b Choices a and e are not relevant Choices c and d are false 54 c The soda bubbles you see when you open a can are made of carbon dioxide gas that was dissolved in the soda under pressure Pressure is not used to dissolve carbon dioxide in any of the substances described in the other choices 55 b The instrument is a compass, used to find directions of the world 64 b The graph shows that the level of LH rapidly rises right before the 14th day of the cycle, and then falls 65 b Only the action in choice b involves friction (of one hand against the other) 66 d The boiling point decreases with increasing pressure So, the lower the pressure, the higher 289 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – the boiling point At high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure is low, so the boiling point should be higher at higher altitudes The highest altitude listed is at the top of Mount Everest 67 a A diver would want to take a lot of oxygen without letting the tank get too bulky Other choices are either false (choices d and e) or not a major concern (choices b and c) 68 e According to the graph, at 40° C, about 250 grams of sugar can be normally dissolved in 100 grams of water In order to make rock candy, this amount has to be exceeded 69 d There is no pollution or waste associated with solar energy 70 c The passage explained that other scientists at the time mistakenly thought that the heart uses up blood Choices a, b, and e are not misconceptions Choice d was not mentioned in the passage 71 d The passage explained that Harvey did I, II, and IV Although he also calculated the amount of blood that passes through the heart every hour, he did not count the blood cells one by one (III), nor did he have the technology to that 72 d There was no mention of Einstein in the passage All the other statements were made 73 b Danger II was mentioned in the passage Curie died of leukemia because of lifelong exposure to radiation Danger I is true, but was not discussed in the passage Danger III is false; radiation does not cause chemotherapy Radiation is applied in chemotherapy 74 d Statements I, III, and IV were made in the passage Statement II is true, but it does not prove that the Earth is round and was not discussed in the passage 75 c The whole passage is focused on listing evidence that the Earth is round, not flat Choice a is not a misconception Choices b, d, and e were not discussed in the passage Glossar y Of Terms: Science the rate that velocity changes per unit of time and the direction it changes in, computed from the change in velocity divided by the change in time Common units are meters per second squared (m/s2) acceleration due to gravity the acceleration of an object that is only acted on by the force of the Earth’s gravity This value is given the symbol g, and near the surface of the Earth, it has a value of approximately 9.8 m/s2 The direction of acceleration due to gravity is downward accuracy the closeness of an experimental measurement to the accepted or theoretical value acid a proton donor substance The pH of an acid is less than analysis a stage in the scientific method where patterns of the observations are made aqueous solution a solution in which the solvent is water arteries the vascular tissues that carry blood away from the heart astronomy the study of the planets, stars, and space atom the smallest structure that has the properties of an element Atoms contain positively charged protons and uncharged neutrons in the nucleus Negatively charged electrons orbit around the nucleus ATP (adenosine triphosphate) a chemical considered the “fuel” or energy source for an organism atria the chambers of the heart that receive blood base a proton acceptor substance The pH of a base is greater than calibration the examination of the performance of an instrument in an experiment whose outcomes are known, for the purpose of accounting for the inaccuracies inherent in the instrument in future experiments whose outcomes are not known capillaries vascular tissues that receive blood from the arterioles and releases the blood to the venuoles catalyst an agent that changes the rate of a reaction, without itself being altered by the reaction celestial equator the extension of the Earth’s equator out onto the celestial sphere celestial poles the extension of the Earth’s north and south poles onto the celestial sphere celestial sphere the imaginary sphere that all the stars are viewed as being on for the purposes of locating them acceleration 290 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – an organelle found in all cells that acts as the passageway through which materials can pass in and out This organelle is highly selectively permeable, only allowing materials to pass through that it “chooses” chemically cell wall an organelle found primarily in plant cells and fungi cells, and also some bacteria The cell wall is a strong structure that provides protection, support, and allows materials to pass in and out without being selectively permeable centripetal force the net force that acts to result in the centripetal acceleration It is not an individual force, but the sum of the forces in the radial direction It is directed toward the center of the circular motion chemical change a process that involves the formation or breaking of chemical bonds chromosome an organelle that contains the entire DNA of the organism component the part of a vector that lies in the horizontal or vertical direction compound a substance composed of more than one element that has a definite composition and distinct physical and chemical properties concentration a measure of the amount of solute that is present in a solution A solution that contains very little solute is called dilute A solution that contains a relatively large amount of solute is said to be concentrated conclusion the last stage of the scientific method, where explanations are made about why the patterns identified in the analysis section occurred constellation an apparent grouping of stars in the sky that is used for identification purposes These stars are not necessarily near each other in space, since they are not necessarily the same distance from the Earth continental rift the region on a continent where new crust is being created, and the plates on either side of the rift are moving apart convergent boundary a