[
  {
    "id": "MCAS_1998_4_11",
    "question": "A dish of sugar water was left on a window sill. One week later, there were only sugar crystals left in the dish. The water was gone. The best explanation for the appearance of sugar crystals is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "some of the water was absorbed by the dish.",
        "the air condensed.",
        "the light shining on the window sill produced more sugar.",
        "the water evaporated."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_28",
    "question": "All living and nonliving material is composed of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "elements",
        "water",
        "soil"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "2"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7033548",
    "question": "When an igneous intrusion comes into contact with surrounding rock, the surrounding rock will",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "erode.",
        "foliate.",
        "precipitate.",
        "recrystallize."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_LBS10680",
    "question": "What allows a light bulb to give off light?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the current flowing through the wire to the light bulb",
        "the light bulb giving electrical energy to the battery",
        "the light bulb generating heat energy",
        "the battery pushing light through the wire"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7017728",
    "question": "The speed at which sound waves travel depends on the",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "distance between the vibration source and the receiver.",
        "type of material through which the sound travels.",
        "size of the object making the sound.",
        "type of device making the sound."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405057",
    "question": "During science class, a teacher explains that the samples the students are studying are made of two or more minerals. What are the students studying?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "gases",
        "rocks",
        "elements",
        "molecules"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7017010",
    "question": "Which tools are needed to measure the effects of friction on a block of wood?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "meter stick, spring scale",
        "balance, stopwatch",
        "balance, meter stick",
        "meter stick, stopwatch"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7015978",
    "question": "A bond is formed when an electron is transferred from a sodium atom to a chlorine atom. What happens to the sodium atom during this process?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The mass of the atom increases.",
        "The atom becomes an isotope.",
        "The atomic number decreases.",
        "The atom becomes a positive ion."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_177223",
    "question": "In a classroom demonstration, a teacher pours sulfuric acid on some granulated sugar in a beaker. The sugar turns yellow and then black. Smoke rises and a strong smell is released. This demonstration is an example of what kind of change?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical",
        "physical",
        "magnetic",
        "electric"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2010_8_2",
    "question": "A student examined a rock sample and described it as having particles of various colors that were 1 millimeter to 12 millimeters in size. The student was making",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an inference",
        "a hypothesis",
        "a prediction",
        "an observation"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "4"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_415390",
    "question": "Erin wants to make a strong, light chair. Which natural material should she use?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "iron",
        "granite",
        "clay",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400279",
    "question": "A student heats the same amount of two different liquids over Bunsen burners. Each liquid is at room temperature when the student begins. If liquid 1 has a higher specific heat than liquid 2, then liquid 1 will",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "evaporate sooner.",
        "take longer to increase in temperature.",
        "condense over a longer period.",
        "chemically break down at a faster rate."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2008_4_6",
    "question": "When a rock is placed in a graduated cylinder containing water, the height of the water will",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "decrease",
        "increase",
        "remain the same"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7068425",
    "question": "Which condition is necessary for metamorphic rocks to form?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "constant weathering and erosion",
        "extreme pressure and heating",
        "rapid burial of sediments",
        "slow cooling of magma"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7026495",
    "question": "Over time, dried lava from an old volcano is worn down and broken into small pieces. When these pieces pile up and are cemented together to form new rock, how would this new rock be classified?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "magma",
        "igneous",
        "sedimentary",
        "metamorphic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7084315",
    "question": "When potassium and bromine atoms form chemical bonds, which of these is produced?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an element",
        "a mixture",
        "a compound",
        "a new form of matter"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2010_7_10",
    "question": "Air is composed of many different substances. Which of the following components of air is a compound rather than an element?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Argon, Ar",
        "Oxygen, O2",
        "Water, H2O",
        "Nitrogen, N2"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7271705",
    "question": "When chemicals in the atmosphere dissolve in water droplets, they precipitate with the water and pollute water reservoirs on Earth. The pollutants enter the food chain when aquatic organisms absorb them. Which of these pollutants eventually contaminates fish after coal is burned?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "lead",
        "arsenic",
        "mercury",
        "aluminum"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7068688",
    "question": "Topsoil is considered to be most fertile when it has a",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "low pH level.",
        "low sand content.",
        "high organic matter level.",
        "high parent rock material level."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2010_8_12008",
    "question": "What is the smallest unit of a chemical compound that still has the properties of that compound?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a nucleus",
        "a molecule",
        "an element",
        "an atom"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ_2008_8_29",
    "question": "What characteristic of carbon [C] makes it essential to living organisms?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Carbon forms crystal structures under certain conditions.",
        "Carbon can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas.",
        "Carbon bonds in many ways with itself to form chains.",
        "Carbon exists in radioactive forms."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_403912",
    "question": "Due to extreme pressure, the inner core of Earth is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "solid.",
        "liquid.",
        "gas.",
        "plasma."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7143360",
    "question": "Some aquifers are composed of limestone and dolomite. Which process increases the open spaces of the aquifer formation?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "wave action",
        "wind erosion",
        "tensional faulting",
        "chemical weathering"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_410598",
    "question": "Roberto is sliding down a plastic slide on the playground. After he reaches the ground, he feels a small electric shock when he touches a piece of metal. What has been built up on his body that causes the shock?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "atoms",
        "electrons",
        "neutrons",
        "protons"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2012_8_23645",
    "question": "Leather basketballs are made for indoor use on smooth surfaces. Rubber basketballs are made for use on many different surfaces. Which of the following properties of rubber makes it better than leather for use on many different surfaces?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Rubber is durable.",
        "Rubber is lightweight.",
        "Rubber is dark in color.",
        "Rubber is quickly produced."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401166",
    "question": "Which object works best when reflecting light?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mirror",
        "camera",
        "binoculars",
        "eyeglasses"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2005_5_8",
    "question": "Which of the following objects is probably the most flexible?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a ceramic dish",
        "a wooden block",
        "a short steel rod",
        "a new rubber hose"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_415262",
    "question": "Which of the following could help to reduce a home heating bill in winter?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "replacing wood doors with aluminum doors",
        "using more insulation in the walls of the home",
        "removing thick rugs and heavy curtains in the home",
        "painting the roof of the home white to reflect light"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7024780",
    "question": "In a laboratory procedure, students added sodium hydroxide crystals to a beaker of water and allowed the resulting solution to cool. Based on this information, which type of chemical process most likely occurred?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "electrical",
        "energetic",
        "exothermic",
        "endothermic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7044520",
    "question": "A student was given the volume and description of a substance and was asked to determine its density. What information is missing?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "size",
        "mass",
        "boiling point",
        "melting point"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7222863",
    "question": "When light reflects off certain crystals in the atmosphere, effects called halos appear. Which substance in the atmosphere forms these crystals?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "carbon dioxide",
        "oxygen",
        "sulfur dioxide",
        "water"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_178605",
    "question": "Which of the following is a chemical property of silver?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "malleable",
        "white metal",
        "conductor of heat",
        "reacts with nitric acid"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7210018",
    "question": "A student observes different characteristics of a rock. Which observation best describes a fact about the rock?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "It has a nice surface.",
        "It has an interesting shape.",
        "It is made of several layers.",
        "It feels warm when touched."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400808",
    "question": "Chromium is characterized by a very high melting point. Use the Periodic Table of the Elements to identify which of these elements most likely has a similar melting point.",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "potassium",
        "manganese",
        "bromine",
        "krypton"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7212853",
    "question": "Elements are organized on the periodic table according to",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "electronegativity values.",
        "atomic mass.",
        "atomic number.",
        "the number of neutrons."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_402332",
    "question": "What type of rock was the fossil most likely found in?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "igneous",
        "volcanic",
        "sedimentary",
        "metamorphic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2000_8_19",
    "question": "The bottom of the space shuttle is covered with ceramic tile. This material was chosen because it withstands",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "moisture.",
        "vibration.",
        "heat.",
        "light."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7068705",
    "question": "Some plants need to be in an environment where water drains easily. Which type of soil content will best benefit these plants?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "sand",
        "shale",
        "clay",
        "silt"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7215863",
    "question": "Which process is most effective for separating sodium chloride from a saltwater solution?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "filtration",
        "evaporation",
        "magnetic separation",
        "chemical separation"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ30768",
    "question": "Which of the following elements is best able to combine with itself and hydrogen [H] to form large molecules?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "sodium [Na]",
        "lithium [Li]",
        "sulfur [S]",
        "carbon [C]"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7206605",
    "question": "A hammer and a screwdriver are next to each other in the sunlight. After one hour, the hammer is hotter than the screwdriver. The shape and mass of each object may affect the amount of heat each object gains. Another explanation for the difference in temperature may be that the hammer and screwdriver are",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "moving at different rates.",
        "made of different materials.",
        "used for different purposes.",
        "picked up in different ways."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_415545",
    "question": "What chemical symbol represents the element copper?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "C",
        "Co",
        "Cp",
        "Cu"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7086765",
    "question": "Silica sand is a resource used in large volume in Nevada. This resource is used to make which product?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "tar",
