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Which property matches this object?

Select the better answer.

closed choice

grade2

natural science

physics

Materials

Identify properties of an object

An object has different properties. A property of an object can tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells.

Look at the object. Think about each property. Potato chips have a salty taste. The ocean water is salty. Yellow is a color. This color is yellow. The ocean water is not yellow.

Question: Which property matches this object? (A) salty (B) yellow

Answer: (A) salty

Answer: (B) yellow

Which is this organism's common name?

This organism is a bull shark. It is also called Carcharhinus leucas.

closed choice

grade7

natural science

biology

Classification and scientific names

Identify common and scientific names

An organism's common name is the name that people normally call the organism. Common names often contain words you know. An organism's scientific name is the name scientists use to identify the organism. Scientific names often contain words that are not used in everyday English. Scientific names are written in italics, but common names are usually not. The first word of the scientific name is capitalized, and the second word is not. For example, the common name of the animal below is giant panda. Its scientific name is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Carcharhinus leucas is written in italics. The first word is capitalized, and the second word is not. So, it is the scientific name. Carcharhinus leucas is the organism's scientific name. So, you know that bull shark is the common name.

Question: Which is this organism's common name? (A) bull shark (B) Carcharhinus leucas

Answer: (A) bull shark

Answer: (B) Carcharhinus leucas

Suppose Tommy decides to plant the gardenias. Which result would be a cost?

Tommy is deciding whether to plant gardenias or a palm tree in his backyard. He wants to make his backyard more beautiful. But he also wants to leave space for doing fun things.

closed choice

grade5

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Costs and benefits

Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits. Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need. Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.

This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Tommy wants or needs: Tommy will give up the chance to look at the palm tree. He thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the gardenias.

Question: Suppose Tommy decides to plant the gardenias. Which result would be a cost? (A) Tommy will give up the chance to look at the palm tree. He thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the gardenias. (B) He will save some space. The gardenias will use up less space than the palm tree would have used up.

Answer: (A) Tommy will give up the chance to look at the palm tree. He thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the gardenias.

Answer: (B) He will save some space. The gardenias will use up less space than the palm tree would have used up.

Which property matches this object?

Select the better answer.

closed choice

grade3

natural science

physics

Materials

Identify properties of an object

An object has different properties. A property of an object can tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells. Properties can also tell you how an object will behave when something happens to it.

Look at the object. Think about each property. Potato chips have a salty taste. The potato chips are salty. A slippery object is hard to hold onto or stand on. The potato chips are not slippery.

Question: Which property matches this object? (A) slippery (B) salty

Answer: (B) salty

Answer: (A) slippery

Which animal's feet are also adapted to walk on snow and ice?

Many s live in areas with cold, snowy winters. The 's feet are adapted for walking on snow and ice. Figure: brown bear.

closed choice

grade3

natural science

biology

Adaptations

Animal adaptations: feet and limbs

An adaptation is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive or reproduce. Adaptations can include both body parts and behaviors. The shape of an animal's feet is one example of an adaptation. Animals' feet can be adapted in different ways. For example, webbed feet might help an animal swim. Feet with thick fur might help an animal walk on cold, snowy ground.

Look at the picture of the brown bear. The brown bear has furry feet with large pads. Its feet are adapted to walk on snow and ice. The fur can help keep the brown bear's feet warm. The large pads help spread its weight over a larger area. This allows it to walk on ice without slipping and to walk on snow without sinking in too deep. Now look at each animal. Figure out which animal has a similar adaptation. The Siberian tiger has furry feet with large pads. Its feet are adapted to walk on snow and ice. The horse has hooves. Its feet are not adapted to walk on snow and ice. The horse uses its feet to walk and run on surfaces covered by soil.

Question: Which animal's feet are also adapted to walk on snow and ice? (A) Siberian tiger (B) horse

Answer: (A) Siberian tiger

Answer: (B) horse

Select the organism in the same species as the red kangaroo.

This organism is a red kangaroo. Its scientific name is Macropus rufus.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

biology

Classification and scientific names

Use scientific names to classify organisms

Scientists use scientific names to identify organisms. Scientific names are made of two words. The first word in an organism's scientific name tells you the organism's genus. A genus is a group of organisms that share many traits. A genus is made up of one or more species. A species is a group of very similar organisms. The second word in an organism's scientific name tells you its species within its genus. Together, the two parts of an organism's scientific name identify its species. For example Ursus maritimus and Ursus americanus are two species of bears. They are part of the same genus, Ursus. But they are different species within the genus. Ursus maritimus has the species name maritimus. Ursus americanus has the species name americanus. Both bears have small round ears and sharp claws. But Ursus maritimus has white fur and Ursus americanus has black fur.

A red kangaroo's scientific name is Macropus rufus. Cervus canadensis does not have the same scientific name as a red kangaroo. So, Macropus rufus and Cervus canadensis are not in the same species. Camelus bactrianus does not have the same scientific name as a red kangaroo. So, Macropus rufus and Camelus bactrianus are not in the same species. Macropus rufus has the same scientific name as a red kangaroo. So, these organisms are in the same species.

Question: Select the organism in the same species as the red kangaroo. (A) Camelus bactrianus (B) Cervus canadensis (C) Macropus rufus

Answer: (C) Macropus rufus

Answer: (A) Camelus bactrianus

Based on this information, what is Madelyn's phenotype for the Thomsen disease trait?

This passage describes the Thomsen disease trait in humans: In a group of humans, some individuals have Thomsen disease and others do not. In this group, the gene for the Thomsen disease trait has two alleles. The allele for not having Thomsen disease (m) is recessive to the allele for having Thomsen disease (M). Madelyn is a human from this group. Madelyn has the homozygous genotype MM for the Thomsen disease gene.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

biology

Genes to traits

Genetics vocabulary: dominant and recessive

All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait. For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent. An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene. An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. Some traits, like flower color in pea plants, are controlled by a single gene. Most plants and animals have a genotype made up of two alleles for these traits. These two alleles determine whether an organism is homozygous or heterozygous for the gene. An organism with two identical alleles for a gene is homozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype FF or ff is homozygous for the flower color gene. An organism with two different alleles for a gene is heterozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype Ff is heterozygous for the flower color gene. The types of alleles in an organism's genotype determine the organism's phenotype. Some alleles have types called dominant and recessive. These two types can cause different versions of a trait to appear as the organism's phenotype. A dominant allele causes its version of the trait to appear even when the organism also has a recessive allele for the gene. In pea plants, the F allele, which causes purple flowers, is dominant over the f allele. A pea plant with at least one F allele will have the F allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype FF or Ff will have purple flowers. A recessive allele causes its version of the trait to appear only when the organism does not have any dominant alleles for the gene. In pea plants, the f allele, which causes white flowers, is recessive to the F allele. A pea plant with only f alleles will have the f allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype ff will have white flowers.

Madelyn's genotype for the Thomsen disease gene is MM. Madelyn's genotype of MM has only M allelles. The M allele is for having Thomsen disease. So, Madelyn's phenotype for the Thomsen disease trait must be having Thomsen disease. To check this answer, consider whether Madelyn's alleles are dominant or recessive. The allele for not having Thomsen disease (m) is recessive to the allele for having Thomsen disease (M). This means M is a dominant allele, and m is a recessive allele. Madelyn's genotype of MM has two dominant alleles. An organism with at least one dominant allele for a gene will have the dominant allele's version of the trait. So, Madelyn's phenotype for the Thomsen disease trait must be having Thomsen disease.

Question: Based on this information, what is Madelyn's phenotype for the Thomsen disease trait? (A) not having Thomsen disease (B) having Thomsen disease

Answer: (B) having Thomsen disease

Answer: (A) not having Thomsen disease

Using only these supplies, which question can Lisa investigate with an experiment?

Lisa has a small vegetable garden, which includes a compost pile of food scraps. She notices that some of the squash plants growing next to the compost pile grow differently than squash plants that are farther away. She wonders what factors affect how her squash plants grow. So, she decides to design an experiment. She has the following supplies available: one type of squash seeds four large clay pots soil a compost pile water

closed choice

grade7

natural science

science-and-engineering-practices

Designing experiments

Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials

Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment. Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment? First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available. Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick. So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment!

Question: Using only these supplies, which question can Lisa investigate with an experiment? (A) Do squash plants grow larger if the seeds are planted with compost or without compost? (B) If squash seeds and tomato seeds are planted with compost, which type of plant grows larger? (C) Do squash plants grow larger if the seeds are planted in small pots or in large pots?

Answer: (A) Do squash plants grow larger if the seeds are planted with compost or without compost?

Answer: (B) If squash seeds and tomato seeds are planted with compost, which type of plant grows larger?

Which ball of clay has more thermal energy?

Two 200-gram balls of clay are identical except for their temperatures.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

physics

Thermal energy

How are temperature and mass related to thermal energy?

Matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are always moving. The energy of moving atoms is called thermal energy. The total amount of thermal energy in matter depends on three things: the type of matter, the amount of matter, and how fast the atoms are moving. Temperature measures how hot or cold matter is. If the atoms in matter move faster, the temperature goes up. The matter now has both more thermal energy and a higher temperature. What happens if the amount of matter changes? A 2-kilogram brick at 70°F has twice as much thermal energy as a 1-kilogram brick at 70°F. The two bricks have the same temperature, but the larger brick has twice as many atoms. So, it has twice as much thermal energy.

The two balls of clay are made of the same material and have the same mass. So, the hotter ball of clay has more thermal energy.

Question: Which ball of clay has more thermal energy? (A) the hotter ball of clay (B) the colder ball of clay

Answer: (A) the hotter ball of clay

Answer: (B) the colder ball of clay

Which property matches this object?

Select the better answer.

closed choice

grade2

natural science

physics

Materials

Identify properties of an object

An object has different properties. A property of an object can tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells.

Look at the object. Think about each property. A shiny object reflects a lot of light. The tin foil is shiny. Yellow is a color. This color is yellow. The tin foil is not yellow.

Question: Which property matches this object? (A) yellow (B) shiny

Answer: (B) shiny

Answer: (A) yellow

Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true?

The images below show two pairs of magnets. The magnets in different pairs do not affect each other. All the magnets shown are made of the same material, but some of them are different sizes and shapes.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

physics

Velocity, acceleration, and forces

Compare magnitudes of magnetic forces

Magnets can pull or push on each other without touching. When magnets attract, they pull together. When magnets repel, they push apart. These pulls and pushes between magnets are called magnetic forces. The strength of a force is called its magnitude. The greater the magnitude of the magnetic force between two magnets, the more strongly the magnets attract or repel each other. You can change the magnitude of a magnetic force between two magnets by using magnets of different sizes. The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller when the magnets are smaller.

