STAAR Science Grade 8 2013 - Past Paper
Quiz by Grade 8 Science - Texas Education Agency
Grade 8
Science (2017)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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Measures 17 skills from
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50 questions
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- Q1
Some dairy farmers want to increase the amount of milk produced by their cows. How can the farmers use selective breeding to increase milk production?
By limiting the number of offspring per cow
By increasing the age of the cows that are bred
By choosing cows that can produce milk after eating the most food
By choosing cows that are high milk producers
30s - Q260s
- Q360s8.6b
- Q4The model below shows two continental plates. The folded mountains in this model form at which type of plate boundary?Divergent boundaryTransform boundarySubduction boundaryConvergent boundary60s8.9b
- Q5A researcher wants to experiment with an element that reacts like phosphorus (P) but has a greater atomic mass. Which element should the researcher select for the experiment?Silicon (Si)Arsenic (As)Sulfur (S)Nitrogen (N)60s8.5c
- Q6
Wild Soay sheep live in a cold environment on a small Scottish island. The sheep used to be large because they gained extra weight during the summers in order to survive the harsh winters. A recent change in the island’s climate has caused grass to be available for a longer period each year, so survival conditions for the sheep have become less challenging.
Researchers who study these sheep have most likely observed a decrease in the wild Soay’s —
reproduction ratessizebody temperaturelife expectancy60s8.11b - Q7Two boxes and their masses are shown below. Which of the following situations shows work being done?A student is standing and holding the small box.A student is sitting in a chair and holding both boxes.A student is holding the large box above the floor.A student is lifting the small box from the floor to a table.60s
- Q8The graph below shows the percent of seeds from two plant species that sprout when grown in water containing different amounts of salt. Which of the following best summarizes the effect of saltwater on these plant species?Species 1 can sprout only in freshwater, and Species 2 can sprout only in saltwater.Both species can sprout in freshwater and saltwater, but Species 2 can sprout in a higher salt concentration than Species 1.Species 1 can sprout only in water with a low salt concentration, but Species 2 is not affected by the salt concentration.Both species need salt in their water, but Species 2 needs more salt than Species 1.60s8.11a
- Q9The Milky Way galaxy is described as a disk of stars orbiting a central point on the disk. Which of these best explains why people on Earth cannot see the entire shape of the Milky Way?The stars in the center of the galaxy are extremely small.Earth is a part of this galaxyThe center of the galaxy consists of a dense cluster of stars.Many more stars exist outside the galaxy.60s8.8a
- Q10For an investigation, a student measures the speed of a cart as it rolls down a ramp. The student then records data in the table below. Which of these best explains the student’s data?The speed of the cart decreases as the cart rolls down the ramp because the forces acting on the cart are balanced.The speed of the cart decreases as the cart rolls down the ramp because of friction between the cart and the ramp.The speed of the cart increases as the cart rolls down the ramp because the force acting on the cart is greater than the force of gravity.The speed of the cart increases as the cart rolls down the ramp because the forces acting on the cart are unbalanced.60s8.6a
- Q11A model of an atom is shown below. An atom of which element is represented by this model?Sodium (Na)Neon (Ne)Carbon (C)Boron (B)60s8.5b
- Q1260s8.9c
- Q13Certain species of whiptail lizards have only female individuals and no males. These lizards reproduce asexually. What is one disadvantage of asexual reproduction for these lizards?A new population can be established by a single individual in a relatively short period of time.They are more likely to develop a variety of tail lengths.All the members of a population are genetically very similar and less able to survive environmental changes.They are smaller than lizards that reproduce sexually.60s
- Q14Two cars with different masses travel at the same speed down a hill toward a stop sign. What will happen when both cars apply brakes at the same time to stop?The car with the larger mass will have less inertia than the car with the smaller mass.The car with the smaller mass will require less force to stop than the car with the larger mass.The car with the larger mass will maintain its velocity while traveling down the hill.The car with the smaller mass will take longer to stop than the car with the larger mass.60s8.6c
- Q15Which of the following best describes an electron?It has a positive charge and much more mass than a neutron.It has a negative charge and about the same mass as a neutron.It has a negative charge and much less mass than a proton.It has no charge and about the same mass as a proton.60s8.5a
