CAPT SCIENCE REVIEW: Strand
III: Global Interdependence
Essential Question: How do materials cycle through the Earth’s systems?
Multiple Choice Questions
The picture below shows the extent of summer Arctic Sea Ice in 1979 and 2005.
_____1. Which hypothesis is best supported by the changes in sea-ice coverage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
(D INQ.3)
Earth’s climate is gradually warming.
Arctic Sea ice is migrating away from Earth’s poles.
Global warming is caused by human activity, not nature.
Global warming occurs only at Earth’s poles during the summer.
_____2. Over 6 billion people on Earth use water every day, yet Earth’s water supply remains
relatively constant. This is because _______________.
(D20)
A.
B.
C.
D.
The sea level is rising.
Water exists in three phases on Earth.
Water is constantly recycled by the hydrologic cycle.
Global warming melts ice to replace water that is used.
_____3. Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with acid rain?
A.
B.
C.
D.
(D22)
Destruction of marble and limestone statues.
Thinning of the ozone layer.
Loss of aquatic life.
Corrosion of steel bridges.
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Carbon Cycle
The diagram below shows carbon cycling associated with oil and gas consumption.
_____4. Which arrow on the carbon cycle diagram represents the process that takes the longest
amount of time to occur?
(D19)
A.
B.
C.
D.
1
3
5
7
_____5. A teacher provides her class with a table displaying the relative greenhouse effect per
molecule of different gases compared to carbon dioxide.
Based on this table, a student made the conclusion that carbon dioxide is not the main cause
of the greenhouse effect. What other data are needed to make a stronger conclusion?
(D INQ.2)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Data about the origin of the gases.
Data about the size of each type of molecule.
Data about the absorption of these gases by plants.
Data about the amount of each gas in the atmosphere.
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_____6. Which of the following pictures best represents the natural greenhouse effect?
(D 23)
_____7. Some people make compost piles consisting of weeds and other plant materials. When the
compost has decomposed, it can be used as fertilizer. The production and use of compost is an
example of ________________________.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The introduction of natural predators.
The use of fossil fuels.
The deforestation of an area.
The recycling of nutrients.
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The London Smog Disaster of 1952
On December 5, 1952, London, England, experienced temperatures that were much colder
than normal. As a result, large amounts of coal were burned in furnaces to keep residences
warm. This occurred at the same time as the formation of a heavy fog. Water from the fog
condensed around airborne soot particles, and thick smog quickly developed. Nearly 12,000
human deaths resulted.
_____8. In addition to soot, what product of the burning coal contributed most to the extreme
pollution of London’s air?
(D22)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Uranium (U)
Methane (CH4)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
_____9. Which government action was most likely the result of the London smog disaster of 1952?
(D26)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Establishment of youth curfews after dark.
Creation of a privately funded healthcare system.
Conversion from underground mining for coal to strip mining for coal.
Provision of grants for homeowners to convert to gas or oil-fueled heaters.
_____10. The graph below shows the correlation between pollutants and human deaths during the
London smog disaster of 1952. (D INQ.7)
Which conclusion is best supported by the data?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Acid rain fell from December 4 to December 10.
Smoke caused more deaths than sulfur dioxide.
Sulfur dioxide remains in the air longer than smoke.
Air pollution peaked between December 7 and December 8.
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_____11. Insecticides, pesticides, and other chemicals used to increase agricultural productivity
affect the environment by __________. (D24)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Increasing the salinity of the oceans.
Changing the landscape of an area through erosion.
Collecting in and polluting fresh water supplies.
Destroying fossil fuels that are important energy sources.
_____12. Which of the following is true about recycling glass and aluminum?
A.
B.
C.
D.
(D 26)
Energy is created in the recycling process.
Recycled glass and aluminum always have different properties from the original materials.
Recycling glass and aluminum reduces the amount of resources taken from the Earth.
It takes more energy to recycle aluminum than to extract it from the ground.
_____13. The increase in DDT concentration at successive trophic levels in a food chain, as
illustrated below, is referred to as _____________________.
(D 24)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Biological concentration.
Biological addition.
Biological excess.
Biological magnification.
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STRAND III: Open-Ended Questions
Acid Rain Investigation
A group of students wrote the following procedure for their acid rain investigation.
PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find the mass of each of three different building materials being tested.
Pour 200 mL of acidified water, pH 4.5, into each of three clean containers.
Place each sample of building material into one of the three containers.
After two days, remove the samples, wash them with distilled water, and allow
them to dry completely.
5. Mass each sample.
The chart below shows the students’ investigation results.
Material
Starting Mass
(g)
Ending Mass (g)
Difference in
Mass (g)
Percent Loss
Granite
6.2
6.2
0.0
0.0
Marble
8.7
8.1
0.6
6.9
Limestone
5.3
4.1
1.2
22.6
QUESTIONS:
A) What was the problem the students were investigating?
B) Describe TWO things the students could do to increase confidence in their results.
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STRAND III: Open-ended Questions
DECONTAMINATION PROCESS
A process (phytoremediation) has been developed that uses plants to remove contaminants
from soils and water. Suppose a contaminated area (Brownfield site) in your town is being
considered for this process. Identify at least three questions that would need to be answered
before starting such a program. Write your answer below.
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Strand III: Global Interdependence: ANSWER KEY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A
C
B
D
D
A ****TEACHERS – please white out star above correct answer on diagram
before photocopying and distributing to students.
7. D
8. C
9. D
10. D
11. C
12. C
13. D
Open-Ended Questions
Acid Rain – 2010 released item
Decontamination Process – 2007 released item
Resources:
1. Connecticut State Department of Education – Released CAPT items
http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/cedar/assessment/capt/released_items.htm
The above link will connect you to scoring rubrics for open-ended and many multiple choice questions.
2. Windsor Public Schools, Science CAPT Study Guide. Windsor, CT 2007.
3. CAPT Science. Get Smart Books. Webster House, Ridgefield, CT. Copyright 2005, 2009. ISBN – 1-932635-03-3
4. New York Regents Exams Released items: Living Environment June 2009
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