HiSET Science Practice Test

As part of a study on how skin type and redness correlate when exposed to different amounts of UV light, a scientist set up an experiment to see how much redness occurred on various skin types. The scientist classified 100 people into six different categories of skin type, then exposed them to increasingly higher doses of UV light and recorded the level of redness that appeared on the skin.

In the 21st century, worker bees in bee colonies have been abandoning their queens and are deserting their hives in record numbers. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet—and one area that has been seriously affected is California’s Napa Valley. This issue became more commonly known when The National Agriculture Statistics Service reported in 2008 that only 2.44 million honey-producing hives were in the United States, down from 4.5 million in 1980.

There is no consensus among scientists as to what is causing Colony Collapse Disorder, though the USDA has undertaken a plan of action to stem the collapsing colonies involving several steps: survey and data collection; analysis of samples; hypothesis-driven research; mitigation and preventive action. The first findings from the USDA were published in 2009, and suggested factors such as pesticides, parasites, and pathogens may be possible causes, all of which have affected hives in Northern California.

One researcher has hypothesized that chemical pesticides are solely responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder in Napa Valley. To test his hypothesis he is planning to run an experiment. He has obtained several healthy bee colonies and plans to expose them to pesticides while measuring the health of the colonies.

In the 21st century, worker bees in bee colonies have been abandoning their queens and are deserting their hives in record numbers. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet—and one area that has been seriously affected is California’s Napa Valley. This issue became more commonly known when The National Agriculture Statistics Service reported in 2008 that only 2.44 million honey-producing hives were in the United States, down from 4.5 million in 1980.

There is no consensus among scientists as to what is causing Colony Collapse Disorder, though the USDA has undertaken a plan of action to stem the collapsing colonies involving several steps: survey and data collection; analysis of samples; hypothesis-driven research; mitigation and preventive action. The first findings from the USDA were published in 2009, and suggested factors such as pesticides, parasites, and pathogens may be possible causes, all of which have affected hives in Northern California.

One researcher has hypothesized that chemical pesticides are solely responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder in Napa Valley. To test his hypothesis he is planning to run an experiment. He has obtained several healthy bee colonies and plans to expose them to pesticides while measuring the health of the colonies.

In the 21st century, worker bees in bee colonies have been abandoning their queens and are deserting their hives in record numbers. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet—and one area that has been seriously affected is California’s Napa Valley. This issue became more commonly known when The National Agriculture Statistics Service reported in 2008 that only 2.44 million honey-producing hives were in the United States, down from 4.5 million in 1980.

There is no consensus among scientists as to what is causing Colony Collapse Disorder, though the USDA has undertaken a plan of action to stem the collapsing colonies involving several steps: survey and data collection; analysis of samples; hypothesis-driven research; mitigation and preventive action. The first findings from the USDA were published in 2009, and suggested factors such as pesticides, parasites, and pathogens may be possible causes, all of which have affected hives in Northern California.

One researcher has hypothesized that chemical pesticides are solely responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder in Napa Valley. To test his hypothesis he is planning to run an experiment. He has obtained several healthy bee colonies and plans to expose them to pesticides while measuring the health of the colonies.

Organic Molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, lipds, etc., are part of the critical building blocks of life on Earth. A challenge scientists have to reconcile is how Earth—which used to be solely rock and inorganic materials—could have suddenly produced organic molecules which lead to life.

In the development of a theory to describe how life first started on Earth, a popular belief is that primordial unicellular organisms used geothermal vents in the deep for energy. These geothermal vents release very hot gases from inside the earth to the very cold water deep in the ocean. From the very hot gasses to the cold ocean, the temperature of the water slowly decreased, and there is a region where organisms could have found healthy organic compounds for energy. In this region, inorganic molecules such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide could have been chemically tweaked to form organic molecules:

Organic Molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, lipds, etc., are part of the critical building blocks of life on Earth. A challenge scientists have to reconcile is how Earth—which used to be solely rock and inorganic materials—could have suddenly produced organic molecules which lead to life.

In the development of a theory to describe how life first started on Earth, a popular belief is that primordial unicellular organisms used geothermal vents in the deep for energy. These geothermal vents release very hot gases from inside the earth to the very cold water deep in the ocean. From the very hot gasses to the cold ocean, the temperature of the water slowly decreased, and there is a region where organisms could have found healthy organic compounds for energy. In this region, inorganic molecules such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide could have been chemically tweaked to form organic molecules:

Organic Molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, lipds, etc., are part of the critical building blocks of life on Earth. A challenge scientists have to reconcile is how Earth—which used to be solely rock and inorganic materials—could have suddenly produced organic molecules which lead to life.

