Grade 8 Science Answer Key

Mirrors and Lenses

Part A - Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. Which type of mirror has a surface that curves inward?
a. plane c. convex
b. concave d. transparent
____ 2. The ________________ is an imaginary straight line drawn perpendicular to the
surface of the mirror at the mirror’s center
a. focal point c. virtual image
b. focal length d. optical axis
____ 3. Which type of lens is shown in the diagram below?
a. real image c. convex
b. concave d. plane
____ 4. A ________________ is thinner in the middle thicker at the edges.
a. concave lens c. within the crust
b. convex lens d. along transform plate boundaries
____ 5. Which best describes an image formed by a plane mirror?
a. Real image formed in front of the mirror. c. Real image formed behind the mirror.
b. Virtual image formed in front of the mirror. d. Virtual image formed behind the mirror.

Part B – Fill in The Blanks Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. A flat surface that reflects light and forms an image is called a(n) plane, mirror.
2. The cornea is transparent covering on your eyeball that causes light rays to bend so they
converge.
3. Your eye lens is less convex when your eye focuses on faraway objects.
4. A telescope uses lenses to gather light from distant objects.
5.reflection is the bouncing of light waves off a surface.
6. A virtual image is an image that your brain sees even though no light rays pass through the
location of the image.
Part C – Short Answer Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided
space.
1.What are the characteristics of the image formed in a convex mirror?
It is a virtual image, upright and smaller than the object.
2. In a concave mirror, an object is located at more than 2 focal lengths. What are the
characteristics of the image produced?
It is a real image, upside down and larger than the object.
3. A concave mirror produced an image that is real, upside down, and bigger in size. What is the
location of the object?
It is more than two focal lengths away from the mirror.
4. What is the difference between a real image and a virtual image?
Light rays converge to form a real image.
When light rays reflect off an object and diverge away from it, they appear to diverge from a
point. The virtual image appears to be at that point.
5. Describe the image formed by the objective lens in a microscope. The image is real and
enlarged because the object is placed between one and two focal lengths.
 Digestion and Excretion
Part A - Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
____ 1. The nutrient that is the main source of energy for your body is the ______.
a. Carbohydrates c. vitamins
b. proteins d. water
____ 2. Where does most absorption of nutrients occur?
a. large intestine c. mouth
b. stomach d. small intestine
____ 3. Which of the following is the major function of the excretory system?
a. digestion c. movement
b. blood formation d. removing wastes
____ 4. The ______ filter wastes from the blood.
a. kidneys c. intestines
b. heart d. bile
____ 5. Digestion starts in the ______.
a. stomach c. mouth
b. esophagus d. large intestine

Part B – Fill in The Blanks Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. carbohydrate is made of long chain of sugars.
2. The breakdown of food into small particles is called digestion.
3. ureters are tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.
4. Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids.
5. The urinary system produces and excretes urine.

Part C – Short Answer Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided
space.
1.Explain the role of enzymes in digestion.
Digestive enzymes break down larger food molecules into smaller molecules and catalyze the
rate of chemical reactions.
2. Differentiate between chemical and mechanical digestion.
Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of large food particles into small food
particles and this happens when you chew and grind food in your mouth. Chemical digestion
is the breakdown of food particles into smaller molecules by chemical reactions that occur
from the mouth to the intestines.
3. What are the six groups of nutrients?
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, vitamins, and minerals.
4. Differentiate between ureter and urethra.
Ureters are the two tubes connecting the kidneys with the urinary bladder. The urethra is the
tube that allows the urine from the bladder to leave the body.
5. Where in the kidneys does the filtration of blood occurs?
In the nephrons
Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
Part A - Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answer the
question.
____ 1. In external respiration, the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the blood
occurs in the ______.
a. heart c. lungs
b. kidneys d. stomach
____ 2. Which of the following is also called windpipe?
a. esophagus c. alveolus
b. trachea d. bronchi
____ 3. Which of the following blood components defend the body against diseases?
a. white blood cell c. platelet
b. red blood cell d. plasma
____ 4. Oxygenated blood leaves the heart through the _______.
a. superior vena cava c. capillaries
b. inferior vena cava d. aorta
____ 5. During inhalation, the ______ contracts.
a. hip bone c. heart
b. diaphragm d. large intestine

Part B – Fill in The Blanks Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. Internal respiration is the exchange of gases between the blood and the body’s cells.
2. The lungs are the largest organs of the respiratory system.
3. Large veins in the body have flaps of tissue called valves.
4. The clear, yellowish fluid blood component is the plasma.
5. platelets are important in forming blood clots.

Part C – Short Answer Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided
space.
1.What is the main function of the heart?
It pumps the oxygenated blood to the body and sends deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
2. Differentiate among arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart. Arteries carry oxygenated blood
from the heart to the body. Capillaries are 1 cell-thick vessels that allow the gas exchange
between the blood and body cells.
3. Trace the path of air from the nose to the bloodstream.
Starting from the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and capillaries.
4. Briefly describe the components of blood.

