Middle School
E lements Essential Reinforcement for the ACT College Readiness Standards ®
ASPIRE SAMPLE SELECTIONS
Elements ASPIRE Sample
Middle School Edition
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Table of Contents English Sample.................................................................................................................................. 5 English Answer Key......................................................................................................................... 11 Math Sample................................................................................................................................... 15 Math Answer Key............................................................................................................................. 23 Reading Sample.............................................................................................................................. 27 Reading Answer Key........................................................................................................................ 33 Science Sample............................................................................................................................... 37 Science Answer Key........................................................................................................................ 45
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English Sample
ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample English Elements: MiddleBell School Bell Ringers
Redundancy, Exercise 1 Each summer, as we head to the beach, my
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A. B. C. D.
NO CHANGE needing to eat after starting on our drive to Florida DELETE the underlined portion
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F. G. H. J.
NO CHANGE and costly and high-priced DELETE the underlined portion.
3.
A. B. C. D.
NO CHANGE worldwide international acclaim international acclaim the world over international acclaim around the world
family and I have lunch at the Alabama rest stop on our way to our beach house in Florida.
He has access to a wood shop and tools, which allows him to build his own furniture instead of buying expensive and pricey pieces from the store.
Steven Spielberg’s movies have gained him international acclaim and made characters such as E.T. and Indiana Jones household names.
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ASPIRE English Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
Redundancy, Exercise 2 He could reach his goal of thirteen miles if he
1.
A. B. C. D.
NO CHANGE in terms of distance reach reach and attain achieve to reach
2.
F. G. H. J.
NO CHANGE hurry in speed hurry rushed way of speeding
3.
A. B. C. D.
NO CHANGE made substantially progressed through making leaped ahead and made
started right now.
I suddenly realized that in my hurried manner of racing to get to the store while it was still open, I had forgotten my wallet.
Flight technology has truly and substantially progressed by taking a huge leap from wooden biplanes to rocket ships.
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Elements: Middle Bell School Bell Ringers ASPIRE English Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample
Redundancy, Exercise 3 A spaceship requires a certain grade of
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A. B. C. D.
2.
F. NO CHANGE G. gained recognition H. was considered talented enough to be recognized J. won recognition given because of her talents
3.
A. B. C. D.
aluminum to protect it from damaging harm as the ship enters back into the earth’s atmosphere.
After the incredibly gifted dance instructor gained appreciation for her talents on television, her dance studio became a nationwide tourist attraction.
She claims the most important aspect in preparing to get ready for a barbecue is creating the perfect blend of spices and sauces.
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NO CHANGE damage that can harm it damage harmful damage
NO CHANGE of someone planning to be ready to make oneself fit DELETE the underlined portion
English Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample ASPIRE
Redundancy, Exercise 4 All of a sudden, the bright moon poked
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A. B. C. D.
NO CHANGE visible light that was shown light light that became illuminated
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F. G. H. J.
NO CHANGE pictorial visually pictorial visually pictorially
3.
A. B. C. D.
NO CHANGE Exley—exploring underwater caverns— Exley who explored underwater caverns, Exley
out from behind the clouds and created a ray of illuminated light above overhead.
“Chinese calendars” are pictorially calendars that use images of different animals to describe the current year.
Pioneer cave diver Sheck Exley, exploring underwater caverns, was instrumental in discovering many North American subterranean systems.
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English Elements: MiddleBell School Bell Ringers ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample
Redundancy, Exercise 5 Reba loves words to the point that she has a problem; she says two words when one will do. Can you find all ten of her redundant phrases in this sentence? (Underline the redundant phrases.)
In my opinion, I think the actual fact that noisy sound is coming from an alarm clock at 4 a.m. in the morning, each and every day, is an unexpected surprise that makes me want to go and find an empty hole and drop the alarm clock in it so that it falls down forever and ever‌ even if it were an unintentional mistake to set it to go off so early! Bonus: What is Reba actually trying to say?
