California Science Test (CAST) Practice Exam

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• Which term is a solid copy of the shape of an organism?
• Which selective breeding method involves crossing two individuals with identical or similar sets of alleles?
• What term describes an organism that is genetically identical to the organism from which it was produced?
• Which term refers to a structural carbohydrate in plant cell walls that gives rigidity?
• Which part of the eye changes shape to help focus light onto the retina?
• Has double or triple bonds - have fewer hydrogen atoms?
• The unit of measurement for frequency is?
• Which term refers to a large molecule made from many amino acids linked in a chain?
• A solution that has dissolved more solute than expected.
• Which process do plants use to convert sunlight into food?
• Which term refers to a copy of an object formed by reflected or refracted rays of light?
• Which term is defined as the basic unit that forms nucleic acids?
• What is the chemical reaction between an acid and a base called?
• Which term refers to a group of organisms that can mate with each other and produce offspring?
• Which term describes the image that appears to originate from behind a plane mirror?
• What term describes a large organic molecule made from amino acids?
• Which term describes a hydrocarbon in which other elements replace hydrogen atoms?
• Which term describes a network consisting of multiple, interconnected food chains?
• Receptor cells in the eye that work best in dim light and enable you to see black, white, and gray.
• A community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member.
• Which term refers to energy rich organic compounds made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen?
• What term refers to minerals replacing the organic material in fossils, turning them into stone?
• A lens that is thicker in the center than at the edges
• What is the term for the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass?
• What group is written as -COOH?
• What is the highest part of a wave called?
• Basic unit of all living things.
• Which term describes a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another?
• Which term best describes a substance formed by alternating positive and negative ions in a solid?
• Which state of matter has a definite volume but not a definite shape?
• What term describes the ability to do work or cause change?
• Which term describes a substance that can neutralize acids?
• Which term describes the bending of light as it enters a different medium?
• What term describes a covalent bond in which two atoms are shared equally?
• Which term describes a polymer made of smaller molecules that are simple carbohydrates bonded to one another?
• The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time is known as?
• The complete range of electromagnetic waves placed in order of increasing frequency is called?
• A material that scatters light, making objects on the other side blurry, is described as?
• The study of the similarities and differences in the structures of different organisms is called
• Which term refers to the attraction that holds atoms together, based on electron arrangement?
• What shows the kind, number, and arrangement of atoms in a molecule?
• Which term best describes a molecule that can join to form polymers, serving as a building block?
• The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past are called
• Has only single bonds with a maximum number of hydrogen atoms?
• The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave is called?
• Three or more forms of a gene that code for a single trait are called what?
• Which term describes an attraction between a positive metal ion and the surrounding electrons?
• Which term describes a mixture where the dispersed particles do not settle out over time?
• Which form of carbon involves flat layers of bonded carbon atoms?
• A solution in which the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved at a given temperature.
• A charged particle formed from more than one atom is called what?
• Which part forms the transparent outer window of the eye?
• Which term describes a solution that has dissolved so much solute that no more will dissolve?
• Which term describes a covalent bond formed when electrons are shared equally?
• Which term includes the symbol for the element surrounded by dots?
• A solution that contains little solute dissolved in solvent.
• Which photoreceptor cells are primarily responsible for color vision in bright light?
• What term describes an image formed by actual convergence of light rays, not by apparent intersection?
• Which term describes a material formed by combining two or more substances with properties different from its components?
• What term describes a well mixed homogeneous mixture that contains a solute and a solvent?
• Fossils that provide evidence of the activities of ancient organisms are known as?
• Which ion is a negatively charged ion containing oxygen and hydrogen?
• Which ion is a negative ion made of oxygen and hydrogen?
• A solution that will continue to dissolve more solute.
• A hydroxyl group replaces one or more hydrogen atoms in an organic molecule. Which term describes this kind of compound?
• A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains.
• Which type of telescope relies on mirrors rather than lenses to collect light?
• The energy transferred through space by electromagnetic waves is called?
• Carbon atoms arranged in the shape of a long, hollow cylinder are known as?
