Graduate At The Top Of Your Class By Getting 100% On This High School Science Class!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 22 min play time
By the time you graduate from high school, there are so many things that you need to know its surprising that there ends up being things that we forget when we get older. Take this quiz and see how many of these high school science facts you still remember!
Quiz written by
Daniel RackleyHigh School Science Quiz Questions
70 Questions · 4.2K Plays · No comments
Question 1
Where can you find your pulse?
-
AOn the inner wrist of either arm
-
BOn your legs
-
COn your palm
-
DOn your forehead
On the inner wrist of either arm
To find your pulse, gently place your index and middle fingers on the artery located on the inner wrist of either arm, below your thumb. You should feel a pulsing or tapping against your fingers. Using a seconds timer, count the number of pulses you feel in 30 seconds. Double that number to get your heart rate or pulse for one minute.
Question 2
What is solar energy?
-
AWindmills
-
BElectric cars
-
CRechargeable batteries
-
DEnergy from the sun
Energy from the sun
Solar energy is radiation from the sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity.
Question 3
The scientific term for where an organism lives.
-
AHabitat
-
BOcean
-
CTree
-
DGrass
Habitat
Habitat is the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.
Question 4
A species on the brink of extinction is called _____.
-
AExotic
-
BEndangered
-
CThreatened
-
DCommon
Endangered
Endangered species is any species of plant, animal, or other organism that is at risk of extinction because of a sudden rapid decrease in its population or a loss of its critical habitat.
Question 5
Structures too small to be easily seen with the naked eye are _______.
-
AHeteroscopic
-
BMicroscopic
-
CMacroscopic
-
DEndoscopic
Microscopic
A microscope is an optical instrument consisting of a lens or combination of lenses for making enlarged images of tiny objects.
Question 6
Why does your heart rate change?
-
ADue to exercise
-
BDue to illness or pain
-
CDue to medication
-
DAll of the above
All of the above
When the heartbeats too fast, too slow or with a skipping rhythm, a person is said to have an arrhythmia. It is common for children to have extra heartbeats, and many changes in heart rate or rhythm are minor and do not need medical attention if there are no other symptoms or history of heart disease.
Question 7
What is the Periodic Table?
-
AAn arrangement of elements based on atomic number
-
BA list of elements not yet discovered
-
CA table that is not often used
-
DA group of periods
An arrangement of elements based on atomic number
The Periodic Table arranges all the known elements left to right and top to bottom in order of increasing atomic number. Order generally coincides with increasing atomic mass.
Question 8
What scientific theory is associated with Charles Darwin?
-
ATheory of evolution
-
BCircumnavigation
-
CClimate change theory
-
DGravity
Theory of evolution
Charles Darwin suggested that "survival of the fittest" was the basis for organic evolution (the change of living things with time). His scientific theory of evolution by natural selection became the foundation of modern evolutionary studies.
Question 9
Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of _____.
-
ARocks
-
BPlants
-
CDogs
-
DAnts
Plants
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light energy into chemical energy. During photosynthesis in green plants, light energy is captured and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds.
Question 10
What is the process of liquid changing into gas?
-
AFreezing
-
BChilling
-
CVaporization
-
DMelting
Vaporization
Vaporization is the process of converting a liquid into a gas.
Question 11
What is the study of heredity?
-
AAnatomy
-
BMitosis
-
CGenetics
-
DMeiosis
Genetics
Genetics is the study of heredity in general and of genes at all levels, including the ways in which they act in the cell and the ways in which they are transmitted from parents to offspring.
Question 12
Matter is anything that has ____ and takes up space.
-
ADNA
-
BMass
-
CAtoms
-
DProtons
Mass
Mass is a quantitative measure in physics of inertia, a fundamental property of all matter. It is, in effect, the resistance that a body of matter offers to a change in its speed or position upon the application of a force. The greater the mass of a body, the smaller the change produced by an applied force.
Question 13
What animals lay eggs?
-
AFish
-
BReptiles
-
CBirds
-
DAll of the above
All of the above
Many animal groups have some species that lay eggs and others that birth live young, including fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even mammals.
Question 14
What are the regions where the magnetic force exerted by a magnet is strongest?
-
AAnodes
-
BMagnetic poles
-
CElectrodes
-
DCathodes
Magnetic poles
The magnetic pole is the area at each end of a magnet where the external magnetic field is strongest. A bar magnet suspended in Earth's magnetic field orients itself in a North-South direction.