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English Answer Key
English Elements: Middle School BellBell Ringers Teacher Manual ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample
Redundancy Exercise 1 (pg. 81) 1. The correct answer is D. Choice A is incorrect because the phrase on our way to the beach house implies that the family is going to the beach and does not need to be repeated. Choice B is incorrect because the sentence already states, my family and I have lunch, which indicates they are hungry. Choice C is incorrect because it repeats information already in the sentence about driving to Florida. Choice D is correct because the sentence is clear and understandable without any additions. 2. The correct answer is J. Choices F, G, and H are incorrect because pricey, costly, and high-priced have the same meaning as expensive. Choice J is correct because the sentence is clear in meaning without additional words. 3. The correct answer is A. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because worldwide has the same meaning as international. Choice A is correct because international by itself conveys the meaning that Spielberg’s movies are famous throughout the world. Exercise 2 (pg. 82) 1. The correct answer is A. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they repeat the meaning of the verb reach. Choice A is correct because the sentence is clear and concise without additional words. 2. The correct answer is H. Choices F, G, and J are incorrect because hurry, racing, and speeding have similar meanings, so both words are not needed. Choice H is correct because hurry sufficiently communicates the intended meaning of the sentence. 3. The correct answer is B. Choices A and C are incorrect because substantially does not add further meaning to the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because leaped ahead is redundant with the phrase a huge leap later in the sentence. Choice B is correct because it only gives what is most essential to the meaning of the sentence. Exercise 3 (pg. 83) 1. The correct answer is C. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because damage and harm mean the same thing, so both words are not necessary. Choice C is correct because damage sufficiently expresses the writer’s intended meaning. 2. The correct answer is G. Choices F, H, and J are incorrect because talent has the same meaning as gifted. Choice G is correct because the sentence is clear in meaning by stating concisely that the gifted instructor gained recognition. 3. The correct answer is D. Choices A, B, and C are all incorrect because they each reword the meaning of preparing, which appears earlier in the sentence. Choice D is correct because it removes any redundancy, and the sentence is clear and concise.
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English Elements: Middle Middle School School Bell Ringers TeacherSample Manual ASPIRE Elements: Bell Ringers Exercise 4 (pg. 84) 1. The correct answer is C. Choices A and D are incorrect because illuminated and light have similar meanings. Choice B is incorrect because it is overly wordy and does not add further meaning to the sentence. Choice C is correct because it clearly explains what the moon created. 2. The correct answer is G. Choice F is incorrect because the adverb pictorially cannot modify a noun. Choices H and J are incorrect because visually, pictorial, and images have similar meanings, so using all three words together is redundant. Choice G is correct because the adjective pictorial describes calendars concisely. 3. The correct answer is D. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because underwater caverns is redundant in this sentence, which already states cave diver and subterranean systems. Choice D is correct because the only additional information needed is the person’s last name. Exercise 5 (pg. 85) 1. In my opinion, I think the actual fact that noisy sound is coming from an alarm clock at 4 a.m. in the morning, each and every day, is an unexpected surprise that makes me want to go and find an empty hole and drop the alarm clock in it so that it falls down forever and ever… even if it were an unintentional mistake to set it to go off so early! Bonus: She doesn’t like the alarm clock going off at 4 a.m. every day.
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Math Sample
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ASPIRE Elements: MiddleMiddle SchoolSchool Bell Ringers Sample Math Elements: Bell Ringers
Percents, Part 1 Exercise 1 1.
Michelle wants to get a 90% on her history exam tomorrow. If her exam is out of 50 points, how many points does she need to earn to get a score of 90% ? A. 5 B. 10 C. 40 D. 45 E. 90
2.
Thomas went out to eat with his family. Thomas’ parents paid for the $125 bill, and Thomas paid a tip of 20%. How much was the tip that Thomas paid, in dollars? F. 12.5 G. 20 H. 25 J. 100 K. 150
3.
What is 275% of 60 ? A. 16.5 B. 165 C. 175 D. 215 E. 335
DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.
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ASPIRE Elements:Middle MiddleSchool SchoolBell BellRingers Ringers Sample Math Elements:
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Percents, Part 1 Exercise 2 DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.
1.
What is 4% of 80 ? A. 3.2 B. 4 C. 20 D. 32 E. 76
2.
The table below shows the height distribution of the student body at New Saybrook High School. What percent of the students are over 66 inches tall?
F. G. H. J. K.
Height in inches
Percent of students
48 – 54 54 – 60 60 – 66 66 – 72 72 – 78 78 – 84
6% 18% 40% 26% 8% 2%
26% 36% 40% 64% 66%
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ASPIRE Elements: MiddleMiddle SchoolSchool Bell Ringers Sample Math Elements: Bell Ringers
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Percents, Part 1 Exercise 2 3.
DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.
Jillian conducted a survey of the students at her school to determine what color is the most popular. Jillian surveyed 200 students and each student who responded to the survey chose 1 color as his or her favorite. The number of students who selected each color is shown by the circle graph below. What percent of students who responded to the survey selected blue as their favorite color? Purple, 10
Red, 30 Orange, 6 Yellow, 14
Blue, 90 Green, 50
A. 9% B. 18% C. 45% D. 90% E. 180%
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ASPIRE Elements:Middle MiddleSchool SchoolBell BellRingers Ringers Sample Math Elements:
Percents, Part 1 Exercise 3 1.
A student thinks that 4% of 80 is 32 because 0.4 ⋅ 80 = 32. Identify the mistake in the student’s procedure and explain the correct way to solve this problem.
2.
Erin went out to eat and bought $25.00 worth of food. What is the total amount she paid after applying a 20% tip to the bill? Give the answer and explain the steps you took to get to this answer.
DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.
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ASPIRE Elements: MiddleMiddle SchoolSchool Bell Ringers Sample Math Elements: Bell Ringers
Percents, Part 1 Exercise 4 1.
A survey of 150 students found that 105 of the students who responded favored mashed potatoes over baked potatoes. What percent of students surveyed favored baked potatoes over mashed potatoes? Give the answer and explain the steps you took to get this answer.
2.
Jason goes to dinner and his total bill including the tip is $120. If Jason tipped at 20% of the money spent on food, how much did Jason spend on food? Give the answer and explain the steps you took to get this answer.
DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.
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ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample Math Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers
Percents, Part 1 Exercise 5 1.
DO YOUR FIGURING HERE.
Write about a time when you had to use percentages in everyday life. What use did they serve? How did it change how you thought about your problem? Next, make a list of all the ways you encounter percentages in your day-to-day life.
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Math Answer Key
Math Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Teacher Manual ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
Percents, Part 1 Exercise 1 (pg. 21) 1. The correct answer is D. In order to solve for the missing value, multiply the total number of points by the percentage that Michelle wants to earn. 50 ⋅ 0.90 = 45 points 2. The correct answer is H. Solve for the value of the tip by multiplying the total bill by the percent of the bill representing the value of the tip. 125 ⋅ 0.2 = $25 3. The correct answer is B. Multiply the original value by the decimal representation of the percentage. Remember that percent values can be converted to the decimal representation by dividing by 100. 2.75 ⋅ 60 = 165
Exercise 2 (pg. 22) 1. The correct answer is A. Multiply the original value by the decimal representation of the percentage. Percent values can be converted to decimal representations by dividing by 100. 80 ⋅ 0.04 = 3.2 2. The correct answer is G. The chart shows the percentages for the different heights, so to find the percent taller than 66 inches, add the percentages higher than 66 inches. 26% + 8% + 2% = 36% 3. The correct answer is C. 90 students out of a total of 200 students chose blue. So the fraction of students who chose blue is given by the following:
90 45 simplifies to , or 0.45, showing that 45% chose blue. 200 100
Exercise 3 (pg. 24) 1. The student actually solved for 40% of 80, as 0.4 ⋅ 100% = 40%. 4% = 0.04, so the student should multiply by this value instead. 0.04 ⋅ 80 = 3.2 2. $25.00 + ($25.00)(0.2) = $30.00 The first part of the total bill is the value of food bought, which is $25.00. The tip is 20% of the $25.00, or (0.2) ($25.00) = $5. Adding the two values yields the total bill after applying a 20% tip, which is $30.00.
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MathASPIRE Elements: Middle School Ringers Teacher Sample Manual Elements: MiddleBell School Bell Ringers Exercise 4 (pg. 25) 1. 150 – 105 = 45 45 = 0.3 150 0.3 ⋅ 100% = 30% First find the total number of students surveyed that prefer baked potatoes by subtracting the students that prefer mashed potatoes from the total. Next create a fraction using the number of students that prefer baked potatoes as the numerator and the total students surveyed as the denominator. This fraction, after simplifying and multiplying by 100%, represents the percent of students surveyed preferring baked potatoes to mashed potatoes. 2. x + (x)(0.2) = $120 1.2x = 120 x = 100 First set up an equation representing the total bill as two parts, money spent on food and a tip. The variable x represents the total spent on food. The tip is given by 0.2x as the tip is 20% of the money spent on food. Solving for x yields the amount of money spent strictly on food. Exercise 5 (pg. 26) 1. Possible answers include but are not limited to: - Weather predictions - Test and class grades - Sports statistics or ratings - Shopping sales and discounts - Food labels and nutrition facts
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Reading Sample
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Reading Elements: Middle School Ringers ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Bell Ringers Sample
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Drawing Conclusions, Part 2 Exercise 1 SOCIAL SCIENCE: This passage is adapted from the article “The Future of Television’s Sci-Fi Landscape” by Dennis Piard (©2015 by MasteryPrep).