It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma
is a clear, yellowish fluid which comprises >50% of blood and is made up mostly of water. Red
blood cells are disc-shaped and are made up of an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin. Like
white blood cells, they are produced in bone marrow. White blood cells fight off diseases and
infections. Platelets are cell fragments that help to form blood clots.

5. Differentiate between inhalation and exhalation.

Inhalation is the process of intake of air into lungs, whereas exhalation is the process of
letting air out of lungs
Inheritance and Adaptation
Part A - Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. The passing of traits from generation to another is called ______.
a. trait c. inheritance
b. adaptation d. camouflage
____ 2. A distinguishing characteristic of an organism is a _____.
a. trait c. inheritance
b. adaptation d. camouflage
____ 3. Which is a source of variation in a population of organisms?
a. adaptation c. trait
b. asexual reproduction d. mutation
____ 4. What adaptation is shown in the image below?
a. mimicry c. reproduction
b. genotype d. camouflage
____ 5. Which of the following is a behavioral adaptation?
a. snake playing dead c. color and shape of eyes
b. white fur d. spraying venom

Part B – Fill in The Blanks Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. During fertilization, a sperm and an egg cell unite.
2. An organism complete set of genes is its DNA.
3. Differences in inherited traits among members of the same species are called variations.
4. Humans can select and breed organisms with desired traits in a process called selective
breeding.
5. mimicry is an adaptation in which one species looks like another species.
Part C – Short Answer
Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided space.

1. What is the role of genes in inheritance?

Alleles are forms of the same gene for a specific trait, like eye color. A sperm cell and an egg
cell each carry a single allele for each trait which combine.
2. Differentiate among DNA, chromosomes, and genes.
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule inside the nucleus of a cell, made up of genes,
which contain all the genetic information for an organism.
A chromosome is structure made up of long chains of DNA inside the nucleus. Each
chromosome contains hundreds of thousands of genes.
A gene is a section of DNA that represents a single characteristic or trait of an organism.
3. How does natural selection lead to adaptation?
Organisms have variations in their traits, like color or size. Natural selection is the process by
which organisms with given traits can compete better in their environment and therefore
survive longer and reproduce.
4. Briefly describe the three types of adaptations. Give an example of each.
1) Structural adaptation. A physical trait that increases survival. For example, Desert foxes
have large ears for heat radiation while Arctic foxes have small ears to retain body heat.

2) Functional adaptation. A biochemical process that helps a species to survive or maintain

homeostasis. For example, a plant producing toxins to repel herbivores.

3) Behavioral adaptation. A behavior that increases chances of survival. For example, a snake
that plays dead to fool predators.

5. What is mimicry?
Mimicry occurs when one animal displays physical or behavioral traits that copy those of a
different species, like a non-poisonous frog that mimics the appearance of a poisonous frog.
 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Part A - Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. At which type of plate boundary do the deepest earthquakes occur?
a. convergent c. passive
b. divergent d. transform
____ 2. The Richter scale records the magnitude of an earthquake by determining the: a.
amount of energy released by the earthquake
c. type of seismic waves produced by the earthquake
b. amount of ground motion measured at a specific distance from the earthquake
d. type of damage caused by the earthquake
____ 3. Which type of fault is shown in the diagram below?
a. normal c. shallow
b. reverse d. strike-slip
____ 4. Most of the volcanic activity on earth occurs:
a. along mid-ocean ridges c. within the crust
b. at hot spots d. along transform plate boundaries
____ 5. The hot molten material erupted from a volcano is called:
a. magma c. rock
b. lava d. silica 10

Part B – Fill in The Blanks

Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. The epicenter (at the surface) marks the exact location where an earthquake occurs.
2. A fault is a break in Earth’s lithosphere where blocks of rock can move.
3. Seismic waves originate at the focus
4. Magma that erupts quietly is low viscosity magma, whereas magma that erupts explosively is
high viscosity magma.
5. A mixture of gases, rocks and ashes is called a(n) pyroclastic flow.