Question 15
What is the name for an organism that eats only plants?
-
AOmnivore
-
BHerbivore
-
CCarnivore
-
DDetrivore
Herbivore
An herbivore is an animal adapted to subsist solely on plant tissues.
Question 16
What are animals without a backbone?
-
AInvertebrates
-
BMammals
-
CReptiles
-
DVertebrates
Invertebrates
An invertebrate is any animal that lacks a vertebral column, or backbone. More than 90 percent of all living animal species are invertebrates.
Question 17
Which adaptation enables organisms to hide from predators?
-
AMimicry
-
BEvolution
-
CMutation
-
DCamouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage varies. Several animal species, including scorpionfish and leaf frogs, can change their appearance to match their surroundings. Others can make themselves appear to be something boring, like the walking stick, which looks very much like a twig.
Question 18
What is the process by which carbon is released into the atmosphere from cars, homes and factories?
-
ATranspiration
-
BRespiration
-
CPhotosynthesis
-
DCombustion
Combustion
Combustion is a chemical reaction between substances, usually including oxygen and accompanied by the generation of heat and light in the form of flame.
Question 19
Oceans and forests are examples of ______.
-
APopulations
-
BEcosystems
-
CCommunities
-
DBiospheres
Ecosystems
An ecosystem is the sum of both the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components of a natural community.
Question 20
What is the role of white blood cells?
-
ATo defend and protect the body against invaders
-
BTo help with clotting
-
CTo give blood its red color
-
DTo carry nutrients to the heart
To defend and protect the body against invaders
There are about 600 to 700 red blood cells for every white blood cell. White blood cells are prepared to fight infections at a moment's notice. When they reach an infection, they release substances that attract more white blood cells to surround and destroy it.
Question 21
In general, as the ___ increases, the temperature gets colder.
-
ADensity
-
BAltitude
-
CPrecipitation
-
DSalinity
Altitude
As you climb a mountain, you can expect the air temperature to decrease by 6.5 degrees C for every 1000 meters you gain.
Question 22
A species that enters an environment where it has not lived before is called a(n) _____.
-
APredatory species
-
BInvasive species
-
CThreatened species
-
DEndangered species
Invasive species
An invasive species - also called introduced species, alien species, or exotic species - are any nonnative species that significantly modifies or disrupts the ecosystems it colonizes.
Question 23
How big is a normal, healthy adult heart?
-
AThe size of a peanut
-
BThe size of a pineapple
-
CThe size of a ping pong ball
-
DThe size of a closed fist
The size of a closed fist
The size of your heart can vary depending on your age, size, and the condition of your heart. Some diseases can cause the heart to enlarge.
Question 24
What are national parks and wilderness areas designed for?
-
ATo protect wildlife
-
BTo provide recreation
-
CTo preserve natural areas
-
DAll of the above
All of the above
The National Park Service aims to safeguard national parks and wilderness areas, revitalize communities, preserve local history, and create opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Question 25
What is a volcano island?
-
AUnderwater volcano
-
BVolcano whose summit rises above sea level
-
CWhat occurs when one tectonic plate moves under another
-
DRounded underwater rise
Volcano whose summit rises above sea level
An island is a solitary mountain formed by volcanic activity. Lava erupting from the sea floor builds up on the sea bed over thousands, or even millions of years. The lava cools rapidly as it reaches the ocean water and forms solid rock. Each eruption of the sea floor volcano builds up the volcano a little bit higher. Until one day, the eruptions have built the top of the undersea mountain so high, that it rises above the ocean's surface.
Question 26
What does a wave carry?
-
ARoots
-
BEnergy
-
CMass
-
DCells
Energy
Waves are said to be an energy transport phenomenon. As a disturbance moves through a medium from one particle to its adjacent particle, energy is being transported from one end of the medium to the other. In a stadium wave, each fan in the bleacher ultimately returns to its original position. A wave is said to involve the movement of a disturbance without the movement of matter.
Question 27
The central nervous system ______.
-
AConsists of the brain and spinal cord
-
BIs the largest part of the spinal cord
-
CEncapsulates the heart
-
DIs the largest region of the human brain
Consists of the brain and spinal cord
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, both derived from the embryonic neural tube.
Question 28
What is the anatomical word for wrist?
