Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which transition word best shows contrast between two ideas?

Furthermore
Similarly
However (Correct answer)
Therefore

Correct answer: However

'However' signals a contrast or shift in ideas, making it the appropriate transition for opposing information.

Question 2: Which Native American group historically lived on the Great Plains of Nebraska and relied heavily on bison?

Cherokee
Navajo
Lakota Sioux (Correct answer)
Iroquois

Correct answer: Lakota Sioux

The Lakota Sioux were among the dominant Plains Native American groups in the Nebraska region, with their culture centered on the bison (buffalo) for food, clothing, and shelter.

Question 3: Which natural feature in Nebraska is known for its unique sand dunes and is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere?

Chimney Rock
Agate Fossil Beds
Scotts Bluff
Sandhills (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Sandhills

The Nebraska Sandhills is a region of grass-stabilized sand dunes covering about one-quarter of Nebraska and is one of the largest sand dune formations in the Western Hemisphere.

Question 4: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

They played outside; it was; a sunny day.
I love to read; books, magazines, and newspapers.
She was tired; however, she finished her homework. (Correct answer)
He went to school; and then came home.

Correct answer: She was tired; however, she finished her homework.

A semicolon is correctly used before a conjunctive adverb like 'however' that connects two independent clauses.

Question 5: Which of the following is a function?

{(1,2),(1,3),(2,4)}
{(1,2),(2,3),(3,4)} (Correct answer)
A circle with center at the origin
A vertical line

Correct answer: {(1,2),(2,3),(3,4)}

A function requires each input (x-value) to have exactly one output; {(1,2),(2,3),(3,4)} satisfies this.

Question 6: What nickname is Nebraska commonly known by, reflecting its agricultural heritage?

The Hawkeye State
The Prairie State
The Cornhusker State (Correct answer)
The Sunflower State

Correct answer: The Cornhusker State

Nebraska is nicknamed 'The Cornhusker State,' a reference to the practice of husking (removing husks from) corn, which was central to its agricultural economy.

Question 7: Which economic system is characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods?

Feudalism
Socialism
Communism
Capitalism (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system defined by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, such as factories, land, and resources. In this system, investment decisions are made by private actors, and prices and the production and distribution of goods are primarily determined by competition in a free market.

Question 8: A rectangle has a length of 8 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is its area?

30 cm²
26 cm²
40 cm² (Correct answer)
45 cm²

Correct answer: 40 cm²

Area of a rectangle = length × width = 8 × 5 = 40 cm².

Question 9: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The principal praised the students for _____ hard work.'

thier
their (Correct answer)
they're
there

Correct answer: their

'Their' is the possessive pronoun showing that the hard work belongs to the students.

Question 10: Which is the most effective concluding sentence for a paragraph about recycling benefits?

Clearly, recycling conserves resources, reduces waste, and protects the environment for future generations. (Correct answer)
In conclusion, there are many things about recycling.
So, recycling is good and everyone should try it.
Recycling is something people do.

Correct answer: Clearly, recycling conserves resources, reduces waste, and protects the environment for future generations.

An effective concluding sentence restates the main idea with specific details and a sense of finality, without being vague.

Question 11: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The students turned in _____ assignments on time.'

thier
their (Correct answer)
there
they're

Correct answer: their

'Their' is the possessive pronoun showing the assignments belong to the students.

Question 12: What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?

To state the main idea of the paragraph (Correct answer)
To introduce supporting details
To provide a transition to the next paragraph
To conclude the main idea

Correct answer: To state the main idea of the paragraph

A topic sentence states the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will support.

Question 13: Which transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869, passed through Nebraska and connected the country coast to coast?

Union Pacific Railroad (Correct answer)
Burlington Northern Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe

Correct answer: Union Pacific Railroad

The Union Pacific Railroad was built westward from Omaha, Nebraska, meeting the Central Pacific at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869 to complete the first transcontinental railroad.

Question 14: Which sentence uses correct punctuation for a compound sentence?

She studied hard, but, she still felt nervous.
She studied hard but she, still felt nervous.
She studied hard but, she still felt nervous.
She studied hard, but she still felt nervous. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She studied hard, but she still felt nervous.

A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a comma and coordinating conjunction.

Question 15: What is the correct way to cite a quote within an essay?

Summarize the quote in your own words only.
Introduce the quote, enclose it in quotation marks, and cite the source. (Correct answer)
Place the quote in parentheses without quotation marks.
Place the quote in italics without attribution.

Correct answer: Introduce the quote, enclose it in quotation marks, and cite the source.

Properly cited quotes are introduced, placed in quotation marks, and attributed to their source.

Question 16: In a right triangle, the two shorter sides measure 3 cm and 4 cm. What is the hypotenuse?

6 cm
8 cm
5 cm (Correct answer)
7 cm

Correct answer: 5 cm

Using the Pythagorean theorem: 3² + 4² = 9 + 16 = 25, so the hypotenuse = √25 = 5 cm.

