– GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

1. In an acid base reaction, an acid reacts with a 4. Ice floats on water because
base to produce water and a salt. The pH scale a. ice is less dense than water.
can be used to describe the acidity of a liquid. b. water conducts heat better than ice.
Look at the diagram below. c. ice has a lower temperature.
d. heat from the Earth’s core travels upward,
Increasingly Acidic Neutral Increasingly Basic
cooling the bottom first.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 e. it needs energy from the sun to melt.
Battery
acid
Stomach
acid

Beer

Saliva
Blood

Bleach

Ammonia

Oven
cleaner
Vinegar

Coffee

Lye
5. Which of the following is NOT true about
gravity?
a. The more massive two objects are, the greater
Which two liquids could undergo an acid base
the gravitational force between them.
reaction?
b. Gravitational force between two objects
a. bleach and ammonia
depends only on the mass of the larger object.
b. lye and ammonia
c. Gravitational force between two objects
c. blood and saliva
depends on the distance between them.
d. bleach and vinegar
d. People can jump higher on the moon than on
e. stomach acid and beer
Earth because the gravitational force between
a person and the moon is lower than the grav-
2. According to Newton’s laws of motion, an object
itational force between a person and the
set in motion remains in motion unless a force
Earth.
acts on it. If you suspend an object from a string
e. A gravitational force exists between the moon
and make it swing, the object will swing for a
and the sun.
while, then slow down and stop. Why does the
suspended object stop swinging?
6. Change of phase is a process whereby matter
a. because an object at rest remains at rest unless
changes form (solid, liquid, gas). Which one of
a force acts upon it
the following constitutes a phase change?
b. because the mass of the object is too small to
a. condensation of water vapor
maintain the motion
b. photosynthesis
c. because energy is the ability to do work
c. digestion of food
d. because gravity is pulling it toward the Earth
d. dry-cleaning
e. because energy of motion is converted to heat
e. exhaling
through friction with air
7. Two negatively charged spheres
3. In an exothermic process, heat is released by the
a. repel each other.
process to the surroundings. An example of an
b. attract each other.
exothermic process is burning wood. An
c. neither attract nor repel each other.
endothermic process requires the input of heat
d. can either attract or repel each other depend-
from the surroundings. An example of an
ing on their position.
endothermic process is boiling water. Which of
e. attract each other only when the distance
the following is an endothermic process?
between them is small.
a. detonation of an explosive
b. melting ice
c. burning paper
d. the formation of helium on the sun
e. freezing water

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

8. Which statement about energy and/or matter is 11. Different colors of light correspond to different
incorrect? wavelengths. Wavelengths are often quoted in
a. Matter and energy can’t be destroyed. nanometers (nm). The wavelengths of the visible
b. Matter and energy can’t be created. part of the spectrum are shown in the diagram
c. All matter tends toward more disordered below.
states. 400 nm 500 nm 600 nm 700 nm 730 nm
d. Energy can be stored and transferred.
e. Heat energy is composed of heat atoms. Violet Blue Green Yellow Orange Red

According to the diagram, blue-green light

9. The boiling point in hydrocarbons (molecules
containing H and C) increases with increasing would most likely have a wavelength of
molecular weight due to larger intermolecular a. 670 nm.
forces. Which of these hydrocarbons would you b. 550 nm.
expect to have the highest boiling point? c. 350 nm.
d. 470 nm.
a. H e. 700 nm.
H C H
H 12. What always stays the same when a chemical
reaction takes place?
b. H H a. the number of atoms
H C C H
b. the number of molecules
c. the amount of gas
H H
d. the amount of solid matter
c. H H H
e. the amount of disorder

H C C C H 13. Which of the following is NOT true about

H H H sunlight?
a. It is a form of radiation.
d. H H H b. It is used as an energy source in solar-powered
H C C C calculators.
H H H c. It contains the colors of the rainbow.
d. Its speed is infinite.
e. H H H H e. It can be absorbed by plants.
H C C C H H
14. In order to protect themselves from being eaten,
H H H H
animals resort to camouflage and chemical
defense. Animals camouflage by mimicking the
10. People wear woolen gloves in the winter because
appearance of their environment. Animals that
gloves
have chemical defenses contain chemicals nox-
a. generate heat energy through radiation.
ious to predators. Which of these is NOT an
b. increase the temperature of cold air through
example of camouflage or chemical defense?
convection.
a. A walking stick insect looks just like a twig.
c. decrease the loss of body heat to surroundings
b. A skunk has an awful smell.
through insulation.
c. Feathers of the pitohui bird in New Guinea
d. increase the amount of heat energy generated
contain a deadly toxin.
by the body through conduction.
d. Roses have thorns.
e. transform cold wind energy into thermal
e. A harlequin crab looks just like the sea
energy.
cucumber it lives on.

