M-STEP Science Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which process describes water moving from the soil into plant roots and eventually evaporating from leaves?
- Precipitation
- Condensation
- Transpiration (Correct answer)
- Infiltration
Correct answer: Transpiration
Transpiration is the process by which plants absorb water and release it as vapor through their leaves.
Question 2: An atom has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons. Which element is this?
- Nitrogen
- Carbon (Correct answer)
- Oxygen
- Silicon
Correct answer: Carbon
An atom with 6 protons is carbon, as the number of protons defines the element.
Question 3: Which wave property determines the pitch (highness or lowness) of a sound?
- Amplitude
- Wavelength
- Speed
- Frequency (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Frequency
Frequency determines pitch; higher frequency sound waves produce higher-pitched sounds.
Question 4: A scientist tests whether fertilizer affects plant growth. She grows 20 plants with fertilizer and 20 without. The group without fertilizer is called the:
- Experimental group
- Independent variable
- Control group (Correct answer)
- Dependent variable
Correct answer: Control group
The control group receives no treatment (no fertilizer) and serves as a baseline for comparison.
Question 5: Michigan's Great Lakes were largely formed by which geological process?
- Volcanic eruptions
- Tectonic plate collisions
- Glacial erosion and retreat (Correct answer)
- River erosion over millions of years
Correct answer: Glacial erosion and retreat
The Great Lakes basins were carved out by advancing glaciers and filled with water as the glaciers melted.
Question 6: Which organelle is responsible for producing energy (ATP) in animal cells through cellular respiration?
- Nucleus
- Ribosome
- Mitochondria (Correct answer)
- Vacuole
Correct answer: Mitochondria
Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration, converting glucose and oxygen into ATP energy.
Question 7: A metal spoon placed in hot soup feels warm after a few seconds. Heat transferred through the spoon is an example of:
- Convection
- Radiation
- Conduction (Correct answer)
- Evaporation
Correct answer: Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact between materials, such as a spoon in hot liquid.
M-STEP Science Assessment 3
Which process describes water moving from the soil into plant roots and eventually evaporating from leaves?