• Which term describes a crystalline form in which each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms?
• Which term refers to the building blocks that make up DNA and RNA?
• Which term describes a very large organic molecule made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus?
• Which term describes the complete set of chromosomes in a cell, often visualized for study?
• Which state of matter has a definite shape and a definite volume?
• Which term describes the gas-to-liquid change?
• A curved piece of glass used to refract light; the flexible structure that focuses light entering the eye is the
• Which term describes a surface that reflects or absorbs all light that strikes it?
• Able to see nearby objects clearly.
• What term refers to the ratio of elements in the compound?
• Which term refers to a very large molecule made of many smaller molecules bonded together?
• A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment is called
• Which term is a waxy lipid found in animal cells?
• A lens that is thinner in the center than at the edges
• What term describes the amount of matter in an object?
• Which term describes the ability to see nearby objects clearly?
• The force of attraction that holds two atoms together as the result of the rearrangement of the electrons between them is called what?
• A diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family is called a?
• An optical instrument that forms enlarged images of distant objects.
• A compound that is composed of molecules?
• Which term describes energy-rich organic compounds made from carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen?
• Which term describes structures in different species that are similar due to a common ancestor?
• Which term describes carbon-containing compounds?
• What term describes the process of grouping things based on their similarities?
• Which term describes a storage carbohydrate in plants that is used for energy?
• What is the lowest part of a wave called?
• What describes a solution that has dissolved more solute than expected?
• Which option correctly names the change from a solid to a liquid?
• A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations is called
• Which term describes fossils that provide evidence of an organism's behavior or activities rather than its body form?
• Which term describes the process of gas turning into a liquid?
• What is the amount of space that an object takes up?
• Electromagnetic waves that are visible to the human eye are called?
• An animal that eats both plants and animals is called a omnivore.
• Which term describes the ratio of elements in a compound expressed by subscripts?
• Which term describes two colors that, when combined, form white light in additive color mixing?
• What term describes the field that classifies living organisms?
• What are the microscopic floating organisms that form the beginning of most ocean food chains?
• Which term refers to deoxyribonucleic acid, the self-replicating material that is the main constituent of chromosomes in nearly all living organisms?
• A gene located on the X or Y chromosome is called which of the following?
• Which term is represented by a branching diagram showing evolutionary relationships?
• Which term refers to scientists who interpret fossil evidence?
• A substance that tastes sour, reacts with metals and carbonates.
• Able to see distant objects clearly.
• Anything that has mass and occupies space is called what?
• A person who has one recessive allele for a trait, but does not have the trait is a?
• Fossils in which minerals replace all or part of an organism are called?
• When two atoms share two pairs of electrons?
• Which term describes a compound that is built from discrete molecules rather than an extended ionic lattice?
• Which term refers to compounds that contain carbon?
• The gradual change in the traits of a population over many generations is described by
• What term describes a small living organism that can only be seen with a microscope?
• Which term refers to the self-replicating genetic material that is the main component of chromosomes in many organisms?
• The electrons on the highest energy level are called what?
• What term shows probable evolutionary relationships among organisms?
• What happens when matter changes state from liquid to solid?
• Which process explains why individuals with favorable traits tend to survive and reproduce more successfully?
• Which term describes the process of selecting a few organisms with desired traits to serve as parents of the next generation?
• An atom or group of atoms that has an electric charge is called what?
• Which microscope uses a beam of electrons to produce a magnified image?
• Which term describes two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel?
• Which term describes a light-based representation of an object, such as a photograph or a mirror image?
• Which telescope uses a concave mirror to gather light from distant objects?
• Which term means combining two or more substances into a new material with different properties?
• Which lens is thicker in the center than at the edges?
• Which term describes the complete range of electromagnetic waves ordered by frequency?
• An animal that eats only other animals.
• Which form of carbon involves each carbon atom being bonded to three others in flat layers?
• What is a compound that consists of positive and negative ions called?
• What describes a flat mirror that produces an upright, virtual image the same size as the object?
