PREDICT TRENDS TAKS QUESTIONS
Spring 2003 – 10:
(3) During a severe drought a dry lake was explored for fossils. The diagram represents
the fossils uncovered and the layers they were in. According to this information, this
area was once a —
A* forest that was replaced by a freshwater lake
B freshwater lake that was replaced by a desert
C saltwater sea that was replaced by a forest
D freshwater lake that was replaced by a forest
Spring 2003 – 10
(49) According to the graph, about how much hemoglobin would be saturated at an O2
pressure of 7.3 kPa?
A 32%
B 67%
C* 89%
D 92%
Spring 2003 – 11
(47) Which graph best shows the comparison of the elements to the total composition of
the copper ore?
Spring 2003 – 11
(51) At which temperature do KBr and KNO3 have the same solubility?
A 27°C
B* 48°C
C 65°C
D 80°C
April 2004 – 10
(4) Observing an approaching thunderstorm and using a stopwatch, a student finds that it
takes 8.40 seconds for thunder to be heard after a lightning bolt strikes. The student has
learned that it takes 3.0 seconds for sound to travel 1000 m. How far away is the storm?
F 119 m
G 185 m
H* 2800 m
J 8400 m
April 2004 – 10
(23) From 1942 to 1945, U.S. nickels were made of an alloy that contained 35% silver,
9.0% manganese, and the rest copper, by mass. If one of these nickels has a mass of 5.0
grams, what is the mass of the copper?
A 0.5 g
B 1.8 g
C 2.2 g
D* 2.8 g
April 2004 – 10
(39) The graph shows the distance traveled by a vehicle over a certain period of time.
Which segment of the graph shows the vehicle moving with the greatest speed?
A* L
BM
CN
DO
April 2004 – 10
(52) The table shows the atomic radii of some elements in Periods 1 through 4 of the
periodic table. Which inference can be made from this information?
F* Atomic radii decrease from left to right.
G Atomic radii increase from bottom to top.
H Atomic radii decrease from right to left.
J Atomic radii double from top to bottom.
April 2004 – 10
55 The graph shows the percentage of hemoglobin that combines with carbon monoxide
(CO) at various concentrations. Exposure to 400 parts per million of CO in air can cause
people to experience nausea and a throbbing headache. According to the graph, about
what percentage of hemoglobin is bound to CO at a CO concentration of 400 parts per
million?
A 25%
B* 35%
C 40%
D 55%
April 2004 – 11
(5) According to the data in the table, about how far can a spring be expected to stretch
when a force of 3.92 N is applied?
A 10.5 cm
B 13.6 cm
C* 14.0 cm
D 17.3 cm
April 2004 – 11, July 2004 – 11
(35) This diagram shows the biochemical pathway that produces arginine in Neurospora,
a mold. Neurospora is easily grown on a simple jelly-like medium. Different substances
can be added to the medium. A mutant Neurospora lacking Enzyme Y would have to
have which of these added to its medium in order to survive?
A Enzyme X
B Ornithine
C Enzyme Z
D* Citrulline
April 2004 – 11
(47) According to this information, what is the best prediction for the boiling point of the
seven carbon alcohol?
A 169°C
B* 178°C
C 186°C
D 192°C
April 2004 – 11
(49) According to the graph, what is the approximate half-life of carbon-14?
A 5.7 years
B* 5,700 years
C 23,000 years
D 1,000,000 years
April 2004 – 11
(53) This animal most likely belongs to phylum —
A Porifera
B* Annelida
C Mollusca
D Arthropoda
July 2004 – 11
(1) While studying the relationship between the pressure and the volume of a gas,
members of a science class conducted an experiment in which they changed the pressure
on a balloon and then measured the balloon’s volume. They collected the data above.
Which graph correctly represents these data?
July 2004 – 11
(6) The graph shows the amount of carbon-14 in tissue over time. According to the graph,
if a bone contains 1/8 the amount of carbon-14 that it did originally, its approximate age
is —
F 5,700 years
G 11,400 years
H* 17,100 years
J 22,800 years
July 2004 – 11
(9) This chart shows the results of an experiment performed in the 1920s using a bacterial
species that causes pneumonia in humans. The experiment involved several procedures
using two different bacterial strains, R and S. What is a possible explanation for the
results in Group 2?
A Living S-strain bacteria can transform into a pathogenic form of R-strain bacteria.
B* Living R-strain bacteria are controlled by a mouse’s immune system.
C Dead S-strain bacteria can cause disease.
D Dead R-strain bacteria can confer resistance to S-strain bacteria.
July 2004 – 11
(51) This graph shows the absorption spectrum for a certain pigment molecule. To a
human, this pigment would most likely appear —
A blue
B green
C* yellow
D orange
July 2004 – 11
(53) The table shows the number of bubbles released by an elodea plant per minute at
different light intensities. The rate of bubble release is representative of the
photosynthetic rate. Which statement is supported by these data?
Fall 2005 – 11
1 The chart shows the classification of four organisms found in Texas. Which
organism is most closely related to Organism X?
A Anolis carolinensis
B Bufo americanus
C* Poecil gambeli
D Grus Americana
Fall 2005 – 11
39 A researcher determined the percentage of electrical energy transformed into different
forms of energy by a toaster. The best way to communicate these results is to display the
data using a —
A histogram
B *circle graph
C line graph
D box-whisker graph
Fall 2005 – 11, April 2006 - 11
40 According to the periodic table and the information above, which element has this
electron configuration?