boundary between two of the Earth’s plates that are moving toward each other cosmology the study of the formation of the universe crystal a solid in which atoms or molecules have a regular repeated arrangement current the flow of charge past a point per unit time; current is measured in amperes (A) cell membrane the top layer on a leaf It is a nonliving layer consisting primarily of wax that is produced by the epithelium, a cell layer directly underneath cytoplasm a jelly-like substance located in the cell where all of the internal organelles can be found The cytoplasm consists primarily of water and supports the cell and its organelles cytoskeleton organelles that are the internal “bones” of the cell They exist in thick and thin tubules decibel a unit of measure for the relative intensity of sounds declination the celestial coordinate similar to that of latitude on the Earth Declination measures how many degrees, minutes, and seconds north or south of the celestial equator an object is delta a fan-shaped deposit of material at the mouth of a river density the mass of a substance for a given unit volume A common unit of density is grams per milliliter (g/ml) displacement the change in position of an object, computed by calculating the final position minus the initial position Common units of measure are meters (m) divergent boundary a boundary between two of the Earth’s plates that are moving away from each other DNA contains all genetic material for an organism The smallest units of DNA are called nucleotides ecliptic the apparent path of the sun across the sky over the course of a year electric potential energy the energy due to an object’s position within an electric field electromagnetic wave a light wave that has an electric field component and a magnetic field component An electromagnetic wave does not require a medium to travel through electrostatic force the force that exists between particles due to their charge Particles of like charge repel, particles of unlike charge attract element the smallest entity that has distinct chemical properties It cannot be decomposed by ordinary chemical reactions ellipse a geometric shape that is formed when a plane intersects with a cone In this case, the plane intersects the cone at an angle, so that a shape similar to a circle cuticle 291 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – but stretched in one direction is formed The orbits of the planets around the sun represent ellipses endoplasmic reticulum an organelle that is used to transport proteins throughout the cell energy the ability to work or undergo change Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, while potential energy is stored energy epicycle smaller circles on which the planets traveled around the Earth in the geocentric model of the solar system Epicycles were used to explain the retrograde motion of planets and help make the predicted positions of the planets match the observed positions equilibrium a state at which the forward and reverse reactions proceed at the same rate focal length the distance from a focal point to a mirror or lens force that which acts on an object to change its motion; a push or pull exerted on one object by another Common units are newtons (N) freefall an object in one-dimensional motion that is only acted on by the force of the Earth’s gravity In this case its acceleration will be –g or g downward frequency the number of cycles or repetitions per second Frequency is also often measured as the number of revolutions per second The common units of frequency are hertz (Hz), where one hertz equals cycle/second frictional force the force that acts parallel to surfaces in contact opposite the direction of motion or tendency of motion functional group a group of atoms that give a molecule a certain characteristic or property gel electrophoresis a process used in laboratories to determine the genetic makeup of DNA strands This process involves the movement of chromosomes through a gel from one pole to the other Magnetism is used to pull the chromosomes through the gel geocentric model the model of the solar system that places the Earth at the center with the planets and the sun orbiting around it geology the study of rocks and minerals glacier a large mass of snow-covered ice Golgi apparatus an organelle that packages proteins so that they can be sent out of the cell gravitational force the attractive force that exists between all particles with mass the model of the solar system that places the sun at the center with the planets orbiting around it heterogeneous a mixture that is not uniform in composition homogeneous a mixture in which the components are uniformly distributed hydrate a crystal of a molecule that also contains water in the crystal structure If the water evaporates, the crystal becomes anhydrous hydrology the study of the Earth’s water and water systems hypothesis a step in the scientific method where a prediction is made about the end result of an experiment A hypothesis is generally based on research of related data igneous rock a rock formed through the cooling of magma image distance the distance from an image to a mirror or lens inertia the tendency of an object to follow Newton’s first law, the Law of Inertia That is the tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion with constant velocity unless acted on by a force inorganic a material that is neither plant nor animal in origin intensity the power per unit area of a wave; measured in watts/m2 ion an atom that has either lost electrons to become a positively charged cation, or has gained electrons to become a negatively charged anion isomers substances that have the same molecular formula (same number of elements) in different arrangements isotopes atoms of the same element, with different numbers of neutrons, and hence a different atomic mass Jovian planet one of the outer planets of the solar system that have characteristics similar to that of Jupiter They are also called gas planets They are large, have high mass, have many moons, may have rings, are far from the sun and each other, have thick atmospheres, are gaseous and have low density, have a composition similar to that of the sun, have short rotation rates, and have long revolution periods around the sun The Jovian planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune heliocentric