First Semester Exam
Second Grading Period 2015-16
January 11-14
STUDENT NAME __________________________________________DATE_____________________PERIOD_______
Science – Grade 7
Read each question and choose the best answer. Be sure to mark all of your answers.
1
An athlete is trying to lift some weights. He successfully lifts 200 N weights, but when he tries to lift
400 N weights, he is unsuccessful.
1.0 m
0m
Initial
Final
Lifting 200 N
Initial
Final
Lifting 400 N
Which of these correctly compares the amount of work the athlete does on the weights?
A
The athlete does no work on either the 200 N weights or the 400 N weights.
B
The athlete does no work on the 200 N weights but does work on the 400 N weights.
C
The athlete does work on both the 200 N weights and the 400 N weights.
D The athlete does work on the 200 N weights but does no work on the 400 N weights.
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 1
2
Four students volunteered to help a librarian move containers of library materials. The graph
shows the amount of force used to lift the containers. The numbers in the bars show the
mass of each container. The results for each student helper are shown in the table.
Data for Helpers
Based on this information, which student helper did not do any work on a container?
F
Helper W
G Helper X
H Helper Y
J
3
Helper Z
Based on its chemical formula, which of the following substances is an organic compound?
A
C6H12O6
B
(NH4)2S
C
SiH4
D NaCl
4
Many processes occur in the digestive system. All of the processes below are chemical processes that
occur in the digestive system except –
F
saliva converting the starch molecules in crackers into simple sugars
G digestive enzymes breaking down proteins into smaller fragments
H bacteria converting lactose into simple sugars in the intestines
J
teeth grinding an almond into smaller pieces in the mouth
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 2
The hydra is a very small, simple animal that lives in water. Hydras reproduce asexually by
budding, a process in which a bud breaks off an adult hydra and floats away.
© Clouds Hill Imaging Ltd./CORBIS
5
Which of the following best describes a hydra bud?
A
A hydra bud contains genetic material from its two parents.
B
A hydra bud is genetically identical to the parent hydra.
C
A hydra bud has different mutations than the parent hydra.
D A hydra bud has half as much genetic material as the parent hydra.
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 3
6
A student drew the picture of a human body system shown below. The student labeled some of the
organs of the system.
The main function of this human body system is to —
F
sense odors in the environment
G exchange gases with the environment
H chew food as it enters the mouth
J
7
trap particles that enter the nose
When people run long distances, their muscles require increased amounts of oxygen. Which
system is responsible for carrying this oxygen to the muscles?
A
Nervous
B
Respiratory
C
Digestive
D Circulatory
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07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 4
8
In 1838 botanist Matthias Schleiden determined that all plants are composed of cells. In 1839
anatomist Theodor Schwann proposed that all animals are composed of cells. In 1855 biologist
Rudolph Virchow added to Schleiden’s and Schwann’s observations and proposed that all living things
are composed of cells. Which statement is also part of Virchow’s cell theory?
F
All cells have a cell wall.
G All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
H All cells are capable of photosynthesis.
J
9
All cells can develop into any other type of cell.
Three cousins have a similar appearance but different face shapes.
Which of these cell components are most involved in determining the basic shape of each girl’s
face?
A
Genes, chromosomes, and nucleus
B
Cytoplasm, chloroplasts, and genes
C
Vacuoles, nucleus, and chromosomes
D Chromosomes, chloroplasts, and vacuoles
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 5
10 Which of the following compounds in not classified as organic?
F
CH3COOH
G C3H3NOS2
H C10H19O6PS2
J
NH4HO3
11 A student observes a teacher holding a box approximately one meter above the ground. The student
determines that the teacher is doing work because the teacher is applying a force to hold the box
stationary in the air. Is the student correct?
A
No, because work requires a force to move the box over a distance.
B
Yes, because a force is applied at a distance of one meter above the ground.
C
Yes, because force times distance equals work.
D No, because an observation cannot determine if work is being done.
12 A flatworm is an organism that reproduces by budding, a form of asexual reproduction. Which of the
following statements is an advantage of a flatworm reproducing by asexual reproduction?
F
A flatworm is more likely to produce organisms with different characteristics during periods of
environmental stress.
G A flatworm is more likely to survive and reproduce during periods of environmentally stress
because of the large variety of genes present in the offspring.
H A flatworm is more likely to produce a large population because of the genes of the offspring being
uniformly the same as the parent.
J
A flatworm is more likely to develop genetic diversity in the population of the offspring due to the
combination of genetic material from two parents.
