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7th Grade Science CGA Practice Exam

***** Read the following statement in order to answer questions 1-4. (N.1.1-1.5)
Sally heard that if you freeze lifesavers, they will melt faster. For her science project she has decided to measure
how fast lifesavers will melt in water if they are frozen, kept in the refrigerator, and left on the counter. She will
leave one lifesaver on the counter, one in the refrigerator, and one in the freezer over night. The next morning,
she puts each of them in a separate bowl of water. Every two hours, she checks the progress and records the
information.
1. If Sally wanted to do this as an accurate Science Fair project, what would she have to do?
A. Sally needs approval from her teacher
C. Sally needs to make sure they all taste good.
B. Sally needs to use the same brand of lifesavers.
D. Sally needs to do it at the same time of
day.
2. What is the dependent variable in the experiment?
A. the temperature the lifesaver is kept in overnight
B. the rate at which it melts

C. the brand of lifesavers

D. the amount of water in the bowls

3. What is the independent variable in the experiment?

A. the temperature the lifesaver is kept in overnight
B. the color of lifesavers used

C. the brand of lifesavers

D. time of day she does the experiment

4. If Sallys class wanted to repeat the experiment, how would they alter it to verify the results?
A. Run the same experiment but use a different brand.
C. Run the experiment at the same temperature.
B. Run the same experiment using a different type of candy. D. Run the experiment at a different time of day.
**Use the data chart below to answer question #5.
Table 1: Length of time taken for different temperature lifesavers to melt (minutes)
First Trial
Second Trial
Third Trial
Kitchen
220 min
217 min
222 min
Refrigerator
200 min
190 min
195 min
Freezer
180 min
180 min
185 min
5. In which location did the lifesavers melt the fastest?
A. Freezer
B. Kitchen Counter
C. Refrigerator

D. No difference

6. Which of the following observations about frogs eggs found in a pond is a quantitative observation? (N.1.1)
A. Each egg measures 0.5 cm across.
C. The eggs are found near the shore.
B. The center of each egg is black.
D. Any eggs were stuck together in a group.

7. A physicist wants to examine the characteristics the characteristics of a new material. The physicist will
most likely do so by what method? (N.1.5)
A. Survey a group of people.
C. Perform fieldwork in a remote location.
B. Perform laboratory experiments.
D. Make observations of an ecosystem.

8. The following statements were taken from the procedures of four different investigations.
Investigation
Statement
1
Pour 50 milliliters (mL) of water down four inclined
surfaces.
2
Roll a marble down the ramp from a height of 10
centimeters (cm), 20 cm, and 30 cm
3
Take the mass of five rocks separately and then
determine the average mass in grams (g)
4
Conduct four trials of counting the bubbles produced
by a water plant for 1 minute (min) each.
The statement from which investigation is an example of repetition? (N.1.2)
A. Investigation 1
B. Investigation 2
C. Investigation 3
D. Investigation 4
9. Keisha did an experiment to study the rate of photosynthesis in the water plant Elodea. She placed a piece of
Elodea in a beaker of water and set the beaker 10 centimeters (cm) from a light source. Keisha counted the
bubbles released from the plant every minute for five minutes (min). She repeated the process two more times.
First, she moved the light to 20 cm from the beaker, and then she moved the light to 30 cm from the beaker.
What is the outcome variable (dependent variable) in this experiment? (N.1.4)
A. the number of bubbles produced
B. the type of plant placed in the beaker
C. the distance of light source from the plant
D. the amount of time the bubbles were counted
10. Ellies class is studying tide pools and sea stars. They made the following prediction: If the water
temperature in a tide pool increases, then they sea stars population decreases. Then, they recorded the following
data:
Sea Star Population of Tide Pools
Water Temperature (+C)
Population
10
37
12
44
16
64
20
48
They then compared the results of the experiment to the classs prediction; they collected data at several other
tide pools. Collecting data at several other tide pools is an example of what? (N.1.2)
A. Repulsion
C. Reposition
B. Replication
D. Repetition
11. 1665, Robert Hooke first viewed a cell under a microscope. His observations were developed into the cell
theory, which has changed throughout the years. Why do theories change over time? (N.2.1)
A. Scientists are always making new observations which leads to new evidence.
B. New technology shows provides no new data.
C. Scientists dont read about each others theories.
D. Once a theory is written it never changes
12. According to current atomic theory, an atom is made of a dense, positively charged nucleus that is
surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. Predict what would happen if a scientist found evidence
that challenged current atomic theory. (N.2.1)
A. The evidence would be considered to be wrong.
C. Atomic theory may be modified.
B. Atomic theory would be considered to be wrong.
D. The evidence would be ignored.