• In humans, which type of chromosome is not involved in determining sex?
• Which term describes a mirror whose surface curves inward?
• The term for the study that compares body structures across different organisms is
• A telescope that uses two convex lenses to form images.
• One-celled microorganisms, some beneficial and some cause disease.
• Which term describes synthetic polymers that can be molded or shaped?
• Which rule states that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence?
• What structure surrounds the pupil and regulates the amount of light entering the eye?
• When atoms share three pairs of electrons?
• What is the ionic compound formed from neutralization called?
• The theory that species evolve during short periods of rapid change is called?
• Which term describes the diagram showing an element's symbol with surrounding dots to represent electrons?
• Which term describes a hydrocarbon that has only single bonds between carbon atoms?
• The comparison of the structures of different organisms is called
• Which one of the following refers to one of the 23 chromosome pairs that determines sex in humans?
• A gene located on the X or Y chromosome is called what?
• Which term describes a molecule formed when an alcohol and an organic acid react?
• The bending of waves as they enter a new medium at an angle is called
• Which term describes a diagram that shows how a trait is passed through generations?
• Scientists who study fossils are called?
• The point at which light rays parallel to the optical axis meet after reflection or refraction is the
• Which term describes microscopic floating organisms that form the base of many ocean food chains?
• What term refers to all the genetic information in an organism, including all of its chromosomes?
• What term describes a colored chemical compound that absorbs light and can color other materials?
• Which concept describes evolution in short, rapid bursts followed by long periods of little change?
• A mixture made of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal.
• No members of that species are alive is called?
• What term describes the part of the solution present in the largest amount?
• Which term would you use to describe fossils that show an organism's activities such as footprints?
• Which medical technique involves inserting normal genes into human cells to correct genetic disorders?
• Which term best describes a mixture with visible particles that can be separated by filtration?
• Which term describes a substance that changes color in response to pH?
• Which term is a waxy lipid found in animal cells?
• Which term is the basic unit that constitutes nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA?
• An attraction between a positive metal ion and the many electrons surrounding it.
• Which term describes an upright image formed where rays of light appear to meet or come from?
• Which term means three or more forms of a gene that code for a single trait?
• An upside-down image formed where light rays meet is called a
• A measure of how much solute can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature.
• What term describes the attraction between two oppositely charged ions?
• Basic unit of life.
• What is the term for a compound that changes color in response to acids or bases?
• The specific environment that provides the things the organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce is called?
• Which component refracts light and helps focus it inside the eye?
• What term describes a technology that manipulates genetic material to produce new functions or outcomes not typically seen in nature?
• Which term refers to a hollow area in sediment shaped like an organism?
• Which term describes the property that allows acids to eat away metals?
• What term describes a repeated back-and-forth or up-and-down motion?
• A difference between individuals of the same species is
• Which term means the capacity to perform work?
• A solution that has dissolved so much solute, that no more will dissolve.
• A hydroxyl group is made of which atoms?
• Compounds that have the same chemical formula but different structural formulas?
• Which term describes a bond formed when atoms share electrons?
• Receptor cells that work best in bright light and enable you to see color.
• A trait that increases an organism’s survival chances is called
• A difference between individuals within the same species is known as
• Which term describes a classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms?
• Which compound is a simple sugar that circulates in the bloodstream and provides quick energy?
• The electrons held on the highest energy level and are held most loosely are called what?
• What happens when matter slowly changes state from liquid to gas?
• Ions that are made up of more than one atom are called what?
• Which state of matter has a definite volume but not a definite shape?
• A hypothesis that evolution occurs slowly but steadily is called?
• Which instrument makes small objects look larger?
• Which term describes a functional group composed of an oxygen and hydrogen bonded together?
• Which term describes a chemical formed when an alcohol and an organic acid combine?
• Which term refers to the point on a wave with the maximum downward displacement from equilibrium?
• Which term is the monomer that serves as the building block of proteins?
• A sheet of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye on which an image is focused.
• What is the term for a combination of symbols that shows the ratio of elements in a compound?
