California Science Test (CAST) 8th Grade Practice Exam
$69.00
Unlock the full practice quiz
Get complete access to the questions, explanations and printable quiz resources.
Full access: unlock all quiz questions and explanations.
Printable review: access the full quiz PDF with correct answers after purchase.
About this Exam
Prepare with the California Science Test (CAST) 8th Grade Practice Exam practice quiz. This question bank includes 10 questions covering term, wave, change, object, and distance. Use it to review important concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for the related exam, course, or assessment.
Sample Questions
Question
1
Condensed, coiled, and shorted DNA that occurs during cell division is a ______.
Explanation:
During cell division, DNA condenses into compact, coiled structures called chromosomes. This tightly packed form, with DNA organized around proteins, lets the cell split its genetic material evenly between the two new cells. That makes chromosome the best word to describe condensed DNA during division. The genotype is the genetic makeup behind traits, not the visible, condensed form during division, and the phenotype is the observable traits produced by that genotype. A wave isn’t related to how DNA packs during cell division.
Question
2
The multi-step process of turning the code of a gene into its final product (most often a protein)
Explanation:
Gene expression is the multi-step process by which a gene’s code is used to make a final product, usually a protein. It begins with transcription, where the DNA sequence is copied into messenger RNA, and continues with translation, where ribosomes read the mRNA and assemble amino acids into a protein. The protein may then fold and be modified to become functional. The other options describe changes to DNA (mutations) rather than the process of using gene code to make a product, and a silent mutation is a type of mutation that doesn’t alter the protein. So, gene expression best captures the overall process.
Question
3
If there is no change in an object's velocity, the forces are what?
Explanation:
When an object's velocity doesn’t change, there is no net force acting on it. That means all the forces cancel out and the sum of the forces is zero, which describes balanced forces. If forces were unbalanced, there would be a net force and the object would accelerate, changing its velocity. Velocity is not a force, and air resistance is just one possible force; it only defines the motion state if it’s balanced by other forces so that the total force is zero.
Question
4
What is the term for how fast an object is moving, defined as distance traveled divided by the time taken?
Explanation:
Speed is how fast an object moves, calculated as distance traveled divided by the time required. This is the exact way to describe how quickly something covers a distance, giving you the average rate of motion. The other terms describe different ideas: velocity adds a direction (how fast and which way), acceleration is the rate at which speed or velocity changes over time, and momentum combines mass with velocity. For example, traveling 100 meters in 5 seconds gives an average speed of 20 meters per second.
Question
5
The material through which a wave travels. This can be a solid, liquid, or gas.
Explanation:
A medium is the substance through which a wave travels. Waves carry energy by making the particles of the medium vibrate and pass that motion along from one particle to the next, allowing the wave to move through solids, liquids, or gases. This is why sound can travel through air, water, or metal. Density describes how much mass is in a given volume, not the carrier of the wave, and analog and digital refer to how information is represented rather than what carries a wave.
Ready to test your knowledge?
Buy Now to AccessAdditional Information
California Science Test (CAST) 8th Grade Practice Exam
This practice set contains 10 questions from the matching question bank and focuses on term, wave, change, object, and distance. Work through each question carefully, review the provided solutions, and revisit topics that need more study before your next attempt.
This is an independent study resource intended for practice and review; it is not an official examination or an endorsement by any organization named in the title.
Frequently Asked Questions
This quiz contains a total of 10 practice questions carefully selected to test your knowledge on this subject.
Yes, you will have exactly 0 minutes to complete the exam. A countdown timer will be visible once you start.
Yes, you can retake this practice test as many times as you need. The questions and options may be randomized on subsequent attempts to ensure comprehensive learning.
Reviews
5.0
Based on 0 reviews
Leave a Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to review!