Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What does the law of conservation of energy state about energy in a closed system?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed (Correct answer)
Energy is constantly created from matter
Energy can be created but not destroyed
Energy is destroyed when it converts to heat

Correct answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed

The law of conservation of energy states that the total energy in a closed system remains constant — energy can change forms (e.g., kinetic to thermal) but cannot be created or destroyed.

Question 2: What is the slope of the line passing through (0, 2) and (3, 8)?

4
3
1
2 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2

Slope = (8 − 2) / (3 − 0) = 6/3 = 2.

Question 3: Which sentence demonstrates correct capitalization?

We visited Omaha, Nebraska during the Summer.
We Visited Omaha, Nebraska during the summer.
We visited Omaha, Nebraska during the summer. (Correct answer)
We visited omaha, nebraska during the summer.

Correct answer: We visited Omaha, Nebraska during the summer.

Proper nouns like city and state names (Omaha, Nebraska) are capitalized, but common nouns like 'summer' are not.

Question 4: A map uses a scale of 1 inch = 50 miles. Two cities are 3.5 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance?

175 miles (Correct answer)
200 miles
125 miles
150 miles

Correct answer: 175 miles

Multiply the map distance by the scale factor: 3.5 × 50 = 175 miles.

Question 5: A student scores 72 out of 90 on a NeSA math section. What percentage did they score?

82%
80% (Correct answer)
75%
78%

Correct answer: 80%

72 divided by 90 equals 0.80, which is 80%.

Question 6: What is the meaning of the word 'infer' as used in reading comprehension?

To directly quote the text
To identify the main idea of a paragraph
To draw a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning (Correct answer)
To summarize a passage in one's own words

Correct answer: To draw a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning

To infer means to reach a conclusion that is not directly stated, using evidence from the text and prior knowledge.

Question 7: Which document established the first framework of government for the United States?

The Articles of Confederation (Correct answer)
The Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Constitution
The Bill of Rights

Correct answer: The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution and framework of government for the United States, adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781. It established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government before being replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

Question 8: What is the capital city of Nebraska?

Kearney
Grand Island
Lincoln (Correct answer)
Omaha

Correct answer: Lincoln

Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and home to the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Capitol building.

Question 9: What is the main purpose of a concluding paragraph?

To restate the thesis and summarize key points (Correct answer)
To ask the reader questions
To provide more evidence for the body paragraphs
To introduce new arguments

Correct answer: To restate the thesis and summarize key points

The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the essay's main points without introducing new arguments.

Question 10: Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb to match the subject?

The students were excited about the NeSA results. (Correct answer)
The students was excited about the NeSA results.
The students is excited about the NeSA results.
The students be excited about the NeSA results.

Correct answer: The students were excited about the NeSA results.

'Students' is a plural subject, so it requires the plural verb 'were,' not 'was,' 'is,' or 'be.'

Question 11: A point is located 3 units to the left and 4 units up from the origin. What are its coordinates?

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

Correct answer: (−3, 4)

Moving left means a negative x-value (−3) and moving up means a positive y-value (4).

Question 12: A bag contains 5 red marbles, 3 blue marbles, and 2 green marbles. What is the probability of picking a blue marble?

3/10 (Correct answer)
1/3
3/5
1/5

Correct answer: 3/10

Probability = favorable outcomes / total outcomes = 3 / (5+3+2) = 3/10.

Question 13: Which layer of Earth is composed mostly of liquid iron and nickel?

Crust
Mantle
Outer core (Correct answer)
Inner core

Correct answer: Outer core

The Earth's outer core is a liquid layer composed primarily of molten iron and nickel. This layer is responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field through the convection currents of its metallic fluid, distinguishing it from the solid inner core and the rocky mantle and crust.

Question 14: Which natural feature in Nebraska is known for its unique sand dunes and is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere?

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

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 15: Which of the following is equivalent to 3/4?

0.34
0.70
0.75 (Correct answer)
0.80

Correct answer: 0.75

3 divided by 4 equals 0.75.

Question 16: Which of the following sentences uses parallel structure?

She likes running, biking, and swimming. (Correct answer)
She likes to run, biking, and to swim.
She likes to run, biking, and swimming.
She likes to run, to bike, and swimming.

