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Using only these supplies, which question can Lacey investigate with an experiment?
[ "Do larger basketballs bounce higher than smaller basketballs on a brick patio?", "Does the basketball bounce higher on a lawn or on a dirt path?", "Does the basketball bounce higher on gravel or on grass?" ]
2
Lacey gets a basketball for her birthday and dribbles it around her neighborhood. She notices that sometimes the ball bounces higher than other times. She wonders what factors affect how high her ball bounces. So, she decides to design an experiment. She has the following supplies available: one basketball access to a brick patio access to a grassy lawn access to a gravel driveway a meterstick
closed choice
grade6
natural science
science-and-engineering-practices
Designing experiments
Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials
Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment. Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment? First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available. Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick. So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment!
Which phrase has a more negative connotation?
[ "boast about something", "talk about something" ]
0
closed choice
grade4
language science
vocabulary
Shades of meaning
Positive and negative connotation
Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations. For example, think about the words eager and impatient. They both mean wanting something to happen, but they have different connotations. Eager has a positive connotation. It is a nice word. An eager person is happy and excited. Impatient has a negative connotation. It is not a nice word. An impatient person is often pushy and demanding.
Boast about something has a more negative connotation. If you boast about something, you talk about it with too much pride.
Which is a run-on sentence?
[ "The cardboard box gets wet, it falls apart.", "Ms. Stevenson's many books about history and law." ]
0
closed choice
grade3
language science
writing-strategies
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on?
A sentence is a group of words that forms a complete thought. It has both a subject and a verb. My friends walk along the path. A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is usually missing a subject or a verb. Knows the answer. This is a sentence fragment. It is missing a subject. Who knows the answer? She knows the answer. The bright red car. This is a sentence fragment. It is missing a verb. What did the bright red car do? The bright red car stopped. A run-on sentence is made up of two sentences that are joined without end punctuation or with just a comma. I knocked on the door it opened. It started raining, we ran inside. To fix a run-on sentence, separate it into two sentences. Add end punctuation after the first sentence, and capitalize the second sentence. I knocked on the door. It opened. It started raining. We ran inside. You can also fix a run-on sentence by rewriting it as a compound sentence. A compound sentence is two sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. I knocked on the door, and it opened. It started raining, so we ran inside.
The cardboard box gets wet, it falls apart is a run-on sentence. It has two sentences that are joined by just a comma: The cardboard box gets wet and It falls apart.
Which marble has a higher temperature?
[ "the marble with more thermal energy", "the marble with less thermal energy" ]
0
Two marbles are identical except for their thermal energies.
closed choice
grade6
natural science
physics
Thermal energy
How are temperature and mass related to thermal energy?
Matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are always moving. The energy of moving atoms is called thermal energy. The total amount of thermal energy in matter depends on three things: the type of matter, the amount of matter, and how fast the atoms are moving. Temperature measures how hot or cold matter is. If the atoms in matter move faster, the temperature goes up. The matter now has both more thermal energy and a higher temperature. What happens if the amount of matter changes? A 2-kilogram brick at 70°F has twice as much thermal energy as a 1-kilogram brick at 70°F. The two bricks have the same temperature, but the larger brick has twice as many atoms. So, it has twice as much thermal energy.
The two marbles are made of the same material and have the same mass. So, the marble with more thermal energy has a higher temperature.
Select the one animal that has all of the insect traits listed above.
[ "Birdwing butterflies have an exoskeleton and six legs. Males are bright green and black, and females are brown or yellow. Both males and females have one pair of antennae.", "Trichina worms have soft, thin bodies. They have a cylindrical shape and do not have limbs. Trichina worms are not made up of segments. They can infect and feed off of humans, pigs, and other mammals." ]
0
Insects are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify insects: They have six legs. They have an exoskeleton. They have one pair of antennae. Observe the animals and read the descriptions.
closed choice
grade5
natural science
biology
Classification
Use evidence to classify animals
Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live. How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group.
To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group. Insects have the following traits: They have six legs. They have an exoskeleton. They have one pair of antennae. Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits. A birdwing butterfly has the following traits: It has six legs. It has an exoskeleton. It has one pair of antennae. A birdwing butterfly has the traits of an insect. A birdwing butterfly is an insect. A trichina worm has the following traits: A trichina worm does not have all of the traits of an insect. A trichina worm is a roundworm.
What do these two changes have in common? sauce burning on a stove a crayon melting in the sun
[ "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are chemical changes." ]
2
closed choice
grade4
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Compare physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Sauce burning on a stove is a chemical change. High temperatures case the sauce to react with oxygen in the air. The sauce turns black and no longer tastes good. A crayon melting in the sun is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The crayon changes state from solid to liquid. The crayon is still made of wax, even after it melts. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. A crayon melting in the sun is a physical change. But sauce burning is not. Both are chemical changes. Sauce burning is a chemical change. But a crayon melting is not. Both are caused by heating. Both changes are caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
How long is a basketball court?
[ "28 feet", "28 inches", "28 miles", "28 yards" ]
3
Select the best estimate.
closed choice
grade7
natural science
units-and-measurement
Units and measurement
Choose customary units of distance, mass, and volume
Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. When you are using customary units, length may be written with units of inches, feet, yards, or miles. There are 12 inches in 1 foot, and 3 feet in 1 yard. There are 5,280 feet in 1 mile. A football is about 1 foot long. A football field is 100 yards long.
The best estimate for the length of a basketball court is 28 yards. 28 inches and 28 feet are too short. 28 miles is too long.
Which word does not rhyme?
[ "rut", "shut", "rob" ]
2
closed choice
grade1
language science
phonological-awareness
Rhyming
Which word does not rhyme?
Rhyming words are words that end with the same sound. The words tip and slip rhyme. They both end with the ip sound. The words lake and make rhyme. They both end with the ake sound. The words tip and lake don't rhyme. They end with different sounds.
The words rut and shut rhyme. They both end with the ut sound. The word rob does not rhyme. It ends with a different sound.
Which organ reabsorbs water from undigested food?
[ "trachea", "skin", "lungs", "large intestine" ]
3
closed choice
grade4
natural science
biology
Animals
Human organs and their functions
What do these two changes have in common? cutting an apple breaking a stick in half
[ "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are chemical changes.", "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are only physical changes." ]
3
closed choice
grade3
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Compare physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Cutting an apple is a physical change. The apple gets a different shape. But it is still made of the same type of matter as the uncut apple. Breaking a stick in half is a physical change. The stick gets broken into two pieces. But the pieces are still made of the same type of matter as the original stick. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
What do these two changes have in common? plants making food from sunlight, air, and water a piece of avocado turning brown
[ "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are chemical changes." ]
3
closed choice
grade4
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Compare physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Plants making food is a chemical change. Plants use energy from sunlight to change air and water into food. The food is sugar. Sugar is a different type of matter than air or water. A piece of avocado turning brown is a chemical change. The avocado reacts with oxygen in the air to form a different type of matter. If you scrape off the brown part of the avocado, the inside will still be green. The inside hasn't touched the air. So the chemical change hasn't happened to that part of the avocado. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
Which press release is more formal?
[ "On November 19, the Newton Amphitheater will host area musicians vying for top honors in the fourth annual Jam-a-thon.", "On Nov. 19, musicians from all over town will battle it out in the fourth annual Jam-a-thon, happening at the amphitheater." ]
0
closed choice
grade9
language science
writing-strategies
Audience, purpose, and tone
Which text is most formal?
Informal writing is typically used in casual situations or when communicating with someone you know well. Informal language often expresses familiarity and tends to sound more like speech. It uses more conversational language, such as slang, idioms, abbreviations, imprecise language, and contractions. Formal writing is typically used in academic and business writing or when writing directly to an authority figure. It tends to be more courteous and impersonal, avoiding overly familiar or conversational language. Compare the following sentences. Informal: Yeah, ostriches can't fly, but I think they're awesome. More formal: Ostriches may be flightless, but they're remarkable runners. Most formal: Though flightless, ostriches are remarkable runners.
The first press release is more formal. It uses more elevated language (area musicians, top honors). The other press release uses idioms (battle it out) and abbreviations (Nov.).
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? mellow - murmur
[ "mound", "mascot" ]
0
closed choice
grade5
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since mound is between the guide words mellow - murmur, it would be found on that page.
What kind of sentence is this? Do you know Jonah from soccer camp, or do you have another connection with him?
[ "declarative", "imperative", "interrogative" ]
2
closed choice
grade6
language science
punctuation
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory?
There are four kinds of sentences. A declarative sentence is a statement, and it always ends with a period. The nurse told Mr. Abrams to roll up his sleeve so that she could check his blood pressure. An interrogative sentence is a question, and it always ends with a question mark. Do you have any plans for the upcoming weekend? An imperative sentence is a command. It makes a request or tells someone to do something, and it usually ends with a period. If the command shows strong feeling, it ends with an exclamation point. For this assignment, use references to support your claims. Don't drive so quickly in the construction zone! An exclamatory sentence is like a statement, but it shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation point. I can't wait to travel through Europe this summer!