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At an early age, future television legend Rod Serling demonstrated a fascination with performance and writing. However, he also had a tendency to misbehave, which made school difficult for him. In seventh grade, Serling’s English teacher persuaded him to participate in debate and theater so he could channel his interests academically. He later became editor of his high school newspaper, in which he openly expressed his opposition to the Nazi government by praising the entry of the United States into World War II. Serling briefly considered dropping out of school to join the war effort, but he was convinced by his civics teacher to stay and finish high school. His teacher exhorted him, “War is a temporary thing; it ends. An education doesn’t. Without your degree, where will you be after the war?” Serling took the advice, finished high school—even presenting a speech at his graduation ceremony—and enlisted in the army the next day.
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behind the science-fiction genre, Serling ensured that the more controversial elements of his work would be overlooked by censors. Of the 156 broadcast episodes, Serling wrote 92; the remaining episodes came from respected, socially conscious writers.
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Despite its age, The Twilight Zone series remains popular today and airs regularly on many television networks. Part of the show’s strength is that Serling’s moral messages are timeless and universal. Some of the show’s best-remembered episodes, such as “Eye of the Beholder” and “Number 12 Looks Just Like You,” outlined the dangers of enforced social conformity and the importance of individuality. Serling’s social commentary remains as culturally significant today as when it was originally broadcast.
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Serling’s regiment was sent to fight the in the Philippines. There, he witnessed the horrors of war as many of his fellow soldiers, enemy combatants, and innocent civilians were killed. He earned a reputation as a man who often risked his life for others, protecting civilians who were caught in the crossfire. By the end of his service, Serling had earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Philippine Liberation Medal. However, as a result of the trauma he had experienced, Serling suffered from nightmares and flashbacks for the rest of his life. After the war, Serling returned to the United States and attended college. Following graduation, he worked in radio production, which led him to writing for television. His passion for exposing societal injustice remained a theme in the scripts he wrote, but it also gave his career a difficult path. After 71 rejections, Serling’s script for the drama Patterns was bought and broadcast nationally, quickly becoming a sensation. Noted critic Jack Gould called it “one of the high points in the TV medium” and “a creative triumph.” Serling wanted to use this newfound fame to highlight many of the societal problems that he saw around him, such as racism and society’s tendency to marginalize war veterans. Unfortunately, television broadcasting at that time was heavily scrutinized by the corporations that paid for advertising, and many of his scripts were heavily censored. Serling realized that he would have to produce his own television series if he hoped to gain creative control of the outcome. Thus, The Twilight Zone was born. Instead of developing an ongoing series that centered on the same characters (which lowered production costs by recycling sets and costumes), Serling envisioned an anthology in which each episode featured a new story performed by a different cast. By veiling his social commentary 40 28
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Reading Elements: Middle School Ringers ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Bell Ringers Sample
Drawing Conclusions, Part 2 Exercise 2 1.
The passage most strongly suggests that Serling looked back on his time in World War II with: A. crippling anxiety. B. quiet satisfaction. C. profound hatred. D. intense pride.
2.
Serling’s high school civics teacher told Serling that “War is a temporary thing” (lines 13–14) most likely because the teacher: F. thought that World War II would be the last great war, ushering in a new era of peace. G. wanted to lie to Serling, afraid he would enlist as a teenager and be killed in action. H. believed Serling would have a better future with an education than dropping out of school to fight. J. assumed the war would be over by the time Serling graduated from high school and thought he should focus on his studies instead.
3.
The passage most strongly implies that Rod Serling was different from other television writers of the time in that he was more interested in: A. creating an anthology series, rather than one that featured the same actors and similar situations each episode. B. addressing problems of social inequality and injustice. C. keeping production costs low by reusing costumes and sets from other movies and TV shows. D. acquiring funding for The Twilight Zone through advertising products of his choosing.
