Georgia High School
Graduation Test
Science Practice
Exam
Bibb County Schools
2008-2009
Practice Test Questions
Directions: These questions are similar to the ones you will answer on the GHSGT
for Science. Read each question carefully. Then, read each answer choice.
1. Unlike prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells have the capacity to
A. Assemble into multicellular organisms
B. Establish symbiotic relationships with other organisms
C. Obtain energy from the Sun
D. Store genetic information in the form of DNA
2. Which of the best completes this concept map?
A.
B.
C.
D.
An animal cell
A prokaryotic cell
A virus
A plant cell
3. Which macromolecule is used for long-term energy storage in animal cells?
A. lipid
B. protein
C. nucleic acid
D. carbohydrate
4. Which statement correctly describes the relationship between DNA and RNA in
transferring genetic information?
A. DNA is carried by RNA to the nucleus.
B. DNA is carried by RNA to the cytoplasm.
C. RNA is carried by DNA to the nucleus.
D. RNA is carried by DNA to the cytoplasm.
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5. A student draws a food chain that includes an owl, a mouse, grass, and a grasshopper.
Through which organism does the energy flow last?
A. owl
B. mouse
C. grass
D. grasshopper
6. A student is preparing a presentation on the relationships between an organism and its biome,
community, ecosystem, and population. Which diagram is correctly arranged to model ecological
levels of organization?
7. A student reads that a phosphorus atom has 4 more particles in its nucleus than an
aluminum atom. Its atomic number is 2 greater than that of aluminum. Which of the
following should she conclude are the 4 extra nuclear particles?
A. 4 neutrons
B. 2 neutrons and 2 protons
C. 2 protons and 2 electrons
D. 2 protons, 1 neutron, and 1 electron
8. A sample of an unknown substance is added to a beaker of water; it dissolves
completely. When water is cooled, the substance reappears and settles to the bottom.
When the water is evaporated, the substance retains all of its original properties. What is
water in this example?
A. a solute in a physical change
B. a solvent in a physical change
C. a reactant in a chemical reaction
D. a product in a chemical reaction
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9. Turbines from a hydroelectric dam convert what type of energy into electrical energy?
A. solar
B. chemical
C. nuclear
D. mechanical
10. A student safely heats crystals of an unknown solid in a closed container until they
melt. Which molecular characteristic of the unknown solid has increased during this
process?
A. mass
B. motion
C. molecules
D. weight
11. A student used a compound pulley to reduce the force required to lift a box. The force
was reduced to 8 Newtons, but the distance over which the force was applied was 12
meters. How much work did the student do on the box?
A. 4 joules
B. 20 joules
C. 96 joules
D. 128 joules
12. Which items would best be used to demonstrate refraction of light?
A. a mirror and a black cloth
B. clear glass and clear plastic
C. a flashlight and a white wall
D. shiny foil and shiny floor
13. A cell contains a nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Given only this
knowledge, what can you conclude about the identity of the cell?
A. It is a plant cell
B. It is an animal cell
C. It is a eukaryotic cell
D. It is a prokaryotic cell
14. A cell from heart muscle would probably have an unusually high proportion of
A. Lysosomes.
B. Mitochondria.
C. mRNA
D. Golgi bodies.
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15. Choose the cellular structure(s) present in eukaryotic cells but NOT in prokaryotic
cells.
I. Nuclear Membrane
II. Mitochondria
III. Cell membrane
A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I, II, and III
16. Homeostasis is the maintenance of stable conditions within the body. Which of the
following is a method of maintaining homeostasis in the human body?
A. Working in air conditioning
B. Shivering when cold
C. Eating balanced meals
D. Sleeping regularly
17. In what way do currently accepted models of the atom differ from the model in the
drawing?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Electrons do not have an elliptical orbit
The nucleus contains only protons
All electrons are the same
Electrons do not have a negative charge
18. Isotopes of an atom could be detected based on which of the following
characteristics?
A. Atomic radius
B. Nuclear charge
C. Nuclear mass
D. Number of electrons
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19. The figure below shows part of the periodic table.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the atomic number and mass of
copper (Cu) and gold (Au)?
