FTCE Middle Grades Science 5-9 Exam 406 Questions with Verified Answers
Which of the properties listed below is a characteristic of a liquid but not of
... [Show More] a gas?
A. It has the ability to flow.
B. It maintains its volume in an open container.
C. Its molecules are constantly in motion.
D. Its volume varies depending on temperature. - CORRECT ANSWER B
A 0.100 m3 chamber is filled with oxygen gas at standard conditions (101 kPa at 273 k). Assuming ideal conditions and behavior, what will be the pressure of the gas in the chamber after it is heated to 819 k?
A. 34 kPa
B. 51 kPa
C. 202 kPa
D. 303 kPa - CORRECT ANSWER D
In 1898, J.J. Thomson provided the first hard evidence for the existence of subatomic particles in the atom by using a cathode ray tube to discover the
A. proton.
B. neutron.
C. electron.
D. nucleus. - CORRECT ANSWER C
If all of the atoms in a substance have the same atomic number, the substance is a(an)
A. compound.
B. element.
C. mixture.
D. alloy. - CORRECT ANSWER B
The balanced chemical equation for the formation of iron (III) oxide is
A. Fe + O2 -> FeO2.
B. 4Fe + 3O2 -> 2Fe2O3.
C. 3Fe + O2 -> Fe3O2.
D. Fe + O -> FeO. - CORRECT ANSWER B
Small molecules that contain H bonded to O have higher boiling points than similar molecules in which H is bonded to S. Why does this change occur?
A. The H to O bond is nonpolar.
B. The H to S bond is more polar than the H to O bond.
C. The H to O bond is more polar than the H to S bond.
D. The H to S bond is nonpolar. - CORRECT ANSWER C
A + B -> AB What type of reaction is given above?
A. combination
B. decomposition
C. double displacement
D. single displacement - CORRECT ANSWER A
According to Hooke's Law, the relationship between the elastic force and the distance of stretch for an elastic material is
A. inversely proportional.
B. directly proportional.
C. exponential.
D. power squared. - CORRECT ANSWER B
A ball rolls off a horizontal table and hits the floor at a faster vertical speed than when it leaves the table. This is an example of which law of objects in motion?
A. Newton's 1st law
B. Newton's 2nd law
C. Kepler's 1st law
D. Kepler's 2nd law - CORRECT ANSWER B
The pitch of a car's horn changes as the car approaches. This is an example of
A. constructive interference.
B. destructive interference.
C. diffraction.
D. the Doppler effect. - CORRECT ANSWER D
Two identical objects with identical electrostatic charges will
A. repel one another.
B. attract one another.
C. have no effect on each other.
D. emit a spark. - CORRECT ANSWER A
The device that converts electric energy to mechanical energy by the use of magnetic forces is a (an)
A. generator.
B. transformer.
C. motor.
D. rectifier. - CORRECT ANSWER C
Which phase change releases energy?
A. melting
B. evaporation
C. condensation
D. sublimation - CORRECT ANSWER C
Which of the following contains the greatest amount of thermal energy?
A. burning candle
B. cup of coffee
C. oak tree
D. lake - CORRECT ANSWER D
The input electrical energy of an overhead projector results in light emission, heat emission, and mechanical motion of the fan. This is a demonstration of
A. conservation of energy.
B. excess input energy.
C. decrease in entropy.
D. total loss of energy. - CORRECT ANSWER A
The splitting of the nucleus of U-235 into two or more fragments is called
A. alpha decay.
B. beta decay.
C. fission.
D. fusion. - CORRECT ANSWER C
Which type of radiation has the lowest energy?
A. x-rays
B. visible light
C. infrared
D. radio - CORRECT ANSWER D
A security mirror located in the back corner of a convenience store to enable a view of the entire store uses a
A. convex mirror.
B. concave mirror.
C. flat mirror.
D. parabolic mirror. - CORRECT ANSWER A
What is the power drawn by a 120-volt microwave oven that is rated for 15 amps?
A. 0.125 joules
B. 8.0 watts
C. 1800 watts
D. 135 joules - CORRECT ANSWER C
According to the theory of plate tectonics, the energy that drives crustal plate movement originates in
A. earthquakes.
B. lithosphere fluidity.
C. seafloor spreading.
D. mantle convection. - CORRECT ANSWER D
The time known as the "coal age" occurred during which geologic era?
A. Precambrian
B. Cenozoic
C. Mesozoic
D. Paleozoic - CORRECT ANSWER D
Identify the best method of determining the age of a single rock sample that contains no fossils.