The sentence asks something, and it ends with a question mark. It is an interrogative sentence.
Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Henry has a scar on his left hand.
[ "acquired", "inherited" ]
0
Hint: Most scars are caused by accidents during a person's life.
closed choice
grade3
natural science
biology
Heredity
Identify inherited and acquired traits
Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.
Children do not inherit their parent's scars. Instead, scars are caused by the environment. People can get scars after they get hurt. So, having a scar is an acquired trait.
Which change best matches the sentence? A piece of rock from outer space hits Earth.
[ "deposition", "meteorite crash", "erosion" ]
1
closed choice
grade3
natural science
earth-science
Earth events
Classify changes to Earth's surface II
Using only these supplies, which question can Porter investigate with an experiment?
[ "Does a pie crust made with white flour burn more quickly when the pie is cooked in a glass pan or in an aluminum pan?", "Do pie crusts made with white flour burn less quickly when covered with aluminum foil or when left uncovered?", "Does a pie crust made with white flour burn more quickly than a pie crust made with whole wheat flour?" ]
0
Porter is baking a pie. He notices that the crust burns before the pie is fully cooked. He wonders what factors affect whether a pie crust will burn in the oven. So, he decides to design an experiment. He has the following supplies available: ingredients for pumpkin pie filling ingredients for apple pie filling two pie crusts made with white flour a glass pie pan an aluminum pie pan an oven
closed choice
grade8
natural science
science-and-engineering-practices
Designing experiments
Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials
Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment. Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment? First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available. Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick. So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment!
Complete the statement. Assume that Anthony's mass did not change. The gravitational potential energy stored between Anthony and Earth () as he hiked toward the summit.
[ "increased", "decreased", "stayed the same" ]
0
Read the text about a person in motion. Anthony hiked up a tall mountain. He followed a trail all the way to the summit.
closed choice
grade6
natural science
physics
Kinetic and potential energy
Identify changes in gravitational potential energy
Gravitational potential energy is stored between any two objects. So, for every object on or near Earth, there is gravitational potential energy stored between the object and Earth. The amount of gravitational potential energy stored between an object and Earth depends on the mass of the object. The amount of gravitational potential energy also depends on the distance between the object and the center of Earth. This distance increases when the object moves higher and decreases when the object moves lower. If the distance between an object and the center of Earth changes, the gravitational potential energy stored between the object and Earth will change. The table below shows how this change can happen. When an object's mass stays the same and its distance from the center of Earth... | Gravitational potential energy stored between the object and Earth... increases | increases decreases | decreases stays the same | stays the same
Think about how the distance between Anthony and the center of Earth changed. The summit of the mountain was higher than the point where Anthony started hiking. As he hiked toward the summit, the distance between Anthony and the center of Earth increased. So, the gravitational potential energy stored between Anthony and Earth increased as he hiked toward the summit.
Which sentence states a fact?
[ "Evergreen trees keep their needles in winter.", "Trees that have needles are ugly." ]
0
closed choice
grade3
language science
writing-strategies
Opinion writing
Distinguish facts from opinions
A fact is something that can be proved to be true. The month of July has more days than the month of June. This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at a calendar and counting the number of days in each month. An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true. July is a better month than June for camping. This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about which month is "better" for camping.
The first sentence states a fact. Evergreen trees keep their needles in winter. It can be proved by observing evergreen trees in winter. The second sentence states an opinion. Trees that have needles are ugly. Ugly shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about which trees are ugly.
Choose the poem that uses onomatopoeia.
[ "Every man has got a hobby,\nEvery poet has some fault,\nEvery sweet contains its bitter,\nEvery fresh thing has its salt.\nEvery mountain has a valley.", "Up from the river came\nThe low and sullen roar\nOf lions, with eyes of flame,\nThat haunted its reedy shore,\nAnd the neigh of the hippopotamus." ]
1
From George Reginald Margetson, "Stanzas from the Fledgling Bard and the Poetry Society" and From Maria Lowell, "Africa"
closed choice
grade9
language science
reading-comprehension
Analyzing literature
Identify elements of poetry
Poets often use the sounds of words to create interesting effects and to express moods and emotions. Understanding these elements of poetry can help you better interpret and appreciate poetic forms. Anaphora is the repetition of words or sequences of words at the beginning of multiple phrases, sentences, or lines. Out of the cradle endlessly rocking, Out of the mocking-bird's throat, the musical shuttle, Out of the Ninth-month midnight —From Walt Whitman, "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" Onomatopoeia is when language sounds like what it talks about. Sometimes the onomatopoeia uses made-up words: Tlot-tlot! tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse hoofs ringing clear. —From Alfred Noyes, "The Highwayman" Sometimes the onomatopoeia uses real words: Hark! the honey bee is humming. —From Mary Howitt, "The Voice of Spring" Alliteration is when beginning consonant sounds are repeated in words that are close together. Where the wild men watched and waited Wolves in the forest, and bears in the bush. —From Bayard Taylor, "A Night with a Wolf" Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. Often, assonance can create rhymes or near-rhymes within lines. I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden Daffodils. —From William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" Meter is a poem's rhythm, or the pattern of strong and weak syllables. Strong syllables are stressed, while weak syllables are unstressed. A poem has an iambic meter when the beat sounds like da-DUM. A weak syllable is followed by a strong syllable. Occasionally, a line may begin with a strong syllable. He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls. —From Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle" A poem has a trochaic meter when the beat sounds like DUM-da. A strong syllable is followed by a weak syllable. Occasionally, a line may end in a strong syllable. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. —From Edgar Allen Poe, "The Raven" Free verse is when a poem has neither a regular rhythm nor a rhyme pattern. The old bridge has a wrinkled face. He bends his back For us to go over. —From Hilda Conkling, "The Old Bridge" The syllables in bold are strong. You can see this poem does not have a regular rhythm. It also doesn't have a rhyme pattern.
This poem uses onomatopoeia. It uses language that sounds like what it talks about. And the neigh of the hippopotamus.
Which type of sentence is this? Colin always approaches difficult tasks enthusiastically, and he frequently motivates others with his energy and fervor.
[ "compound", "simple", "complex", "compound-complex" ]
0
closed choice
grade12
language science
grammar
Phrases and clauses
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. the oranges on our tree are ripe The clause can stand alone. It is independent. after we pick up Kevin from work The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent. A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause. Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool. Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate. In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat. Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter. A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder. A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose. If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids. During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome. A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym. Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause. Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins.
The sentence is compound. It is made up of two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction and. Colin always approaches difficult tasks enthusiastically, and he frequently motivates others with his energy and fervor.
What do these two changes have in common? getting a haircut cracking open a peanut
[ "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are chemical changes.", "Both are caused by heating." ]
0
closed choice
grade3
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Compare physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Getting a haircut is a physical change. Your hair is shorter after a haircut. But it is still made of the same type of matter. Cracking open a peanut is a physical change. The peanut shell breaks and the peanut falls out. Both are still made of the same type of matter. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
Suppose Vincent decides to take a trip to Tennessee. Which result would be a cost?
[ "Vincent will give up the chance to go to New York. He would have enjoyed a trip to New York more than Tennessee.", "Vincent will save some money. Plane tickets for Vincent to get to Tennessee are less expensive than tickets to New York." ]
0
Vincent is deciding whether to take a trip to New York or Tennessee. He wants to enjoy his trip. But he is also trying to save money.
closed choice
grade4
social science
economics
Basic economic principles
Costs and benefits
Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits. Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need. Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.
This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Vincent wants or needs: Vincent will give up the chance to go to New York. He would have enjoyed a trip to New York more than Tennessee.
Which closing is correct for a letter?
[ "Your Student,\nLuke", "Your student,\nLuke" ]
1
closed choice
grade3
language science
punctuation
Formatting
Greetings and closings of letters
A letter starts with a greeting and ends with a closing. For each one, capitalize the first word and end with a comma. You should also capitalize proper nouns, such as Aunt Sue. Dear Aunt Sue, I'm glad you could come to my party, and thank you for the birthday gift. I could not have asked for a better one! Every time I see it, I think of you. With love, Rory
The first closing is correct: Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma.
Which figure of speech is used in this text? After spending weeks in New York City, Camille was a bit unnerved by the deafening silence of her small hometown.
[ "oxymoron", "euphemism" ]
0
closed choice
grade9
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox
Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive. A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic. The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off. Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally. I ate so much that I think I might explode! An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms. Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic. A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth. Always expect the unexpected.
The text uses an oxymoron, a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms. Deafening silence is a contradiction, because deafening describes something extremely loud, and silence is the absence of sound.