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Reading Elements: Middle School Ringers ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Bell Ringers Sample
Drawing Conclusions, Part 2 Exercise 3 1.
It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that Serling’s service in the war was regarded as: A. too controversial, as he focused on exposing the injustice of war. B. noteworthy, as he was a soldier who went above and beyond the call of duty. C. unsuccessful, as he was discharged due to emotional distress. D. timely, as he was recruited into the military just after graduating from high school.
2.
It is reasonable to infer from the passage that as a young child, Serling’s interests: F. primarily involved his hatred of Nazi ideals. G. focused on the realm of science fiction. H. earned him positive recognition by his teachers. J. were centered around written and theatrical expression.
3.
Based on the passage, Serling used sciencefiction elements in The Twilight Zone in order to: A. escape scrutiny of his potentially controversial social criticism. B. create public interest in the program because science fiction television was a new genre in the 1950s and 1960s. C. keep the show’s budget low by reusing costumes and sets from science-fiction movies of the time. D. imagine a future free of the horrors of war.
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Reading Elements: Middle School Ringers ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Bell Ringers Sample
Drawing Conclusions, Part 2 Exercise 4 1.
The passage most strongly suggests that Serling’s work as a television writer was: A. immediately well-received following his graduation from college. B. followed by a career in radio production. C. slow to be recognized but then received critical acclaim. D. widely criticized for his emphasis on societal problems.
2.
The passage most strongly suggests that Serling’s interest in social problems was: F. brought on by his experiences in World War II. G. constant throughout his life. H. a reaction to the inequality he witnessed after returning from the war. J. short lived and changed once he became a television writer.
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Reading Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
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Drawing Conclusions, Part 2 Exercise 5 Think of a simple “mystery object.” (It can be anything that most people would know about, such as a toothbrush, sunrise, set of stairs, etc.) Write down four clues, but don’t write down your mystery object! After you are done, trade papers with a partner and try to guess each other’s mystery object. 1.
2.
3.
4.
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Reading Answer Key
Reading Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Teacher Manual ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
Drawing Conclusions, Part 2 Exercise 1 (pg. 40) Give students 3 minutes to read the passage individually. When everyone is finished, lead a brief discussion about the main points of the passage, emphasizing the main idea of the passage as a whole. Exercise 2 (pg. 41) 1. The correct answer is A. Choices B and D are incorrect because although the passage indicates Serling was highly interested in joining the war effort and had been recognized as a war hero, his experiences left him haunted. Choice C is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that Serling considered his wartime experience with anger or hatred. Choice A is correct because lines 27–29 state that as a result of the trauma he had experienced, Serling suffered from nightmares and flashbacks for the rest of his life. 2. The correct answer is H. Choice F is incorrect because the teacher does not mention or suggest a new era of peace was coming. Choice G is incorrect because the teacher does not talk about Serling’s safety. Choice J is incorrect because it cannot be reasonably inferred that the teacher assumed the war would soon end. Choice H is correct because in lines 14–15, the teacher also asks Serling, “Without your degree, where will you be after the war?” 3. The correct answer is B. Choice A is incorrect because although the passage mentions that The Twilight Zone was an anthology series, it does not suggest that this is the most compelling reason that Serling stood out as a writer. Choice C is incorrect because reusing costumes and sets was not Serling’s idea, but the practice of other television shows. Choice D is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that Serling had an influence on advertising. Choice B is correct because lines 39–42 state that Serling wanted to use this newfound fame to highlight many of the societal problems that he saw around him, such as racism and society’s tendency to marginalize war veterans.
Exercise 3 (pg. 42) 1. The correct answer is B. Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not mention Serling exposing the injustice of war during his service. Choice C is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that Serling was discharged because of emotional distress. Choice D is incorrect because it contradicts the passage, which states that Serling enlisted in the army, not that he was recruited. Choice B is correct because the second paragraph describes how Serling protected civilians from the crossfire and lists the numerous military medals he earned during his service. 2. The correct answer is J. Choice F is incorrect because the passage does not mention Serling’s beliefs about Nazi ideals until he was in high school. Choice G is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that Serling was interested in science fiction at a young age. Choice H is incorrect because line 3 states that he had a tendency to misbehave in school. Choice J is correct because the passage begins, At an early age, future television legend Rod Serling demonstrated a fascination with performance and writing. 3. The correct answer is A. Choice B is incorrect because the passage does not mention the popularity of science fiction. Choice C is incorrect because the passage mentions reusing costumes and sets in relation to other television shows not associated with Serling. Choice D is incorrect because the passage does not suggest that Serling foresaw a future end to war. Choice A is correct because lines 54–57 state, By veiling his social commentary behind the science-fiction genre, Serling ensured that the more controversial elements of his work would be overlooked by censors.