        "glass",
        "plastic",
        "electricity"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401161",
    "question": "Which liquid most likely contains a dissolved gas?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "whole milk",
        "house paint",
        "mud puddle",
        "carbonated soda"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405141",
    "question": "Panels of solar cells are used to collect energy from the Sun and convert it into energy for use in homes. Into what type of energy is the solar energy converted?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical",
        "electrical",
        "geothermal",
        "hydroelectric"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401122",
    "question": "A metal pan will heat up quickly when placed over a gas or electric burner. The metal pan is a good",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "resistor.",
        "insulator.",
        "conductor.",
        "accelerator."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7086783",
    "question": "The finest-grained soils are richest in",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "sand.",
        "humus.",
        "clay.",
        "iron."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7018060",
    "question": "Which of these is a chemical property of a material?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "density",
        "flammability",
        "color",
        "brittleness"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "NAEP_2009_4_S11+1",
    "question": "Which material is the best conductor of electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Wood",
        "Metal",
        "Stone",
        "Plastic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2010_8_12019",
    "question": "A stone arch bridge relies primarily on which of the following for its load strength?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "bending",
        "compression",
        "tension",
        "torsion"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_411731",
    "question": "Based on the Periodic Table of the Elements, which of these elements has properties most similar to calcium (Ca)?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "carbon [C]",
        "barium [Ba]",
        "sodium [Na]",
        "manganese [Mn]"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_192868",
    "question": "In the Four Corners area in the US Southwest, there are large rocky outcroppings of basalt. These were formed by ancient lava flows. Using this information, what class of rock is this?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metamorphic",
        "sedimentary",
        "igneous",
        "weathered"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_1995_8_K16",
    "question": "Which is made with the help of bacteria?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Yogurt",
        "Cream",
        "Soap",
        "Cooking oil"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2010_5_14",
    "question": "Which of the following metals will be attracted to a magnet?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "copper",
        "gold",
        "iron",
        "silver"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401827",
    "question": "Metals that easily transfer electricity are called",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "resistors.",
        "magnets.",
        "insulators.",
        "conductors."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7085873",
    "question": "Which of the following best describes two atoms of oxygen that are chemically bonded to each other?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "molecule",
        "compound",
        "solution",
        "mixture"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_33",
    "question": "Heat transfer by conduction occurs when molecules",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "flow as currents through liquids",
        "form waves that travel through space",
        "become less dense and rise",
        "collide with other molecules"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "4"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402052",
    "question": "Which reflects light?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mirror",
        "camera",
        "telescope",
        "eyeglasses"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_407259",
    "question": "Which action results in a chemical change?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "apples being cut into slices",
        "wood burning in a fireplace",
        "wet clothes drying on a clothesline",
        "snow being shoveled off of a sidewalk"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2011_4_pg97",
    "question": "A metal spoon and a wooden spoon are used to stir a pot of hot soup. After a few minutes, the metal spoon feels hotter than the wooden spoon. What explains this?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Metal is always hotter than wood.",
        "Metal conducts heat better than wood.",
        "Metal conducts electricity better than wood.",
        "Metal heats up the water better than the wood."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2014_5_12",
    "question": "A blacksmith bends a metal rod into a round wheel. Which statement best describes the wheel?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The wheel weighs less than the rod.",
        "The wheel weighs more than the rod.",
        "The wheel is made of the same substance as the rod.",
        "The wheel is made of a different substance than the rod."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7162558",
    "question": "Materials made of the same substance will have characteristics in common. Which property is most likely to remain constant in different samples of the same material?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "density",
        "mass",
        "shape",
        "volume"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402258",
    "question": "In an experiment, water and salt are mixed together. What is the best way to separate the salt from the water?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "filter the salt",
        "freeze the mixture",
        "evaporate the water",
        "pour the water out of the container"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_177345",
    "question": "Which of the following is an example of a compound?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "copper",
        "iron",
        "carbon",
        "water"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "AKDE&ED_2012_4_39",
    "question": "Sand is a type of soil that is made of very tiny pieces of material. Which process most likely forms sand?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the rotation of Earth",
        "the growth of animals",
        "the decay of large trees",
        "the weathering of rocks"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7034790",
    "question": "What is needed to change ice into water?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "energy",
        "stirring",
        "chemicals"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "VASoL_2008_3_21",
    "question": "Which of these is MOST likely made from only one material?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "A pencil",
        "A bicycle",
        "A paper clip",
        "A pair of shoes"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ40385",
    "question": "A student divides several cubes into two groups, based on whether or not each cube can float in later. What property is the student using to classify the cubes?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "weight",
        "density",
        "conductivity",
        "mass"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402036",
    "question": "Students observed that a diamond was able to scratch a piece of talc. What does this observation best support?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Diamonds have sharp edges.",
        "Talc is softer than diamonds.",
        "Diamonds are very valuable.",
        "Talc and diamonds are both minerals."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2001_8_9",
    "question": "Use the information below to answer the question. Manufacturing uses many steps to change natural resources into products. Some of these steps change natural resources into industrial materials. These steps are called primary processes. All of the following are primary processes except",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "melting iron ore.",
        "producing lumber.",
        "molding plastic.",
        "crushing rock into gravel."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2007_8_4",
    "question": "Use The Periodic Table of the Elements and the information below to answer the question. Magnesium metal (Mg) is grayish-white in color and reacts actively with water. Fluorine (F2) is a greenish-yellow gas at room temperature and is a member of the halogen family. These two elements react to produce magnesium fluoride (MgF2), a chemical commonly used in making windows and lenses. According to the Periodic Table of the Elements, which element is most similar to magnesium (Mg)?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "calcium (Ca)",
        "iodine (I)",
        "sodium (Na)",
        "sulfur (S)"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2013_8_36",
    "question": "Because copper is a metal, it is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "liquid at room temperature",
        "nonreactive with other substances",
        "a poor conductor of electricity",
        "a good conductor of heat"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "4"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_408250",
    "question": "Robin compared the properties of some rocks. Which property did she most likely compare with a balance?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "density",
        "mass",
        "temperature",
        "volume"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_4_12",
    "question": "Which object is the best conductor of electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "glass rod",
        "wooden stick",
        "plastic straw",
        "metal nail"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400598",
    "question": "Electrical wires are coated with a rubber or plastic because these materials are good",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "resistors.",
        "magnets.",
        "insulators.",
        "conductors."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7038850",
    "question": "Which of these materials transfers heat energy quickest?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metal",
        "glass",
        "plastic",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7014560",
    "question": "Which pieces of equipment would be used to measure the density of a solution?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a ruler and a protractor",
        "a magnet and a thermometer",
        "a graduated cylinder and a balance",
        "an Erlenmeyer flask and a Bunsen burner"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400181",
    "question": "Which characteristic best identifies a pure substance?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "shape",
        "texture",
        "melting point",
        "state of matter"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401779",
    "question": "Which of the following is the best conductor of heat?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "oven mitts",
        "a metal bowl",
        "a wooden spoon",
        "rubber soled shoes"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7016328",
    "question": "Which atomic structure has the greatest mass?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "electron",
        "neutron",
        "nucleus",
        "proton"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7068600",
    "question": "Which property of a mineral is most likely being tested when it is scratched with a nail?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "color",
        "hardness",
        "cleavage",
        "luster"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ20770",
    "question": "Iron oxides, such as rust, form when iron metal reacts with oxygen in the air. What are the chemical symbols for the two elements found in iron oxide?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "I and O",
        "Ir and O",
        "Fe and O",
        "Pb and O"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7018498",
    "question": "Beakers and graduated cylinders are designed to measure",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mass.",
        "density.",
        "volume.",
        "viscosity."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_415394",
    "question": "A company wants to make a game that uses a magnet that sticks to a board. Which material should it use for the board?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "cardboard",
        "glass",
        "steel",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_1995_8_I16",
    "question": "A metal spoon, a wooden spoon, and a plastic spoon are placed in hot water. After 15 seconds, which spoon will feel hottest?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The metal spoon",
        "The wooden spoon",
        "The plastic spoon",
        "The three spoons will feel the same."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7064698",
    "question": "When iron combines with oxygen in a moist environment, rust forms because of a",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical reaction.",
        "physical reaction.",
        "change in density.",
        "change in temperature."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7008785",
    "question": "The tendency of an element to react chemically is closely related to",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the number of valence electrons.",
        "the ratio of protons to neutrons.",
        "how tightly atoms are packed.",
        "the number of neutrons in atoms."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400278",
    "question": "In order for a material to be effective for cooking, it must have which physical property?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "low melting point",
        "high electric charge",
        "high reactivity with water",
        "low thermal expansion"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405777",
    "question": "What is the most important property architects must consider when selecting materials for the walls, ceilings, and floors for a new concert hall?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "thermal properties",
        "chemical properties",
        "electrical properties",
        "acoustical properties"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7218663",
