GED Science

Lesson 1

The GED Science Test

50 multiple choice questions

For most questions you will have to read a passage or look at an illustration to answer the question

In some cases you will have to rely on your prior scientific knowledge

The GED Science TestContent Area Percentage of Test

Life Science (Plant and Animal Science; Human Biology)

45%

Physical Science(Chemistry; Physics)

35%

Earth and Space Science 20%

Understanding Science Materials

Requires three abilities:

The ability to summarize ideas

The ability to restate information

The ability to identify implications

Summarizing the Main Idea

In many passages, the author expresses the main idea, or key thought, as a single sentence.

Other sentences provide details to support the main idea.

Summarizing the Main Idea

The action of ocean waves can change the shape of ashoreline. Waves can erode the shore, breaking up land masses near the water. Waves can also move the erodingdirt and rocks great distances down the shoreline. BeachesWill be formed when waves move more rock fragments toward the shore than away from it. Cliffs are formed whenwaves move more rock fragments away from the shore thantoward it.

Summarizing the Main Idea

The action of ocean waves can change the shape of ashoreline. Waves can erode the shore, breaking up land masses near the water. Waves can also move the erodingdirt and rocks great distances down the shoreline. Beacheswill be formed when waves move more rock fragments toward the shore than away from it. Cliffs are formed whenwaves move more rock fragments away from the shore thantoward it.

Summarizing the Main Idea

Imagine taking a microscope and looking at the edge of a piece of paper in the hope of seeing a single atom! Using the world’s most powerful microscope, you still couldn’t see one, you would find that it takes about 1 million atoms, placed side by side to cross a distance as short as the width of the edge of the paper. Atoms are so small that even scientists must be content with studying large numbers of them at the same time rather than trying to look at a single atom in the way that a doctor might look at a patient.

Summarizing the Main Idea

Imagine taking a microscope and looking at the edge of a piece of paper in the hope of seeing a single atom! Using the world’s most powerful microscope, you still couldn’t see one, you would find that it takes about 1 million atoms, placed side by side to cross a distance as short as the width of the edge of the paper. Atoms are so small that even scientists must be content with studying large numbers of them at the same time rather than trying to look at a single atom in the way that a doctor might look at a patient.

1. What percent of Earth’s Surface is land?

2. What total percent of Earth’s surface is covered by the two largest oceans?

3. What total percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water?

By comparing the amount of surface covered by water with the amount of surface covered by land, what would you say would be a key point made by this circle graph?

Restating Information

To restate information is to use different words or phrases to express the same idea.

Restating Information

Original

Excess fat and carbohydrate consumption can lead to obesity

Restatement

You’ll get fat if you eat too many fats and carbohydrates

Restating Information

Original

Rocks from the moon’s surface show features characteristic of rocks found on Earth.

Restatement

Moon rocks are very similar to Earth rocks.

Describe the point you think that the author is trying to make about translucent materials.

Identifying Implications

To imply means “to suggest”

An implication is a point of view or idea that an author suggests.

Scientists may have invented nuclear weapons, but I sure don’t want them to work on arms control!

Implies that he does not have a lot of faith in the political ability of scientists.

The scientific Method

Distinguishing facts from hypotheses

A scientific fact is a statement, based on evidence, that can be proved to true.

A hypothesis is a reasonable explanation of a scientific fact.

An opinion is a personal belief that is often based on a person’s own feelings.

Distinguishing facts from hypotheses

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

Because many people are frightened by snakes, there should never be an effort to save any species of snake

Opinion

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

Moonlight is actually light from the sun that is reflected off the moon’s surface.

Fact

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

The reason that moon rocks are similar to Earth rocks may be that the moon and Earth were once part of the same cloud of matter in space.

Hypothesis

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

During winter months, tree roots store food that is used by the plant as it grows new leaves and stems in the spring.

Fact

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

Regardless of what chemists claim, vitamins produced in a laboratory can’t possibly be as healthful as vitamins naturally found in foods.

Opinion

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

The reason that one person is often so strongly attracted to a second person may be smell rather than

good looks or personality.

Hypothesis

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

Air pollution is a negative by-product of the Industrial Revolution

Fact

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

Scientists genetically engineered squash to make it resistant to a deadly virus.

Fact

Fact, Opinion or Hypothesis

The study of genetics has proved to be of little value.

Opinion

What is life

What is life?

What is life?

Respiration

Living things get energy from food (often by using oxygen)

What is life?

Movement

Living things can move all or part of themselves.

What is life?

Reproduction

Living things can produce offspring.

What is life?

Nutrition

Living things feed. Plants use energy from light to make food.Animals eat plants or other animals.

What is life?

Excretion

Living things get rid of waste substances they produce.

What is life?

Sensitivity

Living things can sense and respond to changes in their surroundings.

What is life?

Growth

Living things can increase the size of their bodies byadding mass and (often) new cells.

The Cell