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15. Osmosis is the movement of water across a selec- 17. Identical twins have exactly the same genes.
tively permeable membrane in order to equalize Identical twins result when
the concentration (the amount of protein per a. an egg fertilized by one sperm divides in two.
milliliter of water) on two sides of the mem- b. two eggs are fertilized with two sperm cells.
brane. Consider the diagram below. The con- c. one egg divides in two and is fertilized by two
tainer is divided into two compartments, A and sperm cells.
B, by a selectively permeable membrane. Each d. the same sperm cell fertilizes two eggs.
circle represents 100 protein molecules that can’t e. the same egg is fertilized by two sperm cells.
pass through the membrane. The amount of
water on two sides of the membrane is initially 18. In peas, the gene for green color is dominant
equal. What will happen as a result of osmosis? over the gene for yellow color. We will specify the
Membrane gene for yellow peas as y, and the gene for green
Water level
peas as Y. Each pea has two genes for color (one
from each parent) and donates only one gene for
A B
color to its offspring. Yellow peas have the geno-
type yy. Any other genotype leads to green peas.
Consider the following Punnett square:
Parent
Y y
a. Protein will flow from compartment B to
compartment A. y Yy yy

Parent
b. Protein will flow from compartment A to
compartment B. y Yy yy
c. Water will flow from compartment B to com-
partment A. The offspring of these two parents
d. Water will flow from compartment A to com- a. could never be yellow.
partment B. b. could never be green.
e. Both water and protein will flow from com- c. could be either green or yellow.
partment B to compartment A. d. could be yellow-green.
e. could be yellow, but could never have yellow
16. Which of the following statements about human offspring.
genetics is true?
a. Half the chromosomes in a human are inher- 19. Which of the following is NOT true?
ited from the mother, and half from the a. All organisms are made of atoms.
father. b. All organisms are made of molecules.
b. A human looks 50% like the father, and 50% c. All organisms are made of one or more cells.
like the mother. d. All organisms have genetic material.
c. Fraternal twins are genetically more similar e. All organisms have a cell wall.
than siblings who are not twins.
d. Exposure to X-rays can have no effect on a
human’s chromosomes.
e. Genes are particles found in the nucleus of
DNA atom.

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20. In humans, a pair of chromosomes (one from Questions 22 through 24 are based on the following
each parent) determines the sex of the baby. passage.
Females have two X chromosomes, while males
have an X and a Y chromosome. The baby always An island in the Adriatic Sea was overpopu-
gets an X chromosome from the mother, so in lated with snakes. Sailors who came to the
humans, the father determines the sex of the island brought and let loose mongooses,
baby by supplying it with either an X chromo- animals that feed on snakes. The population
some to make it female, or a Y chromosome to of snakes started decreasing, since the mon-
make it male. In birds, like in humans, a pair of gooses were eating them. The mongoose
chromosomes determines the sex. Birds with population started increasing since there
two W chromosomes are male. Birds with a W was ample food around. The mongooses
chromosome and a Z chromosome are female. were not native to the island and there was
Which statement is true about birds? no predator on the island to keep the mon-
a. The male bird determines the sex of the off- goose population in check. At some point,
spring by supplying it with the W or the Z there were hardly any snakes left on the
chromosome. island, and people started populating it. The
b. The male bird determines the sex of the off- mongoose, facing a shortage of snakes,
spring by supplying it with one of its W started eating chickens that people kept for
chromosomes. their eggs and meat. However, people
c. The male bird determines the sex of the off- caught on and protected the chickens from
spring by supplying it with the X or the Y getting eaten. The mongoose population
chromosome. decreased. Some remain on the island, but
d. The female bird determines the sex of the off- their number is now at equilibrium, kept in
spring by supplying it with the X or the Y check by the availability of food.
chromosome.
e. The female bird determines the sex of the off- 22. The passage illustrates
spring by supplying it with the W or the Z a. the interdependence of organisms.
chromosome. b. the fragility of an ecosystem.
c. the ability of humans to change an ecosystem.
21. A species may live in association with another d. the relationship between the population of
species. Such an arrangement is called symbiosis. predator and prey.
Symbiosis in which both species benefit is called e. all of the above.
mutualism. If the symbiosis is beneficial to one
species and neither beneficial nor harmful to the 23. There were hardly any snakes left on the island
other, it is called commensalism. If one species because
benefits at the expense of the other, the relation- a. mongooses had eaten them.
ship is called parasitism. A tick that attaches to b. people had killed them.
the skin of a human or animal and feeds on its c. there was no predator for the mongooses.
blood is an example of d. sailors brought them prey.
a. commensalisms. e. the chickens didn’t taste as good to the
b. parasitism. mongooses.
c. competition.
d. coevolution.
e. mutualism.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

