Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science – May 2008
Annotated Item 17
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Life Science
Benchmark:
D. Explain how extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes
and its adaptive characteristics are insufficient to allow survival (as seen in
evidence of the fossil record).
Multiple Choice Question:
Use the diagrams and information below to answer question 17.
Monte Bolca is located high in the mountains of northern Italy. This site is one of the
world’s largest deposits of coral reef fish fossils. There are fossils of more than
160 fish species dating back 49 million years.
These fossils provide evidence of the environment in which the coral fish lived and died.
Which statement is consistent with this evidence and explains how ancient coral reef fossils can
be found high in the mountains far from any sea?
A. A huge tidal wave pushed marine life up into the mountains.
B. Prehistoric man carried fish into the mountains from the sea.
C. Fish were thrown into the mountains by a tremendous volcanic explosion.
D. Land that was uplifted to form the mountains was once covered by the sea.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 08
Ohio Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science – May 2008
Annotated Item 17
Commentary:
This multiple choice question asks students to identify explanations for the location of coral reef
fish fossils to communicate their understanding of the underlying science concept. Students are
told that the fossils are marine (coral reef), and that the mountains (marked by the dot) are not
under water (high in the mountains of northern Italy. Students need to recall that fossils are
sometimes found in places that no longer could support the living organism. Sometimes this
happens because the earth containing the fossils is moved by mountain building processes.
Students must recall that the ancient fossils of marine organisms are found in sedimentary rocks
formed in a marine environment. The rocks that now form the mountains originated in
sediments that were in the ocean. This rock was lithified with fossils in place and then uplifted
to make mountains. Answer choice D is the correct answer. Answer choice A is incorrect
because there would only be a few fossils if a tidal wave grounded fish on land and the fossils
would only be found in very specific layers deposited at the same time. Answer choice B is
incorrect because the fossils date 49 million years ago, before humans were on Earth, and if
prehistoric humans had brought fish up into the mountains they would have broken the fish
apart to eat them (the pictured fossil fish is intact). Answer choice C is incorrect because a
volcanic explosion would have incinerated the fish and the text makes no reference to volcanic
activity or ash.
The cognitive demand of this question is Communicating Understanding / Analyzing Science
Information, because the task requires students to communicate understanding of the
underlying science that explains how marine fossils can be found in mountain ranges.
Performance Data:
The percent of public school students selecting answer choice D for question 17 on the May
2008 Grade 8 Achievement Test for Science was 85%.
Keywords: Extinction, fossils
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 08