13. Which of the following terms is another name for a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of
nature? (N.3.1)
A. Scientific problem.
B. Scientific hypothesis.
C. Scientific theory.
D. Scientific law.
14. Which of the following is a scientific law? (N.3.1)
A. The Law of the Jungle because it explains who rules the jungle
B. The Traffic Law because it helps us not to get into car accidents.
C. The Law of Right from Wrong because it helps us to get along with each other
D. The Law of Gravity because it explains the force that draws objects to the center of the Earth
15. Which of these answers best describes a scientific theory? (N.3.1)
A. An explanation based on the opinion of a scientist.
B. A well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature.
C. A description of a specific relationship under given conditions.
D. A statement describing what always happens under certain conditions.
16. In the early 1900s, geologist Alfred Wegener described a process he called continental drift. He proposed
that Earths continents had once been a single landmass that had broken up, and the continents had then moved
apart. At first, scientists were skeptical, but they accepted Wegeners idea when new discoveries supported it.
Which term describes continental drift? (N.3.1)
A. hypothesis
B. law
C. theory
D. empirical evidence
17. Two species are living together in a symbiotic relationship. One species benefits from the relationship,
while the other species is totally unaffected. Which type of relationship is this? (L.17.2)
A. Mutualism
C. Parasitism
B. Commensalism
D. Predation
E. Competition
18. Clownfish and sea anemones work together for the benefit of the whole group. While the clownfish
receives protection from larger predators, the sea anemone receives bits of food from the clownfishs scraps.
Which type of relationship would the clownfish and sea anemone be a part of? (L.17.2)
A. Mutualism
C. Parasitism
B. Commensalism
D. Predation
E. Competition
19. Batmans archnemesis, the Joker, is a burden to the city of Gotham. He constantly robs banks, destroys
property, and kidnaps innocent people. Even The Joker, however, is not without problems. He constantly has to
fight for his illegal control of the city from other crooks, such as The Penguin, The Scarecrow, and The Riddler.
How would you describe The Jokers relationship with all the other bad guys in Gotham City? (L.17.2)
A. Mutualism
C. Parasitism
B. Commensalism
D. Predation
E. Competition
20. The acacia tree and ants live together in a mutualistic relationship. The acacia tree oozes sweet nectar for
the ants, providing them an easy and nutritious meal. Which of the following could be the role of the ants if the
relationship between the ants and tree are mutualistic? (L.17.2)
A. The ants bite on the tree to make the nectar flow, which robs the leaves of sugar.
B. The ants defend the tree from other bugs that might eat its leaves.
C. The ants eat only nectar that would have been otherwise discarded, thereby not affecting the tree.
D. The ants send all their workers to cut through the tree; when it is killed they receive the nectar.
E. The ants cut off leaves from the tree; the bare stems ooze nectar.
21. Yeasts are single-celled organisms that are used in baking bread and brewing beer. They reproduce
asexually through mitosis. Which of the following is true of yeast reproduction? (L.16.1)

A.
B.
C.
D.

Parent yeast cells will divide into four offspring cells.

Parent yeast cells combine to produce one offspring cell.
Yeast offspring will carry a single chromosome.
Yeast offspring will be a copy of the parent yeast.

22. Which of these parts of a cell contains hereditary information? (L.16.1)

A. Cell wall
C. Endoplasmic reticulum
B. Lysosome
D. Chromosome
23. Information is passed from the P-Generation to the F1 Generation through ________. (L.16.1)
A. Genes
C. Blood cells
B. Cytoplasm
D. Body cells
24. What is artificial selection? (L.15.2)
A. The process by which humans breed organism for certain characteristics.
B. The process by which inherited traits in a population change over generations.
C. The process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and
reproduce.
D. The process by which Charles Darwin noted the differences among finches on the Galapagos islands.
25. In sexual selection, which of the following determines if members of a population get to pass their genes
on? (L.15.2)
A. humans
B. the environment
C. your mate
26. Which of the following scenarios gives roaches the best chance of adapting to
bug spray? (L.15.2)
A. Offspring have many unique traits and environmental factors (chemicals in bug spray) do not change.
B. Offspring have many unique traits and environmental factors (chemicals in bug spray)
change.
C. Offspring have few unique traits and environmental factors (chemicals in bug spray) do not change.
D. Offspring have few unique traits and environmental factors (chemicals in bug spray) change.
27. At the zoo, Anya observes that individuals of a certain kangaroo species have slightly different sizes and
colors. What characteristic of populations is Anya observing? (15.2)
A. Adaptation
B. Evolution
C. Selection
D. Variation
28. What is natural selection? (L.15.2)
A. the process by which humans breed a species for certain traits.
B. the process in which inherited traits of a population change over many generations.
C. the process by which Charles Darwin noted the differences in finches while visiting the Galapagos Islands.
D. the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to
survive and reproduce.
29. What is evolution? (L.15.2)
A. a group of organisms that can mate to produce fertile offspring
B. the process in which inherited traits of a population change over many generations.
C. the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and
reproduce
D. a trait that allows organisms in a population to better survive and reproduce in their environment.
30. Which of the following scenarios will help the Pig populations better adapt to attacks from the Angry
Birds? (L.15.2)