model 292 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – kinetic energy the energy due to an object’s motion molecular mass or velocity molecule the breeze that develops on the shoreline due to unequal heating of the air above the land and ocean Land breeze occurs at night when the air above the land is cooler and the air above the ocean is warmer The breeze blows from the land to the sea latitude the coordinate used to measure positions on the Earth north or south of the Earth’s equator Latitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds Zero degrees latitude is the Earth’s equator longitude the coordinate used to measure positions on the Earth east or west of the prime meridian, which goes through Greenwich, England Longitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds longitudinal wave a wave that has the direction of motion of the particles in the medium parallel to the direction of motion of the wave Sound is an example of a longitudinal wave mass the amount of matter in an object; also a measure of the amount of inertia of an object Common units are kilograms (kg) meander a broad curve in a river meiosis a process of cellular reproduction where the daughter cells have half the amount of chromosomes This is used for purposes of sexual reproduction to produce sex cells that will be able to form an offspring with a complete set of chromosomes with different DNA than the parents meniscus the curved surface of a liquid in a container, caused by surface tension metamorphic rock a rock whose crystal structure has been changed through heat and/or pressure meteorology the study of the Earth’s atmosphere and weather mid-oceanic ridge a region under the ocean where new crust is being created, and the plates on either side of the ridge are moving apart mineral a naturally occurring element or compound found in the Earth’s crust mitochondria an organelle that produces ATP mitosis a process in which cells produce genetically identical offspring mixture a physical combination of different substances mole the amount of substance that contains as many particles as there are atoms in 12 grams of the carbon 12 isotope (6.022 × 1023 particles) land breeze the sum of the atomic masses in a a substance formed by a chemical bond between two or more atoms net force the vector sum of all the forces acting on an object newton the metric and System International unit of force One newton equals one kg/s2 nonrenewable resource a resource that is not replaced in nature as quickly as it is used In many cases, it is not replaced or re-formed at all normal force this force acts between any two surfaces in contact It is the part of the contact force that acts normal or perpendicular to the surfaces in contact nucleolus an organelle found inside a nucleus that is responsible for the production of ribosomes nucleotide the smallest unit of DNA There are five different types of nucleotides: adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine, and uracil The arrangement of genes is based directly on the specific arrangement of nucleotides nucleus an organelle in a cell that contains all the DNA and controls the functions of the cell object distance the distance from an object to a mirror or lens oceanography the study of the Earth’s oceans orbit the path an object takes as it travels around another in space organic a material that is plant or animal in origin oxbow lake a crescent-shaped lake formed when a meander is cut off from the river it was part of oxidation the loss of electrons by a substance in a chemical reaction parallel circuit a circuit with more than one path for the current to follow period the time, often measured in seconds, for one complete repetition or rotation phloem vascular tissue found in plants that transports mostly sugar and water; can travel either “shoot to root” or “root to shoot.” photon a particle of light A discrete amount of light energy where a single photon of light is the smallest unit of light energy possible photosynthesis a process by which the sunlight’s energy, water, and carbon dioxide are transformed into sugar and oxygen molecule 293 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – a property that can be observed without performing a chemical transformation of that substance plate tectonics the theory in which Earth’s crust is made up of many plates that float on the mantle This theory explains the movement of the continents, the formation of mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes, and the existence of mid-oceanic ridges polymer a large molecule made up of repeating units of one or more small molecules (monomers) position the location of an object in a coordinate system Common units of measure are meters (m) potential difference the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points This is commonly called voltage The common units of measure for potential difference are called volts potential energy the energy due to an object’s position or state precession the process by which the Earth’s axis traces out a circle on the celestial sphere precision the measurement of the closeness of measurements obtained from two or more experimental runs pressure force per unit area Units used to measure pressure are torr, atmosphere (atm), and pascal (pa) procedure a logical list of steps that explain the exact actions taken to perform an experiment projectile an object in two-dimensional motion that has a vertical acceleration equal to −g (or g downward) and a horizontal acceleration of zero protein synthesis a process by which DNA will transport its information by way of RNA to the ribosomes where proteins will be assembled qualitative observation an observation that includes characteristics other than amounts or measurements; may include shapes, colors, actions, and odors quantitative observation an observation that includes characteristics of measurements or amounts radiation the emission of energy reactant a substance that is consumed in a chemical reaction to form products reduction the gain of electrons by a substance in a chemical reaction renewable resource a renewable resource is replaced in nature as quickly as it is used physical property the resistance to the flow of electrons through a circuit The resistance is dependant on the current flowing through the circuit element and the voltage across the