-
ACrural
-
BCoxal
-
CCarpal
-
DOrbital
Carpal
Bones of the hand include the carpal bones (wrist bones), metacarpal bones (bones of the hand proper), and phalanges (finger bones).
Question 29
Any variation that makes an organism better suited to its environment is known as ____.
-
AMutation
-
BHibernation
-
CVariation
-
DAdaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation, in biology, is a process by which an animal or plant species becomes fitted to its environment.
Question 30
Which system is responsible for the secretion of hormones?
-
ACardiovascular
-
BRespiratory
-
CEndocrine
-
DDigestive
Endocrine
The endocrine system includes eight major glands throughout the body. These glands make hormones, which are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to tissues or organs and affect processes from growth and development to sexual function and mood.
Question 31
What is an organic compound made of sugar molecules?
-
ACarbohydrate
-
BNucleic acid
-
CLipid
-
DProtein
Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates (also called saccharides) are molecular compounds made from just three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Monosaccharides (e.g. glucose) and disaccharides (e.g. sucrose) are relatively small molecules. They are often called sugars. Other carbohydrate molecules are very large (polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose).
Question 32
Salmon mating is an example of what behavior?
-
AReflex
-
BConditioned
-
CInstinct
-
DLearned
Instinct
Instinct is an inborn impulse or motivation to action typically performed in response to specific external stimuli. It's generally described as an apparently unlearned, genetically determined behavior pattern.
Question 33
A renewable resource is a resource that _______.
-
AComes in a limited amount
-
BIs naturally reoccurring
-
CCan be easily made
-
DIs never used
Is naturally reoccurring
A renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be used up or it is one that can be replaced within a human lifespan.
Question 34
What is a neuron?
-
AAn involuntary action that links with the hypothalamus in the brain
-
BA nerve fiber that protects the brain
-
CA nerve tissue that controls voluntary actions
-
DA nerve cell that serves as a key structural and functional component of the nervous system and that allows for the movement of nerve impulses
A nerve cell that serves as a key structural and functional component of the nervous system and that allows for the movement of nerve impulses
The neuron, also called the nerve cell, is the basic cell of the nervous system.
Question 35
A synthesis of information used to explain a phenomenon is called a ________.
-
AExamination
-
BTheory
-
CData
-
DPostulate
Theory
A theory is a general principle or set of principles that explains facts or events of the natural world or an idea that is the starting point for an investigation.
Question 36
What is the "brain" of the cell?
-
ARibosome
-
BNucleus
-
CDNA
-
DMembrane
Nucleus
The cell nucleus acts like the brain of the cell. It helps control eating, movement, and reproduction. If it happens in a cell, chances are the nucleus knows about it.
Question 37
Which part of a plant absorbs water and nutrients?
-
AStem
-
BFlowers
-
CRoots
-
DLeaves
Roots
Tiny root hairs stick out of the root, helping in the absorption. Roots help to anchor the plant in the soil so it does not fall over. They also store extra food for future use.
Question 38
How many chambers is your heart divided into?
-
A4
-
B3
-
C5
-
D2
4
The heart has two upper chambers (the right and left atria) and two lower chambers (the right and left ventricles). The right side of your heart pumps oxygen-poor blood to your lungs; the left side receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and sends it through the aorta to the rest of your body.
Question 39
What is a group or organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring?
-
ACommunity
-
BKingdom
-
CSpecies
-
DPopulation
Species
Species is a classification in biology comprising related organisms that share common characteristics and are capable of interbreeding. Every species is assigned a standard two-part name of genus and species.
Question 40
One-way "doors" that keep blood traveling in the right direction are called ______.
-
AVeins
-
BValves
-
CArteries
-
DCells
Valves
There are four valves - the aortic, tricuspid, pulmonary and mitral valves - that open and close in coordination with the pumping action of your heart. For your heart to work well, blood must flow in only one direction. Your heart's "in" and "out" valves, which have flaps to seal or open the valve, make that possible.
Question 41
A ____ is a tiny, one-cell thick blood vessel that carries blood between an artery and a vein.
-
AArtery
-
BPulmonary vein
-
CVena cava
-
DCapillary
Capillary
In the lungs, blood travels through many small, thin blood vessels called capillaries. It picks up more oxygen and transfers carbon dioxide to the lungs.
Question 42
Blood flows back to your heart from the lungs through _____.
