GRADE 8 SCIENCE - SolPass

VIRGINIA

STANDARDS OF LEARNING ASSESSMENTS

Spring 2002 Released Test

GRADE 8SCIENCE

SESSION: 31 PAGE: 1 4/18/102 11:48 LOGIN IS-pam PATH: @sun1/xydisk2/CLS_psycorp/GRP_virginia/JOB_537152g8/DIV_g8sci-1

Property of the Virginia Department of Education

� 2002 by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education, James MonroeBuilding, 101 N. 14th Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. All rights reserved. Exceptas permitted by law, this material may not be reproduced or used in any form or byany means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by anyinformation storage or retrieval system, without written permission from thecopyright owner. Commonwealth of Virginia public school educators may photocopy orprint any portion of these Released Tests for educational purposes without requestingpermission. All others should direct their requests to the Commonwealth of VirginiaDepartment of Education at (804) 225-2102, Division of Assessment and Reporting.


DIRECTIONSRead each question carefully and choose the bestanswer. Then mark the space in the answerbooklet for the answer you have chosen.

SAMPLE

These animals are grouped togetherbecause all of them —

A live in the water �

B are fishC are warm-bloodedD lay eggs

1 Which of these uses the force of gravityto make it move?

A A sailboat moving across a lakeB A car making a right turnC A snow sled going downhill �

D A bicycle rolling to a stop

2 The presence of permafrost is acharacteristic of which major biome?

F Tundra �

G TaigaH Temperate forestJ Grasslands

3 Plants release oxygen into the air as aresult of photosynthesis. Which ofthese do plants need forphotosynthesis?

A Carbon dioxide �

B NitrogenC MethaneD Hydrogen

4 A student wanted to test thehypothesis that adding antifreeze towater lowers the freezing point ofwater. The student found that purewater froze at 0�C, while thewater/antifreeze mixture froze at�20�C. In order to confirm the results,the student should repeat theexperiment using —

F a container of a different sizeG a different amount of antifreezeH a different amount of waterJ exactly the same set-up as the first

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Science

32002 Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education

5

This experiment was set up to test thehypothesis that plants grow faster ingreen light. What is the independentvariable in this experiment?

A Type of plantB Amount of waterC Color of light �

D Size of pot

6

Which of the following elements has16 protons?

F OxygenG ChlorineH Sulfur �

J Germanium

7 The amount of gravitational attractionbetween the Earth and an objectdepends on the object’s distance fromthe Earth and the object’s —

A shapeB mass �

C state of matterD size

Red Green Yellow

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

87

Fr

55

Cs

37

Rb

19

K

*

39

Y

21

Sc

11

Na

3

Li

88

Ra

56

Ba

38

Sr

20

Ca

12

Mg

4

Be

85

At

53

I

35

Br

17

Cl

9

F

1

H

1

86

Rn

54

Xe

36

Kr

18

Ar

10

Ne

2

He

18

84

Po

52

Te

34

Se

16

S

8

O

16 17

83

Bi

51

Sb

33

As

15

P

7

N

15

82

Pb

50

Sn

32

Ge

14

Si

6

C

14

81

Tl

49

In

31

Ga

80

Hg

48

Cd

30

Zn

79

Au

47

Ag

29

Cu

13

Al

5

B

13

1211

2

3

4

Z

alkaline earth metals

Group

Period

halogens

noble gases

alkali metals

1

2

3

4

5

6

7


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8 Of the following, which is the correctprogression in the food chain?

F Producers → herbivores → carnivores �

G Herbivores → producers → carnivoresH Producers → carnivores → herbivoresJ Carnivores → herbivores → producers

9 Which of these are found in plant cellsbut not in animal cells?

A MitochondriaB Chloroplasts �

C Cell membranesD Endoplasmic reticulum

10 A student predicts that more sugar willdissolve in warm water than in coldwater. She puts some water in acontainer, adds sugar, and then stirs.The amount of undissolved sugar isthen observed. When this studentrepeats the experiment to verify herprediction, the only thing that shouldchange is the —

F amount of water usedG temperature of the water �

H amount of sugar usedJ amount of time stirring

11 Which of the following molecules doesnot contain three atoms?

A O3

B N2 �

C H2OD CO2

12 The function of a cell nucleus is to —

F direct the activities of the cell �

G help the cell expel wasteH digest foreign substancesJ transport substances around the cell


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13

Which of these best shows what ishappening to the cell in pure water?