Select the one substance that is not a rock.
[ "Brass is made in a factory. It is a solid.", "Dolostone is a solid. It is not a pure substance.", "Quartzite is formed in nature. It is not made by living things." ]
0
closed choice
grade4
natural science
earth-science
Rocks and minerals
Identify rocks using properties
Rocks are made of minerals. Here are some properties of rocks: They are solid. They are formed in nature. They are not made by living things. They are not pure substances.
Compare the properties of each substance to the properties of rocks. Select the substance whose properties do not match those of rocks. Dolostone is a rock. Brass is made in a factory. But all rocks are formed in nature. So, brass is not a rock. Quartzite is a rock.
Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her ideas and development? In the second half of the story, the man finally recognizes the power of nature. He tries to build a fire because of the extremely cold temperature. He is able to start a fire, so he thinks he will survive. However, melting ice from the branches above extinguishes the fire. His half-frozen fingers are too stiff to move, so he clutches desperately to relight the fire. Despite having plenty of matches, he realizes that he won't be able to make it.
[ "by including more examples from the text", "by removing the second main idea", "by including more analysis" ]
2
closed choice
grade11
language science
writing-strategies
Editing and revising
Suggest appropriate revisions
During peer review, you read and respond to a fellow student's writing. While there are many methods and strategies that you can use for reviewing a text, it is generally helpful to frame your suggestions in concrete and constructive ways and to consider the following areas for revision: Ideas and development: Does the writer express a clear idea and develop it with evidence, examples, or analysis? Organization: Does the writer order ideas in a clear, logical way so that they build on one another and are easy to follow? Voice: Does the writer maintain an appropriate voice, such as a formal and objective voice in an academic essay or an engaging and expressive voice in a narrative essay? Sentence fluency: Does the writer use sentences that vary in structure and length to create a sense of rhythm and flow within and between sentences, or does the writing sound choppy, rambling, or repetitive? Word choice: Does the writer use words accurately and precisely to create clear, effective, and engaging writing? Grammar and mechanics: Does the writer follow appropriate conventions, using accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar to create writing that is correct and easy to read?
The writer could best improve his or her ideas and development by including more analysis. For example, the writer could provide analysis for the underlined examples by indicating how the man's sense of hope underscores his arrogant attitude towards nature, how small incidents like an extinguished fire and cold fingers can be all that separates life from death, and how the man is defeated by the brutality of the wilderness. In the second half of the story, the man finally recognizes the power of nature. He tries to build a fire because of the extremely cold temperature. He is able to start a fire, so he thinks he will survive. However, melting ice from the branches above extinguishes the fire. His half-frozen fingers are too stiff to move, so he clutches desperately to relight the fire. Despite having plenty of matches, he realizes that he won't be able to make it.
Which organ is a tube that allows air to pass into and then out of the body?
[ "stomach", "small intestine", "skin", "trachea" ]
3
closed choice
grade4
natural science
biology
Animals
Human organs and their functions
Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Avery has a scar on her right knee.
[ "inherited", "acquired" ]
1
closed choice
grade5
natural science
biology
Traits and heredity
Identify inherited and acquired traits
Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.
Children do not inherit their parent's scars. Instead, scars are caused by the environment. People can get scars after they get hurt. So, having a scar is an acquired trait.
Which logical fallacy is used in the text? How do I know that Meg is the most intelligent person in our geometry class? I know because she's so smart.
[ "ad hominem: a personal attack against one's opponent", "circular reasoning: an argument that supports a claim with the claim itself" ]
1
closed choice
grade7
language science
writing-strategies
Developing and supporting arguments
Classify logical fallacies
A strong argument uses valid reasoning and logic in support of a claim. When an argument or claim introduces irrelevant information or misrepresents the issues at hand, it may be committing a logical fallacy. Logical fallacies can hurt a writer's credibility and can lead readers to draw false conclusions. A logical fallacy may present irrelevant information: Fallacy | Description ad hominem | a personal attack meant to discredit one's opponent appeal to nature | an argument that assumes the natural choice is always the best choice bandwagon fallacy | an argument that assumes the popular choice is always the best choice circular reasoning | an argument that supports a claim with the claim itself guilt by association | an unfair negative association with another person or group that is intended to discredit someone or something red herring | the use of a completely unrelated topic in support of a claim A logical fallacy may misrepresent the issues at hand: Fallacy | Description false causation | the assumption that because two things happened together, one caused the other false dichotomy | an argument that presents only two choices when more options exist hasty generalization | a very broad claim based on very little evidence straw man | a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against
The text argues that Meg is intelligent because she's smart. However, the "evidence" is just a restatement of the claim itself. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as circular reasoning.
How long does it take to bake lasagna in the oven?
[ "37 hours", "37 minutes" ]
1
Select the better estimate.
closed choice
grade2
natural science
units-and-measurement
Units and measurement
Choose units of time
Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. Imagine being told that the bus leaves in 7. You might be thinking, 7 what? Does the bus leave in 7 minutes? 7 seconds? The number 7 on its own does not give you much information about when the bus is leaving. That is because the units are missing. Time is usually measured in units of seconds, minutes, or hours. It takes about 1 second to sneeze and 1 minute to get dressed in the morning. It takes about 1 hour to bake a pie in the oven. There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. So, 1 second is much less than 1 minute. There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. So, 1 minute is much less than 1 hour.
The better estimate for how long it takes to bake lasagna in the oven is 37 minutes. 37 hours is too slow.
Which tense does the sentence use? The loud thunder will wake the baby.
[ "future tense", "present tense", "past tense" ]
0
closed choice
grade4
language science
verbs
Verb tense
Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense?
Present tense verbs tell you about something that is happening now. Most present-tense verbs are regular. They have no ending, or they end in -s or -es. Two verbs are irregular in the present tense, to be and to have. You must remember their forms. Past tense verbs tell you about something that has already happened. Most past-tense verbs are regular. They end in -ed. Some verbs are irregular in the past tense. You must remember their past-tense forms. Future tense verbs tell you about something that is going to happen. All future-tense verbs use the word will. Present | Past | Future walk, walks | walked | will walk go, goes | went | will go
The sentence is in future tense. You can tell because it uses will before the main verb, wake. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen.
Is a cupcake a good or a service?
[ "a good", "a service" ]
0
closed choice
grade2
social science
economics
Economics
Goods and services
Everything you can buy is either a good or a service. A good is something you can touch or hold in your hands. For example, a hammer is a good. A service is a job you pay someone else to do. For example, cooking food in a restaurant is a service.
To decide whether a cupcake is a good or a service, ask these questions: Is a cupcake something you can touch? Yes. Is a cupcake a job you might pay someone else to do? No. So, a cupcake is a good.
Which press release is more formal?
[ "On Nov. 19, musicians from all over town will battle it out in the fourth annual Jam-a-thon, happening at the amphitheater.", "On November 19, the Lanberry Amphitheater will host area musicians vying for top honors in the fourth annual Jam-a-thon." ]
1
closed choice
grade9
language science
writing-strategies
Audience, purpose, and tone
Which text is most formal?
Informal writing is typically used in casual situations or when communicating with someone you know well. Informal language often expresses familiarity and tends to sound more like speech. It uses more conversational language, such as slang, idioms, abbreviations, imprecise language, and contractions. Formal writing is typically used in academic and business writing or when writing directly to an authority figure. It tends to be more courteous and impersonal, avoiding overly familiar or conversational language. Compare the following sentences. Informal: Yeah, ostriches can't fly, but I think they're awesome. More formal: Ostriches may be flightless, but they're remarkable runners. Most formal: Though flightless, ostriches are remarkable runners.
The first press release is more formal. It uses more elevated language (area musicians, top honors). The other press release uses idioms (battle it out) and abbreviations (Nov.).
What do these two changes have in common? breaking a piece of glass tying a shoelace
[ "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are chemical changes.", "Both are caused by heating." ]
0
closed choice
grade3
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Compare physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Breaking a piece of glass is a physical change. The glass gets broken into pieces. But each piece is still made of the same type of matter. Tying a shoelace is a physical change. The shoelace gets a different shape. But it is still made of the same type of matter. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
Which phrase has a more negative connotation?
[ "a confident person", "a conceited person" ]
1
closed choice
grade6
language science
vocabulary
Shades of meaning
Positive and negative connotation
Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations. For example, think about the words eager and impatient. They both mean wanting something to happen, but they have different connotations. Eager has a positive connotation. It is a nice word. An eager person is happy and excited. Impatient has a negative connotation. It is not a nice word. An impatient person is often pushy and demanding.
A conceited person has a more negative connotation. Conceited and confident both denote having a positive opinion of yourself. However, conceited suggests being overly proud and stuck-up, while confident suggests having a healthy level of self-assurance.
Which figure of speech is used in this text? Dan's room is as tidy as an overgrown garden.