In the development of a theory to describe how life first started on Earth, a popular belief is that primordial unicellular organisms used geothermal vents in the deep for energy. These geothermal vents release very hot gases from inside the earth to the very cold water deep in the ocean. From the very hot gasses to the cold ocean, the temperature of the water slowly decreased, and there is a region where organisms could have found healthy organic compounds for energy. In this region, inorganic molecules such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide could have been chemically tweaked to form organic molecules:

Organic Molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, lipds, etc., are part of the critical building blocks of life on Earth. A challenge scientists have to reconcile is how Earth—which used to be solely rock and inorganic materials—could have suddenly produced organic molecules which lead to life.

In the development of a theory to describe how life first started on Earth, a popular belief is that primordial unicellular organisms used geothermal vents in the deep for energy. These geothermal vents release very hot gases from inside the earth to the very cold water deep in the ocean. From the very hot gasses to the cold ocean, the temperature of the water slowly decreased, and there is a region where organisms could have found healthy organic compounds for energy. In this region, inorganic molecules such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide could have been chemically tweaked to form organic molecules:

Organic Molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, lipds, etc., are part of the critical building blocks of life on Earth. A challenge scientists have to reconcile is how Earth—which used to be solely rock and inorganic materials—could have suddenly produced organic molecules which lead to life.

In the development of a theory to describe how life first started on Earth, a popular belief is that primordial unicellular organisms used geothermal vents in the deep for energy. These geothermal vents release very hot gases from inside the earth to the very cold water deep in the ocean. From the very hot gasses to the cold ocean, the temperature of the water slowly decreased, and there is a region where organisms could have found healthy organic compounds for energy. In this region, inorganic molecules such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide could have been chemically tweaked to form organic molecules:

In current Biology, there are two main categories of uni-cellular life: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Prokaryotes consist of Bacteria—which receive energy from either light or other organic molecules—and Archaea—which can receive energy from hydrogen sulfide. Eukaryotes can be characterized as Protozoa, algae, or fungi—all of which receive energy from either the sun or organic molecules.

Organic Molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, lipds, etc., are part of the critical building blocks of life on Earth. A challenge scientists have to reconcile is how Earth—which used to be solely rock and inorganic materials—could have suddenly produced organic molecules which lead to life.

In the development of a theory to describe how life first started on Earth, a popular belief is that primordial unicellular organisms used geothermal vents in the deep for energy. These geothermal vents release very hot gases from inside the earth to the very cold water deep in the ocean. From the very hot gasses to the cold ocean, the temperature of the water slowly decreased, and there is a region where organisms could have found healthy organic compounds for energy. In this region, inorganic molecules such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide could have been chemically tweaked to form organic molecules:

In current Biology, there are two main categories of uni-cellular life: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Prokaryotes consist of Bacteria—which receive energy from either light or other organic molecules—and Archaea—which can receive energy from hydrogen sulfide. Eukaryotes can be characterized as Protozoa, algae, or fungi—all of which receive energy from either the sun or organic molecules.

During a solar eclipse, the view of the Sun from Earth gets obstructed by the Moon. The Sun’s rays are temporarily blocked by the moon, so the Earth gets no sunshine. Some eclipses are partial—where the Moon does not block the entire Sun. Some eclipses are total solar eclipses, where the perceived diameter of the Moon and Sun are approximately the same such that the entire Sun is blocked:

During a solar eclipse, the view of the Sun from Earth gets obstructed by the Moon. The Sun’s rays are temporarily blocked by the moon, so the Earth gets no sunshine. Some eclipses are partial—where the Moon does not block the entire Sun. Some eclipses are total solar eclipses, where the perceived diameter of the Moon and Sun are approximately the same such that the entire Sun is blocked:

During a solar eclipse, the view of the Sun from Earth gets obstructed by the Moon. The Sun’s rays are temporarily blocked by the moon, so the Earth gets no sunshine. Some eclipses are partial—where the Moon does not block the entire Sun. Some eclipses are total solar eclipses, where the perceived diameter of the Moon and Sun are approximately the same such that the entire Sun is blocked:

A Punnett square is a way to predict the genotype (gene allele combination) for specific traits for the offspring of specific parents. Each parent’s genotype is placed on one side of the square, and the resulting combinations are found in the boxes inside. Because some traits are dominant (only require one allele to be expressed in the phenotype, or appearance) and others are recessive (require two alleles to be expressed), the Punnett square can also be used to predict the chance of having an offspring with a certain trait. For this square, Y is the dominant allele for yellow flowers, and b is the recessive allele for blue flowers.