A. Au has a smaller atomic mass and fewer electrons than Cu
B. Au has the same atomic mass as Cu but a greater atomic number
C. Au has the same atomic number as Cu but a much greater atomic mass
D. Au has both a greater atomic number and a greater atomic mass than Cu
20. Which of the following examples illustrates osmosis?
A. Water leaves the tubules of the kidney in response to the hypertonic fluid surrounding
the tubules
B. Digestive enzymes are excreted into the small intestine
C. White blood cells consume pathogens
D. Calcium is pumped inside a muscle cell after the muscle completes its contraction
21. A cell placed in a solution shrinks by the process of osmosis. What kind of solution
is outside the cell?
A. Hypotonic
B. Hypertonic
C. Active
D. Isotonic
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22. The following diagram shows a model of a beryllium atom.
Which of the marked particles represents a proton?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
23. Which of the cells characterized in the chart below is a prokaryotic cell?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Cell A
Cell B
Cell C
Cell D
24. A student named Lu is about to leave the lab area where she has been working with
chemicals. What is the last activity she should perform before she leaves the lab area?
A. Put away her equipment
B. Wash her hands
C. Wash the tabletop
D. Clean the glassware
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25. The valence shell of a neutral atom loses two electrons. Which of the following ions
might result?
A. O2B. Be+
C. N3D. Mg2+
26. In the future, nuclear scientists may actually discover a new element named
ununoctium (Uuo). Its position is shown in the periodic table below. Which of the
following properties might be expected for the element?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Metalloid solid
Metallic liquid
Nonmetallic gas
Metallic solid
27. A phase change from B to A will represent a loss of energy. What is the term used to
describe this transition if B is the liquid phase?
A. Condensation
B. Freezing
C. Melting
D. Vaporization
28. A solar powered car converts ____________ energy into ____________ energy
A. light, chemical
B. light, mechanical
C. mechanical, light
D. electrical, mechanical
29. The internal disorderly motion of atoms is called
A. chemical energy
B. mechanical energy
C. thermal energy
D. nuclear energy
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Directions: Questions 30-33 refer to the diagram below with certain parts labeled with
numbers. Each question is followed by five suggested labels of answers. For each
question select the one best answer.
30. Often the bright colors of these help increase the chance of pollination
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
31. Pollen grains are produced by the
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
32. The bottom part of this structure forms a fruit after fertilization occurs.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
33. This leaf like structure protects the flower bud before it blossoms.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
34. What must be added to water in order to change state from liquid to a gas?
A. More liquid
B. Energy or heat
C. More oxygen atoms
D. More hydrogen atoms
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35. If you slow the motion of water molecules down, they are more likely to become
A. a gas
B. hotter
C. colder
D. absorbed
36. Thorium-229 is a highly radioactive isotope used in the treatment of certain cancers.
Use the chart to determine how much thorium would remain after 7,340 years if a sample
began at 20 pounds of pure Th-229.
A. 0.5 pounds
B. 5 pounds
C. 8 grams
D. 10 pounds
37. The complexity of body systems differs greatly among organisms. Which of the
following organisms has developed organ systems for obtaining and utilizing energy?
A. Bacterium
B. Mushroom
C. Mouse
D. Virus
38. Scientists have discovered a new species of animal. Which would provide the best
basis for classifying this new species?
A. DNA comparison
B. Diet of animal
C. Habitat of animal
D. Appearance of animal
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39. In aspen trees, the allele for having round leaves (R) is dominant to the allele for
having oval leaves (r). What is the probability of heterozygous dominant parent trees
having offspring with round leaves?
A. 75%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 0%
40. What is the density of the copper?
A. 0.112g/cm3
B. 8.96 g/cm3
C. 21.6 g/cm3
D. 44.7 g/cm3
41. A light bulb and a solution are made part of an electrical circuit. When the circuit is
connected to a battery, which of the following dilute aqueous solutions will make the
light bulb glow brightly?
A. Ammonia (NH3)
B. Hydrofluoric acid (HF)
C. Potassium chloride (KCl)
D. Methanol (CH3OH)
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42. The graph below shows the growth curves of two different species of Paramecium
when they are grown together
What does the graph indicate about the two species when they compete for the same
resources?