A. radioactive dating
B. examination of mineral content
C. application of the law of superposition
D. crystal analysis - CORRECT ANSWER A
Which of the following surface ocean currents is known for being warm, fast, and narrow?
A. California Current
B. Canary Current
C. West Wind Drift
D. Gulf Stream - CORRECT ANSWER D
How do oceanic ridges differ from trenches?
A. Ridges include extremely deep ocean structures; trenches refer to shallow ocean structures.
B. Ridges mark divergent plate boundaries; trenches mark convergent plate boundaries.
C. Ridges are referred to as the "shoulder" of the continents; trenches are found in the middle of the oceans.
D. Ridges are the slopes from the continental shelf to the abyssal plain; trenches are where freshwater meets seawater. - CORRECT ANSWER B
The average salinity level of seawater in parts per thousand is closest to
A. 10.
B. 15.
C. 35.
D. 50. - CORRECT ANSWER C
Rocks that have cooled from the molten state are called
A. igneous rocks.
B. sedimentary rocks.
C. metamorphic rocks.
D. precipitated rocks - CORRECT ANSWER A
Which list of minerals is arranged in order from lowest to highest, using the Mohs hardness scale?
A. quartz, diamond, talc, calcite
B. diamond, quartz, calcite, talc
C. talc, calcite, quartz, diamond
D. calcite, quartz, talc, diamond - CORRECT ANSWER C
How does the stratosphere differ from the troposphere?
A. Atmospheric pressure increases with height in the stratosphere.
B. The stratosphere is in contact with Earth's surface.
C. Most day-to-day weather originates in the stratosphere.
D. Temperatures increase with height in the stratosphere. - CORRECT ANSWER D
What major cloud formation is associated with warm, moist, rapidly rising air?
A. cirrocumulus
B. cirrostratus
C. cumulonimbus
D. nimbostratus - CORRECT ANSWER C
Limestone that is weathered by water results in the formation of land surface features known as
A. karst topography.
B. dunes.
C. loess deposits.
D. crevasses. - CORRECT ANSWER A
Worldwide problems of global warming, acid rain, and photochemical smog are mainly the result of
A. releasing chlorofluorocarbons.
B. overcultivating land.
C. burning fossil fuels.
D. dumping toxic wastes. - CORRECT ANSWER C
Why does Australia experience winter during the months of June, July, and August?
A. The Earth's orbital distance is farther from the Sun.
B. The Earth's Southern hemisphere is tilting on its axis away from the Sun.
C. The Earth's Southern hemisphere is tilting on its axis toward the Sun.
D. The Earth's orbital distance is closer to the Sun. - CORRECT ANSWER B
An astronomer would use a spectrometer to look at a star because the spectrometer
A. increases the magnification of the telescope.
B. provides detailed information on a star's mass.
C. helps analyze a star's temperature and composition.
D. increases the light gathering ability of a telescope - CORRECT ANSWER C
An astronomer viewing a distant star notices the star's spectral lines are shifted toward longer wavelengths. This indicates the star is
A. moving toward the Earth.
B. very old.
C. very young.
D. moving away from the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWER D
A component of the solar system that consists of a nucleus, a dust tail, and an ion tail is a(an)
A. asteroid.
B. comet.
C. meteor.
D. meteorite. - CORRECT ANSWER B
What is the name of the cloud of gas and dust that, in theory, condenses to form a planetary system?
A. galaxy
B. constellation
C. nebula
D. comet - CORRECT ANSWER C
Saltwater surged into a pond, causing the Elodea population to decrease. What process contributed to the decrease in the population of these plants?
A. Saltwater is hypertonic, so water diffused into the plant cells.
B. Saltwater is hypertonic, so water diffused out of the plant cells.
C. Saltwater is hypotonic, so water diffused out of the plant cells.
D. Saltwater is hypotonic, so water diffused into the plant cells. - CORRECT ANSWER B
Which of the following is a distinguishing characteristic of prokaryotes?
A. no nucleus
B. no cell wall
C. cell organelles
D. mitochondria - CORRECT ANSWER A
A muscle cell contains a large number of which organelles?
A. lysosomes
B. endoplasmic reticula
C. nuclei
D. mitochondria - CORRECT ANSWER D
In humans, nondisjunction during meiosis may result in which of the following irregularities?
A. cystic fibrosis
B. pleiotropy
C. sickle cell
D. Down syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER D
What is the inheritance pattern typified by a 9:3:3:1 phenotype ratio in the F-2 generation?
A. complete dominance in a dihybrid cross
B. complete dominance in a monohybrid cross
C. incomplete dominance in a monohybrid cross
D. incomplete dominance in a dihybrid cross - CORRECT ANSWER A
Sickle-cell disease is a recessive genetic condition. Which genotype indicates that an individual has this disorder?