-
AKidneys
-
BPulmonary veins
-
CRibcage
-
DVentricles
Pulmonary veins
Oxygen-rich blood from your lungs passes through the pulmonary veins into the heart.
Question 43
What is a structural carbohydrate found in plants?
-
ACellulose
-
BAlpha helix
-
CPeptide bond
-
DLipid
Cellulose
Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate or polysaccharide consisting of 3,000 or more glucose units and is the basic structural component of plant cell walls.
Question 44
What system plays a vital role in the existence of the human species?
-
ARespiratory
-
BCardiovascular
-
CAll of the above
-
DReproductive
All of the above
The human reproductive system is an organ system by which humans reproduce and bear live offspring.
Question 45
The structure of DNA is called a ____.
-
ADiamond
-
BLipid membrane
-
CSemi-circle
-
DDouble helix
Double helix
Deoxyribose sugar molecules and phosphate molecules form the outer edges of the DNA double helix, which resembles a spiral ladder, and base pairs bind the two strands to one another.
Question 46
Which phrase best defines science?
-
AA study of mechanics
-
BA study of living bodies
-
CUsing thinking and practical skills to understand our world
-
DA body of skills related to life and death
Using thinking and practical skills to understand our world
Science is a process of discovery that allows us to link isolated facts into coherent and comprehensive understandings of the natural world.
Question 47
What kind of diagram includes the symbol for an element surrounded by dots?
-
AElectron dot diagram
-
BBar graph
-
CPeriodic table
-
DGrid
Electron dot diagram
An electron dot diagram is a method of writing the chemical symbol of an element by surrounding it with dots to indicate the number of valence electrons. Valence electrons are found in an atom's outer shell and are the ones involved in chemical reactions.
Question 48
What is the main purpose of a microscope's illuminator?
-
AProvides a steady source of light
-
BMagnifies the sample
-
CHolds the eyepiece
-
DProvides stability
Provides a steady source of light
The most common microscope (and the first to be invented) is the optical microscope, which uses light to pass through a sample to produce an image.
Question 49
About three-quarters of the energy used by the United States comes from _____.
-
AHydroelectric power
-
BFossil fuels
-
CSolar power
-
DGeothermal power
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum (oil), and natural gas. Today, the most common products derived from oil are found in the energy sector: gasoline, heating oil, aviation fuels and diesel fuel. Oil is also the key ingredient in tens of thousands of consumer goods, including ink, plastic, dishwashing liquids, crayons, eyeglasses, deodorants, tires, ammonia, and heart valves.
Question 50
What is a light-year?
-
AThe distance that light travels in one year
-
BA shorter than average year
-
CThe time it takes light to travel from the sun to Earth
-
DA figurine in Toy Story
The distance that light travels in one year
A light-year in astronomy is the distance traveled by light moving in a vacuum in the course of one year. Astronomers use the light-year as a unit of length to measure the vast distances in space.
Question 51
What is the smallest part of an element?
-
AAtom
-
BMineral
-
CMolecule
-
DDNA
Atom
Atoms are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter. Atoms can join together to form molecules, which in turn form most of the objects around you.
Question 52
What does the gravitational pull of the Earth's moon and sun generate in the ocean?
-
ADensity
-
BWaves
-
CTurbulence
-
DTides
Tides
Gravity is one major force that creates tides. In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton explained that ocean tides result from the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon on the oceans of the earth .
Question 53
What is stored in a cell nucleus?
-
AEnzymes
-
BDNA
-
CATP
-
DProtein
DNA
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person's body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria.
Question 54
What are the two types of blood vessels?
-
AArteries and capillaries
-
BArteries and veins
-
CVeins and aortas
-
DPlatelets and veins
Arteries and veins
Two types of blood vessels carry blood throughout our bodies: Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins carry blood from the body back to the heart and lungs so it can get more oxygen.
Question 55
Which of the following is a stimulus?
-
ADarkness
-
BSound
-
CGravity
-
DAll of the above
All of the above
A stimulus is an agent (such as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts.
Question 56
In what state of matter do molecules bounce off one another rapidly and act freely?
-
ALiquid
-
BGas
-
CPlasma
-
DSolid
Gas
Air particles vibrate and move freely at high speeds.
Question 57
What is a physical property of matter?
-
AReactivity
-
BBoiling point
-
CTexture
-
DBehavior
Texture
Physical properties include density, appearance, texture, color, odor, melting point, and boiling point.