[ "verbal irony", "pun" ]
0
closed choice
grade9
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Classify figures of speech: review
Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive. Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at the beginning of nearby words. What a lucky little lady you are! An allusion is a brief reference to something or someone well known, often from history or literature. "I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood literally. Its meaning must be learned. The assignment was a piece of cake. A simile uses like or as to compare two things that are not actually alike. The cat's fur was as dark as the night. A metaphor compares two things that are not actually alike without using like or as. The snow formed a blanket over the town. Onomatopoeia involves using a word that expresses a sound. The scrambled eggs hit the floor with a splat. Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. The trees danced in the wind. A pun involves using a word or phrase in a humorous way that suggests more than one meaning. A great new broom is sweeping the nation. Verbal irony involves saying one thing but implying something very different. People often use verbal irony when they are being sarcastic. Olivia seems thrilled that her car keeps breaking down. Each breakdown is as enjoyable as a punch to the face.
The text uses verbal irony, which involves saying one thing but implying something very different. As tidy as an overgrown garden shows verbal irony because an overgrown garden is not tidy.
Which is a complete sentence?
[ "The cardboard box gets wet it falls apart.", "Leslie spilled apple juice on the carpet." ]
1
closed choice
grade3
language science
writing-strategies
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Is it a complete sentence or a run-on?
A sentence is a group of words that forms a complete thought. It has both a subject and a verb. My friends walk along the path. A run-on sentence is made up of two sentences that are joined without end punctuation or with just a comma. I knocked on the door it opened. It started raining, we ran inside. To fix a run-on sentence, separate it into two sentences. Add end punctuation after the first sentence, and capitalize the second sentence. I knocked on the door. It opened. It started raining. We ran inside. You can also fix a run-on sentence by rewriting it as a compound sentence. A compound sentence is two sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. I knocked on the door, and it opened. It started raining, so we ran inside.
Leslie spilled apple juice on the carpet is a complete sentence. The subject is Leslie, and the verb is spilled.
Based on this information, what is this fruit fly's phenotype for the body color trait?
[ "a gray body", "Bb" ]
0
In a group of fruit flies, some individuals have a gray body and others have a black body. In this group, the gene for the body color trait has two alleles. The allele B is for a gray body, and the allele b is for a black body. A certain fruit fly from this group has a gray body. This fly has one allele for a gray body and one allele for a black body.
closed choice
grade7
natural science
biology
Genes to traits
Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype
All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait. For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent. An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene. An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait. The fruit fly's observable version of the body color trait is a gray body. So, the fly's phenotype for the body color trait is a gray body.
Select the one animal that has all of the amphibian traits listed above.
[ "Common ostriches have a beak and feathers. They also have two wings, but they cannot fly. Ostriches lay the biggest eggs of any bird. The shell of an ostrich egg is so hard that you can stand on the egg without breaking it!", "Great crested newts have moist brown skin with black spots. Adult great crested newts mostly live on land, but young newts live underwater. Great crested newt eggs do not have shells. The female newts wrap their eggs in leaves for protection." ]
1
Amphibians are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify amphibians: They spend part of their lives in water and part on land. They have moist skin. They make eggs with no shells. Observe the animals and read the descriptions.
closed choice
grade5
natural science
biology
Classification
Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians
Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live. How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group.
To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group. Amphibians have the following traits: They spend part of their lives in water and part on land. They have moist skin. They make eggs with no shells. Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits. A common ostrich has the following traits: It has feathers. It has wings. It has a beak. It makes eggs with shells. A common ostrich does not have all of the traits of an amphibian. A common ostrich is a bird. A great crested newt has the following traits: It spends part of its life in water and part on land. It has moist skin. It makes eggs with no shells. A great crested newt has the traits of an amphibian. A great crested newt is an amphibian.
Which of the following statements is true?
[ "The president of the United States is in charge of carrying out the laws.", "The president of the United States makes all laws." ]
0
The Executive Branch of government is described in Article II of the United States Constitution. Read Section 1 of Article II. Then answer the question. The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the vice president, chosen for the same term, be elected. executive: related to the carrying out of laws vested in: given to
closed choice
grade6
social science
civics
Government
The Executive Branch
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? riddle - ruby
[ "royal", "rack" ]
0
closed choice
grade8
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since royal is between the guide words riddle - ruby, it would be found on that page.
Which type of sentence is this? If we can't find an inexpensive hotel for the Fourth of July weekend, we can always stay with my parents.
[ "compound", "simple", "compound-complex", "complex" ]
3
closed choice
grade10
language science
grammar
Phrases and clauses
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. the oranges on our tree are ripe The clause can stand alone. It is independent. after we pick up Kevin from work The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent. A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause. Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool. Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate. In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat. Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter. A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder. A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose. If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids. During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome. A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym. Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause. Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins.
The sentence is complex. It is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with the subordinating conjunction if. If we can't find an inexpensive hotel for the Fourth of July weekend, we can always stay with my parents.
Complete the sentence. Baking a loaf of bread is a ().
[ "chemical change", "physical change" ]
0
closed choice
grade2
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Identify physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. Burning a piece of paper is a chemical change. The paper changes into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. Cutting a piece of paper is a physical change. The cut pieces are still made of paper. Ice melting is also a physical change. When ice melts, it changes from a solid to a liquid. But both ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water! This kind of change is called a change of state.
Baking a loaf of bread is a chemical change. Bread is made from dough. Baking turns the dough into bread. The bread is a different type of matter than the dough.
Which sentence states a fact?
[ "Harry Houdini, born Erich Weisz, used \"Houdini\" as his stage name to pay homage to famous French magician Robert Houdin.", "Harry Houdini was a mediocre magician, but many people considered him to be a skilled escape artist." ]
0
closed choice
grade12
language science
writing-strategies
Developing and supporting arguments
Distinguish facts from opinions
Statements of fact make claims that are based on research, observation, or experimentation. Facts can be proved with evidence. Napoleon Bonaparte was shorter than King Louis XVI. This statement is a fact. The statement can be verified by researching and comparing the height of each man. Statements of opinion make claims that are based on personal judgments or perspectives. Opinions can be supported by evidence, but they cannot be definitively proved. Napoleon Bonaparte was a better leader than King Louis XVI. This statement is an opinion. People can have different ideas about what makes someone a "better" leader, so the statement cannot be proved.
The first sentence states a fact. It can be verified by looking up how Harry Houdini chose his stage name in a biography or Houdini's own writing. Harry Houdini, born Erich Weisz, used "Houdini" as his stage name to pay homage to famous French magician Robert Houdin. The second sentence states an opinion. Mediocre indicates a personal judgment. Harry Houdini was a mediocre magician, but many people considered him to be a skilled escape artist.
What do these two changes have in common? melting wax dust settling out of the air
[ "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are chemical changes.", "Both are caused by cooling." ]
1
closed choice
grade7
natural science
chemistry
Chemical reactions
Compare physical and chemical changes
Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule. In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns. In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Melting wax is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The wax changes from solid to liquid. But it is still made of the same type of matter. Dust settling out of the air is a physical change. As the dust settles, or falls, it might land on furniture or the ground. This separates dust particles from the air, but does not form a different type of matter. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Wax melting is caused by heating. But dust settling out of the air is not. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? banner - brain
[ "bulge", "blew" ]
1
closed choice
grade3
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since blew is between the guide words banner - brain, it would be found on that page.
Which text uses the word literally in its traditional sense?
[ "The curry that the chef prepared was so spicy that Perry literally had to drink three glasses of milk to ease the pain.", "The curry that the chef prepared was so spicy that Perry's mouth was literally on fire by the time he finished his meal." ]
0
closed choice
grade10
language science
writing-strategies
Word usage and nuance
Explore words with new or contested usages
Words change in meaning when speakers begin using them in new ways. For example, the word peruse once only meant to examine in detail, but it's now also commonly used to mean to look through in a casual manner. When a word changes in meaning, its correct usage is often debated. Although a newer sense of the word may be more commonly used, many people consider a word's traditional definition to be the correct usage. Being able to distinguish the different uses of a word can help you use it appropriately for different audiences. Britney perused her notes, carefully preparing for her exam. The traditional usage above is considered more standard. David perused the magazine, absentmindedly flipping through the pages. The nontraditional usage above is now commonly used, but traditional style guides generally advise against it.
The second text uses literally in its traditional sense: in a factual, non-exaggerated way. The curry that the chef prepared was so spicy that Perry literally had to drink three glasses of milk to ease the pain. The first text uses literally in its nontraditional sense: nearly or in effect (often exaggerated). Perry's mouth may be in pain, but it is not actually on fire. The curry that the chef prepared was so spicy that Perry's mouth was literally on fire by the time he finished his meal. Most style guides recommend to avoid using the nontraditional sense of the word literally because it is generally considered incorrect.