    "question": "Which difference between water and ice results in ice floating on cold water?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "heat",
        "shape",
        "density",
        "volume"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7086800",
    "question": "Soil that drains slowly most likely has a high amount of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "ash.",
        "sand.",
        "clay.",
        "peat."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_45",
    "question": "A student writes in a laboratory notebook: I placed a piece of iron in a beaker of water and the iron sank to the bottom of the beaker. What the student wrote in the laboratory notebook is an example of a(n)",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "observation",
        "prediction",
        "inference",
        "hypothesis"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "1"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400837",
    "question": "Appearance, texture, and density are classified as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "physical properties.",
        "chemical properties.",
        "magnetic properties.",
        "thermal properties."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2014_5_13",
    "question": "Which is an example of a physical property of an object?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The object bends without breaking.",
        "The object bubbles when put into an acid.",
        "The object burns when touched by a flame.",
        "The object gives off sparks when put into water."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400857",
    "question": "When salt is added to ice, the ice begins to melt because the salt",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "raises the freezing point.",
        "lowers the freezing point.",
        "raises the boiling point.",
        "lowers the boiling point."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2005_9_9",
    "question": "One method of heat distribution is a baseboard forced hot water system. A baseboard system carries hot water through a pipe that passes through many small, flat plates called fins. What is the purpose of these fins?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "to dissipate the heat of the hot water flowing through the pipe",
        "to prevent the baseboard from coming in contact with hot surfaces",
        "to replace the heated air leaving the system with cold air",
        "to prevent dust and other particles from entering the baseboard"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7161403",
    "question": "Aerogels are compounds formed by the drying of certain gels. Although the aerogel hardens into a solid material, the particles in the gel are much farther apart than those of most solids and particles are held together by strong bridges of covalently bonded atoms. Which of the following is a likely property of aerogels?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "very low density",
        "high electrical conductivity",
        "very low melting point",
        "very flexible"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400158",
    "question": "How does sedimentary rock form?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "sediments cool",
        "sediments melt",
        "sediments separate",
        "sediments compress"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2011_5_11",
    "question": "Which of the following best explains why electrical wires are usually covered with plastic or rubber?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "to insulate the electrical wire",
        "to keep the electrical wire warm",
        "to make the electrical wire stronger",
        "to make the electrical wire more flexible"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402079",
    "question": "Which material is a good conductor of heat?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "plastic",
        "rubber",
        "glass",
        "copper"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405107",
    "question": "A student has a mineral sample. He wonders if the sample is the mineral mica. He knows the cleavage pattern of mica is a smooth, flat sheet. The student can best find out the cleavage pattern of the sample by",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "shining a light on the mineral.",
        "soaking the mineral in water.",
        "rubbing a penny against the mineral.",
        "breaking off a piece of the mineral."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2010_4_10",
    "question": "When a lightbulb is lit, electrical energy is changed into light energy and",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical energy",
        "magnetic energy",
        "heat energy",
        "mechanical energy"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2008_8_24",
    "question": "Which information would probably be most helpful to someone trying to identify a mineral sample?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "location and mass of the sample",
        "shape and texture of the sample",
        "hardness and streak of the sample",
        "color and size of the sample"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "3"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2008_5_12",
    "question": "In which case does a physical change occur?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Ice melts into water.",
        "Bread burns in a toaster.",
        "A cake bakes in an oven.",
        "Two chemicals form a new substance."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405948",
    "question": "Plastic conducts very little thermal energy or electricity. Because of this property, plastic would most likely be used to cover",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metal.",
        "wood.",
        "solids.",
        "liquids."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_409822",
    "question": "Lichens grow on rocks and produce an acid that reacts with part of the rock, forming soil. Which best describes the action of lichens on the rocks?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "erosion",
        "fertilizer",
        "chemical weathering",
        "mechanical weathering"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_409595",
    "question": "As wood in a campfire burns, it releases heat and becomes ash. What kind of change occurs in the wood when it burns and releases heat?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "nuclear",
        "magnetic",
        "chemical",
        "mechanical"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2007_4_pg34",
    "question": "Katie has a mixture of iron filings and sand. She wants to separate them. How can she do this?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Shake the mixture, and the iron filings will rise to the surface.",
        "Add water to the mixture, and the sand will dissolve in the water.",
        "Put the mixture through a sieve, and the sand will remain in the sieve.",
        "Pass a magnet over the mixture, and the magnet will attract the iron fillings."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401331",
    "question": "Melting, boiling, and freezing are examples of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "physical changes.",
        "chemical changes.",
        "magnetic changes.",
        "electrical changes."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7222408",
    "question": "Materials that let electrons flow very easily from one atom to another",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "are called insulators.",
        "are called conductors.",
        "are called non-metals.",
        "are called resistors."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_411809",
    "question": "Which term correctly describes all of the following materials? salt water, vinegar, bronze, air, beach sand",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "compounds",
        "mixtures",
        "solutions",
        "elements"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2007_4_pg105",
    "question": "Which of these objects will rust?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "wood chips",
        "plastic straws",
        "iron nails",
        "glass beads"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7217438",
    "question": "Coal is used for generating about 53% of the electrical energy in the United States. Which of these environmental issues is directly contributed to by the burning of coal?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "beach erosion",
        "ozone depletion",
        "overfishing",
        "air pollution"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7205363",
    "question": "What is the smallest part of a gold ring that is still gold?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an atom",
        "an electron",
        "a molecule",
        "a compound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2011_5_10",
    "question": "Which two forms of energy could best be used to increase the temperature of a sheet of copper?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "heat and light",
        "heat and sound",
        "light and magnetism",
        "electricity and sound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7056648",
    "question": "Which event is an example of conduction?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Sunlight travels from the Sun to warm Earth.",
        "Boiling water in a pot warms a spoon inside the pot.",
        "A fire in a fireplace warms the air in a room.",
        "Cold water is heated in a microwave oven."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2008_8_33",
    "question": "Which process is an example of a physical change?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "wood burning",
        "iron rusting",
        "ice melting",
        "milk souring"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "3"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2004_8_20",
    "question": "A class conducts an experiment to determine the best color to paint a solar water heater that they plan to build. For their experimental test, the students have four identical cans. They paint one black, one green, one red, and one white. Each can is filled with 500 mL of 22°C water, and is allowed to sit in the sun for two hours. Which color can will have the greatest increase in water temperature?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "black",
        "green",
        "red",
        "white"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_1999_8_17",
    "question": "Which would be the most important to consider when selecting material for the walls and ceiling of a concert hall?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical properties",
        "mechanical properties",
        "thermal properties",
        "acoustical properties"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400406",
    "question": "Wood is considered a renewable resource because",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "oxygen is released by trees.",
        "trees can be replanted.",
        "there are many varieties of trees.",
        "trees are used for many purposes."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "TAKS_2009_5_29",
    "question": "Which two properties of a crayon will stay about the same after the crayon is melted?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Shape and physical state",
        "Temperature and hardness",
        "Color and mass",
        "Thickness and texture"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2005_8_20",
    "question": "How many different elements are in the 20 compound sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "1",
        "3",
        "6",
        "7"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "AKDE&ED_2012_4_2",
    "question": "Liquid cooking oil was poured into a container. Which statement best describes a property of the cooking oil after it was poured into the container?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Its color changed.",
        "Its mass increased.",
        "Its volume stayed the same.",
        "Its temperature quickly increased."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400988",
    "question": "Making aluminum cans from recycled materials instead of raw materials is a wise choice because it",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "saves time.",
        "saves trees.",
        "creates energy.",
        "reduces pollution."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_408881",
    "question": "In a recycling program, people can separate paper from their other trash. The paper is sent to factories and turned into new products. What does paper recycling help conserve the most?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "gasoline",
        "trees",
        "water"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405056",
    "question": "Students are comparing different rocks. What do all rocks have in common?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Rocks are made of one or more minerals.",
        "Rocks are made of two or more elements.",
        "Rocks are made of magma and sediments.",
        "Rocks are made of sand changed by pressure."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7219030",
    "question": "As some organisms die, their remains become buried by mud and are eventually compressed into a type of rock. Which of these is a rock type that forms from this process?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "igneous",
        "sedimentary",
        "magma",
        "metamorphic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7041388",
    "question": "In order for magma to be converted to igneous rock, which actions must occur?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "melting and cooling",
        "heating and pressure",
        "weathering and erosion",
        "crystallization and cooling"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_401313",
    "question": "Which type of rock is formed when particles are compacted and cemented together?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "igneous",
        "metallic",
        "metamorphic",
        "sedimentary"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_406688",
    "question": "A student wants to know which type of soil holds the most water. Which action should the student most likely do to answer the question?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "compare how the soils are alike",
        "put the soils into different groups",
        "record the weight of the soil",
        "watch how quickly the soil drains"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2011_8_17696",
    "question": "Which of the following units best represents the density of an object?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "kg",
        "hr",
        "m/s^2",
        "g/cm^3"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ_2005_5_CSZ20517",
