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Released Form
North Carolina
READY End-of-Grade
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Assessment
Science SE
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Grade 8
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Student Booklet
Copyright ã 2013 by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. All rights reserved.
GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
Sample Questions
S1 What is the first thing a student should do if an accident happens during a science
experiment?
D
S2 Which device is used to determine the volume of a liquid?
B
anemometer
graduated cylinder
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EA
C test tube
D thermometer
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
A peanuts
B milk
C gold
D air
2 Which statement best explains how periods on the periodic table are organized?
D
A increasing atomic number from left to right
D
SE
decreasing number of electrons from left to right
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
4 Which best explains why the total mass of the product(s) would be less than the
total weight of the reactant(s) after a chemical reaction?
D
A producing energy using hydroelectric plants
D
producing energy using coal
A biomass
B coal
C gas
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D oil
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
7 Which will most likely result if there is increased upwelling in a coastal area?
D fewer nitrates
D
A its depth and width
D
its location and depth
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
10 Which best describes how ice cores are important to the study of geologic history?
B They hold index fossils, which are used to date the different ice cores.
D They follow the Law of Superposition, which gives reasons for extinctions of
species.
D
11 Why do doctors suggest that people get a flu vaccine each year?
C
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Viruses can mutate from year to year.
A fish
B gull
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C algae
D worm
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
A electrical engineering
B astronomy
C agricultural research
D geology
14 Which best determines the number of wolves that can live in an area?
D
A the amount of snow in the area each year
D
SE
the number of birds that live in the area
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
16 Kudzu vines grow by climbing and wrapping around trees. Trees covered by kudzu
can die because they are starved of sunlight. What type of relationship exists
between the trees and the kudzu growing on them?
A competition
B mutualism
C parasitism
D predator-prey
D
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EA
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
hawk
D
frog
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mouse
EA
grasshopper
EL
rabbit
R
grass
A hawk
B grass
C mouse
D grasshopper
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
19 Tigers and household cats are members of the same family; however, their sizes
are vastly different. What is the cause of this difference?
D
A biochemical makeup
D
behavioral makeup
genetics
habitat size
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EA
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
A They move faster and move farther apart as they absorb heat.
B They move faster and remain close together as they absorb heat.
C They move more slowly but move farther apart as they lose heat.
D They move faster and move farther apart as they lose heat.
D
A Li and B
B I and Ca
D
K and He
N and P
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23 If a chemical reaction such as photosynthesis begins with 6 atoms of carbon (C),
how many atoms of carbon (C) should be in the products?
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
D creates reservoirs
D
26
sources?
A
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Why is water from an aquifer more likely to be cleaner than water from other
D because pollutants are filtered by rock and soil deep within Earth
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
27 In which oceanic zone do clams and crabs survive by burrowing in the sand?
A oceanic
B intertidal
C deep ocean
D open ocean
28 If a body of water has high turbidity levels, what can most likely be concluded?
D
A It has a low pH.
B It is unsafe to drink.
D
It is too hot to drink. SE
It contains a lot of chemicals.
EA
29 Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal
fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could best be concluded from
this evidence?
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
31 Ten people became sick with the flu after attending a school dance. What is the
scenario that could best explain how the people got sick?
D
D contact with an infected person
32 SE
Which is the best way to help prevent the flu from becoming a pandemic?
A getting a vaccination
EA
B taking antibiotics
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
33 Which best explains the importance of nitrogen in the cycling of energy and
matter?
D
impact on the environment?
C
SE
by making robots to replace large farm machines
35 If wolves prey on deer for food, what will most likely happen to the deer
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
36 Where do plants get most of the energy they need to live and grow?
A water
B soil
C air
D sunlight
37 Scientists think that dolphins and whales may have evolved from a common
ancestor. What evidence supports this hypothesis?
D
A They swim the same way.
D
They eat the same food.
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They live in the same area of the ocean.
38 In the winter, the fur of the arctic fox is white. In summer, the fur darkens to a
reddish brown. What most likely causes the fur of the fox to change color?
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
C small population
D genetic diversity
40 How would smoking tobacco most likely have a negative impact on the ability of
an individual to succeed at physical activities?
D
A It interferes with balance and coordination.
D
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It decreases the ability to make decisions rapidly.
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
Element Conducts
State Reactivity
Symbol Electricity
Ca yes solid reacts with water; combines with Cl to form CaCl2
K yes solid reacts with water; combines with Cl to form KCl
does not react with water; combines with
Cu yes solid
Cl to form CuCl or CuCl2
Cl no gas reacts with all metals and some nonmetals
Ar no gas does not react with metals or nonmetals
D
does not react with water; combines with
B some solid
Cl to form BCl3
Element X yes solid reacts with water; combines with Cl to form XCl
SE
Which element would Element X most likely be grouped with on the periodic
table?