F Sodium
G Neon
H Magnesium
J *Argon
October 2005 – 11
17 The table shows the results of growing a yeast culture in a 5% glucose solution. The
number of bubbles produced was used to indicate the extent of respiration by the yeast. If
all other factors are held constant, how many bubbles should be produced in Tube 3 after
4 minutes?
A 20
B 24
C 27
D *36
October 2005 – 11
51 About how much KNO3 will dissolve in 100 grams of water at 80°C to make a saturated
solution?
A 48 grams
B 160 grams
C* 170 grams
D 220 grams
October 2005 - 11
53 In 1967, 34 million metric tons of fertilizers were used in the United States. According to the
graph, how many more metric tons of fertilizers were used 30 years later?
A* 16 million
B 25 million
C 64 million
D 84 million
April 2006 – 10
Use the information below and your knowledge of science to answer questions 26–29.
Watersheds
The San Antonio–Nueces Coastal Basin, shown in the map below, consists mainly of flatland. The soil
in the area is mostly sandy and porous. Rainfall that collects in this area drains into the Gulf of Mexico by a
series of waterways.
The San Antonio–Nueces Coastal Basin is one of more than 20 major watersheds in Texas. A watershed is
a geographic area that drains water collected on its surface. Watersheds provide a way for water to move
from areas of higher elevation to areas of lower elevation. Sediment and dissolved materials are also moved
to lower elevations.
Rivers and streams form a general pattern within a watershed. The map shows this general pattern within
the San Antonio–Nueces Coastal Basin. This type of pattern is called a dendritic pattern and can be
observed in many natural structures, including the network of nerves in the human nervous system and
branching patterns in trees.
Watersheds can change as the geography and other features of an area change. Some of the causes of
change are more obvious than others. For example, the clearing of wooded areas for the construction of
buildings may change the way rainfall collects and drains from an area.
26 In which general direction do rivers flow in this watershed?
F North
G West
H Northwest
J* Southeast
April 2006 - 10
45 The data table shows how the thickness of tree trunks in a certain forest is related to tree age. Use these
data to plot points on the graph above. Draw a straight line to show a linear relationship for the data.
According to these data, what is the most likely average radius of 4-year-old trees in this forest?
A 3.0 cm
B 3.3 cm
C* 3.6 cm
D 3.9 cm
April 2006 - 10
50 The graph shows mercury levels found in sediments, prey animals, and adult shorebirds in a bay along
the Gulf Coast. Which inference can best be drawn from these data?
F Mercury levels are elevated by the presence of shorebirds.
G* Mercury concentrations are highest in shorebirds.
H Mercury is produced by sediments.
J Mercury assures the survival of prey animals.
February 2006 – 11
Use the information below and your knowledge of science to answer questions 12–14.
Gas Sylvestre
Early alchemists were able to produce various kinds of gases by mixing different substances
together. However, it was not until the early 1600s that a Belgian physician, J. B. van Helmont,
first used the term gas. Van Helmont concentrated his study on a gas he obtained from the
burning of wood. He called this substance gas sylvestre, which means “gas from wood.” He
demonstrated that gas sylvestre also formed when limestone reacted with an acid solution. Van
Helmont determined that the gas was denser than air and occurred naturally in the lower
chambers of the Grotto del Cane, a cave in Italy. He noticed that the atmosphere in the lower cave
did not support animal life. He also observed that the process of fermentation produced gas
sylvestre. Today gas sylvestre is known by a more familiar name—carbon dioxide.
12 Which of these statements is best supported by the information in the table?
F Carbon dioxide and oxygen have similar chemical properties.
G* The density of the gases increases as their molecular mass increases.
H Chlorine and hydrogen boil at the same temperature.
J The solubility of the gases decreases as their density increases.
February 2006 – 11, July 2006 – 11
34 A researcher determined the percentage of electrical energy transformed into different forms
of energy by a toaster. The best way to communicate these results is to display the data using a —
F histogram
G* circle graph
H line graph
J box-whisker graph
February 2006 – 11, July 2006 – 11
37 The table above shows percent differences in cytochrome c in four different animals.
According to the table, which two animals are most closely related to each other?
A* Horse and dog
B Dog and kangaroo
C Horse and penguin
D Penguin and kangaroo
APRIL 2006 – 11:
2 The bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis produce protein crystals that are toxic to the digestive
system of insects. How can these bacteria be used to control insects in crops?
F* Apply the bacteria to growing plants.
G Expose the bacteria to low levels of light.
H Remove plants from areas containing the bacteria.
J Treat the bacteria with a solution of the protein crystals.
April 2006 – 11
20 The graph shows how the momentum of a given mass changes during a period of motion.
According to the information, what is the momentum in kg m/s at 2.75 seconds? Record and
bubble in your answer to the nearest whole number on the answer document. (ans200)
April 2006 – 11
24 The graph shows how the voltage needed to maintain a constant current of 1.5 amps through a
wire conductor varies with the length of the wire. If the trend continues, what is the most likely
voltage needed to maintain a 1.5-amp current through 80 meters of the wire?
F 10 volts
G 18 volts
H 250 volts
J* 400 volts