Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science – May 2008
Annotated Item 37
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Earth and Space Sciences
Benchmark:
E. Describe the processes that contribute to the continuous changing of Earth's
surface (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, erosion, mountain building and
lithospheric plate movements).
Multiple Choice Question:
Use the information below to answer questions 36 – 38.
Extinction
A paleontologist was studying the evidence of extinction of organisms in the fossil record.
Data were collected at several work sites. The paleontologist developed the drawing
below of eight layers at one work site. Other data used included the graph below that
shows changes in sea level from 490 million years ago to 60 million years ago. Asterisks on
the graph indicate times of mass extinction of marine organisms.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 08
Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science – May 2008
Annotated Item 37
37. The paleontologist collected samples from a site that has the same rock layers as
the original site but is located 5 kilometers away.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 08
Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science – May 2008
Annotated Item 37
Comparing the original site with the site shown above, what geologic process accounts for the
difference in the arrangement of the rock layers at the two sites?
A. erosion
B. faulting
C. folding
D. weathering
Commentary:
This multiple choice question asks students to analyze the provided information and
communicate why the rock layers are arranged (ordered) differently. Students are provided with
two different graphical representations of sites where a paleontologist has collected samples.
Students need to recall that weathering and erosion would not cause uplifting of the rock units,
while folding and faulting involve many layers of Earth. The layers at this site have been broken
and displaced along a fracture in the rock so faulting is responsible for the arrangement of
layers seen at this site. Answer choice B is the correct answer. Answer choice A is incorrect
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 08
Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science – May 2008
Annotated Item 37
because erosion (movement of soil, rock, etc. by water, wind or ice) would not cause the
uplifting of rock units. Answer choice C is incorrect because the diagram does not provide
evidence for folding (bending) in the rock units. Answer choice D is incorrect because
weathering does not cause uplifting of rock units.
This question is classified as Communicating Understanding / Analyzing Science Information
because the task requires students to identify the difference between two similar rock units and
communicate understanding of the geologic process that could cause the difference between
the two rock units.
Performance Data:
The percent of public school students selecting answer choice B for question 37 on the May
2008 Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science was 54%.
Keywords: uplifting, geology, folding
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 08