A. Both species grow and thrive
B. Neither species grow and thrive
C. P. caudatum out competes P. Aurelia in order to survive
D. P. Aurelia out competes P. caudatum in order to survive
43. The following diagram represents a biomass pyramid. Which level of the pyramid
most likely contains the greatest mass of herbivores?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
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44. The chart, shown below, was taken from a student’s laboratory notebook. What is
the density of the copper sample?
A.
B.
C.
D.
0.987 6/mL
1.82 g/mL
2.28 g/mL
8.99 g/mL
45. If brown horses are mated with white horses, 100% of the offspring have roan coats.
If we assume a large number of offspring, when roan horses are mated, the ratio of coat
colors obtained will be
A. 50% brown, 50% white
B. 25% brown, 50% roan, 25% white
C. 25% roan, 50% brown, 25% white
D. 25% white, 75% brown
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46. A local scientist has studied the population distribution of a species of snail that lives
on the sandy beaches of an island. The island experiences a volcanic eruption. The data
from the scientist’s study of the snail population is summarized below.
Prior to the volcanic eruption, which of the following could explain why the percentage
of black snails was so much lower than the percentage of light brown snails?
A. The black color made them more likely to find food successfully
B. The allele for black color is lethal in the homozygous condition
C. The black snails were easier for predators to locate on the light-colored beach.
D. The light brown snails were better than the black snails at using all the available
resources.
47. Jennifer has a flask of an unknown liquid. On close examination, she notices tiny
particles dispersed throughout the liquid. Which of the following is true?
A. It is a solution.
B. It is a pure substance.
C. It is a homogeneous mixture.
D. It is a heterogeneous mixture.
48. Which of the following provides evidence that an egg white undergoes a chemical
change when it is heated?
A. Its mass decreases.
B. It is in a liquid state.
C. Its temperature rises steadily.
D. Its color permanently changes.
49. When referring to the element phosphorus on the periodic table, the number 15 is the
A. Energy level.
B. Atomic weight.
C. Atomic number.
D. Number of atoms.
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50. The Fuelgen method is a staining technique used to demonstrate the presence of
DNA. Which of the following organelles would be stained by this method?
I. Nucleus
II. Nucleolus
III. Mitochondrion
A.
B.
C.
D.
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
51. Which organelle converts sugar into energy?
A. Lysosome
B. Mitochondria
C. Nucleus
D. Ribosome
52. A scientist at the polar ice caps was studying an ice sample from hundreds of meters
below the surface. While examining the ice, the scientist found some cells from many
years ago. Using an electron microscope, the scientists identified these cell structures: a
cytoskeleton, mitochondria, nucleus, cell wall, and ribosome. What kind of organism did
the scientist find?
A. Animal
B. Bacteria
C. Plant
D. He did not have enough information
53. Prokaryotic organisms are commonly called
A. Autotrophs
B. Heterotrophs
C. Bacteria
D. Algae
54. Atoms of N and P each have 5 electrons in their outer shells. What else must these
two elements have in common?
A. They must be in the same period.
B. They must have the same atomic mass.
C. They must have the same total number of electron shells.
D. They must be found in the same group in the periodic table.
55. What type of change does gaseous oxygen undergo when it is liquefied?
A. chemical
B. ionization
C. ozonation
D. physical
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56. The Mg2+, a magnesium ion, has how many electrons?
A. 2
B. 6
C. 8
D. 10
57. What is the formula of the compound containing Ca2+ and F-?
A. CaF
B. Ca2F
C. CaF2
D. CaF3
58. Which of the following practices is MOST likely to slow the buildup of CO2 in the
atmosphere?
A. Increased use of tropical rain forest areas for agriculture
B. Increased use of genetically engineered plants
C. Decreased pesticide use in favor of biological controls
D. Decreased use of fossil fuels
59. In the cell cycle, replication of chromosomes occurs during
A. Interphase
B. Early prophase
C. Late prophase
D. Metaphase
60. The genetic disorder trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) is caused by what genetic event
A. Crossing over
B. Nondisjunction
C. Base pair substitution
D. Frame-shift location
61. Which of the following problems is common to freshwater organisms but NOT to
saltwater organisms?
A. Predation
B. Lack of water
C. Water balance
D. Salt balance
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62. The below shows the reaction of sodium chloride (NaCl) with silver nitrate (AgNO3)
and the masses of the compounds involved in the reaction. How many grams of AgCl, x,
are produced by the reaction?
