GED Test Science PRACTICE

Question 1

GED Test Science PRACTICE. Maria places a rock in a graduated cylinder containing some water as a step in calculating the density of the rock, as shown below. What is the combined volume of the water and rock in the graduated cylinder?

• 26 mL
• 30 mL
• 15 mL
• 9 mL

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Question 2

A botanist performed an investigation to test the hypothesis that the plant and fungus have a mutualistic relationship. Based on the information in the graphs, which conclusion should the botanist reach?

• Since both the plant and the fungus grow better together, the hypothesis is rejected.
• Since neither the plant nor the fungus grows better when grown together, the hypothesis is rejected.
• Since neither the plant nor the fungus grows better when grown together, the hypothesis is supported.
• Since both the plant and the fungus grow better together, the hypothesis is supported.

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Question 3

Placing solid ammonium nitrate, $\text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3$, in a container of water causes an endothermic reaction. The result is ammonium hydroxide, $\text{NH}_4\text{OH}$, and nitric acid, $\text{HNO}_3$. Which diagram shows the correct equation for the reaction?

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• $\text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{NH}_4\text{OH} + \text{HNO}_3 + \text{energy}$
• $\text{NH}_4\text{OH} + \text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{energy}$
• $\text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{energy} \rightarrow \text{NH}_4\text{OH} + \text{HNO}_3$
• $\text{NH}_4\text{OH} + \text{HNO}_3 + \text{energy} \rightarrow \text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O}$

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Question 4

Scientists concluded that removing invasive shrubs from a forest ecosystem will reduce the population of invasive worms. Which graph represents data that supports this conclusion?

• Graph 1 (Worm population increases when shrubs are removed)
• Graph 2 (Worm population remains the same regardless of shrubs)
• Graph 3 (Worm population is significantly lower in areas where shrubs are removed compared to where they are present)
• Graph 4 (Worm population is higher in areas where shrubs are removed)

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Question 5

This graph, combined with information from Select…, supports Select….

• Drop-down 1: paragraph 3
• Drop-down 2: the anthropogenic climate change model.

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Question 6

What time period in the graph shows the greatest correlation between Milankovitch cycles and climate? GED Test Science PRACTICE

• 120,000–140,000 years ago
• 100,000–120,000 years ago
• 160,000–180,000 years ago
• 140,000–160,000 years ago

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Question 7

Different types of light bulbs use different amounts of electricity. Electricity use is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). The electricity use per hour (kWh) of an electrical device can be calculated using the following equation: $\text{kWh} = \frac{\text{device wattage}}{1000\text{ watts}} \times \text{time (h)}$. A 60W light bulb used .48 kilowatt hours of electricity. How long was the light bulb on?

• 0.125 hours
• 28.8 hours
• 8 hours
• 0.48 hours

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Question 8

Both the anthropogenic climate change model and the Milankovitch theory are consistent with some of the observed climate changes. However, only one offers the best explanation for the current warming of Earth. Complete the table to compare variables of the Current Warming Cycle to previous Warming Cycles.

Variable	Higher	Lower	Same
rate of glacial melt	X
insolation		X
rate of mean temperature increase	X
rate of $\text{CO}_2$ increase	X
volume of glacial melt			X
shifts in animal and plant habitats			X
earlier flowering of trees			X

Question 9

Sommer’s research concludes that cheetahs have sufficient genetic diversity to respond to common diseases, but may still be at risk of new diseases. Which statement from the passage supports this conclusion?

• “Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are used by the body to identify self from non-self and direct the immune system to attack non-self particles.”
• “Sommer’s research determined how many alleles are present on two different types of MHC genes in approximately 150 cheetahs.”
• “The variation in MHC genes in cheetahs is still smaller than that for other big cat species but appears to be sufficient to allow the populations to identify a wide variety of foreign particles.”
• “If any of the genetic factors are different, then the immune system of the individual receiving the organ will identify the organ as non-self and the body will attack the donated organ as if it were a foreign organism such as a virus or bacterium.”

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Question 10

What statement describes one or more needed changes to this experiment that would allow the experimenter to draw a valid conclusion?

• The energy released should have been measured, not calculated.
• At the beginning, both cups should have contained the same mass of water at the same temperature.
• Salt water should have been used to make the ice cubes for the cup of salt water.
• The time for ice cubes to melt should have been measured in minutes.

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Question 11

Based on these results and assuming that whenever two materials are present their remaining energy is averaged, what would the scientist best conclude to be the composition of Saturn’s rings?

• equal amounts of ice and bedrock
• a small amount of bedrock and a large amount of carbon rock
• equal amounts of loose rocks and loose snow
• large amounts of ice and smaller amounts of carbon rock GED Test Science PRACTICE

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Question 12

A horizontal force (F) of 150 Newtons is applied to a box, causing it to slide 10 meters (d) across a floor. What amount of work (W) was applied to the box?

• 1500 Joules

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Question 13

Which statement best explains the central idea of the paragraphs above?

• Some types of bacteria can be used to generate electricity under oxygen-free conditions.
• Researchers showed that sugars could be used as fuel to make electricity, whereas a carbohydrate such as starch was too complex.
• The amount of electricity generated by microbial fuel cells is too small to be of any use.
• Bacteria can be ground up to release electrons and generate electricity.