Part C – Short Answer

Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided space.
1. How does a volcano get formed?
Volcanoes are formed when magma from within the Earth's upper mantle works its way to
the surface. At the surface, it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits.
2. What is the difference between magma and lava?
Magma molten rock originating in the mantle. Lava is magma that reaches the Earth’s
surface.
3. Under what conditions is a fault produced?
Faults are breaks in the crust where one block moves relative to another (towards, away from
or past each other).
4. What is an earthquake? Where do most earthquakes occur?
An earthquake is the sudden release of energy along a fault, releasing seismic waves. Most
earthquakes occur along convergent plate boundaries, especially the Pacific Ring of Fire.
5. What factors affect a volcano’s eruptive style?
The chemistry of the magma affects the eruptive style. The amount of dissolved gases,
especially water vapor has a great influence on eruptive style. Silica content affects the
viscosity of the magma which is also an important factor. Magmas with high gas content and
high viscosity are more explosive.
 Clues to Earth’s Past
Part A - Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. For most fossils to form, the organism’s remains should be buried in:
a. rocks c. shells
b. sediment d. leaves
____ 2. A gap in the rock record is a(n) ______.
a. inclusion c. correlation
b. trilobite d. unconformity
____ 3. In the figure below, what is the correct order of rock layers and features from oldest to
youngest?
a. M, K, N, L, A, E c. N, K, M, E, A, L
b. E, A, L, N, K, M d. A, E, M, K, L, N
____ 4. Radioactive decay is used to measure the ______.
a. relative age c. absolute age
b. catastrophism d. trace fossil
____ 5. What is the time required for half of the parent isotopes to decay into daughter
isotopes called?
a. relative age c. absolute age
b. catastrophism d. half-life

Part B – Fill in The Blanks

Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. A(n) mold is the impression in a rock left by an ancient organism.
2. The principle that states that the oldest rocks are on the bottom is superposition.
3. Matching rocks and layers from separate locations is called correlation.
4. isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
5. The absolute age is the numerical age of a rock or an object.
Part C – Short Answer
Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided space.
1. Differentiate between catastrophism and uniformitarianism.
Catastrophism is the theory that the Earth had largely been shaped by sudden, short-lived,
violent events.
Uniformitarianism is the theory that the present is the key to the past and that the Earth has
been shaped by steady, uniform changes, such as erosion.
2. How is relative age different from absolute age?
Relative age dating will allow scientists determine which rock layer or feature (such as a fault
or dyke) is oldest, and which is youngest. Absolute age dating uses radioactive elements in
the rocks to determine the actual age.

3. Differentiate between parent and daughter isotopes.

The radioactive decay of a parent isotope (the original element) leads to the formation of a
more stable daughter element, also known as daughter isotope.
4. How can radiocarbon dating be used to measure the age of dead organisms?
Carbon-14 is a natural isotope of Carbon that forms in the upper atmosphere, where it mixes
with a stable isotope, Carbon-12. The ratio between the two isotopes is constant in the
atmosphere and living organisms, which are made up largely of Carbon, have that same ratio
in their bodies. When an organism dies, it no longer takes in C-14 and the C-14 already in the
organism decays to Nitrogen-14. The ratio of C-14 to C-12 in a dead organism therefore gives
a measure of the time that has passed since the organism died. C-14 has a half-life of 5,730
years and can therefore measure the age of organisms that died tens of thousands years ago.
5. What are the 5 geological principles used in relative-age dating?
Superposition, Original Horizontality, Lateral continuity, Inclusions and Cross-Cutting
Relationships.
 Geologic Time Guides
Part A - Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. In the geologic time scale, eons are subdivided into _______.
a. eras c. epochs
b. periods d. half-lives
____ 2. Which of the following is the first era of the Phanerozoic eon?
a. Cenozoic era c. Paleozoic era
b. Mesozoic era d. Cambrian era
____ 3. Which of the following events can cause mass extinction?
a. volcanic activity c. cutting one tree
b. mild rain d. amphibians
____ 4. Which is known as the age of fish?
a. Early Paleozoic c. Middle Cenozoic
b. Middle Paleozoic d. Late Paleozoic
____ 5. What is the difference between dinosaurs and modern reptiles?
a. color c. tail
b. teeth d. hip structure
Part B – Fill in The Blanks
Complete each statement by the correct term.
1. The longest time unit in the geologic time scale is the Eon
2. Mega-mammals appeared during the Cenozoic era
3. A Plesiosaur is a marine Mesozoic reptile.
4. The Cambrian Period is the age of invertebrates.
5. The two periods of the Cenozoic era the Tertiary and the Quaternary.

Part C – Short Answer

Read each question carefully and write your answer on the provided space.
1. What is the relationship among rock layers, fossils, and the divisions of the geologic time
scale?
Scientists developed the geologic time scale by studying the relative age relationships and
worldwide correlations of rock layers and fossils.
2. Describe the Precambrian life-forms.
Precambrian life forms were simple unicellular organisms, resembling modern day bacteria.
3. Which events caused the formation of the Appalachian Mountains?
The Appalachians formed when several landmasses collided with North America’s east coast.
4. Define Pangaea, and explain its formation.
Pangaea a giant supercontinent which formed close to the equator. It was created by the
process of plate tectonics, when several continents collided during the Late Paleozoic.
5. Distinguish between the three types of Mesozoic reptiles.
Dinosaurs long believed to be reptiles, are the topic of great debate on their classification
because they also share many characteristics of birds. Unlike modern reptiles they walked
with legs directly below their hips. Pleiosaurs were marine reptiles. They had very long necks,
small heads and flippers. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles, with large wings, resembling those
of bats.