The magnets in Pair 1 attract. The magnets in Pair 2 repel. But whether the magnets attract or repel affects only the direction of the magnetic force. It does not affect the magnitude of the magnetic force. Magnet sizes affect the magnitude of the magnetic force. Imagine magnets that are the same shape and made of the same material. The smaller the magnets, the smaller the magnitude of the magnetic force between them. Magnet A is the same size in both pairs. But Magnet B is smaller in Pair 2 than in Pair 1. So, the magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 2 than in Pair 1.

Question: Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true? (A) The magnitude of the magnetic force is the same in both pairs. (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 2. (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 1.

Answer: (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 2.

Answer: (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 1.

What is the capital of Delaware?

closed choice

grade4

social science

geography

State capitals

Identify state capitals of the Northeast

Dover is the capital of Delaware.

Question: What is the capital of Delaware? (A) Pierre (B) Portland (C) Dover (D) Wilmington

Answer: (C) Dover

Answer: (B) Portland

Which sentence states a fact?

closed choice

grade8

social science

civics

Social studies skills

Identify facts and opinions

A fact is something that can be proved true by research or observation. George Washington became president of the United States in 1789. This statement is a fact. It can be proved by researching what year George Washington was inaugurated president. An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion can be supported by evidence, but it cannot be proved true. George Washington was a better president than Thomas Jefferson. This statement is an opinion. People can have different ideas about what makes someone a "better" president, so the statement cannot be proved.

The first sentence states a fact. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. It can be proved by researching the history of the Olympics. The second sentence states an opinion. Olympic athletes are excellent role models for kids. Excellent shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about what makes a role model excellent.

Question: Which sentence states a fact? (A) Olympic athletes are excellent role models for kids. (B) The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.

Answer: (B) The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.

Answer: (A) Olympic athletes are excellent role models for kids.

Which material is this cup made of?

closed choice

grade2

natural science

physics

Materials

Identify materials in objects

A material is a type of matter. Wood, glass, metal, and plastic are common materials.

Look at the picture of the cup. The cup is made of plastic. Plastic is strong, so it is a good material for a cup. If you drop a plastic cup it usually doesn't break.

Question: Which material is this cup made of? (A) plastic (B) metal

Answer: (A) plastic

Answer: (B) metal

What is the temperature of the air on a hot day?

Select the better estimate.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

units-and-measurement

Units and measurement

Estimate temperatures

Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. Temperature can be written with units of degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C). Use the list below to compare the two units. 212°F | Water boils | 100°C 98.6°F | Body temperature | 37°C 68°F | Room temperature | 20°C 32°F | Water freezes | 0°C

The better estimate for the temperature of the air on a hot day is 37°C. 37°F is too cold.

Question: What is the temperature of the air on a hot day? (A) 37°C (B) 37°F

Answer: (A) 37°C

Answer: (B) 37°F

What is the direction of this pull?

A huge magnet moves metal in a junkyard. The magnet's force pulls pieces of metal upward.

closed choice

grade4

natural science

physics

Force and motion

Identify directions of forces

A force is a push or a pull that one object applies to another. Every force has a direction. The direction of a push is away from the object that is pushing. The direction of a pull is toward the object that is pulling.

The magnet pulls the pieces of metal upward. The direction of the pull is toward the magnet.

Question: What is the direction of this pull? (A) toward the magnet (B) away from the magnet

Answer: (A) toward the magnet

Answer: (B) away from the magnet

Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true?

The images below show two pairs of magnets. The magnets in different pairs do not affect each other. All the magnets shown are made of the same material, but some of them are different sizes.

closed choice

grade7

natural science

physics

Velocity, acceleration, and forces

Compare magnitudes of magnetic forces

Magnets can pull or push on each other without touching. When magnets attract, they pull together. When magnets repel, they push apart. These pulls and pushes between magnets are called magnetic forces. The strength of a force is called its magnitude. The greater the magnitude of the magnetic force between two magnets, the more strongly the magnets attract or repel each other. You can change the magnitude of a magnetic force between two magnets by using magnets of different sizes. The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater when the magnets are larger.

Magnet sizes affect the magnitude of the magnetic force. Imagine magnets that are the same shape and made of the same material. The larger the magnets, the greater the magnitude of the magnetic force between them. Magnet A is the same size in both pairs. But Magnet B is larger in Pair 2 than in Pair 1. So, the magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 2 than in Pair 1.

Question: Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true? (A) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 1. (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is the same in both pairs. (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 2.

Answer: (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 2.

Answer: (A) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 1.

Compare the motion of three sailboats. Which sailboat was moving at the lowest speed?

closed choice

grade3

natural science

physics

Force and motion

Compare the speeds of moving objects

An object's speed tells you how fast the object is moving. Speed depends on both distance and time. Distance tells you how far the object has moved. One unit used to measure distance is the mile. Time tells you how long the object has spent moving. One unit used to measure time is the hour. Think about objects moving for the same amount of time. The object that is moving the slowest will go the shortest distance in that time. It is moving at the lowest speed.

Look at the distance each sailboat moved and the time it took to move that distance. The direction each sailboat moved does not affect its speed. Notice that each sailboat moved for 10 hours. The sailboat that moved 35 miles moved the shortest distance in that time. So, that sailboat must have moved at the lowest speed.

Question: Compare the motion of three sailboats. Which sailboat was moving at the lowest speed? (A) a sailboat that moved 50miles north in 10hours (B) a sailboat that moved 75miles north in 10hours (C) a sailboat that moved 35miles south in 10hours

Answer: (C) a sailboat that moved 35miles south in 10hours

Answer: (B) a sailboat that moved 75miles north in 10hours

Does this passage describe the weather or the climate?

Figure: Antarctica. Scientists face many challenges working in Antarctica. Cracked lips and dry skin are constant problems on scientific expeditions like the one shown here. The low humidity over the last month of the expedition didn't help! Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

earth-science

Weather and climate

Weather and climate around the world

The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere. Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures.

Read the passage carefully. Scientists face many challenges working in Antarctica. Cracked lips and dry skin are constant problems on scientific expeditions like the one shown here. The low humidity over the last month of the expedition didn't help! The underlined part of the passage tells you about the humidity in Antarctica during the last month of the expedition. This passage describes the atmosphere at a certain place and time. So, this passage describes the weather.

Question: Does this passage describe the weather or the climate? (A) weather (B) climate

Answer: (A) weather

Answer: (B) climate

Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Porter has a scar on his left ankle.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Traits and heredity

Identify inherited and acquired traits

Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.

Children do not inherit their parent's scars. Instead, scars are caused by the environment. People can get scars after they get hurt. So, having a scar is an acquired trait.

Question: Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Porter has a scar on his left ankle. (A) acquired (B) inherited

Answer: (A) acquired

Answer: (B) inherited

What is the name of the colony shown?

closed choice

grade7

social science

us-history

Colonial America

Identify the Thirteen Colonies

The colony is Delaware.

Question: What is the name of the colony shown? (A) Maryland (B) Georgia (C) Tennessee (D) Delaware

Answer: (D) Delaware

Answer: (A) Maryland

According to Newton's third law, what other force must be happening?

Isaac Newton was born in the 1600s and studied how objects move. He discovered three fundamental laws about forces and motion. According to Newton's third law, for every force, there is an equal and opposite force. Consider the following force: Nina's foot is pushing on her car's gas pedal.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

physics

Velocity, acceleration, and forces

Predict forces using Newton's third law

According to Newton's third law, for every force, there is an equal and opposite force. This means that if one object is applying a force on a second object, the second object must also be applying a force on the first object, but in the opposite direction. For example, if your hand is pushing down on a table, the table is also pushing up on your hand. Or, if you are pulling forward on a rope, the rope is also pulling back on you.

Nina's foot is pushing on the gas pedal. So, Newton's third law tells you that the gas pedal is pushing on Nina's foot.

Question: According to Newton's third law, what other force must be happening? (A) The gas pedal is pushing on Nina's foot. (B) The gas pedal is pulling on Nina's foot.

Answer: (A) The gas pedal is pushing on Nina's foot.

Answer: (B) The gas pedal is pulling on Nina's foot.

What information supports the conclusion that David acquired this trait?

Read the description of a trait. David has a scar on his right arm.

closed choice

grade3

natural science

biology

Heredity

Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement

Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment.

Question: What information supports the conclusion that David acquired this trait? (A) David's scar was caused by an accident. He cut his arm when he fell off his bicycle. (B) Some scars fade more quickly than others.

Answer: (A) David's scar was caused by an accident. He cut his arm when he fell off his bicycle.

Answer: (B) Some scars fade more quickly than others.

What information supports the conclusion that Elizabeth acquired this trait?

Read the description of a trait. Elizabeth knows how to knit sweaters.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

biology

Genes to traits

Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement

Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring.

Question: What information supports the conclusion that Elizabeth acquired this trait? (A) Elizabeth learned how to knit in an after school program. (B) Elizabeth knits sweaters using cotton, wool, and other types of yarn.

Answer: (A) Elizabeth learned how to knit in an after school program.

Answer: (B) Elizabeth knits sweaters using cotton, wool, and other types of yarn.

Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? neck - nobody

closed choice

grade2

language science

reference-skills

Reference skills

Use guide words

Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.

Put the words in alphabetical order. Since nice is between the guide words neck - nobody, it would be found on that page.

Question: Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? neck - nobody (A) nice (B) nation

Answer: (A) nice

Answer: (B) nation

Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true?

The images below show two pairs of magnets. The magnets in different pairs do not affect each other. All the magnets shown are made of the same material, but some of them are different sizes.

closed choice

grade7

natural science

physics

Velocity, acceleration, and forces

Compare magnitudes of magnetic forces

Magnets can pull or push on each other without touching. When magnets attract, they pull together. When magnets repel, they push apart. These pulls and pushes between magnets are called magnetic forces. The strength of a force is called its magnitude. The greater the magnitude of the magnetic force between two magnets, the more strongly the magnets attract or repel each other. You can change the magnitude of a magnetic force between two magnets by using magnets of different sizes. The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater when the magnets are larger.

The magnets in Pair 2 attract. The magnets in Pair 1 repel. But whether the magnets attract or repel affects only the direction of the magnetic force. It does not affect the magnitude of the magnetic force. Magnet sizes affect the magnitude of the magnetic force. Imagine magnets that are the same shape and made of the same material. The larger the magnets, the greater the magnitude of the magnetic force between them. Magnet A is the same size in both pairs. But Magnet B is larger in Pair 1 than in Pair 2. So, the magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 1 than in Pair 2.

Question: Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true? (A) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 2. (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is the same in both pairs. (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 1.

Answer: (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is greater in Pair 1.

Answer: (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is the same in both pairs.