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07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 6
©clipart
13 Which structure within all plant cells provides protection, retains shape, and regulates water intake?
A
Chloroplast
B
Vacuole
C
Cell Wall
D Mitochondrion
14 Scientists find an unidentified substance in a crater on Earth. After testing the elements found in the
composition of the substance, the scientists conclude that the substance is organic. Which element
must the substance contain in order for the scientists to reach this conclusion?
F
Silicon
G Copper
H Iron
J
Carbon
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07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 7
15 Enzymes are proteins that increase the speed of chemical reactions in the digestive system.
Which of the following describes chemical changes that occur during food digestion?
A
Food particles are broken down into smaller pieces so they can move through the digestive tract.
B
Food particles are broken down into smaller pieces that are easier to digest.
C
Food particles are broken down into smaller molecules that are new substances.
D Food particles are broken down into smaller molecules but remain the same substances.
16 A mover needs to move a large piece of furniture, with a mass of 75 kg, into a moving truck. The
mover applies a 125 N force to the furniture. The furniture did not move. How much work, in joules,
is done by the mover?
Record your answer and fill in the bubbles in the grid below. Be sure to use the correct place value.
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 8
17 Students perform a comparative investigation of plant and animal cells. They use a microscope to
view onion root cells and cells scraped from the inside of a cheek.
Onion Cell
Cheek Cell
Which statement below best distinguishes plant cells from animal cells?
A
Animal cells have a large nucleus, while plant cells do not have a nucleus.
B
Plant cells have several small vacuoles, while animal cells have one large vacuole.
C
Animal cells have chloroplasts, while plant cells do not have chloroplasts.
D Plant cells have rigid cell walls, while animal cells have flexible cell membranes.
18 Plant and animal cells contain many organelles that perform functions required for life.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Organelles
Cell membrane
Cell wall
Chloroplast
Cytoplasm
Mitochondrion
Nucleus
Vacuole
How many organelles listed above are only found in plant cells but not found in animal cells?
Record your answer and fill in the bubbles in the grid below. Be sure to use the correct place value.
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 9
19
All of the following are characteristics of sexual reproduction except –
A
diversity which increases its chance of survival
B
uniform genetic makeup to the parent
C
greater competition for a mate
D variable genetic makeup from the parent
20 Which of the following statements is the best reason why life only exists on Earth and not on other
planets?
F
Earth receives more hours of sunlight than other planets.
G Earth rotates more slowly than the other planets.
H Earth has a large amount of water.
J
© SAISD
Earth has a large number of volcanoes.
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 10
21 Which of the following diagrams best shows the relationship of the levels of organization in the
number of cells, tissues, and organs found in plants and animals?
A
C
B
D
22 A person is driving through the desert in a black car with no air conditioning on a hot sunny, summer
afternoon. To help maintain equilibrium, the person's body will most likely react to this situation by –
F
increasing its rate of perspiration
G increasing its blood pressure
H increasing the contracting of skeletal muscles
J
© SAISD
increasing its rate of digestion
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 11
23 A space suit is an important piece of equipment used by astronauts for space exploration. All of the
following are functions of the space suit that enable space explorations except –
A supplying oxygen for the astronaut to breathe
B
offering protection from the sun's radiation
C
observing the conditions on the inside of the shuttle
D allowing the astronaut to talk with others
24 Many chemical and physical changes occur when eating and digesting a saltine cracker. When teeth
break apart and crush the saltine cracker into smaller pieces, what type of change takes place?
F
Chemical change
G Biological change
H Physical change
J
Thermal change
25 What happens to large molecules when they pass through the digestive system?
A
They are usually united together into even larger molecules.
B
They usually cannot be broken down by the digestive juices.
C
They usually remain as large molecules until they are excreted.
D They are usually broken down into smaller molecules by the digestive juices.
26 Which of the following statements below describes an organism responding to an internal stimulus?
F
A rabbit is scared by a fox and runs away.
G It starts to rain so you take out an umbrella.
H A plant grows toward the sunlight.
J
© SAISD
You drink milk that is sour and vomit.
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 12
27 Which energy transformations occur as a result of energy passing from the Sun to the digestion of
food in an organism?
(98.60F)
A
Thermal energy
chemical energy
B
Chemical energy
sound energy
C
Heat energy
radiant energy
D Radiant energy
sound energy
mechanical energy
light energy
chemical energy
heat energy
28 In a science investigation, a student uses a thermometer and a bulb to measure the temperature at
several different distances from the bulb. In this investigation, the bulb represents the Sun and the
different distances represents the location of different planets in the solar system.