Which is a complex sentence?
[ "Mr. Durham's afternoon lecture was about art and culture in Germany before World War II.", "Before you explain your position, please listen carefully to Cody's idea." ]
1
closed choice
grade5
language science
grammar
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. An independent clause is a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is not a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence. the oranges on our tree are ripe The clause can stand alone. It is independent. after we pick up Kevin from work The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent. A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause. Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool. Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate. In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat. Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter. A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. We saw a flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard the rumble of thunder. A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause usually begins with a subordinating conjunction such as after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, or while. If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids.
The first sentence is the complex sentence. It is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with the subordinating conjunction before. Before you explain your position, please listen carefully to Cody's idea.
Last year, 50,000 people lived in the city of Wildgrove. But since then, 8,000 people have moved away. What probably happened to the overall supply of houses for sale in Wildgrove?
[ "The supply probably went up.", "The supply probably went down." ]
0
closed choice
grade4
social science
economics
Supply and demand
Understand overall supply and demand
Overall supply is the total amount of a good or service that producers make and sell. There are several things that can make overall supply go up or down. The table below shows how changes to these things might affect overall supply. | Resources | Number of producers or suppliers | Expected change in demand Supply goes up | when resources cost less or are easier to get | when there are more producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go up Supply goes down | when resources cost more or are harder to get | when there are fewer producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go down Producers are people or companies that make goods or provide services. Suppliers are people or companies that sell goods or services. New inventions or technologies can also help workers produce goods and services more quickly. As a result of these changes, the supply of a good or service will often go up.
The population of Wildgrove fell by 8,000 people. Many of the people who have left are probably trying to sell their houses. Since more people are trying to sell their houses, the number of suppliers of houses for sale in Wildgrove has gone up. So, the supply of houses for sale probably went up, too.
Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Walter can fly an airplane.
[ "inherited", "acquired" ]
1
Hint: Pilots have to learn how to fly an airplane.
closed choice
grade3
natural science
biology
Heredity
Identify inherited and acquired traits
Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.
People are not born knowing how to fly an airplane. Instead, some people learn how to fly airplanes. So, flying an airplane is an acquired trait.
Does this passage describe the weather or the climate? In Miami, Florida, afternoon thunderstorms are common in the late summer months.
[ "weather", "climate" ]
1
Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place.
closed choice
grade4
natural science
earth-science
Weather and climate
What's the difference between weather and climate?
The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere. Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures.
Read the text carefully. In Miami, Florida, afternoon thunderstorms are common in the late summer months. This passage tells you about the usual precipitation in Miami. It does not describe what the weather is like on a particular day. So, this passage describes the climate.
What is the mass of a school bus?
[ "13 pounds", "13 ounces", "13 tons" ]
2
Select the best estimate.
closed choice
grade4
natural science
units-and-measurement
Units and measurement
Choose customary units of mass
Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains. There are many different units of mass. When you are using customary units, mass may be written with units of ounces, pounds, or tons. There are 16 ounces in 1 pound and 2,000 pounds in 1 ton. So, 1 ounce is less than 1 pound and much less than 1 ton. A slice of bread has a mass of about 1 ounce, while a can of beans has a mass of about 1 pound. A small car has a mass of about 1 ton.
The best estimate for the mass of a school bus is 13 tons. 13 ounces and 13 pounds are both too light.
How long is a spider's leg?
[ "16 millimeters", "16 kilometers", "16 meters", "16 centimeters" ]
0
Select the best estimate.
closed choice
grade7
natural science
units-and-measurement
Units and measurement
Choose metric units of distance, mass, and volume
Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. When you are using metric units, length can be written with units of millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers. One meter contains 100 centimeters or 1,000 millimeters. So, 1 meter is larger than 1 centimeter, and 1 centimeter is larger than 1 millimeter. The tip of the pencil shown here is only 1 millimeter wide, but the pencil is about 16 centimeters long. A red fox is about 1 meter long. The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is about 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, in length.
The best estimate for the length of a spider's leg is 16 millimeters. 16 centimeters, 16 meters, and 16 kilometers are all too long.
Which organ pumps blood through the body?
[ "stomach", "lungs", "heart" ]
2
closed choice
grade3
natural science
biology
Animals
Human organs and their functions
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? scramble - shellac
[ "second", "sad" ]
0
closed choice
grade6
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since second is between the guide words scramble - shellac, it would be found on that page.
Using only these supplies, which question can Carter investigate with an experiment?
[ "Does white or whole wheat sandwich bread grow visible mold in fewer days?", "Does white sandwich bread grow visible mold in fewer days if the bread is stored in a paper bag or in a plastic bag?", "Does white sandwich bread grow visible mold in fewer days if the bread is stored inside or outside the refrigerator?" ]
2
Carter starts to make a sandwich, but he sees mold on the bread! He wonders what factors affect how mold grows on bread. So, he decides to design an experiment. He has the following supplies available: two loaves of white sandwich bread a small plastic bag a large plastic bag a refrigerator
closed choice
grade8
natural science
science-and-engineering-practices
Designing experiments
Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials
Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment. Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment? First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available. Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick. So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment!
Would you find the word woke on a dictionary page with the following guide words? wear - while
[ "no", "yes" ]
0
yes or no
grade4
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since woke is not between the guide words wear - while, it would not be found on that page.
The movers lift the boxes at the same speed. Which box is lifted with a larger force?
[ "a box holding 35 pounds", "a box holding 50 pounds" ]
1
Two movers are putting heavy boxes into their truck. The boxes are the same shape and size. Each mover lifts one box up into the truck at a time.
closed choice
grade2
natural science
physics
Force and motion
How do mass and force affect motion?
A force is a push or a pull. A force can make an object start moving or stop an object that is moving. A force can also make an object speed up, slow down, or change direction. Forces can be different sizes. Think about trying to move a heavy object and a light object. Imagine you want to move them at the same speed. You will need to use a larger force to move the heavy object.
Look for the box that is heavier. A box holding 50 pounds is heavier than a box holding 35 pounds. So, the box holding 50 pounds needs a larger force to start moving upward at the same speed as the other box.
Is a bed a good or a service?
[ "a good", "a service" ]
0
closed choice
grade2
social science
economics
Economics
Goods and services
Everything you can buy is either a good or a service. A good is something you can touch or hold in your hands. For example, a hammer is a good. A service is a job you pay someone else to do. For example, cooking food in a restaurant is a service.
To decide whether a bed is a good or a service, ask these questions: Is a bed something you can touch? Yes. Is a bed a job you might pay someone else to do? No. So, a bed is a good.
Which text uses the word peruse in its traditional sense?
[ "Elijah perused a clothing catalog as he waited for his appointment, flipping through the pages distractedly.", "Elijah perused a catalog from his wife's favorite clothing store, searching for the perfect birthday gift." ]
1
closed choice
grade12
language science
writing-strategies
Word usage and nuance
Explore words with new or contested usages
Words change in meaning when speakers begin using them in new ways. For example, the word peruse once only meant to examine in detail, but it's now also commonly used to mean to look through in a casual manner. When a word changes in meaning, its correct usage is often debated. Although a newer sense of the word may be more commonly used, many people consider a word's traditional definition to be the correct usage. Being able to distinguish the different uses of a word can help you use it appropriately for different audiences. Britney perused her notes, carefully preparing for her exam. The traditional usage above is considered more standard. David perused the magazine, absentmindedly flipping through the pages. The nontraditional usage above is now commonly used, but traditional style guides generally advise against it.
The first text uses peruse in its traditional sense: to examine in detail. Elijah perused a catalog from his wife's favorite clothing store, searching for the perfect birthday gift. The second text uses peruse in its nontraditional sense: to look through in a casual manner. Elijah perused a clothing catalog as he waited for his appointment, flipping through the pages distractedly. Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word peruse because it is considered more standard.
Which type of sentence is this? The vibrant trumpet-shaped blooms of the trumpet vine make it ideal for attracting hummingbirds.
[ "simple", "compound", "complex", "compound-complex" ]
0
closed choice
grade10
language science
grammar
Phrases and clauses
Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. the oranges on our tree are ripe The clause can stand alone. It is independent. after we pick up Kevin from work The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent. A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause. Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool. Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate. In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat. Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter. A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder. A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose. If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids. During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome. A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym. Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause. Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins.
The sentence is simple. It is a single independent clause. The vibrant trumpet-shaped blooms of the trumpet vine make it ideal for attracting hummingbirds.
Would you find the word ago on a dictionary page with the following guide words? accent - ashamed
[ "no", "yes" ]
1
yes or no
grade3
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since ago is between the guide words accent - ashamed, it would be found on that page.
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? lead - lodge
[ "liver", "lava" ]
0
closed choice
grade5
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since liver is between the guide words lead - lodge, it would be found on that page.