    "question": "All living things contain which element?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "helium.",
        "sodium.",
        "copper.",
        "carbon."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_402634",
    "question": "In which state are molecules of a substance arranged in the most orderly way?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "gas",
        "liquid",
        "plasma",
        "solid"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7012495",
    "question": "Which of these atomic structures has the least amount of mass?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an ion",
        "a proton",
        "a neutron",
        "an electron"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2003_4_pg87",
    "question": "Minerals are used for making many things including jewelry, chalk, and concrete. Where do we get the minerals needed to make these things?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "from air",
        "from wood",
        "from rocks",
        "from crops"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2011_8_pg98",
    "question": "What is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "CO",
        "CO2",
        "C",
        "O2"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "AKDE&ED_2008_8_49",
    "question": "Which procedure correctly describes materials combining?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Salt and sand are added to hot water and stirred making a mixture.",
        "Oil and water are placed in a sealed bottle and shaken making a compound.",
        "Sugar and water are added to flour and cooked in an oven making an element.",
        "Soil and water are shaken in a container and left to separate forming two elements."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7263655",
    "question": "Scientists studying migrating birds and homing pigeons have discovered that they navigate by monitoring differences in the intensity and inclination of Earth's magnetic field. Special cells in bird beaks can detect these changes as the birds fly over Earth's surface. Which metal did the scientists find in the cells that birds use as a magnetometer?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "iron",
        "gold",
        "mercury",
        "aluminum"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7026513",
    "question": "A rock formation in a land area contains fossils. Over time, tremendous heat and pressure change the formation to produce a harder rock formation without fossils. Which change in rock type has occurred in this land area?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Igneous rock has turned into sedimentary rock.",
        "Igneous rock has turned into metamorphic rock.",
        "Sedimentary rock has turned into igneous rock.",
        "Sedimentary rock has turned into metamorphic rock."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400183",
    "question": "Eyeglasses help a nearsighted person see as a result of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "absorption.",
        "diffraction.",
        "reflection.",
        "refraction."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_412777",
    "question": "Which is an SI unit for density?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "lb",
        "kg",
        "lb/ft^3",
        "kg/m^3"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7056543",
    "question": "What should be added to soil to increase its water retention?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "pebbles",
        "sand",
        "rocks",
        "clay"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7219118",
    "question": "The mineral quartz naturally forms in various colors. Which difference in quartz formation results in the different colors?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "pressure at which the processes occurred",
        "temperature at which the processes occurred",
        "chemical impurities present as the processes occurred",
        "amount of time passed since the processes occurred"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401358",
    "question": "Which substance is magnetic and conducts heat?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "wood",
        "plastic",
        "iron",
        "paper"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2013_8_33",
    "question": "Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. The water in this reaction is described as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an atom",
        "a reactant",
        "an element",
        "a compound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "AKDE&ED_2012_8_15",
    "question": "Which property would best help a student determine if two substances are made of two different elements?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mass",
        "shape",
        "density",
        "volume"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400532",
    "question": "Which type of energy does a radiator give off ?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "heat",
        "light",
        "solar",
        "electrical"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ_2009_8_CSZ30585",
    "question": "Copper (Cu) reacts with oxygen (O) to form copper oxide (CuO). The properties of CuO are most likely",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "different from copper or oxygen.",
        "similar to both copper and oxygen.",
        "similar only to copper.",
        "similar only to oxygen."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2008_5_5",
    "question": "Which action should be taken in order to identify the streak of a mineral during an investigation?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Weigh the mineral",
        "Dip the mineral in acid",
        "Heat the mineral until it melts",
        "Drag an edge of the mineral across a tile"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7030783",
    "question": "Atoms of the same element can have different atomic masses because they can have different numbers of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "neutrons.",
        "protons.",
        "electrons.",
        "neutrinos."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402642",
    "question": "Which would be the best conductor of electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "cork",
        "water",
        "silver"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_407376",
    "question": "Air is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases. Based on that information, air can be described as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a compound.",
        "an element.",
        "a mixture.",
        "a molecule."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2006_9_40",
    "question": "The instructions below outline the procedure for a demonstration. Materials: four 100 g metal blocks, each of a different metal four polystyrene foam cups, each containing 150 g of 10°C water Procedure: 1. Place the four cups of water next to each other on the lab bench. 2. Heat each block to a temperature of 60°C. 3. Place each heated block in a separate cup of 10°C water. 4. Measure the temperature change in each cup of water after 100 s. At the end of the demonstration, which block raised the temperature of the 10°C water the greatest amount?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the block with the greatest density",
        "the block with the lowest surface area",
        "the block with the greatest specific heat",
        "the block with the lowest thermal conductivity"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_415738",
    "question": "A dark colored wall becomes warm when the Sun is shining on it. After the Sun sets, a person standing a meter away can feel warmth from the wall. How does heat transfer from the wall to the person?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "radiation",
        "conduction",
        "convection",
        "insulation"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2000_8_17",
    "question": "Scientists classify matter into various groups. Which group is typically described by the characteristics listed below? • usually solid at room temperature • can be bent or changed in shape without breaking • show a shiny luster when scratched or polished",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metals",
        "nonmetals",
        "elements",
        "compounds"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_404998",
    "question": "Sound waves travel the fastest through dense materials. Through which of these would sound waves travel the SLOWEST?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "glass",
        "metal",
        "water"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_404107",
    "question": "Which mineral is most likely to be found in all of the three major rock types known as metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "halite",
        "quartz",
        "gypsum",
        "sulfur"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7037345",
    "question": "A substance that carries sound waves is called",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a fulcrum.",
        "a medium.",
        "a spectrum.",
        "an equilibrium."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400600",
    "question": "A student dissolves a spoonful of sugar in a glass of water and makes a",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "solute.",
        "solvent.",
        "solution.",
        "suspension."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400603",
    "question": "An electrical component that has a continuous path for electrons to flow is called",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a closed circuit.",
        "an open circuit.",
        "a filament.",
        "a battery."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2009_8_29",
    "question": "Use the information below to answer the question. Cotton is a plant product used to make fabric. Cotton is made of cellulose, a fiber not digestible by humans. Cellulose is composed of many sugar molecules bonded together into long chains. Each sugar molecule contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. When cotton fabric is washed, wrinkles often form. The clothing industry uses chemicals to manufacture some cotton fabrics that are wrinkle-free. Dyes are also added to color the cellulose fibers in cotton. A feature that is common to both cellulose and sugar is that both are",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "magnetic",
        "elements",
        "compounds",
        "soluble in water"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2007_7_26",
    "question": "A mineral sample is obtained from a box, and acid is dropped on the sample to determine if it bubbles. Which best describes what should be done with the mineral after testing it?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Return the mineral to its box.",
        "Rinse the mineral with water, dry it, and return it to the box.",
        "Wipe the mineral with a paper towel and return it to the box.",
        "Put the mineral in the sink and leave it for the teacher to clean up."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2003_4_pg81",
    "question": "Which of these things will dissolve in water?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "iron filings",
        "wood chips",
        "sand",
        "sugar"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "LEAP_2006_4_10275",
    "question": "What is an energy change that takes place in a light bulb?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Chemical energy changes to light energy.",
        "Chemical energy changes to heat energy.",
        "Electrical energy changes to light energy.",
        "Electrical energy changes to chemical energy."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_8_2015_4",
    "question": "The freezing point of nitrous oxide is -91°C. Which of the following statements best describes the effect on the particles in liquid nitrous oxide as its temperature is lowered to -91°C?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The speed of the particles decreases.",
        "The particles begin to move in a straight line.",
        "The particles begin to move with a greater force.",
        "The motion of the particles becomes more random."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_186568",
    "question": "Which of the following will absorb heat energy?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "two sticks being rubbed together",
        "a piece of wood burning",
        "steel wool rusting",
        "ice cubes melting"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7206133",
    "question": "Shale is a common sedimentary rock. Which of these was required to form shale?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "evaporating",
        "condensing",
        "melting",
        "compacting"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2013_8_29418",
    "question": "Which of the following do water (H2O), rust (Fe2O3), and salt (NaCl) have in common?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Water, rust, and salt are atoms.",
        "Water, rust, and salt are mixtures.",
        "Water, rust, and salt are elements.",
        "Water, rust, and salt are compounds."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7085558",
    "question": "The breaking of a mineral into small, flat sheets is known as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "luster.",
        "streak.",
        "cleavage.",
        "hardness."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "VASoL_2008_5_14",
    "question": "Copper wire is often wrapped in plastic. Plastic material is a good",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "electromagnet",
        "insulator",
        "circuit",
        "current"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7027545",
    "question": "A hardware designer finds that the wiring in a circuit is releasing enough heat to make the circuit dangerously hot. Which change would best solve this problem?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "increasing the current in the circuit",
        "placing rubber insulation on wires in the circuit",
        "reversing the direction of current flow in the circuit",
        "using circuit wires with a lower resistance"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7083738",
    "question": "If it is determined that the particles in one solid are arranged in a repeating pattern and the particles in another solid are arranged randomly, what must be true about the solids?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "They are different substances.",
        "They have the same weight.",
        "They have the same densities.",
        "They are different mixtures."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_4_15",
    "question": "Volume and mass are properties of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "friction",
