7th Grade Honors Final Exam Practice (Part I)
1. A student is trying to determine if a certain beetle will help control the population of a harmful plant
species. Which sequence of steps would be best suited for this investigation?
2. The data table below shows some data related to the Sun and the planets in our solar system.
The distance between the Sun and Saturn is approximately six times the distance between the Sun and which
other planet?
(1) Earth
(3) Mars
(2) Jupiter
(4) Venus
Base your answers to questions 3 and 4 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of science.
The diagram represents the Moon and its orbit around Earth. The arrow labeled X represents the force that keeps
the Moon in its orbit.
3. Which force is represented by X?
(1) gravity
(3) electricity
(2) friction
(4) magnetism
4. Approximately how long does it take for the Moon to complete one orbit around Earth?
(1) 1 day
(3) 1 month
(2) 1 week
(4) 1 year
5. The layered mixture of gases surrounding Earth is called the
(1) atmosphere
(3) lithosphere
(2) hydrosphere
(4) hemisphere
6. Which geologic process occurs when the acid in precipitation dissolves certain types of rock?
(1) faulting (3) weathering
(2) tilting
(4) erupting
7. The map below shows latitude and longitude lines for a portion of North America. Points A and B represent
two cities.
Compared to the location of city A, the location of city B is at
(1) the same latitude, but a different longitude
(2) the same latitude and same longitude
(3) a different latitude and the same longitude
(4) a different latitude and different longitude
8. Which diagram best represents the tilt of Earth’s axis in December?
9. The diagram below represents the Sun, Earth, and the Moon as viewed from space. Letter X is a location on
Earth’s surface.
10. The top and bottom of each container below are labeled. Which model best represents the arrangement of
gas molecules inside a sealed container as viewed from the side?
11. The map below shows dark bands that indicate long mountain ranges on the west coasts of North America
and South America.
What caused the formation of these mountain ranges?
(1) erosion of continental coastlines by ocean waves
(2) deposition of river sediments entering the ocean
(3) collision of lithospheric tectonic plates
(4) uneven heating of Earth’s surface
12. The photograph below shows an object in space that has an icy core with a tail of gas and dust extending
for millions of kilometers.
The object is most likely
(1) a star
(2) an asteroid
(3) a moon
(4) a comet
13. Scientists have discovered fossils of the same organisms in many different parts of the world.
These fossils provide evidence that
(1) the continents were once joined together
(2) most life-forms that existed in the past are still present today
(3) most of Earth’s surface was once covered by molten rock
(4) rocks have been transformed from one type to another
14. The amount of which greenhouse gas in the air increase the most if large forests are cut down to be used for
building materials without planting new trees in their place?
(1) ozone
(3) water vapor
(2) methane (4) carbon dioxide
15. Because copper is a metal, it is
(1) liquid at room temperature
(2) nonreactive with other substances
(3) a poor conductor of electricity
(4) a good conductor of heat
16. A student placed a rock in a graduated cylinder containing water, causing the water level in the cylinder to
increase by 20 mL. This increase represents the rock’s
(1) mass
(3) solubility
(2) volume
(4) temperature
17. The diagram below shows a glass containing a liquid and ice cubes.
Which process causes water droplets to form on the outside of the glass?
(1) evaporation
(3) freezing
(2) condensation
(4) melting
18. A ball is dropped from the roof of a building. Points A, B, C, and D in the diagram below represent
positions of the ball as it falls.
At which position will the ball have the greatest kinetic energy?
(1) A
(3) C
(2) B
(4) D
19. People often wear sunglasses in polar regions because most of the sunlight that strikes a snow-covered
surface is
(1) reflected
(3) refracted
(2) absorbed
(4) transmitted
20. Which form of energy is produced when a rubber band vibrates?
(1) chemical (3) electrical
(2) light
(4) sound
21. A battery-powered cart pulls an 800-gram load across the floor. If the load were reduced to 400 grams, and
the force used to move the cart remained the same, the cart would
(1) move slower
(2) move faster
(3) move at the same speed
(4) stop moving
22. Which type of energy is transferred from one object to another by simple machines?
(1) mechanical
(3) nuclear
(2) chemical
(4) electrical
23. Which position of two magnets results in the greatest attraction between the magnets?
24. The diagram below shows an inflated balloon attached to a straw that is moving along a string. Air is
escaping from the open end of the inflated balloon. Some forces that are acting on the straw are shown by the
four labeled arrows.
What causes the balloon to move along the string?
(1) force from string
(3) force from escaping air
(2) friction between string and straw
(4) weight of balloon containing air
25. The data table below shows apparent air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F). Apparent air temperature is
how hot the air feels at different air temperatures and different relative humidities.
If the air temperature is 90°F and the relative humidity is 70%, the apparent air temperature is
(1) 20°F
(3) 106°F
(2) 71°F
(4) 113°F
26. A student set up the experiment shown below to determine if radish seeds take in oxygen as they germinate.
Methylene blue is a chemical that is blue when oxygen is present, but is colorless when oxygen is not present.
Containers A and B each contained 200 mL of water and 10 drops of methylene blue. Ten radish seeds were
added to container A. Container B had no radish seeds.
