Science
2013 – Middle Grades - District
Student Instructions:
 Write your complete ID code on your answer sheet.
 For each question, choose the BEST answer. If you change your answer, erase well.
1.
The word supersonic refers to the speed of an object traveling faster than the speed of sound through the same
medium. Which of these terms is defined as “above supersonic,” moving at five times or greater the speed of
sound?
A.
ultrasonic
B.
transonic
C.
subsonic
D.
hypersonic
2.
A certain substance is commonly treated with a process called vulcanization, which imparts strength,
elasticity and durability. Thomas Hancock and Charles Goodyear are credited as being pioneers of the
vulcanization of this product. You can vulcanize what material by adding sulfur and heat?
A.
nylon
B.
metal
C.
rubber
D.
wood
3.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the human population of the entire earth was closest to which
of these numbers at the beginning of 2013?
A.
700 million
B.
7 million
C.
700 billion
D.
7 billion
4.
The illustration on the right pictures a tool you might find in a
science laboratory. What is the name of this tool?
A.
crucible
B.
triple beam balance
C.
Bunsen burner
D.
mortar and pestle
5.
An insect’s body is divided into three parts. Just below the head is the section which bears the wings, if
present. What is the name of this middle section of an insect?
A.
abdomen
B.
antenna
C.
thorax
D.
spiracle
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 1
6.
Some chemical elements have an atomic symbol that is the first letter in its name. For example, the atomic
symbol for Hydrogen is H. Which of these elements’ symbols is NOT the first letter in its name, but actually
refers to an ancient name?
A.
sodium
B.
carbon
C.
oxygen
D.
fluorine
7.
Some of history’s greatest discoveries happened by accident, as was the case for the most widely used
antibiotic agents. Which scientist below was the first to observe that colonies of certain kinds of bacteria
could be destroyed by penicillin?
A.
Sir Alexander Fleming
B.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
C.
Louis Pasteur
D.
Jonas Salk
8.
In DNA, the four nucleobases that pair up to comprise the double helix are cytosine, guanine, adenine and
thymine. In RNA, one of those four bases is replaced with a similarly structured nucleobase called uracil.
Which of the four nucleobases found in DNA is NOT found in RNA?
A.
cytosine
B.
guanine
C.
adenine
D.
thymine
9.
In the human body, this bone is considered to be the strongest, and on average is the longest. Found in the leg,
what is the proper name for this bone?
A.
fibula
B.
humerus
C.
femur
D.
tibia
10.
The picture to the right shows a circuit diagram for a
simple buzzer. Inside of two heavy circles, and
marked with “10K” and “56K”, are two similar
components, which are used to step up or lower the
voltage at different points. Represented by “squiggly
lines” in a circuit diagram, what are these
components called?
A.
capacitors
B.
diodes
C.
batteries
D.
resistors
11.
In biological taxonomy, which of these organisms is commonly classified as a member of Protista?
A.
green algae
B.
blue whale
C.
white mushroom
D.
red fern
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 2
12.
In behavioral science, this word is defined as a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse or capacity. It is
sometimes called innate behavior. What is this drive for animals to act in specific ways?
A.
stimuli
B.
habit
C.
logic
D.
instinct
13.
Volume is one of the many words that can describe a property of matter. Which of the following choices is a
measurement of volume?
A.
megabyte
B.
kilogram
C.
centimeter
D.
milliliter
14.
Echinoderms are a phylum of marine animals. They are multi-cellular organisms that exhibit radial symmetry,
and do not have a true heart. Which of these characters from Spongebob Squarepants is an echinoderm?
A.
The crab, Eugene Krabs
B.
The starfish, Patrick Star
C.
The octopus, Squidward Tentacles
D.
The plankton, Sheldon Plankton
15.
This man from Alexandria described our universe as geocentric, in which the sun revolves around the Earth.
He also cataloged about half of the 88 known constellations, as well as over 1,000 stars in his 2nd century
work, Almagest. Who is this Greek astronomer?
A.
Claudius Ptolemy
B.
Nicolaus Copernicus
C.
Galileo Galilei
D.
Tycho Brahe
16.
All of the following are involved in the process known as photosynthesis. Which of them, however, is a waste
product of the process, and is not used as a necessary component to carry it out?