        "light",
        "matter",
        "sound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ20823",
    "question": "When magnesium (Mg) metal is burned in the presence of oxygen (O?), magnesium oxide (MgO) is produced. The properties of magnesium oxide are different than the individual properties of magnesium and oxygen because magnesium oxide is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a solution.",
        "a mixture.",
        "a compound.",
        "an element."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "AKDE&ED_2008_4_33",
    "question": "Many years ago, purple dye was made from some sea animals. Then, in 1856, William Perkins tried to make a new medicine. Instead, he found a way to make purple dye from coal. What is a positive effect of his discovery?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Some diseases can be treated.",
        "Purple clothing can be made.",
        "Sea animals are not needed to make purple dye.",
        "Perkins is famous for discovering a new medicine."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401225",
    "question": "When zinc and copper are melted together, brass is formed. Brass is an example of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a solute.",
        "an element.",
        "a mineral.",
        "a mixture."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2016_5_2",
    "question": "A student is collecting water samples. The student needs a container that holds water, will not break easily, and can be used many times. Which of the following containers will best meet the student's needs?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a glass jar",
        "a paper cup",
        "a wooden box",
        "a plastic bottle"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7223423",
    "question": "Two samples of gold must have the same",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mass.",
        "volume.",
        "length.",
        "density."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2008_4_4",
    "question": "Which material is the best conductor of electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metal",
        "glass",
        "wood",
        "plastic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2014_5_4",
    "question": "What is a characteristic of sedimentary rock?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "high hardness",
        "glassy texture",
        "contains fossils",
        "shiny silver luster"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2003_8_pg43",
    "question": "Rock that is made of material that has settled to the bottom of lakes and oceans and been compressed and hardened is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "conglomerate rock",
        "volcanic rock",
        "sedimentary rock",
        "metamorphic rock"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2008_5_13",
    "question": "Which is a characteristic of sedimentary rock?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "forms in layers",
        "looks very shiny",
        "contains crystals",
        "forms from magma"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2013_4_7",
    "question": "The hardness, odor, and taste of an object can all be",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "measured with a metric ruler",
        "measured with a spring scale",
        "observed with the senses",
        "observed with a hand lens"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402064",
    "question": "What is responsible for changing the remains of prehistoric sea animals into natural gas?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "time",
        "water",
        "gravity",
        "pressure"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2008_5_29",
    "question": "Rocks and minerals are common materials found on Earth. Which property do most rocks and minerals share?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "They are pure.",
        "They are solid.",
        "They are liquid.",
        "They are magnetic."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7071960",
    "question": "Soil color is closely related to its content. Which element causes soil to appear red?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "iron",
        "silicon",
        "calcium",
        "magnesium"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7029855",
    "question": "Which of these substances is correctly identified as a mineral?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "coal",
        "quartz",
        "granite",
        "sandstone"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7223948",
    "question": "Which material has the least resistance to the flow of electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "rubber",
        "aluminum",
        "granite",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2008_8_39",
    "question": "Students are investigating the physical properties of three solid mixtures by placing each solid mixture in liquid water. What physical property are the students testing?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "solubility",
        "conductivity",
        "boiling point",
        "melting point"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400574",
    "question": "In the rock cycle, sedimentary rock forms when rock is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "crystallized into natural glass.",
        "exposed to great temperature.",
        "melted into liquid magma.",
        "broken down by weathering."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2010_5_3",
    "question": "Heating and cooling water change the state of matter of water. What happens when a block of ice is heated to 10° Celsius?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "It melts to form liquid water.",
        "It condenses to form liquid water.",
        "It freezes to become heavier ice.",
        "It evaporates to become a vapor (gas)."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7007858",
    "question": "Which statement describes the reason why an ice cube melts when set out in a warm room?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Heat from the room is absorbed by the ice cube.",
        "The ice cube molecules move more slowly.",
        "One side of the ice cube is colder than the other.",
        "Heat from the ice cube moves into the air."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7141733",
    "question": "A carpenter rubs sandpaper on a wooden bench to make the bench smoother. The sandpaper will get warm as it is rubbed on the bench. As a result of the friction between the sandpaper and the bench, thermal energy is converted to",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical energy that is stored by the sandpaper.",
        "radiant energy that is transferred to the bench.",
        "potential energy that is stored by the wood.",
        "heat energy that is transferred to the air."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "VASoL_2007_5_30",
    "question": "A student made observations of four rock samples. Which of these observations most likely describes a sedimentary rock?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Sample 1 has bands of light and dark crystals.",
        "Sample 2 has pink, gray, and white crystals grown together.",
        "Sample 3 is made up of one huge, pale pink crystal.",
        "Sample 4 is made up of layers of sand grains cemented together."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2007_8_6",
    "question": "Use The Periodic Table of the Elements and the information below to answer the question. Magnesium metal (Mg) is grayish-white in color and reacts actively with water. Fluorine (F2) is a greenish-yellow gas at room temperature and is a member of the halogen family. These two elements react to produce magnesium fluoride (MgF2), a chemical commonly used in making windows and lenses. How does adding heat energy affect magnesium fluoride (MgF2) molecules?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The motion of the molecules stops.",
        "The motion of the molecules increases.",
        "The motion of the molecules decreases.",
        "The motion of the molecules is at a constant rate."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2012_8_23639",
    "question": "Oxygen and iron combine chemically to form rust. Rust is classified as which of the following?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an atom",
        "a compound",
        "an element",
        "a mixture"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2008_8_37",
    "question": "All matter is made up of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "cells",
        "atoms",
        "molecules",
        "compounds"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "2"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7085383",
    "question": "Which of these steps in the rock cycle occurs ONLY in the formation of metamorphic rock?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "erosion",
        "compaction",
        "cementation",
        "recrystallization"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7222758",
    "question": "A student finds that an unidentified mineral sample can scratch gypsum but is unable to scratch quartz. The student has made an observation about which property of the sample?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "luster",
        "hardness",
        "density",
        "reactivity"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2015_7_4",
    "question": "A student mixes a spoonful of sand into a beaker of water. Which two methods can be used to separate the sand from the water?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "filtration and evaporation",
        "settling and chromatography",
        "chromatography and filtration",
        "settling and magnetic attraction"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2012_7_2",
    "question": "Iron oxide, also known as rust, is formed when iron chemically combines with oxygen. Which term best describes iron oxide?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "element",
        "mixture",
        "solution",
        "compound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_30",
    "question": "Elements on the Periodic Table of the Elements are classified into categories such as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "rocks and minerals",
        "molecules and atoms",
        "mixtures and compounds",
        "metals and nonmetals"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "4"
  },
  {
    "id": "MSA_2012_8_34",
    "question": "Sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) are two reactive and dangerous elements. Chlorine is a halogen gas that can cause respiratory damage and sodium is an alkali metal that reacts violently with water. What happens to the properties of sodium and chlorine when they react to form sodium chloride (NaCl), common table salt?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The properties of both sodium and chlorine change.",
        "The properties of both sodium and chlorine remain the same.",
        "The properties of sodium are different but chlorine remains a dangerous gas.",
        "The properties of sodium remain the same but the properties of chlorine change."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_32",
    "question": "Which device directly converts chemical energy into electrical energy?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "solar-powered calculator",
        "wood-burning stove",
        "battery-powered flashlight",
        "wind-powered sailboat"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "3"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400679",
    "question": "Some students have gathered a collection of rock samples from the school yard to study. They scraped the rocks against a piece of quartz from the school lab. Which property of minerals are the students investigating?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "texture",
        "hardness",
        "color",
        "streak"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7274365",
    "question": "What physical property is characteristic of all of the elements in the group located in the rightmost column of the periodic table?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "very high melting point",
        "gas state at room temperature",
        "good conductor of electric current",
        "extremely brittle solid at room temperature"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_410624",
    "question": "Many sports stadiums use grass, but some use fake grass called artificial turf. Artificial turf is made of fibers that look like real grass. In which way is this technology most likely beneficial?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "It uses less water.",
        "It produces more heat.",
        "It releases less moisture.",
        "It absorbs more carbon dioxide."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7173653",
    "question": "Machines are often full of moving parts that rub against each other. In machines, a lubricant such as oil is often applied to these moving parts. Why is this oil necessary?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "to enhance the effectiveness of friction",
        "to increase the efficiency of the machine",
        "to provide an additional source of energy",
        "to produce more thermal energy on the machine"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2003_8_33",
    "question": "The manufacturing process used to permanently put parts together is called",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "cutting.",
        "shaping.",
        "finishing.",
        "assembling."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2011_8_pg23",
    "question": "The following waste materials are buried in a landfill. Which will break down most quickly?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "steel",
        "plastic",
        "glass",
        "paper"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7008593",
    "question": "What are the building blocks of all matter?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "atoms",
        "forces",
        "cells",
        "vacuoles"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400843",
    "question": "Which material is attracted to a magnet?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "iron",
        "wood",
        "plastic",
        "ice"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_409669",
    "question": "A scientist discovered a way to turn plant material into fuel. This more cleanly burning fuel can be used in cars. How do people most likely benefit from turning plant material into fuel?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Cars are safer to drive.",
        "Farmers grow more plants.",
        "The amount of air pollution is reduced.",
        "The number of cars around the world increases."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2012_8_30",