The purpose of container B in this experiment is to
(1) serve as the control container
(2) serve as the experimental container
(3) show that seeds do not give off oxygen
(4) show that seeds do not give off carbon dioxide
27. Which statement is an inference?
(1) A thermometer shows that the air temperature is 56°F.
(2) A mineral sample of galena produced a gray-black streak when tested.
(3) Based on previous data, ten hurricanes may occur in the year 2013.
(4) A weather vane indicates the wind is coming from the west.
28. A bright object with a long tail of glowing gases is in orbit around the Sun. This object is most likely
(1) a planet
(3) an asteroid
(2) a star
(4) a comet
29. The thin layer of rock on Earth’s surface is the
(1) atmosphere
(3) hydrosphere
(2) hemisphere
(4) lithosphere
30. The graph below shows a runner’s distance from the starting line during a 30-minute race. Distance was
measured in meters (m). Time was measured in minutes (min).
During which time interval was the runner moving at the greatest average speed?
(1) 0–5 minutes
(3) 15–20 minutes
(2) 10–15 minutes
(4) 25–30 minutes
31. Which diagram best represents light being reflected after striking the flat surface of a mirror?
32. The diagram below shows the positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon as seen from space.
Which event is caused by the Moon passing through Earth’s shadow?
(1) a meteor shower
(3) an eclipse
(2) a change of seasons
(4) an earthquake
33. Under which conditions would a sugar cube dissolve most quickly when placed in a liter of water at room
temperature?
(1) A whole sugar cube is added and the water is stirred.
(2) A whole sugar cube is added and the water is not stirred.
(3) A crushed sugar cube is added and the water is stirred.
(4) A crushed sugar cube is added and the water is not stirred.
34. All of the liquid from a test tube is poured into a beaker, as shown in the diagram below.
Compared to the liquid that was in the test tube, the liquid in the beaker has
(1) a different volume, but the same shape
(2) a different volume and a different shape
(3) the same volume, but a different shape
(4) the same volume and the same shape
35. Rocks are classified as sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous on the basis of the
(1) age of the rocks
(2) way the rocks were formed
(3) types of fossils the rocks contain
(4) number of minerals found in the rocks
36. Which temperature and moisture conditions describe an air mass that originates over the Atlantic Ocean
near the equator?
1) warm and dry
(3) cool and dry
(2) warm and humid (4) cool and humid
37. Which property of a substance indicates whether the substance is a liquid or a solid at room temperature?
(1) melting point
(2) electrical conductivity
(3) flexibility
(4) solubility
38. The photograph below shows a satellite image of a hurricane.
A satellite image of a hurricane helps weather forecasters to
(1) warn residents of hazardous weather conditions
(2) explain the effects of global warming on the ocean currents
(3) predict the times of high tide and low tide
(4) predict the total number of storms to occur in one year
Base your answers to questions 39 through 41 on the weather map below and on your knowledge of science.
The center of a storm system (Low) over part of the United States and the frontal boundaries associated with
this system are shown. Point A represents a location on the map.
39. The word Low on the map refers to
(1) air temperature
(3) relative humidity
(2) air pressure
(4) amount of cloud coverage
40. Precipitation is most likely occurring at A because it is located
(1) on a cold ocean surface
(3) near the cold front
(2) on a warm land surface
(4) near the warm front
41. In which compass direction will the storm center (Low) most likely move over the next few days if it
follows a typical storm track?
(1) northeast
(3) northwest
(2) southeast
(4) southwest
42. The photograph below shows a phase of the Moon as seen by an observer in New York State.
Which phase is closest to what will be seen by the observer in New York State 1 month later?
Base your answers to questions 42 and 43 on the field map below, which shows average yearly snowfall in the
state of Pennsylvania. The solid lines represent amounts of snowfall in inches. Point X represents a location on
the map.
42. Approximately how much snow falls in an average year at location X?
(1) 39 inches
(3) 41 inches
(2) 40 inches
(4) 42 inches
43. Which part of Pennsylvania has the greatest average yearly snowfall?
(1) northern
(3) southern
(2) eastern
(4) western
44. Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable because they
(1) produce pollution
(2) are no longer used by humans
(3) often contain microscopic animals
(4) take millions of years to form
45. The diagram below shows a cross section of a waterfall. Points A, B, C, and D represent locations in the
stream.
At which location does the water have the greatest kinetic energy?
(1) A
(3) C
(2) B
(4) D
46. If the force used to push a shopping cart increases, the cart’s acceleration will
(1) decrease
(2) increase
(3) remain the same
47. Sound waves are not able to travel through
(1) a cloud
(3) metal
(2) a vacuum
(4) water
48. The diagram below shows two magnets.
If the magnets are brought closer together, they will
(1) attract each other with a stronger force
(2) attract each other with a weaker force
(3) repel each other with a stronger force
(4) repel each other with a weaker force
49. The diagram below shows a person using a simple machine to move a rock.
Which simple machine is the person using?
(1) pulley
(3) wheel and axle
(2) inclined plane
(4) lever
50. The diagram below shows water in a graduated cylinder.