A. AA
B. Aa
C. AB
D. aa - CORRECT ANSWER D
Which sequence of events precedes protein synthesis?
A. DNA replicates RNA, which goes to the lysosomes.
B. RNA translates DNA, which goes to the lysosomes.
C. DNA transcribes RNA, which goes to the ribosomes.
D. RNA synthesizes DNA, which goes to the ribosomes. - CORRECT ANSWER C
A new aquatic invertebrate has been found. Its body is bilaterally symmetrical and flat, and it has the ability to regenerate. To what phylum does it belong?
A. Porifera
B. Platyhelminthes
C. Nematoda
D. Annelida - CORRECT ANSWER B
What characteristic is used in the classification of protozoans?
A. their mode of locomotion
B. their manner of obtaining food
C. their method of reproduction
D. the toxicity of their waste - CORRECT ANSWER A
Which of the following organelles is present in plant cells but not in animal cells?
A. ribosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. chloroplast
D. endoplasmic reticulum - CORRECT ANSWER C
The endodermis of a mature primary root plays a role in
A. absorbing water and minerals from the soil.
B. regulating transport of water and minerals into vascular tissue.
C. storing water, minerals, or nutrients for the plant.
D. supporting the root structure of the plant. - CORRECT ANSWER B
Which of the following is a step in the sexual reproduction of plants?
A. rhizome production
B. spore production
C. bulb production
D. pollen production - CORRECT ANSWER D
In human digestion, stomach enzymes and acids break proteins into
A. vitamins.
B. sugars.
C. peptides.
D. pepsin. - CORRECT ANSWER C
Which of the following is part of the human endocrine system?
A. pancreas
B. larynx
C. pharynx
D. urethra - CORRECT ANSWER A
Which kind of behavior is illustrated in chimpanzees by their ability to use tools?
A. instinctive
B. learned
C. social
D. territorial - CORRECT ANSWER B
Which of the following is part of the nitrogen cycle?
A. Bacteria fix nitrogen from the air.
B. Nitrogen is produced by respiration.
C. Nitrogen is given off during photosynthesis.
D. Green plants use atmospheric nitrogen for food. - CORRECT ANSWER A
Using hydrogen fuel cells instead of gasoline engines in cars would cause a(an)
A. decrease in carbon dioxide emission.
B. increase in chloroflourocarbon emissions.
C. increase in the amount of atmospheric ozone.
D. decrease in radioactivity in the atmosphere. - CORRECT ANSWER A
Which of the following is associated with a desert biome?
A. deciduous plant life
B. karst topography
C. shade-tolerant plant life
D. wind erosion - CORRECT ANSWER D
Which of the following is most likely to cause a bad odor and surface scum on a natural pond?
A. blue-green algae
B. nitrogen-fixing bacteria
C. yeast
D. bracket fungi - CORRECT ANSWER A
As a result of homeostasis, a marathon runner experiences which of the following physical effects as the body works to regulate its temperature?
A. increasing blood pressure and motor reflexes
B. increasing perspiration and breathing rates
C. decreasing blood pressure and motor reflexes
D. decreasing perspiration and breathing rates - CORRECT ANSWER B
The ecological succession of Florida grassland communities to forest communities is interrupted by
A. grazing mammals.
B. insect infestation.
C. periods of heavy rainfall.
D. seasonal fires. - CORRECT ANSWER D
A biology teacher plans to bring his pet snake to class and feed it a live mouse in front of the students. He will obtain a signed parental permission slip from each student. His planned demonstration is
A. appropriate only if all parents have given their permission.
B. valuable for students to observe because it shows predator-prey relationships.
C. not permitted according to current State laws concerning the care and handling of vertebrates in schools.
D. subject to approval by the school administration. - CORRECT ANSWER C
At the end of a morning class, the teacher realizes that the laboratory equipment is spread throughout the room and not ready for use in the next class. To avoid this problem in the future, she should
A. set up a materials management procedure in which one person from each group checks the equipment out and in.
B. assign two students the responsibility of checking equipment out and in.
C. do laboratory activities that require fewer pieces of equipment and give students time to put them away.
D. have each class do the laboratory assignment on a different day to allow cleanup and preparation time. - CORRECT ANSWER A
The appropriate alternative piece of equipment to replace a voltmeter is a(an)
A. galvanometer.
B. multimeter.
C. odometer.
D. ohm meter. - CORRECT ANSWER B
The use of effective eye protective devices in school laboratories where potentially hazardous chemicals are used is
A. determined by the local district.
B. not required by State law.
C. recommended by State law.
D. required by State law. - CORRECT ANSWER D
Which set of instruments is the best to use for calculating the density of an irregularly shaped object?