24. Which statement best describes the change in 26. Two main chemicals are responsible for the com-
population of mongooses on the island? munication of the brain with the organs you
a. The population was zero before sailors have no conscious control over (heart, digestive
brought a few. The few then multiplied, and system, endocrine system). The chemical norepi-
the number of mongooses on the island is still nephrine helps your body get ready for a fight-
steadily growing. or-flight action by stirring up energy stores. In
b. The population was zero before sailors contrast, the chemical acetylcholine helps con-
brought a few. The few then multiplied, serve energy by slowing the heart and increasing
increasing the number of mongooses. When intestinal absorption. Which of the following sit-
the snakes were almost gone, the mongoose uations is least likely to lead to increased levels of
population started decreasing. norepinephrine?
c. The population was small before sailors a. being chased by a flesh-eating animal
brought more mongooses, increasing the gene b. running away from someone holding a knife
pool. The number of mongooses kept grow- c. petting a rabbit
ing, until the people started protecting the d. taking an important exam
chickens. e. going on a first date with someone
d. The population was small before sailors
brought more snakes, increasing the food sup- 27. Most bacteria cannot grow in high concentra-
ply for the mongoose. The number of mon- tions of salt. As a result,
gooses kept growing, until the snake a. salt acts as a preservative in ham, beef jerky,
population was almost gone. The mongooses and other salty foods.
died out, since they ran out of food. b. people who don’t eat enough salt become
e. The population was initially large, but when a anemic.
predator was brought by sailors, the number c. Utah’s great Salt Lake is filled with bacteria.
of mongooses decreased. d. most antibiotics are sweet.
e. there are no bacteria in fresh water.
25. There are four blood types in humans: A, B, AB,
and O. An individual with blood type A has anti- 28. In the early 19th century, almost all peppered
bodies for B, so he or she can’t receive type B moths collected by biologists in the U.K. were
blood. Similarly, a person with blood type B has pale and mottled. Only rarely was a collector able
antibodies for type A and can’t receive type A to find a dark-peppered moth. After the Indus-
blood. A person with AB blood type has no anti- trial Revolution, when furnaces filled the air with
bodies and can receive blood from anyone. A dark soot, the light-peppered moth became rare
person with type O blood has both A and B anti- and the dark-peppered moth was most common
bodies and can receive blood only from someone in industrial cities. A reasonable explanation for
else with type O blood. Based on this informa- this change is that the dark moth was less likely
tion, someone with type B blood can donate to to be seen and eaten by birds against the dark
a. blood groups B and O. background. This explanation illustrates the
b. blood groups B and AB. principle of
c. only blood group B. a. conservation of energy.
d. only blood group AB. b. natural selection.
e. only blood group O. c. gene flow.
d. male competition.
e. acquired traits.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

29. All of the following are mammals EXCEPT 31. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks our
a. humans. view of the sun. Select the diagram that best rep-
b. rabbits. resents the position of the sun, the Earth, and
c. whales. the moon during a solar eclipse, as well as the
d. penguins. correct orbits.
e. rats. a.

30. All of the following are primates EXCEPT

a. humans. Moon
Earth Sun
b. gorillas.
c. whales.
d. chimpanzees.
e. orangutans.

b.

Moon
Sun Earth

c. Moon

Earth Sun

d.
Sun

Earth

Moon

e.
Sun

Moon

Earth

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

32. Convection currents of molten rock within the 36. The Milky Way is estimated to be about 100,000
Earth mantle cause all the following EXCEPT light-years across its larger diameter. A light-year
a. sunlight. is a measure of
b. movement of plates on Earth’s crust. a. time since the Big Bang.
c. volcanic eruptions. b. distance.
d. earthquakes. c. brightness.
e. flow of molten rock from cracks along the d. the number of stars in a galaxy.
bottom of the ocean. e. speed of light.

