PSSA Grade 8 Science - Item and Scoring Sampler (2017)
Quiz by PSSA Grade 8 Science
Grade 8
Science
Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content
Feel free to use or edit a copy
includes Teacher and Student dashboards
Measures 16 skills from
Measures 16 skills from
Track each student's skills and progress in your Mastery dashboards
With a free account, teachers can
- edit the questions
- save a copy for later
- start a class game
- automatically assign follow-up activities based on students’ scores
- assign as homework
- share a link with colleagues
- print as a bubble sheet
- Q 1/16Score 0Use the drawing below to answer the question. A student was unable to lift a rock using the lever setup shown. The student moved the location of the fulcrum closer to the rock until he was able to lift the rock. The student concluded that as the length of the effort arm increased, less effort force was needed to lift the rock. Which graph BEST represents the student's conclusion?29
16 questions
Show answers
- Q1Use the drawing below to answer the question. A student was unable to lift a rock using the lever setup shown. The student moved the location of the fulcrum closer to the rock until he was able to lift the rock. The student concluded that as the length of the effort arm increased, less effort force was needed to lift the rock. Which graph BEST represents the student's conclusion?60sS8.A.1.1.4
- Q2Use the graph below to answer the question. A scientific technique can be used to determine the presence and concentration of a chemical compound in a sample. A light source is directed at samples of known concentrations and the amount of light each absorbs is measured. Based on the graph, which statement best describes the relationship between concentration and light absorption?The concentration of the chemical compound in a sample remains steady as the light absorption increases.The light absorption of a sample is independent of the concentration of the chemical compound.An increase in the concentration of the chemical compound in a sample is accompanied by an increase in the light absorption.A decrease in the light absorption of a sample is accompanied by an increase in the concentration of the chemical compound.60sS8.A.2.1.1
- Q3Which statement BEST describes the mass of an apple?Mass is the amount of matter in the apple.Mass is the measure of the apple's ability to resist changes in motion.Mass is the amount of space the apple occupiesMass is the force applied to the apple by another object.60sS8.A.2.1.2
- Q4Use the drawings and table below to answer the question. A student used the smallest screen that could be used to completely sift the soil sample. Which conclusion BEST matches the student's investigation?Soil samples X and Y are most similar in size.Soil sample Y has the smallest average particle size.Soil sample X has the most uniform particle size.Soil samples Y and Z are most similar in size60sS8.A.2.1.5
- Q560sS8.A.2.2.2
- Q6An engineering team developed a new airplane body design that uses less fuel while flying. The team built a model to test the new design. How does using a model MOST LIKELY help the engineering team?It allows them to safely fly an airplane in dangerous conditions.It allows them to save money by never test-flying a full-size airplane.It can be tested and changed more easily than a real airplane.It can be made to higher quality standards than a real airplane.60sS8.A.3.2.2
- Q760sS8.C.1.1.2
- Q8Use the drawing below to answer the question. A student is roasting marshmallows on a stick above the flames of a campfire. How does convection transfer heat from the fire to the marshmallows?by direct contact between the fire and the marshmallowsby the collision of warm air and cool air molecules above the fireby currents of warm air molecules flowing upward from the fireby the movement of heat through empty spaces between air molecules60sS8.C.2.1.2
- Q9Which statement BEST describes wood and coal in terms of renewability and formation time?Wood is nonrenewable and forms in a few years, unlike coal, which is renewable and takes millions of years to form.Wood is renewable and takes millions of years to form, unlike coal, which is nonrenewable and forms in a few years.Wood is renewable and forms in a few years, unlike coal, which is nonrenewable and takes millions of years to form.Wood is nonrenewable and takes millions of years to form, unlike coal, which is renewable and forms in a few years.60sS8.C.2.2.2
- Q10Fossils of extinct corals are commonly found in Pennsylvania. Scientists who study these coral fossils indicate that they are similar to living corals. Which statement BEST explains why these fossils provide valuable information about prehistoric Pennsylvania?They may indicate that corals may have lived on land at some point in history because corals presently live in aquatic environments.They may provide evidence that Pennsylvania was once covered by warm ocean waters since most corals are presently found in these environments.They may indicate that the earliest settThey may provide evidence for evolution by comparing adaptations for living on land with aquatic adaptations in the same species.60sS8.D.1.1.4
- Q11The acidity of the water in a stream is indicated by its pH. Historically, a certain stream has had a pH of 6.0. Acid rain has caused the stream's pH to become 4.8. Which statement predicts how the stream's ecosystem will MOST LIKELY be impacted?The number of fish in the stream will increaseThe number of fish in the stream will decreaseThe flow rate of the stream will increase.The flow rate of the stream will decrease.60sS8.D.1.2.2
- Q12Which system contains water that is MOST LIKELY to form a deep canyon?a wetlanda riveran oceanan estuary60sS8.D.1.3.3
- Q13Which inference about the process of making maple syrup from maple tree sap is BEST supported by these data?A decrease in the boiling point of the liquid causes an increase in sugar concentration.As the concentration of sugar in the liquid increases, the boiling point decreases.As the concentration of sugar in the liquid increases, the boiling point increases.A decrease in the boiling point of the liquid causes a decrease in sugar concentration.60sS8.A.1.1.3
- Q1460sS8.A.1.3.1
- Q15Which internal structures in humans have the MOST similar functions to that of xylem in maple trees?veins and arteries, since they transport blood throughout the bodybones and muscles, since they are responsible for movementlungs and skin, since they are involved in gas exchangenerves and brain, since they respond to environmental stimuli60sS8.B.1.1.2
