HiSET Science Practice Test 1

Question 1

The generalized cross section below shows the sedimentary rock layers at Niagara Falls in western New York State. Which rock layer appears to be most resistant to weathering and erosion?

Accepted Answer

Lockport dolostone

Answer

Rochester shale

Answer

Grimsby sandstone

Answer

Queenston shale

Question 2

The timeline below depicts when the Trianis Volcano has erupted.  Geologists discuss "recurrence intervals" which represent an average time between past events.  The black circles represent when the Trianis Volcano had a confirmed eruption.  The triangle represents a suspected but not confirmed eruption.   The timeline shows that volcanic eruptions tend to happen at regular intervals.  According to this timeline, in which year would a volcanic eruption also have been expected?

Accepted Answer

1894

Answer

1899

Answer

1887

Answer

1891

Answer

1889

Question 3

The timeline below depicts when the Trianis Volcano has erupted.  Geologists discuss "recurrence intervals" which represent an average time between past events.  The black circles represent when the Trianis Volcano had a confirmed eruption.  The triangle represents a suspected but not confirmed eruption. Which of the following statements represents an hypothesis rather than a fact?

Accepted Answer

A volcanic eruption should have ocurred about 1820

Answer

A volcanic eruption occurred in 1852

Answer

Four volcanic eruptions occurred within a 33 year period

Answer

The 1830 volcanic eruption was not confirmed

Answer

Six volcanic eruptions have been reported

Question 4

The timeline below depicts when the Trianis Volcano has erupted.  Geologists discuss "recurrence intervals" which represent an average time between past events.  The black circles represent when the Trianis Volcano had a confirmed eruption.  The triangle represents a suspected but not confirmed eruption. Which of the following events follows a predictable timeline similar to the volcanic eruptions.

Accepted Answer

The Red River has a catastrophic flood about every 100 years

Answer

Hurricanes are common in the Caribbean but not in the Pacific

Answer

Northern latitudes have heavier snowfalls

Answer

A mudslide occurred in Venezuala in 1999

Answer

Tornadoes can be a problem in the midwest

Question 5

The five Great Lakes make up 95% of the United States’ fresh water supply. The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last glacial period (about 10,000 years ago), when the Laurentide ice sheet receded. The retreat of the ice sheet left behind a large amount of meltwater.  Today, chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides from the agriculture industry and toxic wastes from factories have polluted the Lakes. Higher temperatures and reduced precipitation have contributed to lower water levels, leading to costly efforts to dig out harbors and to open shipping lanes. A hard freeze that affected Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie during the winter of 2003 forced ships carrying industrial products to delay shipments or risk being trapped in the 2-foot-thick ice. A scientist who believes that the dropping water levels in the Great Lakes are the result of global warming would be most likely to study ways to reduce

Accepted Answer

fossil fuel use.

Answer

oil spills.

Answer

acid rain.

Answer

recycling of paper.

Question 6

The five Great Lakes make up 95% of the United States’ fresh water supply. The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last glacial period (about 10,000 years ago), when the Laurentide ice sheet receded. The retreat of the ice sheet left behind a large amount of meltwater.  Today, chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides from the agriculture industry and toxic wastes from factories have polluted the Lakes. Higher temperatures and reduced precipitation have contributed to lower water levels, leading to costly efforts to dig out harbors and to open shipping lanes. A hard freeze that affected Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie during the winter of 2003 forced ships carrying industrial products to delay shipments or risk being trapped in the 2-foot-thick ice.  A student receives an assignment to research and write a report on a nonrenewable resource of the Great Lakes region. Which of the following resources would be an appropriate choice?

Accepted Answer

iron

Answer

trees

Answer

fish

Answer

wind

Question 7

The five Great Lakes make up 95% of the United States’ fresh water supply. The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last glacial period (about 10,000 years ago), when the Laurentide ice sheet receded. The retreat of the ice sheet left behind a large amount of meltwater.  Today, chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides from the agriculture industry and toxic wastes from factories have polluted the Lakes. Higher temperatures and reduced precipitation have contributed to lower water levels, leading to costly efforts to dig out harbors and to open shipping lanes. A hard freeze that affected Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie during the winter of 2003 forced ships carrying industrial products to delay shipments or risk being trapped in the 2-foot-thick ice.  Which process originally contributed most to the amount of water contained in the Great Lakes?

Accepted Answer

glacial melting

Answer

runoff from tributaries

Answer

plate tectonics

Answer

rainfall

Question 8

Ancestors of the giant panda had rounded paws with five very short toes. Today, the giant panda has a sixth toe, often referred to as a thumb, even though it develops from a wrist bone. This unique thumb is an adaptation that allows the panda to easily hold and eat bamboo shoots.  The presence of the giant panda’s thumb is most likely the result of

Accepted Answer

natural selection

Answer

selective breeding

Answer

asexual reproduction

Answer

sexual reproduction

Question 9

The diagram below shows various ecological communities that occupied an area over a period of 300 years. Which statement best describes the diagram?

Accepted Answer

Community D modified the environment, making it more suitable for community E.

Answer

Community A is the most stable community.

Answer

Community C developed into community A after a period of 75 years.

Answer

Community B replaced community C after a period of 100 years.

Question 10

Which of the following outcomes of aberrant chromosomal numbers in newborns?

Accepted Answer

They could have Down syndrome.

Answer

They have no chance of surviving.

Answer

They tend to be more intelligent.

Answer

They are the same as babies with the normal amount of chromosomes.