33. Which of the following does NOT cause changes Questions 37 and 38 are based on the following passage.
in the Earth’s surface, such as the formation of
mountains and valleys? According to scientists, the sun has existed for
a. collision of plates 4.6 billion years. The sun produces energy by
b. moving apart of plates a nuclear conversion of hydrogen into helium.
c. volcanic eruptions When hydrogen runs out, according to this
d. erosion theory, the sun will expand, engulfing Earth
e. ozone and other planets. Not to worry—the expan-
sion will not affect us, since the sun has
34. The United States is in the Northern Hemi- enough hydrogen for another 4.6 billion
sphere. Which statement(s) about the Southern years. When it expands, the sun will become
Hemisphere is true? what is called a red giant star. In another 500
I. It is always warm in the Southern million years, the sun will shrink to the cur-
Hemisphere. rent size of the Earth and will be called a white
II. When it’s summer in the Northern dwarf, cooling down for several billion years.
Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern
Hemisphere. 37. According to the passage, the sun will eventually
III. In the Southern Hemisphere, the sun sets in a. expand and then shrink.
the east. b. shrink and then expand.
IV. When it’s winter in the Northern c. shrink and then run out of helium.
Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern d. expand because it ran out of helium.
Hemisphere. e. shrink because it ran out of hydrogen.
a. statement I only
b. statement II only 38. Based on this theory, the sun will, at some point,
c. statements II, III, and IV be a
d. statements II and IV a. blue star.
e. statements I, II, and IV b. red dwarf star.
c. white dwarf star.
35. Humidity is a measure of d. asteroid.
a. air temperature. e. galaxy.
b. the amount of water vapor in air.
c. air pressure. 39. Webbed feet enable ducks to swim better by
d. cloudiness. a. making the ducks aerodynamic.
e. air resistance. b. increasing the surface area with which ducks
propel water.
c. preventing particles from being stuck between
the duck’s toes.
d. making the duck less dense.
e. increasing the rate of heat loss, so that ducks
can cool down faster.
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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

40. Determine how much water is in the graduated a. All organisms are made of one or more cells.
cylinder drawn below by reading the bottom of b. It’s wrong to kill any organism.
the meniscus (surface of water). c. All organisms need energy.
d. Some organisms reproduce asexually.
10 e. Some organisms can breathe underwater.
ml

43. Here are a few experimental observations and

known facts:
I. A scummy substance often forms in solu-
tions of an amino acid in water.
II. When the water is purified and exposed to
UV radiation, the scummy substance does
not form in the amino acid solution.
III. UV radiation kills bacteria.

a. 3.0 ml What would be a valid hypothesis based on I, II

b. 5.5 ml and III?
c. 6.5 ml a. The scummy substance is a form of the amino
d. 7.5 ml acid.
e. 10.0 ml b. The scummy substance would not appear if
water were treated by a method, other than
41. In addition to magnifying the image of an UV radiation, that kills bacteria.
object, a microscope inverts the image left to c. The scummy substance is caused by organ-
right. The image of the object observed through isms that humans are unable to detect.
the microscope is also upside down. Looking d. The amino acid would not form the scummy
through the eyepiece, you would therefore see substance in another galaxy.
the upside-down mirror image of the object e. UV light contributes to global warming.
under the microscope lens. What would the
object below look like if observed through the
microscope?

E
E
a.

b. E
c.
E

d.
E

E
E
e.

42. Which one of the following statements is an

opinion, rather than a fact?

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

44. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condi- 45. The following pie chart illustrates the relative
tion that can lead to heart attack and stroke. A productivity (new plant material produced in
scientist graphed the following data collected one year) of different biomes. Based on the
from a study on hypertension. What is a logical chart, which biome has the largest effect on the
conclusion based on the data? overall productivity?
Hypertension among Different Relative Productivity
Age Groups of Biomes
70
Desert Tundra
60 2%
1%
hypertension (%)
Prevalence of

50 Chaparral
11%
40 Tropical
30 rain Grassland
forest 9%
20 33%
10 Taiga
0 12%
all ages 18–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74
Age group Temperate
deciduous Savanna
a. The prevalence of hypertension is higher than forest 14%
18%
average in the 35–44 age group.
b. The prevalence of hypertension is highest in a. chaparral
the 45–54 age group. b. savanna
c. The prevalence of hypertension increases c. tropical rain forest
with age. d. desert
d. No teenager suffers from hypertension. e. temperate deciduous forest
e. All senior citizens suffer from hypertension.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