Is driving a taxi a good or a service?

closed choice

grade2

social science

economics

Economics

Goods and services

Everything you can buy is either a good or a service. A good is something you can touch or hold in your hands. For example, a hammer is a good. A service is a job you pay someone else to do. For example, cooking food in a restaurant is a service.

To decide whether driving a taxi is a good or a service, ask these questions: Is driving a taxi something you can touch? No. Is driving a taxi a job you might pay someone else to do? Yes. So, driving a taxi is a service.

Question: Is driving a taxi a good or a service? (A) a good (B) a service

Answer: (B) a service

Answer: (A) a good

Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true?

The images below show two pairs of magnets. The magnets in different pairs do not affect each other. All the magnets shown are made of the same material.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

physics

Magnets

Compare magnitudes of magnetic forces

Magnets can pull or push on each other without touching. When magnets attract, they pull together. When magnets repel, they push apart. These pulls and pushes between magnets are called magnetic forces. The strength of a force is called its magnitude. The greater the magnitude of the magnetic force between two magnets, the more strongly the magnets attract or repel each other. You can change the magnitude of a magnetic force between two magnets by changing the distance between them. The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller when there is a greater distance between the magnets.

The magnets in Pair 2 attract. The magnets in Pair 1 repel. But whether the magnets attract or repel affects only the direction of the magnetic force. It does not affect the magnitude of the magnetic force. Distance affects the magnitude of the magnetic force. When there is a greater distance between magnets, the magnitude of the magnetic force between them is smaller. There is a greater distance between the magnets in Pair 2 than in Pair 1. So, the magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 2 than in Pair 1.

Question: Think about the magnetic force between the magnets in each pair. Which of the following statements is true? (A) The magnitude of the magnetic force is the same in both pairs. (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 2. (C) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 1.

Answer: (B) The magnitude of the magnetic force is smaller in Pair 2.

Answer: (A) The magnitude of the magnetic force is the same in both pairs.

Which continent is highlighted?

closed choice

grade6

social science

geography

Physical Geography

Oceans and continents

A continent is one of the major land masses on the earth. Most people say there are seven continents.

This continent is South America.

Question: Which continent is highlighted? (A) Antarctica (B) South America (C) North America (D) Europe

Answer: (B) South America

Answer: (C) North America

Which solution has a higher concentration of yellow particles?

The diagram below is a model of two solutions. Each yellow ball represents one particle of solute.

closed choice

grade7

natural science

chemistry

Solutions

Compare concentrations of solutions

A solution is made up of two or more substances that are completely mixed. In a solution, solute particles are mixed into a solvent. The solute cannot be separated from the solvent by a filter. For example, if you stir a spoonful of salt into a cup of water, the salt will mix into the water to make a saltwater solution. In this case, the salt is the solute. The water is the solvent. The concentration of a solute in a solution is a measure of the ratio of solute to solvent. Concentration can be described in terms of particles of solute per volume of solvent. concentration = particles of solute / volume of solvent

In Solution A and Solution B, the yellow particles represent the solute. To figure out which solution has a higher concentration of yellow particles, look at both the number of yellow particles and the volume of the solvent in each container. Use the concentration formula to find the number of yellow particles per milliliter. Solution B has more yellow particles per milliliter. So, Solution B has a higher concentration of yellow particles.

Question: Which solution has a higher concentration of yellow particles? (A) Solution A (B) Solution B (C) neither; their concentrations are the same

Answer: (B) Solution B

Answer: (C) neither; their concentrations are the same

What is the capital of South Dakota?

closed choice

grade5

social science

geography

State capitals

Identify state capitals of the Midwest

Pierre is the capital of South Dakota.

Question: What is the capital of South Dakota? (A) Sioux Falls (B) Helena (C) Rapid City (D) Pierre

Answer: (D) Pierre

Answer: (B) Helena

What do these two changes have in common? water evaporating from a lake cooking an egg

closed choice

grade7

natural science

chemistry

Chemical reactions

Compare physical and chemical changes

Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule. In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns. In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.

Step 1: Think about each change. Water evaporating from a lake is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The liquid changes into a gas, but a different type of matter is not formed. Cooking an egg is a chemical change. The heat causes the matter in the egg to change. Cooked egg and raw egg are different types of matter. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Water evaporating is a physical change. But cooking an egg is not. Both are chemical changes. Cooking an egg is a chemical change. But water evaporating from a lake is not. Both are caused by heating. Both changes are caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.

Question: What do these two changes have in common? water evaporating from a lake cooking an egg (A) Both are caused by heating. (B) Both are caused by cooling. (C) Both are chemical changes. (D) Both are only physical changes.

Answer: (A) Both are caused by heating.

Answer: (D) Both are only physical changes.

What do these two changes have in common? butter melting on a hot day baking a loaf of bread

closed choice

grade8

natural science

chemistry

Chemical reactions

Compare physical and chemical changes

Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule. In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns. In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.

Step 1: Think about each change. Butter melting on a hot day is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The butter changes from solid to liquid, but it is still made of the same type of matter. Baking a loaf of bread is a chemical change. The type of matter in the dough changes when it is baked. The dough turns into bread! Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Butter melting on a hot day is a physical change. But baking bread is not. Both are chemical changes. Baking bread is a chemical change. But butter melting on a hot day is not. Both are caused by heating. Both changes are caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.

Question: What do these two changes have in common? butter melting on a hot day baking a loaf of bread (A) Both are caused by cooling. (B) Both are only physical changes. (C) Both are caused by heating. (D) Both are chemical changes.

Answer: (C) Both are caused by heating.

Answer: (B) Both are only physical changes.

What is the name of the colony shown?

closed choice

grade7

social science

us-history

Colonial America

Identify the Thirteen Colonies

The colony is Pennsylvania.

Question: What is the name of the colony shown? (A) Florida (B) New Jersey (C) Pennsylvania (D) Delaware

Answer: (C) Pennsylvania

Answer: (B) New Jersey

Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? beetle - black

closed choice

grade4

language science

reference-skills

Reference skills

Use guide words

Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.

Put the words in alphabetical order. Since bid is between the guide words beetle - black, it would be found on that page.

Question: Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? beetle - black (A) bid (B) back

Answer: (A) bid

Answer: (B) back

What do these two changes have in common? plants making food from sunlight, air, and water rust forming on a metal gate

closed choice

grade4

natural science

chemistry

Physical and chemical change

Compare physical and chemical changes

Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.

Step 1: Think about each change. Plants making food is a chemical change. Plants use energy from sunlight to change air and water into food. The food is sugar. Sugar is a different type of matter than air or water. Rust forming on a metal gate is a chemical change. As the gate rusts, the metal turns into a different type of matter called rust. Rust is reddish-brown and falls apart easily. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.

Question: What do these two changes have in common? plants making food from sunlight, air, and water rust forming on a metal gate (A) Both are caused by cooling. (B) Both are caused by heating. (C) Both are only physical changes. (D) Both are chemical changes.

Answer: (D) Both are chemical changes.

Answer: (B) Both are caused by heating.

Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her grammar and mechanics? Self-expression is important, therefore, you should be yourself no matter what other people think. People might express their inner selves through music, art, or writing, through foods they eat, cook, and serve others, or through their home decor. I choose to express myself through my clothing and my hairstyle. When I was eight years old, my mother taught me how to sew, now I make all of my own clothes. I also dye my hair crazy colors, like green or blue. Sometimes people stare at me and seem to wonder why I look the way I do. My answer is, "I just gotta be me!"

closed choice

grade11

language science

writing-strategies

Editing and revising

Suggest appropriate revisions

During peer review, you read and respond to a fellow student's writing. While there are many methods and strategies that you can use for reviewing a text, it is generally helpful to frame your suggestions in concrete and constructive ways and to consider the following areas for revision: Ideas and development: Does the writer express a clear idea and develop it with evidence, examples, or analysis? Organization: Does the writer order ideas in a clear, logical way so that they build on one another and are easy to follow? Voice: Does the writer maintain an appropriate voice, such as a formal and objective voice in an academic essay or an engaging and expressive voice in a narrative essay? Sentence fluency: Does the writer use sentences that vary in structure and length to create a sense of rhythm and flow within and between sentences, or does the writing sound choppy, rambling, or repetitive? Word choice: Does the writer use words accurately and precisely to create clear, effective, and engaging writing? Grammar and mechanics: Does the writer follow appropriate conventions, using accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar to create writing that is correct and easy to read?

The writer could best improve his or her grammar and mechanics by using semicolons correctly. For example, the writer could use semicolons before the conjunctive adverb therefore in the first underlined sentence, to separate items in a series containing commas in the second underlined sentence, and instead of a comma to separate main clauses in the third underlined sentence. Self-expression is important, therefore, you should be yourself no matter what other people think. People might express their inner selves through music, art, or writing, through foods they eat, cook, and serve others, or through their home decor. I choose to express myself through my clothing and my hairstyle. When I was eight years old, my mother taught me how to sew, now I make all of my own clothes. I also dye my hair crazy colors, like green or blue. Sometimes people stare at me and seem to wonder why I look the way I do. My answer is, "I just gotta be me!"

Question: Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her grammar and mechanics? Self-expression is important, therefore, you should be yourself no matter what other people think. People might express their inner selves through music, art, or writing, through foods they eat, cook, and serve others, or through their home decor. I choose to express myself through my clothing and my hairstyle. When I was eight years old, my mother taught me how to sew, now I make all of my own clothes. I also dye my hair crazy colors, like green or blue. Sometimes people stare at me and seem to wonder why I look the way I do. My answer is, "I just gotta be me!" (A) by adding missing commas (B) by using semicolons correctly (C) by punctuating the quotation correctly

Answer: (B) by using semicolons correctly

Answer: (C) by punctuating the quotation correctly

Which correctly shows the title of a play?

closed choice

grade3

language science

capitalization

Formatting

Capitalizing titles

In a title, capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between. The Wind in the Willows James and the Giant Peach These words are not important in titles: Articles, a, an, the Short prepositions, such as at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up Coordinating conjunctions, such as and, but, or

Capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between. The word and is not important, so it should not be capitalized. The correct title is Big Bad and Little Red.

Question: Which correctly shows the title of a play? (A) Big Bad and Little Red (B) Big bad and Little Red

Answer: (A) Big Bad and Little Red

Answer: (B) Big bad and Little Red

Which property do these three objects have in common?

Select the best answer.

closed choice

grade3

natural science

physics

Materials

Compare properties of objects

An object has different properties. A property of an object can tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells. Properties can also tell you how an object will behave when something happens to it. Different objects can have properties in common. You can use these properties to put objects into groups.

Look at each object. For each object, decide if it has that property. A stretchy object gets longer when you pull on it. The popcorn and the log are not stretchy. A colorful object has one or more bright colors. None of the objects are colorful. A bumpy object is covered in lumps and bumps. All three objects are bumpy. The property that all three objects have in common is bumpy.