Correct answer: She likes running, biking, and swimming.

Parallel structure requires that items in a list or series maintain the same grammatical form. In option A, 'running,' 'biking,' and 'swimming' are all gerunds (verb-ing nouns), creating a consistent and grammatically parallel construction. The other options mix different grammatical forms, such as infinitives and gerunds, breaking the parallel structure.

Question 17: A table shows quiz scores for 4 students: 88, 92, 76, and 84. What is the mean score?

87
84
86
85 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 85

Mean = sum of values / number of values = (88+92+76+84) / 4 = 340 / 4 = 85.

Question 18: Which measure of central tendency is most affected by an outlier?

Mode
Median
Mean (Correct answer)
Range

Correct answer: Mean

The mean uses all values in its calculation, so extreme values (outliers) can skew it significantly.

Question 19: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

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

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 20: A pie chart shows that 40% of students prefer math and 35% prefer reading. What percentage prefer other subjects?

15%
30%
20%
25% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 25%

Since all percentages in a pie chart must total 100%, the remaining percentage is 100 − 40 − 35 = 25%.

Question 21: During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to produce glucose and which other substance?

Hydrogen
Oxygen (Correct answer)
Carbon monoxide
Nitrogen

Correct answer: Oxygen

Photosynthesis produces glucose for the plant and releases oxygen as a byproduct, which is essential for most living organisms on Earth.

Question 22: Which word is spelled correctly?

recieve
beleive
achieve (Correct answer)
peice

Correct answer: achieve

'Achieve' follows the rule 'i before e except after c' correctly.

Question 23: Nebraska has a unique feature among U.S. states in that its legislature is:

Appointed rather than elected
The largest in the United States
Unicameral, with only one chamber (Correct answer)
Bicameral, with three chambers

Correct answer: Unicameral, with only one chamber

Nebraska has the only unicameral (one-chamber) state legislature in the United States, adopted in 1937, called the Nebraska Legislature.

Question 24: What is the distance between points (1, 2) and (4, 6)?

4
5 (Correct answer)
3
7

Correct answer: 5

Distance = √((4−1)² + (6−2)²) = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5.

Question 25: The range of a data set is 18. If the minimum value is 12, what is the maximum value?

24
30 (Correct answer)
28
36

Correct answer: 30

Range = maximum − minimum, so maximum = minimum + range = 12 + 18 = 30.

Question 26: 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 27: Which transformation slides a figure to a new position without rotating or flipping it?

Rotation
Dilation
Translation (Correct answer)
Reflection

Correct answer: Translation

A translation moves every point of a figure the same distance in the same direction.

Question 28: What is the probability of rolling a number greater than 4 on a standard six-sided die?

2/3
1/3 (Correct answer)
1/2
1/6

Correct answer: 1/3

Numbers greater than 4 on a die are 5 and 6 (2 outcomes), so probability = 2/6 = 1/3.

Question 29: What does the prefix 'un-' mean in the word 'unlikely'?

Not (Correct answer)
Again
Under
Before

Correct answer: Not

The prefix 'un-' means 'not,' so 'unlikely' means 'not likely.'

Question 30: What is the perimeter of a square with a side length of 7 inches?

14 inches
21 inches
28 inches (Correct answer)
49 inches

Correct answer: 28 inches

Perimeter of a square = 4 × side = 4 × 7 = 28 inches.

Question 31: Omaha, Nebraska's largest city, played an important role in U.S. history as:

The site of Nebraska's only Civil War battle
The location of the first homestead claim under the Homestead Act
The first capital of the Nebraska Territory
The eastern starting point of the transcontinental railroad (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The eastern starting point of the transcontinental railroad

Omaha served as the eastern terminus and headquarters of the Union Pacific Railroad when construction of the first transcontinental railroad began in 1863.

Question 32: The Platte River is significant to Nebraska because it:

Provides water only to Omaha
Flows through the center of the state and was a key Oregon Trail route (Correct answer)
Is the deepest river in the Midwest
Forms the northern border with South Dakota

Correct answer: Flows through the center of the state and was a key Oregon Trail route

The Platte River flows east through the heart of Nebraska and its broad, shallow valley served as a natural highway for Oregon, California, and Mormon Trail travelers.

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%

To Pass

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