Which tense does the sentence use? The children will exchange gifts at the event.
[ "past tense", "future tense", "present tense" ]
1
closed choice
grade4
language science
verbs
Verb tense
Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense?
Present tense verbs tell you about something that is happening now. Most present-tense verbs are regular. They have no ending, or they end in -s or -es. Two verbs are irregular in the present tense, to be and to have. You must remember their forms. Past tense verbs tell you about something that has already happened. Most past-tense verbs are regular. They end in -ed. Some verbs are irregular in the past tense. You must remember their past-tense forms. Future tense verbs tell you about something that is going to happen. All future-tense verbs use the word will. Present | Past | Future walk, walks | walked | will walk go, goes | went | will go
The sentence is in future tense. You can tell because it uses will before the main verb, exchange. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen.
Which is a simple sentence?
[ "Katie finished her book, but she got two more from the library.", "The jewels on your necklace sparkle in this light." ]
1
closed choice
grade3
language science
grammar
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Is the sentence simple or compound?
A simple sentence is a sentence with only one subject and predicate. The pitcher threw the ball to first base. A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction such as and, but, or, or so. The pitcher threw the ball, and the batter hit it. Some simple sentences have a compound subject or a compound predicate, but they are not compound sentences. Anna and James will watch the fireworks tonight. This simple sentence has a compound subject, Anna and James. The singers bowed and walked off the stage. This simple sentence has a compound predicate, bowed and walked off the stage. Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but they are not compound sentences. The introductory phrase is part of the predicate. In the winter, Farmer Ben wears his heavy coat. This is a simple sentence. There is one subject, Farmer Ben, and one predicate, wears his heavy coat in the winter.
The second sentence is the simple sentence. It has one subject and predicate. The jewels on your necklace sparkle in this light.
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below? Mrs. Randolph decided not to argue with the name her daughter had chosen for their new kitten, figuring it was a matter of a rose by any other name.
[ "Shakespeare", "a poem" ]
0
closed choice
grade7
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Recall the source of an allusion
An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words. "I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked. Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately.
The source of the allusion a rose by any other name is Shakespeare. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the two central characters are denied their love because they belong to warring families, the Montagues and Capulets. Juliet wonders how a mere family name can make someone an enemy, observing that a rose would smell sweet no matter what its name. The allusion a rose by any other name means something so special that what it's called seems unimportant.
Complete the sentence so that it uses personification. The car engine () as Mr. Cooper tried to start it in the freezing cold.
[ "coughed", "failed" ]
0
closed choice
grade8
language science
writing-strategies
Creative techniques
Use personification
Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. It is a figure of speech that can be used to make writing more interesting or to emphasize a point. The trees danced in the wind. The word danced describes the trees as if they were people. Unlike people, however, trees can't actually dance. Instead, the personification suggests that the trees are moving.
Complete the sentence with the word coughed. It describes the engine as if it were a person who is sick.
Which object has the least thermal energy?
[ "a 9-kilogram gold bar at a temperature of 91°C", "a 9-kilogram gold bar at a temperature of 77°C", "a 9-kilogram gold bar at a temperature of 89°C" ]
1
The objects are identical except for their temperatures.
closed choice
grade4
natural science
physics
Heat and thermal energy
How is temperature related to thermal energy?
All solids, liquids, and gases are made of matter. Matter is made up of tiny particles that are always moving. The energy from the motion of these particles is called thermal energy. Temperature measures how hot or cold matter is. If the particles in matter slow down, the temperature goes down. The matter now has both less thermal energy and a lower temperature.
All three gold bars have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 77°C gold bar is the coldest, it has the least thermal energy.
Which closing is correct for a letter?
[ "your friend,\nDanielle", "Your friend,\nDanielle" ]
1
closed choice
grade4
language science
punctuation
Formatting
Greetings and closings of letters
A letter starts with a greeting and ends with a closing. For each one, capitalize the first word and end with a comma. You should also capitalize proper nouns, such as Aunt Sue. Dear Aunt Sue, I'm glad you could come to my party, and thank you for the birthday gift. I could not have asked for a better one! Every time I see it, I think of you. With love, Rory
The first closing is correct: Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma.
Select the solid.
[ "water in a glass", "sand", "rain puddle", "air inside a bubble" ]
1
closed choice
grade3
natural science
physics
States of matter
Identify solids, liquids, and gases
Solid, liquid, and gas are states of matter. Matter is anything that takes up space. Matter can come in different states, or forms. When matter is a solid, it has a definite volume and a definite shape. So, a solid has a size and shape of its own. Some solids can be easily folded, bent, or broken. A piece of paper is a solid. Also, some solids are very small. A grain of sand is a solid. When matter is a liquid, it has a definite volume but not a definite shape. So, a liquid has a size of its own, but it does not have a shape of its own. Think about pouring juice from a bottle into a cup. The juice still takes up the same amount of space, but it takes the shape of the bottle. Some liquids do not pour as easily as others. Honey and milk are both liquids. But pouring honey takes more time than pouring milk. When matter is a gas, it does not have a definite volume or a definite shape. A gas expands, or gets bigger, until it completely fills a space. A gas can also get smaller if it is squeezed into a smaller space. Many gases are invisible. Air is a gas.
Sand is a solid. A solid has a size and shape of its own. Sand is made of many small pieces of rocks and minerals, called grains. Imagine putting many grains of sand into a bucket. The sand takes the shape of the bucket, as a liquid would. But be careful! Sand is not a liquid. Each grain of sand still has a size and shape of its own. So, sand is a solid. The air inside a bubble is a gas. A gas expands to fill a space. The air inside a bubble fills all the space in the bubble. If the bubble pops, the air will expand to fill a much larger space. A rain puddle is a liquid. A liquid takes the shape of any container it is in. If you collect rainwater in a bucket, the rainwater will take the shape of the bucket. But the rainwater will still take up the same amount of space. The water in a glass is a liquid. A liquid takes the shape of any container it is in. If you pour water from a glass into a different container, the water will take the shape of that container. But the water will still take up the same amount of space.
Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Deb is good at knitting hats.
[ "acquired", "inherited" ]
0
Hint: People who can knit had to learn how to do it.
closed choice
grade3
natural science
biology
Heredity
Identify inherited and acquired traits
Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.
People are not born knowing how to knit. Instead, many people learn how to knit. Knitting well takes practice. So, knitting well is an acquired trait.
Which is smoother?
[ "bark", "soap bar" ]
1
closed choice
grade3
natural science
physics
Materials
Compare properties of materials
Every object is made of one or more materials. A material is a type of matter. Wood, glass, metal, and plastic are common materials. A material has different properties. A material's properties tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells. Some examples of properties are shiny, hard, fragile, and stretchy. For example, a shiny material reflects a lot of light. A fragile material breaks when you drop it.
Smooth is a property. A smooth material is not rough or bumpy. Look at each picture, one at a time. Imagine touching the material shown in each picture. Of the choices, the soap bar is smoother. If you touch a bar of soap, it will not feel rough or bumpy.
What do these two changes have in common? burning a candle mixing glue and laundry powder to create putty
[ "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are chemical changes.", "Both are caused by cooling." ]
2
closed choice
grade7
natural science
chemistry
Chemical reactions
Compare physical and chemical changes
Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule. In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns. In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Burning a candle is a chemical change. Both the wick and the melted wax burn. They react with oxygen in the air and turn into soot, carbon dioxide, and water. Mixing glue and laundry powder to create putty is a chemical change. The putty is a different type of matter that was not there before the change. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different. Both are caused by heating. Burning is caused by heating. But mixing glue and laundry powder to create putty is not. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
Which is harder?
[ "glass marbles", "paper" ]
0
closed choice
grade2
natural science
physics
Materials
Compare properties of materials
Every object is made of one or more materials. A material is a type of matter. Wood, glass, metal, and plastic are common materials. A material has different properties. A material's properties tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells.
Hard is a property. A hard material keeps its shape when you press on it with your finger. Look at each picture, one at a time. Imagine pushing on the material shown in each picture. Of the choices, the glass marbles are harder. If you squeeze glass marbles, they will not change shape.
Which phrase has a more negative connotation?
[ "waste money", "spend money" ]
0
closed choice
grade4
language science
vocabulary
Shades of meaning
Positive and negative connotation
Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations. For example, think about the words eager and impatient. They both mean wanting something to happen, but they have different connotations. Eager has a positive connotation. It is a nice word. An eager person is happy and excited. Impatient has a negative connotation. It is not a nice word. An impatient person is often pushy and demanding.
Waste money has a more negative connotation. If you waste money, you spend it on something useless.
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below? Ed says that he would not be the person he is today were it not for his childhood, which he describes as Dickensian.
[ "a poem", "literature" ]
1
closed choice
grade11
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Recall the source of an allusion
An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words. The protean nature of the disease makes it difficult to diagnose. The word protean is an allusion to the sea god Proteus in Greek mythology. Because the sea is constantly changing, to describe something as protean suggests that it is variable or in flux.