Question: Which property do these three objects have in common? (A) bumpy (B) colorful (C) stretchy

Answer: (A) bumpy

Answer: (C) stretchy

Suppose Raymond decides to take a trip to Rhode Island. Which result would be a cost?

Raymond is deciding whether to take a trip to Rhode Island or Illinois. He wants to enjoy his trip. But he is also trying to save money.

closed choice

grade5

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Costs and benefits

Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits. Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need. Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.

This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Raymond wants or needs: Raymond will spend more money. Plane tickets for Raymond to get to Rhode Island are more expensive than tickets to Illinois.

Question: Suppose Raymond decides to take a trip to Rhode Island. Which result would be a cost? (A) Raymond will spend more money. Plane tickets for Raymond to get to Rhode Island are more expensive than tickets to Illinois. (B) Raymond will enjoy his trip to Rhode Island more than he would have enjoyed a trip to Illinois.

Answer: (A) Raymond will spend more money. Plane tickets for Raymond to get to Rhode Island are more expensive than tickets to Illinois.

Answer: (B) Raymond will enjoy his trip to Rhode Island more than he would have enjoyed a trip to Illinois.

Which correctly shows the title of a movie?

closed choice

grade9

language science

punctuation

Formatting

Formatting titles

The title of a book, movie, play, TV show, magazine, or newspaper should be in italics. If you write it by hand, it can be underlined instead. A Midsummer Night's Dream The title of a poem, song, article, or short story should be in quotation marks. "You Are My Sunshine"

A movie should be in italics. The correct title is **That Thing You Do**.

Question: Which correctly shows the title of a movie? (A) ***That Thing You Do*** (B) "That Thing You Do!"

Answer: (A) ***That Thing You Do***

Answer: (B) "That Thing You Do!"

How long is a paper clip?

Select the best estimate.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

units-and-measurement

Units and measurement

Choose metric units of distance, mass, and volume

Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. When you are using metric units, length can be written with units of millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers. One meter contains 100 centimeters or 1,000 millimeters. So, 1 meter is larger than 1 centimeter, and 1 centimeter is larger than 1 millimeter. The tip of the pencil shown here is only 1 millimeter wide, but the pencil is about 16 centimeters long. A red fox is about 1 meter long. The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is about 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, in length.

The best estimate for the length of a paper clip is 35 millimeters. 35 centimeters, 35 meters, and 35 kilometers are all too long.

Question: How long is a paper clip? (A) 35 millimeters (B) 35 kilometers (C) 35 centimeters (D) 35 meters

Answer: (A) 35 millimeters

Answer: (D) 35 meters

Is Leopardus wiedii made up of many cells?

This organism is Leopardus wiedii. It is a member of the animal kingdom. Leopardus wiedii is commonly called a margay. Margays live in the forest in Central and South America. Margays are nocturnal. A nocturnal animal sleeps most of the day and is awake at night.

yes or no

grade4

natural science

biology

Classification

Describe, classify, and compare kingdoms

Leopardus wiedii is an animal. Animals are made up of many cells.

Question: Is Leopardus wiedii made up of many cells? (A) no (B) yes

Answer: (B) yes

Answer: (A) no

Which tense does the sentence use? The cook will freeze the meat for another time.

closed choice

grade3

language science

verbs

Verb tense

Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense?

Present tense verbs tell you about something that is happening now. Most present-tense verbs are regular. They have no ending, or they end in -s or -es. Two verbs are irregular in the present tense, to be and to have. You must remember their forms. Past tense verbs tell you about something that has already happened. Most past-tense verbs are regular. They end in -ed. Some verbs are irregular in the past tense. You must remember their past-tense forms. Future tense verbs tell you about something that is going to happen. All future-tense verbs use the word will. Present | Past | Future walk, walks | walked | will walk go, goes | went | will go

The sentence is in future tense. You can tell because it uses will before the main verb, freeze. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen.

Question: Which tense does the sentence use? The cook will freeze the meat for another time. (A) past tense (B) present tense (C) future tense

Answer: (C) future tense

Answer: (B) present tense

Select the organism in the same genus as the great gray owl.

This organism is a great gray owl. Its scientific name is Strix nebulosa.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Scientific names

Use scientific names to classify organisms

Scientists use scientific names to identify organisms. Scientific names are made of two words. The first word in an organism's scientific name tells you the organism's genus. A genus is a group of organisms that share many traits. A genus is made up of one or more species. A species is a group of very similar organisms. The second word in an organism's scientific name tells you its species within its genus. Together, the two parts of an organism's scientific name identify its species. For example Ursus maritimus and Ursus americanus are two species of bears. They are part of the same genus, Ursus. But they are different species within the genus. Ursus maritimus has the species name maritimus. Ursus americanus has the species name americanus. Both bears have small round ears and sharp claws. But Ursus maritimus has white fur and Ursus americanus has black fur.

A great gray owl's scientific name is Strix nebulosa. The first word of its scientific name is Strix. Camelus dromedarius is in the genus Camelus. The first word of its scientific name is Camelus. So, Camelus dromedarius and Strix nebulosa are not in the same genus. Strix varia is in the genus Strix. The first word of its scientific name is Strix. So, Strix varia and Strix nebulosa are in the same genus. Neofelis nebulosa and Strix nebulosa are not in the same genus. These organisms are not in the same genus, but part of their scientific names is the same. Neofelis nebulosa and Strix nebulosa have the same species name within their genus, nebulosa. But the first words of their scientific names are different. Neofelis nebulosa is in the genus Neofelis, and Strix nebulosa is in the genus Strix.

Question: Select the organism in the same genus as the great gray owl. (A) Camelus dromedarius (B) Neofelis nebulosa (C) Strix varia

Answer: (C) Strix varia

Answer: (B) Neofelis nebulosa

What can Sharon and Ernesto trade to each get what they want?

Trade happens when people agree to exchange goods and services. People give up something to get something else. Sometimes people barter, or directly exchange one good or service for another. Sharon and Ernesto open their lunch boxes in the school cafeteria. Neither Sharon nor Ernesto got everything that they wanted. The table below shows which items they each wanted: Look at the images of their lunches. Then answer the question below. Sharon's lunch Ernesto's lunch

closed choice

grade7

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Trade and specialization

Look at the table and images. Sharon wants broccoli. Ernesto wants tomatoes. They can trade tomatoes for broccoli to both get what they want. Trading other things would not help both people get more items they want.

Question: What can Sharon and Ernesto trade to each get what they want? (A) Ernesto can trade his almonds for Sharon's tomatoes. (B) Sharon can trade her tomatoes for Ernesto's broccoli. (C) Ernesto can trade his broccoli for Sharon's oranges. (D) Sharon can trade her tomatoes for Ernesto's carrots.

Answer: (B) Sharon can trade her tomatoes for Ernesto's broccoli.

Answer: (C) Ernesto can trade his broccoli for Sharon's oranges.

What is the capital of Washington?

closed choice

grade3

social science

geography

State capitals

Identify state capitals of the West

Olympia is the capital of Washington.

Question: What is the capital of Washington? (A) Denver (B) Olympia (C) Topeka (D) Des Moines

Answer: (B) Olympia

Answer: (A) Denver

Which is harder?

closed choice

grade3

natural science

physics

Materials

Compare properties of materials

Every object is made of one or more materials. A material is a type of matter. Wood, glass, metal, and plastic are common materials. A material has different properties. A material's properties tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells. Some examples of properties are shiny, hard, fragile, and stretchy. For example, a shiny material reflects a lot of light. A fragile material breaks when you drop it.

Hard is a property. A hard material keeps its shape when you press on it with your finger. Look at each picture, one at a time. Imagine pushing on the material shown in each picture. Of the choices, the metal horseshoe is harder. If you squeeze a metal horseshoe, it will not change shape.

Question: Which is harder? (A) metal horseshoe (B) wool sweater

Answer: (A) metal horseshoe

Answer: (B) wool sweater

What is the capital of North Dakota?

closed choice

grade3

social science

geography

State capitals

Identify state capitals of the Midwest

Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota.

Question: What is the capital of North Dakota? (A) Frankfort (B) Lincoln (C) Harrisburg (D) Bismarck

Answer: (D) Bismarck

Answer: (A) Frankfort

Select the organism in the same genus as the copperband butterflyfish.

This organism is a copperband butterflyfish. Its scientific name is Chelmon rostratus.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

biology

Classification and scientific names

Use scientific names to classify organisms

Scientists use scientific names to identify organisms. Scientific names are made of two words. The first word in an organism's scientific name tells you the organism's genus. A genus is a group of organisms that share many traits. A genus is made up of one or more species. A species is a group of very similar organisms. The second word in an organism's scientific name tells you its species within its genus. Together, the two parts of an organism's scientific name identify its species. For example Ursus maritimus and Ursus americanus are two species of bears. They are part of the same genus, Ursus. But they are different species within the genus. Ursus maritimus has the species name maritimus. Ursus americanus has the species name americanus. Both bears have small round ears and sharp claws. But Ursus maritimus has white fur and Ursus americanus has black fur.

A copperband butterflyfish's scientific name is Chelmon rostratus. The first word of its scientific name is Chelmon. Syngnathoides biaculeatus is in the genus Syngnathoides. The first word of its scientific name is Syngnathoides. So, Syngnathoides biaculeatus and Chelmon rostratus are not in the same genus. This organism and the copperband butterflyfish are in the same genus and the same species! Both organisms have the same scientific name, Chelmon rostratus. Alopias pelagicus is in the genus Alopias. The first word of its scientific name is Alopias. So, Alopias pelagicus and Chelmon rostratus are not in the same genus.

Question: Select the organism in the same genus as the copperband butterflyfish. (A) Syngnathoides biaculeatus (B) Alopias pelagicus (C) Chelmon rostratus

Answer: (C) Chelmon rostratus

Answer: (A) Syngnathoides biaculeatus

What can Austin and Victoria trade to each get what they want?

Trade happens when people agree to exchange goods and services. People give up something to get something else. Sometimes people barter, or directly exchange one good or service for another. Austin and Victoria open their lunch boxes in the school cafeteria. Neither Austin nor Victoria got everything that they wanted. The table below shows which items they each wanted: Look at the images of their lunches. Then answer the question below. Austin's lunch Victoria's lunch

closed choice

grade8

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Trade and specialization

Look at the table and images. Austin wants broccoli. Victoria wants tomatoes. They can trade tomatoes for broccoli to both get what they want. Trading other things would not help both people get more items they want.

Question: What can Austin and Victoria trade to each get what they want? (A) Victoria can trade her almonds for Austin's tomatoes. (B) Austin can trade his tomatoes for Victoria's broccoli. (C) Austin can trade his tomatoes for Victoria's carrots. (D) Victoria can trade her broccoli for Austin's oranges.