    "question": "Rocks are classified as sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous on the basis of the",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "age of the rocks",
        "way the rocks were formed",
        "types of fossils the rocks contain",
        "number of minerals found in the rocks"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "2"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7222303",
    "question": "Which basic units of matter have the same properties as an element?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "protons",
        "electrons",
        "atoms",
        "neutrons"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_405792",
    "question": "Over time, iron becomes rust when it combines with water and oxygen. Which type of change must occur for rust to form?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical",
        "mechanical",
        "nuclear",
        "physical"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2013_4_8",
    "question": "Two empty metal cans, one black and one white, were placed outside on a hot day. Both cans were the same size and were left in the Sun for 3 hours. Compared to the white can, the black can would most likely be",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "cooler, because it absorbs less sunlight",
        "cooler, because it absorbs more sunlight",
        "warmer, because it absorbs less sunlight",
        "warmer, because it absorbs more sunlight"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7034773",
    "question": "One unique characteristic of water is that its specific heat",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "can only be measured in calories.",
        "is lower than other common substances.",
        "is higher than other common substances.",
        "requires little energy for a big temperature change."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400844",
    "question": "Which material best conducts electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "wool coat",
        "copper pipe",
        "plastic straw",
        "wooden stick"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_177730",
    "question": "In 1922 N. L. Bowen developed the concept of magmatic evolution which is also known as Bowen's Reaction Series. Applying the Bowen's Series principles, what mineral forms and crystallizes first in the region of highest temperature and pressure?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "olivine",
        "pyroxene",
        "amphibole",
        "quartz"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7001873",
    "question": "Neon (Ne), argon (Ar), and krypton (Kr) are in the same column on the Periodic Table of the Elements. What characteristic do these elements have in common?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "atomic mass",
        "negative electrical charge",
        "number of neutrons",
        "full valence electron shells"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400836",
    "question": "What would happen if a magnet was placed in the center of a plastic bowl containing a mixture of iron filings and sand?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The sand will be repelled by the magnet.",
        "The iron filings will be attracted to the magnet.",
        "The sand will be attracted to the magnet.",
        "The iron filings will be repelled by the magnet."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401160",
    "question": "Which property of sugar remains after sugar is dissolved in water?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "color",
        "taste",
        "shape",
        "texture"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7221393",
    "question": "Which substance is composed of only one type of atom?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "water",
        "gold",
        "salt",
        "sugar"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401190",
    "question": "Which of these items is designed to produce heat from electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a toaster",
        "a camera",
        "a blender",
        "a television"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7025025",
    "question": "In the rock cycle an igneous rock forms from",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "cooling temperatures",
        "high pressure and heat",
        "weathering and erosion",
        "compacted plant remains"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7015575",
    "question": "When coal burns, the reaction",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "releases heat and is endothermic.",
        "releases heat and is exothermic.",
        "absorbs heat and is endothermic.",
        "absorbs heat and is exothermic."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7027388",
    "question": "A student plans to measure the thermal expansion of a strip of metal as it is heated from 0ºC to 50ºC. Which piece of equipment should he use to measure the expansion?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a ruler",
        "a balance",
        "a compass",
        "a protractor"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401781",
    "question": "Which would be considered an inexhaustible resource?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "oil",
        "topsoil",
        "sunlight",
        "aluminum"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7057243",
    "question": "A student mixes salt and water in a beaker to form a solution. What properties of the substances would allow the student to then separate the components?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "densities",
        "particle sizes",
        "boiling points",
        "electrical conductivity"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_404987",
    "question": "In a lab investigation, students had to identify different mineral specimens. Which property is the most reliable for identifying one mineral from another?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "texture",
        "hardness",
        "crystal shape",
        "surface color"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7004760",
    "question": "When an atom gains an electron, the atom will",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "lose a proton.",
        "reduce its mass.",
        "become radioactive.",
        "have a negative charge."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2002_8_14",
    "question": "Steel is used for cables in suspension bridges because of its capacity for",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "tension.",
        "torsion.",
        "compression.",
        "contraction."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_178553",
    "question": "Which type of matter can be separated by physical means?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "atom",
        "element",
        "compound",
        "mixture"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_404096",
    "question": "Which process causes sand grains to stick together to form sandstone?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "abrasion",
        "cementation",
        "combustion",
        "erosion"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2013_8_37",
    "question": "A student placed a rock in a graduated cylinder containing water, causing the water level in the cylinder to increase by 20 mL. This increase represents the rock's",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mass",
        "volume",
        "solubility",
        "temperature"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "2"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_406070",
    "question": "A student is pouring equal amounts of water, maple syrup, and cooking oil into a glass beaker and looking at how the layers settle. Which property of the liquids is the student most likely comparing?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "density",
        "mass",
        "temperature",
        "volume"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_408243",
    "question": "George is studying erosion. He learns how rocks break apart over time. Which of these most likely forms when a rock weathers and breaks into small pieces?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "fossils",
        "crystals",
        "minerals",
        "sediments"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_407155",
    "question": "Students compare two different rocks. The rocks are both bright and spotted. Which property are the students most likely observing?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "layers",
        "textures",
        "colors",
        "ages"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_181545",
    "question": "A student finds a bottle that is labeled with a long chemical name. What is the best way for the student to learn more about the chemical properties of this substance?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "shake the container vigorously",
        "smell a very small amount of it",
        "look up the name in a science book",
        "test a small amount to see if it feels slippery"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400609",
    "question": "Today's limestone caverns were once solid rock. Acidic rainwater seeping through the rock over hundreds of years dissolved part of the rock, forming caverns. This is an example of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "erosion.",
        "deposition.",
        "physical weathering.",
        "chemical weathering."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7013843",
    "question": "A hot pack is a product that releases heat when chemicals inside of it interact. What is taking place inside an active hot pack?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "electric current",
        "a net loss of mass",
        "thermal insulation",
        "an exothermic reaction"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7003623",
    "question": "Copper, silver, and nickel are all classified as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "noble gases.",
        "transition metals.",
        "halogens.",
        "nonmetals."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7207113",
    "question": "A research team has made new discoveries about magnetism. Which of these statements best describes the value to society of publishing their discoveries?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Their results will be unchangeable.",
        "The research team may become famous.",
        "The publishing company may make money.",
        "Their discoveries can be built on by other researchers."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7207183",
    "question": "Sandstone and all other types of sedimentary rock are made up of particles. The source materials of these particles consist of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "fragments that broke off of older rocks.",
        "magma that cooled deep below a volcano.",
        "gases that condensed in the atmosphere.",
        "vegetation that decayed in thick layers."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NCEOGA_2013_8_3",
    "question": "An ice cube is put into a heated pan. What will most likely happen to the molecules in the ice as the ice is heated?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The molecules will begin to move slower.",
        "The molecules will begin to move faster.",
        "The molecules will begin to increase in density.",
        "The molecules will begin to condense in the air."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2011_8_17692",
    "question": "Which of the following is produced when two or more elements combine in a chemical reaction?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "atom",
        "compound",
        "mixture",
        "solution"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "AKDE&ED_2012_4_29",
    "question": "Which statement describes a property of water that most likely causes large rocks to break apart?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Water expands when it freezes.",
        "Water forms droplets as it falls.",
        "Water turns into a gas when it boils.",
        "Water takes the shape of its container."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_405026",
    "question": "A class made a solar cooker out of a large can. What color should they paint the can in order to collect the most heat?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "black",
        "green",
        "pink",
        "white"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_412695",
    "question": "Which set of elements have chemical properties similar to those of phosphorus?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "nitrogen, arsenic, and antimony",
        "carbon, selenium, and iodine",
        "silicon, sulfur, and germanium",
        "silicon, sulfur, and chlorine"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2010_4_15",
    "question": "As the distance between a magnet and a metal paper clip increases, the force of attraction between them",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "decreases",
        "increases",
        "remains the same"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7001540",
    "question": "A student places a chemical in an insulated container and measures the temperature. A second chemical is added and the container is sealed and the temperature is monitored. What is the student trying to determine?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "What color changes can be observed?",
        "How much precipitate is formed?",
        "Is heat absorbed or released?",
        "How can this reaction be reversed?"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7137078",
    "question": "When placed in a container at room temperature, which substance has a definite volume but takes the shape of the container?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "ice",
        "copper",
        "water",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7210158",
    "question": "The increasing use of internal combustion engines could eventually deplete which resource?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "wind energy",
        "petroleum",
        "uranium",
        "solar energy"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7222145",
    "question": "Elements on the right side of the periodic table differ from the elements on the left side in that the elements on the right side",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "are solid at room temperature.",
        "are good electrical conductors.",
        "generally have very high densities.",
        "tend to form ions by gaining electrons."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2007_7_34",
    "question": "Which is the best conductor of electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "glass",