A.
B.
C.
D.
16.98
28.67
45.67
62.67
63. At what step in the fission process is a massive amount of energy released?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
64. If water is allowed to evaporate from an unsaturated saltwater solution, how will the
concentration of the solution change?
A. The concentration will decrease.
B. The concentration will first increase, then decrease.
C. The concentration will remain the same.
D. The concentration will increase.
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65. Pea Plants have seeds that are either round (R) or wrinkled (r). In the cross RR x Rr,
what will be the phenotypic ratio of the offspring?
A. 50% RR and 50% Rr
B. 25% RR, 50% Rr and 25% rr
C. 50% round seeds and 50% wrinkled seeds
D. 100% round seeds
66. Which of the following shows how information is transformed to make a protein?
A. DNA  RNA  protein
B. Gene  chromosome  protein
C. Cell respiration  ATP  protein
D. ATP  amino acid  protein
67. A cicada is an insect with a lifespan of around 17 years. A turtle may live to be 150
years old. A honey bee lives about 1 year. A mosquito lives about 15 days. Of these
organisms, which would have the highest rate of evolution?
A. mosquito
B. honey bee
C. turtle
D. cicada
68. A radioactive substance has a half-life of 10 years. What fraction of a sample of the
substance would be left after 30 years?
A. 1/2
B. 1/3
C. 1/8
D. 1/9
69. A scientist performs experiments on four unknown samples and records data in the
table. What can a student conclude from the data?
A. Each sample has a different mass number.
B. Each sample is an atom of a different element.
C. Each sample is an isotope of the same element.
D. Each sample has the same number of electrons as protons.
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70. One could conclude that sound is transmitted fastest in
A.
B.
C.
D.
Solids
Liquids
Gases
A vacuum
71. The diagram below represents DNA fingerprints which are the result of gel
electrophoresis done on several DNA samples found at a crime scene.
Which suspect is linked to the crime scene by this DNA analysis?
A. Suspect A
B. Suspect B
C. Suspect C
D. Suspect D
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72. Some flowers show incomplete dominance. If RR = white and R’R’ = red, which
phenotypic ratio would be expected in the offspring of two pink flowers?
A. 1 red: 2 pink: 1 white
B. 0 red: 4 pink: 0 white
C. 3 red: 0 pink: 1 white
D. 4 red: 0 pink: 0 white
73. The Atacana desert in Chile is known as the driest place on Earth, with some areas
having not seen rain for over 400 years. Night time temperatures often drop below 0o C
with daytime temperatures near 25o C. A daily deluge of fog does support some cactuses
and mesquite vegetation. The Great Salt Flats found there support a healthy population
of krill and flamingoes, a few species of hummingbird and viscacha (the largest member
of the chinchilla family). This is a description of the ecosystem’s
A. Biotic factors
B. Abiotic factors
C. Both biotic and abiotic factors
D. Succession pattern
74. Which of the following statements correctly identifies both devices illustrated in the
pictures?
A. Picture A shows an electric generator, while Picture B shows an electromagnet.
B. Picture A shows an electromagnet, while Picture B shows an electric motor.
C. Picture A shows an electric motor, while Picture B shows an electromagnet.
D. Picture A shows an electric generator, while Picture B shows an electric motor.
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75. The following diagram shows what happens to some water waves.
What process are the waves undergoing?
A. Refraction
B. Diffraction
C. Reflection
D. Interference
76. The presence of a nuclear membrane, photosynthetic capability, and a multicellular
form can be characteristics of members of which kingdom(s)?
I. Animalia
II. Protista
III. Plantae
A.
B.
C.
D.
I only
II only
III only
II and III only
77. A segment of a DNA strand has the following bases:
TAC GAT
What is the complementary strand of DNA?
A. UAG CAU
B. TAG CAT
C. ATG CTA
D. AUG CUA
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78. The Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi) was once thought be extinct, until it was
found living in the Florida Everglades. Today, there are about 80 breeding members of
this subspecies of cougar. It is currently thought that the North Carolina native Easter
cougar (Puma concolor cougar) is extinct. In spite of this, its name remains on the North
Carolina State endangered species list, rather than being labeled an extinct species.
Which statement is the most reasonable explanation for the continued presence of the
Easter cougar on the endangered species list?