46. In 1969, two scientists devised an experiment to Questions 47 and 48 are based on the following passage.
test a hypothesis that the number of species in an
ecosystem depends on the area of the ecosystem. A science student hypothesized that the rate
They counted all the arthropod species on a few of evaporation of water depends on the
very tiny islands. They then exterminated all the shape of the container the water is placed in.
arthropods (mostly insects) with a pesticide. She decided to measure the amount of
Over six months, they monitored the gradual water evaporated when 300 ml of water in
repopulation of the island and noticed that by five different containers was heated from
the end of the observation period, each island room temperature to 90° C on preheated
had almost the same number of species as it had hot plates. She used five cylindrical 500-
before pesticide was used. However, the kinds of milliliter glass containers, each having the
species that arrived often differed from the same wall thickness but a different base
species that were on the island prior to pesticide radius and height. In other words, some
use. Here is a chart that illustrates the results. containers were narrow and tall, others were
wide and shallow. The following table lists
NUMBER OF SPECIES the dimensions of the containers and the
amount of water initially present.
Before After
Trophic Level Pesticide Use Pesticide Use Radius Height Volume
Container (cm) (cm) (cm)
Herbivores 55 55
1 2.0 75.0 300
Scavengers 7 5
2 3.4 26.0 300
Detrivores 13 8
3 4.0 18.8 300
Wood borers 8 6
4 5.0 12.0 300
Ants 32 23
5 10.0 3.0 300
Predator 36 31

Parasite 12 9
She placed each container, containing the
Based on the chart, which trophic level suffered the same amount of water, on a hot plate, and
greatest net loss (number of species) in diversity? placed a thermometer in each to monitor
a. herbivores the temperature. She noticed that the tem-
b. scavengers perature was increasing faster in the con-
c. detrivores tainers with a larger radius. After some time,
d. wood borers the temperature in the 10-cm radius con-
e. ants tainer reached the set 90° C. Following con-
tainer 5, the water in containers 4, 3, 2, and
1, in that order, reached the set temperature.
The student checked the volume of the
water in each container and found that it
was lower than 300 ml. She also found that
the decrease in volume was highest in the
container with the largest radius. In con-
tainer 1, volume decrease was barely
detectable.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

47. What can the student conclude from the data? e. At 300 seconds, the concentration of the reac-
a. The greater the radius of the container, the tant is at maximum.
lower the rate of evaporation.
b. The greater the radius of the container, the Questions 50 and 51 are based on the following passage.
higher the rate of evaporation.
c. The radius of the container is not related to Is Pluto a Planet?
the rate of evaporation. Based on perturbations in Neptune’s orbit,
d. The greater the radius of the container, the the search for a ninth planet was conducted
slower it reaches the set temperature. and Pluto was discovered in 1930. Pluto
e. The smaller the radius of the container, the orbits the sun just like the other eight plan-
faster it reaches the set temperature. ets, and it has a moon, Charon, and a stable
orbit. Based on its distance from the sun,
48. Which two statements are valid objections to the Pluto should be grouped with the planets
experimental setup? known as gas giants. In addition, Pluto, like
I. All the containers were filled with the same the planet Mercury, has little or no atmos-
amount of water. phere. Pluto is definitely not a comet
II. A different hot plate was used to heat water because it does not have a tail like a comet
in different containers. when it is near the sun. Pluto is also not an
III. Water in different containers was heated for asteroid, although its density is closer to an
different amounts of time. asteroid than to any of the other planets.
IV. The containers were not filled completely. Pluto is a planet because it has been classi-
fied as one for more than sixty years since
a. I and II
its discovery.
b. I and III
c. I and IV
50. Which argument supporting the classification of
d. II and III
Pluto as a planet is the weakest?
e. II and IV
a. Pluto orbits the sun just like the other eight
planets.
49. The following graph shows how the concentra-
b. Pluto has a moon.
tion (amount per unit volume) changes with
c. Pluto has a stable orbit.
time. What information can be obtained from the
d. Pluto, like the planet Mercury, has little or no
data?
atmosphere.
Concentration of a Reactant e. Pluto has been classified as a planet for more
as a Function of Time
0.20 than sixty years since discovery.
Concentration (mol/liter)