The source of the allusion Dickensian is literature. The works of British author Charles Dickens often featured characters struggling to survive in settings such as debtors' prisons and orphanages. The allusion Dickensian means harsh or poverty-stricken.
Which closing is correct for a letter?
[ "Love,\nLuna", "love,\nLuna" ]
0
closed choice
grade4
language science
punctuation
Formatting
Greetings and closings of letters
A letter starts with a greeting and ends with a closing. For each one, capitalize the first word and end with a comma. You should also capitalize proper nouns, such as Aunt Sue. Dear Aunt Sue, I'm glad you could come to my party, and thank you for the birthday gift. I could not have asked for a better one! Every time I see it, I think of you. With love, Rory
The first closing is correct: Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma.
Assume all other forces on Ben are balanced. Which statement describes the forces on Ben?
[ "The forces are balanced, so there is no net force on Ben.", "The forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on Ben." ]
0
Ben is standing on a diving board at the pool. Earth's gravity is pulling down on Ben with a force of 400N. The diving board is pushing up on Ben with a force of 400N.
closed choice
grade7
natural science
physics
Velocity, acceleration, and forces
Balanced and unbalanced forces
A force is a push or a pull that acts on an object. Every force has a direction and a magnitude, or strength. If two forces act on an object in opposite directions, the forces are called opposing forces. When opposing forces have the same magnitude, they are balanced. If all the forces on an object are balanced, there is no net force on the object. When opposing forces have different magnitudes, the forces are unbalanced. If any forces on an object are unbalanced, there is a net force on the object.
To determine if there is a net force on Ben, look at the forces: Earth's gravity is pulling Ben down with a force of 400 N. The diving board is pushing Ben up with a force of 400 N. The forces are in opposite directions, and the forces have the same magnitude: 400 N. This means that the forces are balanced, so there is no net force on Ben.
Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Jamie is good at cooking.
[ "acquired", "inherited" ]
0
Hint: Cooking well takes practice.
closed choice
grade3
natural science
biology
Heredity
Identify inherited and acquired traits
Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.
People are not born knowing how to cook. Instead, many people learn how to cook. So, cooking is an acquired trait.
Compare the motion of two mountain bikers. Which mountain biker was moving at a lower speed?
[ "a mountain biker who moved 145miles in 10hours", "a mountain biker who moved 200miles in 10hours" ]
0
closed choice
grade2
natural science
physics
Force and motion
Compare the speeds of moving objects
An object's speed tells you how fast the object is moving. Speed depends on both distance and time. Distance tells you how far the object has moved. One unit used to measure distance is the mile. Time tells you how long the object has spent moving. One unit used to measure time is the hour. Think about two objects moving for the same amount of time. The object that is moving slower will go a shorter distance in that time. It is moving at a lower speed.
Look at the distance each mountain biker moved and the time it took to move that distance. One mountain biker moved 145 miles in 10 hours. The other mountain biker moved 200 miles in 10 hours. Notice that each mountain biker spent the same amount of time moving. The mountain biker who moved 145 miles moved a shorter distance in that time. So, that mountain biker must have moved at a lower speed.
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words? person - plug
[ "pity", "preserve" ]
0
closed choice
grade7
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since pity is between the guide words person - plug, it would be found on that page.
Based on this information, what is Bambi's phenotype for the wool color trait?
[ "white wool", "black wool" ]
0
In a group of sheep, some individuals have white wool and others have black wool. In this group, the gene for the wool color trait has two alleles. The allele for black wool (l) is recessive to the allele for white wool (L). Bambi is a sheep from this group. Bambi has the homozygous genotype LL for the wool color gene.
closed choice
grade6
natural science
biology
Genes to traits
Genetics vocabulary: dominant and recessive
All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait. For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent. An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene. An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. Some traits, like flower color in pea plants, are controlled by a single gene. Most plants and animals have a genotype made up of two alleles for these traits. These two alleles determine whether an organism is homozygous or heterozygous for the gene. An organism with two identical alleles for a gene is homozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype FF or ff is homozygous for the flower color gene. An organism with two different alleles for a gene is heterozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype Ff is heterozygous for the flower color gene. The types of alleles in an organism's genotype determine the organism's phenotype. Some alleles have types called dominant and recessive. These two types can cause different versions of a trait to appear as the organism's phenotype. A dominant allele causes its version of the trait to appear even when the organism also has a recessive allele for the gene. In pea plants, the F allele, which causes purple flowers, is dominant over the f allele. A pea plant with at least one F allele will have the F allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype FF or Ff will have purple flowers. A recessive allele causes its version of the trait to appear only when the organism does not have any dominant alleles for the gene. In pea plants, the f allele, which causes white flowers, is recessive to the F allele. A pea plant with only f alleles will have the f allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype ff will have white flowers.
Bambi's genotype for the wool color gene is LL. Bambi's genotype of LL has only L allelles. The L allele is for white wool. So, Bambi's phenotype for the wool color trait must be white wool. To check this answer, consider whether Bambi's alleles are dominant or recessive. The allele for black wool (l) is recessive to the allele for white wool (L). This means L is a dominant allele, and l is a recessive allele. Bambi's genotype of LL has two dominant alleles. An organism with at least one dominant allele for a gene will have the dominant allele's version of the trait. So, Bambi's phenotype for the wool color trait must be white wool.
What do these two changes have in common? tearing a piece of paper butter melting on a hot day
[ "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are chemical changes." ]
2
closed choice
grade3
natural science
chemistry
Physical and chemical change
Compare physical and chemical changes
Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change. In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. When paper gets hot enough, it re­acts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke. In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Tearing a piece of paper is a physical change. The paper tears into pieces. But each piece is still made of paper. Butter melting on a hot day is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The butter changes from solid to liquid, but it is still made of the same type of matter. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Butter melting on a hot day is caused by heating. But tearing a piece of paper is not. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.
How long is a garden snail?
[ "47 millimeters", "47 kilometers", "47 centimeters", "47 meters" ]
0
Select the best estimate.
closed choice
grade6
natural science
units-and-measurement
Units and measurement
Choose metric units of distance, mass, and volume
Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. When you are using metric units, length can be written with units of millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers. One meter contains 100 centimeters or 1,000 millimeters. So, 1 meter is larger than 1 centimeter, and 1 centimeter is larger than 1 millimeter. The tip of the pencil shown here is only 1 millimeter wide, but the pencil is about 16 centimeters long. A red fox is about 1 meter long. The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is about 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, in length.
The best estimate for the length of a garden snail is 47 millimeters. 47 centimeters, 47 meters, and 47 kilometers are all too long.
Would you find the word legend on a dictionary page with the following guide words? large - like
[ "no", "yes" ]
1
yes or no
grade8
language science
reference-skills
Reference skills
Use guide words
Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order. To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on. If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed.
Put the words in alphabetical order. Since legend is between the guide words large - like, it would be found on that page.
Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her ideas and development? In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, four Chinese American daughters and their more traditional Chinese mothers try to reconcile their cultural differences. When the daughters are young girls, they are embarrassed by their mothers and think they are strange. The mothers feel misunderstood by their daughters. As the girls grow into women, their attitudes change. Over time, the mothers and daughters develop a new appreciation for one another.
[ "by clearly stating the main idea", "by removing a second main idea", "by including specific examples from the text" ]
2
closed choice
grade11
language science
writing-strategies
Editing and revising
Suggest appropriate revisions
During peer review, you read and respond to a fellow student's writing. While there are many methods and strategies that you can use for reviewing a text, it is generally helpful to frame your suggestions in concrete and constructive ways and to consider the following areas for revision: Ideas and development: Does the writer express a clear idea and develop it with evidence, examples, or analysis? Organization: Does the writer order ideas in a clear, logical way so that they build on one another and are easy to follow? Voice: Does the writer maintain an appropriate voice, such as a formal and objective voice in an academic essay or an engaging and expressive voice in a narrative essay? Sentence fluency: Does the writer use sentences that vary in structure and length to create a sense of rhythm and flow within and between sentences, or does the writing sound choppy, rambling, or repetitive? Word choice: Does the writer use words accurately and precisely to create clear, effective, and engaging writing? Grammar and mechanics: Does the writer follow appropriate conventions, using accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar to create writing that is correct and easy to read?
The writer could best improve his or her ideas and development by including specific examples from the text. For example, the writer could provide specific examples and quotations from the book to illustrate the points being made in the underlined text. In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, four Chinese American daughters and their more traditional Chinese mothers try to reconcile their cultural differences. When the daughters are young girls, they are embarrassed by their mothers and think they are strange. The mothers feel misunderstood by their daughters. As the girls grow into women, their attitudes change. Over time, the mothers and daughters develop a new appreciation for one another.