A.
oxygen
B.
water
C.
light energy
D.
carbon dioxide
17.
The term horsepower is a unit of power; that is, the rate at which work is done. It was adopted by a Scottish
engineer, whose last name is coincidentally used as the standard SI unit for power. What is the engineer’s
name?
A.
Sir Isaac Newton
B.
Alessandro Volta
C.
Andre-Marie Ampere
D.
James Watt
18.
A person’s blood type is classified based on the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red
blood cells. Which of the following, if any, is a valid blood type?
A.
OA
B.
AB
C.
BA
D.
None of the above
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 3
19.
The duck-billed platypus is unique among mammals for a number of reasons, so much so that it is only one of
two animals in the monotreme order. Which of these is a true fact about the platypus?
A.
It gives birth to live young
B.
It produces milk to nurse its young
C.
Both A and B are true
D.
Neither A nor B are true
20.
Match the chemical formula to the commonly given name of the substance.
x. NaHCO3
y. H2O2
z. NaCl
A.
B.
C.
D.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
2. Table Salt
3. Baking Soda
x – 2, y – 1, z – 3
x – 1, y – 2, z – 3
x – 3, y – 1, z – 2
x – 1, y – 3, z – 2
21.
Due to its isolation, approximately 90% of the over 10,000 plants native to this island country are not found
anywhere else on earth. Known for its lemur population, which of the following is the current name of this
country, formerly known as the Malagasy Republic?
A.
Madagascar
B.
New Zealand
C.
Greenland
D.
The Philippines
22.
This substance is sometimes referred to as “mature compost”, because it cannot be broken down any further.
Rich in organic carbon, which of the following is the black, decayed organic matter found in soil?
A.
moss
B.
humus
C.
mulch
D.
pith
23.
The following choices are all electromagnetic waves. Because they have the shortest wavelength of the four,
which of these is the most dangerous to be exposed to for a prolonged period?
A.
ultraviolet rays
B.
microwaves
C.
radio waves
D.
gamma rays
24.
Because the first letters of each word refer to the taxonomic ranks in order, from largest group down to
specific organism, which of these phrases would be a good mnemonic device to help remember those ranks?
A.
Most Vacuums Employ Movement, Jarring Suction, Usually Noisy
B.
Kind Penguins Can Offer Fish Graciously, Susan
C.
Jerry Seinfeld’s Very Enjoyable, Most Monologues Utter Nothing
D.
Pennsylvanians Often Get Some Kentucky Fried Chicken
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 4
25.
This ancient civilization was responsible for the invention of many tools, such as gunpowder, the magnetic
compass, and the seismograph. From which of these countries did these items originate?
A.
Greece
B.
Egypt
C.
Italy
D.
China
26.
Of the three fundamental subatomic particles, it is the heaviest. It is found in the nucleus of every element,
except for the most common isotope of hydrogen. Of the four choices, which particle is this, which can also
be used to split the nucleus of an atom in the fission process?
A.
proton
B.
ion
C.
neutron
D.
electron
27.
The Mohorovicic discontinuity, or the “Moho,” is found in the lithosphere of Earth. Based on this fact, choose
the answer that best pinpoints where the Mohorovicic discontinuity is found.
A.
within the stratosphere, on the boundaries of the ozone layer
B.
inside both the inner core and outer core of the Earth
C.
beyond the exosphere, at the edge of outer space
D.
between the crust and the mantle of the Earth
28.
Found in earthworms and birds, this specialized organ aids in the digestion of food. Because these organisms
lack teeth, pebbles found within (called gastroliths) help grind up food. What is this organ called?
A.
appendix
B.
gastropod
C.
gizzard
D.
larynx
29.
In males, this sexual reproductive cell is called a sperm. In females, it is called an egg. What is the generic
term for these sexual reproductive cells, which when united, create a zygote?
A.
embryos
B.
placentas
C.
ovaries
D.
gametes
30.
Match the item on the left to the temperature at which it occurs on the right at standard pressure, so that all
three are true.
x. Water’s melting point
y. Absolute Zero
z. A temperature at which water is only a solid (ice)
A.
B.
C.
D.
1. 0o C
2. 0o F
3. 0 K
x – 1, y – 2, z – 3
x – 1, y – 3, z – 2
x – 2, y – 3, z – 1
x – 3, y – 2, z – 1
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 5
31.