        "water",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7041265",
    "question": "Two chemicals are mixed in a test tube and a chemical reaction takes place. If this reaction is endothermic and the test tube is touched, which of the following best describes what is felt?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The test tube is cold.",
        "The test tube is warm.",
        "The test tube is very hot.",
        "The test tube is the same temperature as the air."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7017955",
    "question": "The density of a material can be measured by using a",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "meter stick and test tubes.",
        "beaker and stopwatch.",
        "thermometer and computer probes.",
        "balance and graduated cylinder."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402261",
    "question": "Which type of energy is carried through a metal cable?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "light",
        "chemical",
        "electrical",
        "nuclear"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7001208",
    "question": "The width of a pencil lead is most accurately measured in",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "meters.",
        "inches.",
        "millimeters.",
        "feet."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_416539",
    "question": "The empty spaces in a material are called pores. Porosity is the amount of empty space within a material. Permeability describes how well the pores in a material are connected. Which of these materials would make the most effective aquifer?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a material that has high porosity and high permeability",
        "a material that has high porosity and low permeability",
        "a material that has low porosity and high permeability",
        "a material that has low porosity and low permeability"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2008_5_23",
    "question": "Many natural resources are found in Maryland and the surrounding area. Some of these natural resources are renewable and some are nonrenewable. People use both kinds of resources in daily activities. Using natural resources often produces waste products. Which of these natural resources found in Maryland is nonrenewable?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "coal",
        "soil",
        "water",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_403681",
    "question": "Sodium chloride (NaCl) is formed in a chemical reaction between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl_{2}). What is sodium chloride?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an element",
        "a mixture",
        "a compound",
        "an atom"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401123",
    "question": "When light hits a mirror, most of the light is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "refracted.",
        "reflected.",
        "absorbed.",
        "transmitted."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7017885",
    "question": "The motion of atoms and molecules in a substance is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "thermal energy.",
        "chemical energy.",
        "mechanical energy.",
        "electromagnetic energy."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2009_5_6512",
    "question": "A student sorted mineral samples into two groups: dull and shiny. Which of the following properties did the student use to sort the mineral samples into groups?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "cleavage",
        "color",
        "luster",
        "streak"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2008_4_8",
    "question": "A magnet and a metal paper clip have the strongest magnetic attraction when the distance between them is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "4 centimeters",
        "8 centimeters",
        "12 centimeters",
        "16 centimeters"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2004_9_21",
    "question": "In the first step of making some ceramic cups, the following manufacturing process is used. Liquid clay is poured into a mold, allowed to solidify, then removed from the mold. What is the name of this manufacturing process?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "casting",
        "milling",
        "finishing",
        "refining"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2002_5_7",
    "question": "A student picked up a small rock using a magnet. The rock probably contained",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "quartz.",
        "diamond.",
        "aluminum.",
        "iron."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2005_9_11",
    "question": "Two boxes, A and B, both contain the same number of nitrogen gas molecules. The gas molecules in box A have twice the average speed of the molecules in box B. Which of the following best describes the nitrogen gas in box A?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater mass than the nitrogen gas in box B.",
        "The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater density than the nitrogen gas in box B.",
        "The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater temperature than the nitrogen gas in box B.",
        "The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater specific gravity than the nitrogen gas in box B."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7134803",
    "question": "Computers have devices called heat sinks designed to lower the temperature of a computer by scattering produced heat into the surrounding area. Which type of energy is kept away from a computer by a heat sink?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "electrical",
        "chemical",
        "thermal",
        "nuclear"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7166390",
    "question": "Louis was investigating physical and chemical changes in matter. Which of these changes that Louis found involves a chemical change in matter?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "evaporation of water",
        "grinding of rock",
        "melting of ice",
        "rusting of iron"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2007_8_pg85",
    "question": "Which substance is necessary for burning to take place?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "ozone",
        "oxygen",
        "hydrogen",
        "carbon dioxide"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7212153",
    "question": "A magnet can generate an electric current in a wire if the magnet is close enough to the wire and if the magnet is also",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "strong.",
        "weak.",
        "at rest.",
        "in motion."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_35",
    "question": "Scientists have created trains that use magnets to make the trains float above the tracks as they travel. These trains float because",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the track is waxed",
        "the like poles repel",
        "the train has a low density",
        "a chemical change occurs"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "2"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2012_8_32",
    "question": "Which property of a substance indicates whether the substance is a liquid or a solid at room temperature?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "melting point",
        "electrical conductivity",
        "flexibility",
        "solubility"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "1"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401163",
    "question": "A scientist trying to identify an unknown liquid may heat the liquid. Which would be the best reason for the scientist to heat the liquid?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "to observe a color change",
        "to get rid of most impurities",
        "to identify the boiling point",
        "to collect gases for additional study"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7166863",
    "question": "A group of citizens want to have a statue built out of marble. They want to place it in a climate that has a slow rate of chemical weathering. In which type of climate would it be best to place the statue for the slowest rate of chemical weathering?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "hot and dry",
        "cold and dry",
        "hot and humid",
        "cold and humid"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2013_8_7",
    "question": "The elements sulfur (S) and oxygen combine to form a substance called sulfur dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide is also formed when coal and oil are burned. Sulfur dioxide can best be described as",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a metal",
        "an atom",
        "a compound",
        "a nonreactive gas"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_LBS10205",
    "question": "Which of the following is a chemical property of a substance?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mass of 372 g",
        "reacts with HCl",
        "density of 37 g/cm^3",
        "white powder with silver specks"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_188948",
    "question": "The boiling point of nitrogen is -196°C. What states of matter are involved when nitrogen boils?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "solid to gas",
        "liquid to gas",
        "liquid to solid",
        "gas to liquid"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "AIMS_2008_4_13",
    "question": "Which statement best explains the reason that electrical wires are made of copper?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Copper is strong.",
        "Copper is flexible.",
        "Copper is a conductor.",
        "Copper is an insulator."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402614",
    "question": "Which of the following has the ability to change the state of matter?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "heat",
        "wind",
        "light",
        "sound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7161035",
    "question": "An engineer was given an assignment to build a model rocket. The main requirement was that it had to build it out of a metal that could release the energy that built up when reentering the atmosphere of Earth. What property should the engineer concentrate on the most when designing the rocket?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "density",
        "ductility",
        "specific heat",
        "boiling point"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_405953",
    "question": "In which organism can cell walls be found?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "moth",
        "grass",
        "snake",
        "hawk"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MDSA_2011_4_5",
    "question": "Some objects are attracted by magnets. Which object is attracted by a magnet?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "an iron nail",
        "an ice cube",
        "a plastic knife",
        "a wooden ruler"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_401762",
    "question": "For the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride, which of the following would be a product? AgNo_{3} + NaCl ->",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "AgNa",
        "ClNO_{3}",
        "Na_{3}NO",
        "AgCl"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_412696",
    "question": "The density of 200 mL of water was determined, and then 20 grams of sugar was dissolved in the water. The student determined the density of the sugar-water solution and recorded the collected data in a table. The sugar in this investigation is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the solute.",
        "undergoing chemical change.",
        "the solvent.",
        "changing from a solid to a gas."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7248098",
    "question": "A small aluminum cube is dropped into a beaker of water to determine the buoyancy. Which of these is not necessary in determining the buoyant force acting on the cube?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "density of water",
        "displaced volume",
        "gravitational pull on Earth",
        "density of the aluminum cube"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2005_9_3-v1",
    "question": "Before concrete has hardened, it exhibits plasticity. This is an advantage because it allows the concrete to",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "become strong as it cures.",
        "withstand compression.",
        "remain pliable after hardening.",
        "be molded into almost any shape."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7016013",
    "question": "When rock particles settle at the bottom of the ocean, they can continue to be buried by other particles. The process of cementation of these particles forms",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "molten rocks.",
        "igneous rocks.",
        "sedimentary rocks.",
        "metamorphic rocks."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2013_7_14",
    "question": "Sodium chloride is formed when sodium and chlorine chemically combine. Which term best describes sodium chloride?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mixture",
        "element",
        "solution",
        "compound"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401128",
    "question": "Students are using hammers to break apart rocks as part of an investigation. The students MUST wear goggles to",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "magnify the work.",
        "keep hair out of their faces.",
        "protect their eyes from debris.",
        "prevent glare from the light."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7034895",
    "question": "One difference between a chemical formula and a chemical equation is that the chemical equation shows",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "abbreviations for each element.",
        "the number of atoms per element.",
        "what elements are in each molecule.",
        "the chemical reaction that takes place."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400132",
    "question": "A student conducts an investigation testing a material's effectiveness as a heat insulator. Which tool will help the student conduct this investigation safely?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a face mask",
        "plastic gloves",
        "a ventilator hood",
        "insulated gloves"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_413532",
    "question": "Which of these is an example of a new substance being formed?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a nail rusting",
        "a wall being painted",
        "water changing to steam",
        "paper being folded"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2005_5_14",