14 Which of these processes in the watercycle causes dew to form in themorning?

F Condensation �

G EvaporationH TranspirationJ Precipitation

15 A student conducted an experiment onplant growth that required addingabout one cupful of liquid fertilizer toseveral plants each week. In order toaccurately measure the fertilizer givento each plant, the fertilizer volumeshould be measured in —

A cubic metersB milliliters �

C cubic feetD kiloliters

16 Early space flights were unmannedbecause —

F humans had no interest in spaceexploration

G reliable life-support systems were notyet developed �

H rockets flew too fast for human survivalJ humans could not withstand the force of

takeoff

Weak saltsolution

Normalcell

Strong saltsolution

Cellshrinks

Purewater

Cellexpands

Salt goingout of cell

Water goingout of cell

Water goinginto cell

Salt goinginto cell

A

B

C

D

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17 One way plants and animals are alikeis that they both —

A move to get their foodB make their own foodC use carbon dioxideD use oxygen �

18 Consumers of electrical energy arebilled according to how much energythey use. The unit most commonlyused for measuring electrical energyconsumption is the —

F millivoltG ohmmeterH newton-meterJ kilowatt-hour �

19 Which of these cannot be separatedinto its parts by an ordinary chemicalor physical process?

A A mixture of salts (NaCl, KI)B A compound of nitrogen (NH3)C An atom of carbon (C) �

D An acid of chlorine (HCl)

20 A student determined the mass andvolume of a gold ring. What physicalproperty of the gold can be determinedusing these two measurements?

F Its reactivityG Its expansion rateH Its density �

J Its melting point

21 Which of these best shows particles ina mixture?

A C

B D�


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22 Which of the following orientations ofmagnets would result in the greatestattraction between the two magnets?

23 The Earth is warmed by solar energy.How is this energy transferred fromthe sun to the Earth?

A Radiation �

B ConvectionC ConductionD Ultrasonic

24 An example of kinetic energycontinuously being changed topotential energy and back again mightbe —

F a girl swinging on a swing �

G a train moving down a trackH electric charges moving in a straight

pathJ a plate sitting on the edge of a table

25

The above apparatus was set up asshown, and thermometer readingswere recorded for 20 minutes. Theresults were then graphed. By howmany degrees did the temperature ofthe hot water decrease in the 20minutes that readings were taken?

A 10�CB 14�CC 20�CD 28�C �

N

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S

N S

N

S

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S

N

S

NS

N

S

F H

G J

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020

40

60

80

100

Aluminum bar

Insulatedcups with

covers

Cold waterHot water

Thermometer BThermometer A

5 10

Time (min.)

Temperature Changes Over Time

Tem

per

atu

re (

°C)

15 20

Hot Cup

Cold Cup


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26 A new medication dissolves blood clots.However, if too much is used, excessivebleeding occurs. Which method shouldscientists use to determine the bestdosage of this new medication?

F Use people of many different ages astest subjects

G Have the test subjects eat a widevariety of foods with the medication

H Change the times the medication isgiven to determine if timing affectsbleeding

J Vary only the dosages of the medicationwhile keeping everything else constant �

27 In an experiment combining vinegarand baking soda, gas is given off. Inthis chemical reaction, the vinegar andbaking soda are —

A reactants �

B productsC elementsD suspensions

28

Suppose that in a certain area, miceare the main food source for wolves.Based on the graph, in which yearwould there be the least amount ofcompetition among wolves for food?

F 1975G 1980H 1985 �

J 1990

29 A wheel-and-axle is a lever that rotatesaround a fixed point. All of thefollowing machines employ awheel-and-axle except a —

A bicycleB skateboardC pencil sharpenerD crowbar �

Nu

mb

ero

f M

ice

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

Mouse Population

Years


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30 Scientists have been able to find noatmosphere around this planet becauseit has little gravity and is closest to thesun. The planet described is —

F Mercury �

G EarthH VenusJ Saturn

31 As a supplement to some diets, iron istaken in tablet form. The mass of ironin these tablets is often measured in —

A millilitersB caloriesC centimetersD milligrams �

32 Some students counted the birds in anarea. They counted the number ofspecies present and the number ofbirds in each species. Which of thesewould be best to use to report theresults?

Size of Area

Num

ber

of B

irds

Species of Birds

Num

ber

of B

irds

Size of Birds

Spe

cies

of B

irds

Species of Birds

Siz

e of

Are

a

F

G

H

J

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33 An experiment determined that 20 g ofmass were gained by a mouse on acorn diet, 15 g by a mouse on a ricediet, and 18 g for the mouse on a graindiet. The corn-fed mouse started out at95 g, the rice-fed at 98 g, and thegrain-fed at 92 g. Which of thefollowing tables describes these dataand any other data which can bedirectly computed from thesenumbers?

