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Test Booklet
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Subject: SC, Grade: 08
PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item
Sampler
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Student name:
Author: Pennsylvania
District: Pennsylvania Released Tests
Printed: Sunday September 02, 2012
PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
1 Which question about the Allegheny River is best answered through scientific inquiry?
How many species of fishes live in the river?
Will the river be a fun place to visit?
Is fishing a popular sport on the river?
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B
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How much money should be spent to manage the river?
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2 The graph below shows how the population of organism X changed during one month.
The number of predators increased.
The amount of available food decreased.
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B
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Which of these most likely happened in the first half of the month?
The rate of fatal infections increased.
The competition for natural resources decreased.
3 Which question about birds is most testable in a
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Do birds like resting in trees?
How do birds know when to lay eggs?
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B
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local park?
Why do birds have feathers instead of fur?
Which type of seeds attracts the greatest
number of birds?
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
4 A student has two samples of copper. The table below shows the masses, volumes, and densities of two
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copper samples.
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Which conclusion is best supported by the data in the table?
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Increasing the mass of copper increases its density.
Increasing the mass of copper increases its volume.
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Increasing the volume of copper decreases its mass.
Increasing the volume of copper decreases its density.
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A
B
C
D
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
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5 A balance is shown in the diagram below.
Using a Balance
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The steps completed to measure the mass of an object using the balance are below. The steps are not shown
in the correct order.
2, 1, 3
1, 3, 2
1, 2, 3
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Which list shows the steps in the correct order to find the mass of the object?
2, 3, 1
6 Which statement describes one way scientists use seismographs?
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to view distant stars
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Helpful Hint:
· Seismographs can be used to find out the strength of earthquakes.
to measure the masses of objects
to help record atmospheric temperature changes
to help determine the composition of Earth’s interior
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
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7 The table below lists three organisms and their energy sources.
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In which trophic pyramid are the organisms correctly displayed?
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B
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
8 Systems have inputs, outputs, processes, and feedbacks. When a lizard is on hot sand, nerves in its foot send
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a message to the brain. The brain tells the foot to move off the hot sand, as shown in the drawing below.
an output
a process
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an input
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a feedback
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In this example, what is the message sent from the nerves to the brain?
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9 The picture below shows a type of fish that is adapted to live in the weedy areas of freshwater lakes.
How is this fish adapted to live in the weedy areas in freshwater lakes?
The upper fin looks like another fish.
The lower fins look like the legs of a turtle.
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The stripes of the fish look like plants in the water.
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The mouth of the fish looks like the bottom of a lake.
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B
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
10 A change causes a thick layer of algae to grow on the surface of a large pond, as shown in the drawing
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below.
Which change most likely causes the algae to grow on the surface of the pond?
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an increase in the amount of fertilizer getting into the pond
a decrease in the amount of water evaporating from the pond
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an increase in the number of fish living in the pond
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a decrease in the amount of pollen blowing across the pond
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B
C
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11 Which statement describes how recycling alu-
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Recycling makes waste.
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Recycling uses energy.
Recycling conserves resources.
Recycling produces air pollution.
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B
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minum cans helps the environment?
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
12 A student wants to identify two unknown mineral samples using their physical properties. The table below
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shows four physical properties of each mineral sample.
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density
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color
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Which physical property will most help the student identify each mineral sample?
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
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13 The table below shows the density of each type of plastic and the density of water.
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A student is given a mixture of 6 plastic beads that all look alike. Some of the beads are made from plastic
X and some are made from plastic Y. Which picture best shows what will happen if the beads are dropped
in water?
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
14 Which energy source has the greatest impact on
SC:08
16 Use the diagram below to answer the question.
Earth’s living environments?
moving air
moving water
the Sun
geothermal
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B
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15 Which energy source is renewable?
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A ball is dropped to the floor. Which statement
best describes the ball’s energy as it falls through
the air from the highest point?
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natural gas
Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
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nuclear energy
Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
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solar power
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Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
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B
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17 Which statement best describes the process of
evaporation?
water vapor.
B Liquid water droplets cool and fall to Earth.
C Liquid water droplets change into solid water
in thin air.
D Water vapor in the air cools and forms liquid
water droplets.
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A Energy from the Sun changes liquid water into
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
18 Which type of water way is the best environment
for decomposers?
a steep mountain stream
a shallow and cold river
a narrow and rapid stream
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a wide and slow-moving river
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B
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Helpful Hint:
· Decomposers are organisms that break down
organic matter.
tides?
rotation of Earth and gravity of the Moon
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revolution of Earth and gravity of the Moon
rotation of Earth and gravity of Earth
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the atmosphere of Earth
the asteroid belt near Mars
the gravity of Jupiter
the rings of Saturn
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B
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the path of a comet?
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20 Which of the following has the greatest effect on
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revolution of Earth and gravity of Earth
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B
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19 Which two factors have the greatest influence on
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
21 A microscope is a tool doctors use to help determine if people are healthy. A microscope is shown in the
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drawing below.
Part A: Describe one way doctors use microscopes to determine if people are healthy.
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One way doctors use microscopes:
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Helpful Hints:
· microscopes are used to see things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye
· many diseases are caused by things too small to see with the naked eye
Part B: Describe one way a doctor’s job would be different if the doctor did not have a microscope as a tool
for diagnosis.
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One way a doctor’s job would be different:
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PSSA 2010-2011 Grade 8 Science Item Sampler
SC:08
22 A planet and a star each have a gravitational pull on one another. The diagram below shows some
Part A:
Identify the object that has the greater
gravitational pull in this system.
Object that has greater gravitational pull: _________________________________
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information about a planet and a star in a system.
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Part B: Explain why the object you identified in part A has the greater gravitational pull.
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Why object has greater gravitational pull:
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