This is a brand of psychological manipulation that is sometimes employed by governments. Doctrines and
rumors are spread to influence the masses, furthering a political, religious, or similar cause, allowing the
recipient to willfully choose whether or not to follow. Which of the following words best fits this?
A.
positive reinforcement
B.
propaganda
C.
rote learning
D.
brainwashing
32.
The flower is the reproductive unit of angiosperms. Which part of the flower receives the pollen during
fertilization?
A.
stigma
B.
anther
C.
calyx
D.
stem
33.
One of the planets in our solar system is a bit of an oddball. It spins retrograde (backwards) in relation to the
other planets. Its day is longer than its year (in other words, it takes longer to make full rotation than it does
to make a revolution around the sun). Its mean temperature is highest of all the planets. Which planet is it?
A.
Mercury
B.
Neptune
C.
Mars
D.
Venus
34.
The man pictured on the right went around the earth in 108 minutes. What is the
name of this cosmonaut, the first man in space?
A.
Chuck Yeager
B.
Gherman Titov
C.
Yuri Gagarin
D.
Neil Armstrong
35.
The name of this plant organelle loosely comes from the Greek for “the one who forms green.” Of the
following, which is the site of photosynthesis in plants, where light energy is converted to chemical energy?
A.
mitochondrion
B.
chloroplast
C.
ribosome
D.
chlorophyll
36.
Heat transfer can occur in three different ways, which are listed in the choices below. One of the four choices
is NOT a method of heat transfer. Which is the odd one out?
A.
convection
B.
radiation
C.
conduction
D.
reflection
37.
Which of the following is true about the human liver?
A.
Like an appendix, a human does not need the liver to survive
B.
It creates bile, which allows fat breakdown during digestion
C.
The liver filters waste, producing urine in the process
D.
All of the above are true
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 6
38.
What is the lowest point of a wave called?
A.
crest
B.
period
C.
trough
D.
amplitude
39.
This word can mean a group of microorganisms, or the process of growing them. Which of these is a word
that is commonly used in yogurt production and medical diagnosis?
A.
culture
B.
petri
C.
yeast
D.
Pasteurize
40.
Match the description to the disease.
x. Vitamin C deficiency, causes weakness & spongy
gums
y. Infantile paralysis; spinal cord inflammation
z. Inflammation of the eye, also called pinkeye
A.
B.
C.
D.
1. conjunctivitis
2. scurvy
3. polio
x – 2, y – 1, z – 3
x – 1, y – 2, z – 3
x – 2, y – 3, z – 1
x – 3, y – 2, z – 1
41.
An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements to make a metallic substance. Which of the following is NOT
an alloy?
A.
silicon
B.
steel
C.
bronze
D.
brass
42.
Phototropism is the tendency for plants to grow in a specific manner. To what do plants react when displaying
this characteristic?
A.
the ground
B.
water
C.
light
D.
heat
43.
The website choosemyplate.gov recommends that half of your grain intake be in the form of whole grains,
which includes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins. Which of these is NOT an example of whole grain;
that is, it has been refined?
A.
barley
B.
quinoa
C.
oatmeal
D.
white rice
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 7
44.
White-nose syndrome is a fungal infection that was first documented in 2006. It is causing the death of a
certain cave-dwelling creature during the winter months. Scientists are studying the infection and
transmission of the fungus to fight it. What animal is affected by white-nose syndrome?
A.
lizards
B.
bears
C.
spiders
D.
bats
45.
Interstellar types of these include spiral, emission, planetary and reflection. From the Latin for “cloud”, they
are indeed clouds of dust and gases, from which stars are usually formed. Which of these words fits this
description?
A.
nebula
B.
galaxy
C.
solar system
D.
black hole
46.
Nerve cells, or neurons, have specialized parts which are unique. Which part of a nerve cell is responsible for
receiving electrical impulses from other nerve cells?
A.
soma
B.
synapse
C.
dendrite
D.
axon
47.
Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons. Examples include hydrogen, deuterium
and tritium. Which of the following is the word for the different possible versions of each element?
A.
neutrino
B.
isotope
C.
inert
D.
ion
48.
A group of organisms may reach a point where their population can no longer grow within their habitat. This
may be due to lack of food, or an increase in predatory activity. What are these characteristics that prevent
population growth known as?
