HiSET Science Practice Test Welcome to your HiSET Science Practice Test 1. HiSET Science: Life Science Which of the following best describes the process of glycolysis? The synthesis of sugar molecules from smaller precursors The breakdown of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate The conversion of ADP to ATP using sunlight The process by which amino acids are synthesized None 2. HiSET Science: Life Science In a eukaryotic cell, where does the Krebs cycle occur? Cytoplasm Mitochondrial matrix Mitochondrial intermembrane space Nucleus None 3. HiSET Science: Life Science Which of the following is a characteristic feature of chordates at some point in their life cycle? Presence of a notochord Ability to undergo photosynthesis Presence of jointed appendages Absence of a digestive system None 4. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the role of ribosomes in a cell? Cellular respiration Protein synthesis DNA replication Lipid synthesis None 5. HiSET Science: Life Science In the context of genetics, what does the term 'heterozygous' mean? Having two identical alleles for a particular gene Having two different alleles for a particular gene An organism with no alleles for a given gene Having mutated alleles for a particular gene None 6. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the primary function of the xylem in plants? Transport of nutrients Transport of water and dissolved minerals from roots to leaves Photosynthesis Growth and development None 7. HiSET Science: Life Science Which cellular organelle is responsible for packaging and distributing proteins and lipids? Mitochondria Ribosomes Golgi apparatus Nucleus None 8. HiSET Science: Life Science Which of the following best describes the function of enzymes in biological systems? To decrease the activation energy of chemical reactions To increase the activation energy of chemical reactions To act as structural components of cell membranes To store genetic information None 9. HiSET Science: Life Science In a DNA molecule, which base pair matches are correct? Adenine with Guanine, Cytosine with Thymine Adenine with Thymine, Cytosine with Guanine Adenine with Cytosine, Guanine with Thymine Adenine with Uracil, Cytosine with Thymine None 10. HiSET Science: Life Science Which process is directly responsible for the variation seen in the offspring produced through sexual reproduction? Mitosis Meiosis Binary fission Budding None 11. HiSET Science: Life Science What is an allele? A type of protein that influences trait expression A version of a gene that determines a specific trait A cellular structure that contains DNA An organism's observable characteristics None 12. HiSET Science: Life Science In an ecosystem, which component is considered a producer? Carnivores Herbivores Plants Decomposers None 13. HiSET Science: Life Science Which of the following best explains the role of ATP in cellular processes? It acts as the cell's main energy currency It serves as the genetic material of the cell It is the primary component of cellular membranes It functions as the main structural protein None 14. HiSET Science: Life Science Which biological molecule is primarily responsible for encoding, transmitting, and expressing genetic information? Proteins Carbohydrates DNA Lipids None 15. HiSET Science: Life Science In the Linnaean system of classification, which rank follows directly after Order? Family Genus Species Class None 16. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells? The presence of a cell wall in eukaryotic cells The absence of genetic material in prokaryotic cells The presence of a nucleus in eukaryotic cells The absence of ribosomes in prokaryotic cells None 17. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the significance of Mendel's law of independent assortment in genetics? It describes how traits are inherited independently of each other. It explains the uniformity of traits among offspring. It outlines how alleles are duplicated during cell division. It details the process of DNA replication. None 18. HiSET Science: Life Science In biology, what is the main function of the lysosome? Protein synthesis Energy production Breakdown of cellular waste DNA replication None 19. HiSET Science: Life Science Which of the following best describes the phenomenon of osmosis? The movement of solutes from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration The active transport of ions across a membrane The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to higher The synthesis of ATP using the energy derived from the flow of ions across a membrane None 20. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the primary role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis? It absorbs light energy and converts it into chemical energy. It facilitates the breakdown of glucose molecules. It acts as a catalyst in the Calvin cycle. It transports electrons during cellular respiration. None 21. HiSET Science: Life Science What type of cell junction in animal cells is primarily responsible for preventing the passage of materials between cells? Gap junctions Desmosomes Tight junctions Plasmodesmata None 22. HiSET Science: Life Science Which of the following processes is an example of a catabolic reaction? Photosynthesis Protein synthesis DNA replication Cellular respiration None 23. HiSET Science: Life Science In the context of molecular biology, what is the central dogma? DNA is transcribed to RNA, which is translated to protein. Proteins synthesize RNA, which then creates DNA. RNA replicates itself to form DNA, which then forms proteins. Proteins are degraded into RNA, which then forms DNA. None 24. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the primary function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in cells? Protein synthesis Lipid synthesis ATP production DNA replication None 25. HiSET Science: Life Science In genetics, what is a polygenic trait? A trait controlled by a single gene A trait influenced by multiple genes A trait that does not follow Mendelian genetics A trait resulting from environmental influences None 26. HiSET Science: Life Science Which biome is characterized by a layer of permafrost? Tropical rainforest Savannah Tundra Desert None 27. HiSET Science: Life Science In which phase of mitosis do the chromosomes align at the cell's equatorial plane? Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase None 28. HiSET Science: Life Science What is the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in population genetics? It describes how populations evolve over time. It provides a framework for understanding genetic drift. It describes a population not evolving if certain conditions are met. It explains the rate of mutation in a gene pool. None 29. HiSET Science: Life Science In the phosphorus cycle, which reservoir is considered the primary source of phosphorus for terrestrial ecosystems? The atmosphere Rock and soil minerals Ocean sediments Plant biomass None 30. HiSET Science: Physical Science What is the primary force that causes the phenomenon of capillary action in narrow tubes? Gravitational force Electromagnetic force Adhesive force Cohesive force None 31. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which principle explains why a balloon filled with helium gas rises in the air? Pascal's principle Archimedes' principle Bernoulli's principle Boyle's law None 32. HiSET Science: Physical Science In a vacuum, which of the following will fall at the same rate? A feather and a rock A piece of paper and a pencil A balloon and a bowling ball All of the above None 33. HiSET Science: Physical Science What type of chemical bond is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another? Covalent bond Ionic bond Metallic bond Hydrogen bond None 34. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which of the following is a characteristic property of nonmetals? High electrical conductivity Malleability High melting point Poor conductor of heat and electricity None 35. HiSET Science: Physical Science In the context of physical science, what does the term "catalyst" refer to? A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change A substance that decreases the temperature at which a reaction occurs A substance that prevents a chemical reaction from occurring A substance that is used up completely in a chemical reaction None 36. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which of the following laws states that the total pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases? Charles's law Boyle's law Dalton's law of partial pressures Gay-Lussac's law None 37. HiSET Science: Physical Science What is the phenomenon where light waves change direction as they pass from one medium to another called? Reflection Refraction Diffraction Interference None 38. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which law explains the proportional relationship between the voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit? Ohm's law Kirchhoff's current law Kirchhoff's voltage law Faraday's law None 39. HiSET Science: Physical Science What is the main distinction between a mixture and a compound? Mixtures can be separated by chemical means, while compounds cannot. Compounds consist of elements combined in a fixed ratio, while mixtures do not have fixed ratios. Mixtures have chemical bonds between their components, while compounds do not. Compounds are always solids, while mixtures can be in any state of matter. None 40. HiSET Science: Physical Science In an exothermic reaction, what happens to energy? Energy is absorbed from the surroundings. Energy is neither absorbed nor released. Energy is released into the surroundings. Energy is converted into matter. None 41. HiSET Science: Physical Science What property of a wave is measured as the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs? Amplitude Frequency Wavelength Speed None 42. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which of the following is a fundamental principle in thermodynamics? Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. The total entropy of a system always decreases. Heat naturally flows from cooler objects to warmer objects. In a closed system, energy is not conserved. None 43. HiSET Science: Physical Science In the context of nuclear reactions, what is the process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus called? Fission Fusion Decay Activation None 44. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which element is commonly used as a semiconductor in electronic devices? Iron Copper Silicon Lead None 45. HiSET Science: Physical Science What phenomenon explains the bending of a wave around the edge of an obstacle or through an opening? Refraction Reflection Diffraction Polarization None 46. HiSET Science: Physical Science Which phase change occurs when a gas turns directly into a solid without passing through the liquid phase? Freezing Melting Deposition Sublimation None 47. HiSET Science: Earth Science What is the primary force driving the movement of tectonic plates on the Earth's surface? Gravitational pull from the moon Thermal convection in the mantle Magnetic field interactions Solar wind pressure None 48. HiSET Science: Earth Science Which type of rock is typically formed by the cooling and solidification of magma or lava? Metamorphic Sedimentary Igneous Foliated None 49. HiSET Science: Earth Science The Earth's atmosphere is composed of several layers. Which layer is directly above the stratosphere? Troposphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere None 50. HiSET Science: Earth Science What is the phenomenon where the rotation of the Earth causes moving air and water to turn to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere? Centrifugal force Coriolis effect Gravitational pull Thermal inertia None 51. HiSET Science: Earth Science Which geological process is most directly responsible for the formation of mountains? Erosion Sedimentation Tectonic plate convergence Volcanic activity None 52. HiSET Science: Earth Science What is the primary source of energy that drives the water cycle on Earth? Wind Geothermal heat Solar radiation Tidal forces None 53. HiSET Science: Earth Science In the context of Earth Science, what is the significance of the Mohorovi?i? discontinuity? It marks the boundary between Earth's crust and mantle. It is the layer where the magnetic field is generated. It is the deepest point in the Earth's oceans. It indicates the boundary of tectonic plates. None 54. HiSET Science: Earth Science Which of the following is not a method used by scientists to predict volcanic eruptions? Monitoring seismic activity Tracking changes in magnetic fields Measuring volcanic gas emissions Observing animal behavior None 55. HiSET Science: Earth Science What does the Richter scale measure? The duration of an earthquake The intensity of sunlight The magnitude of an earthquake The depth of an earthquake's focus None 56. HiSET Science: Earth Science In Earth Science, the term "albedo" refers to what characteristic of a surface? Thermal conductivity Permeability to water Reflectivity of sunlight Roughness None 57. HiSET Science: Earth Science What is the primary cause of ocean tides on Earth? Wind patterns Earth's rotation Gravitational pull of the moon and sun Convection currents in the ocean None 58. HiSET Science: Earth Science Which era in Earth's geological timeline is known for the significant proliferation of life in the oceans? Precambrian Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic None 59. HiSET Science: Earth Science What is the primary factor that determines the climate of a region? Proximity to the equator Elevation above sea level Distance from the sea All of the above None 60. HiSET Science: Earth Science Which layer of the Earth is liquid and responsible for generating the planet's magnetic field? Crust Upper mantle Outer core Inner core None 1 out of 60 Time is Up! Time's up