A. The Pigs have offspring with low genetic variation, and their environmental factors (types of attacks from the
Angry Birds) remain the same.
B. The Pigs have offspring with low genetic variation, and their environmental factors (types of attacks from the
Angry Birds) change.
C. The Pigs have offspring with high genetic variation, and their environmental factors (types of attacks
from the Angry Birds) remain the same.
D. The Pigs have offspring with high genetic variation, and their environmental factors (types of attacks from
the Angry Birds) change.
31. A scientist described two modern-day species as sharing a common ancestor. What does it mean when two
species share a common ancestor? (L15.2)
A. It means that the two species are actually the same species.
B. It means that one of the species evolved from other species.
C. It means that both species evolved from one species that lived in the past.
D. It means that the two species share all the same traits.
32. All organisms are made of one of two kinds of cells, prokaryotic cells or eukaryotic cells. Both prokaryotic
and eukaryotic cells undergo cell division. The two types of cells have very different processes for division, but
they both begin the process in the same way. What do both types of cells need to do before they begin cell
division? (L.16.1)
A. The nuclear membrane dissolves
C. The cell pinches around the middle
B. Copy their DNA
D. DNA moves to opposite sides of the cell
33. A river carrying sediment downstream is an example of (E.6.2)
A. deposition because it has laid down the sediment.
B. erosion because it is carrying the sediment away.
C. physical weathering because it is physically breaking down the sediment.
D. chemical weathering because it is chemically breaking down the sediment.
34. Granite forms when liquid magma slowly cools within Earths crust. If the granite is exposed to intense
heat and pressure, it can change to gneiss. Which type of change takes place when granite turns into gneiss?
(E.6.2)
A. Sedimentary rock changes to igneous rock.
C. Igneous rock changes to metamorphic rock.
B. Metamorphic rock changes to igneous rock.
D. Sedimentary rock changes to metamorphic rock.
35. Over a long period of time, igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock. What must happen to igneous
rock before it can change into sedimentary rock? (E.6.2)
A. It must be broken down into sediment.
C. It must melt and become magma.
B. Its minerals must be dissolved in water.
D. It must be exposed to high pressure and temperature.
36. Wegener developed a hypothesis of continental drift. What evidence supported this new hypothesis?
(E.6.4)
A. The similarities of fossils found on landmasses that are far away from each other.
B. The movement of tides.
C. The relationship between the mantle and the crust.
D. The relationship between the north and south poles.
37. The Red Sea formed as the African Plate moved apart from the Arabian Plate. Which type of boundary was
involved in the formation of the Red Sea? (E.6.5)
A. transform boundary
C. divergent boundary

B. stationary boundary

D. convergent boundary

38. The Rocky Mountains formed when the Pacific plate collided with the North American plate. Which of the
following terms describes this process? (E.6.5)
A. ridge push
B. divergent boundary
C. transform boundary
D. convergent boundary
39. How is the location of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire related to tectonic plate boundaries? (E.6.5)
A. Most volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are located at hot spots.
B. Most volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are located along a mid-ocean ridge.
C. There is no consistent pattern in the location of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire.
D. Most volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are located where an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate.
40. Unlike Florida, a transform boundary passes through California. What happens at a transform boundary
that can cause an earthquake? (E.6.5)
A. Two plate collide.
C. Two plates move in the same direction.
B. Two plates move away from each other.
D. Two plates slide or glide past each other.
41. Why do most earthquakes take place at tectonic plate boundaries? (E.6.5)
A. the rock in the interior of a tectonic plate is stronger so it does not deform.
B. Earthquakes take place where energy is transferred to rock by the motion of tectonic plates.
C. Earthquakes can only occur at places where magma can reach the surface and transfer energy to rocks.
D. Earthquakes take place when one plate moves over another plate, which happens only at plate boundaries.
42. What is the primary way that mountains are formed? (E.6.5)
A. by tension at a transform boundary
C. by shear stress at a divergent boundary
B. by compression at a convergent boundary
D. by volcanic activity
43. The Earth receives heat and light energy that travels from the Sun. When you are at the beach you can feel
the warmth from the sun. Which of the following is the correct classification for this energy? (P.10.1)
A. radiation
B. nuclear
C. kinetic
D. electrical
44. What type of heat transfer takes place in a gas? (P.11.4)
A. Convection
B. Conduction
C. Radiation