Trial
1
2
3
4
Distance between
Thermometer and Bulb
(m)
0.3
0.8
1.5
5.0
Temperature (oC)
27.2
26.5
22.4
20.0
According to the data table above, what conclusion can be made about the proximity of the Sun
(bulb) to the planets (thermometer) on the outer edge of the solar system?
F
Planets at the outer edge of the solar system are warmer than the inner planets, which would not
allow life to exist.
G Planets at the outer edge of the solar system are the same temperatures as the inner planets,
which would allow life to exist.
H Planets at the outer edge of the solar system are cooler than the inner planets, which would not
allow life to exist.
J
© SAISD
Distance from the Sun does not affect the surface temperature of the planet, so as a result, life
can exist on all planets.
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 13
29 Which group of organisms would survive at a higher rate in an environment that experiences large
temperature variations during seasonal transitions?
A
Organisms that can migrate to find suitable habitats during unfavorable temperatures.
B
Organisms that have thick fur coats year round for protection from the varying temperatures.
C
Organisms that have hooves necessary for hibernation during extreme temperatures.
D Organisms that can hide from predators during daylight hours and bright sunlight.
30 Which statement below is the best explanation of how variation found in different organisms relates to
its survival?
F
Variations is necessary in order for individuals to mate and reproduce.
G Some variations, such as fur, make individuals better adapted to their environment.
H Variation gives all the members of a species the same chance of surviving.
J
Without variation, individuals would be unable to find enough food to survive.
31 In a science class, students observed a piece of hair, a leaf, and an onion skin with a microscope. The
student made the observation that all three specimens are composed of cells. Which question is the
student most likely investigating?
A What common structure are all living organisms composed of?
B
When and how do cells reproduce to form new cells?
C
How many cells make up an organism?
D How does each specimen sustain life?
32 In sexual reproduction, each parent gives one set of –
F
cells to the offspring
G genes to the offspring
H phenotypes to the offspring
J
© SAISD
behaviors to the offspring
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 14
33 Which of the following data tables most accurately matches the human body systems with their
functions?
SYSTEM
FUNCTION
removes wastes
from the body
provides a frame
Skeletal
and support for
body
takes in oxygen
Respiratory
and releases
A
carbon dioxide
breaks down
Digestive
food into useable
parts
moves your
Muscular
bones
pumps blood
Cardiovascular throughout the
body
SYSTEM
Nervous
SYSTEM
directs body
functions
Skeletal
provides a frame
and support for
body
Respiratory
takes in oxygen
and releases
carbon dioxide
C
Respiratory
directs body
functions
provides a frame
and support for
body
fights diseases
pumps blood
throughout the
body
moves your
Muscular
bones
breaks down
Cardiovascular food into
useable parts
Digestive
SYSTEM
FUNCTION
Nervous
fights diseases
Skeletal
pumps blood
throughout the
body
Respiratory
provides a frame
and support for
body
D
Digestive
breaks down
food into useable
parts
Digestive
breaks down
food into
useable parts
Muscular
moves your
bones
Muscular
moves your
bones
pumps blood
Cardiovascular throughout the
body
© SAISD
Skeletal
FUNCTION
Nervous
B
Nervous
FUNCTION
takes in oxygen
Cardiovascular and releases
carbon dioxide
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 15
34 Which correctly identifies each component that contributes to the inherited traits of an individual?
F
A – nucleus, B – cell, C – chromosome, D – gene
G A – gene, B – chromosome, C – nucleus, D – cell
H A – chromosome, B – nucleus, C – cell, D – gene
J
A – cell, B – nucleus, C – chromosome, D – gene
35 A young boy has blue eyes like his mother and has black hair like his father. Which of the statements
below explains why the young boy has these traits?
A The boy has fewer genes from his mother.
B
The boy has more genes than either of his parents.
C
The boy received genes from both of his parents.
D The boy did not receive genes from his father, only his mother.