Answer: (B) Austin can trade his tomatoes for Victoria's broccoli.

Answer: (D) Victoria can trade her broccoli for Austin's oranges.

Select the reptile below.

Reptiles have scaly, waterproof skin. Most reptiles live on land. A box turtle is an example of a reptile.

closed choice

grade2

natural science

biology

Classification

Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians

Birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians are groups of animals. The animals in each group have traits in common. Scientists sort animals into groups based on traits they have in common. This process is called classification.

An American alligator is a reptile. It has scaly, waterproof skin. A manta ray is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs.

Question: Select the reptile below. (A) American alligator (B) manta ray

Answer: (A) American alligator

Answer: (B) manta ray

Select the mammal below.

Mammals have hair or fur and feed their young milk. Mammals are warm-blooded. Warm-blooded animals can control their body temperature. A giraffe is an example of a mammal.

closed choice

grade4

natural science

biology

Classification

Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians

Birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians are groups of animals. Scientists sort animals into each group based on traits they have in common. This process is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live. Classification also helps scientists compare similar animals.

A fruit bat is a mammal. It has hair and feeds its young milk. Fruit bats eat fruit and drink nectar from flowers. They have special teeth to help them bite through fruit skins. A poison dart frog is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water. Poison dart frogs come in many bright colors. Their bright color warns other animals that these frogs are poisonous. A manta ray is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs. Rays have a different shape than many other fish. Rays are large and flat. They have wide, triangle-shaped fins that help them swim long distances. A piranha is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs. Piranhas have sharp teeth. Piranhas hunt in groups. A group of piranhas can eat a large animal.

Question: Select the mammal below. (A) poison dart frog (B) fruit bat (C) manta ray (D) piranha

Answer: (B) fruit bat

Answer: (C) manta ray

Compare the average kinetic energies of the particles in each sample. Which sample has the higher temperature?

The diagrams below show two pure samples of gas in identical closed, rigid containers. Each colored ball represents one gas particle. Both samples have the same number of particles.

closed choice

grade7

natural science

physics

Particle motion and energy

Identify how particle motion affects temperature and pressure

The temperature of a substance depends on the average kinetic energy of the particles in the substance. The higher the average kinetic energy of the particles, the higher the temperature of the substance. The kinetic energy of a particle is determined by its mass and speed. For a pure substance, the greater the mass of each particle in the substance and the higher the average speed of the particles, the higher their average kinetic energy.

Each particle in sample B has more mass than each particle in sample A. The particles in sample B also have a higher average speed than the particles in sample A. So, the particles in sample B have a higher average kinetic energy than the particles in sample A. Because the particles in sample B have the higher average kinetic energy, sample B must have the higher temperature.

Question: Compare the average kinetic energies of the particles in each sample. Which sample has the higher temperature? (A) sample B (B) sample A (C) neither; the samples have the same temperature

Answer: (A) sample B

Answer: (C) neither; the samples have the same temperature

Complete the sentence so that it uses personification. The butterflies flitted from flower to flower, ().

closed choice

grade10

language science

writing-strategies

Creative techniques

Use personification

Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. It is a figure of speech that can be used to make writing more interesting or to emphasize a point. The trees danced in the wind. The word danced describes the trees as if they were people. Unlike people, however, trees can't actually dance. Instead, the personification suggests that the trees are moving.

Complete the sentence with the phrase playing hide-and-seek. It describes the butterflies as if they were playful children.

Question: Complete the sentence so that it uses personification. The butterflies flitted from flower to flower, (). (A) playing hide-and-seek (B) floating gently

Answer: (A) playing hide-and-seek

Answer: (B) floating gently

Look at the models of molecules below. Select the elementary substance.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

chemistry

Atoms and molecules

Identify elementary substances and compounds using models

There are more than 100 different chemical elements, or types of atoms. Chemical elements make up all of the substances around you. A substance may be composed of one chemical element or multiple chemical elements. Substances that are composed of only one chemical element are elementary substances. Substances that are composed of multiple chemical elements bonded together are compounds. Every chemical element is represented by its own atomic symbol. An atomic symbol may consist of one capital letter, or it may consist of a capital letter followed by a lowercase letter. For example, the atomic symbol for the chemical element boron is B, and the atomic symbol for the chemical element chlorine is Cl. Scientists use different types of models to represent substances whose atoms are bonded in different ways. One type of model is a ball-and-stick model. The ball-and-stick model below represents a molecule of the compound boron trichloride. In a ball-and-stick model, the balls represent atoms, and the sticks represent bonds. Notice that the balls in the model above are not all the same color. Each color represents a different chemical element. The legend shows the color and the atomic symbol for each chemical element in the substance.

Question: Look at the models of molecules below. Select the elementary substance. (A) carbon tetrachloride (B) fluoromethanol (C) fluorine

Answer: (C) fluorine

Answer: (B) fluoromethanol

Suppose Cameron decides to plant the amaryllises. Which result would be a cost?

Cameron is deciding whether to plant amaryllises or a magnolia tree in his backyard. He wants to make his backyard more beautiful. But he also wants to leave space for doing fun things.

closed choice

grade5

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Costs and benefits

Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits. Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need. Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.

This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Cameron wants or needs: Cameron will give up the chance to look at the magnolia tree. He thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the amaryllises.

Question: Suppose Cameron decides to plant the amaryllises. Which result would be a cost? (A) Cameron will give up the chance to look at the magnolia tree. He thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the amaryllises. (B) He will save some space. The amaryllises will use up less space than the magnolia tree would have used up.

Answer: (A) Cameron will give up the chance to look at the magnolia tree. He thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the amaryllises.

Answer: (B) He will save some space. The amaryllises will use up less space than the magnolia tree would have used up.

Which figure of speech is used in this text? What thoughts I have of you tonight Walt Whitman, for I walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headache self-conscious looking at the full moon. —Allen Ginsberg, "A Supermarket in California"

closed choice

grade11

language science

figurative-language

Literary devices

Classify the figure of speech: review

Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive. Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of several phrases or clauses. We are united. We are powerful. We are winners. Antithesis involves contrasting opposing ideas within a parallel grammatical structure. I want to help, not to hurt. Apostrophe is a direct address to an absent person or a nonhuman entity. Oh, little bird, what makes you sing so beautifully? Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in a series of nearby words. Try to light the fire. Chiasmus is an expression in which the second half parallels the first but reverses the order of words. Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you. A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic. The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off. Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally. I ate so much that I think I might explode! An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms. Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic. A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth. Always expect the unexpected. Understatement involves deliberately representing something as less serious or important than it really is. As you know, it can get a little cold in the Antarctic.

The text uses apostrophe, a direct address to an absent person or a nonhuman entity. What thoughts I have of you tonight Walt Whitman is a direct address to Walt Whitman, an absent person. (Walt Whitman was an American poet who died in 1892, over half a century before this poem was written.)

Question: Which figure of speech is used in this text? What thoughts I have of you tonight Walt Whitman, for I walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headache self-conscious looking at the full moon. —Allen Ginsberg, "A Supermarket in California" (A) antithesis (B) apostrophe

Answer: (B) apostrophe

Answer: (A) antithesis

Which organ uses acid to break down food?

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Animals

Human organs and their functions

Question: Which organ uses acid to break down food? (A) brain (B) stomach (C) muscles (D) skin

Answer: (B) stomach

Answer: (D) skin

Which continent is highlighted?

closed choice

grade8

social science

geography

Physical Geography

Oceans and continents

A continent is one of the major land masses on the earth. Most people say there are seven continents.

This continent is Asia.

Question: Which continent is highlighted? (A) Australia (B) North America (C) South America (D) Asia

Answer: (D) Asia

Answer: (C) South America

Which of these oceans does the prime meridian intersect?

closed choice

grade4

social science

geography

Maps

Use lines of latitude and longitude

Lines of latitude and lines of longitude are imaginary lines drawn on some globes and maps. They can help you find places on globes and maps. Lines of latitude show how far north or south a place is. We use units called degrees to describe how far a place is from the equator. The equator is the line located at 0° latitude. We start counting degrees from there. Lines north of the equator are labeled N for north. Lines south of the equator are labeled S for south. Lines of latitude are also called parallels because each line is parallel to the equator. Lines of longitude are also called meridians. They show how far east or west a place is. We use degrees to help describe how far a place is from the prime meridian. The prime meridian is the line located at 0° longitude. Lines west of the prime meridian are labeled W. Lines east of the prime meridian are labeled E. Meridians meet at the north and south poles. The equator goes all the way around the earth, but the prime meridian is different. It only goes from the North Pole to the South Pole on one side of the earth. On the opposite side of the globe is another special meridian. It is labeled both 180°E and 180°W. Together, lines of latitude and lines of longitude form a grid. You can use this grid to find the exact location of a place.

The prime meridian is the line at 0° longitude. It intersects the Arctic Ocean. It does not intersect the Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean.

Question: Which of these oceans does the prime meridian intersect? (A) the Arctic Ocean (B) the Pacific Ocean (C) the Indian Ocean

Answer: (A) the Arctic Ocean

Answer: (C) the Indian Ocean

Which material are these packing peanuts made of?

closed choice

grade3

natural science

physics

Materials

Identify materials in objects

A material is a type of matter. Wood, glass, metal, and plastic are common materials.

Look at the picture of the packing peanuts. The packing peanuts are made of styrofoam. Packing peanuts keep breakable items safe. Styrofoam is a good material for packing peanuts because it's a little bit squishy.

Question: Which material are these packing peanuts made of? (A) styrofoam (B) concrete

Answer: (A) styrofoam

Answer: (B) concrete

Which i in row B?

closed choice

grade3

social science

geography

Geography

Use a letter-number grid

A grid is made up of lines of squares. They are organized in rows and columns. A grid can help you use a map. A row is a line of squares that goes from side to side. Rows are marked with letters. A column is a line of squares that goes up and down. Columns are marked with numbers.

The fire department is in row B.

Question: Which i in row B? (A) the fire department (B) the grocery store (C) the police department (D) the gas station

Answer: (A) the fire department

Answer: (D) the gas station

Would you find the word did on a dictionary page with the following guide words? dangle - drank

yes or no

grade8

language science

reference-skills

Reference skills

Use guide words

Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.

Put the words in alphabetical order. Since did is between the guide words dangle - drank, it would be found on that page.

Question: Would you find the word did on a dictionary page with the following guide words? dangle - drank (A) no (B) yes

Answer: (B) yes

Answer: (A) no

Does this passage describe the weather or the climate?

Figure: Quito. Quito is the capital of Ecuador. The winds there blow out of the northwest during the spring and summer each year. Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place.

closed choice

grade4

natural science

earth-science

Weather and climate

Weather and climate around the world

The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere. Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures.

