Ohio Graduation Test for Science – March 2006
Annotated Item 28
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Benchmark:
Earth and Space Sciences
C. Explain the 4.5 billion-year-history of Earth and the 4 billion-year-history of
life on Earth based on observable scientific evidence in the geologic record.
Multiple Choice Question:
Use the table to answer question 28.
Organism
purple sulfur
bacteria
cyanobacteria
28.
Data on Select Organisms
Date of First Appearance
Method of Obtaining Energy
in Fossil Record
3.6 billion years ago
ingestion of particles/anaerobic respiration
3.3 billion years ago
photosynthesis/cellular respiration
consumption of other organisms/aerobic
respiration
consumption of other organisms/aerobic
respiration
bony fish
341 million years ago
mammals
229 million years ago
The appearance of which organism contributed the most to making it possible for humans
and other organisms to breathe Earth’s current atmosphere?
A.
bony fish
B.
mammals
C. cyanobacteria
D. purple sulfur bacteria
Commentary:
This multiple choice question asks students to identify which organism contributed the most to
making it possible for humans and other organisms to obtain oxygen from Earth’s current
atmosphere. Students must recall that respiration, the process of using oxygen to break down
glucose, is necessary for aerobic organisms to release energy from these molecules. As
students gather information from the table, they will observe that photosynthesis, respiration and
the consumption of other organisms are common processes by which organisms obtain energy.
Students must understand that respiration and photosynthesis are complementary processes.
Carbon dioxide and water are the products of respiration while glucose and oxygen are the
products of photosynthesis. Each process releases products into the atmosphere that can
become the reactants for the other process. Students must bring together their understanding
of these processes and the information in the table to determine that oxygen is a common factor
in both processes and is necessary for breathing and respiration. Answer choice C is correct
because the only organism (in the table) that is capable of photosynthesis is cyanobacteria.
Cyanobacteria is an ancient photosynthetic organism that is responsible for increasing the
volume of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere. Answer choices A, B, and D are incorrect because
purple sulfur bacteria, bony fish and mammals are all consumers which do not carry on
photosynthesis, and therefore, do not release oxygen into the atmosphere.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05
Ohio Graduation Test for Science – March 2006
Annotated Item 28
The question is classified as Recalling / Identifying Accurate Science because the task requires
students to recall details of the processes of respiration and photosynthesis and identify the
organism capable of releasing oxygen into the atmosphere billions of years ago.
Performance Data:
The 6Ohio Graduation Test was 52%.
Keywords:
photosynthesis, oxygen, atmosphere, respiration
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05