Released Scenarios and Items
Student Edition 2013 Answers
1. The traits of populations in the forest
ecosystem have changed over time. What
caused the traits to change?
• Correct Response: A
• Biology Skill: Biological evolution
2. Which change to the forest ecosystem could
limit the growth of the tussock moth
population?
• Correct Response: D
• Biology Skill: Ecosystems
3. Students asked the following question.
Question: What is the effect of the size of a
moth population on the growth of trees in an
ecosystem? Which reason describes why this
question is scientifically testable?
• Correct Response: D
• Biology Skill: Inquiry – Explain whether a given
question can be investigated scientifically.
4. Unintended consequences
Effect on a part of the
forest ecosystem:
1. Water is
polluted/Insecticide gets
into water
2. Air is polluted
3. Other insects die
4. Other plants die
5. Less food for birds
6. Biomagnification/Builds
up in food chain
7. Increase in forest fires
8. Decrease in the
biodiversity of plants in the
ecosystem
Change in another part of
the forest ecosystem:
1. Fewer/harms fish/aquatic
insects/aquatic plants
2. Fewer insects/birds
3. Less food for birds
4. Less food for other
animals and insects
5. Predators of the birds
decrease in population
6. Kills/harms predators
7. Animals lose
habitat/harm to
people/animals
8. Some animals would lose
their plant food source
Continued #4
One example:
All of the moths will die or have the poison on
them and get into the water supply. That will
pollute the water and kill the animals that drink
it.
Second example:
All the moths will be gone and no more will be
reproduced. This means that the birds will die
because their food source will be gone.
5. In some species of moths, large wings are
dominant over small wings, and yellow wings
are dominant over white wings. What percent
of the offspring of two moths with small white
wings will also have small white wings?
• Correct Response: D
• Biology Skill: Structures and Functions of
Living Organisms
6. How do tussock moths obtain energy in
cellular respiration?
• Correct Response: C
• Biology Skill: Structures and Functions of
Living Organisms
8. Paige and Logan counted a total of 480 plants
in 12 square meters. What was the population
density of these plants?
• Correct Response: A
• Biology Skill: Ecosystems
• Calculate population density (total plants
divided by square meters)
9. How would a fish population affect the
stream ecosystem?
• Correct Response: D
• Biology Skill: Ecosystems
10. A year after their field study, Paige and
Logan collected new data and found an average
of only 5 plants at locations two meters from the
stream. Which could explain why the number of
plants two meters from the stream decreased?
• Correct Response: B
• Biology Skill: Inquiry
• Explain inconsistencies in findings from a
given investigation.
11. Why do frogs and fish in the stream have
similar genes?
• Correct Response: B
• Biology Skill: Biological evolution
• Describe that genes in very different
organisms can be similar because the
organisms all share a common ancestor.
12. People often build homes near streams.
Which action represents sustainable use of
resources in the construction of new homes?
• Correct Response: C
• Biology Skill: Ecosystems
• Describe how sustainable development could
help with a current resource issue.
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Perfect response example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Record the temperature and weather conditions.
Measure the depth of the stream.
Place a thermometer on the surface of the stream.
Record the temperature.
Wait 5 minutes.
Repeat 3-5 for trials 2 and 3, placing the
thermometer at the same spot.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for half the depth of the stream
and full depth of the stream.
8. Calculate the average temperature for each depth.
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Method for Collecting Data – the procedure
states or implies a consistent sampling strategy
or technique
Example: Same stream, single day, same time of
day
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Conditions to be Compared – Only one
independent variable (water depth) is identified
or implied in the procedure or data table (if
given). The independent variable must have at
least three conditions to be credited.
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Data to be Collected – The data collected to
answer the question (water temperature) is
identified or implied in the procedure or data
table (if given).
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Record Measurements – The procedure states or
implies measurements are recorded.
Example: Record the temperature for each
water depth. (take measurement or to count
cannot be used to mean recorded)
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Observations are Repeated – More than one
observation for all conditions is planned, or
implied in a data table
Example: Find 3 locations for each water depth
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Record Environmental Conditions – procedure
identifies or implies recorded observations of at
least one local environmental condition that
might have an effect on the focus variables
Example: Record air temperature, record time of
day
Item #13 – Procedure writing
Attributes required for procedure writing:
Logical Steps – the steps of the procedure are
detailed enough to repeat the procedure
effectively
Examples of illogical steps: No ending time
indicated, no limitation to the sampling area is
given, recording vague data or results
Basic test-taking techniques
• Go through entire test – do ones you know for
SURE
• Mark ones to come back to
• Upon going back,
– For multiple choice, try to rule out some choices
– Be able to say in your head why the answer is
wrong or why right
– GUESS. No penalty.
• Short answer format – did you address ALL
parts of the prompt