Question 17: Which sentence contains a correctly placed comma in a compound sentence?

She studied hard and, she passed the test.
She, studied hard and she passed the test.
She studied, hard and she passed the test.
She studied hard, and she passed the test. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She studied hard, and she passed the test.

In a compound sentence, a comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) that joins two independent clauses.

Question 18: If the ratio of boys to girls in a class is 3:4 and there are 21 boys, how many girls are there?

24
28 (Correct answer)
36
32

Correct answer: 28

If 3 parts = 21, then 1 part = 7, so 4 parts = 28 girls.

Question 19: Which expression represents 'three times a number decreased by 7'?

3n − 7 (Correct answer)
7 − 3n
3(n − 7)
3 + n − 7

Correct answer: 3n − 7

'Three times a number' is 3n, and 'decreased by 7' means subtract 7, giving 3n − 7.

Question 20: The Oregon Trail, an important historic route through Nebraska, was primarily used by:

Settlers heading west seeking land and new opportunities (Correct answer)
Spanish explorers searching for gold
Fur traders from Canada
Confederate soldiers during the Civil War

Correct answer: Settlers heading west seeking land and new opportunities

The Oregon Trail was used by thousands of westward-bound settlers during the 1840s–1860s who traveled through Nebraska seeking farmland and new lives.

Question 21: There are 5 red and 3 blue tiles in a bag. If one tile is drawn and not replaced, then another is drawn, what is the probability both are red?

10/28
5/16
25/64
20/56 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 20/56

P(both red) = 5/8 × 4/7 = 20/56 = 5/14.

Question 22: Students record daily high temperatures in Omaha for one week: 42, 45, 38, 50, 47, 44, 41. What is the range?

8
10
14
12 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 12

Range = maximum − minimum = 50 − 38 = 12.

Question 23: Which property is illustrated by the equation 3 × (4 + 5) = 3 × 4 + 3 × 5?

Commutative property
Identity property
Distributive property (Correct answer)
Associative property

Correct answer: Distributive property

The distributive property states that multiplying a number by a sum is the same as multiplying by each addend and adding the products.

Question 24: Which of the following best describes the function of the mitochondria in a cell?

They store genetic information.
They digest waste materials.
They generate energy. (Correct answer)
They produce proteins.

Correct answer: They generate energy.

Mitochondria are often referred to as the 'powerhouses' of the cell because their primary function is to generate the majority of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the main energy currency of the cell, produced through cellular respiration to fuel various cellular activities.

Question 25: Evaluate: 6² − (3 + 1) × 2

44
32
36
28 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 28

Following order of operations: 6² = 36, (3+1) = 4, 4 × 2 = 8, and 36 − 8 = 28.

Question 26: A number line shows points at −3, 0, and 4. Which order lists them from least to greatest?

0, −3, 4
4, 0, −3
−3, 4, 0
−3, 0, 4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: −3, 0, 4

On a number line, values increase from left to right, so the correct order is −3, 0, 4.

Question 27: Which term describes the passing of traits from parent organisms to their offspring through genes?

Evolution
Adaptation
Natural selection
Heredity (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Heredity

Heredity is the biological process by which genetic information (traits) is passed from parents to offspring through DNA contained in genes.

Question 28: What is the range of the data set: 14, 22, 8, 35, 19?

19
35
27 (Correct answer)
21

Correct answer: 27

Range = maximum − minimum = 35 − 8 = 27.

Question 29: A store sells notebooks for $2.50 each. How much do 8 notebooks cost?

$20.00 (Correct answer)
$18.00
$22.50
$16.00

Correct answer: $20.00

Multiply the unit price by the quantity: $2.50 × 8 = $20.00.

Question 30: A student writes: 'There are alot of reasons why exercise is important.' What correction is needed?

'important' should be 'importance'
'alot' should be 'a lot' (Correct answer)
'are' should be 'is'
No correction is needed

Correct answer: 'alot' should be 'a lot'

'A lot' is always written as two separate words; 'alot' is not a standard English word.

Question 31: Which type of wave requires a physical medium (such as air, water, or solid material) to travel through?

Radio wave
Light wave
Electromagnetic wave
Mechanical wave (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Mechanical wave

Mechanical waves, such as sound waves and seismic waves, require a medium of particles to transfer energy; electromagnetic waves like light can travel through a vacuum.

Question 32: Nebraska became the 37th state in the United States in which year?

1878
1867 (Correct answer)
1860
1854

Correct answer: 1867

Nebraska was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867, following the end of the Civil War.

Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA)

The Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) is a statewide K-12 assessment measuring student proficiency in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Nebraska History & Geography for grades 3-8 and 11. Results are reported as Below Standards, Meets Standards, or Exceeds Standards.

Questions

40 min

Time Limit

70%

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