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Question 14

If a man who is heterozygous for type A blood ($I^A i$) and a woman who is heterozygous for type B blood ($I^B i$) have a child, what is the probability that their child will have type AB blood?

• 75%
• 100%
• 25%
• 50%

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Question 15

If equal masses of sand and water in a given area experience a 12% increase in heat energy, which prediction can be made about organisms in the area?

• Organisms living in the ocean will experience an environmental temperature increase about 5 times greater than those living on the sand.
• Organisms living on the sand will experience an environmental temperature increase of 9.6C.
• Organisms living on the sand will experience an environmental temperature increase about 5 times greater than those living in the ocean.
• Organisms living in the ocean will experience an environmental temperature increase of 2.9C.

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Question 16

Based on this seismogram, which type(s) of waves cause the most damage to buildings and structures during an earthquake such as this one?

• S-waves, because they take longer to arrive
• R-waves, because they have the greatest amplitude
• P-waves, because they arrive first
• P- and S-waves, because together they produce a large amount of shaking

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Question 17

Select… provides the strongest evidence that… improves cardiovascular health.

• The rat study
• Human study 1
• Human study 2

Question 18

The equation for photosynthesis is often written as shown below.

6 CO}_2 + 6H_2O \xrightarrow{\Delta} \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2$

Based on this equation, what does the triangle symbol represent?

• heat
• chloroplast
• oxygen
• light

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Question 19

Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical used in many personal care items such as hand soap. Because of its chemical properties, small amounts of the substance can be absorbed through the skin. Recent concerns about exposure to triclosan have resulted in research about its safety. The concentration of triclosan in a person’s body can be determined by a urinalysis. The graph shows results from a study that sought to determine average exposure to triclosan in the U.S. population.¹²

Which statement is supported by the results in the g³raph?⁴

• Triclosan concentration does not vary significantly among different age groups.⁵
• Increased levels of triclosan in ur⁶ine are related to increased age.
• Triclosan concentration in urine is highest in the 30- to 39-year-old age group.
• People aged 20–29 likely use more products containing triclosa

Question 22

Scientists claim that levels of dietary calcium and magnesium intake can affect the health of an organism.

Which two pieces of evidence from the passage support this claim?

• the natural occurrence of calcium and magnesium in many water sources
• the control group results in the rat study
• the difference in heart disease incidence between urban and rural populations in human study 2
• the 425 mg/day of magnesium in a normal diet in human study 1
• the magnesium-rich diet condition for group A in human study 1
• the survival rates of rats on a low-magnesium diet

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Question 23

Which statement explains the central idea of the passage?

• People who live in rural environments are healthier than people who live in urban environments.
• People may experience health benefits from drinking hard water because it contains magnesium.
• People should stop the practice of softening water because it removes minerals that are necessary for good health.
• People should consume as much magnesium as possible to ensure good cardiovascular health.

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Question 24

The following steps describe the procedure used by the researchers who conducted human study 1. GED Test Science PRACTICE

1. Randomly assign equal numbers of participants to group A and group B.
2. ?
3. Monitor magnesium levels in each participant at regular intervals for 10 years.
4. Track all cardiovascular complications in all participants for the duration of the study.
5. Compare the rates of cardiovascular complications in group A to those in group B.

Which instruction would be most appropriate for step 2 of the procedure?

• Provide both group A and group B participants with a daily magnesium supplement.
• Provide group A participants with a daily magnesium supplement and provide group B participants with a daily supplement that contains only inactive ingredients.
• Provide both group A and group B participants with guidelines about which foods they should consume.
• Provide group A participants with a high-magnesium supplement and group B participants with a low-magnesium supplement and then instruct all participants to avoid foods that contain magnesium.

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Question 25

The roller coaster diagram shows a set of cars moving downward from position 1 to position 2.

As the cars travel from position 1 toward position 2, their Select… decreases, yet their Select… remains unchanged.

• Dropdown 1: gravitational potential energy
• Dropdown 2: total energy

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Question 26

What is the meaning of dynamic as it relates to the magnetic field in paragraph 1 of this passage?

• a force that affects stability
• a force that produces motion
• continuous change or activity
• vigorous energy

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Question 27

Which piece of evidence supports the hypothesis that Earth is currently at the beginning of a magnetic pole flip?

• The magnetic polarity has been normal for the past 700,000 years.
• During a magnetic pole flip, the field will diminish over the course of a few centuries and then reestablish itself in the opposite polarity.
• The overall strength of the magnetic field has decreased by nearly 10% since around 1900, and the current magnetic poles are moving.
• The minerals in rocks, as they cool, are imprinted with the strength and direction of Earth’s magnetic field.

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Question 28

Which statement describes the graph’s representation of magnetic field strength during the twentieth century?

• The strength of the magnetic field decreased much more rapidly over the last half of the twentieth century.
• The strength of the magnetic field increased and decreased during the twentieth century.
• The strength of the magnetic field declined at a constant rate during the twentieth century.
• The strength of the magnetic field had variable rates of decline during the twentieth century.

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Question 29

Two people are standing at the edge of a high cliff. One person throws a rock horizontally off the cliff. At the exact same time, the other person drops a rock vertically off the cliff from the same height. According to Galileo, the two rocks should hit the ground at the same time. Which uncontrolled part of this investigation can prevent the rocks from hitting the ground at the same time?

• mass of the rocks
• air resistance
• strength of the person
• gravity