Strategies for Taking On the TAKS

1. Strategies for Taking On the TAKS

2. Questions with a lot to look at have a bunch of extra information you will not need to get the right answer. • There are several things you can do to make these questions less “scary.”

3. Read the question first!

4. Read the question first. • sometimes you will not have to read the whole passage to get the answer. • If you do have to read the passage, you will have a focus for your reading.

5. Cover up answer choices while reading the question…use your formula chart. • Decreases distractions and lets you focus on what is available.

6. Boiling water can be used to sanitize dishes. The data above show how sanitizing time varies in different locations. Which inference is supported by these data? a. The boiling point of water is constant at higher altitudes. b. The boiling point of water is affected by elevation. c. Water takes longer to boil at Fort Davis than at sea level. d. Boiling water changes temperature at a faster rate at Corpus Christi than at higher elevations. Formula Chart

7. Highlight important information in the question. • Key words, phrases, or numbers • Don’t get “highlight happy!”

8. Boiling water can be used to sanitize dishes. The data above show how sanitizing time varies in different locations. Which inference is supported by these data? a. The boiling point of water is constant at higher altitudes. b. The boiling point of water is affected by elevation. c. Water takes longer to boil at Fort Davis than at sea level. d. Boiling water changes temperature at a faster rate at Corpus Christi than at higher elevations. Formula Chart

9. Look for matches in the information sources (chart, graph, data table, passage) • will help identify where the answer is located.

10. Boiling water can be used to sanitize dishes. The data above show how sanitizing time varies in different locations. Which inference is supported by these data? a. The boiling point of water is constant at higher altitudes. b. The boiling point of water is affected by elevation. c. Water takes longer to boil at Fort Davis than at sea level. d. Boiling water changes temperature at a faster rate at Corpus Christi than at higher elevations. Formula Chart

11. Look for answer choices that have terms that match terms in question and information source.

12. Boiling water can be used to sanitize dishes. The data above show how sanitizing time varies in different locations. Which inference is supported by these data? a. The boiling point of water is constant at higher altitudes. b. The boiling point of water is affected by elevation. c. Water takes longer to boil at Fort Davis than at sea level. d. Boiling water changes temperature at a faster rate at Corpus Christi than at higher elevations.

13. Cross through any information you do not need to answer the question • Helps eliminate distractions. • Read through the other answer choices to see if any of them make sense. • Cross out those that you know to be wrong.

14. Boiling water can be used to sanitize dishes. The data above show how sanitizing time varies in different locations. Which inference is supported by these data? a. The boiling point of water is constant at higher altitudes. b. The boiling point of water is affected by elevation. c. Water takes longer to boil at Fort Davis than at sea level. d. Boiling water changes temperature at a faster rate at Corpus Christi than at higher elevations.

15. Don’t be intimidated by questions with long passages and a bunch of information. Focus on what is available and you will come to the correct answer!

16. In which general direction do rivers flow in this watershed?

17. The following hypothesis refers to iron in the topsoil found on an island formed from limestone. Which study would most likely be used to investigate this hypothesis? a.Tracking dust clouds with satellite photos b.Determining the effectis of iron on limestone c.Calculating erosion rates in African limestone mines d.Analyzing the content of comet dust clouds

18. A testable hypothesis will have the independent and the dependent variables stated… A medical researcher hypothesizes that a newly developed medication can reduce high blood pressure. Which of these would most likely be the dependent variable in a study involving this medication? a. The number of participants in the study b. The ages of people treated for high blood pressure with other medications c. The blood pressure of the participants in the study d. The number of people treated for high blood pressure with other medications

19. The table shows the time it took trees of the same type and size to drop all of their leaves after being grown in different atmospheres. For the experiment to be valid, which of these must be a constant for all the trees? a. The height of all the trees during the entire experiment b. The amount of water available to all trees during the experiment c. The mass of fallen leaves collected from each tree d. The rate of photosynthesis in all trees during the experiment

20. The chart shows the density of seawater samples collected from the Gulf of Mexico by four different groups. Which group’s data are most precise? • Group 1 • Group 2 • Group 3 • Group 4

21. A B C D Which piece of equipment should be used to precisely measure 40.0 mL of a dilute sodium hydroxide solution?

22. Boiling water can be used to sanitize dishes. The data above show how sanitizing time varies in different locations. Which inference is supported by these data? a. The boiling point of water is constant at higher altitudes. b. The boiling point of water is affected by elevation. c. Water takes longer to boil at Fort Davis than at sea level. d. Boiling water changes temperature at a faster rate at Corpus Christi than at higher elevations.

23. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the information above? a. Trade winds help maintain some food chains b. Trade winds produce useful minerals in some oceans. c. Trade winds can reverse parts of the water cycle. d. Trade winds may be able to reduce greenhouse gases.

24. Nature of Science Key Words • Investigate/Study/Test • Hypothesis/Prediction • Variable • Constants/Control Group • Valid • Precision • Inference/Inferred • Conclusion

25. Nature of Science Questions • If question is Nature of Science, the answer is there. • You need around 34 correct answers to pass. • There are 17 nature of science questions. • You do not have to remember any specific facts from biology, chemistry or physics. • It’s a FREE, EASY correct answer that gets you closer to passing the TAKS.

26. Protein and dietary fiber are beneficial to health. According to the information in the table, which flour is the most nutritious? a. Whole wheat b. White wheat c. Oat d. Rice

27. Review of Strategies • Questions with a lot of information • Read the question first with answer covered • Highlight most important info in question, information source, and answer choices • Eliminate information that is not important and answer choices you know are wrong • Graphs • Highlight whole number lines • Use formula chart to keep track of proper line on the graph to eliminate “silly mistakes”