Read the passage carefully. Quito is the capital of Ecuador. The winds there blow out of the northwest during the spring and summer each year. The underlined part of the passage tells you about the usual wind patterns in Quito. This passage does not describe what the weather is like on a particular day. So, this passage describes the climate.

Question: Does this passage describe the weather or the climate? (A) climate (B) weather

Answer: (A) climate

Answer: (B) weather

Based on this information, what is Arietta's genotype for the fur texture gene?

In a group of Syrian hamsters, some individuals have straight fur and others have wavy fur. In this group, the gene for the fur texture trait has two alleles. The allele F is for straight fur, and the allele f is for wavy fur. Arietta, a Syrian hamster from this group, has straight fur. Arietta has one allele for straight fur and one allele for wavy fur.

closed choice

grade7

natural science

biology

Genes to traits

Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype

All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait. For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent. An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene. An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait.

An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. Arietta has one allele for straight fur (F) and one allele for wavy fur (f). So, Arietta's genotype for the fur texture gene is Ff.

Question: Based on this information, what is Arietta's genotype for the fur texture gene? (A) Ff (B) straight fur

Answer: (A) Ff

Answer: (B) straight fur

What information supports the conclusion that Bonnie acquired this trait?

Read the description of a trait. Bonnie knows how to make chili.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

biology

Genes to traits

Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement

Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring.

Question: What information supports the conclusion that Bonnie acquired this trait? (A) Bonnie's friends like to make chili with her. (B) Bonnie learned how to make chili from a recipe book. (C) When Bonnie was young, her grandmother taught her how to cut chili peppers.

Answer: (B) Bonnie learned how to make chili from a recipe book.

Answer: (C) When Bonnie was young, her grandmother taught her how to cut chili peppers.

Which greeting is correct for a letter?

closed choice

grade4

language science

punctuation

Formatting

Greetings and closings of letters

A letter starts with a greeting and ends with a closing. For each one, capitalize the first word and end with a comma. You should also capitalize proper nouns, such as Aunt Sue. Dear Aunt Sue, I'm glad you could come to my party, and thank you for the birthday gift. I could not have asked for a better one! Every time I see it, I think of you. With love, Rory

The second greeting is correct: Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. Uncle Aaron is capitalized because it is a proper noun.

Question: Which greeting is correct for a letter? (A) Dear Uncle Aaron, (B) Dear Uncle aaron,

Answer: (A) Dear Uncle Aaron,

Answer: (B) Dear Uncle aaron,

Which statement describes the Gran Sabana ecosystem?

Figure: Gran Sabana. The Gran Sabana is a savanna grassland ecosystem in southeastern Venezuela. This savanna has many flat-topped mountains called mesas.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

biology

Ecosystems

Describe ecosystems

An environment includes all of the biotic, or living, and abiotic, or nonliving, things in an area. An ecosystem is created by the relationships that form among the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment. There are many different types of terrestrial, or land-based, ecosystems. Here are some ways in which terrestrial ecosystems can differ from each other: the pattern of weather, or climate the type of soil the organisms that live there

A savanna grassland is a type of ecosystem. Savanna grasslands have the following features: warm summers and warm winters, a rainy season and a dry season, and soil that is poor in nutrients. So, the following statements describe the Gran Sabana ecosystem: warm summers and warm winters, a rainy season and a dry season, and soil that is poor in nutrients. It has a rainy season and a dry season. It has soil that is poor in nutrients. The following statement does not describe the Gran Sabana: warm summers and warm winters, a rainy season and a dry season, and soil that is poor in nutrients. It has a small amount of rain.

Question: Which statement describes the Gran Sabana ecosystem? (A) It has soil that is poor in nutrients. (B) It has a small amount of rain.

Answer: (A) It has soil that is poor in nutrients.

Answer: (B) It has a small amount of rain.

What do these two changes have in common? baking a loaf of bread cooking a pancake

closed choice

grade3

natural science

chemistry

Physical and chemical change

Compare physical and chemical changes

Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.

Step 1: Think about each change. Baking a loaf of bread is a chemical change. Bread is made from dough. Baking turns the dough into bread. The bread is a different type of matter than the dough. Cooking a pancake is a chemical change. Pancakes are made from pancake batter. A cooked pancake is a different type of matter than pancake batter. Pancake batter is wet and slippery. Cooked pancakes are fluffy and can be good to eat! Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different. Both are caused by heating. Both changes are caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.

Question: What do these two changes have in common? baking a loaf of bread cooking a pancake (A) Both are caused by cooling. (B) Both are chemical changes. (C) Both are only physical changes.

Answer: (B) Both are chemical changes.

Answer: (C) Both are only physical changes.

Which animal's skin is better adapted as a warning sign to ward off predators?

Fire salamanders have poisonous glands in their brightly colored skin. The bright colors serve as a warning sign that the animal is poisonous. The 's skin is adapted to ward off predators. Figure: fire salamander.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Adaptations

Animal adaptations: skins and body coverings

An adaptation is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive or reproduce. Adaptations can include both body parts and behaviors. The color, texture, and covering of an animal's skin are examples of adaptations. Animals' skins can be adapted in different ways. For example, skin with thick fur might help an animal stay warm. Skin with sharp spines might help an animal defend itself against predators.

Look at the picture of the fire salamander. The fire salamander has a poisonous body with brightly colored skin. Its skin is adapted to ward off predators. The bright colors serve as a warning sign that the fire salamander is poisonous. Now look at each animal. Figure out which animal has a similar adaptation. The lionfish has venomous spines and brightly colored skin. Its skin is adapted to ward off predators. This hawk moth has gray and brown patches on its body. Its skin is not adapted to be a warning sign that wards off predators.

Question: Which animal's skin is better adapted as a warning sign to ward off predators? (A) hawk moth (B) lionfish

Answer: (B) lionfish

Answer: (A) hawk moth

Select the organism in the same species as the Burmese python.

This organism is a Burmese python. Its scientific name is Python bivittatus.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

biology

Classification and scientific names

Use scientific names to classify organisms

Scientists use scientific names to identify organisms. Scientific names are made of two words. The first word in an organism's scientific name tells you the organism's genus. A genus is a group of organisms that share many traits. A genus is made up of one or more species. A species is a group of very similar organisms. The second word in an organism's scientific name tells you its species within its genus. Together, the two parts of an organism's scientific name identify its species. For example Ursus maritimus and Ursus americanus are two species of bears. They are part of the same genus, Ursus. But they are different species within the genus. Ursus maritimus has the species name maritimus. Ursus americanus has the species name americanus. Both bears have small round ears and sharp claws. But Ursus maritimus has white fur and Ursus americanus has black fur.

A Burmese python's scientific name is Python bivittatus. Cervus canadensis does not have the same scientific name as a Burmese python. So, Python bivittatus and Cervus canadensis are not in the same species. Python bivittatus is in the same genus as Python reticulatus, but they are not in the same species. Organisms in the same species have the same scientific names. Python bivittatus and Python reticulatus are different species within the same genus. Python bivittatus has the same scientific name as a Burmese python. So, these organisms are in the same species.

Question: Select the organism in the same species as the Burmese python. (A) Python reticulatus (B) Cervus canadensis (C) Python bivittatus

Answer: (C) Python bivittatus

Answer: (B) Cervus canadensis

Which animal is also adapted to be camouflaged among dead leaves?

Fantastic leaf-tailed geckos live in tropical forests around the world. The is adapted to be camouflaged among dead leaves. Figure: fantastic leaf-tailed gecko.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Adaptations

Animal adaptations: skins and body coverings

An adaptation is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive or reproduce. Adaptations can include both body parts and behaviors. The color, texture, and covering of an animal's skin are examples of adaptations. Animals' skins can be adapted in different ways. For example, skin with thick fur might help an animal stay warm. Skin with sharp spines might help an animal defend itself against predators.

Look at the picture of the fantastic leaf-tailed gecko. The fantastic leaf-tailed gecko has reddish-brown skin and a leaf-shaped tail. It is adapted to be camouflaged among dead leaves, which often have a reddish or brownish color. The word camouflage means to blend in. Now look at each animal. Figure out which animal has a similar adaptation. The plated leaf chameleon has reddish-brown scales coverings its body. It is adapted to be camouflaged among dead leaves, which often have a reddish or brownish color. The snowy owl has white feathers covering its body. It is not adapted to be camouflaged among dead leaves.

Question: Which animal is also adapted to be camouflaged among dead leaves? (A) snowy owl (B) plated leaf chameleon

Answer: (B) plated leaf chameleon

Answer: (A) snowy owl

Which is this organism's common name?

This organism is a Galapagos giant tortoise. It is also called Chelonoidis nigra.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

biology

Classification and scientific names

Identify common and scientific names

An organism's common name is the name that people normally call the organism. Common names often contain words you know. An organism's scientific name is the name scientists use to identify the organism. Scientific names often contain words that are not used in everyday English. Scientific names are written in italics, but common names are usually not. The first word of the scientific name is capitalized, and the second word is not. For example, the common name of the animal below is giant panda. Its scientific name is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Chelonoidis nigra is written in italics. The first word is capitalized, and the second word is not. So, it is the scientific name. Chelonoidis nigra is the organism's scientific name. So, you know that Galapagos giant tortoise is the common name.

Question: Which is this organism's common name? (A) Galapagos giant tortoise (B) Chelonoidis nigra

Answer: (A) Galapagos giant tortoise

Answer: (B) Chelonoidis nigra

Suppose Eva decides to plant the tulips. Which result would be a cost?

Eva is deciding whether to plant tulips or a hickory tree in her backyard. She wants to make her backyard more beautiful. But she also wants to leave space for doing fun things.

closed choice

grade5

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Costs and benefits

Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits. Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need. Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.

This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Eva wants or needs: Eva will give up the chance to look at the hickory tree. She thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the tulips.

Question: Suppose Eva decides to plant the tulips. Which result would be a cost? (A) She will save some space. The tulips will use up less space than the hickory tree would have used up. (B) Eva will give up the chance to look at the hickory tree. She thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the tulips.

Answer: (B) Eva will give up the chance to look at the hickory tree. She thinks it would have looked more beautiful than the tulips.

Answer: (A) She will save some space. The tulips will use up less space than the hickory tree would have used up.

Select the organism in the same species as the snowshoe hare.

This organism is a snowshoe hare. Its scientific name is Lepus americanus.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Scientific names

Use scientific names to classify organisms

Scientists use scientific names to identify organisms. Scientific names are made of two words. The first word in an organism's scientific name tells you the organism's genus. A genus is a group of organisms that share many traits. A genus is made up of one or more species. A species is a group of very similar organisms. The second word in an organism's scientific name tells you its species within its genus. Together, the two parts of an organism's scientific name identify its species. For example Ursus maritimus and Ursus americanus are two species of bears. They are part of the same genus, Ursus. But they are different species within the genus. Ursus maritimus has the species name maritimus. Ursus americanus has the species name americanus. Both bears have small round ears and sharp claws. But Ursus maritimus has white fur and Ursus americanus has black fur.