What kind of sentence is this? Follow me in a single-file line.
[ "exclamatory", "imperative" ]
1
closed choice
grade5
language science
punctuation
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory?
There are four kinds of sentences. A declarative sentence is a statement. It tells about something. A declarative sentence always ends with a period. I have an older brother and a younger sister. An interrogative sentence is a question. It asks something. An interrogative sentence always ends with a question mark. How tall are you? An imperative sentence is a command. It makes a request or tells someone to do something. An imperative sentence usually ends with a period. If the command shows strong feeling, it ends with an exclamation point. Read the first chapter by next week. Look out for that car! An exclamatory sentence is like a statement, but it shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation point. Some whales are over ninety feet long! I can't wait until tomorrow!
The sentence tells someone to do something, so it is an imperative sentence. Here, it ends with a period.
Which word does not rhyme?
[ "goal", "coal", "wish" ]
2
closed choice
grade1
language science
phonological-awareness
Rhyming
Which word does not rhyme?
Rhyming words are words that end with the same sound. The words tip and slip rhyme. They both end with the ip sound. The words lake and make rhyme. They both end with the ake sound. The words tip and lake don't rhyme. They end with different sounds.
The words coal and goal rhyme. They both end with the oal sound. The word wish does not rhyme. It ends with a different sound.
Does this passage describe the weather or the climate? It is 65°F in Finn's backyard.
[ "weather", "climate" ]
0
Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place.
closed choice
grade3
natural science
earth-science
Weather and climate
What's the difference between weather and climate?
The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere. Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures.
Read the text carefully. It is 65°F in Finn's backyard. This passage tells you about the temperature in Finn's backyard right now. It describes the atmosphere at a certain place and time. So, this passage describes the weather.
Select the living thing.
[ "paramecia", "swing set", "clay", "moai" ]
0
closed choice
grade4
natural science
biology
Classification
Identify living and nonliving things
All living things are made up of cells. Plants, animals, and some fungi have many cells. Other living things are made up of just one cell. All living things need food and water. Water helps living things break down food and remove waste. Food gives living things energy. They use energy from food to grow and change. All living things sense changes in their environment. Living things might sense changes by seeing, smelling, hearing, or feeling. Living things can respond to the changes they sense.
Clay is not a living thing. Clay does not have all of the traits of a living thing. It can be formed into different shapes, but it does not grow or respond to the world around it. It does not need food or water. A swing set is not a living thing. Swing sets do not have all of the traits of living things. They do not grow or respond to their environment. They do not need food or water. Paramecia are living things. Paramecia grow and respond to their environment. They need food and water. Paramecia are made up of just one cell. On average, paramecia are 200 micrometers long. That's just twice the width of a human hair! A moai is not a living thing. A moai is a statue that is shaped like a face. But it does not have all the traits of a living thing. It does not grow or respond to the world around it. It does not need food or water.
What does the personification in this text suggest? It was the early afternoon of a sunshiny day with little winds playing hide-and-seek in it. —Katherine Mansfield, "How Pearl Button Was Kidnapped"
[ "There was very little wind.", "There were occasional gusts of wind." ]
1
closed choice
grade10
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Interpret figures of speech
Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive. Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. The trees danced in the wind.
The text uses personification, giving human characteristics to nonhuman things. Little winds playing hide-and-seek suggests that there were occasional gusts of wind. It brings to mind children alternately disappearing and reappearing.
What does the metaphor in this text suggest? Eve felt a roller coaster of emotions when she heard the news.
[ "Eve found the news scary.", "Eve had varied feelings." ]
1
closed choice
grade7
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Interpret figures of speech
Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive. A metaphor compares two things that are not actually alike without using like or as. The snow formed a blanket over the town.
The text uses a metaphor, comparing two things that are not actually alike without using like or as. The metaphor Eve felt a roller coaster of emotions suggests that Eve had varied feelings. A roller coaster has a dramatic mix of ups and downs, and so do Eve's feelings.
Which correctly shows the title of a movie?
[ "The Odd Life of Timothy Green", "The Odd life of timothy Green" ]
0
closed choice
grade4
language science
capitalization
Formatting
Capitalizing titles
In a title, capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between. The Wind in the Willows James and the Giant Peach These words are not important in titles: Articles, a, an, the Short prepositions, such as at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up Coordinating conjunctions, such as and, but, or
Capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between. The word of is not important, so it should not be capitalized. The correct title is The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
What do these two changes have in common? mixing lettuce and salad dressing ice crystals forming on a window
[ "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are chemical changes." ]
0
closed choice
grade7
natural science
chemistry
Chemical reactions
Compare physical and chemical changes
Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule. In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns. In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Mixing lettuce and salad dressing is a physical change. Together, the salad and dressing make a mixture. But making this mixture does not form a different type of matter. Ice crystals forming on a window is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. Water vapor in the air can change directly into ice when it touches a very cold window! A change of state from a gas to a solid is called depositing. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Ice crystals form on a window when water vapor in the air becomes ice. This is caused by cooling. But mixing lettuce and salad dressing is not.
What is the volume of a large soup pot?
[ "8 milliliters", "8 liters" ]
1
Select the better estimate.
closed choice
grade5
natural science
units-and-measurement
Units and measurement
Choose metric units of volume
Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means. Volume is a measurement of how much space something takes up. There are many different units of volume. When you are using metric units, volume may be written in units of milliliters or liters. There are 1,000 milliliters in 1 liter. So, 1 milliliter is much less than 1 liter. A raindrop has a volume of about 20 milliliters, while a large soda bottle has a volume of 2 liters. The flask shown here measures volumes up to 500 milliliters.
The better estimate for the volume of a large soup pot is 8 liters. 8 milliliters is too little.
Which text uses the word factoid in its traditional sense?
[ "Jonathan seemed to know a lot about African wildlife, but it turned out that his knowledge was mostly based on factoids gleaned from unreliable websites.", "Jonathan subscribed to an online newsletter about African wildlife; he enjoyed receiving daily factoids about the wild animals' natural habitats and behavior." ]
0
closed choice
grade12
language science
writing-strategies
Word usage and nuance
Explore words with new or contested usages
Words change in meaning when speakers begin using them in new ways. For example, the word peruse once only meant to examine in detail, but it's now also commonly used to mean to look through in a casual manner. When a word changes in meaning, its correct usage is often debated. Although a newer sense of the word may be more commonly used, many people consider a word's traditional definition to be the correct usage. Being able to distinguish the different uses of a word can help you use it appropriately for different audiences. Britney perused her notes, carefully preparing for her exam. The traditional usage above is considered more standard. David perused the magazine, absentmindedly flipping through the pages. The nontraditional usage above is now commonly used, but traditional style guides generally advise against it.
The second text uses factoid in its traditional sense: something made up presented as a true fact. Jonathan seemed to know a lot about African wildlife, but it turned out that his knowledge was mostly based on factoids gleaned from unreliable websites. The first text uses factoid in its nontraditional sense: a trivial but true fact. Jonathan subscribed to an online newsletter about African wildlife; he enjoyed receiving daily factoids about the wild animals' natural habitats and behavior. Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word factoid because it is considered more standard.
Which figure of speech is used in this text? Sofia, I've told you a million times: you need to dry the dishes before you put them away.
[ "hyperbole", "paradox" ]
0
closed choice
grade12
language science
figurative-language
Literary devices
Classify the figure of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox
Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive. A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic. The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off. Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally. I ate so much that I think I might explode! An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms. Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic. A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth. Always expect the unexpected.
The text uses hyperbole, an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally. A million times is an exaggeration, since it is unlikely that Sofia has actually been told this a million times.
Is the following trait inherited or acquired? Darell can ride a motorcycle.
[ "inherited", "acquired" ]
1
closed choice
grade5
natural science
biology
Traits and heredity
Identify inherited and acquired traits
Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways. Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned. Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits.
People are not born knowing how to ride a motorcycle. Instead, many people learn how to ride. So, riding a motorcycle is an acquired trait.
What do these two changes have in common? mixing sand and gravel adding dish soap to water in a sink
[ "Both are only physical changes.", "Both are caused by heating.", "Both are caused by cooling.", "Both are chemical changes." ]
0
closed choice
grade8
natural science
chemistry
Chemical reactions
Compare physical and chemical changes
Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule. In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different. Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns. In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same. A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change.
Step 1: Think about each change. Mixing sand and gravel is a physical change. Together, the sand and gravel make a mixture. But making this mixture does not form a different type of matter. Adding dish soap to water in a sink is a physical change. Bubbles may appear if air gets trapped in the soapy water, but a different type of matter does not form. Step 2: Look at each answer choice. Both are only physical changes. Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created. Both are chemical changes. Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes. Both are caused by heating. Neither change is caused by heating. Both are caused by cooling. Neither change is caused by cooling.