© SAISD
07 Science First Semester Exam January 2016
Page 16
STAAR GRADE 8 SCIENCE
REFERENCE MATERIALS
STAAR
TM
State of Texas
Assessments of
Academic Readiness
FORMULAS
Density =
mass
volume
Average speed =
total distance
total time
Net force = (mass)(acceleration)
Work = (force)(distance)
D =
m
V
s =
d
t
F = ma
W = Fd
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
4
Hydrogen
3
12
11
(262)
(267)
7
7B
Actinide Series
Lanthanide Series
140.908
231.036
Protactinium
232.038
Thorium
(227)
Actinium
91
Pa
Ac
Re
144.242
60
Nd
Bohrium
(272)
Bh
107
Rhenium
186.207
75
(145)
61
Pm
Hassium
(270)
Hs
108
Osmium
Os
190.23
76
Ruthenium
101.07
44
Ru
Iron
55.845
Fe
26
8
Silicon
28.086
Si
Uranium
238.029
U
92
Neptunium
(237)
93
Np
Praseodymium Neodymium Promethium
Th
90
Cerium
Lanthanum
89
140.116
La
138.905
59
58
Pr
(271)
Seaborgium
(268)
Sg
Dubnium
Db
Tungsten
Tantalum
106
W
183.84
74
Ta
105
(98)
43
Tc
Manganese
54.938
Mn
25
Molybdenum Technetium
95.96
42
Mo
Chromium
51.996
Cr
24
6
6B
Atomic mass
Symbol
180.948
73
Niobium
92.906
41
Nb
Vanadium
50.942
V
23
5
5B
Ce
57
Lawrencium Rutherfordium
(226)
Radium
104
Rf
Hafnium
103
(223)
Fr
Hf
178.49
Lutetium
Francium
88
87
Lr
Barium
Cesium
174.967
Lu
72
71
Ra
Ba
137.328
Cs
132.905
56
55
Zirconium
91.224
40
Zr
Yttrium
88.906
87.62
Strontium
85.468
Rubidium
Y
39
Sr
38
Rb
37
47.867
Titanium
44.956
Scandium
40.078
Calcium
39.098
Potassium
22
Ti
21
4
4B
Sc
19
3
3B
Ca
20
Sodium
K
24.305
Magnesium
22.990
Mg
Beryllium
Lithium
Na
Be
9.012
Li
6.941
1.008
2
2A
H
Name
10
11
1B
12
2B
13
3A
14
4A
15
5A
16
6A
17
7A
(281)
Ds
110
Platinum
Pt
195.085
78
Palladium
106.42
46
Pd
Nickel
58.693
Ni
28
Au
(280)
Rg
111
Gold
196.967
79
Silver
107.868
47
Ag
Copper
63.546
Cu
29
Plutonium
(244)
94
Pu
Samarium
150.36
62
Sm
(247)
Curium
(243)
96
Cm
Americium
95
Am
157.25
Gadolinium
151.964
64
Gd
Europium
63
Eu
Meitnerium Darmstadtium Roentgenium
(276)
Mt
109
Iridium
Ir
192.217
77
Rhodium
102.906
45
Rh
Cobalt
58.933
Co
27
9
8B
Hg
Tl
Thallium
204.383
81
Indium
114.818
49
In
Gallium
69.723
Ga
31
Aluminum
26.982
Al
13
Boron
C
Pb
Lead
207.2
82
Tin
118.711
50
Sn
Germanium
72.64
Ge
32
Silicon
28.086
Si
14
Carbon
12.011
6
N
Bi
Bismuth
208.980
83
Antimony
121.760
51
Sb
Arsenic
74.922
As
33
30.974
Phosphorus
P
15
Nitrogen
14.007
7
Berkelium
(247)
97
Bk
Terbium
158.925
65
Tb
Californium
(251)
98
Cf
Dysprosium
162.500
66
Dy
Einsteinium
(252)
99
Es
Holmium
164.930
67
Ho
Fermium
(257)
100
Fm
Erbium
167.259
68
Er
Mass numbers in parentheses are those of
the most stable or most common isotope.
Mercury
200.59
80
Cadmium
112.412
48
Cd
Zinc
65.38
Zn
30
B
10.812
5
O
Po
F
At
Nobelium
(259)
102
No
Ytterbium
173.055
70
Yb
Astatine
(210)
85
Iodine
126.904
I
53
Bromine
79.904
Br
35
Chlorine
35.453
Cl
17
Fluorine
18.998
9
Updated Spring 2011
Mendelevium
(258)
101
Md
Thulium
168.934
69
Tm
Polonium
(209)
84
Tellurium
127.60
52
Te
Selenium
78.96
Se
34
Sulfur
32.066
S
16
Oxygen
15.999
8
Ne
Rn
Radon
(222)
86
Xenon
131.294
54
Xe
Krypton
83.798
36
Kr
Argon
39.948
18
Ar
Neon
20.180
10
Helium
4.003
He
2
14
1
Atomic number
18
8A
1
1A
PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS
STAAR GRADE 8 SCIENCE
REFERENCE MATERIALS