A snowshoe hare's scientific name is Lepus americanus. Sciurus vulgaris does not have the same scientific name as a snowshoe hare. So, Lepus americanus and Sciurus vulgaris are not in the same species. Lepus americanus has the same scientific name as a snowshoe hare. So, these organisms are in the same species. Erinaceus europaeus does not have the same scientific name as a snowshoe hare. So, Lepus americanus and Erinaceus europaeus are not in the same species.

Question: Select the organism in the same species as the snowshoe hare. (A) Sciurus vulgaris (B) Erinaceus europaeus (C) Lepus americanus

Answer: (C) Lepus americanus

Answer: (A) Sciurus vulgaris

What is the capital of Utah?

closed choice

grade3

social science

geography

State capitals

Identify the 50 state capitals

Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah.

Question: What is the capital of Utah? (A) Salem (B) Salt Lake City (C) Provo (D) Helena

Answer: (B) Salt Lake City

Answer: (A) Salem

Which of these cities is marked on the map?

closed choice

grade5

social science

geography

Cities

Major U.S. cities

The city is New Orleans, Louisiana. New York City, Houston, and St. Louis are marked with gray circles on the map below.

Question: Which of these cities is marked on the map? (A) St. Louis (B) New Orleans (C) Houston (D) New York City

Answer: (B) New Orleans

Answer: (D) New York City

What is the name of the colony shown?

closed choice

grade5

social science

us-history

English colonies in North America

Identify the Thirteen Colonies

The colony is Pennsylvania.

Question: What is the name of the colony shown? (A) Delaware (B) Pennsylvania (C) Maryland (D) New Jersey

Answer: (B) Pennsylvania

Answer: (C) Maryland

Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference?

closed choice

grade11

language science

writing-strategies

Pronouns

Identify vague pronoun references

When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent. When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief. The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear. Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways: 1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent: When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. 2. Rewrite the sentence: Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed. A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent. They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear. This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent. The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.

The second answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun they is used without its antecedent. The first answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. They has been replaced with the operator. Bella had witnessed a crime, so she made a call to report it. The operator promptly dispatched police to investigate the scene.

Question: Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? (A) Bella had witnessed a crime, so she made a call to report it. They promptly dispatched police to investigate the scene. (B) Bella had witnessed a crime, so she made a call to report it. The operator promptly dispatched police to investigate the scene.

Answer: (A) Bella had witnessed a crime, so she made a call to report it. They promptly dispatched police to investigate the scene.

Answer: (B) Bella had witnessed a crime, so she made a call to report it. The operator promptly dispatched police to investigate the scene.

Based on this information, what is Hermes's phenotype for the coat pattern trait?

In a group of jaguars, some individuals have a black coat and others have a spotted coat. In this group, the gene for the coat pattern trait has two alleles. The allele for a black coat (A) is dominant over the allele for a spotted coat (a). Hermes is a jaguar from this group. Hermes has the homozygous genotype aa for the coat pattern gene.

closed choice

grade6

natural science

biology

Genes to traits

Genetics vocabulary: dominant and recessive

All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait. For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent. An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene. An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. Some traits, like flower color in pea plants, are controlled by a single gene. Most plants and animals have a genotype made up of two alleles for these traits. These two alleles determine whether an organism is homozygous or heterozygous for the gene. An organism with two identical alleles for a gene is homozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype FF or ff is homozygous for the flower color gene. An organism with two different alleles for a gene is heterozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype Ff is heterozygous for the flower color gene. The types of alleles in an organism's genotype determine the organism's phenotype. Some alleles have types called dominant and recessive. These two types can cause different versions of a trait to appear as the organism's phenotype. A dominant allele causes its version of the trait to appear even when the organism also has a recessive allele for the gene. In pea plants, the F allele, which causes purple flowers, is dominant over the f allele. A pea plant with at least one F allele will have the F allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype FF or Ff will have purple flowers. A recessive allele causes its version of the trait to appear only when the organism does not have any dominant alleles for the gene. In pea plants, the f allele, which causes white flowers, is recessive to the F allele. A pea plant with only f alleles will have the f allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype ff will have white flowers.

Hermes's genotype for the coat pattern gene is aa. Hermes's genotype of aa has only a alleles. The a allele is for a spotted coat. So, Hermes's phenotype for the coat pattern trait must be a spotted coat. To check this answer, consider whether Hermes's alleles are dominant or recessive. The allele for a black coat (A) is dominant over the allele for a spotted coat (a). This means A is a dominant allele, and a is a recessive allele. Hermes's genotype of aa has only recessive alleles. An organism with only recessive alleles for a gene will have the recessive allele's version of the trait. So, Hermes's phenotype for the coat pattern trait must be a spotted coat.

Question: Based on this information, what is Hermes's phenotype for the coat pattern trait? (A) a black coat (B) a spotted coat

Answer: (B) a spotted coat

Answer: (A) a black coat

What is the mass of an elephant?

Select the better estimate.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

units-and-measurement

Units and measurement

Choose metric units of mass

Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains. There are many different units of mass. When you are using metric units, mass may be written with units of grams or kilograms. There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. So, 1 gram is much less than 1 kilogram. A paper clip has a mass of about 1 gram, while a textbook has a mass of about 1 kilogram.

The better estimate for the mass of an elephant is 4,115 kilograms. 4,115 grams is too light.

Question: What is the mass of an elephant? (A) 4,115 kilograms (B) 4,115 grams

Answer: (A) 4,115 kilograms

Answer: (B) 4,115 grams

Which of these continents does the equator intersect?

closed choice

grade4

social science

geography

Maps

Use lines of latitude and longitude

Lines of latitude and lines of longitude are imaginary lines drawn on some globes and maps. They can help you find places on globes and maps. Lines of latitude show how far north or south a place is. We use units called degrees to describe how far a place is from the equator. The equator is the line located at 0° latitude. We start counting degrees from there. Lines north of the equator are labeled N for north. Lines south of the equator are labeled S for south. Lines of latitude are also called parallels because each line is parallel to the equator. Lines of longitude are also called meridians. They show how far east or west a place is. We use degrees to help describe how far a place is from the prime meridian. The prime meridian is the line located at 0° longitude. Lines west of the prime meridian are labeled W. Lines east of the prime meridian are labeled E. Meridians meet at the north and south poles. The equator goes all the way around the earth, but the prime meridian is different. It only goes from the North Pole to the South Pole on one side of the earth. On the opposite side of the globe is another special meridian. It is labeled both 180°E and 180°W. Together, lines of latitude and lines of longitude form a grid. You can use this grid to find the exact location of a place.

The equator is the line at 0° latitude. It intersects Africa. It does not intersect Australia or North America.

Question: Which of these continents does the equator intersect? (A) Australia (B) North America (C) Africa

Answer: (C) Africa

Answer: (B) North America

Which of these continents does the equator intersect?

closed choice

grade4

social science

geography

Maps

Use lines of latitude and longitude

Lines of latitude and lines of longitude are imaginary lines drawn on some globes and maps. They can help you find places on globes and maps. Lines of latitude show how far north or south a place is. We use units called degrees to describe how far a place is from the equator. The equator is the line located at 0° latitude. We start counting degrees from there. Lines north of the equator are labeled N for north. Lines south of the equator are labeled S for south. Lines of latitude are also called parallels because each line is parallel to the equator. Lines of longitude are also called meridians. They show how far east or west a place is. We use degrees to help describe how far a place is from the prime meridian. The prime meridian is the line located at 0° longitude. Lines west of the prime meridian are labeled W. Lines east of the prime meridian are labeled E. Meridians meet at the north and south poles. The equator goes all the way around the earth, but the prime meridian is different. It only goes from the North Pole to the South Pole on one side of the earth. On the opposite side of the globe is another special meridian. It is labeled both 180°E and 180°W. Together, lines of latitude and lines of longitude form a grid. You can use this grid to find the exact location of a place.

The equator is the line at 0° latitude. It intersects South America. It does not intersect Antarctica or North America.

Question: Which of these continents does the equator intersect? (A) North America (B) South America (C) Antarctica

Answer: (B) South America

Answer: (C) Antarctica

What kind of sentence is this? Reagan considers Paris the most romantic city in the world.

closed choice

grade9

language science

punctuation

Sentences, fragments, and run-ons

Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory?

There are four kinds of sentences. A declarative sentence is a statement and always ends with a period. The nurse told Mr. Abrams to roll up his sleeve so that she could check his blood pressure. An imperative sentence makes a request or a demand and usually ends with a period. If a demand shows strong feeling, it can end with an exclamation point. For this assignment, use references to support your claims. Don't drive so quickly in the construction zone! An interrogative sentence asks a question and always ends with a question mark. Given the recent critiques of her new strategic plan, do you think the CEO will reconsider the company's direction? An exclamatory sentence is a statement that shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamation always ends with an exclamation point. I can't wait to travel through Europe this summer!

The sentence is a statement and ends with a period. It is a declarative sentence.

Question: What kind of sentence is this? Reagan considers Paris the most romantic city in the world. (A) interrogative (B) exclamatory (C) declarative

Answer: (C) declarative

Answer: (B) exclamatory

Which solution has a higher concentration of purple particles?

The diagram below is a model of two solutions. Each purple ball represents one particle of solute.

closed choice

grade8

natural science

chemistry

Solutions

Compare concentrations of solutions

A solution is made up of two or more substances that are completely mixed. In a solution, solute particles are mixed into a solvent. The solute cannot be separated from the solvent by a filter. For example, if you stir a spoonful of salt into a cup of water, the salt will mix into the water to make a saltwater solution. In this case, the salt is the solute. The water is the solvent. The concentration of a solute in a solution is a measure of the ratio of solute to solvent. Concentration can be described in terms of particles of solute per volume of solvent. concentration = particles of solute / volume of solvent

In Solution A and Solution B, the purple particles represent the solute. To figure out which solution has a higher concentration of purple particles, look at both the number of purple particles and the volume of the solvent in each container. Use the concentration formula to find the number of purple particles per milliliter. Solution B has more purple particles per milliliter. So, Solution B has a higher concentration of purple particles.

Question: Which solution has a higher concentration of purple particles? (A) Solution B (B) Solution A (C) neither; their concentrations are the same

Answer: (A) Solution B

Answer: (B) Solution A

What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below? Diana was known among her coworkers for her spartan ways.

closed choice

grade10

language science

figurative-language

Literary devices

Recall the source of an allusion

An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words. "I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked. Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately.