Question 58
How is a moon different than a planet?
-
AA moon is in orbit around a planet.
-
BA moon is less massive than any planet.
-
CA moon is smaller than any planet.
-
DA moon is unable to have an atmosphere.
A moon is in orbit around a planet.
NASA states that for an astronomical body to be considered a moon, that object must orbit a planet. For a planet to be classified as such, it must meet certain strict criteria set by the International Astronomical Union.
Question 59
Which is the correct order of organization for living things?
-
AOrgan > tissue > cell > organ system
-
BCell > organ system > organ > tissue
-
CCell > organ > tissue > organ system
-
DCell > tissue > organ > organ system
Cell > tissue > organ > organ system
In a living organism, cells depend upon other cells, tissues depend upon other tissues, and organs depend upon other organs to perform their particular functions to keep the entire organism alive.
Question 60
The "Ring of Fire" refers to ____.
-
AForest fires
-
BThe ocean floor
-
CThe volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean
-
DAn active erupting volcano
The volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean
The Ring of Fire is a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity, or earthquakes, around the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Roughly 90% of all earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, and the ring is dotted with 75% of all active volcanoes on Earth.
Question 61
What is the minimum amount of energy necessary for a chemical reaction?
-
AActivation energy
-
BActivation speed
-
CMass
-
DMotion ratio
Activation energy
Activation energy, in chemistry, is the minimum amount of energy that is required to activate atoms or molecules to a condition in which they can undergo chemical transformation or physical transport.
Question 62
Where is genetic material contained in the cell?
-
AWithin the nucleus
-
BWithin the ribosomes
-
CWithin the nucleolus
-
DWithin the cytoplasm
Within the nucleus
The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell contains the DNA, the genetic material of the cell. The DNA contains the information necessary for constructing the cell and directing the multitude of synthesis tasks performed by the cell in the process of life and reproduction.
Question 63
What is the class that contains scorpions, spiders, ticks and mites?
-
AInsects
-
BMyriapods
-
CCrustaceans
-
DArachnids
Arachnids
Arachnids are any of a class of arthropods having a segmented body divided into two regions of which the front part bears four pairs of legs but no antennae.
Question 64
What is a producer?
-
AAny organism that obtains energy from other organisms
-
BAny organism
-
CAny organism that produces its own food
-
DAny organism that obtains energy
Any organism that produces its own food
All living organisms (plants and animals) must eat some type of food for survival. Plants make their own food through a process called photosynthesis and are called producers.
Question 65
Which cycle illustrates the path of water through the environment?
-
AGlucose cycle
-
BHydrologic cycle
-
CRain cycle
-
DOxygen cycle
Hydrologic cycle
The water cycle, also called hydrologic cycle, is a cycle that involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-atmosphere system. Although the total amount of water within the cycle remains essentially constant, its distribution among the various processes is continually changing.
Question 66
What is the primary source of food for most cells?
-
AGlucose
-
BCellulose
-
CSucrose
-
DFat
Glucose
Glucose, (from Greek glykys; "sweet"), is one of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars (monosaccharides) and is the source of energy in cell function.
Question 67
What is the first step to the scientific method?
-
ACollect and analyze data
-
BConduct experiment
-
CState the problem to be investigated
-
DDraw a conclusion
State the problem to be investigated
Scientific testing involves figuring out what we would expect to observe if an idea were correct and comparing that expectation to what we actually observe.
Question 68
What do mitochondria do?
-
AStore food
-
BMove materials
-
CConvert food into energy
-
DMake protein
Convert food into energy
Mitochondrial division is stimulated by energy demand, so cells with an increased need for energy contain greater numbers of these organelles than cells with lower energy needs.
Question 69
What makes up the circulatory system along with the heart?
-
ACells and platelets
-
BLungs
-
CBlood vessels
-
DNutrients and oxygen
Blood vessels
The circulatory system is composed of the heart and blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries. Our bodies have two circulatory systems: The pulmonary system is a short loop from the heart to the lungs and back again. The systemic circulatory system sends blood from the heart to the other parts of our bodies and back again.
Question 70
Biology is the study of _____.
-
ALife
-
BCells
-
CPlants
-
DAnimals
Life
Biology is the study of living things and their vital processes.
Comments (0)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.