• Which term describes a mixture with visible particles that can be easily separated?
• What term defines the part of a solution present in the smaller amount?
• Which term refers to the strong stems and roots built from a plant's structural carbohydrate?
• What term describes a substance that tastes bitter and feels slippery?
• An optical instrument that uses lenses to focus light, and film to record an image of an object.
• What term describes organisms with cells that contain a nucleus?
• Which term describes a solution that can dissolve more solute?
• Which form of carbon is arranged in a long hollow cylinder?
• Which statement best describes how genes relate to the environment?
• Which term describes an organism that is genetically identical to the parent, produced asexually?
• What happens when matter changes state from gas to liquid?
• Which term describes a homologous trait that is shared by all members of a group?
• What term refers to anything that has mass and takes up space?
• Which term is one of the most important sugars in your body?
• A neutral group of atoms joined by covalent bonds?
• What term refers to the scientific study of how living things are classified?
• Which photoreceptor cells are active in bright light and allow color vision?
• Which term is a homologous structure shared by all organisms in a group?
• Carbon atoms arranged in a sphere are called which class of carbon?
• What is the process called when a solid changes to a liquid?
• What is the range of values from 0 to 14 used to measure acidity or basicity?
• An animal that eats only plants.
• The clear tissue that covers the front of the eye
• Which term refers to the smaller units that join to form polymers?
• Which breeding technique involves crossing dissimilar individuals to bring together the best traits?
• Which term denotes the technology that introduces or edits genes to produce desirable traits?
• A material that allows light to pass through with minimal scattering is best described as?
• What is the process called when a solid changes to a liquid?
• Which term magnifies the image formed by the objective?
• Which term denotes ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells?
• The gradual change in a species over time is known as
• Which term describes a group that is written as -COOH and participates in acidic reactions?
• Which term describes matter in a state with no defined shape and no defined volume?
• Which term describes any two colors that combine to form white light or black pigment?
• The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see is called?
• Which term describes the scale used to express how acidic or basic a solution is?
• A process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than others of the same species is
• Which term refers to the three colors that can be used to make any other color?
• Which term describes the genetic material that contains all of an organism's genes?
• What term describes compounds that have the same chemical formula but different arrangements of atoms?
• A solution that is neither acidic nor basic is called what?
• What is formed when two atoms share electrons?
• The imaginary line that divides a mirror in half is called the
• What term describes any color produced by combining equal amounts of two primary colors?
• What term describes a classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms?
• What term describes a diagram showing inheritance patterns across generations?
• That which transmit light without scattering it.
• A mirror with a surface that curves outward is a
• Which type of waves can travel through a vacuum?
• What are the two major causes of genetic disorders in humans?
• What term describes a covalent bond in which two atoms are shared unequally?
• Which term labels the bond formed when atoms share three pairs of electrons?
• Which term refers to an organism that eats only plants?
• Which term refers to the two-word naming system used for species?
• Which term describes organisms with cells that contain a nucleus?
• What term describes organisms whose cells lack a nucleus?
• Which term describes a fat whose chemical structure has caused it to become a liquid at room temperature?
• Which describes a mixture with small, undissolved particles that do not settle out?
• Which compound contains only carbon and hydrogen?
• Which term describes a lens that gathers light from an object and forms a real image?
• What are ions that form an orderly, 3-D arrangement called?
• An abnormal condition that a person inherits through genes or chromosomes is known as a?
• Which breeding approach aims to combine desirable traits from genetically different individuals?
• What do you call a hydrogen atom that has lost its electron?
• Which term describes the outward-curving mirror?
• What term refers to the material through which a wave travels?
• Which state of matter has no defined shape and no defined volume?
• That which scatters light as it passes through.
• Opening through which light enters the eye?
• What is the building block of proteins?
• Waves that transfer electrical and magnetic energy are called?
• What is the maximum distance the particles of a medium move away from their rest positions as a wave passes through the medium?
• Which term describes the storage form of energy in plants, a complex carbohydrate?
• What term describes a picture of all the chromosomes in a cell arranged in pairs?