A.
limiting factors
B.
extinction
C.
negative biomes
D.
natural disasters
49.
At right is a picture of a keratinized structure, much like
hair or nails. It is found on certain whales, and is used
for filtering food from water. Some species of whale
bear this name. What is this filter called, which is found
in the place of teeth in some whales?
A.
baleen
B.
comb
C.
spinneret
D.
beluga
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 8
50.
Match the shape of a bacterium cell to its proper name.
x. spherical
1. bacillus
y. rod-shaped
2. coccus
z. coiled
3. spirillum
A.
B.
C.
D.
x – 1, y – 2, z – 3
x – 2, y – 1, z – 3
x – 3, y – 1, z – 2
x – 1, y – 3, z – 2
TIEBREAKERS 51-60
51.
This is one of the two types of transport tissues in vascular plants. It functions chiefly in conduction of water
and some nutrients, and is typically the hard, woody element of the plant. What is this tissue called?
A.
pith
B.
xylem
C.
bark
D.
phloem
52.
Women over 40 are especially susceptible to this disease, which is caused by decreases in estrogen levels, and
marked by a loss in bone density. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation can help fight this malady. Which
of these is the affliction in which bone fractures can occur with little to no trauma?
A.
leukemia
B.
osteoporosis
C.
vascular calcification
D.
carpal tunnel syndrome
53.
In what field of study would you most likely learn about a Carnot cycle?
A.
microbiology
B.
acoustics
C.
meteorology
D.
thermodynamics
54.
Approximately how long does it take light from our sun to reach the planet Earth?
A.
8 milliseconds
B.
8 seconds
C.
8 minutes
D.
8 years
55.
He was one of the British scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project in the United States, and was
awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of the neutron. What was this man’s name?
A.
Ernest Lawrence
B.
Niels Bohr
C.
James Chadwick
D.
Albert Einstein
56.
Within a cell, these are formed when a membrane bulges out and pinches off. It travels to its destination, and
then merges with another membrane to release its cargo. In this way proteins and other large molecules can be
transported without ever having to cross a membrane. What are these “transport pods” called?
A.
vesicles
B.
vacuoles
C.
villi
D.
vestigial structures
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 9
57.
In this type of material, electric current can flow freely. The outer electrons of the atoms are loosely bound
and free to move through the material. Any external influence which moves one of them will cause a
repulsion of other electrons which propagates throughout. What is this material known as?
A.
conductor
B.
capacitor
C.
battery
D.
insulator
58.
Which of these biological processes is being described in these steps, and is performed by prokaryotes? DNA
replicates, followed by growth of cell. DNA segregates, and finally the cell splits.
A.
metamorphosis
B.
mitosis
C.
binary fission
D.
cytokinesis
59.
Alfred Wegener coined this term for this historic, theoretical land mass. It was the one supercontinent that
eventually drifted into the seven current continents. Which of these is the name of that land mass, whose
namesake means “all earth”?
A.
Gondwanaland
B.
Lithosphere
C.
Laurasia
D.
Pangaea
60.
Match the type of electromagnetic radiation to its approximate wavelength.
x. microwaves
y. visible light
z. x-rays
A.
B.
C.
D.
1. 0.1 to 10 nanometers
2. 400 to 750 nanometers
3. 1 millimeter to 1 meter
x – 1, y – 2, z – 3
x – 2, y – 1, z – 3
x – 3, y – 1, z – 2
x – 3, y – 2, z – 1
2013 Governor’s Cup – Middle Grades Science – District – Page 10
Science – Middle Grades – District
2013 Governor’s Cup
1. D
31. B
2. C
32. A
3. D
33. D
4. B
34. C
5. C
35. B
6. A
36. D
7. A
37. B
8. D
38. C
9. C
39. A
10. D
40. C
11. A
41. A
12. D
42. C
13. D
43. D
14. B
44. D
15. A
45. A
16. A
46. C
17. D
47. B
18. B
48. A
19. B
49. A
20. C
50. B
21. A
51. B
22. B
52. B
23. D
53. D
24. B
54. C
25. D
55. C
26. C
56. A
27. D
57. A
28. C
58. C
29. D
59. D
30. B
60. D
TIEBREAKERS 51-60