GED-SCIENCE Practice Questions
Prepare for GED-SCIENCE with more than an answer.
- Exam fee
- $35 USD
- Level
- High School Equivalency
- Valid for
- Lifetime (GED diploma does not expire)
Domains covered on the exam 3
- Life Science40%
- Physical Science40%
- Earth and Space Science20%
- 1
The pH of a solution is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. A solution with a pH of 3 is how many times more acidic than a solution with a pH of 5?
Show answer details
Correct answer: C
The pH scale is logarithmic. This means that each whole number change on the scale represents a tenfold change in acidity. A change of two pH units (from 5 to 3) represents a 10 x 10 = 100-fold increase in acidity.
- 2
True or False: Because the Moon has no atmosphere, a feather and a hammer dropped from the same height at the same time will hit the lunar surface simultaneously.
Show answer details
Correct answer: A
This statement is true. On Earth, air resistance causes the feather to fall slower than the hammer. However, in the vacuum of space on the Moon, there is no air resistance. Therefore, all objects, regardless of their mass or shape, accelerate towards the ground at the same rate due to gravity and will land at the same time. This was famously demonstrated by Apollo 15 astronauts.
- 3
Which process in the rock cycle is responsible for breaking down existing rocks into smaller pieces called sediment?
Show answer details
Correct answer: D
Weathering is the process by which rocks, soil, and minerals are broken down through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, water, and biological organisms. This breakdown creates sediment, which can then be transported by erosion and eventually form sedimentary rock.
- 4
Case Study: The Roller Coaster
A new roller coaster is being designed. The car is pulled by a chain to the top of the first hill, which is 60 meters high. From that point, the car is released and travels along the track, which includes several smaller hills and a loop. For this problem, assume there is no friction.
The engineers need to ensure the car can complete a vertical loop with a height of 40 meters. At which point in its journey does the roller coaster car have the maximum potential energy, and at which point does it have the maximum kinetic energy?
graph TD A(Top of 60m Hill) --> B(Bottom of 1st Drop) B --> C(Top of 40m Loop) C --> D(End of Ride) subgraph Energy A -- Potential Energy MAX --> E((PE)) B -- Kinetic Energy MAX --> F((KE)) endShow answer details
Correct answer: B
Potential energy is the energy of position, and it is greatest at the highest point of the ride (the top of the 60m first hill). Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. As the car goes down the hill, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The car will be moving fastest, and thus have the maximum kinetic energy, at the lowest point of the track, which is the bottom of the first large drop.
- 5
Some bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat. This phenomenon is a direct result of which biological process?
Show answer details
Correct answer: C
Antibiotic resistance is a classic example of natural selection. When an antibiotic is used, bacteria that have a random mutation allowing them to survive the drug will reproduce, passing on the resistant trait. Over time, the population of bacteria becomes dominated by these resistant strains.
- 6
Why do we see the phases of the Moon (e.g., new moon, full moon, quarter moon) from Earth?
Show answer details
Correct answer: C
The Moon does not produce its own light; it reflects sunlight. As the Moon orbits the Earth, our viewing angle of its illuminated side changes. The phases we see are simply the different portions of the sunlit half of the Moon that are visible to us.
- 7
A student sets up a simple circuit containing a battery, a switch, and a light bulb. Which of the following changes to the circuit would cause the light bulb to shine more brightly? (Select TWO)
sequenceDiagram participant B as Battery participant S as Switch participant L as Light Bulb B->>S: Provides Voltage S->>L: Closes Circuit L->>B: Current FlowsShow answer details
Correct answer: B, E
According to Ohm's Law (V=IR), increasing the voltage (V) while keeping resistance constant will increase the current (I). A higher current will make the bulb brighter.
According to Ohm's Law (I=V/R), decreasing the resistance (R) while keeping voltage constant will increase the current (I), causing the bulb to shine more brightly.
- 8
A forensic scientist is analyzing a fabric sample from a crime scene. To determine the fabric's composition, they perform a burn test. The fabric ignites quickly, burns with a bright yellow flame, produces black smoke, and leaves a hard, black, irregular bead. These characteristics are most consistent with which type of fiber?
Show answer details
Correct answer: C
Synthetic fibers like polyester are derived from petroleum and are essentially plastics. When burned, they melt and form a hard bead, produce black smoke, and have a chemical smell. Natural fibers like cotton burn to a fine ash, and wool sizzles and smells like burning hair, leaving a brittle ash.
- 9
In certain cattle breeds, the allele for red coat color (R) and the allele for white coat color (W) are codominant. When a red cow is crossed with a white bull, the offspring have a roan coat, which consists of a mixture of red and white hairs. If two roan cattle (RW) are crossed, what is the expected phenotypic ratio of their offspring?
Show answer details
Correct answer: B
A cross between two heterozygous roan cattle (RW x RW) can be visualized with a Punnett square. The possible genotypes are RR, RW, and WW. The phenotypic ratio will be 1 red (RR), 2 roan (RW), and 1 white (WW) because R and W are codominant, meaning both traits are expressed in the heterozygote.
- 10
A mountain range is located near a large ocean. The prevailing winds blow from the ocean towards the mountain. Which of the following descriptions most accurately explains the climate on the windward (ocean-facing) and leeward (inland-facing) sides of the mountain?
graph TD subgraph Air Movement A(Moist Air from Ocean) -->|Rises & Cools| B(Condensation & Precipitation) B --> C{Mountain Peak} C -->|Descends & Warms| D(Dry Air) end subgraph Land Ocean -- Prevailing Winds --> WindwardSide[Windward Side] WindwardSide --> Mountain[Mountain Range] Mountain --> LeewardSide[Leeward Side] end B --> WindwardSide D --> LeewardSideShow answer details
Correct answer: C
This phenomenon is known as the rain shadow effect. Moist air from the ocean is forced to rise up the windward side of the mountain, causing it to cool and condense, leading to precipitation (rain or snow). As the air descends on the leeward side, it warms and becomes very dry, creating a desert-like or arid climate.