34 Which amphibian is most aquatic?

Grain-fed 92 110 18 20%

Rice-fed 98 113 15 15%

Corn-fed 95 115 20 21%

Mouse InitialMass

(g)

FinalMass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(%)

Grain-fed 95 115 20

Rice-fed 98 113 15

Corn-fed 92 110 18

Mouse InitialMass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(g)

3 92 18 16%

2 98 15 13%

1 95 20 17%

Mouse InitialMass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(g)

Increase in Mass

(%)

3 110 92 15 16%

2 113 98 20 20%

1 115 95 18 19%

Mouse InitialMass

(g)

FinalMass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(g)

Increasein Mass

(%)

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B

C

D

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35

Between points 4 and 5, energy isbeing used to change water from a —

A solid to a liquidB solid to a gasC liquid to a gas �

D liquid to a solid

36 Which drawing shows a circuit thatwill cause the light to come on?

37 A compound is a molecule made up ofatoms from at least two elements.Which of the following gases is acompound?

A Ozone (O3)B Oxygen (O2)C Methane (CH4) �

D Nitrogen (N2)

1 Kilogram of Water Heating

Heat (Kcal)

Tem

pera

ture

(˚C

)120

110

100

90

20

10

0

-10

-2010 90 110 180 190 200 720 730 740 750

1

23

45

6

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•••

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38 Which of these correctly shows how alight ray is reflected from a mirror?

39

This flashlight uses three differentforms of energy. Which of these showsthe energy changes in the correctorder?

A Mechanical → heat → chemicalB Heat → chemical → lightC Electrical → mechanical → chemicalD Chemical → electrical → light �

40 In humans, which of these is requiredfor carrying oxygen from the lungs tobody cells?

F PlasmaG PlateletsH Red blood cells �

J White blood cells

41 The only place visited by mannedexploration outside Earth is —

A the sunB the moon �

C VenusD Mars

42

The primary producer in theecosystem above is the —

F plant �

G rabbitH hawkJ fox

43 During mitosis, the doubling ofchromosomes ensures that both newcells —

A have identical genetic makeup �

B are twice the size of the parent cellC serve different functionsD remain attached to each other

30° 30°

30° 60°

30° 15°

30° 90°

F H

G J

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Plant

Grasshopper

Shrew

Hawk

Rabbit

Fox


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44 Many living organisms have bodystructures that go from very simple tovery complex. Which of these placesthe structures in the correct order,from least complex to most complex?

F System, organ, tissue, cellG Organ, tissue, cell, systemH Cell, system, organ, tissueJ Cell, tissue, organ, system �

45

The picture shows a Cartesian divermade from a plastic bottle filled withwater and an inverted test tubepartially filled with water. What causesthe diver to sink as the bottle issqueezed?

A The size of the diver increases.B The volume of air in the diver

decreases. �

C The water in the bottle becomes lessdense.

D The air in the water comes out ofsolution.

46 Which of these illustrates apredator-prey relationship?

F An eagle catching a fish �

G A flea feeding on a dogH A horse eating grassJ A rooster fighting another rooster

47

The diagram above shows the changesover time in the horse. Evidence forthese changes most likely came from —

A carbon-datingB hypotheses of scientistsC observations of modern horsesD the fossil record �

Before After

Equus(modern horse)

Pliohippus(one-toed horse)

Merychippus

Mesohippus

Eohippus(early horse)


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48 During the process of evaporation,liquid water becomes —

F tiny drops of waterG separate atoms of waterH molecules of water vapor �

J atoms of hydrogen and oxygen

49 Which of the following is an example ofa decomposer at work in the food web?

A A tree growing in a fieldB A grasshopper eating leavesC A seagull catching a fishD A fungus growing on a log �

50 Because it can be transported easilyand converted into other forms ofenergy, the energy form mostcommonly used in households is —

F chemicalG nuclearH heatJ electrical �


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Answer KeyTest

SequenceCorrectAnswer

ReportingCategory Reporting Category Description

1 C 019 Earth and Space Systems

2 F 018 Ecosystems

3 A 018 Ecosystems

4 J 015 Scientific Investigation

5 C 015 Scientific Investigation

6 H 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

7 B 019 Earth and Space Systems

8 F 018 Ecosystems

9 B 017 Life Systems

10 G 015 Scientific Investigation

11 B 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

12 F 017 Life Systems

13 C 015 Scientific Investigation

14 F 018 Ecosystems

15 B 015 Scientific Investigation

16 G 019 Earth and Space Systems

17 D 017 Life Systems

18 J 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

19 C 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

20 H 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter


22 F 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

23 A 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter


25 D 015 Scientific Investigation

26 J 015 Scientific Investigation

27 A 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

28 H 015 Scientific Investigation

29 D 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

30 F 019 Earth and Space Systems

31 D 015 Scientific Investigation

32 G 015 Scientific Investigation

33 A 015 Scientific Investigation

34 H 017 Life Systems





39 D 016 Force, Motion, Energy, and Matter

40 H 017 Life Systems

41 B 019 Earth and Space Systems

42 F 018 Ecosystems

43 A 017 Life Systems

44 J 017 Life Systems


46 F 018 Ecosystems

47 D 019 Earth and Space Systems

48 H 018 Ecosystems

49 D 018 Ecosystems



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GRADE 8 SCIENCE - SolPass