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ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample Reading Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Teacher Manual Exercise 4 (pg. 43) 1. The correct answer is C. Choices A and B are incorrect because the passage states that Serling first worked in radio production, not television, after college. Choice D is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that Serling’s work was criticized. Choice C is correct because the third paragraph states that Serling experienced several rejections before a television script was accepted, after which it quickly became a sensation and received positive reviews from a respected critic. 2. The correct answer is G. Choices F and H are incorrect because the passage indicates that Serling was concerned with social injustice even in high school. Choice J is incorrect because the passage demonstrates that Serling used television as a platform to present his concern with societal problems. Choice G is correct because the passage describes Serling writing in his high school paper an opposition piece about the Nazi government, attempting as a television writer to present social commentary in a way that avoided censors (such as using the science-fiction genre), and hiring respected, socially conscious writers to contribute to the episodes he himself did not write. Exercise 5 (pg. 44) 1. Answers will vary. For example, if the object were a toothbrush, the clues could be: 1. I have soft, white spikes. 2. I should be used twice a day. 3. I sit on your bathroom counter. 4. I belong only to you–don’t share me with others!
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Science Sample
ASPIREScience Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample Elements: Middle Bell School Bell Ringers
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Set 24 Exercise 1 Stars begin their lives composed of roughly 70% hydrogen. Nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms in a star's core drives the majority of energy and luminosity. After the majority of hydrogen has been exhausted from the star’s core, the star enters into the red giant branch and begins the fusion of hydrogen in the surrounding shell, as well as the fusion of helium in its core. The hydrogen in the surrounding shell is quickly exhausted, as is the helium in the core, and near the end of the star’s life, it begins to fuse hydrogen and then helium in its outermost shell until all of it is exhausted. The figure below shows the percentage of hydrogen present in a star over the course of its life cycle.
70
outermost shell
percent hydrogen
60 50 core
40
surrounding shell
30 20 10 0 0
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4 6 8 time (billions of years)
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Figure 1
38 145
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ASPIRE Science Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
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Based on the figure, the percent hydrogen in the surrounding shell after 8 billion years will be closest to which of the following: A. 30% B. 35% C. 40% D. 45%
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Based on the figure, at how many billions of years will there be roughly 0% hydrogen remaining in the core? F. Between 6 and 7 G. Between 7 and 8 H. Between 8 and 9 J. Between 9 and 10
SA
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PL
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Set 24 Exercise 2
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After the fusion of hydrogen is exhausted in the core and fusion of hydrogen begins in the surrounding shell, the fusion of helium begins in the core. Which of the following is most likely true about the percent helium in the core as time increases? A. The percent helium decreases over time. B. The percent helium increases over time. C. The percent helium does not change over time. D. The percent helium over time cannot be determined.
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ASPIREScience Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample Elements: Middle Bell School Bell Ringers
Set 24 Exercise 3 1.
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Around 28% helium is present in a star’s core at the beginning of its lifetime. A scientist hypothesizes that the amount of helium present begins to drop only after the percent hydrogen present in the core drops below 20%. According to this hypothesis, which of the following is the best graphical representation of the percent helium over time? A.
B.
C.
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After 11 billion years, if the star has spent the majority of its life in the main sequence and the most recent 1 billion years in the red giant branch, the star will shed nearly all of its mass and become a white dwarf, surviving for billions of years before fading out. Which of the following most likely catalyzes this event? F. The exhaustion of hydrogen in the core. G. The exhaustion of hydrogen and helium in the core. H. The exhaustion of hydrogen in the core, and the exhaustion of helium in the shells. J. The exhaustion of hydrogen in the shells and the exhaustion of helium in the shells and core.