0.15
51. Which one of the following statements is NOT
0.10
backed with an explanation?
a. Pluto is like a planet.
0.05 b. Pluto should be grouped with planets known
as gas giants.
0.00
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 c. Pluto is like Mercury.
Time (seconds) d. Pluto is not a comet.
a. The amount of reactant does not change with e. Pluto is not an asteroid.
time.
b. The amount of product is decreasing.
c. The amount of reactant first decreases and
then stays constant.
d. After 500 seconds, all of the reactant is used.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

52. The instrument shown in this picture can be Questions 55 and 56 are based on the following diagram.
used to study
180
2 10
0
15
S

24
1 20

0
W
27 0
E
90

30
60
N

0
33
30 0
0

a. cell organelles.
b. the flight pattern of birds.
c. the movement of stars in other galaxies. 55. This instrument is used to
d. old manuscripts. a. determine the direction of the wind.
e. human vision defects. b. determine the directions of the world.
c. find the nearest piece of land when navigating
53. A large surface area results in a high rate of cool- the seas.
ing. This is why we tend to curl up when we sleep d. find underground waters.
in a cold room and spread our limbs out when e. determine the direction of water flow.
we sleep in a very hot room. Which of the fol-
lowing is an example where this principle is used 56. This instrument works because
in technology? a. it has an internal clock.
a. Refrigerators can be used to cool containers of b. the needle points to the direction of mini-
milk with large surface areas. mum pressure.
b. Fans that cool computers are often ribbed to c. the needle changes position depending on the
increase the surface area for cooling. position of the sun.
c. Airplanes are shaped to minimize heat loss in d. the Earth has two magnetic poles.
the cabin. e. the temperatures on Earth’s poles are very low.
d. Heat packs are designed to have a large surface
area.
e. Microwave ovens are designed to completely
close during food preparation.

54. The amount of dissolved gas in a liquid solution

depends on the pressure of the gas. Under a high
pressure, greater amounts of gas can be dis-
solved. Pressure is used to increase the solubility
of carbon dioxide gas in
a. fish ponds.
b. cereals.
c. carbonated drinks.
d. milk.
e. gasoline.

280
 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

Questions 57 and 58 are based on the following passage. 57. As a result of this finding, the Food and Drug
Administration should
Farm animals can carry salmonella, a kind a. carefully regulate the prescription of antibi-
of bacteria that can cause severe food poi- otics for sore throats.
soning. However, animals fed antibiotics can b. prevent the export of meat from South
carry especially deadly strains of salmonella. Dakota to Minnesota.
In Minnesota in 1983, 11 people were hos- c. limit the practice of feeding antibiotics to
pitalized with salmonella poisoning. This cattle.
number itself was not striking at all. Forty- d. take the antibiotic that caused salmonella off
thousand Americans are hospitalized with the market.
salmonella poisoning every year. What was e. require special prescription for antibiotics
striking about the cases in Minnesota was resistant to salmonella.
that each patient had severe symptoms and
all the patients were infected with the same, 58. Based on the passage, which one of the following
rare strain of salmonella, resistant to several statements is false?
common antibiotics. A young scientist, a. Salmonella poisoning is a common bacterial
Scott Holmberg, noted that eight patients infection.
were taking the same antibiotics for sore b. Some strands of bacteria are resistant to
throats. He ruled out the possibility that the antibiotics.
antibiotics themselves were infected with c. Antibiotics kill off bacteria that are not resist-
the bacteria because three of the patients ant to antibiotics.
were not taking antibiotics at all. He later d. Antibiotics transmit salmonella.
showed that the people were infected with e. Farm animals can carry salmonella.
salmonella prior to taking the antibiotics,
but that the antibiotics triggered the onset
of salmonella poisoning. He postulated that
salmonella suddenly flourished when the
patients took antibiotics, because the antibi-
otics killed off all other competing bacteria.
He was also able to trace the antibiotic-
resistant salmonella to the beef that was
imported to Minnesota from a farm in
South Dakota, at which cattle were routinely
fed antibiotics and at which one calf died of
the same strain of salmonella.