A. beaker, balance, and thermometer
B. metric ruler, balance, and thermometer
C. graduated cylinder and balance
D. metric ruler and balance - CORRECT ANSWER C
In the design of a scientific experiment, the investigator considers all factors that may influence the results and then plans ways to keep all but one of these factors constant. In so doing, the investigator is engaging in the scientific process of
A. collecting data.
B. organizing data.
C. forming hypotheses.
D. controlling variables. - CORRECT ANSWER D
A scientific investigation is set up to compare the cleaning ability of three different laundry detergents. Each of three identical pans containing 1 L of water at 75 °C has 100 g of a different laundry detergent dissolved in it. Three 5 cm x 5 cm squares, one of white cotton cloth, one of white wool, and one of white nylon, are each stained with 5 g of mustard. Each of these clothes is then soaked in a different pan for 1 hour, then allowed to dry. The results are recorded. What is the major flaw in this experiment?
A. There is more than one independent variable.
B. The variables are not correctly identified.
C. All variables are held constant throughout the experiment.
D. There is no dependent variable. - CORRECT ANSWER A
Who is credited with creating the law showing that the relationship between current and voltage in a circuit depends upon the resistance in the circuit itself?
A. Alessandro Volta
B. James Watt
C. Georg Ohm
D. André-Marie Ampere - CORRECT ANSWER C
A student group reported the mass of a sample of hydrochloric acid to be 4.5 g and the mass of a sample of calcium carbonate to be 6.8 g. Then the students mixed the two chemicals and reported the final mass of the product in the beaker to be 10.0 g. They reported that there was no significant difference between the reactants and the products, and that the difference was due to human error and the precision of the balance they used. The teacher should
A. praise the students for realizing that instruments used in the laboratory have limitations and that it is not unreasonable for them to find differences due to those limitations.
B. explain to the students how to use the balances again and ask the students to measure several objects while watching them to make sure that the students know how to use the balances.
C. ask the students if they remembered to subtract the mass of the beaker when they found the mass of th - CORRECT ANSWER D
A teacher wishes to use inquiry techniques to introduce the topic of osmosis. Which of the following activities would be the most appropriate?
A. The teacher demonstrates osmosis while explaining the steps.
B. The students design a laboratory activity exploring osmosis.
C. The teacher assigns a reading passage on osmosis.
D. The students complete a laboratory worksheet on osmosis. - CORRECT ANSWER B
Which of the properties listed below is a characteristic of a gas but not of a liquid?
A. It has the ability to flow.
B. It assumes the shape and fills the volume of its container.
C. Its molecules are constantly in motion.
D. Its volume varies depending on temperature. - CORRECT ANSWER B
A sealed container is filled with hydrogen gas at standard conditions (101 kPa at 273 k). Assuming ideal conditions and behavior, what will be the pressure of the gas in the chamber if it is heated to 546 k?
A. 34 kPa
B. 51 kPa
C. 202 kPa
D. 303 kPa - CORRECT ANSWER C
In 1922, Neils Bohr developed an explanation of atomic structure that underlies regularities in the periodic table of elements dealing with the
A. proton.
B. neutron.
C. electron.
D. nucleus. - CORRECT ANSWER C
A chemical bond consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different substances is a(an)
A. compound.
B. element.
C. mixture.
D. alloy. - CORRECT ANSWER A
The balanced chemical equation for the formation of aluminum oxide is
A. Al + O2 -> Al2O2.
B. 4Al + 3O2 -> 2Al2O3.
C. 3Al + O2 -> 2Al3O.
D. Al + O2 -> AlO. - CORRECT ANSWER B
H2O (water) is an example of a(an)
A. polar bond.
B. non-polar bond.
C. ionic bond.
D. non-covalent bond. - CORRECT ANSWER A
AB + CD -> AD + BC
What type of reaction is given above?
A. combination
B. decomposition
C. double displacement
D. single displacement - CORRECT ANSWER C
According to Ohm's Law, the current running through a conductor is
A. inversely proportional to the voltage.
B. directly proportional to the resistance.
C. a sum of the voltage and resistance.
D. inversely proportional to the resistance. - CORRECT ANSWER D
A rocket lifts off due to a reaction to gas propulsion. This is an example of which law of objects in motion?