A Punnett square is a way to predict the genotype (gene allele combination) for specific traits for the offspring of specific parents. Each parent’s genotype is placed on one side of the square, and the resulting combinations are found in the boxes inside. Because some traits are dominant (only require one allele to be expressed in the phenotype, or appearance) and others are recessive (require two alleles to be expressed), the Punnett square can also be used to predict the chance of having an offspring with a certain trait. For this square, Y is the dominant allele for yellow flowers, and b is the recessive allele for blue flowers.

A Punnett square is a way to predict the genotype (gene allele combination) for specific traits for the offspring of specific parents. Each parent’s genotype is placed on one side of the square, and the resulting combinations are found in the boxes inside. Because some traits are dominant (only require one allele to be expressed in the phenotype, or appearance) and others are recessive (require two alleles to be expressed), the Punnett square can also be used to predict the chance of having an offspring with a certain trait. For this square, Y is the dominant allele for yellow flowers, and b is the recessive allele for blue flowers.

A Punnett square is a way to predict the genotype (gene allele combination) for specific traits for the offspring of specific parents. Each parent’s genotype is placed on one side of the square, and the resulting combinations are found in the boxes inside. Because some traits are dominant (only require one allele to be expressed in the phenotype, or appearance) and others are recessive (require two alleles to be expressed), the Punnett square can also be used to predict the chance of having an offspring with a certain trait. For this square, Y is the dominant allele for yellow flowers, and b is the recessive allele for blue flowers.

A Punnett square is a way to predict the genotype (gene allele combination) for specific traits for the offspring of specific parents. Each parent’s genotype is placed on one side of the square, and the resulting combinations are found in the boxes inside. Because some traits are dominant (only require one allele to be expressed in the phenotype, or appearance) and others are recessive (require two alleles to be expressed), the Punnett square can also be used to predict the chance of having an offspring with a certain trait. For this square, Y is the dominant allele for yellow flowers, and b is the recessive allele for blue flowers.

A Punnett square is a way to predict the genotype (gene allele combination) for specific traits for the offspring of specific parents. Each parent’s genotype is placed on one side of the square, and the resulting combinations are found in the boxes inside. Because some traits are dominant (only require one allele to be expressed in the phenotype, or appearance) and others are recessive (require two alleles to be expressed), the Punnett square can also be used to predict the chance of having an offspring with a certain trait. For this square, Y is the dominant allele for yellow flowers, and b is the recessive allele for blue flowers.

I. Increasing the temperature of Solvent A allows all dissolvable solutes to dissolve faster.

II. Substance A is dissolvable in Solvent A, while Substance B is not.

In the early 1800’s, English naturalist RS Edleston discovered a peppered moth (Biston betularia) that was almost totally black. This was highly unusual at the time, because the peppered moth was thought to always be a combination of black and white.

By 1900, the populations of peppered moths in English cities were up to 98% black, with only 2% peppered or white. This was the height of the industrial revolution, when English cities were burning large amounts of coal, which blackened tree bark with smoke and soot. In the second half of the 20th century, coal use was dramatically reduced, and the proportion of black moths continues to decrease to this day.

In the early 1800’s, English naturalist RS Edleston discovered a peppered moth (Biston betularia) that was almost totally black. This was highly unusual at the time, because the peppered moth was thought to always be a combination of black and white.

By 1900, the populations of peppered moths in English cities were up to 98% black, with only 2% peppered or white. This was the height of the industrial revolution, when English cities were burning large amounts of coal, which blackened tree bark with smoke and soot. In the second half of the 20th century, coal use was dramatically reduced, and the proportion of black moths continues to decrease to this day.

In the early 1800’s, English naturalist RS Edleston discovered a peppered moth (Biston betularia) that was almost totally black. This was highly unusual at the time, because the peppered moth was thought to always be a combination of black and white.

By 1900, the populations of peppered moths in English cities were up to 98% black, with only 2% peppered or white. This was the height of the industrial revolution, when English cities were burning large amounts of coal, which blackened tree bark with smoke and soot. In the second half of the 20th century, coal use was dramatically reduced, and the proportion of black moths continues to decrease to this day.