D.Global warming

45. A ball is dropped from height of 1m. The ball bounces back to height of 0.8m. What happened to the energy
that seems to have been lost in the system? (P.11.3)
A. The lost energy was destroyed.
B. The lost energy was destroyed or converted into thermal energy.
C. The lost energy was converted into sound energy.
D. The lost energy was converted into sound energy and thermal energy.
46. The kinetic energy of an object depends on the objects mass and speed. As the objects mass and speed
increases, its kinetic energy also increases. Which of the following has the most kinetic energy? (P.11.2)
A. a trucked parked in a lot
C. a kitten running in a room
B. a jet airplane flying on the air
D. a car driving on a highway
47. When a skateboarder reaches the top of a half-pipe ramp, what type of energy is at its maximum? (P.11.2)
A. Mechanical energy
B. Kinetic energy
C. Potential energy
D. Chemical energy

48. Kins teacher has given the class the task of designing a roller coaster using pipe insulation tubing for the
track and a marble for the car. Which of the following factors will decrease the speed of the marble down a
slope? (P.11.2)
A. Friction
B. Gravity
C. Mass
D. Momentum
49. Sunlight is composed of energy that is visible to humans and energy that is not visible to humans. Which
statement describes who the visible energy from the Sun is different from the non-visible energy? (P.10.1)
A. It travels at a different speed.
C. It has different wavelengths.
B. It travels a different distance.
D. it has different amplitudes.
50. A toy robot can walk and talk and runs on batteries. What type of energy is stored in the batteries? (P.11.2)
A. chemical
B. kinetic
C. nuclear
D. thermal
51. A guitar string vibrates to produce sound. Which type of energy is converted to sound energy? (P.11.2)
A. chemical energy
B. light energy
C. kinetic energy
D. thermal energy
52. On a cold winter day, Delia puts logs into a fireplace. Then she strikes a match and sets the logs on fire. As
the fire burns, which two forms of energy are released? (P.11.2)
A. light and thermal
C. chemical and light
B. thermal ad electrical
D. electrical and chemical
53. A flashlight runs on a battery. If the light is left on the battery runs out and the flashlight stops working.
Which statement best describes what has happened to the batterys energy? (P.11.3)
A. It has been destroyed.
C. It has changed to potential energy.
B. It has been stored as kinetic energy.
D. It has changed to thermal energy and light energy.
54. Which description defines heat? (P.11.4)
A. total thermal energy of an object or substance
B. change in the temperature of a substance degrees Celsius
C. energy transferred between objects at differ temperatures
d. average kinetic energy of the particles that make up a substance
55. Ashley puts a straw into a glass of water. She notices that when she looks through the glass and the water
from the side, the straw appears to be broken. Which term best explains why the straw looks like it is broken?
(P.10.2)
A. absorption
B. refraction
C. scattering
D. transmission
56. The energy generated by the sun travels to Earth as electromagnetic waves. Because the radiation from the
sun travels to Earth in varying wavelengths, scientists consider them to be a spectrum. Which statement
describes an electromagnetic wave with a long wavelength? (P.10.1)
A. It has a high frequency and low energy.
B. It has a high frequency and high energy.
C. It has a low frequency and can travel through a vacuum.
D. It has a low frequency and needs a medium to travel through.
57. Habib looks around his classroom at different objects. Which object reflects almost all of the light that
strikes it? (P.10.2)
A. white poster board
C. bright overhead light
B. clear window glass
D. black construction paper

58. Electromagnetic energy travels through space as waves. The electromagnetic spectrum includes all
electromagnetic waves, arranged according to frequency and wavelength. Which of these is an example of an
electromagnetic waves? (P.10.1)
A. radio wave
B. sound wave
C. ocean wave
D. gravitational pull
59. Sonia tapped one end of a long wooden table. Sanjay and Marc listened to the sounds. Sanjay pressed his
ear to the table and heard the taps that seemed louder than the taps that marc heard. Why? (P.10.3)
A. More energy reached Sanjays ear than Marcs ear.
B. Particles of wood are farther apart than particles of air.
C. Sound travels through air and wood at different speeds.
D. The taps only made the table vibrate, they did not make the air vibrate.
60. Emma measured the maximum displacement of a wav that she made by moving the end of a string up and
down. What property of a wave was she measuring? (P.10.3)
A. period
B. frequency
C. amplitude
D. wavelength