Name: _________________________ (optional) Course: ___________

Sex: Male Female

PART I
Direction: After you read each passage, read the questions that
follow it. Encircle the letter that corresponds to the
answer you have chosen.

Question 1 is based on the following passage

Two of the motions that continents make are converging and diverging,
the two often happen at the same time, on different sides of a
continent. When crack appears on sea floor, lava from underneath the
surface pushes up and causes continental plates on both sides to push
apart. A continental plate that is being pushed in one ocean will
converge with a plate in another ocean-just as if a person on your
right were to bump you and push you into a person standing on your
left.

1. Based on the above passage, which of the following is the most

likely definition of diverge?
a. To move sideways c. To push together
b. To stay stationary d. To be pushed apart

Questions 2-3 are based on the following passage

In the first century B.C., Archimedes, a Greek inventor, discovered a

way to measure the volume of an irregularly shaped object (in
Archimedes’ case, a crown or wreath of gold leaves). In his bath,
Archimedes noticed that as he immersed himself deeper in the water,
the water level rose. He realized that if he did the same with the
wreath, the level of the water that rose would have the same volume
as the wreath.

2. What is the main idea of the passage?

a. Archimedes was a scientist who lived a long time ago.
b. People in Archimedes’ time had no way to measure the volume
of any object.
c. By making an observation of everyday life, a scientist
discovered a useful method of measurement.
d. Archimedes was one of the world’s first geniuses.

3. What was the cause of the water level in Archimedes’ bathtub

rising?
 a. The volume of Archimedes’ body displaced it in the tub
b. Archimedes had filled his bathtub too full
c. The volume of the wreath displaced it in the tub
d. Archimedes was the first to discover how to measure objects
by this method

Question 4 is based on the following passage

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas composed of one carbon

atom (C) and one oxygen atom (O). Carbon monoxide (C) is toxic to
humans if they are exposed to it in conditions where there is little
or no ventilation. However CO is a gas expelled by most cars and
trucks. Because of this, people are cautioned to avoid running their
cars in enclosed spaces for long periods of time.

4. In the passage above, that is the most likely definition of the

word toxic?
a. Annoying b. Deadly c. Expensive d. Common

Questions 5-6 are based on the following passage

Unlike plant cells, which have cell walls, the animal cell is
protected only by thin cell membrane. This cell membrane is
semipermeable-that is, it will allow some things to pass through
(like nutrients) and not others. The cell membrane is made up of
protein and fat tissues and allows the animal cell greater
flexibility than the plant cell.

5. What is an example of something that will NOT pass through a cell

membrane?
a. Water b. Oxygen c. Glucose (sugar) d. Another cell

6. Which of the following is the best definition for semipermeable?

a. Rigid b. Partially porous c. hard d. unable to be penetrated

Questions 7-8 are based on the following passage

Alchemy is the transforming of ordinary materials into something of

value. In the Middle Ages, when many modern principles of chemistry
had not yet been discovered, alchemists worked to find the secret of
turning ordinary metal into gold or plain water into an elixir that
would make them immortal. Alchemy, although flawed in many of its
assumptions and practice is sometimes seen as father of modern
chemistry, particularly, in many alchemists practice of
experimentation. In the 17 th and 18 th centuries, alchemy all but
disappeared as modern chemistry began to emerge.

7. What does the author infer in the second sentence?

a. The alchemists were foolish.
b. In the Middle Ages, gold was more valued
c. The alchemists would have succeeded if they had modern
equipment.
d. And elixir of immortality is impossible to create.

8. In the last sentence, what does the author infer?

a. Chemists threatened alchemists.
b. In the 17th and 18th centuries, alchemy was outlawed.
c. In the 17th and 18th centuries, many people became chemists
rather than alchemists.
d. Alchemy was so dangerous that many alchemists died.

Questions 9-10 are based on the following passage

Jenna’s teacher gave a lesson on mixtures and solutions and then gave
the class homework assignment. Jenna filled two containers with the
same amounts of water. Into one container she emptied ½ cup of salt.
Into the other container she emptied ½ cup of sand. She stirred both.
She then attempted to remove the salt from the first container. This
was impossible, as the salt and water had become salt water. She was
able to drain the water from the second container and remove the
sand. In her notebook, Jenna labeled the salt and water a solution
and the sand and water a mixture

9. Based on Jenna’s experiment, what can you conclude about solutions?

a. Once they are combined they cannot be separated.
b. They are usually messy.
c. Once they are combined, they are usually able to be separated
d. A substance can be both a mixture and a solution.

10. Which of the following combinations would also be considered a

solution?
a. Popcorn and milk c. Grapes and water
b. Lemonade mix and water d. Nuts and raisins
PART II

Questions 11-15 are based on the following graph and passage

Mia lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her friend Charles lives in Santiago,
Chile. The two of them e-mail frequently. Mia knows that in the
southern hemisphere, where Charles lives, it is winter when it is
summer in Las Vegas. Mia decides to keep a record to compare
temperatures in the two cities for the months of May to August. The
chart above shows her results.

Indicate whether each of the following conclusions is TRUE or

FALSE based on a comparison of the information from both cities.

11. The average temperature of Santiago is almost 40 degrees higher

than the average temperature of Las Vegas for these 4 months.______

12. The average temperature of Las Vegas is almost 40 degrees higher

than the average temperature of Santiago for these 4 months._______

13. The average temperature of Las Vegas is almost 40 degrees lower

than the average temperature of Santiago for these 4 months._______

14. The average temperature of Santiago is much higher in the months

of January to April.________

15. The average temperature of Las Vegas is much lower in the months
of January to April.________