The source of the allusion spartan is Greek history. Soldiers from the city of Sparta in ancient Greece were known for their self-restraint, self-discipline, and indifference to luxury. The allusion spartan means simple and austere.

Question: What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below? Diana was known among her coworkers for her spartan ways. (A) the Bible (B) Greek history

Answer: (B) Greek history

Answer: (A) the Bible

Complete the sentence so that it uses personification. The heavy door () as Edna pushed it open.

closed choice

grade8

language science

writing-strategies

Creative techniques

Use personification

Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. It is a figure of speech that can be used to make writing more interesting or to emphasize a point. The trees danced in the wind. The word danced describes the trees as if they were people. Unlike people, however, trees can't actually dance. Instead, the personification suggests that the trees are moving.

Complete the sentence with the word protested. It describes the door as if it were a person who didn't want to obey.

Question: Complete the sentence so that it uses personification. The heavy door () as Edna pushed it open. (A) protested (B) creaked

Answer: (A) protested

Answer: (B) creaked

Would you find the word material on a dictionary page with the following guide words? midst - mosquito

yes or no

grade4

language science

reference-skills

Reference skills

Use guide words

Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.

Put the words in alphabetical order. Since material is not between the guide words midst - mosquito, it would not be found on that page.

Question: Would you find the word material on a dictionary page with the following guide words? midst - mosquito (A) yes (B) no

Answer: (B) no

Answer: (A) yes

What is the capital of Louisiana?

closed choice

grade5

social science

geography

State capitals

Identify state capitals of the Southeast

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana.

Question: What is the capital of Louisiana? (A) Montpelier (B) Lansing (C) Baton Rouge (D) Birmingham

Answer: (C) Baton Rouge

Answer: (D) Birmingham

What can Finn and Tiana trade to each get what they want?

Trade happens when people agree to exchange goods and services. People give up something to get something else. Sometimes people barter, or directly exchange one good or service for another. Finn and Tiana open their lunch boxes in the school cafeteria. Both of them could be happier with their lunches. Finn wanted broccoli in his lunch and Tiana was hoping for tomatoes. Look at the images of their lunches. Then answer the question below.

closed choice

grade6

social science

economics

Basic economic principles

Trade and specialization

Finn wanted broccoli in his lunch and Tiana was hoping for tomatoes. Look at the labeled part of the images. Finn has tomatoes. Tiana has broccoli. They can trade tomatoes for broccoli to both be happier. Trading other things would not help either person get more items they want.

Question: What can Finn and Tiana trade to each get what they want? (A) Tiana can trade her almonds for Finn's tomatoes. (B) Finn can trade his tomatoes for Tiana's sandwich. (C) Tiana can trade her broccoli for Finn's oranges. (D) Finn can trade his tomatoes for Tiana's broccoli.

Answer: (D) Finn can trade his tomatoes for Tiana's broccoli.

Answer: (C) Tiana can trade her broccoli for Finn's oranges.

What is the name of the colony shown?

closed choice

grade4

social science

us-history

English colonies in North America

Identify the Thirteen Colonies

The colony is Connecticut.

Question: What is the name of the colony shown? (A) Connecticut (B) New Jersey (C) Kentucky (D) Virginia

Answer: (A) Connecticut

Answer: (D) Virginia

Which animal's feet are also adapted for digging?

s are found in parts of North America. They live in burrows and eat other animals that also live in burrows. The feet of the are adapted for digging. Figure: American badger.

closed choice

grade4

natural science

biology

Adaptations

Animal adaptations: feet and limbs

An adaptation is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive or reproduce. Adaptations can include both body parts and behaviors. The shape of an animal's feet is one example of an adaptation. Animals' feet can be adapted in different ways. For example, webbed feet might help an animal swim. Feet with thick fur might help an animal walk on cold, snowy ground.

Look at the picture of the American badger. The American badger has long, straight claws. Its feet are adapted for digging. The American badger uses its claws to break up soil and move it out of the way. Now look at each animal. Figure out which animal has a similar adaptation. The eastern mole has long, straight claws. Its feet are adapted for digging. The Weddell seal has small flippers for feet. Its feet are not adapted for digging. The Weddell seal uses its flippers to crawl and swim.

Question: Which animal's feet are also adapted for digging? (A) Weddell seal (B) eastern mole

Answer: (B) eastern mole

Answer: (A) Weddell seal

Which closing is correct for a letter?

closed choice

grade3

language science

punctuation

Formatting

Greetings and closings of letters

A letter starts with a greeting and ends with a closing. For each one, capitalize the first word and end with a comma. You should also capitalize proper nouns, such as Aunt Sue. Dear Aunt Sue, I'm glad you could come to my party, and thank you for the birthday gift. I could not have asked for a better one! Every time I see it, I think of you. With love, Rory

The second closing is correct: Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma.

Question: Which closing is correct for a letter? (A) Best Wishes, Helen (B) Best wishes, Helen

Answer: (B) Best wishes, Helen

Answer: (A) Best Wishes, Helen

Which logical fallacy is used in the text? Mayor Preston wants to create more bicycle lanes in Bloomington. However, many citizens of Bloomington live far from work. It would not be realistic to force us to give up our cars and bike everywhere.

closed choice

grade12

language science

writing-strategies

Developing and supporting arguments

Classify logical fallacies

A strong argument uses valid reasoning and logic in support of a claim. When an argument or claim introduces irrelevant information or misrepresents the issues at hand, it may be committing a logical fallacy. Logical fallacies can hurt a writer's credibility and can lead readers to draw false conclusions. A logical fallacy may present irrelevant information: Fallacy | Description ad hominem | an attack against the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself appeal to nature | an argument that assumes the natural choice is always the best choice bandwagon fallacy | an argument that assumes the popular choice is always the best choice circular reasoning | an argument that supports a claim with the claim itself guilt by association | an unfair negative association with another person or group that is intended to discredit someone or something A logical fallacy may misrepresent the issues at hand: Fallacy | Description false causation | the assumption that because two things happened together, one caused the other false dichotomy | an argument that presents only two choices when more options exist hasty generalization | a broad claim based on too few observations slippery slope fallacy | the false assumption that a small first step will necessarily lead to extreme consequences straw man | a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against

The text argues that Mayor Preston wants people to give up their cars. However, this misrepresents Mayor Preston's argument. Mayor Preston only wants to create more bike lanes. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as a straw man.

Question: Which logical fallacy is used in the text? Mayor Preston wants to create more bicycle lanes in Bloomington. However, many citizens of Bloomington live far from work. It would not be realistic to force us to give up our cars and bike everywhere. (A) appeal to nature: the assumption that natural things are always good (B) straw man: a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against (C) guilt by association: a negative association intended to discredit someone or something

Answer: (B) straw man: a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against

Answer: (C) guilt by association: a negative association intended to discredit someone or something

Which type of sentence is this? Aisha is a competitive horseback rider, and she will be competing in the next World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years.

closed choice

grade9

language science

grammar

Phrases and clauses

Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?

A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. the oranges on our tree are ripe The clause can stand alone. It is independent. after we pick up Kevin from work The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent. A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause. Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool. Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate. In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat. Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter. A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder. A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose. If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids. During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome. A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym. Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause. Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins.

The sentence is compound-complex. It is made up of two independent clauses and a dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with the relative pronoun which. Aisha is a competitive horseback rider, and she will be competing in the next World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years.

Question: Which type of sentence is this? Aisha is a competitive horseback rider, and she will be competing in the next World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years. (A) complex (B) compound-complex (C) simple (D) compound

Answer: (B) compound-complex

Answer: (C) simple

Which ocean is highlighted?

closed choice

grade7

social science

geography

Physical Geography

Oceans and continents

Oceans are huge bodies of salt water. The world has five oceans. All of the oceans are connected, making one world ocean.

This is the Atlantic Ocean.

Question: Which ocean is highlighted? (A) the Southern Ocean (B) the Pacific Ocean (C) the Atlantic Ocean (D) the Arctic Ocean

Answer: (C) the Atlantic Ocean

Answer: (D) the Arctic Ocean

Select the one animal that has all of the arachnid traits listed above.

Arachnids are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify arachnids: They have eight legs. They have an exoskeleton. They have no antennae. Observe the animals and read the descriptions.

closed choice

grade5

natural science

biology

Classification

Use evidence to classify animals

Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live. How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group.

To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group. Arachnids have the following traits: They have eight legs. They have an exoskeleton. They have no antennae. Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits. A leaf-curling spider has the following traits: It has eight legs. It has an exoskeleton. It has no antennae. A leaf-curling spider has the traits of an arachnid. A leaf-curling spider is an arachnid. A white-spotted octopus has the following traits: It has a soft body. It has tentacles. A white-spotted octopus does not have all of the traits of an arachnid. A white-spotted octopus is a mollusk.

Question: Select the one animal that has all of the arachnid traits listed above. (A) White-spotted octopuses have tentacles, which are also called arms. White-spotted octopuses can use their tentacles to reach between corals and grab fish. These octopuses have a soft red body with white spots. (B) Leaf-curling spiders spin webs with a leaf at the center. These spiders have an exoskeleton and eight legs, but no antennae.

Answer: (B) Leaf-curling spiders spin webs with a leaf at the center. These spiders have an exoskeleton and eight legs, but no antennae.

Answer: (A) White-spotted octopuses have tentacles, which are also called arms. White-spotted octopuses can use their tentacles to reach between corals and grab fish. These octopuses have a soft red body with white spots.

What kind of sentence is this? Please take some time to think about my offer before you respond.

closed choice

grade6

language science

punctuation

Sentences, fragments, and run-ons

Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory?

There are four kinds of sentences. A declarative sentence is a statement, and it always ends with a period. The nurse told Mr. Abrams to roll up his sleeve so that she could check his blood pressure. An interrogative sentence is a question, and it always ends with a question mark. Do you have any plans for the upcoming weekend? An imperative sentence is a command. It makes a request or tells someone to do something, and it usually ends with a period. If the command shows strong feeling, it ends with an exclamation point. For this assignment, use references to support your claims. Don't drive so quickly in the construction zone! An exclamatory sentence is like a statement, but it shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation point. I can't wait to travel through Europe this summer!

The sentence makes a request, so it is an imperative sentence. Here, it ends with a period.

Question: What kind of sentence is this? Please take some time to think about my offer before you respond. (A) exclamatory (B) interrogative (C) imperative

Answer: (C) imperative

Answer: (A) exclamatory

What is the name of the colony shown?

closed choice

grade5

social science

us-history

English colonies in North America

Identify the Thirteen Colonies

The colony is Connecticut.

Question: What is the name of the colony shown? (A) Connecticut (B) New Hampshire (C) Massachusetts (D) Wisconsin

Answer: (A) Connecticut

Answer: (D) Wisconsin