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Questions 59 through 61 are based on the passage below 60. Which of the minerals listed in the table are you
and the table at the bottom of the page. most likely lacking if you experience irregular
heartbeat?
Minerals are an important component of a. sodium
the human diet. Some minerals are needed b. potassium
in relatively large amounts. These include c. calcium
calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, d. phosphorous
chlorine, and magnesium. Others, including e. magnesium
iron, manganese, and iodine, are needed in
smaller amounts. Humans need 26 minerals 61. Which two minerals are necessary for formation
all together, but some of them are only of healthy bones and teeth?
required in tiny amounts. Some minerals, a. calcium and magnesium
such as lead and selenium, are harmful in b. calcium and phosphorous
large quantities. Dietary supplements can c. calcium and potassium
decrease the chance of mineral deficiencies d. calcium and sodium
listed in the table below, but should be taken e. sodium and magnesium
with great care, since overdose can lead to
poisoning. 62. Which of the following is the most common
result of prolonged excessive alcohol
consumption?
59. Taking several iron supplements per day can a. heart attack
a. decrease the chance of bone loss. b. brain tumor
b. make you stronger. c. lung cancer
c. help relieve PMS symptoms. d. liver damage
d. cause poisoning. e. cataracts
e. make up for an unbalanced diet.
63. Which of the following could be transmitted
through kissing?
a. lung cancer
b. brain tumor
c. flu
d. diabetes
e. Down’s syndrome
MINERAL GOOD SOURCES SYMPTOMS OF DEFICIENCY FUNCTIONS

Sodium Table salt, normal diet Muscle cramps Water balance, muscle and
nerve operation

Potassium Fruits, vegetables, grains Irregular heartbeat, fatigue, Muscle and nerve opera-
muscle cramps tion, acid-base balance

Calcium Dairy, bony fish, leafy Osteoporosis Formation of bone and

green vegetables teeth, clotting, nerve
signaling

Phosphorous Dairy, meat, cereals Bone loss, weakness, lack of appetite Formation of bone and
teeth, energy metabolism

Magnesium Nuts, greens, whole grains Nausea, vomiting, weakness Enzyme action, nerve
signaling

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64. A woman is most likely to get pregnant if she has 66. The boiling point of water decreases with
unprotected sex a few days before and on the day increasing pressure. At high altitudes, the atmos-
of ovulation, when the egg is released from the pheric pressure is lower than at sea level. Where
ovaries. The release of the egg is hormonally would you expect to find the highest boiling
stimulated, meaning that a hormone in the point temperature of water?
woman’s body triggers ovulation. On average, a. in the Grand Canyon Valley
women ovulate around the 14th day of their b. at sea level
menstrual cycle. The following is a graph show- c. at the base of Mount Everest
ing the levels of three hormones throughout the d. at the top of Mount Everest
menstrual cycle of an average woman. e. at the top of a small hill
80
67.
Hormone concentration (units per ml)

As the pressure of a gas increases at constant

70
temperature, the volume of the gas decreases.
60 FSH Apply
LH pressure
50 Progesterone

40

30
GAS
20
GAS
10

0 If you were a diver and you wanted to take an

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 oxygen tank with you, what would you do?
Day of menstrual cycle
a. Pressurize the oxygen, so more of it can fit in a
Based on the graph, which hormone is most tank of a manageable size.
directly responsible for triggering ovulation? b. Decrease the pressure of oxygen in the tank,
a. FSH so the tank doesn’t explode.
b. LH c. Increase the temperature of oxygen in the
c. progesterone tank, so that the cold oxygen doesn’t damage
d. testosterone the lungs.
e. cholesterol d. Decrease the temperature of oxygen, so that it
doesn’t escape from the tank.
65. Through friction, energy of motion is converted e. Increase the temperature of the oxygen and
to heat. You use this in your favor when you decrease the pressure, so the volume stays the
a. wear gloves to make your hands warm. same.
b. rub your hands together to make them warm.
c. soak your hands with hot water to make them
warm.
d. place your hands near a fireplace to make
them warm.
e. hold a cup of tea to make your hands warm.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

68. The amount of solute that can be dissolved in a Questions 70 and 71 are based on the following passage.
solvent at a given temperature is called solubility.
For most substances, solubility increases with In 1628, English physician William Harvey
temperature. Rock candy can be made from established that the blood circulates
sugar solutions that have an excess of sugar dis- throughout the body. He recognized that
solved. The amount of sugar per 100 grams of the heart acts as a pump and does not work
water at a given temperature has to be higher by using up blood as earlier anatomists
than the amount that is normally soluble in thought. To carefully observe the beating of
order to make rock candy. Based on the solubil- the heart and the direction of blood flow,
ity of sugar in water as a function of tempera- Harvey needed to see the works of the blood
ture, plotted in the graph, how much sugar in slow motion. Since there was no way for
would you need to dissolve in 100 grams of him to observe a human heart in slow
water to make rock candy at 40° C? motion, he studied the hearts of toads and
Solubility of Sugar in Water snakes, rather than the rapidly beating
600 hearts of “warm-blooded” mammals and
550 birds. By keeping these animals cool, he
500 could slow their hearts down. The main
(g of sugar/100 g of water)