A. Newton's 1st law
B. Newton's 2nd law
C. Newton's 3rd law
D. Kepler's 2nd law - CORRECT ANSWER C
In a concert hall, sound waves are bent around objects. This is an example of
A. constructive interference.
B. destructive interference.
C. diffraction.
D. the Doppler effect. - CORRECT ANSWER C
Two balloons with opposite electrostatic charges will
A. repel one another.
B. attract one another.
C. have no effect on each other.
D. emit a spark. - CORRECT ANSWER B
The device that changes AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) is a (an)
A. generator.
B. transformer.
C. motor.
D. rectifier. - CORRECT ANSWER D
Which phase change indicates that a substance gains energy?
A. freezing
B. deposition
C. condensation
D. sublimation - CORRECT ANSWER D
A great deal of solar radiation from the Sun enters the atmosphere and reaches Earth, while some energy is reflected back into space. This is a demonstration of
A. conservation of energy.
B. excess input energy.
C. decrease in entropy.
D. total loss of energy. - CORRECT ANSWER B
The combining of atomic nuclei within the Sun that releases tremendous energy is called
A. alpha decay.
B. beta decay.
C. fission.
D. fusion. - CORRECT ANSWER D
Which type of radiation has the highest energy?
A. x-rays
B. gamma rays
C. infrared
D. ultraviolet (UV) - CORRECT ANSWER B
A mirror used to enlarge the image of a person using it to put on make up is
A. convex.
B. concave.
C. flat.
D. focused. - CORRECT ANSWER B
What is the power drawn by a 240-volt oven that is rated for 40 amps?
A. 0.167 joules
B. 9,600 watts
C. 6.0 watts
D. 167 joules - CORRECT ANSWER B
It is believed that this layer of the Earth is composed mainly of liquid iron.
A. crust
B. mantle
C. outer core
D. inner core - CORRECT ANSWER C
The time known as the "age of dinosaurs" occurred during which geologic era?
A. Precambrian
B. Cenozoic
C. Mesozoic
D. Paleozoic - CORRECT ANSWER C
Compared to the inner core, the Earth's outer core is believed to be
A. less dense and cooler.
B. less dense and hotter.
C. more dense and hotter.
D. more dense and cooler - CORRECT ANSWER A
Which of the following surface ocean currents is known for being slow moving and cool?
A. California Current
B. Brazil Current
C. South Pacific Equatorial Current
D. Gulf Stream - CORRECT ANSWER A
Where do oceanic ridges form?
A. Ridges form along divergent plate boundaries.
B. Ridges form along convergent plate boundaries.
C. Ridges form where freshwater meets seawater.
D. Ridges are the slopes from the continental shelf to the abyssal plain. - CORRECT ANSWER A
Rocks or minerals formed in the openings of existing rocks during chemical reactions are called
A. igneous rocks.
B. sedimentary rocks.
C. metamorphic rocks.
D. precipitated rocks. - CORRECT ANSWER D
Which mineral is lowest on the Mohs hardness scale?
A. calcite
B. talc
C. diamond
D. quartz - CORRECT ANSWER B
Which layer of the atmosphere do most birds fly in?
A. stratosphere
B. mesosphere
C. thermosphere
D. troposphere - CORRECT ANSWER D
What cloud formations are composed entirely of ice?
A. cumulus
B. cirrus
C. cumulonimbus
D. nimbostratus - CORRECT ANSWER B
Surface features made up of silty soil that has been deposited by windstorms are known as
A. karst topography.
B. dunes.
C. loess deposits.
D. crevasses. - CORRECT ANSWER C
The result of this activity has been shown to deplete ozone, allowing harmful UV rays to enter Earth's atmosphere.
A. releasing chlorofluorocarbons
B. overcultivating land
C. burning fossil fuels
D. dumping toxic wastes - CORRECT ANSWER A
During fall in the Northern hemisphere, the Southern hemisphere experiences
A. summer.
B. winter.
C. spring.
D. fall. - CORRECT ANSWER C
According to optical spectrometers, the hottest stars in the known universe are colored
A. white.
B. yellow.
C. red.
D. blue. - CORRECT ANSWER D
An astronomer viewing a distant star notices the star's spectral lines are shifted toward shorter wavelengths. This indicates the star is
A. moving toward the Earth.
B. very old.
C. very young.
D. moving away from the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWER A
A group of celestial objects found in a region located roughly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter are
A. asteroids.
B. comets.
C. meteors.
D. Kuiper belt objects. - CORRECT ANSWER A
What is the name of the huge, gravitationally bound system of stars, interstellar gas and dust, plasma, and (possibly) unseen dark matter?
A. galaxy
B. constellation
C. nebula
D. comet - CORRECT ANSWER A [Show Less]