A calcium
EA
B chlorine
C copper
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D potassium
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42 Which shows one example of a physical change and one example of a chemical
change?
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
43 How does a balanced chemical equation satisfy the Law of Conservation of Mass?
A During a chemical reaction, the total amount of matter stays the same.
D
A Wind turbines are efficient only in certain areas.
D
SE
Wind turbines produce a large amount of energy.
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
C the land at the mouth of a river where water flows into the ocean
47 Which factors can have the greatest effect on the health of a river system?
D
A type of soil and salinity
D
human consumption and pH SE
natural disasters and tidal changes
EA
48 In the United States, which is responsible for ensuring the safety of the country’s
drinking water?
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
A Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much
like the rings of a tree.
B In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older
than the lower rock layers.
D Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.
D
50 What do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet?
B
SE
Earth’s climate is constantly changing.
51 How do scientists know that some mountains were once at the bottom of an
ocean?
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
52 Malaria is a common disease in many countries. What is the cause of this disease?
A a virus
B a bacterium
C a fungus
D a parasite
D
A by taking medication daily
D
SE
by wearing clean clothing daily
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
55 In a food pyramid, which best explains why the number of organisms decreases
from one trophic level to the next?
A Consumers at the lower level require more energy than the top-level
consumers.
B Consumers at the top level require more energy than the lower-level
consumers.
C The consumers are feeding on larger organisms that have less energy.
D The consumers are feeding on smaller organisms that have less energy.
D
56 What process is most responsible for the extinction of most species of plants and
animals that have lived on Earth?
B
gene mutation
environmental changes
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EA
C selective breeding
D decrease in reproduction
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57 Which would indicate that a series of fossils represent the evolution of the horse?
A All of the fossils were found in the same layers of rocks as horse fossils.
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C All of the fossils show similar structures to that of the modern horse.
D All of the fossils were located in the same place on Earth as horses.
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
58 A strawberry farmer finds that, after a hard freeze, some of his strawberries are
still alive. Which best explains why these strawberries were able to survive?
A They have larger leaves to protect the fruit than the other strawberries.
B They have different genetic variations that cause them to be more resistant
to cold temperatures.
C They are able to reproduce more quickly than the other strawberries.
D The color of the strawberries is darker, and they maintain their temperature
better than other strawberries.
D
59 Which food provides the most energy for the body in the shortest amount of time?
B
potato
meat
SE
C milk
EA
D fruit
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE—RELEASED FORM
Directions:
2. Put all of your papers inside your test book and close your test book.
3. Stay quietly in your seat until your teacher tells you that testing is
finished.
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GRADE 8 SCIENCE RELEASED FORM
Grade 8 Science
RELEASED Form – Paper/Pencil Version
2012–2013
Answer Key
S2 TE B
1 MC C 8.P.1.1
2 MC A 8.P.1.2
3 MC B 8.P.1.3
D
4 MC D 8.P.1.4
5 MC A 8.P.2.1
8
MC
MC
MC
SE A
B
8.P.2.2
8.E.1.2
8.E.1.3
EA
9 MC D 8.E.2.1
10 MC C 8.E.2.2
11 MC B 8.L.1.1
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12 MC C 8.L.3.2
13 MC C 8.L.2.1
14 MC D 8.L.3.1
R
15 MC B 8.L.3.1
16 MC A 8.L.3.2
17 MC B 8.L.3.3
18 MC A 8.L.4.1
19 MC C 8.L.4.2
20 MC D 8.L.5.2
21 MC A 8.P.1.3
22 MC D 8.P.1.2
23 MC B 8.P.1.4
1
GRADE 8 SCIENCE RELEASED FORM
26 MC D 8.E.1.1
27 MC B 8.E.1.2
28 MC B 8.E.1.3
29 MC C 8.E.2.1
31 MC D 8.L.1.1
32 MC A 8.L.1.2
D
33 MC A 8.L.3.3
34
35
36
37
MC
MC
MC
MC
SE C
D
8.L.2.1
8.L.3.2
8.L.3.3
8.L.4.1
EA
38 MC C 8.L.4.2
39 MC D 8.L.4.2
40 MC C 8.L.5.2
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41 MC D 8.P.1.2
42 MC D 8.P.1.3
43 MC A 8.P.1.4
R
44 MC A 8.P.2.1
46 MC A 8.E.1.1
47 MC B 8.E.1.3
48 MC A 8.E.1.4
49 MC C 8.E.2.1
50 MC B 8.E.2.2
2
52 MC D 8.L.1.1
53 MC B 8.L.1.2
54 MC C 8.L.2.1
55 MC B 8.L.3.3
56 MC B 8.L.4.1
57 MC C 8.L.4.1
58 MC B 8.L.4.2
59 MC D 8.L.5.2
D
60 MC C 8.L.5.1
Item Types:
MC = multiple choice
TE = technology enhanced
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