STAAR Science Grade 8 2021 - Past Paper
Quiz by Texas Education Agency
Feel free to use or edit a copy
includes Teacher and Student dashboards
Measures 22 skills from
- 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
- Q1
Immediately after a forest fire, the primary consumers in the area will compete most for which biotic factor?
Space
Food
Oxygen
Sunlight
30s8.11a - Q2
A steel ball is at one end of a box that is moving forward as shown. The box suddenly stops.
According to Newton’s first law, what happens to the steel ball just after the box stops?
Because of inertia, the ball continues rolling forward at the same speed.
Because of friction, the ball continues rolling forward at the same speed.
Because of friction, the ball rolls forward at an increased speed.
Because of inertia, the ball rolls forward at an increased speed.
30s8.6c - Q3
Students mixed two liquids in a beaker and listed their observations.
Based on these observations, which statement contains the best evidence that a chemical reaction occurred?
The two liquids form a new substance.
There is a change in shape.
There is a change in volume.
The two liquids mix into a solution.
30s8.5e - Q4
The diagram shows Earth in its orbit around the sun when very little light is visible at Earth’s South Pole.
Which statement is true when Earth is in the position shown?
It is August in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is April in the Southern Hemisphere.
Spring begins earlier in the year in the Southern Hemisphere than it does in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
The number of hours of daylight is greater in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere.
30s8.7a - Q530s8.6a
- Q6
Tiny organisms called Daphnia live in lakes and ponds where they consume algae. A lake with a stable population of algae and Daphnia was contaminated by pollution, resulting in the death of many algae.
Which graph shows the most likely trend in the Daphnia population in the lake shortly before and after the pollution event?
30s8.11b - Q7
Which pair of elements are nonmetals and gases at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure?
Boron, B, and aluminum, Al
Cobalt, Co, and nickel, Ni
Fluorine, F, and chlorine, Cl
Hydrogen, H, and cesium, Cs
30s8.5c - Q8
A topographic map provides details about Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park. A radio tower on Emory Peak is indicated.
Based on the topographic map, if a park ranger hiked due west from the radio tower, the ranger’s path would —
be flat and then go up a steep slope
cross another peak in the park
cross a canyon with a river running through it
go down a steep slope and then become flatter
30s8.9c - Q9
A farmer digs a small pond in a pasture. The farmer adds young individuals from two species of algae-eating fish to the pond and plants some reeds around the edges of the pond. The farmer wants the pond to be a sustainable ecosystem.
Which of the following would be most helpful in increasing the pond ecosystem's sustainability?
Introducing older fish of the same species into the population of algae-eating fish
Decreasing the number of plant species around the edges of the pond
Having a greater diversity of living organisms in the pond
Adding gravel between the water and where the reeds are planted
30s8.3a - Q1030s8.6b
- Q11
Major surface currents of the ocean are shown in the diagram.
Ocean currents affect weather patterns by —
distributing heat from the uneven absorption of solar energy
trapping heat at the equator to regulate the global climate
regulating when tides occur in coastal areas
increasing the rate of evaporation to transport water to areas experiencing droughts
30s8.10c - Q1230s8.2c
- Q13
Which statements correctly compare metals and nonmetals?
Metals tend to be good conductors of thermal energy.
Nonmetals tend to be good insulators of thermal energy.
Metals cannot be stretched into thin wires.
Nonmetals can be stretched into thin wires.
Metals are good insulators of electricity.
Nonmetals tend to be good conductors of electricity.
Metals are dull and brittle.
Nonmetals are shiny and malleable.
30s - Q14
Roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks. A cart on a roller coaster approaches the highest point on the coaster. As the cart reaches the top, it slows down.
Which statement best describes the energy of the roller coaster as it slows down while traveling to the top of the coaster?
The cart loses both kinetic and potential energy.
The cart gains both kinetic and potential energy.
The cart gains kinetic energy and loses potential energy.
The cart loses kinetic energy and gains potential energy.
30s8.3a - Q15
Students recorded the dates in May on which they observed a full moon and a last quarter moon.
On which date will they most likely be able to observe a new moon?
May 13
May 25
May 31
May 18
30s8.7b
