ged science and practice test

A a high school equivalency exam designed for individuals who did not graduate from high school but want to demonstrate they have the same knowledge and skills as a high school graduate

Read the brief passage about heat. After Benjamin Franklin argued that electricity was a fluid, the scientific community started discussing other phenomena as being related to fluids. In 1787, Lavoisier developed the idea that heat was an invisible fluid called a caloric fluid. This fluid would leave a hot substance and travel to a colder substance. Later, in 1783, Lavoisier demonstrated that oxygen was required for combustion. In 1798, Count Rumford observed that the process of boring out cannons from brass cylinders continuously produced heat. He also found the brass filings produced from the drilling process contained enough heat to boil water while retaining their weight. In the early 1940s, James Joule discovered that heat could be produced by moving a wire through a magnetic field.
Which statement from the passage refutes Lavoisier's idea that heat is a fluid that leaves a hot substance and travels to a colder substance?
  • A. He also found the brass filings produced from the drilling process contained enough heat to boil water while retaining their weight.
  • B. James Joule discovered that heat could be produced by moving a wire through a magnetic field.
  • C. Lavoisier demonstrated that oxygen was required for combustion.
  • D. Count Rumford observed that the process of boring out cannons from brass cylinders continuously produced heat.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A effectively refutes Lavoisier's notion of heat as a fluid by demonstrating that heat can be generated without the transfer of a fluid. The brass filings, despite retaining their weight, produced sufficient heat to boil water, indicating that heat can arise from mechanical processes rather than fluid movement. Option B, while highlighting Joule's discovery of heat production through motion, does not directly address Lavoisier's fluid concept. Option C focuses on combustion and oxygen's role, which is unrelated to the nature of heat itself. Option D describes an observation of heat generation during a mechanical process but does not emphasize the implications for Lavoisier's fluid theory as clearly as A does.

Other Related Questions

Which hypothesis was Dilger testing in his experiment?
  • A. If hybrid offspring have a mixture of behaviors, then the species are within the same genus.
  • B. If a hybrid offspring carries nesting material in its beak, then it is more closely related to modern lovebirds.
  • C. If behavior in lovebirds is genetic, then a hybrid offspring will display a mixture of behaviors.
  • D. If lovebird species can interbreed, then a hybrid offspring will have a mixture of behaviors.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Dilger aimed to investigate the genetic basis of behavior in lovebirds, specifically focusing on whether hybrid offspring exhibit a blend of behaviors from their parent species. Option C accurately reflects this hypothesis, linking genetic inheritance to behavioral traits in hybrids. Option A incorrectly connects hybrid behavior to taxonomic classification, which is not the primary focus of Dilger’s study. Option B suggests a direct relationship between nesting material behavior and modern lovebirds, overlooking the broader genetic implications. Option D, while related to interbreeding, does not emphasize the genetic aspect of behavior, which is central to Dilger's hypothesis.
Based on the table, use the drop-down menus to make the following statement correct. _ experiences the least warming effect from CO2 because it has the _ of CO2 in its atmosphere.
Question image
  • A. smallest amount
  • B. largest amount
  • C. Mars
  • D. Planet L
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A,C

The statement highlights that Mars experiences the least warming effect from CO2 due to its atmospheric composition. Mars has a small amount of CO2 compared to other planets, which limits its greenhouse effect and consequently its warming. Option B, "largest amount," is incorrect as it contradicts the premise that a larger CO2 presence would lead to more warming. Option D, "Planet L," is not a recognized celestial body in this context and does not provide relevant information regarding CO2 levels. Thus, the combination of Mars with the smallest amount of CO2 accurately reflects the relationship between atmospheric composition and warming effects.
Why is the conclusion about gene variation among cheetahs from Sommer's research more valid than the conclusion from O'Brien's research?
  • A. Sommer's research was conducted more recently than O'Brien's
  • B. Sommer's research used a different population of cheetahs than O'Brien's
  • C. Sommer's conclusion is about disease response, while O'Brien's is about skin grafts.
  • D. Sommer's conclusion is based on examining the genes, while O'Brien's conclusion is based on acceptance of a skin graft.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Sommer's conclusion is more valid as it directly examines gene variation, providing a clearer understanding of genetic factors influencing traits. This direct analysis allows for more reliable insights into gene functionality. In contrast, O'Brien's research focuses on skin graft acceptance, which, while informative, does not provide the same depth of genetic examination. Option A is incorrect as recency does not inherently validate research findings. Option B is misleading; differing populations may affect findings but do not necessarily validate one conclusion over another. Option C misrepresents the focus of the studies; both are relevant but differ in application rather than validity.
Placing solid ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, in a container of water causes an endothermic reaction. The result is ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH, and nitric acid, HNO3. Which diagram shows the correct equation for the reaction?
  • A. NH4OH + HNO3 → NH4NO3 + H2O + energy
  • B. NH4NO3 + H2O + energy → NH4OH + HNO3
  • C. NH4NO3 + H2O → NH4OH + HNO3 + energy
  • D. NH4OH + HNO3 + energy → NH4NO3 + H2O
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The reaction between solid ammonium nitrate and water is endothermic, meaning it absorbs energy. Thus, the equation must reflect the consumption of energy during the process. Option B correctly shows that ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and water react to form ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and nitric acid (HNO3), while requiring energy input. Option A incorrectly suggests energy is released, which contradicts the endothermic nature of the reaction. Option C implies that energy is produced, which is also incorrect. Option D similarly misrepresents the reaction by suggesting energy is released, aligning with an exothermic process rather than the observed endothermic reaction.