In the early 1800’s, English naturalist RS Edleston discovered a peppered moth (Biston betularia) that was almost totally black. This was highly unusual at the time, because the peppered moth was thought to always be a combination of black and white.

By 1900, the populations of peppered moths in English cities were up to 98% black, with only 2% peppered or white. This was the height of the industrial revolution, when English cities were burning large amounts of coal, which blackened tree bark with smoke and soot. In the second half of the 20th century, coal use was dramatically reduced, and the proportion of black moths continues to decrease to this day.

A titration is a type of chemistry experiment used to determine the unknown concentration of an acid. Acids have a lower pH (<7) and bases have a higher pH (>7), so these chemicals neutralize each other. Because of this, a base of known concentration can be dripped in small, measured amounts into a known volume of the unknown acid, with a chemical indicator added to change the color when the solution is basic or acidic. When the solution switches from acidic to neutral, the color changes, indicating the titration is over. Calculations can then be performed to determine the concentration of the acid using the volumes of the base and acid and the concentration of the base.

A titration is a type of chemistry experiment used to determine the unknown concentration of an acid. Acids have a lower pH (<7) and bases have a higher pH (>7), so these chemicals neutralize each other. Because of this, a base of known concentration can be dripped in small, measured amounts into a known volume of the unknown acid, with a chemical indicator added to change the color when the solution is basic or acidic. When the solution switches from acidic to neutral, the color changes, indicating the titration is over. Calculations can then be performed to determine the concentration of the acid using the volumes of the base and acid and the concentration of the base.

A titration is a type of chemistry experiment used to determine the unknown concentration of an acid. Acids have a lower pH (<7) and bases have a higher pH (>7), so these chemicals neutralize each other. Because of this, a base of known concentration can be dripped in small, measured amounts into a known volume of the unknown acid, with a chemical indicator added to change the color when the solution is basic or acidic. When the solution switches from acidic to neutral, the color changes, indicating the titration is over. Calculations can then be performed to determine the concentration of the acid using the volumes of the base and acid and the concentration of the base.

A titration is a type of chemistry experiment used to determine the unknown concentration of an acid. Acids have a lower pH (<7) and bases have a higher pH (>7), so these chemicals neutralize each other. Because of this, a base of known concentration can be dripped in small, measured amounts into a known volume of the unknown acid, with a chemical indicator added to change the color when the solution is basic or acidic. When the solution switches from acidic to neutral, the color changes, indicating the titration is over. Calculations can then be performed to determine the concentration of the acid using the volumes of the base and acid and the concentration of the base.

A titration is a type of chemistry experiment used to determine the unknown concentration of an acid. Acids have a lower pH (<7) and bases have a higher pH (>7), so these chemicals neutralize each other. Because of this, a base of known concentration can be dripped in small, measured amounts into a known volume of the unknown acid, with a chemical indicator added to change the color when the solution is basic or acidic. When the solution switches from acidic to neutral, the color changes, indicating the titration is over. Calculations can then be performed to determine the concentration of the acid using the volumes of the base and acid and the concentration of the base.

A study was done to measure the effectiveness of an antibiotic on different bacteria. The antibiotic Vancomycin was tested on 3 types of bacteria: Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. Bacterial growth was measured at 3 different durations of time exposure to the antibiotic: 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days. The rate of bacterial growth was measured by bacterial colony size at each time interval. The data for each duration was calculated and compiled into the graph shown below. As a control, each bacteria species was also grown with no exposure to the antibiotic. This control culture was measured after 7 days.

A study was done to measure the effectiveness of an antibiotic on different bacteria. The antibiotic Vancomycin was tested on 3 types of bacteria: Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. Bacterial growth was measured at 3 different durations of time exposure to the antibiotic: 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days. The rate of bacterial growth was measured by bacterial colony size at each time interval. The data for each duration was calculated and compiled into the graph shown below. As a control, each bacteria species was also grown with no exposure to the antibiotic. This control culture was measured after 7 days.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates in any medium, whether it be air or space or glass or any kind of crystal. A key characteristic of light is its wavelength. The wavelength can have a wide range of values. A range of focus is the visible spectrum, the spectrum at which humans can perceive light:

For certain objects to appear the color that they are, they must reflect that wavelength of light, while absorbing every other wavelength of light.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates in any medium, whether it be air or space or glass or any kind of crystal. A key characteristic of light is its wavelength. The wavelength can have a wide range of values. A range of focus is the visible spectrum, the spectrum at which humans can perceive light:

