Ohio Graduation Test for Science – March 2005
Annotated Item 18
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Benchmark:
Earth and Space Sciences
B. Explain that many processes occur in patterns within the Earth's systems.
Short Answer Question:
Biomes
The following graph shows the ranges of temperature and precipitation for six American
biomes, two of which are identified by name.
18.
Locate biome W and the temperate forest on the graph. Based on the information
provided, describe one similarity and one difference between the climates of these two
biomes. Respond in the space provided in your Answer Document. (2 points)
Commentary:
This short answer question asks students to locate two biomes on the graph (biome W and the
temperate forest) and describe one similarity and one difference between the climates of the
two biomes. Students must recall that the long-term average weather of an area is the climate
and that the climate of an area dictates what types of organisms can survive in that
environment. From the information provided on the graph, biome W has the characteristics of a
desert biome. It has a wide range of annual mean temperature and little precipitation. The
temperate forest also has a wide range of annual mean temperature but receives much more
precipitation. Based on this information, the response that identifies the biomes as having
comparable temperature ranges as a similarity earns credit. Both environments support a
variety of living organisms. One difference between the biomes is that the temperate forest
receives more precipitation than biome W. The temperate forest is also more likely to have a
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05
Ohio Graduation Test for Science – March 2005
Annotated Item 18
greater biodiversity than biome W. Greater biodiversity is assumed here to mean number and
variety of species in a region. It is important that the two biomes listed in the prompt are
compared to earn credit.
The response that earns 2 points correctly describes one similarity and one difference between
biome W and the temperate forest. If a student identified the wrong biome, no credit is
awarded.
The question is classified Communicating Understanding/Analyzing Scientific Information. The
task requires students to analyze data from the graph to draw a comparison between two
biomes. The response requires students to draw appropriate conclusions about the biomes
based on prior knowledge and the information provided in the question.
Performance Data:
The percent of public school students earning each score point for question 18 on the March
2005 Ohio Graduation Test:
Percent at Each Score Point
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
13%
3%
15%
4%
61%
Sample Response for Item 18 (Short Answer):
Similarities
 Biome W and the temperate forest have similar annual temperature ranges.
 Each environment supports living organisms.
 Each has a variety of organisms that survive in the environment.
 Other acceptable responses
Differences
 The temperate forest generally has higher annual precipitation than biome W.
 The temperate forest is likely to have greater biodiversity than biome W.
 Other acceptable responses.
Scoring Guidelines:
Score point
Description
2 points
The response correctly describes one similarity and one difference between
biome W and the temperate forest.
1 point
The student correctly describes one similarity or one difference between biome
W and the temperate forest.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05
Ohio Graduation Test for Science – March 2005
Annotated Item 18
0 points
The response demonstrates no understanding of the task. The response may
provide incorrect information or be irrelevant to the task. The response may
repeat information from the passage or prompt, or state “I don’t know.”
Keywords:
biomes
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05