Question 1

Absolute monarchy

Accepted Answer

A system of government where a monarch holds supreme autocratic authority, unrestricted by laws or constitutions.

Question 2

Acceleration due to gravity

Accepted Answer

The rate of increase of velocity per unit of time due to the gravitational force.

Question 3

Acid-base titration

Accepted Answer

A laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis used to determine the concentration of an acidic or basic solution.

Question 4

Adverbial clause

Accepted Answer

A dependent clause that functions as an adverb. That is, the entire clause modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

Question 5

Affirmative action

Accepted Answer

A set of policies aimed at improving opportunities for members of minority groups and women.

Question 6

Algebraic expression

Accepted Answer

A mathematical phrase that can contain ordinary numbers, variables (like x or y), and operators (like add, subtract, multiply, and divide).

Question 7

Alliteration

Accepted Answer

The repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables.

Question 8

Allusion

Accepted Answer

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

Question 9

Amendment process

Accepted Answer

The process of altering or amending a law or document by parliamentary or constitutional procedure.

Question 10

Amplitude

Accepted Answer

The maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium.

Question 11

Analytical geometry

Accepted Answer

The study of geometry using a coordinate system and the principles of algebra and analysis.

Question 12

Anthropology

Accepted Answer

The study of humans and human behavior and societies in the past and present.

Question 13

Antonym

Accepted Answer

A word having a meaning opposite to that of another word.

Question 14

Apostrophe

Accepted Answer

A figure of speech in which some absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if present and capable of understanding.

Question 15

Archetype

Accepted Answer

A typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent such universal patterns of human nature.

Question 16

Articles of Confederation

Accepted Answer

The first constitution of the United States, on March 1, 1781.

Question 17

Atom

Accepted Answer

The basic unit of a chemical element, and the smallest unit of matter that retains the characteristics of an element.

Question 18

Atmospheric pressure

Accepted Answer

The force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth.

Question 19

Balance of trade

Accepted Answer

The difference in value between a country's imports and exports.

Question 20

Ballad

Accepted Answer

A type of poem that is meant to be sung and is both lyric and narrative in nature.

Question 21

Bar graph

Accepted Answer

A chart with rectangular bars with lengths proportional to the values that they represent.

Question 22

Base (chemistry)

Accepted Answer

Substances that, in aqueous solution, release hydroxide ions, are slippery to the touch, can taste bitter if an alkali, change the color of indicators (e.g., turn red litmus paper blue), react with acids to form salts, and promote certain chemical reactions (base catalysis).

Question 23

Biome

Accepted Answer

A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.

Question 24

Biotic factor

Accepted Answer

A living organism that shapes its environment.

Question 25

Box and whisker plot

Accepted Answer

A method for graphically depicting groups of numerical data through their quartiles.

Question 26

Carbon cycle

Accepted Answer

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Question 27

Cation

Accepted Answer

A positively charged ion, i.e., one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.

Question 28

Cell differentiation

Accepted Answer

The process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.

Question 29

Central nervous system

Accepted Answer

The part of the nervous system which in vertebrates consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 30

Cerebellum

Accepted Answer

A part of the brain at the back of the skull which coordinates and regulates muscular activity.

Question 31

Chemical bond

Accepted Answer

An attraction between atoms that allows the formation of chemical substances that contain two or more atoms.

Question 32

Checks and balances

Accepted Answer

A system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others.

Question 33

Circle of fifths

Accepted Answer

A visual representation of the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor keys.

Question 34

Civil rights

Accepted Answer

A class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals.

Question 35

Classical conditioning

Accepted Answer

A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

Question 36

Coefficient

Accepted Answer

A numerical or constant quantity placed before and multiplying the variable in an algebraic expression.

Question 37

Cohesion

Accepted Answer

The sticking together of particles of the same substance.

Question 38

Colligative properties

Accepted Answer

Properties that depend on the number of particles in a solution, not the nature of the particles.

Question 39

Combustion reaction

Accepted Answer

A type of chemical reaction that occurs when a compound merges with oxygen to release heat and light energy.

Question 40

Commerce Clause

Accepted Answer

An enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3).

Question 41

Compound sentence

Accepted Answer

A sentence with more than one subject or predicate.

Question 42

Conduction (heat)

Accepted Answer

The process by which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring molecules.

Question 43

Confederal system

Accepted Answer

A system of government where power is located with the independent states and there is little power in the central government.

Question 44

Connotation

Accepted Answer

An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Question 45

Conservation of energy

Accepted Answer

A principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be altered from one form to another.

Question 46

Constitutional monarchy

Accepted Answer

A form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution.

Question 47

Consumer price index (CPI)

Accepted Answer

A measure of the average change overtime in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.

Question 48

Continental drift

Accepted Answer

The gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time.

Question 49

Covalent bond

Accepted Answer

A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Question 50

Cultural diffusion

Accepted Answer

The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

Question 51

Dangling modifier

Accepted Answer

A word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

Question 52

Declarative sentence

Accepted Answer

A type of sentence structure used in making statements.

Question 53

Decomposer

Accepted Answer

An organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

Question 54

Deductive reasoning

Accepted Answer

A type of logic in which specific conclusions are drawn from general principles.

Question 55

Delta (geography)

Accepted Answer

A landform that forms from deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enters slower-moving or standing water.

Question 56

Density

Accepted Answer

The degree of compactness of a substance, calculated as mass/volume.

Question 57

Dependent variable

Accepted Answer

The variable that is being tested and measured in a scientific experiment.

Question 58

Dialect

Accepted Answer

A particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group.

Question 59

Diction

Accepted Answer

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Question 60

DNA replication

Accepted Answer

The biological process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule.

Question 61

Dramatic irony

Accepted Answer

When the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not know.

Question 62

Economic system

Accepted Answer

The means by which countries and governments distribute resources and trade goods and services.

Question 63

Ecosystem

Accepted Answer

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Question 64

Electoral College

Accepted Answer

A body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Nebraska Praxis Content Exam: Comprehensive Study Flashcards