For certain objects to appear the color that they are, they must reflect that wavelength of light, while absorbing every other wavelength of light.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates in any medium, whether it be air or space or glass or any kind of crystal. A key characteristic of light is its wavelength. The wavelength can have a wide range of values. A range of focus is the visible spectrum, the spectrum at which humans can perceive light:

For certain objects to appear the color that they are, they must reflect that wavelength of light, while absorbing every other wavelength of light.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates in any medium, whether it be air or space or glass or any kind of crystal. A key characteristic of light is its wavelength. The wavelength can have a wide range of values. A range of focus is the visible spectrum, the spectrum at which humans can perceive light:

For certain objects to appear the color that they are, they must reflect that wavelength of light, while absorbing every other wavelength of light.

A famous equation Einstein founded relates the energy \((E)\) of a light-wave to its wavelength \((\lambda)\), the photoelectric effect:

\(E = \dfrac{hc}{\lambda}\)

Where \(h\) is a constant, \(c\) is the speed of light, and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of light.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates in any medium, whether it be air or space or glass or any kind of crystal. A key characteristic of light is its wavelength. The wavelength can have a wide range of values. A range of focus is the visible spectrum, the spectrum at which humans can perceive light:

For certain objects to appear the color that they are, they must reflect that wavelength of light, while absorbing every other wavelength of light.

A famous equation Einstein founded relates the energy \((E)\) of a light-wave to its wavelength \((\lambda)\), the photoelectric effect:

\(E = \dfrac{hc}{\lambda}\)

Where \(h\) is a constant, \(c\) is the speed of light, and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of light.

Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates in any medium, whether it be air or space or glass or any kind of crystal. A key characteristic of light is its wavelength. The wavelength can have a wide range of values. A range of focus is the visible spectrum, the spectrum at which humans can perceive light:

For certain objects to appear the color that they are, it must reflect that wavelength of light, while absorbing every other wavelength of light.

A famous equation Einstein founded relates the energy of a light-wave to its wavelength, the photoelectric effect:

\(E = \dfrac{hc}{\lambda}\)

Where \(h\) is a constant, \(c\) is the speed of light, and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of light.

A sample of Robin and Snow Owl populations in Wisconsin for a given year is shown below:

A sample of Robin and Snow Owl populations in Wisconsin for a given year is shown below:

A sample of Robin and Snow Owl populations in Wisconsin for a given year is shown below:

Humans are not able to sense direct temperatures, but rather the heat flux onto your skin. Heat flux is defined by the following equation:

\(q=\left|k\left(T_{\text{object}} − T_{\text{hand}}\right)\right|\)

Where \(q\) is the heat flux, the temperatures are the temperature of the object you are touching \((T_{\text{object}})\) and your hand \((T_{\text{hand}})\), and \(k\) is a material property of the object you are touching. When skin is contacted with a very high heat flux, it can burn.

Humans are not able to sense direct temperatures, but rather the heat flux onto your skin. Heat flux is defined by the following equation:

\(q=\left|k\left(T_{\text{object}}− T_{\text{hand}}\right)\right|\)

Where \(q\) is the heat flux, the temperatures are the temperature of the object you are touching \((T_{\text{object}})\) and your hand \((T_{\text{hand}})\), and \(k\) is a material property of the object you are touching. When skin is contacted with a very high heat flux, it can burn.

Students are researching families with one brown-haired parent and one red-haired parent to understand how recessive hair-color genes interact with dominant genes. They studied the offspring of a heterozygous brown-haired man (Bb) and a homozygous recessive red-haired woman (bb). Of their four children, three have brown hair and one has red hair. The students prepared the Punnett square that is shown below.

Students are researching families with one brown-haired parent and one red-haired parent to understand how recessive hair-color genes interact with dominant genes. They studied the offspring of a heterozygous brown-haired man (Bb) and a homozygous recessive red-haired woman (bb). Of their four children, three have brown hair and one has red hair. The students prepared the Punnett square that is shown below.

Students are researching families with one brown-haired parent and one red-haired parent to understand how recessive hair-color genes interact with dominant genes. They studied the offspring of a heterozygous brown-haired man (Bb) and a homozygous recessive red-haired woman (bb). Of their four children, three have brown hair and one has red hair. The students prepared the Punnett square that is shown below.