circuit element; resistance is measured in ohms respiration a process by which sugar is converted into ATP and carbon dioxide; may include oxygen, which is called aerobic respiration retrograde motion the apparent westward motion of objects in the sky from one night to another reversible reaction a reaction in which products can revert back into reactants ribosome an organelle where protein synthesis occurs; can be found floating freely in the cytoplasm or attached to the outside of endoplasmic reticulum right ascension the celestial coordinate similar to that of longitude on the Earth Right ascension is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds, with 24 hours making up 360° around the celestial sphere river system a river and its associated tributaries and drainage basin RNA ribonucleic acid; responsible for transmitting genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes for protein synthesis rock cycle the rock cycle summarizes how rocks of different types are formed and how they can be transformed from one type into another scalar a quantity that has a magnitude or amount only scientific method a process by which data is collected to answer an integral question The major steps are problem, hypothesis, research, procedure, observations and data collection, analysis of data, and conclusion sedimentary rock a rock made up of sediments that have been deposited and compacted and cemented over time sea breeze the breeze that develops on the shoreline due to unequal heating of the air above the land and ocean Sea breeze occurs during the day when the air above the ocean is cooler and the air above the land is warmer The breeze blows from the sea to the land series circuit a circuit with only one path for the current to follow The current in each element in a series circuit is the same solubility the amount of solute that can be dissolved completely in a solvent at a given temperature resistance 294 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – a homogeneous mixture of a solute (usually solid, but sometimes liquid or gas) in a solvent (usually a liquid, but sometimes a solid or gas) speed the magnitude of velocity It measures the rate position changes with time without regard to the direction of motion; common units are meters per second (m/s) speed of light The speed of light in a vacuum is the fastest speed possible As light travels in other materials, it will change speed The speed of light in any material is still the fastest speed possible in that material; commonly denoted by the symbol c spindle fiber an organelle used during mitosis and meiosis that separates and “pulls” chromosomes towards the opposite poles of the cell spontaneous reaction a reaction that does not require an external source of energy to proceed star a body composed mostly of hydrogen and helium that radiates energy and that has fusion actively occurring in the core states of matter solid, liquid, and gas In solids, atoms or molecules are held in place The shape and volume of a solid usually not vary much In liquids, atoms or molecules can move, but their motion is constrained by other molecules Liquids assume the shape of their container In gases, the motion of atoms or molecules is unrestricted Gases assume both the volume and the shape of their containers, and they are easily compressible temperature the measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance tension the force that acts and is transferred along ropes, strings, and chains terminal moraine a ridge of material deposited by a glacier at its farthest point of advance terrestrial planet one of the inner planets of the solar system that have characteristics similar to that of the Earth They are small, have low mass, have few or no moons, have no rings, are close to the sun and close to each other, have thin or no atmosphere, are rocky and have high density, have long rotation rates, and have short revolution periods around the sun The terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars solution the study of the surface features of the planet primarily through mapping transverse wave a wave that has the direction of motion of the particles in the medium perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave uniform circular motion motion with constant speed in a circle Since the direction of the velocity changes in this case, there is acceleration even though the speed is constant valence electrons electrons that are in the outer atomic shell and can participate in a chemical reaction vector a quantity that has both a magnitude (an amount) and a direction In one-dimensional motion, direction can be represented by a positive or negative sign In two-dimensional motion, the direction is represented as an angle in the coordinate system veins in plants, found in the leaves; sometimes called the vascular bundle that contains the xylem and phloem In animals, tube-like tissue that usually transports blood velocity the rate that a position changes per unit time and the direction it changes in Common units are meters per second (m/s) ventricles chambers found in animal hearts that pump blood away from the heart voltage another name for potential difference voltmeter a device used to measure voltage in a circuit water cycle the movement of water between the land, oceans, and atmosphere weight the force of the Earth’s gravity on an object Near the surface of the Earth, the weight is equal to the object’s mass times the acceleration due to gravity (w = mg) xylem vascular tissue found in plants that transports water in one direction: “root to shoot.” This is the water that will be sent to the photosynthetic cells in order to perform photosynthesis topography 295 ... IV He did I, III, and IV He did II, III, and IV – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Questions 72 and 73 are based on the following passage Questions 74 and 75 are based on the following passage... dioxide gas in a fish ponds b cereals c carbonated drinks d milk e gasoline 280 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Questions 57 and 58 are based on the following passage Farm animals can carry salmonella,... and then stays constant d After 500 seconds, all of the reactant is used 279 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS – Questions 55 and 56 are based on the following diagram The instrument shown in