Here are some science questions to help you test your general science knowledge. They will also show you which of the Florida, Utah, and NGSS science standards each question is testing.
The questions are chosen randomly, so this quest will be different each time.
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![](/files/fcat/globewinter.jpg)
What season is the area that the arrow points to having?
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Winter
Yes! Even though that area is in daylight, the Earth's axis in that hemisphere is pointing away from the Sun. It gets less direct light, and has shorter days. -
Spring
No. For spring, the Earth's axis for that hemisphere would be in between pointing towards the Sun and away from the Sun. -
Summer
No. Although it is daytime in that area, the Earth's axis in that hemisphere is pointing away from the Sun. It gets less direct light, and has shorter days. -
Autumn
No. For autumn, the Earth's axis for that hemisphere would be in between pointing towards the Sun and away from the Sun.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.5.1 Observe that the patterns of stars in the sky stay the same although they appear to shift across the sky nightly, and different stars can be seen in different seasons.
Global Science | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Space-5 | practice |
Review Space-8 | practice |
Review Space-12 | practice |
Utah
UT.6.II.2.e Use a model to explain why the seasons are reversed in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Global Science | video, ClosedCaptions |
Review Space-5 | practice |
Review Space-8 | practice |
Review Space-12 | practice |
NGSS
3-ESS2-1 Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
Nephoscope | video, checked |
Pine Cone Weather | text page, free |
Review Space-8 | practice |
Review Weather-5 | practice |
Review Weather-6 | practice |
Review Weather-4 | practice |
Review Weather-3 | practice |
Review Space-5 | practice |
5-ESS1-2 Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.
Global Science | video, ClosedCaptions |
Finding Your Way | video, checked |
Review Space-5 | practice |
Review Space-8 | practice |
Review Space-12 | practice |
![](/files/fcat/globemoon.jpg)
Which position would the Moon be in when it is a full moon?
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A
No. This would be a half moon, with the half towards the Sun in light, and the half away from the Sun dark. -
B
No. This would be a new moon. The entire lighted side of the Moon is facing away from the Earth, so the entire side of the Moon that we can see would be dark. -
C
No. This would be a half moon, with the half towards the Sun in light, and the half away from the Sun dark. -
D
Yes! The side of the Moon that is facing the Sun is also facing us. That entire side would be illuminated (unless the alignment was right for a lunar eclipse.)
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.5.2 Describe the changes in the observable shape of the moon over the course of about a month.
Why is a Full Moon So Bright? | text page, free, checked |
Review Space-6 | practice |
Review Space-7 | practice |
Review Space-9 | practice |
Utah
UT.3.I.1.b Explain that the sun is the source of light that lights the moon.
Why is a Full Moon So Bright? | text page, free, checked |
Review Space-6 | practice |
Review Space-7 | practice |
Review Space-9 | practice |
UT.6.I.1.a Describe changes in the appearance of the moon during a month.
Why is a Full Moon So Bright? | text page, free, checked |
Review Space-6 | practice |
Review Space-7 | practice |
Review Space-9 | practice |
NGSS
MS-ESS1-1 Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
Global Science | video, ClosedCaptions |
Why is a Full Moon So Bright? | text page, free, checked |
Review Space-6 | practice |
Review Space-7 | practice |
Review Space-9 | practice |
Review Space-12 | practice |
![](/files/Units/Minerals/hardnesspenny.jpg)
I used this piece of calcite to scratch this penny. Then I used the penny to scratch the piece of calcite. What does that tell us?
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It tells us that I did the test wrong.
No. The test was done correctly. -
It tells us that they both have the same hardness.
Yes! You test the hardness of a mineral by testing to see what will scratch it. If two substances scratch each other, they have the same hardness. -
It tells us that calcite is not a mineral.
No. Scratching a specimen will not tell you if it is a mineral. -
It tells us that calcite has cleavage.
No. You do not test for cleavage by scratching a mineral.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.2 Identify the physical properties of common earth-forming minerals, including hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak color, and recognize the role of minerals in the formation of rocks.
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
Minerals Around You | text page, learnalong, checked |
Review Minerals-2 | practice |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
Review Minerals-1 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.III.1.b Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
UT.8.III.1.b Observe and describe the minerals found in rocks (e.g., shape, color, luster, texture, hardness).
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Minerals-1 | practice |
Review Minerals-2 | practice |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
NGSS
5-PS1-3 Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
Fireworks Colors | video |
Iron Cereal | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Density: Ice, Oil, and Water | video, checked |
Wax and Wood, part 1 | video, checked |
Wax and Wood, part 2 | video, checked |
What is a Mineral? | video, checked |
Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
Raw Egg or Boiled? | video, checked |
Making Turmeric Paper | video, checked |
Testing for Tannic Acid | video |
Definition of a Mineral | video, checked |
Floating Bubbles | video, checked |
Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
A Cool Change | text page |
Acid Hunt | text page |
Review Minerals-2 | practice |
Review Minerals-3 | practice |
Review Minerals-4 | practice |
Review Minerals-5 | practice |
Review Minerals-6 | practice |
Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Review Minerals-8 | practice |
![](/files/DailySciencePhoto/Science-Photo-602.jpg)
How hot does an area have to be to be classified as a desert?
Answer:
Deserts are defined by lack of precipitation, not by temperature. They are areas where precipitation minus evaporation yields less than 10 inches of rain per year. The largest desert on Earth is in Antarctica, a very cold place.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.5.E.7.6 Describe characteristics (temperature and precipitation) of different climate zones as they relate to latitude, elevation, and proximity to bodies of water.
Weather and Climate | video |
Review Weather-7 | practice |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.V.1.c Locate examples of areas that have characteristics of wetlands, forests, or deserts in Utah.
Review Weather-7 | practice |
Review Weather-9 | practice |
NGSS
![](http://thehappyscientist.com/files/fcat/rootcells.jpg)
The nucleus of the cell contains most of the cell's DNA. Which other structure in the cell contains DNA?
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Mitochondria
Yes! Your mitochondria have their own DNA. Unlike the DNA in the cell's nucleus, which is a mix of genes from your father and mother, all of your mitochondrial DNA comes from your mother. -
Endoplasmic Reticulum
No. The endoplasmic reticulum is involved in the folding and movement of proteins in the cell. -
Chloroplast
No. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which is used in photosynthesis. -
Ribosome
No. Ribosomes are parts of the cell that assemble proteins.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.6.L.14.4 Compare and contrast the structure and function of major organelles of plant and animal cells, including cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and vacuoles.
Osmosis | video, checked |
Review Cells-1 | practice |
Review Cells-2 | practice |
Review Cells-3 | practice |
Review Cells-4 | practice |
SC.7.L.16.1 Understand and explain that every organism requires a set of instructions that specifies its traits, that this hereditary information (DNA) contains genes located in the chromosomes of each cell, and that heredity is the passage of these instructions from one generation to another.
Extracting Your Own DNA | video |
Fact checking GMOs | text page |
Review Cells-4 | practice |
Utah
UT.7.IV.1.b Contrast the exchange of genetic information in sexual and asexual reproduction (e.g., number of parents, variation of genetic material).
Extracting Your Own DNA | video |
Review Plants-3 | practice |
Review Cells-4 | practice |
NGSS
3-LS3-1 Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.
Who Evolved on First? | text page, free, checked |
Review Cells-4 | practice |
MS-LS1-2 Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.
Osmosis | video, checked |
Review Cells-1 | practice |
Review Cells-2 | practice |
Review Cells-3 | practice |
Review Cells-4 | practice |
The questions are chosen randomly, so this quest will be different each time.