ISASP Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student places a metal spoon and a wooden spoon in a bowl of hot soup. After two minutes, the metal spoon feels much hotter than the wooden one. Which property best explains this difference?
- Density
- Thermal conductivity (Correct answer)
- Specific heat capacity
- Reflectivity
Correct answer: Thermal conductivity
Metals conduct heat much more readily than wood, so the metal spoon transfers heat energy to your hand faster.
Question 2: Which of the following correctly describes what happens during photosynthesis?
- Glucose is broken down to release energy and carbon dioxide
- Carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen using light energy (Correct answer)
- Oxygen is consumed and water is produced
- Nitrogen is converted into proteins using sunlight
Correct answer: Carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen using light energy
Photosynthesis uses light energy to convert CO₂ and H₂O into glucose (food) and releases oxygen as a byproduct.
Question 3: A rock layer containing marine fossils is found on top of a mountain in Iowa. What does this most likely indicate?
- The fossils were carried there by glaciers
- The area was once covered by a shallow sea (Correct answer)
- The fossils formed on the mountain millions of years ago
- A volcanic eruption deposited the rock layer
Correct answer: The area was once covered by a shallow sea
Marine fossils found in inland rock layers indicate that the region was once submerged under ocean or sea water.
Question 4: In which phase of matter do particles have the most kinetic energy and move freely in all directions?
- Solid
- Liquid
- Gas (Correct answer)
- Plasma
Correct answer: Gas
Gas particles have the highest kinetic energy and move rapidly and randomly in all directions with large spaces between them.
Question 5: A scientist observes that plant seedlings in a dark room grow toward the only light source. This growth response is called:
- Gravitropism
- Thigmotropism
- Phototropism (Correct answer)
- Hydrotropism
Correct answer: Phototropism
Phototropism is the directional growth of a plant toward or away from a light source.
Question 6: Which type of rock is formed when magma cools and solidifies?
- Sedimentary
- Metamorphic
- Igneous (Correct answer)
- Fossil
Correct answer: Igneous
Igneous rocks form when magma (underground) or lava (at the surface) cools and crystallizes.
Question 7: An ecosystem in Iowa has a drought that reduces the grass population. Which effect on the food chain is most likely?
- The hawk population will increase immediately
- Rabbits that eat grass will decrease, causing fox populations to also decrease (Correct answer)
- Decomposers will disappear from the ecosystem
- Predators at the top of the food chain will be unaffected
Correct answer: Rabbits that eat grass will decrease, causing fox populations to also decrease
A decrease in grass reduces food for herbivores like rabbits, which then reduces food for carnivores like foxes — a cascade effect through the food chain.
ISASP Science 2
A student places a metal spoon and a wooden spoon in a bowl of hot soup.
After two minutes, the metal spoon feels much hotter than the wooden one.
Which property best explains this difference?