450
400 argument for his conclusion that the blood
350 circulates stemmed from his measurement
Solubility

300 of the amount of blood pumped with each

250
200 heartbeat. He calculated that the amount of
150 blood pumped each hour by far exceeds the
100 total amount of blood in the body and
50
0 proved that the same blood passes through
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 the heart over and over again.
Temperature (degrees Celsius)
a. less than 50 grams 70. What misconception did scientist harbor before
b. between 50 and 100 grams Harvey’s study?
c. between 100 and 150 grams a. The heart circulates blood.
d. between 150 and 200 grams b. The heart pumps blood.
e. more than 250 grams c. The heart uses up blood.
d. The heart contains no blood.
69. Which of the following energy sources causes the e. The heart of birds beats faster than the heart
least pollution to the environment? of frogs.
a. coal
b. nuclear power 71. Which of the following did Harvey do?
c. gasoline I. Observe the heartbeat and blood flow in
d. solar snakes and frogs.
e. oil II. Determine that the heart acts as a pump.
III. Count the number of blood cells that pass
through the heart every hour.
IV. Show that the blood circulates.
a. He did only I.
b. He did I and II.
c. He did I, II, and IV.
d. He did I, III, and IV.
e. He did II, III, and IV.

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 – GED SCIENCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS –

Questions 72 and 73 are based on the following passage. Questions 74 and 75 are based on the following passage.

Radiation from radioisotopes can be used to In the past, people thought that the Earth was
kill cancer cells. Chemist Marie Curie flat and that a ship that sailed too far would
received two Nobel Prizes for her work with fall off the edge of the world. The Earth
radioisotopes. Her work led to the discovery appears flat because the Earth is too large for
of the neutron and synthesis of artificial humans on Earth to see its curvature. Several
radioactive elements. She died of leukemia events helped shed the misconceptions. For
at 67, caused by extensive exposure to radia- one, during a lunar eclipse, the Earth is posi-
tion. Curie never believed that radium and tioned between the sun and the moon. It
other materials she worked with were a eclipses the moon by casting a shadow on it.
health hazard. In World War I, glowing The shadow the Earth casts is round. When
radium was used on watch dials to help sol- Magellan circumnavigated the Earth, he
diers read their watches in the dark and to proved that one could not fall off the edge of
synchronize their attacks. Unfortunately, the Earth, because the Earth was round and
women who worked in factories were draw- had no edges. Finally, space missions provided
ing their radium stained brushes to fine us with images of our round Earth from far
points by putting them between their lips. away and showed us how beautiful our planet
As a result, their teeth would glow in the looks, even from a distance.
dark. But this was an amusement for chil-
dren more than a cause of worry. About ten 74. In the passage, what was cited as proof that the
years later, the women developed cancer in Earth is round?
their jaws and mouths and had problems I. Earth casts a round shadow on the moon
making blood cells. This exposed the dan- during a lunar eclipse.
gers of radiation. II. Earth revolves around the sun.
III. Magellan circumnavigated the Earth.
72. Based on the information in the passage, which IV. images from space
statement about radioisotopes is false?
a. I and II
a. Radioisotopes can kill cancer cells.
b. I, II, and III
b. Radioisotopes can cause cancer.
c. I, II, and IV
c. A radioisotope can glow in the dark.
d. I, III, and IV
d. Einstein received the Nobel Prize for working
e. II, III, and IV
with isotopes.
e. A radioisotope was used in watch dials.
75. With which misconception about the Earth is the
passage concerned?
73. Which dangers of radiation were mentioned in
a. that the Earth turned
the passage?
b. that the Earth was in the center of the solar
I. Radiation can cause genetic mutations.
system
II. Radiation can lead to leukemia.
c. that the Earth was flat
III. Radiation can cause chemotherapy.
d. that the Earth was created at the same time as
a. danger I only the sun
b. danger II only e. that the Earth could be eclipsed by the sun
c. danger III only
d. dangers I and II
e. dangers II and III

285