A. The Eastern cougar remains on the list only because environmentalists are sentimental
about its loss.
B. The fact that Eastern cougars have not been seen recently does not mean that they are
not there; they remain on the list to protect those animals that might still be living.
C. The Eastern cougar remains on the list to remind the public that animals can become
extinct as a result of human exploitation of the environment.
D. The Eastern cougar and the Florida panther are so similar that scientists are confusing
the two.
79. Use the diagram to answer the question.
A person received an electrical shock when reaching for the metal doorknob. The shock
was caused by the
A. high number of electrons on the doorknob
B. discharge of an imbalance of electrons
C. highly conductive surface of the doorknob
D. low resistance of the person’s skin
80. What is the resistance of an electrical device that allows a current of 10 amperes with
120 volts?
A. 12Ω
B. 110Ω
C. 130Ω
D. 1200Ω
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81. When a loop of wire is turned at a right angle to Earth’s magnetic field, the wire and
magnetic field will create a weak
A. electric transformer
B. electromagnet
C. electric motor
D. electric generator
82. Use the Venn Diagram below to answer the following question
Based on the data presented in the Venn Diagram, circle C MOST LIKELY represents
the ___________ phase.
A. Gas
B. Liquid
C. Plasma
D. Solid
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Questions #83-87 refer to the pedigree chart below. This pedigree chart shows the
inheritance of baldness, a sex-linked trait, in a family.
83. The sex chromosomes of person 2 must be
A. X’X
B. XY’
C. X’Y
D. X’X’
84. If person 7 produces offspring with a normal mate, which are the chances that these
offspring will be carriers of the allele for baldness?
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%
85. If person 7 produces offspring with a carrier mate, what are the chances that any sons
will be bald?
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%
86. The sex chromosomes of any daughters produced by persons 8 and 9 will be
A. X’X’ only
B. X’X only
C. XX or X’X
D. XX only
87. The probability that any sons produced by persons 5 and 6 will NOT possess the
allele for baldness is
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 75%
D. 100%
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88. All of the following are ways to transfer heat from one substance to another expect
for
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Insulation
D. Radiation
89. A sample of ancient granite crust is dated using potassium-40. Scientists find that
50% of the potassium-40 has decayed to form argon-40. Approximately how old is this
rock?
A.
B.
C.
D.
0.65 billion years old
1.3 billion years old
2.6 billion years old
3.9 billion years old
90. A beaker contains a substance that takes up approximately half the volume of the
beaker, but does not touch all sides of the beaker. The substance must be a
A. Gas
B. Solid
C. Liquid
D. Plasma
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Use the food web below to answer question 91.
91. Which statement is true about the food web?
A. Small birds, badgers, and mice are secondary consumers
B. Earthworms, shrews, and foxes are tertiary consumers
C. Rabbits, beetles, and slugs are primary consumers
D. A correct food chain would be dead grass  earthworms  mice  fox
92. The graph below shows the mating seasons for seven species of frogs in eastern
North America. Different breeding sites are used when mating seasons overlap.
Which two species of frogs have almost identical mating seasons?
A. Peeper frog and leopard frog
B. Tree frog and green frog
C. Wood frog and leopard frog
D. Leopard frog and pickerel frog
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93. A density-dependent factor
A. Limits a population in a given area regardless of size
B. Limits the population when the population reaches a certain size
C. May include weather or a natural disaster
D. Often affects small, sparse populations
94. A population will tend to grow if
A. It has no environmental limitations
B. The number of births exceeds the number of deaths
C. The immigration rate exceeds the emigration rate
D. All of the above
95. An active volcano under the ocean erupts, and the build up of cooled lava eventually
forms a new island. What type of succession will immediately occur on the newly
formed island?
A. Primary succession
B. Secondary succession
C. Both primary and secondary succession
D. No succession
96. Why can a liquid expand to take the shape of its container but NOT expand to fill the
container itself?
A. Because liquids have a definite shape but no definite volume
B. Because liquids are the result of both solid and gaseous phases combining
C. Because liquids are held together loosely enough to flow, but not so loose that they
expand
D. Because liquids expend large amounts of energy in the flowing process and do not
have any left to expand
97. What is the main method of heat transfer from the core to the crust of the Earth?
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Insulation
D. Radiation
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