    "question": "Which of the following properties best describes a material's ability to resist scratching?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "weight",
        "flexibility",
        "length",
        "hardness"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "MEA_2010_8_19",
    "question": "Which chemical is a compound?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "helium (He)",
        "hydrochloric acid (HCl)",
        "hydrogen (H2)",
        "nitrogen (N2)"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400126",
    "question": "Sedimentary rock helps scientists piece together the history of Earth most likely using clues from",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "humus.",
        "soil.",
        "gravel.",
        "fossils."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2010_8_32",
    "question": "Which physical property is used to identify a mineral based on its resistance to being scratched?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "hardness",
        "density",
        "color",
        "streak"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "1"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_408629",
    "question": "Patricia and her classmates are visiting different rocky areas in the city. They want to know what kind of rocks can be found in each area. If the investigation is done correctly, what will Patricia and her classmates do each time they visit an area?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "draw the rock shapes",
        "count the rock numbers",
        "record the rock types and locations",
        "measure the rock masses and lengths"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7205328",
    "question": "Which of the following results when hydrogen and chlorine chemically bond to form hydrogen chloride?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a mixture",
        "a solution",
        "a compound",
        "a precipitate"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2014_5_5",
    "question": "A student is investigating the properties of a mineral. The student tests the mineral by putting it under an ultraviolet light. Which property of the mineral can be identified using this test?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "color",
        "streak",
        "luster",
        "fluorescence"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401221",
    "question": "A student put a metal pot on the stove to boil some water. The metal transferred heat to the water through",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "radiation.",
        "insulation.",
        "convection.",
        "conduction."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_402284",
    "question": "Which process is taking place when water freezes between cracks in rocks?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "deposition",
        "weathering",
        "sedimentation",
        "crystallization"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7165795",
    "question": "A teacher breaks a bar of pure copper into two different sized pieces. Which is the most likely difference between the two pieces?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "mass",
        "texture",
        "boiling point",
        "melting point"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7267908",
    "question": "Why is a spacesuit inflated like a balloon?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "to simulate the air pressure of Earth",
        "to help astronauts float in outer space",
        "to protect astronauts from solar radiation",
        "to provide an oxygen supply for breathing"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7137270",
    "question": "Which term best describes the process responsible for cave formation that results from rock being dissolved by groundwater?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "chemical weathering",
        "glacial movement",
        "sedimentation",
        "abrasion"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401257",
    "question": "Which substance can be used to conduct electricity in a circuit?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metal",
        "wood",
        "rubber",
        "plastic"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_415699",
    "question": "Why do two surfaces get warm when they are rubbed together?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The surfaces absorb energy from the air.",
        "Friction changes energy of motion to heat energy.",
        "Moving objects produce heat energy.",
        "Energy is transferred between the two surfaces."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "MSA_2012_5_34",
    "question": "Old, worn-out rubber tires are called scrap tires. Which way of disposing of scrap tires is best for the environment?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "burning the tires",
        "dumping the tires in a lake",
        "burying the tires in a landfill",
        "taking the tires to a recycling center"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7001855",
    "question": "A student drops a white tablet into a glass of water, producing carbon dioxide gas. This is a demonstration of",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "a change of state.",
        "a chemical reaction.",
        "the creation of matter.",
        "the movement of electricity."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7221463",
    "question": "Which material is the best conductor of heat at room temperature?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "air",
        "water",
        "sulfur",
        "copper"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_400715",
    "question": "Two atoms of oxygen combine to form pure oxygen gas. What is the electrical charge of the O_{2} molecules?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "positive",
        "negative",
        "neutral",
        "variable"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7221218",
    "question": "An ice cube melts on a hot summer day because the energy of the particles",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "decreases over a period of time and is lost.",
        "increases and the particles move apart.",
        "causes the particles to move closer together.",
        "is converted into potential energy."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_415455",
    "question": "Which alternative energy resource changes part of a river into a lake?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "solar energy",
        "geothermal energy",
        "hydropower",
        "biofuel energy"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_406955",
    "question": "When heated, mercuric oxide decomposes to form liquid mercury and oxygen. A scientist heated 10 grams (g) of mercuric oxide and formed 9.3 grams of liquid mercury. How many grams of oxygen were formed?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "0.7 g",
        "9.3 g",
        "10.0 g",
        "19.3 g"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "TIMSS_2003_8_pg19",
    "question": "When chlorine gas reacts with sodium metal, what type of substance is formed?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "A mixture",
        "A compound",
        "An element",
        "An alloy",
        "A solution"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D",
        "E"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400177",
    "question": "Which material best conducts heat and electricity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "metal",
        "plastic",
        "rubber",
        "wood"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2015_8_22",
    "question": "One positive effect of recycling aluminum cans to manufacture new beverage containers is",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "conserving Earth's resources",
        "creating acid rain",
        "warming Earth's atmosphere",
        "increasing the ozone layer"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "1"
  },
  {
    "id": "MCAS_2004_8_25",
    "question": "In a laboratory, a sealed container with 100 g of steam is cooled until all the steam becomes a liquid. The container is then cooled further until all the water becomes a solid. Which of the following remains constant during both of these changes?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the mass of the water",
        "the pressure in the container",
        "the total energy of the water",
        "the position of the atoms in the container"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_400702",
    "question": "When a spoon hits a table, it makes a loud sound. When the spoon hits a soft cushion, it does not make a sound. What is the difference between the table and the cushion that accounts for the sound?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The table is more reactive than the cushion.",
        "The table vibrates more than the cushion.",
        "The table is more insulated than the cushion.",
        "The table has more potential energy than the cushion."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "ACTAAP_2011_5_6",
    "question": "Which mineral, found in Arkansas, is an ore that can be used to produce aluminum?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "quartz",
        "galena",
        "bauxite",
        "diamond"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7270130",
    "question": "What are the properties of the Earth's crust and mantle that are most responsible for Earth's tectonic activity?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "They are in different states and have different temperatures.",
        "They are in the same state but have different temperatures.",
        "They are in different states but have the same temperature.",
        "They are the same state and have the same temperature."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "LEAP_2012_8_10440",
    "question": "When observing a very small piece of dust in a liquid under a microscope, the dust appears to jiggle slightly. This movement results from the dust interacting with the molecules in the liquid. What property of the molecules in the liquid causes this effect?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "The molecules briefly form chemical bonds with nearby objects.",
        "The molecules are always in random motion.",
        "The molecules transfer an electric charge to the dust particles.",
        "The molecules frequently change shape."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7274313",
    "question": "Where are the most reactive metals located on the periodic table?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "the uppermost complete row of the table",
        "the rows at the bottom of the table connecting two section",
        "the column at the far left side of the table",
        "the second column from the right side of the table"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7176103",
    "question": "Which type of substances serves as a catalyst for reactions that break large food molecules into smaller useful molecules?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "enzymes",
        "vitamins",
        "lipids",
        "nucleotides"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7080605",
    "question": "Which section of Earth is composed primarily of liquid metal?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "crust",
        "mantle",
        "outer core",
        "inner core"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7004498",
    "question": "A scanning electron microscope is best suited for observing",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "diffraction of light.",
        "tectonic features on planets.",
        "the surfaces of small objects.",
        "topographical features on the ocean floor."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_412148",
    "question": "Which set of elements has similar bonding properties?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Cl, Br, and F",
        "K, Ca, and Sc",
        "Kr, Cl, and O",
        "Be, C, and O"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2012_4_11",
    "question": "Which property of an object describes how easily electricity travels through it?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "color",
        "temperature",
        "reflectivity",
        "conductivity"
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7212048",
    "question": "Which statement best describes the motion of the molecules of a solid object?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "They vibrate in place within a fixed volume.",
        "They move around freely within a fixed volume.",
        "They vibrate in place and take the shape of a container.",
        "They move around freely and take the shape of a container."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "NYSEDREGENTS_2010_8_39",
    "question": "Compared to the particles in a hardened lava sample, the particles in a liquid lava sample",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "have a lower temperature",
        "have less kinetic energy",
        "are moving faster",
        "are closer together"
      ],
      "label": [
        "1",
        "2",
        "3",
        "4"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "3"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_7008820",
    "question": "When a neutral atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "more stable.",
        "an isotope.",
        "an ion.",
        "less charged."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "C"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_401276",
    "question": "In order for Galileo to build a telescope, he needed to know about",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "lenses.",
        "metals.",
        "chemical mixtures.",
        "the making of leather."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "A"
  },
  {
    "id": "Mercury_SC_404974",
    "question": "One end of a metal rod is placed over a flame during an investigation. A thermometer is touching the opposite end of the metal rod. Which best describes what is happening during this investigation?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "Convection carries heat to the thermometer.",
        "Radiant energy warms the thermometer.",
        "Mechanical energy from the flame carries heat to the thermometer.",
        "Heat from the flame is conducted through the metal rod to the thermometer."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "D"
  },
  {
    "id": "CSZ30499",
    "question": "What do the elements sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and bromine (Br) have in common?",
    "choices": {
      "text": [
        "They are noble (inert) gases.",
        "They are nonmetals.",
        "They have the same thermal conductivity.",
        "They have the same number of protons."
      ],
      "label": [
        "A",
        "B",
        "C",
        "D"
      ]
    },
    "answerKey": "B"
  }
]