3. In Figure 1, as the number of years increases, the percent hydrogen in the surrounding shell: A. increased only. B. decreased only. C. remained the same. D. varied, but with no general trend.
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ASPIRE Elements: Elements: Middle Middle School School Bell Bell Ringers Ringers Sample Science
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Set 24 Exercise 4 1.
Based on the passage, choose the statements that correctly describe nuclear fusion during a star’s life cycle. In the blank next to each statement, indicate if it is supported or unsupported by the passage.
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Stars are composed of about 70% helium at the start of their life cycle. Nuclear fusion begins in the star’s core.
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Helium atoms provide most of the star’s energy and luminosity. Nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms in the star’s core is followed by the fusion of helium atoms.
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Fusion of hydrogen and helium occurs in the outermost shell at the beginning of a star’s life.
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At the end of its life, a star will fuse hydrogen and helium atoms in the outermost shell until both are exhausted.
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ASPIREScience Elements: Middle School Ringers Sample Elements: Middle Bell School Bell Ringers
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Set 24 Exercise 4 2.
Based on the passage, give ONE difference between the nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms in a star and nuclear fusion of helium atoms in a star. Be sure to compare BOTH types of atoms in your answer.
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ASPIRE Science Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
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Set 24 Exercise 5 Imagine that hydrogen is not available in the star for nuclear fusion. How would this affect the star’s life cycle? Write a paragraph explaining what you think would happen.
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Science Answer Key
Science Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Teacher Manual ASPIRE Elements: Middle School Bell Ringers Sample
Set 24 Exercise 1 (pg. 145) Passage (PDF) Exercise 2 (pg. 146) 1. The correct answer is A. According to Figure 1, at 8 billion years, the surrounding shell line is at roughly 30% hydrogen on the y-axis. 2. The correct answer is J. The core line reaches 0% hydrogen between 9 and 10 billion years. 3. The correct answer is A. The fusion of hydrogen in the star causes the percent hydrogen to decrease over time. Fusion of helium in the star should cause a similar decrease in the percentage of helium present over time. Exercise 3 (pg. 147) 1. The correct answer is C. The graph should only begin to drop once the percentage of hydrogen dips below 20%. This eliminates choices D and A. Furthermore, the amount of helium does not increase, so choice B is not an option. Choice C is, therefore, the best option.
2. The correct answer is J. Notice that at 11 billion years, hydrogen, already exhausted previously in the core, approaches 0%. Because the star becomes a white dwarf at 11 billion years, it is mostly likely that, since hydrogen becomes completely exhausted at this point, the exhaustion of helium in all parts of the star closely follows, making choice J the best answer. 3. The correct answer is B. As the years progress from 0 to 11 billion years, the percent hydrogen in the surrounding shell, represented by the dashed line on the graph, decreases steadily from just under 70% to 0%.
Exercise 4 (pg. 148) 1. The following statements are supported by the passage: Nuclear fusion begins in the star’s core; nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms in the star’s core is followed by the fusion of helium atoms; and at the end of its life, a star will fuse hydrogen and helium atoms in the outermost shell until both are exhausted. The statement stars are composed of about 70% helium at the start of their life cycle is not supported by the passage because the passage states they are composed of 70% hydrogen, not helium, at the start of their life cycle. The statement helium atoms provide most of the star’s energy and luminosity is not supported because the nuclear fusion of hydrogen, not helium, drives the majority of the star’s energy and luminosity. The statement fusion of hydrogen and helium occurs in the outermost shell at the beginning of a star’s life is unsupported because this occurs near the end of the star’s life, not at the beginning. 2. Possible answers include but are not limited to the following: At the beginning of a star’s life, nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms occurs in the core, but nuclear fusion of helium atoms does not. Nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms is the main source of energy for stars, while nuclear fusion of helium atoms provides supplemental energy. Nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms is first to occur in each of the star’s layers, while nuclear fusion of helium atoms only occurs in those layers once the helium is exhausted.
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Science Elements: Middle Middle SchoolSchool Bell Ringers Teacher Manual ASPIRE Elements: Bell Ringers Sample Exercise 5 (pg. 150) 1. Helium is used for nuclear fusion in each stage of the star once hydrogen has been exhausted. Nuclear fusion of these atoms drives the energy and luminosity of the star. If hydrogen were unavailable for nuclear fusion, only helium could be used for energy. This means the star could have lower energy, lower light, and a shorter life.
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